Page 49 of Leave Me (Touch of Death 2)
The darkness engulfs me on the descent. My feet finally meet level ground, and I pause when I hear something as I listen more intently. Rattling breaths drag in and out of tired lungs. My ears strain further, trying to sense anyone else in proximity. I don’t, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t anyone. I move forward silently, braced, ready for anything. When I sense those rattling breaths only a couple of feet away, I reach for the torch in my pocket. I clasp it in my left hand while the fingers of my right grip my gun. I point it in the direction of whoever lingers in front of me in the darkness. When I click it on, the spot of light hits a sole figure bound to a chair, slumped against restraints. I lift the light to Gabriella’s face. Bruises decorate her skin, and both eyes are swollen shut. Those rattling breaths continue to slip through her lips, and I know she’s likely endured some broken ribs.
I check the room quickly, looking for anyone else, then any escape routes. There are none, only floor-to-ceiling wine racks, brimming with bottles. Focusing on Gabriella once more, I slide my gun into the holster and remove a knife. The ropes sever easily, exposing her raw and bruised wrists beneath. She starts to tip forward, and I grab her shoulder to keep her in the chair. She doesn’t wake or stir, and that’s more concerning than the visible injuries. Grabbing her arm, I lift and heave her weight over my shoulder. This is where it gets tricky. I can’t get her out of here subtly. Someone will see. The door at the back of the kitchen would be the fastest and most direct exit; however, it’s not a blind spot for the security lights. As soon as I get out there, I’m going to have to shoot my way the safety. Shrugging Gabriella’s weight higher, I climb the steps and push open the door into the pantry. From here, I can hear the old man humming away on the other side of the door.
There was a time when I would have walked out there, shot him, and thought nothing of it. In recent months though, a strange morality seems to have come over me. For the first time in my life, I find myself considering whether he deserves to die or whether it could be avoided. I grit my teeth, palm my gun, and step out of the pantry. When the old man turns around, I shoot him on pure principle because weakness is destruction, and I will not bow to it. He hits the ground, and I keep moving. The small pop of the silencer won’t draw any attention.
I slide open the patio door and step outside, whirling around just as the security light blinks on, like a small sun, nearly blinding me. Lifting the gun, I pull the trigger, eliciting a muted pop through the silencer. Glass showers both Gabriella and myself before darkness engulfs us. I wait, listening intently. I hear nothing and no one. With a shift in position, I start moving again, hurrying past the pool and across dark gardens until I meet the fence line. I’m out of sync. I don’t know when the next patrol is. Glancing up, I see the thick wooden spikes at the top of the fence silhouetted in the moonlight. I can’t get over it with Gabriella’s dead weight. Turning, I assess my surroundings, looking for an attack.
When I glance back at the house, my eyes instantly seek out that one balcony. A lamp is on inside the room, casting a soft glow that frames the sole figure leaning against the balcony railing. I can feel Adelina’s eyes on me, and guilt niggles from somewhere deep within me. I clamp it down and close my eyes. Think. Think. There’s no quiet way to get out of here. I drop Gabriella on the ground, cupping her head, so she doesn’t hit the dirt. She’s still breathing, though her prolonged lack of consciousness is growing more concerning. About twenty meters down the fence line, I pause and remove my backpack. The two grenades I packed clink together in my hand. This is the backup plan, and one I hoped not to have to use.
Pulling the pins, I toss the grenades at the base of the fence, hearing the metal meet the wood with a small thunk. I jog the distance back to Gabriella and drop to my knees. I only just cover her body in time for the explosive bang followed by a wall of heat that hits my back. A huge section of the fence is on fire, but more importantly, a good couple of meters are missing. Once I’ve resituated Gabriella on my shoulder, I’m moving, slipping through the destroyed wire and into the scrubby land beyond. My legs pump, trying to put as much space between us and that property as possible. The far off barking of dogs breaks through the night air over the crackling fire. They get louder and louder. Closer. I can see the road when I hear the quick footsteps behind me, too light to be human. I don’t even look, just pull a gun, point, and shoot. I finally make it to the road and find the waiting vehicle, sitting in the darkness. As soon as I near it, the driver’s door swings open, and Una gets out to open the back door for me.
