Page 72 of Duty Bound

Without removing the blanket, Blade pulled the trigger and the glass window exploded. Lily screamed, and the checkpoint guard reeled backward, his face a bloody mess.

“Stitch, make sure you both get out of here!” Blade opened the door.

Lily spun round. “No!”

Stitch pulled her roughly back. “Stay still. Put up your hands.”

“Hands up? Why?”

“Lily, listen to Stitch.”

She raised her hands, her face ashen. Stitch did the same, leaving his gun where it was.

Nine armed guards sprinted toward them, weapons raised. It was a miracle they hadn’t opened fire.

“You sure?” Stitch asked, over his shoulder.

“Stick to the story.” Blade wasn't going to create a bloodbath.

Lily was crying now.

“Take care of her.”

Stitch nodded.

Blade walked away from the car, his hands in the air.

CHAPTER 26

“They’re going to kill him,” Lily sobbed, through her tears.

Blade walked onto the bridge, unarmed, his hands in the air. Within seconds, he was surrounded by security personnel, nine lethal assault rifles pointed at his head.

“Not yet,” Stitch said, grimly. “They’ll want to know what he’s up to first.”

Blade was pushed face-down into the dirt. One of the guards put his foot on his head. They yanked his hands behind his back to handcuff him.

“Oh, God.” Lily couldn’t breathe.

This couldn’t be happening.

Two men grabbed Blade roughly by the arms, hauled him to his feet, then dragged him off.

“I should have known he’d do this.” Stitch bashed his hand against the steering wheel.

“You mean he planned this?” Lily turned on him. “But why? Why would he give himself up like that?”

“To save your life.” Stitch’s voice was strained and raw. “And mine. That guard knew who you were. If Blade had made a run for it, he would have been shot down in seconds, and so would I because I'd have covered him. There’d be no one to get you to safety. The bastard knew this was the only option.”

Lily gasped. Their Land Rover was surrounded by angry-faced guards, rifles drawn. Her head was still spinning after what had happened.

“Oh, Lord.”

Stitch kept his hands in the air. “Let me handle this.”

One of the guards pulled open the door.

Lily kept her eyes down, hoping they wouldn’t notice the tears on her face.

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