Page 78 of When the Silence Breaks

Thirty-Three

Sarah might just be in full-blown panic. The agency training hadn’t taught her how to navigate the very heart of her soul being in jeopardy. Her son was in this because of her.

She lifted the flap to peek out and caught Ryder climbing from the trench. His steps were deliberate as he made a beeline for the tent. For her. After a quick glance up at the peak loaded with snow that he kept going on about, he hung his head as he hiked in her direction.

Oh ... no ...Now was the moment of truth.

The two men left to guard her in the tent hadn’t prevented her from peeking out and apparently had no concern she would go anywhere. Where would she go on this mountain? Still, they remained to make sure she didn’t try something. Their leverage over her had everything to do with her son.

The taller one glanced out of the tent and then looked at the other. “Get ready.”

Ready? For what? Did they think Ryder posed a threat? The men had already disarmed both her and Ryder. Both men tensed. On the inside she smiled—Ryder wasn’t a man to be ignored. She stepped to the back of the tent and eyed those boxes, knowing what they contained. Understanding what came next.

A chill had gripped her, drilling down to her marrow. Most of it due to their current predicament, but some of it also due to the freezing temperatures. They could all freeze to death before this was over, if nature won this battle. Whatever. She almost didn’t care. She dreaded what came next, but then again, it was progress and might just beat standing in this tent with two goons at over seven thousand feet in the snow and cold.

Like the men, she needed to “get ready,” so she braced herself for what came next, which was going into that unstable plane wreckage to extract that horrific bioweapon. Was it some kind of insanity that she’d been holding on to hope that Ryder would somehow gain control over Reid and his entire team and force his hand to free them all—including Jeremy? That Reid and company would somehow instantly be released into the hands of nearby waiting authorities? Yeah, waiting where? Just over that ridge beneath them?

Even a former CIA intelligence officer who worked in a non-official capacity could dream and wish and hope for the impossible.

God ... how has it come to this? Please forgive me for driving this mission,pushing so hard when I had no idea what I was doing,what Pandora’s box I was opening.

Malcolm had warned her, and she hadn’t listened. Ryder stepped into the tent and, shoulders lifted, took in the surroundings, his gaze finally landing on Sarah—the look in his eyes raw and intense—like he was preparing to face certain death. Reid stepped in behind him and moved around him to get to Sarah. He retrieved his cell and pulled up an image, which he held up to her. Squeezing her eyes shut, Sarah dreaded what she would see.

“Open your eyes,” Reid said.

She did as he demanded and saw Jeremy’s face on thismonster’s smartphone. Sarah’s heart might have stopped. Skipped a few beats. Her breath stilled. Her son’s eyes were wide with fear in his tear-streaked face. “Why, you!”

Sarah lunged at Reid, grabbing the collar of his coat, but his men tore her away, their painful grip on each arm the only thing keeping her from tearing this man to pieces. She could no longer control her emotions, which spilled out in furious tears and sobbing gasps. All she could think of were the words that kept repeating in her head.I’m going to kill you...

“Help me, Sarah,” Reid said softly, “and no oneelsehas to get hurt.”

“No oneelse? You killed my brother, didn’t you?” Why? And why hadn’t they killed her once it was clear she would find her way here? Questions that needed answers—but later. Much later.

Before this monster who’d abducted her son could answer, Ryder stepped between them, blocking her line of sight to the image on the cell as if protecting her from the real and present torment. He forced her to look at him, into his intense eyes, as if he held all the answers and would get them out of this. She no longer believed that possible.

“You don’t have to do this,” Ryder said calmly. “You don’t need to go into that wreck. I’ll do it. I’ll be the one.”

Defiance flickered in his gaze. He had a plan. He must have. He gave her a subtle nod, willing her to understand.

Drawing a deep shuddering breath, she nodded. Once the goons released her, she cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. “We’ll do it together,” she said.

Ryder frowned but turned to step beside her so they could both look at Reid.

“Teamwork. That’s what I was hoping for,” Reid said.

Actually, she was surprised that Reid didn’t hold her asleverage over Ryder, but all her former colleague could see was getting his hands on that cache of bioweapons.

“I’ll get out of your way while you suit up.” Reid stepped out of the tent, but his two men remained behind.

They were taking no chances. She glanced at Ryder. His jaw was tight, his expression focused. He gave her a slow nod, then opened the crate.

Sarah didn’t move.Just breathe...

Because right now, that’s all she could do. And, well, maybe think. Except where had that gotten her? Up on this mountain, staring down disaster—and possibly something far worse.

Because ... hazmat suits? Her pulse skittered. She studied the one Ryder held up. Not fully encapsulated, but still serious since it was hooded and made of thick material.

“External respirators,” Ryder said. “Level B—full respiratory protection, but not fully encapsulated.”