Chapter 14
Exhilaration filled Jaron. Free. He was free thanks to his fellow Jutak warriors. He glanced at Sasha, tongue lolling in sheer happiness no matter the danger.
Excitement continued to flow through his blood. He would receive a severe lecture from Torkel and more than likely a mark in his file, but he’d worry about that back on Enotia. At the moment, his concern centered on Sasha and making sure she got out with him. His fellow Jutaks would help.
He didn’t miss Rydak’s curious looks. The Team Three Leader had questions, but held them back for now. Jaron accepted the temporary reprieve. He wasn’t sure what he’d say or how he’d explain his feelings concerning Sasha.
After what they’d been through, he knew he wanted to spend time with her. Time outside of the stress of being held by The Collector. He wanted the chance to explore what they had together.
A snarl mixed with a pained cry rang out behind him. Jaron spun around as soon as he heard it. Sasha limped toward him her back right leg lifted slightly above the ground and his heart stopped. He lowered his laser and dropped to one knee. His friends gathered around in silence.
Tension and concern emanated from them, but he focused on Sasha. “How bad, kitten?”
She sat on her haunches releasing another pained sound, then shifted. His gaze fell to her injury. Discoloration in a disturbing shade of green already spread downward, encompassing her lower calf and ankle. He stroked a hand over her leg, catching her wince.
“I can make it.” Typical Sasha. She rose, using his shoulder to brace. Jaron caught her about the waist, helping her to stand.
“We need to keep going, Jaron.”
Rydak voiced what they all knew. Jaron reached over to pick up Sasha, he’d carry her if he had to. No way he’d leave her behind. She smacked his hand away and glared. “No. You’ll be slowed down. Let’s keep moving.”
Against his better judgment, they took off again. From the corner of his eye, Jaron watched every step Sasha took. Her brown hues paled every time she put weight on the ankle. The slight limp dramatically took away her former speed. His gut clenched as he watched her struggle. Several glances from Bane and V’hor said they noticed too. She continued, strain forming lines at the corner of her mouth, a mouth he’d kissed in such eager passion not long ago.
“She’s not going to make it. At this rate, whoever’s chasing will overtake us,” Khane interrupted in his comm from his position further ahead.
“Shut up, Khane.” Jaron didn’t like hearing what he knew.
Khane rushed back to them and continued to give voice to his thoughts. He didn’t even lower his tone. “You don’t have to like it, but we need to get rid of her, Jaron.”
Grabbing Khane by his black shirt, Jaron slammed him against an outcropping of rocks. Everyone stopped. “Shut the fuck up. I’m not leaving her.”
“She’s nothing to you. For all we know she’s a plant by The Collector. He let her escape with you as a trick.”
Because everyone was guilty in Khane’s mind. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Khane’s snort didn’t hide the sneer as he spoke in a harsh growl. “After assuring everyone you wanted no Chosen, you would put us at risk for sex sharing? Is she that great? Wait, she’s Argoran. That explains the answer to that question. Leave her behind, Jaron.”
Jaron’s fist was flying before he realized it and he hit Khane in the throat. He did nothing to help as his team mate gagged. “Like you left your mate?”
Khane flinched and Jaron leaned in close. Some secrets were best not shared with the others. Not even his Unit Leader. “You think I don’t know what you did? I was the first selected to the teams. Torkel ordered me to pull the background of every Jutak who joined his Unit after. I know what you did, Khane.”
Now Jaron got the reaction he hoped for. Khane’s blue eyes hardened. “Fuck you, Jaron. You don’t know anything.”
“Enough. I’ll cover. Get her on the shuttle, if she’s going with us, Jaron.” Rydak went to one knee and took up position. “Vee, you’re with me.”
Without question the Serpine fell back, green gaze steely. Jaron gave up hope Sasha might have missed the argument when she faced him.
“I’m holding you back.” Even as she stated the obvious, her mouth firmed and her eyes took on a determined expression. “Just go.”
Jaron’s pulse jumped. How could she ask that? He must have taken too long to respond. Her stance declared she was prepared to be abandoned. Expected it.
All because the bastard in the past had betrayed her. Jaron’s jaw tightened. If Sasha thought he’d leave her, that she wasn’t worth the effort, she was about to be surprised.
“We are getting you out, Sasha.”
The protest formed in her brilliant green eyes. Jaron held a hand up to listen as Torkel buzzed on the comm. “Rydak, estimated team arrival to shuttle?”
Rydak clicked in. “Ran into trouble.”
A pause as Torkel took in the words not said. “Permanent trouble or slight delay?”
Khane glanced at Jaron, his gaze full of meaning. Jaron’s breath picked up, his fingers twitching on the weapon in his hand. Years of experience and control stopped him from smasing his fist into Khane’s face again.
“Delay,” Rydak said, not one inflection in his tone giving away a reason for concern.
Torkel exhaled over the comm. His Unit Leader sensed there was more they weren’t sharing, but would leave it for now. “You need to be gone in under five minutes. I expect you all on that shuttle in the timeframe and that includes you too, Jaron. We didn’t bust our asses to not bring you home.”
A grin threatened to escape in spite of the growing danger. “Afraid Faye will blame you if something happens to me?”
The burn of Sasha’s stare seared his shoulders. Jaron met her gaze and hoped he looked reassuring. She only had access to his side of the conversation.
“Just get here, Jaron.”
By unanimous decision Bane, Uri and Khane took the lead. Rydak and Vee would hold off whoever followed. Without waiting for her agreement, Jaron bent and picked up Sasha. She shrieked, but he ignored her as he raced to catch up with the others.
Behind them mayhem and chaos ensued as their pursuers burst into the opening from beyond the cover. Explosions overlaid Torkel’s orders, but Jaron couldn’t mistake his urgency. He risked a look over his shoulder. Rydak picked off the assailants with unerring accuracy and Vee’s steady firing dulled his hearing. The air sizzled and crackled.
“You’re crazy, Jaron.” Sasha looped her arms about his shoulders even as she made the pronouncement.
The shuttle came into view as Bane, Uri and Khane charged ahead and clambered up the lowered ramp into the open doorway of the shuttle. They were close. Jaron grinned, exhilaration making him giddy. He glanced down at Sasha. “We can make it.”
Guards suddenly charged into the small area the pilot had selected to land. They raised lasers in Jaron’s direction and began firing. Long range blasters. Heart thrumming a desperate beat, he veered toward the right. Sasha cursed when Jaron hunched over, doing his best to protect and cover as much of her as possible.
Shouts and pounding boots chased behind him. Breath stuttered in his lungs, but Jaron kept going in the opposite direction of the shuttle, drawing them further away.
“I need to set you down.” There was no way they’d escape on foot.
“Do it.”
Jaron took a moment to stare at Sasha’s fierce countenance. Despite their situation, she didn’t appear frightened, only resigned. Jaron ducked behind a gnarled and knotted tree stump with its top half sheared off from some violent phenom. He lowered Sasha carefully. Favoring her right leg, she curled her back against the meager protection.
When Jaron checked over the top of the stump, he realized he’d traveled further off the path and the direct line to his team. Dr. Kirkem’s men blocked the way back. It would be a run of desperation to get past them.
If he carried Sasha, he’d present a larger target. The risk of dropping her if hit also increased but letting her make it on her own wasn’t an option. Jaron refused to accept defeat. Her twisted ankle was a detriment to their escape, but he was a Jutak. He’d make it work. On a solid inhale, Jaron raised his laser and started blasting every time one of the guards was foolish enough to get near.