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Although the cabin was remote, it was easy to see how Bishop had managed to get into the place. There were multiple footpaths leading up to the back of the cabin and there was plenty of brush where he could've hidden in wait for the operative he'd ended up taking out. The young man he'd murdered in cold blood had been new to the team and had been charged with driving Sam's van when Elliot and Cruz had taken Ryan out and about throughout the day. After killing the driver, Bishop had set the van on fire about a hundred yards from the cabin. By the time Ronan’s men had returned to the cabin and entered it to do a routine search, Bishop had already been inside and had overpowered Cruz and Elliot with next to no effort since all he’d had to do was threaten Ryan's life.
That was where things stood now. My brother, his lover, and Sam's younger son were in a windowless room in the cabin. The only communication we had with Bishop was through the board on Ryan's wheelchair. There was no roof access or any other way to get in the room except through the door. Which meant there would be no element of surprise. I’d figured as much as we’d made the trip to the cabin. We’d taken Ronan's jet, so it had only taken us an hour or so to reach our destination, but it had still been the longest hour of my entire life.
Sam was managing to keep it together, but he hadn't said more than a couple of words here and there. I'd hoped that by the time we reached the cabin that we’d come up with some kind of plan where I wouldn't have to put Sam in danger, but the more Ronan's men briefed us, the more I knew there was really only one option. Sam and I would both have to go in. My hope was that I could convince Bishop that he didn't need anyone but me in that room with him.
I went to Sam where he was sitting in the back seat of the SUV we’d been using as our makeshift command center. He was clinging to the phone that was our only access to our family members. I reached out to brush my fingers over Sam's temple. "It's time, baby," I murmured.
Sam's moves were stiff and slow as he released his grip on the phone and handed it to me. I dialed the last number that had called into the phone and waited.
"Hi honey, are you home yet?" Bishop asked, his voice almost giddy.
The fact that the man could be so casual about the whole thing told me he'd gone off the deep end. I couldn't help but wonder if it'd been the pictures of me appearing to be happy or if it was the fact that I'd been happy with Sam that had set him off.
"Let the kid go," I said.
"Did you bring me what I wanted?" Bishop asked.
"I'm here," Sam said before I could respond. "Please, please just let Ryan go. He has nothing to do with this."
"I'll let the little cripple go as soon as you two lovebirds keep your end of the deal."
I wanted to punch something. No, not something, Bishop. I wanted to wrap my hands around his neck and squeeze until the death he carried in his eyes was the real thing.
"We’re coming in," I said. I tossed the phone aside because I knew we wouldn't need it anymore. I reached for Sam's hand, though all I really wanted to do was lock him in the car where I knew he’d be safe. I hated having to put him in danger in order to get the rest of our family out of it, but I had no choice. I needed to not let that sense of helplessness feed into my actions. I couldn't be Matias, the man Sam saw me as. I needed to be Matias, the effective killer who had nothing to lose.
"When we get in there, don't say a word. If I say drop, you drop to the ground. If I say run, you don't look back. Do you understand me?" I said to Sam. I expected him to argue, but all he did was nod his head.
I pulled him to a stop and forced him to look at me. I grabbed his chin and said, "Tell me you’re here with me one hundred percent, Sam. I am not losing you today. I need to know that you're in this with me."
Something finally sparked to life in Sam's eyes. He nodded quickly and said, "I'm here, Matias. If you say drop, I drop. If you say run, I run. I trust you to end this for good. To save our family."
