Chapter 31

Nyx shook too badly to even think about standing, but Case knelt beside her and he had his arms around her, his head pressed to hers. For the first time in days, she felt safe again. He held her too tightly for her to turn and hug him back, so she settled for wrapping her hand around his forearm and gripping him as if he might disappear if she didn't hang on.

"Dude, we need to get out of here."

Case didn't move.

"Lurch, did you hear me?"

"Yeah, I heard." Finally, slowly and with obvious reluctance, Case straightened. "Are you okay, Fireball? Can you walk?"

Nyx nodded. "Just help me up. My legs are rubbery right now."

Standing, Case held out a hand, and when she clasped it, he pulled her to her feet and wrapped his arm around her waist. She'd been right about the body armor. She could feel it as she leaned into him. Nyx blinked the world back into focus. Only two men were still around. She didn't know where the others disappeared to or what they were doing. And honestly? She didn't care.

She looked back at Case and raised her brows. Damned if he couldn't read her well enough to know exactly what she was hinting at.

"Fireball, this is Baggs and Rusty. They're friends."

More like his teammates, but she kept her mouth shut. She didn't know how many raiders were still alive and in the vicinity, and she wasn't risking Case's safety or the safety of his team now. She focused on the red-haired man. "Thanks, Rusty, for saving Case's life. I couldn't figure out how to signal him about the shooter."

"No thanks necessary, ma'am."

"Probably not, but I appreciate it anyway."

Case squeezed her waist. "You heard Baggs. We need to move. Rusty, are you riding with the Wizard, or are you on our boat?"

"I'm with the Wizard."

"Come on," Case said, urging her toward the dock.

Nyx was grateful for Case's arm around her because her legs shook. If this was the worst she experienced as the adrenaline receded, she'd take it. Case seated her on the boat and introduced her to Ski, who had the tiller. This Special Forces sergeant looked seriously scary, but luckily for her equilibrium, she was used to intense men—her dad to name just one—and he didn't rattle her.

Ski didn't waste any time pulling away from the dock and heading back upriver. She guessed they were going to Trujillo, but she didn't ask. Case settled beside her in the center of the boat and wrapped his arm around her, tucking her against him. It was usually too hot and humid for this to be comfortable, but she felt cold from the inside out. Probably another side effect of adrenaline.

She leaned into Case and rested her hand high on his thigh. The touch was possessive, but Nyx felt possessive. This man? He belonged with her. All she could do was hope that he felt the same way about her. The fact he was cuddling her in front of his teammates gave her hope.

No one spoke. Maybe because at the speed they were traveling they'd have to yell to be heard over the engine. As they neared a busier section of the river, Ski slowed the boat. They'd be able to hold a conversation now, but no one seemed chatty. Was it their aftermath? After all, they were coming down from a firefight, one where they'd taken lives.

When Case stiffened and moved her hand off his thigh, she knew snuggle time was over. She didn't wait for him to pull away. Nyx sat up and inched over on the seat. They were nearer to Trujillo than she realized.

"Are we rendezvousing with the rest of the te—your friends?"

Case shrugged. The gesture told her nothing, but she didn't press.

She stared straight ahead, which meant she had a good look at Baggs, who was sitting in the bow. He had the long sleeves of his fatigue shirt rolled up and she could ID one of his tattoos now. It was a dagger. Interesting choice. He caught her checking it out. Nyx didn't flinch. "Why a dagger?"

His lips curved. "I was eighteen and stupid."

"Are you done quizzing Baggs?" Case asked, and he sounded irritated.

"Sure." She turned to meet his gaze. "Do you have any tattoos?"

"No. They're identifying characteristics. I prefer to have as few of those as possible."

Identifying characteristics. Case's childhood had stayed with him in ways she hadn't expected.

"The fact he looks as if he's in high school is unique enough," Baggs said.

"No, he looks college-age," Nyx disagreed.

Ski snorted, and Nyx turned her head far enough to see he was amused. Not smiling, but not too far away from it.

"Did Lurch tell you how old he is?" Baggs asked.

Nyx shook her head. "We didn't discuss it."

"How old do you think he is?"

"Damn it, Baggs," Case said. "Knock it off."

Baggs ignored him. "Come on, guess."

She'd already estimated his age to herself shortly after they met, so she had a ready answer. "I'd say he's closer to thirty than twenty. Let's go with twenty-seven."

She watched Baggs and Case exchange glances, and her guy looked smug as hell. "She's too smart for your bullshit." Case looked over at her. "You are right on the money, by the way."

"Was he hoping I'd guess wrong?"

"Yes. Then he could give me shit about how young I look."

Nyx shook her head. "He should know you've taken crap about that for years and it doesn't faze you anymore. You just let them roll, don't you?"

"It makes them feel like they're funny."

"And since you don't care…" She let her voice trail off.

"Since I don't care, I let them have their fun."

Ski spoke up then. "Sometimes he makes fun of himself, so he enjoys it, too. How many times have you muttered about fucking genetics?"

"Too many to count."

"How old do you think I am?" Nyx asked.

"You already told me your age, remember?"

"I did?"

"Yeah, when Vargas had us locked up in the suite and you and I were quickly exchanging information."

Memory dawned. "That's right, when the shower was running."

"Why don't you make Baggs guess your age?"

