“I can do that.” The man picked up Ryanne by the neck and threw her face-forward over the railing. Her scream was cut short by a sickening thud. Kathryn screamed. Her knees gave way below her and she fell to the ground. Ryanne’s head was turned to the side and dark blood was pooling around her face. Madoc moved in the direction of Ryanne. “Stay where you are scum, or she is next,” the man said as he moved behind Kathryn. She could feel something hard and steely against her neck, then heard the telltale click of the chamber. “You will drop your rifle now or I shoot her in three… two…” Madoc dropped the gun loudly to the floor. “Good dog, now you will…” the man’s voice was cut off by his own grunt as he staggered back, peering down wide-eyed at the knife embedded in his hand. Madoc pulled another throwing knife from his boot and hurled it, but the man grabbed Kathryn and threw her into the path of the oncoming blade. The second knife grazed her cheek, leaving a stinging feeling as it sank into the wall behind them. “So you don’t care if she dies, alright.” Kathryn felt the man’s hand grab her neck and a sharp, cold pressure just under her ear. “I’ll slice her ear-to-ear if you try another stunt—in fact, let’s get the party started.” The sensation of friction and release slowly moved under her ear. Her brain told her he was cutting, but the pain hadn’t caught up yet. Madoc’s eyes told her he was cutting. Both his hands went up.
“Alright, stop! I got it. What do you want?” The pain finally reached Kathryn’s brain just as she started to feel the warm wet liquid trickling down her throat. The man held the knife steady. “We’re going to come down those stairs while you put that rifle on the counter and move over in front of those windows, hands up at all times.” Madoc nodded and each man began to move.
“I suppose you’re leader of Shabdkosh. You must have been paid a pretty penny to come here just for me. I didn’t know I was so important.”
“Yes scum, it surprised me too. You shouldn’t have come here to save these whores, you’re losing your edge—it was almost too easy to draw you out. My client will be happy to see your Government crippled and I will be happy to be rid of this job. I was thinking of taking a small vacation… maybe Cyprus. Ever been?” The hand on the back of Kathryn’s neck never weakened or strayed as he moved or spoke. She wanted to try and surprise him—maybe attempt a solar plexus hit with her elbow or something—but had a sinking feeling that this would get her killed even more quickly. Madoc placed the gun on the counter and started walking backward to the window. The curtains blew around him, swiping at his arms and legs as the snow continued to drift in. He looked at her and she saw fear in his face. She was going to die—she knew it then. Mohamed moved them over to the gun and swung it over his shoulder, continuing until they stopped a few feet from Madoc. He placed his mouth close to her ear, speaking loud enough for Madoc to hear. “Okay whore, your boyfriend is far enough away to get a good show, let’s show him what you are good for.” Using the hand that had been holding her neck, he pulled fast and hard on the front of her soft cotton t-shirt. The fabric ripped in two easily, exposing her torso and black bra. Kathryn trembled but kept her eyes locked on Madoc, seeking strength. She felt Mohamed’s hand grasp her left breast as he pulled the cup away, feeling for her nipple. He laughed in her ear as he pressed his hard-on into her back. “Maybe we should let your boyfriend watch how a real man fucks a whore.” Kathryn watched Madoc’s face turn from stone-cold white to purple with rage. His fists clenched open and closed as he stood taut like a wound spring. Kathryn had never felt such sheer murderous potential. It was palpable to the point that she felt it was their own weapon left. Mohamed pulled her other bra cup down, exposing both breasts to the cold. “Ah you Canadian whores and your big tits. I’m going to kill him first so that I can enjoy fucking you in peace. I bet your cunt is wet right now.”
Kathryn slowly rubbed her ass against Mohamed’s bulge. She heard his disgusting groan in pleasure as he brought his lips to her ear again. “That’s the way, whore…” Kathryn threw her head back as hard as she could. A loud crack popped from behind her. Before her vision went star-speckled and dark, she saw Madoc barreling towards them. She heard Mohamed yell and a tingling feeling in her right as the world closed in around her and consciousness left her body.
