by Sara Schoen
I made my way through the compound as everyone proceeded to hunt me down. The cartel members had spread out in an attempt to find me, but they didn’t seem to realize that it made it all the easier to hide from them. I kept to the shadows, slowly working my way to an exit before I heard a few men talking about another agent arriving at the compound. I couldn’t be sure, but I heard someone say another agent had been caught, but the only reply had been, “Serves him right,” and a laugh.
“Demon,” I whispered, cursing his name. He must have taken the girls back to the plane to keep them safe and returned for me. So much for our agreement.
I turned away from the exit and rushed back into the crowd of people in the compound. The members had dispersed throughout the building to find me, giving me plenty of room to work as I moved through the compound. I needed to find Demon, but once someone spotted me, all attention would turn back to me and then he would just have to find me. Which wasn’t a terrible idea. I could keep them away from him, have him come to me and then we both escape before it got too risky.
What did I have to lose at this point? They had already threatened my life, and I knew I wouldn’t leave Demon alone since he had come back to help me. I had to try to get us both out now and hope for the best.
I leapt out into the open, darting in front of a few members on purpose. They called for help. I moved easily between the levels and across the main floor to escape them. Soon more people were on my tail and I figured I had made enough noise to let Demon know where I was. So when I managed to escape most of the men and women following me, I retreated to the shadows. I found a hiding spot to lay low for a while, but my victory was short-lived.
As I relaxed into my spot, taking deep, slow breaths to recover, the barrel of a gun shoved hard into the back of my head. My body went rigid, my breathing and heart stopped altogether, as a chilling voice drifted into my ear.
“Don’t move or I’ll kill you here and now. If I can’t have Marco’s impostor, I’ll be glad to make an example out of you for killing my men.” The dark voice sounded familiar, one of the men Volodya had brought with him when he first captured Natasha and I. I couldn’t ignore the anger in his words as he spoke of Renegade, who had killed Marco to take his identity, but I didn’t understand why he brought that up. I did know that if I got out of this, I was going to kill Renegade for getting me into it.
I contemplated trying to take the gun from him, but the idea seemed unlikely. I could feel multiple presences around me; one of them would kill me even if I managed to move.
“Take care of her,” another voice stated. “Volodya will deal with her later, and this time don’t underestimate her. Figure out what she did with Natasha and see if she has information on Katya. We have unfinished business with them both.” Whoever was talking then directed the conversation toward me. “You’ll be dead before you can make a move, so this time I would advise you to come willingly. Then when I find your friend, you better be ready to cooperate.”
I didn’t respond, but they didn’t need to hear it to know my answer. The second they had threatened Demon, anger boiled deep within me. They would never hurt him or any other agent. I wouldn’t let them. I reached for my knife on the side of my waist. A rough hit came from behind, knocking me to the ground swiftly. I crashed to the floor, pain erupting everywhere. I tried to get back up, to fight, but I could see the corners of my vision start to close in. My energy vanished, and I gave in to the darkness.
Chapter 26
I felt my head throbbing in pain before I even bothered attempting to open my eyes. An intense pain crept through me as I started to come to, from my head straight down my spine. Even the slightest movement sent a sharp pain through me, which was enough to convince me it may be better not to move. I was slouched into a wooden chair judging from the feel of it; hard and uncomfortable, though the tight holds latched onto my wrists and ankles might partially be responsible for the uncomfortable position. I couldn’t expect much else considering they had managed to capture me again. They would make sure I didn’t escape this time.
My assumption was confirmed when I finally managed to open my eyes, battling the pounding headache that resonated through me once the light met my eyes. I could see four armed men staring at me from across the room, ropes binding me to the chair beneath me, and the gun and knife I had on me at one man’s feet. I glanced down to my hip to see if they had found my concealed knife, once again as I moved to sit up I felt the handle brush against my skin. It slightly eased the throbbing pain for me, a small reminder that if necessary I could fight back. I just needed to find a way to get it without the men across the room noticing and I’d be ready to race out of here. All I needed was a little hope and I could work wonders.
