Chapter 12 #3
“And you will. We will. Just not today.” Rising from my chair, I take her arm and help her to her feet. “We can go back to the condo, order some food, you can take a nap—”
Her chin lifts. “I don’t need a nap.”
“Fine. You can work on a puzzle. Or listen to one of those audiobooks you picked out.” As I pack up our laptops and sling both bags over my shoulder, I add, “Maybe a little later, we can put on a movie. Once you’ve rested your eyes a bit.”
“We?” Her eyebrows arch up. “I thought you had to work?”
I should. I have expense reports to finalize, emails to send, clients to call, plus another twenty things on my daily schedule I can’t even think of right now.
But I don’t want to. I want to go back to my condo and spend time with Sofia. I want to work on one of those boring puzzles, intentionally sticking mismatched pieces together to make her laugh. I want to make sure she’s rested. That she’s eaten. That she’s really okay.
“I thought I’d take the afternoon off,” I finally reply. “Maybe send a few emails, but the rest can wait.”
Sofia stops. Her brow furrows. “Nico—”
“It doesn’t have to be we,” I amend. “If you’d rather spend the afternoon by yourself, that’s fine. I can work in my office.”
She goes quiet as we approach the side exit. As we get close to the door, I pull out my phone to text Kurt that we’re ready to leave. He messages me back immediately, letting me know he’ll meet us right away.
“Just waiting for Kurt,” I explain once I slide my phone back into my pocket. “He’ll be here shortly.”
“Do you think it’s necessary?” she asks. “Having a driver and all that?”
“It’s safer. Having someone at our six—”
“At our six?”
“Yeah. It’s something we’d say in the Army. If someone has your back, you say they have your six.”
“Oh.” Her teeth dig into her lower lip. “I guess that’s nice. Knowing you have someone like that.”
Her reaction gives me pause.
Does Sofia have someone at her six? Or has she been doing it all on her own since her mom passed away and her boss slash mentor left?
It hurts my heart to think of her trying to do everything by herself. Not that she isn’t capable—it’s clear she is—but it’s a lonely way to live.
At the end of the hallway, Kurt appears. He gives me a quick wave as he hurries towards us.
And even though I know it might not be appropriate, given the whole my dad is a liar and a terrible person and he fucked up Sofia’s life thing, I can’t help saying, “I’ve got your six, Soph. You might not want it, but you’ve got it, anyway.”
Her face jolts.
Then, as Kurt approaches, she replies quietly, “If you don’t mind taking the afternoon off, I’d like to spend it with you.” Her lips quirk. “As long as you don’t hide the last piece of the puzzle again.”
Lightness fills my chest. “No hiding the last puzzle piece. I promise.”
“Okay,” Kurt says once he joins us. “Are we ready?” He tosses the car fob and does a quick spin before catching it.
Sofia laughs. “Very impressive.”
“He’s just a showoff,” I remark while we walk through the door.
“I played basketball,” he corrects. “And before I enlisted, I was on one of those trick shot teams. You know, the ones where you leap off a trampoline to make a jump shot?”
“Oh, that’s cool,” Sofia replies with a smile.
And suddenly, for the first time in my life, I wish I played basketball, too.
Outside, Kurt takes point, scanning the alley before waving for us to join him. I keep Sofia close to my side, wrapping my arm around her. Ostensibly for safety, but I can’t deny the feeling of rightness that comes from having her body pressed against mine.
Don’t think about it right now, I remind myself. Sofia’s protection is the important thing. Not my conflicted feelings about her.
Except they’re not conflicted, are they? Deep down, I know what I want.
Kurt opens the back door of the company SUV, then gives me a quick nod.
With only a few feet to go, I lead Sofia forward while scanning the alley again.
It all looks safe. Quiet. But one of the things I learned in Delta was how even the most innocuous of settings could be dangerous. How evil can lurk anywhere—an empty building, a school, or even a worn toy in the arms of a child.
The alley looks fine. But instinct makes me look up to the buildings surrounding us.
And that’s when I see it.
Just a glint of light on the roof of the building to our left.
A glint I wouldn’t recognize if not for my time spent overseas.
A glint many rifles conceal these days, with special glare-preventing devices and camouflage.
I’m moving even as the thought is registering.
Sniper!
Wrapping my arms around Sofia, I drop her to the ground, covering her body with mine.
A second later, a bullet strikes the side of the car.
“Sniper!” I shout. “Fifty degrees northeast. The roof. Cover me, now!”
Kurt’s already in position, his Sig at high ready. He spins in the direction the shot came from.
From beneath me, Sofia makes a small, scared sound.
My racing heart leaps to triple speed.
What if she’s hurt? What if I injured her as I knocked her to the ground? Or what if she was hit, what if the gunman took a shot and I somehow didn’t notice, what if—
Fuck.
Fear is overwhelming everything else. Logic. Training. Procedure.
What if she’s hurt?
“I don’t see anyone,” Kurt says. He sounds pissed.
“Nico?” Sofia whispers. “Did someone shoot at us?”
“Yes.” Though I’m loath to release her, I know I need to get her someplace safer—either the SUV or back inside.
I quickly lift my head, glancing in both directions. The car is closer. And the door is already open. But the building is more protected. I have more backup in there.
“We need to move,” I tell her. “I’ll carry you inside. Everything’s going to be alright.”
She shudders against me. Her voice is achingly small as she replies, “Okay.”
“Kurt, open the door,” I order. “We’re going back inside. Now.”
“On it.” He rushes to the building and unlocks the door. Then he props the door open with his foot and shifts back into high ready stance. “You’re good to move.”
I turn Sofia in my arms so she’s facing me. “When I get up, wrap your legs around me. Keep your head against my chest.”
She nods. Sniffles. “Okay, Nico.”
On a silent prayer, I tighten my hold on her and get ready to move. Fear surges.
Not for me. For Sofia.
I can’t let her get hurt. Not again.
“Hold on,” I murmur. “Right—” My muscles tense. “Now.”
Leaping up, I clutch Sofia to my body and sprint to the door. She does what I asked, wrapping her legs around my waist and burying her face into my shirt.
My body anticipates the burn of a bullet wound as I run.
It’s not far to go, maybe ten feet or so. But it feels like miles.
Shoot me, I bargain silently, but not her.
Then I cross the threshold of the building.
Kurt flings the door shut behind us.
A buzz of voices hurry towards us. They’re alarmed. Worried.
I sink to my knees, still holding Sofia. My chest is heaving, not from exertion, but fear. “Fuck, Soph. Shit.” With a shaking hand, I stroke her cheek. “Are you hurt? Did I hurt you when I knocked you down? Did you get shot? Shit.”
Her frightened gaze meets mine. “I’m okay. I’m not hurt.”
“Shit.” I set her away from me so I can check her body for injuries. “Are you sure? I didn’t mean to take you down that hard. Or shrapnel. Shit. Did any metal hit you?”
“Nico.” She takes a shuddering breath. “I’m not hurt. But…” She touches my face. “Are you hurt? You covered me with your body. Did you—”
“I’m fine.” Once I confirm she’s uninjured, I gather Sofia to me again. “But, shit. Ah, shit. You were almost—” My throat closes. It was too close.
“I’m okay.” She rests her head on my shoulder. Her breath feathers my neck. “You kept me safe. Again.”
Maybe so. But she shouldn’t have been shot at to start with.
Guilt crashes into me. And following close behind, rage.
I’m going to find the person behind this.
And when I do, I’m going to kill them.