27. Kat

27

Kat

I knew it would take time to recover from being kidnapped and stranded in the middle of a roaring ocean, all alone. But I never imagined it would make me fear every shadow. This wasn’t the woman River had fallen in love with—I could feel myself doubting everything. I needed to fix myself. That’s why I left the country and began working with medics overseas.

The moment I landed and saw the eastern garb, I knew this was the path to healing. At first, I hesitated to step off the plane, but after a deep breath, I lifted my head high and stepped into the world of the same people who had once kidnapped me.

I became so busy that I didn’t have time to be scared. There weren’t enough medical staff here, and chaos was everywhere. I was on my feet for sixteen, sometimes twenty, hours a day. By the time I collapsed into bed, I’d sleep until I was called to help again. All while Penny followed my every footstep .

I worked alongside medics from around the world, trying to keep both soldiers and civilians in this war-torn place alive. The locals hated the American military—yet, even when we were saving their lives, their hatred lingered.

During this time, I met a doctor from California. She wasn’t in the military, but she volunteered here because, as she said, “No one else will.”

I stayed for two months, working alongside her. But eventually, I began to feel unwell. Suspecting I might be pregnant—and missing River terribly—I decided it was time to go home.

“I’m lucky I overheard them talking about that soldier, or I would’ve missed River and had no way to get home,” I said to anyone listening in the vehicle.

I smiled, catching River’s eyes in the rearview mirror. He smiled back, and my heart swelled with love for him. I blew him a kiss, and he caught it. God, I love this man.

“How were you planning on leaving?” Oliver asked, his voice gentle. I liked talking to him—he never interrupted, always listening intently.

“I hadn’t figured that out yet,” I admitted with a small smile. “I thought about hiding out for a while, then making my way to some friends I know here. But I kept worrying about Penny—I didn’t want her to think I’d forgotten her. Don’t forget we have to get Penny.”

“I’m glad we found you when we did,” River said. “The Iranian army could’ve gotten to you first.”

“Don’t even say that,” I whispered, knowing how true it was. “If I hadn’t stolen their prisoner, all three of you would be dead by now.”

“She’s right,” Oliver agreed. “We’ve been lucky so far. Let’s lay low until nightfall. ”

We parked the jeep in a hidden spot, and almost immediately, the Navy SEAL began vomiting.

“It’s good you’re getting that poison out of your system,” I said, trying to reassure him.

“It was those raw eggs you made me swallow,” he muttered, turning to vomit again.

I watched as Oliver and River covered our tire tracks. Nightfall was approaching, and all I could think about was getting home and finding a doctor for the baby.

River came up behind me, wrapping his arms around me. I turned to hug him back, feeling his warmth.

“So, you decided to face your problems head-on?” he asked softly.

“I didn’t have a choice. But I’m glad you’re here. I missed you so much. It feels good being with you again.”

“Kat, look at me,” River said, cupping my face gently. “I love you. If you have a problem, we’ll handle it together. Please don’t run away from me again. I didn’t know if you were gone for a year or if I’d ever see you again. You left your phone on the kitchen counter—I had no way to reach you.”

“I’m sorry. I won’t disappear like that again.”

“If it were me who did that, wouldn’t you be worried? From now on, we talk things through. Together, we’ll find a way to fix whatever comes our way.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. “Yes. We’ll always do that. I love you and am so sorry for putting you through this. I promise—I won’t do it again.”

“Good,” he said softly, resting his forehead against mine. “Let’s rest for a while before we move. By the way, how did you manage to get into the prison?”

“I told them a disease was spreading fast through the area, and I needed to check the prisoners to make sure they weren’t infected.”

River chuckled, a proud smile tugging at his lips. “That was brilliant.”

“I thought so,” I grinned.