Page 46 of Decker

Reid clapped him on the shoulder and jogged away to clear the floor as he took up position watching the office door. He needed her safe, and away from this madness.

Five minutes that seemed like hours later, Jack strode towards him and instantly took command of the situation. He was dressed for war in tactical gear and weapons and handed him a rifle and ammunition to add to his sidearm which he always carried and a comms earpiece.

“Deck,” he said by way of greeting. “Mitch is across the road setting up, but he has eyes on the room. Gunner is in the room above getting us a visual. The cameras in the office are disabled but we think they’ll make a break for the roof.”

Decker took off his suit jacket and vest and pulled the tactical vest over his head, wrapping the Velcro tight before he rolled his sleeves out of the way and pushed the comms into his ear. He instantly felt grounded as the mission became laser-focused and the woman he cared about was forced into the background. It was the only way he’d keep his head right now.

“How many?”

Jack held up a screen as Gunner pushed the tiny camera through the ceiling and he got a visual of what they were dealing with. There was no audio, but he could see Percy was dead and the two men who’d killed Andy Farr were holding Savannah and two others, a man and woman, hostage. The two men were arguing between themselves as Savannah watched, seeming calm and collected on the surface, even though he knew it would be terrifying for her.

She was the bravest person he knew and so strong and confident. It was such a turn on, but it was her kind heart that brought him to his knees. She was like the sun, and he couldn’t seem to get enough, yet he needed it to be enough so he could walk away. In another life, he knew she would’ve been the woman he spent his life with, but it wasn’t, and that ship had sailed when he’d laid his wife and son in the ground.

“Reid and Waggs are covering the roof in case they try for that.” Jack tapped his earpiece. “Mitch, do you have a shot?”

“Affirmative, I have a shot on the smaller target nearest the window.”

Jack turned to Decker. “Our best option is a full assault. We breech the door as Mitch takes out the one near the window and we take the other man down. If we wait, the chances are we’ll lose more hostages and we both know they won’t negotiate. Carter would have them tortured and killed if they surrender.”

“What about crossfire?”

Jack angled his head. “Now isn’t the time for doubt, Deck. We’ve practised this very drill a hundred times, and we’ve never hit an innocent.”

“This is different.”

“No, it isn’t. It can’t be because that’s how mistakes happen. Can you handle this, or shall I pull Reid from the roof?”

Jack wasn’t being a dick, Decker knew that, but he still bristled at the warning tone. “I can handle it.”

“Good” Jack tapped his earpiece again. “Gunner, continue the live feed. Listen up all call signs, we’re going to breach as soon as Mitch takes out the first man.”

Alex and Blake joined them and ducking low, moved to cover the two doors that lead from the floor and disabled the lift. The last thing they needed was anyone getting in or out.

Alex nodded and Deck and Jack crept across the floor and stood on either side of the door to Percy’s office. They could hear arguing inside and Jack used the sound to fit a small device to the hinge to blow the door enough for it to open when kicked.

“Hostages one and two are seated in chairs to the right of the desk and target one now has hostage three in a chokehold with her body as a shield. He’s arguing with the larger hostile.”Gunner relayed the information giving them a picture of what was happening.

“Mitch do you still have a shot?”

“Affirmative.”

Jack looked at him as if waiting for his go ahead and he took a breath. If Savannah was the hostage in the man’s hold, the slightest mistake by Mitch and she’d be dead, but he also trusted his team and Mitch was the best. He didn’t make mistakes and had sounded confident.

He gave the nod and the next thing he knew Jack was giving the order to execute. As the door blew out, Decker aimed and fired at the man who’d turned towards them looking bewildered and trusted Mitch to make the shot. With two shots to the body and one to the head the man fell, his body landing on Percy behind the desk and the smaller man fell forward, a hole between his eyes from Mitch’s bullet. Savannah stumbled and then he was holding her while the rest of the team streamed in and checked the other hostages over.

He ran his hands all over her body, cupping her face in his hands as she clung to him. “Are you hurt?”

“No.”

He could see she was lying but he let it go knowing she’d deny it and that whatever it was wasn’t serious or she would’ve said.

She turned toward the man who’d been her boss and friend and he felt the moment the magnitude of this hit her and she collapsed against him. “Percy is dead.”

“It’s okay, doc. I have you. It’s going to be okay. I promise.” He held her to his body as he guided her out of the room and into her own office which was quiet. He motioned to Jack as he went so he knew where he was.

He sank down beside her and held her in his arms as she curled into his body, making herself small. He realised at that moment that he loved her, that she was his world and he wanted to give her everything but had nothing to give her except her freedom. As soon as she was safe, he’d do just that. The thought made him feel sick as he pressed his lips to her head. A life without her loomed, but she deserved so much better than him. Her hand gripped his shirt as he stroked her hair gently. He inhaled her scent and knew his time with her was short. Shadow was already working on a deal with the two older Cavendish brothers, and it wouldn’t be long before she was free to live her life and find a man worthy of her and have the family she deserved.

Not with a man who’d already let one family down so badly, resulting in their deaths, and one determined not to do the same again. His job was the only thing that was safe, it kept him grounded and he could not guarantee he wouldn’t fuck it up and put her behind Eidolon and make the same mistakes again. He’d loved Susie, would always love her but what he felt for the woman in his arms eclipsed even that. He wouldn’t watch this incredible woman, who he knew had so much to give, play second fiddle to his job, and he couldn’t make promises he wouldn’t be able to keep.