Chapter 32
Blood poured from Mohamed’s mouth as Madoc tackled him to the floor. Mohamed no longer had a knife but still carried a small shank. Madoc knew he was bigger than Mohamed but his cast made it difficult to maneuver his lower limbs. He tried not to think about the movement and let his aggression flow naturally. Madoc straddled him, both men’s arms locked against each other, preventing any successful swings. Mohamed spit his blood red saliva into Madoc’s eyes, blinding him momentarily. Madoc felt his body roll and Mohamed’s legs around his hips. The rifle was still slung over Mohamed’s shoulder, and hung between them. Mohamed pushed it into Madoc’s throat, pinning him to the ground. A swing of Madoc’s knife hand found contact in Mohamed’s side, and he sunk the blade deep between rip and hip. Mohamed grimaced but didn’t let up. Madoc pulled the knife and went to strike again. Before finding contact, Mohamed’s forehead smashed into the bridge of his nose in two sharp consecutive hits. Madoc’s senses went black, and Mohamed raised his shank with both hands, ready to plunge it into Madoc’s throat. Madoc swung wildly with the knife, hitting only air. He knew it was over and cleared his thoughts to try and sense Kathryn’s presence. A soft gurgling breath was all that filled the room. He felt Mohamed’s weight shift, and he knew death was coming.
Kathryn blinked. Feeling her body against the hard floor, she tried to move, but realized she wasn’t breathing. Each breath was a struggle, each more difficult than the last. Her torso heaved up and down, making an awful gurgling sound. She turned her head to look at the grunting figures rolling beside her and made out Madoc and the assassin. His arms were poised to bring down a long sharp rod into Madoc’s neck. A loud crash from behind her made her body jump. The shots that followed didn’t register in her head until they splintered the wood of the far wall, splashing something wet against the wall. Her brain couldn’t react or understand what had happened. She lay there looking up into the ceiling fans that were spinning slowly still. Her hand traveled to the spot on her ribs that felt aggravated. The hilt of the knife stuck out from her body, embedded between her ribs. She’d been stabbed. Understanding and panic set in as she recognized the signs of a punctured lung. She was in trouble.
Continuing to panic, her breath got shorter until a beautiful angel came to take her away... she knew the angel. Charlie. Charlie came into Kathryn’s vision, her body shielded by a large parka and fur framing her beautiful face. “Kathryn sweetheart, don’t touch that. Everything is going to be okay—just keep focusing on taking slow, long breaths. We are going to get you out of here.” Madoc crawled into her vision, his face busted and bruised with blood splashed all across it. He lifted her head into his hands, pulling her face towards him. “Kathryn, you have a knife in your side. We have to keep it in to keep your lung from fully collapsing.” He turned his head towards Charlie. “Can you look for Saran Wrap?”
Charlie left her side. “Sweetie, I’m going to try and make it easier for you to breath, just don’t move and don’t shift the knife. I’m so sorry Kathryn, I’m so sorry. Everything is going to be okay, I promise.” Kathryn could feel the tears starting to stream down from her eyes.
“Am I going to die?” she asked, her lung making a sucking sound as she spoke.
“No baby, you’re going to go home,” said Madoc. “You’re going to get better and come be with me. You are not going to die.” Kathryn panicked more, she could sense the fear and emotion in Madoc’s voice. She saw tears pool in the sides of his eyes. He looked away from her. Charlie came back into her field of vision with a tube of Saran Wrap. Madoc’s hands worked with expert speed and efficiency as he wound the wrap around the wound, creating an airtight barrier. Immediately Kathryn could feel the effects of her lungs expanding more fully, allowing more oxygen into he
r blood. “Madoc...” she gurgled, “I’m cold.” Madoc pulled a fleece blanket from the couch and covered her lower body, speaking to her softly. “I know Kat, I’ll keep you warm.” He turned to Charlie and spoke from the side of his mouth so that Kathryn couldn’t see his face. “Charlie, we have to get her out of here, what are our options?” Madoc pleaded more than asked.
