Epilogue
FORTY EIGHT DAYS LATER
Liz sits by the cargo door, anxiously bouncing her knees, watching Alex pace up and down the narrow hall.
Two rows of men and women line either side of the plane, carrying them to their next mission.
Her heart sinks, thinking about the last two.
Their teams raided two of Dmitri’s camps with no sign of Riley.
Everyday that they return without him Liz loses a piece of herself.
Mikey reaches over and takes her hand, giving her a sad smile.
Losing Riley has been hard on everyone, but no one is taking it harder than Liz.
“Mikey, Tyler, Neil, head to the main building, take the tunnels on the far side. There will be less resistance but stay alert. John and Lauren, lead your team around the other side. Make sure their path is clear when they get there.”
He turns and makes his way next to where Liz sits, eyes falling to the large scar across her neck. He goes silent, reflecting on everything that brought them to this moment. No amount of intel or planning could have prepared them for what happened that day.
Liz tries to stay focused and listen to the words of their new leader, but finds herself drifting to a dark place, thinking back on everything Riley told her about his capture, thinking about her own.
The thought of what could be happening to him makes her sick.
The worst part is she has no idea if he is even alive.
Her new found family all agree Dmitri would have shouted from the mountaintops if he had ended Riley's life.
Until that moment comes, he is alive. The irony of what Riley once told the general is not lost on her, because now, there is nothing on this earth that will stop her from getting Riley back.
She will make those men beg on their knees for mercy before she is done.
“Men on the ground, you will be clearing a path to the cells ahead of Liz and I. If you see someone being held anywhere other than the cells, get them out. Leave no prisoner behind. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir,” the team says in unison.
He glances over to Liz who is watching him prepare their team.
He can see the heartbreak in her eyes. She may be proud and appreciate how he stepped up, he knows someone else should be standing where he is, giving these orders.
Alex walks to the back of the plane, pushing a big red button on the wall.
The door behind them slowly falls open, filling the room with deafening winds.
Everyone stands, forming two lines, ready to hurl themselves into the air.
“Riley is down there. He has saved every one of our asses more times than I can count. Right now, finding him is our top priority. The general doesn’t know we are here, so let’s keep it that way.
We get in, get what we’re here for, and get the hell out,” Alex shouts over the wind whipping through the cabin of the plane.
“You know your roles, don’t fuck it up. Let’s bring our boy home,” he says, giving Liz a sad smile.