Chapter 24
Blade checked his backpack, stopping every now and then to kiss Lily full on the lips before carrying on. It felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Even though it wasn’t.
As far as mistakes went, this was probably the biggest fucking one he’d ever made. But it was worth it. She was worth it.
Hell, he’d do it again in a heartbeat if he got the opportunity.
Lily laughed and swatted him away. “You have to stay focused.”
She wasn’t wrong.
Still, it was fun to pretend, even if for a short time.
Blade went back to sorting his pack. He was traveling light, as the damn thing needed to fit in the spare tire well of Stitch’s Land Rover—along with the tire. He hoped to hell they didn’t search the vehicle at the checkpoint.
The odds of them getting through were about fifty-fifty. Not great, but he and Stitch had ruled out all the other options. The river was wild and flowing fast, the land around it built up and populated. They couldn’t cross without a boat, which would be seen, making them sitting ducks. And they couldn’t walk. Without a vehicle, they wouldn’t have a hope in hell of getting Lily to Kabul.
They’d both freshened up after their frantic love making, and he’d dressed back in his army fatigues, ready for the arduous journey ahead. They were leaving at first light to catch the guards before they changed shift, when they were dopey with fatigue, not inclined to work hard, and unlikely to react fast if the shit hit the fan.
Lily was curled up on a cushion, watching him. Blade couldn’t believe how easy it was with her. Like he’d been doing this all his life.
He loved her lingering kisses, her soft hugs, and the way her eyes shone as she looked at him. Nobody had looked at him like that in a long time.
Nobody he’d cared about, ever.
It was a heady feeling.
He was still reeling from her encasing him. She was so tight, so warm. Shit, he was getting a hard on just thinking about it. He crouched, kissed her again, then muttered, “Can’t help it.”
She pulled him close. Each moment felt loaded, like it could be their last. They were both trying to make the most of it, clinging to what little time they had.
The sound of the front door opening shook them apart. Blade stood and turned away to tighten the straps on his pack. Lily straightened her skirt and looked up as Stitch walked in.
“Hey, you two. Feeling better?”
Blade turned. “Yeah, rested up. Ready to go.”
“I think so.” Lily smiled nervously at Stitch.
“Great. Soraya’s on her way. We’ll have supper then turn in early, that way we can head off at first light.”
Blade gave a steady nod. “Sounds like a plan.”
Dinner was more subdued than lunch, the air thick with a sense of expectancy. Soraya took Lily upstairs, leaving the guys to talk. Blade watched her go, his stomach in knots.
He wanted to protect her so goddamn badly, yet he didn’t know if he could. She’d been through so much. First she’s lost her parents and home. Then she’d lost Joe. After that, she’d been kidnapped and imprisoned. Her rescue resulted in hiking endlessly, nearly freezing to death, and watching him kill people—not to mention suffering the constant swell of fear. She’d endured a week of hell getting to this point.
What if it all went to shit now?
“Don’t do that,” Stitch said, quietly.
“Huh?”
“Don’t think about the what ifs. Stay focused on the plan.”
He nodded. Stitch was right. Letting his mind wander wouldn’t do any good.
Except he suddenly had so much more to hang on to.
He had Lily.
“I’m focused,” he muttered, scowling at Stitch. “Listen, if it all goes to hell and I get shot, you have to make sure she gets away.”
Stitch knew better than to argue. They’d made their peace with death a long time ago, all of them. Doing what they had done for a living, you couldn’t not.
Still, none of them wanted to go.
“I’ll do my best,” he promised.
Blade gave a satisfied nod. “Thanks, Stitch.”
“No problem.”
“Nobody will recognize me in that,”Lily said as Soraya held up a traditional Afghani burqa. It was a two-piece ensemble made from a high quality synthetic black material and included a meshed veil that covered her face.
“That’s the plan.” Soraya smiled and placed it on the bed, which was little more than a double mattress on the floor. There was a thick rug beneath it to keep out the cold, and colorful scatter cushions over the top.
Lily tried it on. “It’s perfect.” She thanked her and took the burqa downstairs.
Soraya gave them some blankets, and Stitch left the coals to burn down in the fireplace, so the room was toasty warm.
“See you at oh-five-hundred,” he said before heading to bed with his wife.
The house grew quiet. Without electricity, they could see the stars shining brightly through the windows. Once they were certain their hosts had gone to bed, Lily scampered over to Blade and curled up against him. There was no urgency now, no rush. They were both spent from earlier in the day, and they didn’t want to make noise and disturb their hosts, not after they’d been so kind and hospitable.
Lily lay in Blade’s arms, savoring his strength, feeling safe for what might be the last time. He stroked her hair, his arm wrapped around her.
“I’m scared,” she whispered.
He kissed her and held her tight. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
But it was the words he didn’t say that had her worried.
Blade wokeher up before dawn, whispering in her ear.
“It’s time to get ready.”
She yawned, stretched, then kissed him lazily on the mouth. He lingered, closing his eyes briefly as if trying to commit the moment to memory, then got up.
A few moments later, Stitch walked into the room, followed by Soraya. She made coffee, rich and black, and they sipped it while they got ready.
Lily put on the burqa, and with Soraya’s help, attached the veil over her face. Now she was invisible.
Blade said very little as they loaded the Land Rover. His expression was grim, his shoulders tense, and he walked around with his hands coiled in fists.
This was a high-risk strategy, she knew that.
They might even get killed.
Except what was the alternative? An ambush? Dying on a dusty mountain path, like Joe. Lily swallowed and held back her fear as she said goodbye to Soraya.
“Thank you for helping us,” she whispered. “I’ll never forget it.”
“It’s important. We have to get you out of Afghanistan and make sure your system is safe.”
Lily hugged her hard. “We’ll send Stitch home to you in one piece, I promise.”
“Inshallah,” Soraya whispered.
God willing.