“I’ve driven through the night so we have a bullet-proof SUV. If we can get her out there, we’ll be safe to drive. Marshall and Adams are coming in by helicopter, landing at the police station twenty kilometers away. Can we get her to the car without getting shot? How many more are there? And where’s Tuck?” Charlie was helping to hold the knife steady as she explained.
Madoc went to speak but Kathryn interrupted. “Ryanne, help Ryanne.” It came out as a gasp and a gurgle that sounded like death. Madoc’s head turned to Ryanne’s body that lay still on the floor underneath the railing above. He had forgotten her. “We will, save your energy right now. I won’t lose you…”
Charlie moved again out of Kathryn’s eyesight. “She’s breathing, but I don’t know where this blood is coming from and I’m afraid to turn her around.”
Madoc answered without looking away from Kathryn. “She’s breathing but don’t move her yet. Kathryn has a punctured lung and we need to get her to the helicopter. Are we safe to exit? Who else is with you?”
Kathryn could hear someone move towards where Ryanne lay. Adams and Marshall had arrived. “We only have this guy confirmed dead?” Adams asked. Madoc spoke up “we think we got one last night in a booby trap explosion, Tuck went after another in the bush, after being hit himself. I don’t know if he survived…there’s at least one left”. Kat watched hazily as Marshall turned Ryanne over in one swift movement, placing her back down on the ground, more blood gushed out of her mouth.
“I think our sharpshooter is still alive, he sprayed the room from a distance. We haven’t had any shots since the last attack” Madoc finished.
“It’s cleared up, so he definitely had the opportunity…that guy did a number to this gal… her neck is pretty mangled. I’m not sure she can survive the transport”. Kathryn heard Adams, but was having trouble registering his words. Her eyes felt heavy and energy seemed to be seeping from her. She turned her head in Madoc’s hands to try and sleep. “No sweetie, no sleeping. You gotta stay awake… for me.” Kathryn nodded slowly. “We gotta move them now. Fuck the sharpshooter. Charlie, you get the doors and seats prepared for transfer. Tuck, you carry Ryanne, I got Kathryn. As soon as we’re in range, call the station and have a paramedic and medical kit ready on the helicopter for when we arrive. Charlie, yell when you’re ready.” Kathryn felt Madoc’s strong arms under her body as she ebbed in and out of consciousness. The suckling sound from her lung got worse as he pulled them both up and headed to the door. She needed to say something before it was lights out again, before she may never have the chance. “Madoc…” she whispered.
“No baby, don’t talk,” he stopped her.
“No Madoc… I want you… to know that if I make it… if I survive, I want us to be together. I don’t care what the rules are… I want to be with you. Please… save me.” Her eyes begged him as much as her words. Tears streamed down her face. She saw Madoc’s chest hitch as he sucked in a breath and looked away for a second.
“My Kat, I’m going to save you, you’re mine now. And that means you have to listen to me… you are going to survive this. I love you and you’re not going anywhere.” Her heart exploded and broke at the same—she knew she felt the same.
“I love you too Madoc… I don’t want to die.” The sucking sound cut her off as the knife fell loose from her body and hit the floor. Madoc swore under his breath and limped them both through the door and into the cold white realm. Kathryn could feel the whiteness surround her, but her vision was clouding over. Consciousness was leaving her, slipping away with the precious red fluid that gushed out of the open wound, marring the pristine snow.
