AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Appreciate the timing.” I shook his hand.
“Finally,” Hill grunted as he approached and motioned for Rivera to follow. “I couldn’t do another day here.” I wanted to punch his face in for his lack of respect.
Moore rolled his eyes at me, and I looked away, happy they were leaving so I didn’t have the urge to give him a black eye. I hated being down two men, but we’d be better off without those two.
“Who’s that?” Dustin, one of Flex’s men, pointed to the body draped over the horse I held by the bridle.
“Don’t know.” Hill moved forward and went to investigate. He poked the bulge with his rifle, and the body jerked. “He’s alive, whoever it is.”
“Untie him,” Flex ordered.
“Copy that.” Hill loosened the ropes around his arms and legs and let him fall to the ground with a thud. Hill pulled off the blanket he was wrapped in and roughly ripped the sack off his head. “Oh, shit, it’s a kid.”
The young boy, maybe nine years old, blinked at the sunlight while tears streamed down his cheeks. He sat up when he saw us and wrapped his arms around his knees for protection.
I bent down and removed his gag and inspected his cuts. He studied my clothes then looked up at me with confusion.
I handed him my water and urged him to drink some. He hesitated at first but took it and swallowed a good amount. His wrists were bloody, and his neck was rubbed raw, which told me he likely had been on the back of that horse for quite a while.
“Hungry?” I spoke in Pashtu, and when he didn’t answer, I switched to Dari. He nodded, and I handed him a protein pack.
“He’s one of them, Beckett.” Flex came up next to me and stuck the barrel of his gun in the kids face. “We need to keep moving.”
“He’s a child.” I pushed the tip of his gun away. “Just because he looks like them doesn’t mean he’s one of them.” We learned that lesson day one of being there.
“Just shoot him and be done,” Hill huffed.
“You shoot him, and you’ll have me to deal with.” I grunted, and he waited a beat before he stepped back with a curse.
I looked the kid over and noticed his clothes were expensive looking and his satchel had beadwork on the side. It was unusual to see such items on a typical Afghan child.
“Wait here,” I told him and pulled Moore and Brown aside. “I think this kid is someone important.”
“Because of his clothes and the bag?” Moore looked at the kid. “Maybe, but shit, Beckett, that’s extra baggage.”
“He’s a kid.” My gut screamed at me to take him with us.
“He could also make us an even bigger target.” Moore shrugged.
Brown rubbed the back of his head nervously. “He could be carrying drugs or maybe even be a mole. Fuck, this entire thing could have been planted for us to take him. They’re most likely watching us right now.” He looked wildly around.
I shook my head. This wasn’t Brown’s typical thought process, and even Moore gave him an odd look. He was slipping. The three of us had been ridiculously close growing up. I knew Brown better than he knew himself, and right now my brother needed to get the hell out of this place. The signs were all there in his eyes and in the constant movements he made. Yes, those tics were a dead giveaway that he needed help. I knew we had to get him home fast.
I stepped back and turned to face the others.
“Let’s vote. Take the kid, or leave the kid?”
“I think I speak for my team when I say leave ’im. We aren’t going to get sucked into another of your volunteer fuck-ups.” Flex looked at the guys, and they all nodded in agreement. “We aren’t far from where the truck’s waiting, but I’m not taking a kid.”
I turned to Brown, who shrugged but hit my shoulder to indicate he’d side with me. Moore nodded to imply the same.
“We need to leave before they come.” Brown looked about, worried. “We need to go,” he repeated.
I turned to Moore so only he could hear. “Go with them. I need your ears. Meet me at the last check. We’ll take the horses, and you go in the truck with the others. Get settled at the house, but don’t let your guard down. Safe place or not, keep your eyes open.”
“You sure?” His face twisted as his eyes went to Brown. I knew he wasn’t sure it was a wise idea to leave me with only Brown, but Brown needed one on one, and so did the kid.
“Yeah, keep Anderson and Gail close, but yeah, go.” I didn’t trust that the others wouldn’t sell me out and trap me somewhere. I trusted Moore with my life. I knew he’d have my back, especially with the other two guys.
“Be safe.” He fist-bumped me and raced to join the others. I knew they’d get to the rendezvous well before we would, but I wasn’t going to leave the kid here. The horses would help as long as we could keep out of sight of the Taliban.
I crouched back down in front of the kid and rubbed my chin. I knew we didn’t have a lot of time to get out of there. We were too exposed, but I needed a minute.
“Where are your parents?” He shrugged, and I could see his cheeks pink up. “Are you hurt?” He shrugged again, and I looked at his bare feet. I leaned back, untied and wiggled a boot off one of the dead men. I held it to the kid’s foot, but it was way too big. I looked around and spotted a smaller size and tugged them off the guy with a hole in his chest. I handed them to the kid, and he slipped them on without hesitation.
“We need to move, okay?” I patted his head, and he nodded but looked unsure. I peeled back a small Velcro flap on my jacket and pointed to the flag on my arm. “I’m not here to hurt you.” He hopped to his feet then stumbled to find his footing. He’d hung over that horse too long. I scooped him up and sat him on the back of the horse then jumped up behind him on the saddle. Brown mounted up but looked a bit awkward on the horse. I knew we’d make better time on horseback. We just needed to be extra careful. I kicked hard, and we took off toward higher ground. I checked back, and Brown seemed able to follow. I hoped he wouldn’t fall off the damn thing. His face was a picture of concentration, and it almost made me laugh. I was glad I’d ridden a bit as a kid.
