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Sally did as he said, and sweet relief poured into her limbs as he sliced through the zip tie binding her wrists. Her hands were numb—dead weight when she dragged them onto her lap. Dangerously close to dissolving into self-pity, she bit the inside of her lip in an effort to focus.
As Matt rubbed life back into her hands, she spotted a slash on his wrist that bled with his movements. He must have noticed her inspecting the cut and smiled ruefully. “Daniel’s a civilian. He accidentally nicked me when he cut my ropes.” Nodding toward the knife at his feet, he grinned. “Way to think on your feet. Getting that knife to us was genius.”
For the first time, Sally’s smile wasn’t forced. “Glad I could help. I warned Luke too. At least I think he heard me.”
Matt chuckled. “Everyone within a mile heard you.”
“They got away, then?” She learned forward, intent on his answer.
“Last I checked, they’d moved the Jeep and Travis’s car out of sight, but I wouldn’t count on him bein’ gone. That’s not how SEALs operate. We don’t give up and we don’t leave fallen comrades behind. It’s our way.”
Sally sighed. “I know—but you can’t blame a girl for hoping.” She smiled slightly. At least Jen, Bridgett and Ellen would be safe. Luke had made sure of that. “Where’s the blond guy and his horde?”
“One of them wasn’t paying close attention out front when I came in. He’s going to miss the end of the show. I hid his body the best I could on short notice. The others are having a discussion in the cabin next to where Daniel’s was.”
“What do we do now?”
Matt stood. “We’re going to get you out the back.” He strode toward the large front door and stopped to peer around the edge. Immediately, he whirled and jogged back. “I think they discovered my handiwork. Time to go.”
He cradled her shoulders, and Sally leaned into his arm as he steadied her…just in time to double over and hurl the contents of her stomach at their feet. Her entire body went weak and sweaty. Her legs wouldn’t hold her any longer. Saliva pooling in the back of her throat faster than she could swallow and her stomach roiling, Sally stumbled to the closest straw bale.
Matt dropped down beside her. “It’s okay. You’re doin’ fine. This is common when regaining consciousness after a physical or emotional trauma. Does your noggin hurt?”
She shook her head, and the movement made her throw up again. Damn it. The voices of blondie’s henchmen reached her ears. “Go. You have to go, Matt.” Pushing on his massive chest was useless.
“No way am I leaving you, so you’re coming with me.” Matt stood and scooped her up.
“I’ll only slow you down.” She clenched her jaw tightly and focused on not throwing up on him.
“Naw. Stick with me, angel.” He moved quicker and quieter than Sally thought possible toward the back of the barn, where a stall door had been left open about twelve inches. Matt put his shoulder against it, sliding it open enough for them both to fit through.
Across the paddock, Sally could see the doorway that led out into the night. There was some moonlight mixed with the shadows that stretched across the hard-packed ground. She glanced over Matt’s shoulder. Why hadn’t blondie and his crew entered the barn yet?
Suddenly, their escape route was blocked by several dark figures. The one who pushed to the front had blond hair and a smug smile. “There you are. I’m afraid I can’t let you leave. I’ve got plans for sweet little Sally and they don’t involve you.” He stepped closer and leveled his gun at Matt’s head. “Put her down.”
For a moment, it seemed as though Matt would ignore the command, but finally he set her gently on her feet.
Blondie grabbed her wrist and jerked her toward the door. He barked some orders to his men as he pulled her between them and stepped outside.
“Wait.” Sally’s fear for Matt was so great, she didn’t care what he would do to her for speaking when not spoken to.
Surprisingly, he halted, sporting an arrogant smirk as he nodded at one of his men, who raised a gun to Matt’s temple. “Say good-bye to your friend, sweetheart.”
“No!” Sally’s cry was shrill in the eerie silence. She tried to break away, but Ahmed held her in a tight grip. What made it worse was, Matt refused to meet her gaze, staring, instead, at Ahmed.
Ahmed resumed walking again, dragging her along behind. “Come, Sally. I’m going to make you forget all about your friend…and Luke.”
She had no control over the tears that trickled down her face. Nor did she care any longer. Maybe she wasn’t so unlike her father after all. Given half a chance, she’d kill this piece of filth and not lose a moment’s sleep.
They were almost to the cabin that stood next to the ruins of Daniel’s home when a single gunshot broke the silence of the night.
* * * *
Luke, Coop and Travis disappeared beneath the water of the river filled with glacial runoff from nearby mountains. This would be a cold swim and a quick one if they hoped to avoid hypothermia. Luckily, under cover of darkness, they’d been able to sneak closer on foot than they’d originally planned. Now, they only had to swim three hundred yards or so, upstream, underwater, while holding their weapons above water, without a wet suit, and come out at the spot closest to the barn, all without being seen.Piece of cake.
Two and a half minutes later, they hauled themselves from the freezing-ass river and ducked into the tall grass along the bank. Luke wasn’t fazed by the cold water or the soaking-wet clothes that’d resulted from his swim. His hatred for Ahmed fueled a fire within him that kept him plenty warm. Without a word passing between them, they moved out, performing the next segment of their plan. Travis and Coop angled toward the long side of the barn, where several horse paddocks offered access. Luke’s job was to go in the front and find the hostages.
Hostages.That was the way he had to think of Sally. As though this were any other mission he’d ever been on. Otherwise he’d go stark raving mad.