Nyx tried not to laugh at the uncomfortable expression that crossed the other man's face. Case was giving back the shit he'd taken, and she was all in for it. "Good idea. He's the one who started the game. How old do you think I am?"

"My mom said a man should never ask a lady her age?—"

Case cut him off. "You're not asking. She is."

Baggs looked around, desperate for an escape. He found one. "There's our dock. Do you see Rusty, Ski?"

"I got him." Ski adjusted their course. "Guessing a woman's age is easy. You just figure out how old you think she is and subtract five years. Wins their admiration every time. The Fireball, here, is twenty-one. How'd I do?"

Turning to grin at him, Nyx said, "You've won my complete admiration."

Case waited until Baggs had the boat tied off before he got out and helped Nyx onto the pier. The joking around about his appearance not matching his age had gotten her past the worst of her aftermath and her legs were steadier. That didn't mean he wasn't going to stay close and make sure she was okay.

His Fireball was a trouper. She looked as if she'd been through hell, but she squared her shoulders and prepared to meet the next challenge. A woman like this didn't come along every day. A smart man would do what he could to hold on to her and Case liked to think he was smart.

BD came over, flanked by Cordy. Case moved to stand behind Nyx, both hands resting lightly on her shoulders.

"How are you doing, ma'am?" the captain asked.

Nyx came to attention, or something very similar to it. "I'm okay, sir. Thank you for getting me out of the camp."

Case frowned. He hadn't heard her call anyone else sir, but BD did have an aura of command.

"You don't have to thank me. Lurch would have gone in alone if we hadn't helped."

"He would have gotten killed if he tried that."

"Yes, he would have." Case got a hard look. "Since we mostly like him, we decided it would be a good idea to give him the assist."

"Whatever the reason," Nyx said, "I appreciate your help in getting me back to Trujillo. It's been a rough week."

"Understatement," Case whispered near her ear.

BD addressed him. "Make sure she calls Archer. That's number one on your to-do list, understood? If that man phones me and asks for an update because you put it off, someone is going to be filling sandbags for at least a month. Maybe longer, depending on how irritating he is."

Now it was Case's turn to come to attention. "Yes, sir, first thing. Understood."

BD turned to go, but Chief Cordell stayed. He stared at Nyx, his expression not quite puzzled, but more quizzical.

"You have a question, Cordy?" Case asked.

The chief shook his head. "She looks familiar. I was trying to come up with why."

BD returned to where they stood, although this time he stayed back from Cordy.

"Maybe you met my dad?" Nyx suggested. "I'm told I have a strong resemblance to him. Chief Jack Templeton?"

"Looper? Loop Templeton is your dad?" It was clear Cordy knew her father.

Nyx nodded.

Cordy turned to look at the captain. "It's a damn good thing we rescued Looper's daughter. I wouldn't want to face his wrath if anything happened to her. The man is a bulldog and very protective of his little girl." The chief's gaze bore into his. "You hear that, Lurch?"

"I heard you loud and clear." It didn't make a damn bit of difference either.

"Come on, Cordy," BD said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Lurch is an adult, even if he doesn't look old enough to vote. He can make his own decisions."

"And deal with the consequences," the chief said.

"That, too."

BD left, and the chief went with him. The rest of the team followed in dribs and drabs until only he and Nyx were left on the dock. She turned to look at him. "Are you still taking me to a hotel? I'd like a shower and maybe some fresh clothes."

"Yeah, let's go. But the shower waits until after you talk to Archer."

He guided her toward the street. Even dressed in camo gear and carrying, Case didn't get much attention. Armed mercenaries were nothing new here, and if they weren't going to gawk at him, they weren't going to risk pissing him off by staring at Nyx.

"Fireball," he asked quietly, "are you still thinking you want me to…" he let his voice trail off, unsure how to ask the question.

"Do I still want you to be my first? Yes. If you're willing, after hearing about my dad."

"I'm willing. More than."

He had her on his left side, and Case reached out to take her hand, linking their fingers. She gave him a squeeze. Nine days. Nine days ago, she sat down at his table at the open-air market to eat her lunch and nothing had been the same since. She'd rocked his world. Now he couldn't imagine not having her around, not?—

There was one more conversation they needed to have.

"You're going back to LA," he said. "It's already arranged. Archer set it up. Saturday morning you fly up to Rio Blanco and then board a plane to Lima. You'll spend the night in Peru and then fly home Sunday."

Case waited for an argument, a growl of outrage, for fire to shoot from her eyes. That wasn't what he got.

"I can't remain here. I know." Nyx didn't sound happy. "Even with the colonel no longer an issue, I still have Vargas to worry about. If I stay, I endanger Frankie and Ellis."

"I'm surprised you're being so reasonable about this."

"Vargas isn't going to give up on the treasure because we escaped. In fact, he's going to be extra pissed off about that. My presence creates all kinds of problems and not just for Frankie and Ellis. He can use me against you again, too. I won't allow you to be in even more danger than you already are because of me. Bank on that." She gave him a glare for good measure and practically marched down the street.

Case tried not to grin as he kept pace with her. He loved how smart Nyx was. He loved how protective she could be, even though he didn't need protection. He loved her strength, her determination, and the way she faced adversity head on.

Okay. Cards on the table. He just plain loved her.