Page 87 of Take Me Back
His knife sliced me as he threw it?
Whatever. Not important. I’m still breathing.
“I’m fine. Get me out of here.”
“Good girl. Stay on me like a fucking shadow. I’ll block anything that comes from the front. They won’t shoot you from behind. You’re too valuable.”
I don’t have another second to think about his plan because he’s moving, and my leg burns as I follow him. I suck up the pain and force myself to keep up.
“Get the bird ready; we’re coming. Exfil in two.”
Again, I assume Rome is talking to someone on the other end of a radio.
“Yeah, DC, I got her. Get your ass to the bird.”
Shots still come in bursts, and when a man in the uniform I’ve come to associate with evil darts out into the hallway, Rome doesn’t hesitate. I cover my ears instinctively, and he shoots.
I step over the body and we head up a set of stairs to the deck. The rotor blades of a helicopter are spinning, and two more men in black are clearing the deck. One of them limps as he fires, and I know it’s Dane.
Rome pushes me ahead of him, and I scramble up another set of stairs toward the helicopter. “Get in the bird. Now. Keep low.”
I run for it, and bullets ping off fiberglass around me. The men fire back as I dive into the open door of the helicopter.
A man in the pilot’s seat turns to face me. “Hey, sweetness, good to meet you officially. Strap your ass in. We’re about to get the fuck off this boat.”
Rome climbs in. “Everyone’s coming! Get ready!”
Vander bursts out of a door, spraying bullets everywhere.
Ten feet shy of the helicopter, Dane stumbles backward, landing on his ass, and dread rushes through me.
Dane’s been hit.
Chapter 40
Dane
Fuck.Even though the shots hit my vest, they still knock the air from my lungs.
Bullets are flying from all directions as Vander races across the deck, dodging them before taking cover and moving my way.
Tanner rushes toward me, sliding to his knees. “You hit?”
“Vest!”
“Let’s get the fuck out of here.” He yanks me up by my good arm.
I only lose track of Vander for a second, but it’s too long. Tanner freezes when the pistol jams against the back of his head.
“You move, he dies.”
“Don’t fucking listen to him,” Tanner yells.
“You willing to sacrifice your friend to save your own life?”
Shots come from behind me, taking out the rest of the men, but Vander positions himself in front of Tanner and me, using us to block anyone from taking him out from the chopper.
I had to watch as one of our people died before, and I’m sure as hell not doing it today. The gun in my hand is empty. He’ll see if I go for the other one at my hip.
