Page 57 of Fighting for Valor
Charlie got away. I know Charlie got away.
Ripper
Bits and pieces of conversation float around me. I’m moving, sitting, stuck. I can’t breathe and clutch at my shirt until hands fumble for my shoulders.
“Rip. Stop!” Dax. His deep voice registers through my panic, and my body stills, even though I’m close to hyperventilating. “You’re safe. We’re out of there.”
Ry’s truck. I’m in the back seat with Dax, and the engine rumbles as Ryker accelerates onto Highway 99 towards downtown. “Where’s Cara? And, fuck. Charlie?”
I remember Charlie in my lap, trying to get my attention, then shots, Cara’s scream. “Ry? Where are Cara and Charlie?” I slam my fist into the back of his seat, and Dax grabs my arm.
“We don’t know, brother. We ran down the stairs. They were both with us. I heard her footsteps, and Charlie was right next to you. But once we got to the garage, she bolted. Charlie took off with her.”
“And you didn’t go after them?” If Dax weren’t blind, I’d probably punch him. My dog and my… I don’t even know what Cara is to me. I just know I need her.
“What’s your name? Your real name?”
“They knew. The American. J.T. Richards.”
The horror in Cara’s eyes. The shame.
I lunge for the window, rolling it down so I can stick half my head out, feel the wind on my cheeks. “They’ll. Kill. Her.”
Curling against the door, I try to make myself as small as possible. My head goes right to the worst-case scenario. Jessup and Parr torturing her. Violating her. Causing her as much pain as they can before they end her life.
I can feel every blow. Hear every taunt. Zaman’s fists, Kahlid’s whip. The rubber pipe on my feet, the brass knuckles to my back.
“Rip! Ripper!” Dax shakes me, but I can’t respond. I’m locked deep inside my mind, Faruk’s men holding me down. Laughing. Kicking. Using bottles. Their rifle barrels. Fists.
“Goddammit, Sergeant. Get yourself back here right fucking now!” Ry roars, but even his orders don’t pull me out. I know I need come back. Know it’s important. But all I can do it cover my head with my arms and pray that this time, they’ll kill me.
Moving again. An elevator. Thrown over a shoulder. Ryker. I can smell his soap. Along with a hint of honeysuckle. Dax’s cane taps against the baseboards. Forcing my eyes open, I can see it sweep back and forth.
Beeps of an electronic lock.
“Oh, my God. What the flippin’ flapjacks happened?” Wren asks as light footsteps rush towards us.
“Put me down, asshole,” I grunt as I pound on Ry’s back. “I’m not a sack of potatoes.”
“Thank fuck.” This from Dax, and as my feet touch the ground, I stumble into him. He’s a solid wall—not as solid as Ry, but still pretty damn unmovable. “Whoa there, brother.”
I don’t have time for my messed up head, and grab onto Dax’s arm. He stiffens, but then drops his cane and steadies me.
“You’re safe, Rip. Ry’s place is a fortress. No GPS signals in or out. No wifi, just the hardline. And there’s a cyber-net over the whole top floor. It’ll mask any GPS trackers.”
“I have to find Cara,” I wheeze. “Get outside…” Dax turns me towards the windows.
“Best I can do, brother.”
I rest my palms on the glass, then my forehead. Sun warms my chilled skin, but there’s still only ice flowing through my veins. Fuck. I wish Ry’s windows opened. They’re almost as large as the ones at my place. The ones someone shot at.
“You put in bulletproof glass at my apartment?” I ask Ry, only sparing him a glance before returning my focus to the city skyline.
He shrugs. “Couldn’t afford to do it here when I moved in. But after what happened in Russia, I had them swapped out. Wasn’t going to do anything less for you.”
“Is anyone going to tell me what’s going on here?” Wren says. She’s tiny. Barely reaches Ry’s shoulders. Red hair, green eyes, freckles. If it weren’t for her attitude, I’d think of her as Strawberry Shortcake. But she’s fierce as fuck when she wants to be.
“They came after us,” Ry says. “Shot up Ripper’s windows.”
