Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! Here is another (short) chapter. Hope y'all enjoy it!
My face grinds into the asphalt as I struggle against the weight that lays against me, my heart beat filling my ears and muffling the world around me. A shot pierces the haze that fills my mind, reality floods back in and I rapidly move my arms into position to elbow my assailant in the stomach and nose, respectively. Unfortunately, just as I send my elbow into their stomach, they quickly counter, wrapping the wrist that was headed for their nose in a vice grip. Then, it's a voice I recognize pleading my name, "Cammie, please, stop fighting."
I feel the world freeze for a brief moment as I recognize Grant's voice and find myself face to face with an open-eyed corpse, who resembles your textbook mercenary.
I do as Grant has asked and let my body go limp, no longer letting the adrenaline of being kidnapped or killed dictate my actions. I keep staring at the body, though, wondering what would have happened if Grant hadn't tackled me to the ground. I wonder if the bullets would have found their way into my abdomen and heart instead of the building behind me.
"The area's secure!" I hear Zach call out and instantly the weight over my body disappears and I push myself up from the ground ignoring the stinging gravel that is digging itself into my palms.
"Cammie are you ok?" Zach asks as he covers the distance between us in two easy strides.
I nod as I smooth my shirt and readjust my scarf, "Certainly better than that guy." I reassure with a gesture in the direction of the body that lays sprawled across the street.
He flashes a quick smile at my weak joke, but it doesn't reach his eyes.
"Are you ok?" I ask, realizing that guy's bullets could have easily missed me and hit Zach.
"I'm fine," Zach confirms as he picks pieces of gravel from my cheek with deft and practiced fingers.
"Cammie, Zach, let's get you in the car." Grant prompts.
Zach nods as he grabs my hand and pulls me swiftly towards the dark SUV.
Jonas has opened the back passenger door and I scramble inside, Zach following behind me. Before I can even click my seatbelt into place, Grant has taken the wheel and we are roaring down the street. A small part of me hopes we're still on our way to the airport, but the more realistic part of me knows we are actually headed to a debriefing in some sub-level interrogation room with hard metal chairs, cold thermostat settings, and endless waiting.
I reach out to grab Zach's hand in mine and find them cold as ice, I look up to his face, discovering his jaw clenched tight. While I may be a fully trained covert operative, sometimes I'm a little slow on the uptake – someone had to shoot that mercenary and I happen to be holding hands with that him. And while he may be a fully trained assassin, that doesn't make taking the life of another person any easier. I lean in closer, resting my head against his shoulder hoping he can feel my breathing, the heart that races within me. I urge my breathing body to cast out the shadows that cloud his mind because sometimes, a reminder of life is the only remedy for death.