Expecting the SEAL’s Baby by Katie Knight
Nineteen
The sharp spasms lessened so that Gina could breathe more easily, but they weren’t gone yet. A more mild cramping had taken their place. It wasn’t good. She knew that, but she also knew there was nothing she could do about it. If she was going to suffer a miscarriage, nothing could stop it.
Her heart hurt just thinking about the possibility. She didn’t want to lose this baby. The child was so real to her, a little person already, that it was unimaginable the child wouldn’t be born.
“I’m better,” she said, slowly sitting up. Jeremy kept his hands on her, touching her as if she were a fragile piece of glass. His expression was desperate, frightened, and she wanted to reassure him, but she just didn’t have any reassurances to give. Jeremy couldn’t change the outcome, and neither could she. No amount of tears or coddling would make a difference, so she pulled herself together and tried to focus on why they were there. Finding her brother was still her objective, the reason they were in a jungle in Colombia.
“You’re pale.” Jeremy ran a finger down her cheek. “I’d like to move to a more protected location if you’re able. I’ll carry you.”
“No, I can walk. You need your hands free, in case.” Neither of them mentioned the possibility of more attackers coming. They didn’t have to when they both knew the danger was real. Any minute desperados could emerge from the jungle, and they would be exposed, easily taken prisoner once more. “Help me up.” She pulled on all of her inner strength and calm and got to her feet with his assistance. A sharp pain went through her again, but she didn’t wince.
“This way.” Jeremy put an arm around her and led her into an area of vines and thick vegetation.
She was grateful for his support. Focus, she told herself, focus on finding Blake. Her body would do as it would.
“Over there,” Jeremy said after several minutes of walking. “It’s sheltered.” They entered what must have been an old hut. The roof was partially collapsed, but the walls were intact and enough of the structure remained to provide shelter. He eased her down on a bench after pushing debris off it. “Drink this.” He gave her his canteen, squatting in front of her. “I wish we had one of Angelica’s magical cures.”
“I wasn’t sure you believed in those,” she said and took a sip of the cool water. He hadn’t complained about his leg again or showed any signs of limping after she’d treated it during their rainy hike, but she’d sensed his skepticism about the homoeopathic treatment.
“I’m willing to try anything. God, Gina, I’m so sorry for getting you into this.” He rested his forehead against her leg. “I should have known better than to bring you here.”
“You didn’t get me into anything.” She ran her fingers through his hair. “I’m here because I wanted to be, had to be, to find my brother.” Was the price for rescuing her brother the loss of their child? She hoped not. Maybe it was selfish of her, but she wanted both.
“I’m calling it. The mission is off.” He sat back on his heels. “I’ve got to get you out of here.”
“How can you possibly do that?” They were miles from their vehicle, miles from the closest town of any size, but within striking distance of Blake. Too close to give up.
“I can call in a helicopter,” he said and reached for his pack.
“What? No.” She caught his hands in hers. “We’re so close.”
“It’s too dangerous. I can’t risk you or the baby.” He broke away from her to retrieve the satellite phone. “Before we left, I told my brother that I might need a huge favor, and he said he’d help in any way he could.”
She knew Jeremy’s family had powerful connections, but this? They could send a helicopter on demand? “How?”
“He has buddies in the State Department and various embassies in this part of the world. Dean can arrange for an extraction. He’d already put the word out that it might be needed.” The phone was in Jeremy’s hand. “All I have to do is call him.”
“That’s giving up. We can’t do that. Please, please don’t,” she begged him. “Blake needs us, and I’ll be all right. Cramps aren’t uncommon in early pregnancy, especially after stress or strain.” She tried to sound convincing. She was bolstered by the fact that she wasn’t spotting. She’d stopped to check on her way to the shelter. “You’ve got to trust my professional judgment on this one.” She injected a note of authority and assurance into her tone.
Her words seemed to have stayed his actions, at least for the moment. She watched him closely, so she saw the second that his face changed, concern clouded his expression, and he began hitting keys on the phone.
* * *
“Dammit. No signal. Never one in this miserable jungle.” Jeremy walked a few feet away, hoping for better luck. Nothing.
