Finding Dani (Once a Marine, Always a Marine Book 3) Page 4

  Dani moved further into the space toward her desk, forcing Martin to move aside. Her notes were undisturbed and were part of the report that would be submitted to the CDC upon return to the states. Nothing of her suspicions went into this report, so there was no reason for her to be upset with finding one of her team members waiting.

  But she was.

  “Next time, please come find me instead of snooping through my personal notes.”

  Making a noise that sounded a bit like an indignant huff, Martin responded, “I was merely curious while waiting. Besides, if there was something in the report that wasn’t meant for other’s consumption then it shouldn’t be left strewn about for anyone to see.”

  She buried the irritation somewhat as Dani reluctantly agreed. But she’d be damned if she let the walking thesaurus know it. Instead, she sat down at her desk and pointed to the cot, motioning him to sit. Not that he would. “I assume your reports are ready as well? As soon as a transport is ready, then we’re headed stateside.”

  “Of course,” he said, never giving the cot a glance.

  Martin chose the high ground, preferring to stand, towering over the now sitting Dani. It didn’t bother her. Dr. Martin Graham liked the illusion of being in charge, always, and she’d learned to deal with it. And giving him what he perceived as an advantage was easier than fighting him for it.

  “So, why are you in here?”

  “I heard you were going back to the village.”

  How he’d heard, she had no idea. She didn’t deny it. “We’re leaving soon.”

  “I’ll be going with you,” he said. “I want the rest of my equipment from my tent in the village.”

  “You weren’t invited.” She said it calmly and waited for the tirade. Not that Martin was the yelling type, more the throw-his-authority-around type. But, in this instance, he wasn’t going to win the argument.

  “You may be team leader on this trip, but I do outrank you. I will be going.”

  “Doesn’t matter who you think you are, Doc. Like the lady said, you weren’t invited.”

  Damon’s voice was calm and smooth, but the edge was unmistakable. Dani slumped back into her seat and let Martin have a taste of real authority. The kind that didn’t respond to titles or even societal standards—and especially rudely stated demands.

  But Martin tried anyway. “As the senior doctor, I should be present to collect the rest of the data that was unavoidably left behind.”

  Damon shrugged. His olive green T-shirt was plastered to his muscled chest from the heat, outlining a form that was ripped and cut. Camouflage BDU pants hugged lean hips and strong thighs. About an inch under six feet tall, he was everything Martin’s pressed perfection would never be…naturally confident and physically imposing.

  Dani was amused to see the superiority of one ex-Marine slowly deflate Martin’s ego. At least he knew when he was outmatched. He was certainly outgunned, since Damon also happened to be armed and his hand rested lightly on his holstered weapon.

  “Everything alright here, Dani?”

  “It’s fine. Really. Dr. Graham was leaving and I just wanted to grab my backpack before we headed out.”

  “Well, then, how about I escort the good Doc back to his quarters and meet you at the helipad in five?”

  Snapping a smart salute from her chair, Dani smiled and said, “Copy that, Marine.”

  Damon’s grin sent an unexpected stab right through her. So like Gabriel’s and yet, all his own. He was the reckless twin, the one prone to starting trouble, just to see how everyone reacted. He’d always been that way, while his brother had been cautious, exploring all the options and making the informed decision.

  “I demand to go along.”

  Martin had his arms crossed and a pugnacious look on his face. She sighed. Soothing his bruised ego wasn’t on her agenda and she didn’t have time for it. Other things demanded her attention before they left. “Look, Martin…”

  “Time to go, Doc,” Damon said, grabbed Martin by the shoulders, and shoved him toward the tent opening. “Let me help you out.”

  Dani hadn’t realized that he’d already moved around behind Dr. Graham. “Take your hands off of me.” His voice was higher than normal in surprise at being stiff-leg walked out into the compound.

  “Sorry about this Doc, really, but the lady has more important things to do than deal with your bullshit.”

  That Damon actually sounded like he cared made Dani bite her lower lip to keep the laughter at bay. It was really nice to have someone else take charge for once. It had been a long time since she’d had that particular luxury.

  And when Damon’s head popped back into the tent, she couldn’t stop the grin. “That was mean.”

  He shrugged and grinned back. “Move your ass, Red. We have a time-table.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He was gone and she jumped up to empty her trusty backpack. Those samples were going to stay with her at all times once she had them back. Damon’s friend, Gunner, wanted to look them over and Dani welcomed the new set of eyes. Maybe she was tired and overworked. Maybe she just imagined the mutation.

  And maybe she really did have a killer on her team. She was hoping Gunner would be able to spot the truth. For the first time in her life, Dani wanted to be wrong.

  ***

  Hailey stopped next to Travis under the overhang of the mess tent. From where they stood, they had a great view of Dani’s tent and everything that was going on outside of it. Which included that helicopter pilot and Dr. Graham in a short, but heated argument.

  “What’s going on over there?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Travis said, “but I don’t like the way that guy just barged into Dani’s tent.”

  “As opposed to Dr. Graham barging into her tent?”

  Travis shrugged, and they both watched as Dr. Graham straightened his clothes and walked away, fists clenched and sour expression on his face. “Yeah, but he’s always doing something like that. We don’t know this guy.”

