Page 71 of Duty Bound

They hadn’t told Lily that part. If it came to it, he prayed she’d go along with it.

Traffic backed up as they approached the bridge. Stitch, with his flawless Pashto, would quite easily be accepted as a local villager. The Land Rover posed a small problem since it was an ex-army vehicle, but since the Americans had cleared out of the country, there were a lot of similar vehicles about. It wasn’t a stretch that a respectable Afghan doctor had purchased one on the cheap.

Just in case, Stitch had an AK hidden beside the handbrake and a combat knife concealed under his robes.

“One klick out,” Stitch said for his benefit.

He had to rely on his buddy’s updates because he couldn't see shit with his head under the blanket. Adrenaline surged, elevating his heart rate, but he controlled it by concentrating on his breathing.

“Eight guards spread out along the checkpoint. Two more in the hut.” Stitch’s voice was steady, years of training kicking in.

Fuck.

Ten armed men were too many to take out if there was a problem. They could all be killed in the ensuing gunfight, along with Lily and a bunch of innocent civilians.

“I’ve got your back, buddy.” Stitch had come to the same conclusion.

Blade didn’t doubt it. He’d do the same if the roles were reversed.

He prayed it wouldn’t come to that.

“Contact,” Stitch murmured. “Guard approaching driver's window.”

The locational references were so Blade had the best chance of escape if shit hit the fan.

He hunkered down, hands on his weapon, forcing his body to relax. No movement. Nothing to arouse their suspicion.

A tap on the window. He heard Stitch slide it down. There was an exchange of words, but it was all in Pashto. Blade couldn’t follow what they were saying.

The guard said something about the woman. He caught that, and went cold.

Stitch replied, and there was a rustling of papers. He was showing the guards his documents. Forged, on his part, and Soraya’s for Lily.

Blade tensed. Were they going to have a problem?

Footsteps around the vehicle, a tap on the passenger window.

“Don’t move,” Stitch whispered to her. “Keep your eyes down.”

The guard tapped again, harder this time, then barked an order. He wanted Lily to get out of the Land Rover.

“What do I do?” she whispered.

“Stay put.” Stitch knew as well as he did, that once they got out of the car, they were as good as done for. It was a lot easier to get away if you were still in your vehicle.

Stitch leaned across Lily, putting his hand on his weapon as he did so, and shouted at the guard. It was something along the lines of: What are you doing? My wife and I want to go shopping in Kabul.

That was their cover story.

The guard kept trying the door, but Stitch wouldn't unlock it.

Then he banged on it with the butt of his rifle. There was no mistaking his meaning. He wanted Lily to get out.

Well, that was never going to happen.

The guard moved to the rear door and tried to open that one. Blade was seconds away from being discovered.

“Now,” murmured Stitch.

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