Page 53 of Her Faithful Protector

“I hear you,” Max said soothingly. “Also, Camilla Ross needs surgery. Her shoulder is barely holding together. But still, they’ll both be fine for the twenty-four hours it’ll take to get them to a hospital in the States.”

Nic knew it was true. When they’d finally tried to move Cami, it had become clear just how much pain she’d been in. Kane had had to administer a shit-ton of painkillers to help her out, now she was resting in the back of the satellite truck along with Lisa, Jan, and Phyllis. It looked like it might rain, so they wanted to keep them covered.

“Raiden, how are the others looking?”

“You’re right Max, no other life-threatening injuries. They are all resting as comfortably as possible. I’m going to go join Kane and see to the villagers.” He turned and left at a run.

That just left Max and Nic.

“How are you doing?” Max asked.

“Worried as hell about Cami, but also like it’s the best day of my life,” he grinned at his lieutenant.

“I’m going to have you airlifted with the students. The rest of us are going to stick around and help the villagers. We’ll wait for the federales, then call in choppers.”

His relief was palpable. “Thanks, Max.”

“No problem.”

* * *

Logically, Nic knew Cami was going to be all right, but every minute she was in surgery was hell. They’d flown into Miami last night, and the surgery had started first thing this morning. He was surprised that Cami’s parents still hadn’t arrived—surprised but relieved.

A doctor came into the waiting room and he stood up. She looked around and saw a two groups of tired families, him and Paul Davis. “Who is here for Lisa Garcia?” she asked.

Nic stood up.

She looked at him warily. He could understand why. He’d borrowed a clean t-shirt from one of the guys on the helicopter, then he’d tried to clean up as best as he could in the hospital bathroom, but there was only so much you could do with hand soap and paper towels.

“Yes, I’m here for Lisa,” Nic answered automatically. “How is she?”

“She’s doing as well as can be expected. We have her on a high dose of intravenous antibiotics. Her fever is still pretty high. We’re going to keep her with us until we think it’s safe for her to travel. Her arm was badly infected.”

“Is there any word on Camilla Ross or Jan Hines?” he asked as he looked over at Paul.

“Were you one of the students on the bus?” she asked as she gave him another once over.

“No, ma’am.”

He could see the lightbulb go off over her head. “You were part of the rescue team, weren’t you?”

He nodded.

“I can’t tell you about anybody else. Lisa is my only patient.” She looked around the waiting room again. “Did y’all contact their relatives?”

“The authorities are getting in touch with them, yes, ma’am.”

“I hope they get here soon. Lisa could use some familiar faces around her. When they arrive, have them check in at the nurses’ station.”

Nic nodded and the doctor left.

Nic thought about what he had seen the other night when Lisa had been strung up and the guard had been mauling her. Damn straight she needed her family. He needed to make some calls to find out what was keeping them.

So many parents had descended like locusts on the hospital starting last night. The last students who still didn’t have family here were Jan Hines and Cami.

“I’m going to go ask about Jan again,” Paul said as he stood up and faced Nic.

“You’re just going to piss off the nurses,” Nic told the kid. “Why don’t you go to the hotel where your dad’s staying?”