  Hailey rolled her eyes. “He’s her brother-in-law, so I’m sure it’s fine, Trav.”

  That guy stuck his head back into the tent and then took off toward the far edge of camp, where his helicopter was sitting. She hadn’t realized Travis was tense until he relaxed his shoulders and flexed his back.

  “What would you have done anyway?” she asked, honestly curious. “That guy would’ve taken you apart.”

  Travis snorted. “I can handle myself.”

  Hailey reached out to touch his arm, the rare contact making her fingers tingle. Too bad he never noticed. He never noticed anything—or anyone—when Dani was around. She was like a magnet, pulling him closer without ever really letting him as close as he so obviously wanted to be.

  Look at me, she thought. I’m right here. But she never said anything. She knew a lost cause when she saw one, and she also knew that Dr. Danielle Bordeaux was completely oblivious to Travis’s obsession.

  But she wasn’t oblivious to that pilot. That was for sure. Her whole body language changed when she was with him. Too bad Travis couldn’t see that. Or maybe he didn’t want to.

  “I should go and check on her. Make sure she doesn’t need anything.”

  Hailey tightened her grip, finally earning a quick look from him. “Maybe you should let her be. She’s a big girl and clearly has some history with Damon.”

  Travis shrugged her off about the time Dani left the tent and turned to head in the direction that Damon had taken a few minutes earlier. “You don’t understand, Hailey. She doesn’t understand either, but I do. I found out all about that guy from some of the other soldiers here.”

  She sighed and shoved her hands into the pockets of her khaki pants. “What don’t I understand?”

  “He’s a killer. Some kind of ex-Marine sniper turned mercenary. I’ll bet Dani doesn’t know about that, and someone should tell her to stay away from him. He’s not good for her.”

  And you are? Instead, she said, “And
what do you hope to gain by telling her all that?”

  Travis frowned down at her, “You don’t understand.” And he stepped away from Hailey to follow Dani.

  “Oh, I think I understand just fine,” she whispered. “You’re the one that doesn’t understand.”

  But he would. And eventually he’d turn to her.

  At least, a girl could hope.

  Chapter 6

  Damon pulled the stick back and the chopper left the ground as another member of Dani’s team rounded the corner. That one was named Travis and he had a determined look on his face. But they didn’t have time for more delays and Dani wouldn’t have been able to see him as they flew off. Damon made sure.

  “How long is the flight?” Dani asked from the seat next to him.

  He thought she looked hot all strapped in with her headset on and Gunner’s aviation glasses shielding her vivid eyes from the sun—and him.

  “Five hours, give or take.”

  “I hope it’s worth the trip. Especially for those guys in the back.”

  Damon glanced back at the five volunteers. The lance corporal that he’d fleeced in poker was among them. “Don’t let them fool you. They were bored as hell and looking for something to do.”

  “But deliberately flying into a possibly dangerous situation for some medical supplies and my slides isn’t something they’d normally do for fun. Even if they are Marines. And how did you get it approved in the first place?”

  “You mean because I’m just a lowly mercenary now with no military ranking?”

  He grinned when she shot him the bird, and then again when she immediately checked to make sure no one caught her doing something so un-doctorly. “That’s not what I said.”

  “You didn’t have to. Everyone gets their orders, and it so happens that one of my orders is to provide one Dr. Gunner Halverson whatever he needs in terms of resources for his experiments. He decided he needed your slides.” He winked at her and then went back to watching the instrument panel. “And the corporal back there saw you, just so you know.”

  “They can’t hear us, right?”

  He laughed. “Nope. Are you going cuss me out now?”

  Her laugh rumbled low through the headset. She needed to laugh more often. She’d been such a serious little thing when Gabriel had brought her home to Louisiana during college. They’d just joined the Peace Corps after earning their degrees. Damon had been home for some R&R after Bagdad and was enjoying some of his mama’s home cooking and his daddy’s raunchy sense of humor.

  As if she’d known his train of thought, she asked seriously, “How’s your dad?”

  “Probably illegally poaching gators again, now that Mama passed and can’t forbid it.”

  “I’m sorry about that. I should have gone to the funeral.”

  He shrugged, “He got your card. Still sitting on his side table, last I was there.” Damon didn’t want to guilt her into spending time with the old man, but his Dad loved her as the daughter he didn’t have. “He’d love it if you went home to visit.”

  “I haven’t been able to face him.”

  Something in her voice was so sad that it almost broke his heart. “Why not? He loves you to pieces, even if you didn’t keep the Dupree name.”

  “Because I couldn’t save him, Damon.” It came out a choked whisper. “I’m a doctor and I failed. I didn’t save Gabriel.”

  ***

  Anuma Abenaa was hiding in the jungle, watching as the rebel soldiers led away the last of the villagers. The ones they’d left alive. He’d slipped away from the military camp the night before. Almost the moment they’d landed, he’d gotten lost in the crowd and made his way to the nearest village. He’d stolen a beat up truck to make this trip. He doubted he’d be missed until today, and by then, he’d have done what he came to do.

  Which was to destroy evidence.

