He has to get to Roman first.
Then Jules and Savannah.
Lachlan knows where Roman was being kept.
He takes out the two guarding him with ease.
Roman is conscious, but only barely.He offers a weak smile as Lachlan unties him quickly.‘Lock.’
‘Drink slow,’ Lachlan tells him when he gives him water, checking for serious injuries.He’s picked up some new ones since Lachlan last clapped eyes on him but no stab wounds, nothing lasting.‘Can you walk?’
‘Y-yeah.’
Lachlan pulls boots off one of the men whose feet look similar in size to Roman’s, does the same for himself although there isn’t much point.‘Here.’He laces them up for him.‘We’re going to get the others now.Can you aim?’
‘Yes.’Roman looks around.‘What is burning?’
‘The island.Your father is downstairs, I think.’Lachlan hopes Mikhail isn’t dead but knows it’s a possibility.He helps Roman up.‘Ready?’
The boy swallows.‘I’m ready.’
They move together, Lachlan covering him.
Along the way they take out two more each.
Mikhail is alone in the desiccated remains of the kitchen.The men who were holding him abandoned their positions to meet Lachlan and Roman head on, which was a grave mistake.
Roman runs to his father when he sees him.‘Papa!’
Mikhail is missing several fingers.His son makes a strangled noise when he sees it, but Mikhail hugs his son tight when his hands are free.
‘Please,’ Lachlan says, knows the tipping point has come.He needs help getting Jules out.The last of the commandos will be in the bunker, Fenwick likely with them.‘Help me.’
Mikhail’s mangled hands are bound.
He drinks the water Roman gives him, looking at Lachlan.
‘We will help,’ he says, although for some reason it makes dread coil in Lachlan’s guts.The foliage surrounding the mansion is now merrily burning, a ring of pure raging fire, the air thickening with smoke.‘Let’s go.’
Just as Lachlan thought, the last three are holed up in the bunker, but no Fenwick.The cowardly fucker has fled elsewhere.‘Flashbangs and cover fire,’ he tells them both, pulling things from his backpack.‘I’ll lead.’
‘No, I will,’ Mikhail says.
‘It’s too dangerous.’
‘I cannot make cover fire.’Mikhail shows Lachlan his mangled hand.Only the left remains intact.‘Give me a handgun.I will go down.’
‘Papa,’ Roman says softly, ‘maybe you should—’
‘Roman, you stay back and provide cover from behind,’ Mikhail tells him.
Lachlan hands over one of the few handguns they found.‘Ready?’
‘I am.’
Lachlan arms two flashbangs and tosses them down.
He makes sure Roman’s face is angled away when they go off, then he opens up a blast of fire into the area below, providing cover for Mikhail as he runs down the spiral staircase.Roman does the same.
