That was intriguing. He faked the accent well.
He put on a pair of sterile gloves, tore open an antiseptic towelette, and knelt beside her chair, the warm, salty scent of his skin making her want to inhale—and reminding her that she hadn’t had a shower in more than a week.
His gray eyes looked into hers. “This is probably going to sting.”
She lifted her chin and tilted her head to make it easier for him, wincing at the burn as he cleaned the cut.
“I’m sorry, Sister.”
“It’s not your fault.”
His expression darkened. “I wish I had some ice. It looks like he punched you.”
“Backhanded.” She winced again. “I baited Pitón about killing Topo, the man who was with me the day I met you.”
“Youbaitedhim?” Dylan drew back, his lips curving into a smile that put butterflies in her belly. “You also got that key to us—and gave us intel that helped us speed up the rescue. You are one brave nun.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Says the man who took out sixteensicarioswith just five other guys—and who saved my life with a single shot.”
He rocked back and peeled the gloves off his hand, his grin fading. “I wish I’d gotten you on that chopper. I’m sorry. We thought all of the hostages were together in the basement.”
“We were—until tonight. Pitón wanted… my company.”
Dylan searched her face, his expression worried. “If he …hurtyou …”
Gabriela shook her head, touched by Dylan’s concern. “He wanted to, but his boss threatened to kill him if he touched me. Mostly, I had to listen to his filthy mouth.”
Dylan’s brow furrowed. “Will I go to hell if I say I’m glad he’s dead?”
She smiled. “I think God understands your relief that an evil man can no longer cause harm. Besides, who told you to pull the trigger?”
He stood, glanced at his watch. “It’s almost oh-three-hundred. We can’t leave until those guys clear out. We might as well get some sleep.”
“And then what?” She hoped he had a plan to get home.
“As soon as they’re gone, we move out.”
“You can’t go anywhere dressed like that.” She motioned to his body armor and combat fatigues. “You’ll be safer on your own. Just put me on a bus back to the mission in El Vigía—”
“No way.” He put the medic kit back into his backpack. “Our orders directly from the Pentagon were to get you safely back to the US. I can’t leave you behind.”
“ThePentagon?” That was … interesting.
Was the Agency recalling her? It must be if they wanted her back in the US. But why would they want her to come home when she hadn’t yet gotten proof that Luis Sánchez was working with the Andes Cartel?
God, she wished she had some way to contact them.
“Are you hungry? I’ve got some emergency rations.”
“Save them.” She stood, smoothed her sadly wrinkled skirts. “What I really want is a shower.”
“We’ll have to work on that.” He took another folding chair and propped it at an angle beneath the doorknob, bracing the door shut. “That won’t keep anyone out for long, but it will give me time to react.”
He carried his backpack, rifle, and helmet to the corner and sat with his back against the wall. “Come. I’ve got an emergency blanket. It should keep you warm.”
Adrenaline giving way to exhaustion, she sat an arm’s length from him, knowing that no religious sister would put herself physically close to a man. “Thanks.”
He unfolded the crinkly silver emergency blanket and handed it to her. “You can sit closer and use my lap for a pillow. I promise I won’t bite.”