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“You can,” Blade said. “You can do whatever is best for Darren. You can slow down and think this time.”
I glanced over at him. “I’m so sorry I let you down that day in the desert.”
“You did what you thought was right, but taking things slowly is what’s right today.”
I knew that was true, but could I fight my instincts that were screaming at me to get to Darren as fast as I could?
We moved in through the fields behind the house where Ahmed had been seen. We were more exposed than was ideal, so we just had to pray he wasn’t looking out this way.
When we were close enough to get a view into the house with binoculars, we began checking things out. “I think I’ve got Ahmed in my sights,” Carlo said. “He’s in a room on the left, second window from the end of the house.”
I shifted my focus to that window and confirmed that it was him. A second later, I realized what he was doing. “Oh fuck.”
“What?” Blade asked, moving closer to me.
“He’s got Darren in there, tied to a chair. I couldn’t see Darren until he moved.”
Blade anticipated my move before I made it. He grabbed one arm, and Devil took the other.
“You’re not going in there,” Blade said.
“I’ve been in your shoes,” Devil said. “I needed to save Joe, and I know what it’s like to hold back, but I also know you’re strong enough to do this right.”
I turned to face Devil. That was the most serious thing I’d ever heard him say, and that shocked me enough to allow me to think.
“You okay now?” Devil asked.
I nodded. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good.” Rhys lowered the scope he’d been sighting through. “I can take Ahmed out, but I’ve got to get into a position directly behind the window to have the best chance and to avoid hitting Darren.”
“If you even think you might hit—”
“I know what I’m doing, Fox.”
“Breathe,” Blade ordered as he laid a hand on my back.
I tried to. Rhys was the best sharpshooter I’d ever met. He could do this.
“What if he notices us moving around out here?” Carlo asked.
“We need a distraction,” Rhys said.
“That’s my job,” I said. “He won’t kill me right away. He wants to toy with me. Shooting me when I walk in would be too easy.”
Rhys hesitated. “Are you willing to bet Darren’s life on that?”
I nodded. I also knew Ahmed would want me to see Darren die, but I would only have to keep him talking for a few minutes. I’d beg for Darren’s life. I’d do whatever I had to.
“All right. Are you going to approach from the front or the back.”
“The back. I’ll let myself in, then go to where they are.”
“You have to stay silent as you approach the room,” Blade said. “We need him to stay put.”
“I can do this. I just wish I could be the one to kill him.”
“I know,” Blade said. “But keeping Darren alive is a lot more important, and the best way to do that is to let Rhys take the shot. Darren won’t like you going in at all, but he can deal with that after he’s safe.”
Safe. He had to be safe. We both did. I had so much more to say to him.
32
DARREN
I managed to get to my feet and made an attempt at opening the window, even though the bars would prevent me escaping unless I could bend them which, even if I was that strong, would be impossible with my hands cuffed. I had to abandon that idea.
Fox would figure out where I was and come for me. I was certain of that. What I wasn’t sure of was whether he would hold back long enough for the others to help him make a plan. I was determined not to watch him die today. I just didn’t know how the hell I was going to stop it.
I sank back to the floor since there was no point wasting my energy until there was a chance at escape. After what seemed like an endless stretch of time but probably wasn’t very long, I heard footsteps approaching my door.
I rose to my feet again, ready to do my best to disable whoever came through the door.
A key scraped in the lock, and the knob began to turn. I crouched, ready to swing my bound hands at whoever it was.
The barrel of a gun appeared first. “Back up, or I’ll start shooting off bits you can live a little while without.”
Fuck. It was Ahmed, and I didn’t think he was kidding. I shuffled back to the far wall, but I didn’t sit down.
“You seem to have slightly more sense than your friend,” he said as he entered, weapon trained on me. He used his free hand to grab the chair and sling it toward me. I grabbed it before it slammed into my legs. “Sit down.”