“Don’t make that call,” Gina said from behind him. “Didn’t you hear what I said? It’s not necessary.”
“I think it is.” He turned and pinned her with a stare. “And I’m calling the shots on this mission, remember?” She’d agreed to that but hadn’t adhered to it. But she would give way on this. He wouldn’t accept any other option. She was leaving just as soon as he got a signal out and a helicopter on the way. He’d been surprised when his brother had offered assistance, and now Jeremy was grateful for his family’s ability to pull strings and make things happen.
“I remember,” she said, “but I didn’t agree to my body being part of that negotiation. You don’t have a say in that.”
“You’re carrying my baby. If that doesn’t give me a say, I don’t know what does.” His grip on the phone tightened, threatening to crack the casing. He had to make her understand how terrified he was for her and the baby. “I’m not just going to stand by while you put your life and our child’s on the line.”
“Blake’s life is on the line, too. Don’t forget that,” she cautioned him. “If you call a helicopter in, it’ll give away our position and alert the men at the compound that the attempt to take us prisoner didn’t work. Do you want that? I’m not an expert on this type of thing, but I’m guessing the outcome could be disastrous.” She had a point, enough of one to make him hesitate. Noting his indecision, she kept going. “We’ll be seen as a threat to their operation down here, whatever that is exactly, and we’ll lose the ground we’ve gained. Best case scenario, they take Blake and flee to some other location God knows where, and we have to start from scratch on finding him. Worst case scenario…what if they get scared and kill Blake? We’re so, so close to getting to him,” she pleaded. “We can’t risk revealing our hand to the enemy.”
Jeremy felt as though his world had tipped sideways, and he was close to tumbling off. Not once in his years as a SEAL had he felt so indecisive. There, missions had been clear. If a situation called for action, he never hesitated to act, never second guessed himself.
With Gina, all he could think about were the repercussions to either of his choices. Bring in a helicopter and tip his hand to the enemy with disastrous results for Blake or risk Gina’s and the baby’s lives? He sucked in a breath, struggling to think his way out of this mess. In his hand, the satellite phone beeped, indicating that it had a signal.
“Don’t make the call. I’m better. Really,” Gina said. “The cramps have subsided.”
“Since when?” He narrowed his gaze at her.
“In the past few minutes. It’s a good sign. Can’t you please hold off?”
Jeremy wasn’t sure he should believe her, but the rosy glow that was always in her cheeks had returned and her breathing was normal. He could give it a little more time. He shoved the phone in his pocket. “All right, I’ll wait on the call—for now. From here on out, though, things are going to be different. You aren’t going to take an active part in this mission anymore. And if I think you need help, I’m going to call for it. No arguing about it.” She nodded, appearing obedient, not that he found her agreement convincing. She was just telling him what he wanted to hear. Her character and motivation were too strong to be knocked down so quickly.
“Okay,” she said, laying her hand on his arm. “But, Jeremy, don’t underestimate me. I know this terrain. It doesn’t intimidate me nor does the prospect of being in some danger if we can save Blake.”
“I’m not going to be able to do my job unless I’m sure you’re safe.” He had to make her understand that. What he wanted to do was hold her tight to him and protect her from everything.
“You do think that Blake is still alive, don’t you?” she asked, showing him a tiny chink in the armor she’d constructed around herself. She was tenacious, remarkably so, but she was still fearful for her brother.
“I do,” he said. He truly believed that. “Which is even more reason for you to stay where you’re safe. I can’t be worrying about you while I’m trying to get him out.”
“I understand that,” she said, but he could tell she wasn’t happy about it.
He couldn’t feel bad about that. The day had been a lesson for him. He’d been distracted by having her with him, allowing them to be surprised by the armed men. Knowing that led him to one conclusion. He couldn’t keep her and the baby safe when he was focused on rescuing her brother. He had to give the mission is full attention for it to be successful. Once he had Blake out, Jeremy could concentrate on Gina and their future.
But the day’s events concerned him for another reason. Were he and Gina destined to battle for power in everything they did? And if that was the case, how was a relationship between them ever going to work out?
He made himself stop and not pursue that line of thought. After the mission was done, there’d be time for them to work out their difference and plan for their future. For now, he had a job to do.