  Everyone had something to hide, and he was no different. Eventually, he’d be found out, but for the time being, he was content to lead a life where everyone thought they knew him. It suited him, to work with the CDC as a translator. And if he was less than honest about some of his translations, it couldn’t be helped.

  After the rebels did their final sweep, the village was empty. And still he waited at least thirty minutes before leaving the cover of the dense jungle. There was no one to witness it as he crept forward, darting into the tents to grab items he knew to be valuable. Still, he was careful, keeping to the waning shadows as the sun started to go down. And when he had what he wanted, he wrapped some cloth around a long stick and lit it on fire.

  This can’t be helped, he told himself. The village elders would rebuild, like they always did when tragedy struck. Anuma began to set the tents on fire, the embers flying high. That was when he heard the unmistakable thump, thump of the helicopter blades.

  The chopper came in fast and low and was the same one from their rescue. He stood frozen, flaming torch still in hand as it passed by. The glare of the sun obscured his vision of the pilot and co-pilot, but the five men with guns in the back were pretty clear.

  He dropped the torch and ran, the satchel around his back bouncing with every movement.

  How did they know? It was too soon. He couldn’t get caught yet.

  Not yet.

  ***

  “Was that—?”

  Dani’s hands gripped the belt strapping her in as she leaned as close to the window as she could. Her face was almost pressed against the glass. “Anuma? Yes, it was,” she answered.

  Damon swung them around and turned toward the now burning village. “What the hell is he doing here?”

  “Good question. But I want to know why he’s burning the village down. Can we land?”

  “Yeah, I saw a flat spot close by.”

  When they landed, the five Marines in the back jumped out with weapons ready. They fanned out and took point, while Dani followed. Damon stayed close, one hand resting lightly on her back and the other holding his gun. He was protecting their backsides.

  “What do you know about your guide?”

  Dani shook her head. “Not much when I really think about it. He was cleared through the CDC and the local government and he’s been on several assignments with different teams in Ghana.”

  “What about personally? Where’s he from?”

  The heat of the fire was reaching them, heating Dani’s face and making them all sweat. “He’s from Sierra Leone and he speaks French, English, and Swahili. All fluently. He doesn’t talk a lot, but he likes Travis. They do the majority of contact tracing for us, so they are together fairly often. Maybe he’d know more.”

  Damon pulled her to a stop at the edge of the burned village. The tents and structures of the village burned fast so that in the short walk, there was nothing left but burning piles. The smoke was a dark cloud and the acrid smell of what was left burned her nose.

  Anuma was nowhere to be seen.

  “I just don’t understand,” she said, staring at the devastation.

  “And maybe you never will. For now, let’s see if we can salvage anything from your tent and get back to base. Lead the way.”

  Dani admired the way Damon could focus on only what was important at the moment, whereas she had been so overwhelmed with questions and sadness that she’d felt rooted to the spot, unable to go forward or back.

  “It’s on the other side, near the temporary hospital tent.”

  Damon turned her toward him, holding out a bandana. “Put this over your nose and mouth; it’ll help with the smoke.”

  “Okay,” she mumbled.

  “We’ll figure it out, Dani. I promise.”

  She looked into his light topaz eyes and immediately felt safe. He would take care of it, because she couldn’t. It wasn’t something she understood. Dani worked to save people, to make their lives better. Not destroy them. Or destroy their way of lives. How could Anuma do something like this?

  She took a deep breath through the bandana, finding that the smoke wasn’t as b
ad with that filter on. Then she nodded and led the way through the burning piles, picking her way around fallen structures and burning clothing.

  The tent she’d shared with Hailey and Claire was a bit further away from the others and was where she’d seen Anuma standing before they’d landed. He’d dropped the torch, probably hoping it would light up as well, but only one side of the structure had burned completely. The rest was smoldering.

  Dani ducked inside before Damon could stop her and searched for her bag of samples that she’d kept under her cot. It wasn’t there.

  “What the hell were you thinking?” Damon said, right before the iron bar that was his arm snaked around her waist. She was pulled up and back against him as he got them out of the tent.

  There was a popping noise and then the whole thing fell over sideways. Small flames grew into larger ones as fire began to consume the spot she’d just been standing in.

  “I’m sorry; I didn’t realize—”

  “That the whole damn thing was about to come down on your head?”

  Dani turned in his arms, trying to take a step back, but he wasn’t going for it. “Thank you for pulling me out.”

  Damon pulled on her braid, forcing her face up to his, and her breath caught because she thought he might kiss her. It was a silly whim, but she wished he would. Her heart was beating faster from the near miss with the collapse. It couldn’t be because her body was flush against his, feeling all that hard, hot flesh against her softer body.

  “Do not do that again.”

  His tone was hard and he emphasized every word. And only once did his eyes stray from hers. But when they did, they focused on her lips and made them tingle.

  “Want us to chase the fire bug, Shadow?”

  The lance corporal’s voice cut into the moment, but Dani was glad it broke the spell. Damon let go of her and she moved away to steady herself. She tuned out the conversation, turning her mind instead to her missing bag and the mystery of why a good man would set fire to an entire village.