46. Chapter 45
Chapter 45
AJ
W hen everyone was ready, we filed out the back door. I opened the door to the sedan and helped a spaced out Blake get in.
We kept chatter to a minimum over comms. It was non-existent in the car. I had a million and one things I wanted to say to Blake, but couldn’t find a good way to say them.
Instead, I held her hand, tracing circles on the back of it with my thumb, trying to convey what I felt.
“Andrew?” Blake broke the silence.
I was still getting used to hearing my full name and not hating it. “Yeah?”
“Please don’t get yourself killed,” she whispered.
“What?” Where had that come from? I mean, I was glad she felt that way, but why'd she think I’d get myself killed?
“Max told me not to react to anything they do because you’ll do something stupid and get yourself killed.”
Fucking Maxwell.
“Blake, it’s going to kill me to hand you over and watch them touch you, knowing I can’t do anything.”
“Just, don’t do anything stupid, okay?”
I looked at her. What the fuck do I say? I couldn’t make that promise, because as soon as the leash came off, I’d kill every single person who’d laid a hand on Blake.
“Blake.”
“Andrew, listen to me. I already lost my father today.” My head whipped towards her. Did she know something we didn’t? No way. I heard mutterings over the comms; everyone wondered the same thing.
“I mean, I lost the man I thought he was. The only thing keeping me going right now is knowing I can help Meg.” She clenched my hand as she whispered the next two words, “And you.”
“I love you, Blake,” I said it again because it was the only truth I could speak to her in that moment
It’d take an act of God to keep me from going full rampage and killing everyone standing between me and Blake when the time came.
Which meant taking risks that could get me killed. It’s worth it to save her .
“Andrew, please be careful.”
I squeezed her hand. “I will.”
“Sierra Two in position,” Jamie relayed over the comm. Soon after, everyone else checked in. Blake and I were three short minutes from the meeting spot.
When we got to the convenience store outside of town, I walked Blake to the woodpile and stood watch while she looked for the note.
They were watching. I could sense it, but I couldn’t see them. “Anyone have eyes on the Tango?” I continued scanning as everyone responded in the negative.
Doesn’t mean they aren’t watching.
Blake found a handwritten note with an address and a time, nothing more.
Pocketing the note, I escorted Blake back to the car. I relayed the address as I plugged it into the GPS, knowing Maxwell would look it up and tell me what I needed to know.
We had just enough time to get there, but not enough for Jamie and Jay to set up their sniper nests in advance.
Fuck . I didn’t like going in before our snipers were in place.
There was more chatter over comms during the short ride to the exchange location, an abandoned warehouse, as we developed a game plan on the fly.
The exchange would take place in the back lot, out of view from passing traffic, and most of SSI.
They’d chosen well; cutting off our back up while providing plenty of cover for theirs.
We’d be sitting ducks.
They won’t kill her. They need her. Played on repeat in my head. Every so often I squeezed her hand as fear gripped my heart; she squeezed back every time.
Under different circumstances, it’d be cute, her trying to squeeze my hand as much as I was hers. But I was terrified, and probably hurting her.
I forced my hand to relax. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be okay,” she said.
She sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than me. I nodded, the knot in my throat making it hard to talk.
Everyone except Jamie and Jay found places to hide and wait. “Sierra Two and Seven are scouting locations. They’ll take up position ASAP,” John said. “Sierra Four, stall if you can.”
“Copy that.”
“What’s happening?”
“Not everyone is ready yet. We have to buy ourselves some time.” I didn’t know how, but I’d figure it out.
Jack’s voice sounded in my ear, “Drive around the building at a crawl, make a show of looking for their backup and snipers. They’ll expect as much.”
“I’ll delay as long as I can.” I didn’t want to do this without backup anymore than he did.
“Be careful.” I heard everything he wasn’t saying. Blake’s life wasn’t the only one on the line if I fucked up.
“Sweetheart, I’m going to come across as mean and uncaring when this goes down.” I swallowed hard, forcing down the fear. “Please know, it’s only to keep myself sane and you safe.”
She nodded as I lifted her hand and kissed it. Sixty seconds later, we turned into the parking lot and I let go. Slowing to a crawl, I made a big show out of craning my neck forward and looking at every window. I relayed the information without moving my lips. “Tango on each corner of the second floor, east side.”
“What’s a ta-”
I cut her off. “Shhh.”
I turned into the back lot at a snail's pace, which wasn’t as easy. “Tangos everywhere in the back. Blacked-out van, no plate, no sign of Cinderella. ETA on Two and Seven?”
“Nesting now,” Jamie answered.
“In place,” Jay said immediately after.
“Show time,” I whispered.
“I’m scared,” Blake confessed.
“So am I.” Too many things could go wrong. “Take a deep breath, square your shoulders, and tell yourself you can do this.”
“Is that what you’re doing?”
Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and said, “I can do this.” I inhaled another lung inflating breath before saying, “Your turn.”
When she finished, I put the car in park but left the engine running.
There was no turning back now.
I’d have to watch her walk away.
Please, God, don’t let me lose my temper and risk everyone’s life. Take mine if you need to, but don’t let me fuck this up.
“It’s time,” John’s voice cut through my prayer. “Everyone in place?”
Jamie and Jay checked in. Followed by Doug and Maxwell.
