Page 51 of Redeeming Violet

“Redemption. It’s upon us.”

“Movement,” Ghost called through the comms.

I took a breath and let the world fall away. The door started to open as the muggy tropical air filled my lungs. On an exhale I raised my M4A1, my cheek rested on the stock of my rifle and my eye found the red-dot of my EOTech hologram sight, and muscle memory took over. There was no thinking, no feeling, only instinct and efficiency. With my rifle ready I waited for Zane to make the call I needed to proceed.

As previously discussed I was front man in our stack. Eric would take my six as number two. All I needed was Zane to tell me I was cleared to go; I was ready.

“Standby,” I heard Zane in my ear. The door creaked slowly open. “In three…two…one.” The door was fully open - a tall man stepped out with a much smaller woman tucked under his arm holding her close. She was crying and fighting against his hold.

I struggled to keep my body in check and my hands from shaking.

“Go, go, go.”

Eric and I advanced at a fast clip, giving up the safety of the jungle. Ghost and Viper pulled up right with Declan keeping our six. Leo would take the east as overwatch in case someone tried to break away.

“Hands up.”

“Let her go.”

The man turned, his eyes widening as he saw us. Instead of pulling Violet in front of him as I was sure he would, all these cowardice dickwads did, he pushed her behind him in a protective gesture, one that made my blood boil. Protecting his investment?

“Get on your knees motherfucker,” I yelled.

“Flower!” the man shouted.

“Do not fire. I repeat do not fire,” Zane called out and my finger itched to pop this bastard, but I held fast and waited.

I could no longer see Violet. She was behind the man’s large frame. He was a fucking brick house, much taller than me.

“Color?” Zane called.

“Red.”

“Code word?”

“Tex,” he answered.

“Friendly. Do not fire.”

Friendly? What the fuck was going on? Was this the man Tex had sent? The man drug Violet by the arm, trying to get to the nearest car. She was still struggling to get free. The man yanked her hard and brought her face to his. He said something to her that made her stop moving. He gestured with his head in our direction. She nodded, and her body relaxed.

“Grenade!” Eric yelled. “Down, down, down.”

The world around me slowed and my vision tunneled to the immediate. My eyes left Violet as the man threw his body over hers and then swung to Eric. I watched in horror as he ran toward the grenade. It bounced in the dirt, once, twice, then rolled to a stop. I blinked and when my eyes reopened Eric was on the ground. Everything else ceased to exist as the grenade detonated, Eric’s body absorbing the concussion of the bomb. He was lifted feet off the ground, blood, flesh, and bone fragments exploding through the air before his body hit the dirt with an audible thud.

“Twelve o’clock,” Declan called and took a shot, the sound of his bullet ripping me from my shock.

Zane was halfway to Violet and the man, Declan was engaging the men coming through the door, Linc taking his back. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. The men only had one way to exit. I was too shocked to move. What the fuck had just happened? I glanced at Eric’s lifeless body and forced myself into action. There was no time to mourn the loss of my friend. No time to process Eric had died to save us all.

“Cutter.” I heard the man say to Zane. I assumed he was introducing himself.

“Fuckin’ Tex,” Zane said.

“Blue,” the man greeted.

I didn’t bother saying anything. I couldn’t. I was on the verge of losing it. I needed to see Violet was safe with my own eyes, then I had some retribution to dole out.

“Status?” I asked, nodding toward Violet.