She started to tremble. “N-not so well at the moment.”
Dylan pulled off the road, parked, and flicked on the cabin light. “Lift the bandage. Let me see it.”
Confusion muddled her thoughts. “S-see what?”
He reached out, lifted the bandage, his voice soft, comforting. “The clotting agent is working. The bleeding has stopped. You’re right that it’s just a graze, but it’s a deep one. There might be bullet fragments in there. You’re going to need stitches.”
“Okay.” What was wrong with her?
He pressed the bandage back into place, put her hand on it. “The adrenaline is wearing off. I think you’re in a kind of post-combat shock.”
“Post-combat shock? That’s lame.” She wasn’t supposed to be weak.
He cupped her cheek. “It’s a normal reaction. I’ve seen it in new SEALs back from their first real combat mission. They’re trained to fight. You’re not.”
That made her feel a little better. “I don’t want to be a wimp.”
“God, woman, you’re anything but a wimp. When we get to a stopping point, I’ll treat your wound, and you can get some sleep.”
“Wait! I’m going to be sick.” She unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door, hopped to the ground—and lost her supper in the grass.
Then Dylan was there, stroking her hair, handing her a bottle of water. “It’s okay, Gabi. Just get it out of your system. You’re going to be all right.”
“Sorry.” Throwing up in front of a lover had never been high on her bucket list.
“Hey, don’t apologize. You deserve a fucking medal.” He helped her to her feet and back into the Land Rover and climbed into the driver’s seat once again.
Lights. Sirens.
He pulled deeper into the trees.
Firetrucks. National police.Guachimanes.
When they had gone, he drove back onto the road, heading for the main highway.
Then it occurred to Gabriela. “Where are we going?”
“We can’t drive around in that bastard’s Land Rover for long. As soon as his men discover it’s missing, they’ll try to track it. A high-end vehicle like this has anti-theft technology for sure. So, I’m heading back to where we left the Aveo. If it’s still there, we’ll switch.”
“But we can’t drive across the border.”
“We’re not crossing into Colombia—not with fucking drones patrolling the sky.” He turned on the Land Rover’s headlights as they reached the main highway. “We’re heading north.”
“North?” There was nothing up there but the Caribbean.
He’s a SEAL.
Shit.
“Don’t worry about that now. I need you to help me navigate back to the Aveo.”
Gabriela fought to pull herself together. “The easiest way to retrace our path would probably be to head up the highway and get off at that same exit.”
“Do you remember which exit that was? You were driving.”
She nodded. “I think so.”
Having a task seemed to focus her mind. Her body stopped trembling, her numbness falling away as she watched for the correct exit.