I closed my eyes and sent up another prayer. “Sierra Four, we’re ready.” Opening my eyes, I turned to Blake. “Blake, I’m going to get out and walk around the back. Please wait for me to open your door.” I reached over and released her seatbelt.
“I will.” She stared into my eyes. “Please be careful.”
“I will. No matter what you see, remember I love you.”
Then I flipped the switch. My expression turned to stone as I got out of the car. This was a mission, just like the hundreds I did in the Army. Get in, do the job, get out. If I could stay mission focused, I could do this.
Easier said than done .
I scanned as I circled the car. Too many bad guys for me to handle on my own. I opened Blake’s door and extended my hand to help her out. “Stay behind me.” Not that it mattered; guns pointed at us from every direction.
I stopped when one of them opened the sliding door on the van and helped Meg get out. Her hands were tied, but she looked unharmed.
“Cinderella’s okay.” I wasn’t sure I’d said it loud or clear enough until I heard Jack say, “Thank God.”
“We’ve got your back, but try not to start a gunfight. You’re grossly outnumbered,” Jaden said.
“How do we know it’s Blake?” one of them shouted at me.
“Ms. Davenport, take one step to your left,” I ordered, sensing her movement but never taking my eyes off Meg.
“See for yourself,” I shouted back.
“Blake Davenport, just the girl we wanted to see.”
Every word oozed slime, making me want to rip his tongue out and choke him with it.
His days, no, his hours, are numbered.
“Come here, girl,” he ordered.
“She doesn’t go anywhere until I have Ms. Sheppard.”
“Look around you. You don’t make the rules. I do.” He swept his arms, pointing out his gang of armed lackeys.
“You won’t risk killing Ms. Davenport in the crossfire.” I sounded so cold, so detached. Please let her remember this is just what I have to do .
“You’re right, but I see you’ve already helped me in that regard.” He nodded at her bulletproof vest.
I itched to reach for her hand. Ignoring him, I called out, “Ms. Sheppard?”
“I’m okay,” she answered. She was looking around for Jack, fear showing through her bravado.
“They cross at the same time,” I commanded.
“Fine, let’s get this done.” He signaled to the lackey holding Meg’s arm. “Let her go.” They didn’t untie her hands.
“Blake, I need you to walk slowly towards Meg. Don’t say anything when you pass. And please don’t look back,” I said without moving my lips.
“Okay.” She sounded so small.
My fists could have turned coal to diamonds.
“Cinderella and Aurora are on the move,” Jamie confirmed for all to hear.
I held my breath as I watched.
“Sierra Four, breathe.”
The air felt like sandpaper on my throat, daggers in my lungs. My gut screamed for me to run and grab them both as Blake and Meg passed each other. I could cover them while the team killed everyone else.
I watched Blake ignore Meg.
Meg returned the favor.
Every cell in my body vibrated with the need to act. I watched Blake hold her head high, as I counted off the seconds it took Meg to reach me.
I could have ground a diamond to dust with my back teeth as each second, each step, brought Meg closer to freedom and Blake closer to captivity.
My heart cleaved in two as Jamie gave the play-by-play as Blake reached her captors.
When Meg was only a few steps away, I shifted my focus. “Get in the car,” I said, harsher than I should have.
“Where’s J-”
“Now! Close the door and buckle up.” I said, shifting my attention back to Blake.
“You have what you came for. Now get lost before we turn you into Swiss cheese.”
Blake turned to me; the trust in her eyes was my undoing. “I can’t leave her.” I heard the sob in my hushed voice.
"You have to. We'll keep our eyes on her; as soon as they check her, Sierra Five will turn on the tracker."
My eyes stayed glued to Blake as I walked to the driver’s door. I didn’t need the updates Jaden was giving. “They’ve removed the vest. And found the tracker.”
I hesitated behind the open door as one of the dead men walking leered at Blake while running his hands over every inch of her body.
When she flinched, I growled.
“You’re risking my wife’s life.”
Jack’s whispered growl was enough to snap me out of it. Not that Meg mattered more than Blake, but to save them both, I had to stick to the plan.
I’ll come back for you , I promise .
In the few seconds it took for me to get behind the wheel and close the door, the fucker in charge put his hands on Blake and checked under her shirt and in her pants.
My knuckles blanched as I gripped the wheel.
“AJ?” I ignored Meg’s question.
Blake held her head high and pretended she didn’t care one bit about the asshole squeezing her breasts. He’s a dead man .
“Sierra Four, it’s time to go,” John issued the order. It was the same tone I’d heard him use with Jack and Jamie. Firm, but compassionate.
“We’re going,” I growled as I put the car in reverse and slowly backed away.
“They’re done searching,” Jamie said. “They’re tying her wrists.”
I punched the steering wheel.
I finally asked Meg, “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay. They were assholes, but they didn’t touch me.”
“Thank God,” Jack responded in my ear.
“Your husband is relieved,” I said.
“I assume you guys have a plan.”
Doug came over the comms before I could answer, so I nodded.
“Signal on Aurora is strong. We’ll follow as soon as they move.”
Thank God .
“Delivering Cinderella to the rendezvous point. Keep me posted.”
So far, things were going as planned.
Which made me nervous. Things never go as planned on a mission.