Chapter 33
Usif couldn’t stop himself from watching. He had seen everything through his rifle scope from the moment Khalifa had run off into the bush, followed by the guy in black SWAT gear. The snow and trees had made it impossible to help Khalifa, but he had forced himself to watch the end- Khalifa deserved that. He was sure both men had died honourably. Mohamed on the other hand had not fared so well. The moment Khalifa had disappeared from the scene Usif knew if Mohamed returned successfully, Usif wouldn’t last long. He had a feeling that Mohamed had been planning to kill him for some time, and now, without the other teammates to support him, he would be a loose end Mohamed would tie up here in Canada. He had ordered Usif to take out the targets inside if he ran into trouble, but Usif had to take care of himself. Mohamed had to go. So he was glad when the woman in black had blown his head off and freed Usif of the guilt of doing it himself. Now, watching them try to transfer the women into the cars, he figured he had enough time to get ahead of the Canadian team, especially if he didn’t take any of them out. They would be more focused on getting the women to safety than trying to enact revenge on him. He needed to move. Getting out of Canada wouldn’t be easy, but he had several relatives in the country he could call on for assistance. The client wouldn’t be pleased, he might even want to kill him, but Usif had a way of getting himself out of sticky situations. Mohamed should have known this better than anyone…
Chapter 34
The machines dripped and beeped and rang all night and day. The symphony of synthetic sounds told Madoc that they were both alive and that their bodies were functioning. Ryanne and Kathryn were laid in beds side-by-side at the prime minister’s direct order. Madoc had called in some favours and had gotten the women a private room in the best trauma hospital in Canada. He had wanted them to be together, as they always were. Madoc had tried to contact both of their families, but was shocked to discover that Ryanne’s parents had both passed in a horrific pile-up several years prior and that Kathryn had been raised by an older foster family that had retired, bought a boat and sailed away. He had automatically assumed they’d had easier lives then him-he owed them an apology for this
Kathryn had been in hospital for two days so far, but hadn’t awoken. The punctured lung was repaired but the blood loss and possible brain damage were still looming over her. Ryanne had suffered a contusion to her frontal lobe, a broken cheekbone and severe damage to her trachea. She had barely survived and had required immediate surgery to open her wind pipe and rebuild the structure. Her throat would never be the same but they hoped to she would return to full health. Both remained unconscious as Madoc and Marshall took turns spending the night. Madoc held Kathryn’s hand, wetting her lips and hoping for the day when she would finally speak. He had so many things to say to her, to convince her of… to promise her. If only she would wake up and talk to him, remember him, be her old self again. The beeping noise from the heartrate machine increased as he watched it rise, her face blossoming with some pink. Her fingers twitched inside of his palm.
“Kathryn baby… Kathryn… wake up, I’m here.” Her eyes fluttered every time he spoke her name. “Kathryn, Kat, open your eyes… I’m right here. You made it… it’s going to be okay. Open your eyes baby.” Her green eyes fluttered open, staring right through him. She blinked slowly a couple of times but didn’t speak. What if she was brain damaged? What if she couldn’t speak? “Baby, speak to me,” he urged. Kathryn’s eyes darted to his face. A single tear fell down the side of her cheek.
“I made it?” the question came out like the sound of the wind, insubstantial and fleeting.
Madoc kissed her lips and chin and cheeks and forehead before pulling back. “Yes Kat, you made it. You’re going to be fine and so is Ryanne.” He watched Kathryn close her eyes tightly as the tears started streaming down her face. She didn’t open her eyes. “What about Tuck?”
Madoc dropped his head to his hands. “We couldn’t find him. We couldn’t wait for him-we had to get you two medical attention an
d it wasn’t safe for only one person to remain. When Adams and Marshall went back they found the guy he went after, but all of Tuck’s tracks were long covered by snow. We’re not giving up hope…but it doesn’t look good”. Madoc raised his eyes to meet Kathryn’s. He swallowed his mounting grief.
“I’m so sorry Madoc. I can’t believe you chose me…it’s not fair…he saved our lives” Madoc pulled his chair closer and sat beside her. He knew he should call the nurse soon but he needed to say his piece. “I thought I was going to lose you too. I don’t want that to ever happen. I never wanted to leave him out there, but we need to be together. Forever. No more time wasted. I want you in my life, I want to travel the world with you. I want everything. I can’t lose you too.”
Kathryn looked down at her hands filled with needles and lines “I can’t date you Madoc, there are rules about being with clients—you have to wait at least two years. I could lose my license and get charged. I don’t know how to fix that.” Her voice was softer than he felt comfortable with, as if she had given up hope.
Dangerous Care (Dangerous Care Saga #1) Page 15