That’s when I was attacked.”
Lines pressed between his brows.
“There’s something else,” she whispered. “I’m grateful for your help and for Snake’s, but you know I need to get out of here. I need a decompression chamber. And I don’t want to put anyone else in danger.”
There, she’d said the words that had been crawling over her ever since Will had made an appearance today and put himself between her and the men trying to kill her.
“One thing at a time,” he said. “Snake has a radio. While I was in the air trying to figure out how to rescue you, I tried to radio for help a few times, but no one connected on the other end.” He glanced at her, his strong, scruffy jaw and warm brows much too close. “I’ll make the call for help first thing. Only Snake isn’t going to like it.”
“Why not?” But she thought she already knew.
“He lives off-grid. Doesn’t want anyone to know he’s here. Doesn’t want to draw attention to his castle in the glen. Once people know about his castle, he might be overrun with marauders.”
“Out here? Nah, I doubt it.” Sylvie couldn’t help but grin at his medieval references. He was definitely chivalrous, a real knight in shining armor, now that she thought about it. With his strong arms holding her, carrying her over and through the terrain—not an easy task in places—and keeping her pressed against his warm, muscular form, she couldn’t think straight.
She had to get her mind on something else. She was strong and independent, and didn’t like that being near him turned her soft and compliant. Made her needy. She couldn’t afford to be like her mother when it came to men, and get hurt in the worst of ways. With all that had happened today, she feared her suspicions that her mother had been murdered were confirmed, and she’d almost blurted it all out to Will. She wasn’t ready to tell him her darkest of secrets yet. Not until she was absolutely certain of it. She didn’t want to think about it now, didn’t want to face the truth of what that would mean. So she turned her thoughts back to Will and Snake.
“But you know where he lives.”
“That, I do. He needs someone he can trust to bring him supplies and keep his existence a secret.”
“Are you telling me the Alaska State Troopers or the Coast Guard or some other entity doesn’t know he’s here?”
“Maybe they do, maybe they don’t. The point is that he is off the grid and off the radar. Or at least, he was.”
“And now you’ve blown his trust.”
“He invited us to follow him, didn’t he?”
“Doesn’t mean he’ll let you use his radio.”
“That remains to be seen.”
Sylvie wasn’t sure she liked Will’s answer. Was he going to use the radio or not? And if not, how did they get out of here? The need to get them out of his sanctuary should be reason enough for Snake to let them call for help.
Sylvie could barely make out the man’s silhouette ahead of them since he made better time, crept stealthily through the forest much faster than Will, who carried Sylvie. Once again, she found the need to distract herself from Will’s sturdy body, and the great care and attention he took to making the ride as smooth as possible despite the slick, sodden boulders and fallen trunks and debris he had to step over and around.
Finally, Will stood at the open door of Snake’s log cabin and then carried Sylvie over the threshold.
“You can set her down over there.” Snake referred to her as if she were a box of supplies and gestured to a long sofa near the woodstove.
Will was right. The man had something going on the stove, and the aroma stirred her hunger. After Will gently settled her on the sofa—worn out but more plush than she would have expected—Snake appeared by Will’s side with a first-aid kit.
“Thanks.” Will took the kit. “She needs dry clothes, too. Got any extras? I’ll make sure to reimburse you.”
“No need for that.” Snake nodded and disappeared through a door off the main room.
“I agree,” she said. “There’s no need for you to reimburse Snake for any dry clothes he offers me. I’m perfectly capable of doing that myself.”
At Will’s surprised glance, she added, “And I’m perfectly capable of being grateful.” She offered a smile of her own. “Thank you, Will, for your thoughtfulness. For carrying me through the woods. I’m sorry you had to do that. Besides, you need them, too.”
“What do I need?” Will crouched near her ankle and examined it.
“Dry clothes.”
“I’ll manage. And you’re welcome, by the way. All in a day’s work.”
Yeah, right. When he touched her ankle, she winced.
“It’s not so bad,” he said, “And probably the least of your worries. Am I right?”
“You know you are.”
He shot her a grin that tugged at her insides. She was losing it. Cold and hungry and injured and...well...that made her vulnerable. Sylvie wouldn’t read anything into his grin. She couldn’t afford to get sidetracked.
“I’ll wrap this after you change out of the dry suit.” Will stood when Snake appeared and held out a couple of large flannel shirts and some jeans.
“These do?”
Will cocked a brow at Sylvie, humor flickering in his gaze.
“It’ll have to. Thank you, Snake.” Saying his name felt awkward on her lips.
Will slung the extra clothes over his shoulder. “Thanks, Snake.”
Sylvie hated to ask, hated to need help, but worse than that, she hated to limp across the floor. No, falling on her face would be worse. She had some vertigo. Not good. She hoped she only had a mild case of DCS. She’d never before gotten the bends. The dive hadn’t been that deep, and she’d descended at the appropriate rate. But her ascending straight to the surface without any stops had been all it took to throw her body chemistry into turmoil. The cold water and exertion from fighting off a killer hadn’t done her any favors.
The next few hours would be telling, especially if she didn’t get help. But first things first. Right now she simply needed to make it to that room for some privacy. “Will, can you assist me to the room so I can change?”
“Sure thing. Um... Sylvie... I need to doctor that gash across your shoulder and back, too.”
“You don’t think that can wait?”
His grin from moments ago quickly faded. “No.”
“I need to doctor your head,” she said. Fair play.
“Snake has a mirror. I can take care of it.”
But Sylvie couldn’t reach her shoulder and back, even with a mirror, so that was that. She let the compassion and concern in Will’s warm brown eyes calm her nerves. He was good in that way, even addicting if she wasn’t careful.
“While you guys take care of business,” Snake said, “I’ll dish up the stew. Got strong coffee going, too. When you’re ready, we’ll eat.”
“Sounds good.” Will assisted Sylvie into what was obviously Snake’s bedroom and set her on the bed. He frowned down at her.
All she wanted to do was lie down and sleep forever. This close to a bed, the warmth of the cabin and the aroma of the stew, she could sense the adrenaline crash coming.
Hold it together. Just a little longer.
“You okay to get out of that suit without any help?” His tone and the look in his eyes said his only concern was for her. He wasn’t going to take advantage of her. She