Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Draden tightened his hand around Shylah’s in warning. She either ignored it, or she didn’t realize why he didn’t want her to go there.
“We were coming back from encounters with the MSS. I’d gotten a few, and Draden had managed to retrieve what was left of the virus. The tiger was right below me, looking up at me, and he took a couple of steps right into a poacher’s snare. He went crazy, attacking the tree and rolling and raking, snarling. He would have starved or chewed through his own leg. It was truly horrible.”
“That’s awful,” Bellisia said. “How in the world were you able to get the snare off of him?”
“It was a cable and the more he fought the tighter the noose drew. Draden dropped down from above, right on him, driving the tiger to the ground. Somehow, he managed to put him in a headlock while controlling his movements with his legs, holding him down so I could remove the snare. Then we had to time both of us getting away before he could put a scratch on either of us. It was the coolest thing ever.”
Draden kept his eyes on Joe’s face the entire time Shylah was relating the story to Bellisia. He knew why she did it. She wasn’t thinking about the sickness they carried in their bodies or the fact that he had an ampule with drops of the deadly virus on him when he’d done such a foolhardy thing. She wanted to spend time with her friend. Losing that contact meant they were another step closer to dying.
“Wrap it up now, Bellisia,” Joe ordered.
She shot him a look but obediently blew a kiss to Shylah. “You’re loved, girl, you know that,” she whispered.
“Same,” Shylah said, sounding choked.
Bellisia removed herself from in front of the camera to stand beside her husband. Ezekiel wrapped his arm around her, and both stayed in view of the camera.
“Did you have the virus on your person when you rescued that tiger?” Joe demanded.
Shylah stiffened. She started to straighten, but Draden kept his hand on hers, holding her against his back and shoulder.
“I did.”
“What the hell kind of dumbass move was that? You know how deadly that virus is. What were you thinking?”
He shrugged. “I wasn’t thinking of much other than giving my woman a gift. She’s dying, and I can’t save her. I want her last days to be as happy as possible under the circumstances.”
“What kind of bullshit excuse is that?” Joe demanded. “You’re talking about a possible worldwide pandemic if this thing gets out. You know better. Your first duty is to your country.”
Shylah pulled her hand away from his and wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, nearly choking him while she glared at the screen. “I think giving his life for his country is about all anyone can ask. You don’t have much compassion in you, do you? I guess that’s what makes you such a good commander, but frankly, neither one of us has to do anything you say. Not one damn thing.”
“Baby,” Draden cautioned.
“No, we don’t, Draden. We’re the ones here facing this thing.” She was fierce about it. “We’re dying. Everything we give them is a damn gift they can accept with a freaking thank-you instead of tearing strips off you.”
No one, in as long as he could remember, had stuck up for him. Certainly not with the ferocity of a tigress. She was making it known, just as he had, that they were a couple.
There was a small silence. Joe probably had half the Indonesian military behind him, certainly the commander of their elite special forces. Draden doubted if they would have responded to such insubordination gracefully, but Joe did. He was the sort of man who stayed cool under even the most embarrassing situations and having Shylah rip him a new one in front of an audience had to be right up there.
“I apologize, Ms. Cosmos.” Joe even managed to pour sincerity into his voice, although Draden was certain he wanted to take Shylah into another room and give her one of his renowned dressing-downs. “It must be very difficult to be in the position you’re in, aware of what’s coming. Both of you are courageous and deserve respect. On the other hand, we have to protect the public. We can’t have even a couple of drops of that virus get out. I am certain you can see my position.”
That was Joe. Apologize, but let everyone, especially Shylah, know he was right. Draden wasn’t about to allow him to make her feel small. He interrupted. “We’ve taken out a good number of the MSS, and yes, we’re wearing masks and gloves when we hunt. We’ll take as many of them down as possible for you. Our strategy is to make the village as unfriendly a place for them as possible so hopefully they’ll move out of there and the Kopassus can deal with them.”