Chapter 31 Dare
THIRTY-ONE
DARE
He was so close, yet so far away.
He looked at me in disbelief and something else. Something hidden behind those big, dark eyes that most people wouldn't be able to interpret but I knew it for what it was. Fear.
As soon as I dropped my handgun to the ground, Victor was on the move, dragging Zach into the woods where there was cover.
I watched him disappear again. My guts twisted. I bit down hard on my lip trying to tame the anger.
I couldn't stand the sight of him leaving me again. The idea of him going back into danger, back in Victor's murderous hands, made me sick.
It was one thing imagining him in the lion’s den, it was another thing seeing him there a moment before getting eaten alive.
I should have listened to Slade. I should have waited for backup. I'd been out of the game too long. I'd forgotten how fragile situations like this were. How one wrong move could result in catastrophe.
"Fuck," I spat and bent down to pick up my gun before following them into the woods.
I could regret my choices later, when Zach was safely in my arms and Victor was a thing of the past. Now I had to act and act fast before anything bad happened. Anything I couldn't undo.
Besides, Slade had already helped enough.
If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have found them so quickly and if it weren't for Warren and his contacts, A6 wouldn't be shut down. They’d be halfway to New York already and I wouldn’t have caught up with them.
The further away from home Zach was, the more impossible it'd be to find him.
I might not have physical backup, but I had them with me in spirit along with years of knowledge and tactical training. This should be a piece of cake.
Should being the operative word.
A lot of my training had gone out the window as soon as I saw Victor put a gun to Zach's head and threaten his life.
Because it was different when your loved one was in danger.
I'd experienced that to a degree with Wyatt.
I'd been with him on missions I had no business being on.
I'd felt my heart in my throat when something went awry, but I also knew he could take care of himself.
I could keep on going knowing we had a whole unit behind us that could take care of business.
I had no such luxuries here.
I chased after them as fast as I could, keeping my eyes on the target. I didn't want to let them out of my sight for one second. A lot could happen in that time, and I couldn't afford any more risks.
I reached around Victor's wrecked car and weaved expertly through the trees. Visibility was crap thanks to the heavy rain, but I didn't let that stop me.
I cleared another few feet and, just as Victor glanced behind him, I ducked behind a tree.
My foot landed on something slippery and before I could process what was happening, I crash landed on my face. My entire body shook from its core.
I was dazed by the fall, but I knew I only had seconds to take cover before Victor took a shot at me.
I crab-walked to a tree, sitting with my back against the thick trunk to keep me protected from Victor's fire, and I assessed the situation.
There was a whole body print made out of mud where I'd fallen, and I slid my foot to test the ground.
"I'm such a fool," I spat and took a deep breath.
All this training and I'd gone and slipped on some mud like a failure fresh out of Hell Week.
The gunfire stopped. I dug my hand into the ground and grabbed a stone. I threw it to the side and waited to see if he was still waiting. When nothing happened I poke a hand out.
Nothing.
Victor and Zach were already on the move again when I came out of hiding and I continued my pursuit, this time taking better care of where I landed with each step.
When Victor stopped, I stopped. When he turned, I took cover. When he shot at me, I waited.
This wouldn't get me anywhere if I didn't do something drastic. I had no idea how many acres these woods were, but I couldn't risk them getting through and vanishing like the wind in a stolen car.
"You know I'll get you," I shouted from behind a tree.
There was no response. I wasn't expecting one.
"You can't escape. You're surrounded," I continued.
I wasn't trying to stop him or to force him to answer. I was doing the best next thing—trying to mess with his head. I didn't need much. Just a little opening. Just a lapse in judgement. That was all it would take to bring him down.
There was a shot and a shuffle. I came out of hiding and advanced on them, then took cover once he noticed me.
Zach looked petrified. My stomach turned. How much more did he have to endure at that man's hands? How could I have let this happen?
I hated myself. I should have done a better job at keeping him safe. At convincing him Victor couldn't hurt me no matter how hard he tried. At telling him how much I loved him and how much worse my life would be without him in it.
"You really think you can beat me?" I shouted. "I'm a Navy SEAL, Lombardi. You're a nothing. I can go on forever. How far do you think you'll get in this weather, looking like that?"
"Dare, don't—" Zach shouted.
My heart thumped in my chest. Even him calling my name threatened to make me break down. The fact that he still thought he needed to protect me when he was the one being held at gunpoint humbled me.
I stepped out from my cover to find Victor and Zach advancing deeper into the woods and I used that opportunity to look through the scope of my handgun. Sighting them, I fired a warning shot and ducked behind the same tree as Victor turned around and retaliated.
I dropped to my knees and popped out ready to fire again.
Bang.
Something pinched my arm. I hissed. Victor started running. I raised my hands to shoot at him, but my left arm was weaker than it was two seconds ago.
I felt a sting on my upper arm and as soon as I turned to look at it, it throbbed. Blood had painted my arm red, oozing from a gaping hole in the middle of my bicep.
As realization hit me, so did the pain. A growl escaped my lips before I could control it, and I dropped behind the tree before Victor used his advantage and delivered a death blow.
I sat back and focused on my breathing for a few moments. It felt as if my arm had been blown to pieces. I screamed. Then I breathed again.
I reached for the hem of my shirt and pulled. It didn't budge. I used both hands to tear it apart and more blood poured out of my wound making me grimace with pain.
I let myself feel it for a second or two then wrapped the piece of cloth over the wound and squeezed it as hard as I could, hoping it would be enough. Because the time for the pity party was over. The time for pain was over.
It was time to kill that motherfucker and save Zach.