I heard a cough come from beside me. I forgot I was here because I had come back for Demon. I hadn’t been able to look at my sides from the slouched position, and assumed that I would be alone when I woke up. I turned to where the sound had come from and groaned in a mix of pain and annoyance as I saw who was tied down next to me.
“You have got to be kidding me.” I clenched my teeth, fighting a cry of pain while I tried to reposition myself further so I could talk to him. The rope held tightly, preventing much movement. At least they really had learned from the last time, I thought until I noticed how close my hand came to my concealed knife. As I shifted once more I felt the handle brush against my hand through the material of my pants. I could work the weapon out easily when the time came. Maybe they didn’t learn after all. I glanced back to my partner, tied down with me unable to move, but at least he was awake. Why was I the lucky one to be knocked out? “This has to be the dumbest thing you’ve done yet. What the hell were you thinking even coming here?”
“Oh, like you wouldn’t have done it,” Renegade remarked. Clearly insulted, I didn’t break down and thank him for coming to rescue me. I couldn’t condone his stupidity to come to the one group of people who wanted him dead more than anything else. They were willing to make an example out of me because I knew him. What would they do now that they had him? “Last time I checked you’re the go-to agent for suicide missions. So don’t chastise me for coming to save your reckless ass.”
I scoffed before letting out a breath of a laugh at his words. “So you took a page out of my book and decided that you should risk your life for no reason. What’s that make you?” I questioned. “You couldn’t have made a worse decision. I was halfway out the door when I heard some of the men saying another agent had come in. You got us both caught, once again, but this time we’ll be executed together. Happy ending.” The sarcasm rolled off my tongue so easily I barely thought about how rude it sounded. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking that I couldn’t leave you behind again, okay? Is that what you want to know? Is that a good enough reason to risk our lives? I didn’t want to leave you alone. I didn’t want to leave you behind again. I just wanted to make sure you were safe! Why do you have to fight me every step of the way?”
Because you left me before! Why was this time any different? I wanted to know, but at the same time I didn’t want an answer. There would be no way of stopping the flood gate of words that would spill out of me. Starting with Mexico, how he thought I couldn’t do my job, and ending with wondering what happened between us. A lot needed to be explained, but now wasn’t the time for it. I’m not sure when would be the right time, but judging from the four men with weapons pointed at us on the far side of the room I had a feeling we weren’t meant to have time to work it out. Either way I refused to answer him.
“You’re still mad.” It wasn’t a question. “Except this time you’re upset because you think I came back because I don’t trust you to do your job. First I leave you, and when I come back for you you’re still angry with me. How can I make the right decision when you hate every one I make?”
Once again I didn’t answer, but I didn’t deny his statement either.
“Can you just talk to me?” he asked,
letting out an exasperated sigh. “Just say something.”
“About what? What if I have nothing to say? Did you ever think about that? Maybe I don’t have anything else to say. I’ve said it all and I’m sick of rehashing it every step of the way. I’ve said what I had to, and it’s gotten us nowhere. What’s the point?”
Renegade scowled. The sardonic expression he wore seemed to be daring me to lie, to say I had nothing to talk to him about, when we both knew I wanted to avoid the discussion all together. “Look, I understand that you’re mad, but as I told you before I didn’t doubt your skills in Mexico. I never considered the thought that you were incapable of doing your job.” I was about to ask him why he needed to do both jobs if he thought I could do my job, but he cast me an intimidating gaze that said to let him finish speaking. So I shut up. “You’re great at your job, I’ve seen it first hand and seen the destruction you can leave in your wake when it’s directed correctly.”
Meaning not at him and my other teammates, I’m sure, but I kept my mouth shut and let him finish.
“I was just worried about you. You do your job so well that I knew you would put yourself at risk, and I didn’t want you to be injured or worse.”
