Chapter 53 ARMY
“Elisabeth, you overestimate yourself too much... Can't you really see your worth?” I said it in a harsher tone. She lowered her head and placed it between her legs. I sighed and pulled her into my embrace. “If you can't see what I see in you, just trust what I tell you.”
“I don't usually trust easily...” she replied, almost in a murmur.
“Neither do I, and here I am asking you to be my girlfriend...” I smiled widely when her eyes met mine. “Know that I already consider the sparkle in your eyes as a yes.”
“I think saying no is out of the question...” Lis smiled sweetly.
“Absolutely.” I took her in an intense kiss, gently laying her down on the boat and tracing her soft skin with my mouth, before taking her right hand and sliding the ring onto it. “There, now it's official!”
“I think I'll be the subject of gossip at the company.” She commented, examining the ring and smiling. “It's beautiful, it must be worth a year's salary.”
“Actually, about two years. Your boss should give you a raise for all you do.” I joked, making her laugh. “Don't worry about what they'll say; you know who you are and your worth!”
“That doesn't mean it will be easy to deal with.” Lis's tone sounded uneasy.
“At the company, we'll be professional. No one needs to know until you're ready for them to. ”I smiled when her face brightened, shivering as the cold sea breeze reached us. “Come on, we better head back before Greg sends the coast guard after us.”
“He's very protective of you. Have you been friends for many years?” Lis asked.
“More than that, we're war buddies… I met Greg when I joined the army. I needed to feel alive and thought that being in the midst of chaos was the best way.”
“What a stupid idea.” She remarked, covering her mouth immediately afterward.
Laughing, I nodded in agreement.
“It really was. I was a foolish young man with a lot of weight on my shoulders.” I omitted some reasons; it wasn't the time to tell the whole truth. “Anyway, Greg was kidnapped by the rebels as soon as I joined his team. Our commander chose to leave a soldier behind rather than fight the rebels and free his soldier.”
“I thought the army's motto was no soldier left behind.” She raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
“It should be, but the reality on the ground is completely different.” I sighed, recalling everything. I ran my hands through my hair and guided her towards the helm, where I started the engine.
“So, what happened?” Lis came up behind me, wrapping her arms around my body, easing the tension brought by the memories. I caressed her back, gently squeezing her hands, before turning back to the helm to check our course.
“I refused to leave without him... Like I said, I was a foolish young man with too many war movies in my head, thinking I was some sort of hero.” I laughed dryly, but she didn't join in. “Well, I managed to infiltrate the enemy camp. When I entered the tent where Greg was being tortured, I took down a few guards. Unfortunately, the whole camp was alerted to the invasion.”
“My God, how did you manage to escape?” Elisabeth released her hold on me, standing beside the helm and staring at me in surprise.
“It wasn't easy. Some crates had rattlesnakes meant to be used in the torture.” I continued without looking directly at her.
“Snakes?” She covered her mouth, her eyes wide.
“Yes, the venom induces delirium before death, a useful tool for extracting information.” I gripped the helm in anger. Lis placed her hands over mine, easing my grip. “Anyway, we released several throughout the camp, stole the guards' weapons, and threw grenades like two madmen as we ran.”
“It must have been incredibly difficult to do all that alone,” she remarked, a bitter taste rising in my throat.
“I wasn't alone. One soldier decided to join me in the rescue.” I sighed. “He had children and a family to return to, and yet he chose to save the lives of two irresponsible men.”
“Why do you say that?” Lis squeezed my hands tighter. We reached the shore. “Patrick?”
“He didn't survive; he got bitten by one of the snakes we released... We tried to drag him into the desert for help, but there was nothing and no one in that hellhole.” I finally said that, extending my hands to take hers.
“Sorry, I didn't mean to end our night with such a morbid story.” I smiled, hugging her.
“I like knowing about you and your past, a side of the arrogant CEO that everyone fears,” Lis joked, kissing me. “Now you're my arrogant boyfriend!”
“I think it suits me,” I said, and we laughed, greeting Greg, who sighed loudly and shook his head when he saw our fingers with the rings. “Aren't you coming, my friend?”
“Yes, sir!” he responded curtly, heading to the wheel.
“I think Greg doesn't like me very much,” Lis commented, slightly uneasy.
“It's not that. He's upset because we took so long to come back and probably didn't leave the beach until we were safe,” I said, stroking her silky hair.
“He owes you a huge debt, doesn't he?” Elisabeth settled into my arms.
“My friend considers himself in debt, and I am grateful for our friendship,” I said, looking into her eyes through the rearview mirror. “I trust my life to him and to everyone I love!”
“It's a beautiful friendship...” Lis whispered, falling asleep.
“It is!” I sighed, adjusting her in my lap.
“Heloise is here in Cuba,” Greg said abruptly, looking in the rearview mirror. “We'll take care of what we need to tomorrow and leave immediately. We've already disrupted the action plan by staying an extra day.”
“We'll talk about this later, when Elisabeth is in bed,” I reprimanded him with narrowed eyes.
“You're playing with fire, my friend... And you won't be the only one to get burned, please...” Greg began, but I raised a hand to cut him off.
“I said we'd talk about this later. Let's get her to the hotel, then you can present all your concerns and reprimands.” I smiled, looking at Lis sleeping peacefully.
“Yes, sir!” Greg replied sarcastically, stopping in front of the hotel.
I carefully laid Lis on the bed and left cautiously.
“Where are you going? I thought we were going to sleep together...” She sat up, groggy and sleepy.
“Go back to sleep. I need to sort out some things with Greg. I'll be back soon to warm you up.” I smiled teasingly.
“Okay... Lock the door...” Lis mumbled automatically, falling back asleep.
“I'll take care of this. You'll never have to be afraid or live with locked doors again,” I promised to the air, knowing Lis couldn't hear me in her deep sleep.