He gave a nervous chuckle. “I’m with you, lass, but unfortunately, these old eyes cannot see a thing at the moment. I think I’ve gone blind.”
She stopped herself from telling him she was suffering the same predicament, although she could just about make out shadowy images. She fumbled for his hand and grasped it tight. “It’s all right, Father. Just hold onto me, and I’ll guide you. Keep your head down. Hendrik, Edda, are you okay?”
“Yes,” Hendrik responded.
She took a deep breath and edged forward, her hand clamped around Father Tom’s. They’d traveled only a few feet when a bullet slapped the cave wall beside her. Small rocks struck her cheek, and she cried out. Fear strangling her, she crouched down beside Father Tom, eyes shut.
“We have to keep moving,” Hendrik urged from behind her.
She opened her eyes and thankfully, most of her vision had been restored. But what little she saw stilled her heart. Since whoever was attacking the rebels was doing so from outside the cave and the guerrillas were defending themselves from inside, there’d be no way to escape without being caught in the crossfire.
Another bullet whizzed past her and struck a kerosene lantern on the far side of the cave, knocking it over so it shattered. It ignited, sending a huge plume of acrid smoke billowing up toward the craggy ceiling of the cave.
Their situation had just worsened a hundred-fold.
If the bullets didn’t get them, the smoke and fire would. There was enough bedding, ammunition, and lamps to set the place ablaze in minutes.
Abruptly, the gunfire ceased.
“Come on,” she whispered desperately to Father Tom. “We need to go, now!”
She grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the entrance of the cave, trying not to let the sight of bloodied bodies paralyze her. She focused on the discarded guns instead. If they could arm themselves, they’d increase their chances of escape considerably.
As she reached for the nearest rifle, she heard the crunch of feet approaching.
Another burst of gunfire. Then silence.
Through the smoky light, she saw a figure, tall and male, enter the cave, followed by two equally formidable-looking men. In silence, the trio advanced toward them. Her throat closed up, fear completely seizing her. She turned to Father Tom, gripped his hand in hers, and tried to shield him with her body.
Someone crouched behind her.
She squeezed her eyes shut, terror flooding through her. This is it. This is it.
Then a deep, masculine voice purred in her ear, “Hello, Tinkerbelle.”
Chapter Three
No. It couldn’t be. Belle knew she must have slipped into some sort of fugue state. Because only one person called her that. Only—
“Nick?” she croaked. She spun around and tried to see through the smoke, but her eyes still burned and her mind wouldn’t let her hopes blossom or her heart believe.
“Nick? Is it really you?” But how could he be here? How had he found her?
“In the flesh, glikia mou,” he confirmed in his husky, slightly accented voice as he scooped her up into his arms and rose.
With long strides, he carried her outside.
Oh, my God. It was Nick. She would recognize his voice anywhere, even after six months of separation. The arms that secured her, protected her, were painfully familiar.
“But how can you be here? H-how did you find me?” she asked in wonder, looking up at him in the moonlight. The strange binocular-like contraption strapped on top of his head notwithstanding, the face looking down at her was one so imprinted on her memory, sometimes she feared only death would erase it.
“There’ll be time for explanations later.” He set her down gently on her feet. “Right now I need to know, are you hurt?” Without waiting for an answer, his hands began investigating for broken bones. They skimmed over her neck, probed her diaphragm and ribs. By the time they reached her hip, a fire had started within her. A fire she’d thought herself immune to by now.
“No, I’m fine.” She tried to pull away from him, but he held fast and continued his examination. “I couldn’t see earlier, and my ears are ringing, but other than that I’m fine. Is that Alex?” Stunned, she stared at the familiar figure of Nick’s cousin.
Similar in build to Nick, the two were often mistaken for brothers.
“Yes, he pestered me into letting him come along.” Nick took a pen torch and flashed it into her eyes. Her immediate flinch seemed to satisfy him. “Sorry, the noise was the result of the flash-bangs we used. It causes dizziness and temporary blindness, but the effects normally pass after a few minutes. I regret it, but it was necessary.”