I tried to hide the shock, but I reacted before I could control the reaction. My face scrunched up in confusion and disbelief. My eyebrows pulled together as I whipped my head around to look at him again, but the sincerity in his gaze washed away whatever doubt I had in his words. I knew that other agents cared for me, worried about me, but it was for the team, the mission, that I risked my life and they protected mine. Something in his gaze told me it was more than that. Something a lot more than just taking care of a teammate, something hard to admit, especially in our current situation.
“I didn’t want you to get hurt, so I stupidly tried to do both jobs so you wouldn’t be at risk. Of course that only put us more at risk because I tried to do both and am not trained to do your job. I’m sorry I put you more at risk, I just didn’t know what to do and Fire Fox ordered me back…there was nothing I could do.” His voice softened, followed by a low sigh when he looked away. His shoulders sunk slightly as he tried to avoid my gaze. “I decided this time I wouldn’t let you be captured and alone. I guess I didn’t learn that I can’t do two jobs at once, and failed to get you out of here.”
“At least I’m not alone again,” I said, uncertain of what else to say. I was at a loss for words, which surprised me. I usually could come up with something, but when it came to being vulnerable especially in our current situation, it didn’t make it easy for me. “I realize you tried to protect me, but you can’t always save me. My job is a risk, and it’s one that I signed up for and accepted. I know this job is hazardous and I still do it, just like you. We risk our lives for everyone else, and we do it without being asked.” I could see his shoulders sink a little more in defeat, as if he thought I was brushing him off and he hated the thought. “I know you did it because you care for me, and I’m sorry I reacted like I did. I was hurt because you left me. Now that you’re here, I wish you were safe back at CIRA.”
Silence took over the space around us, suffocating me. The emotions I had attempted to hold back were threatening to break through my wall all at once. He wanted to keep me safe and I had pushed him away in a futile attempt to do the same. Now we were trapped, and now that Volodya had Renegade I knew he would take the revenge the mafia so desperately wanted for Marco. Revenge seemed to continue in a never ending circle in this business, effectively taking away chances I didn’t take. A chance I had now, but refused to take. I wanted to tell him the truth, tell him what I had been holding back from him, and why I was scared to admit it all to him, but this was neither the time nor the place. It would have to wait for when we got out of here.
“How did you get here? You weren’t even supposed to be here in the first place. You were told to never come back because this would happen.”
“I convinced Maverick to bring me when Seeker said you were going in. He’s been keeping me up to date, as I know he told you, so when he said today you’d be coming back, I wanted to be there. I wanted to talk to you and I figured a fourteen hour plane ride would be a good amount of time to talk.” He swallowed nervously before clearing his throat. “So when Demon came by with Katya and Natasha and not you, I asked what happened.” Once again he stopped momentarily. I waited, but he seemed unwilling to continue so I had to prompt him.
“What happened next?”
“Demon told me not to go back for you.” His voice cracked slightly, as if the words pained him to say them aloud. “He said he’d do it once Katya and Natasha were safe. He ordered me not to go because Volodya wants me and I’d only make it worse.”
Which he had. I would have been able to make the plane if I hadn’t gone back for him, but at least he hadn’t left me alone this time. It was an improvement, just not fully in the right direction.
As he continued to explain, I slowly realized what his plan had been. I tried not to laugh at the irony of it; he had tried to be more like me, and I had tried to be more like him. “And you thought you’d make perfect bait. You really did take a page out of my book.” A soft breathy laugh escaped my lips. “If we get out of this alive, I’m going to kill you.”
A smile raced across Renegade’s lips, hearing the playfulness in my voice before he let out a light laugh. “Then let’s get out of here so you have the chance.”
