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And in the strobing lights, all the Turk’s men fell to the ground.
The Turk shouted and pulled Alessandra closer to his body, pressing his gun to her temple –
Just as I’d feared he would.
His head was right behind hers, with only a couple of inches visible through my scope – and most of his head was obscured by her tangled hair.
Even if I took the shot and managed to not hit Alessandra, the Turk might still pull the trigger in his death throes.
As long as the pistol was aimed at her head, I couldn’t risk taking the shot.
Cold sweat poured in rivulets down my neck and back. I could feel the sharp edges of Rachel’s diamond ring cutting into my chest as it pressed against my skin.
Images flashed through my brain of Rachel on the rooftop in Kabul as I shot the gunmen trying to reach her.
This was entirely different, though.
This was a waiting game.
I heard Dario’s voice directly beneath me, though I couldn’t see him.
“Let her go,” he said, his voice steady and calm.
He was doing an excellent job of hiding his internal panic at seeing Alessandra in danger.
“STOP!” the Turk screamed. “STOP, OR I’LL KILL HER!”
Dario said calmly, “Adriano, Valentino… lower your guns and get back.”
Just as Niccolo had suggested, Adriano protested. “But – ”
“DO IT.”
It was all window dressing – a play designed to make the Turk think he had the upper hand.
We had to get him to point the gun away from Alessandra’s head.
Only then could I take the shot.
“There,” Dario’s voice said beneath me. “They’ve backed off. Now let her go.”
The Turk laughed. “I don’t think so.”
Dario and the Turk went back and forth, verbally sparring.
I kept my scope trained on what little of the Turk’s head was visible… and I tried to mentally slow the hammering of my heart against my ribs.
Finally the moment of truth came when Dario said, “Now, stop pointing your gun at her… and aim it at me.”
The Turk stepped backwards, dragging Alessandra along with him –
And disappearing out of my sights.
I adjusted my gun until the edge of his head was back between my crosshairs.
“Aim your gun at me,” Dario repeated calmly.
“Why bother?” the Turk hissed. “You’ll kill me no matter what.”