I glanced back to the guards on the far wall, eyes locked on us while waiting for us to make a move. They were waiting for Volodya to come back, they must have been ordered to keep us under control. There didn’t seem to be an easy way out, and I had run out of ideas. I barely made it out the first time, and I wasn’t sure I could make it out again. “How do you suppose we do that with these guys watching us?” I asked in a hushed tone, hoping they wouldn’t hear me.
“We do this like the Cardoza job, except this time we work together. No surprises or hidden identities. It should be easier this time.”
I nodded before shifting in my seat slightly to grab the knife at my waist. Once my hand settled on the handle, I began to work as discreetly as possible on getting out of my bonds. While they had made the bonds tighter, I had no doubt I’d be able to escape and end this just like the Cardoza job. Now I just had to antagonize someone enough to get them to hit me. That shouldn’t be too hard.
Chapter 27
While Volodya wanted to kill us both, he also wanted to let us suffer for as long as possible. I wasn’t sure how long we had been tied down to these chairs, but from the moment I woke up to now, the guards had gone through three shift changes. I assumed the changes happened every two hours or so, but that actually made it easier for our plan. As far as I knew the first set of guards hadn’t heard our plan, and while they had carried out a short exchange with the new team, it gave me a chance to ensure our charade was believable.
“Did they warn you about me or are you coming in blind?” I asked, goading a response from either set of guards. When neither of them answered I knew I had to go with higher stakes if I wanted to make our plan believable. “Who’s in for a worse time when Volodya graces us with his presence? Marco’s killer or me? I did kill multiple men single handedly; of course a few were shot, but I still take credit for it. He did tell you guys that the last set of guards he left with me are dead, right?”
Anger etched into their features instantly, it had started off as a grimace, annoyed by my comments, but it turned angry at the mention of Marco, then deadly by the end. I would guess that Volodya hadn’t told everyone about the men I killed because one man looked shocked before the fury over took his features as his fellow members filled him in.
His tongue darted along the underside of his teeth, as if trying to control his emotions while his hand reached for the weapon he had slung over his shoulder. He approached me with caution, as he should. He had no way of knowing everything I could be capable of. The few who did were now dead.
I didn’t shy aw
ay from him. I wanted to seem fearless and defiant to infuriate him more. I needed him angry, he had to hit me hard so I could pretend to be unconscious, but I still should have thought about my comment before I spoke. “Was one of them your friend?”
He didn’t hesitate. His fist made contact with the tip of my nose and upper lip, causing me to rear back with the power of his blow. The pain swelled, taking up the lower portion of my face, as I fought the urge to reach up to see if my nose was broken. I licked my lips, feeling my lip had swollen slightly. I barely had time to register the metallic taste on my upper lip before he landed another punch.
“He was my brother.” The words came out more threatening than I had expected. I almost regretted opening my mouth when he landed another punch. This one had been harder than the rest. It knocked my chair over and forced me to the ground. I tucked my head into my chest as the chair toppled over. My shoulder hit the ground first, but I couldn’t prevent my head from crashing onto the floor. I clenched my teeth, fighting a cry of pain.
I hadn’t meant to make him this angry, only to piss him off enough to punch me, then fake unconsciousness. He may actually knock me out if I didn’t keep my mouth shut.
“Alexei,” someone called to the man who stood above me. I didn’t understand the Russian, but I knew Renegade would. If it’s important he’d let me know somehow. I had to trust him for this to work.
A moment later I was lifted off the ground and roughly placed back into a sitting position. I remained limp and shut my eyes, unwilling to move even as he lightly slapped me to see if I was awake. Another short exchange was given, but this time Renegade answered.
“You’ll regret thinking she’s weak.”
Laughter erupted around us. I guess they didn’t agree with Renegade’s assessment, but he was correct—though they wouldn’t realize until it was too late. I listened closely to their footsteps once they separated. One set of guards went to their post and the other left the room, safe for now. After the other guards left, it took what felt like hours of sitting uncomfortably, about to fall asleep, and itching for a fight before the pain lessened, the blood dried, and for Volodya to finally grace us with his presence.