Page 73 of Duty Bound

It had all gone terribly, terribly wrong. Blade had sacrificed himself for her and Stitch.

Headstrong, stubborn man.

The scheming bastard had planned for this. That’s why he’d been so distracted on the drive here.

The guard gestured for Stitch to get out of the vehicle. He did so, hands in the air. She remained in the Land Rover, a guard at her window.

Lily looked up beneath her lashes. She couldn't even see Blade anymore. They’d taken him into the hut.

Stitch had said they wouldn’t kill him, not without interrogating him first. But he’d killed one of their soldiers, so they wouldn't go easy on him. Spade had told her what could happen if a Special Forces soldier got caught.

She squeezed her eyes shut, blocking out the million terrifying thoughts flying through her head.

Stitch’s voice broke through her thoughts. Glancing sideways, she saw him gesticulating back up the road in the direction they'd come. He was acting out their cover story.

The American soldier had forced them to stop, held them at gunpoint, and made them drive across the checkpoint. His gun was still in the back, see.

The soldier ripped open the back door and retrieved Blade’s weapon.

Thankfully, they didn’t search the rest of the car.

Another guard peered in the passenger window at her, but she kept her head down like Stitch had told her.

Please don’t let him recognize her.

He didn’t.

A few minutes later, the guard gestured for Stitch to get back into the car and waved them on their way.

Lily felt weak with relief.

They'd bought it.

Stitch drove slowly and cautiously over the bridge. Once they were clear of the checkpoint, Lily spun on him.

“What's going to happen to him?”

“They’ll interrogate him. Find out why he’s here.”

Torture him, more like.

“Stitch, please. We can’t leave him here.”

“Blade’s a survivor. If anyone can get out of this, it’s him.” She could hear by the flatness in his voice that he didn’t mean it. He was just trying to give her hope.

“You know as well as I do they’re going to kill him. After what he did—” She gestured back to the bridge.

Stitch was silent.

“Stop the car. I’m not leaving without Blade.” She put her hand on the door handle.

Stitch glanced in the mirror then pulled over. The Land Rover screeched to a stop, dust whirling from beneath the tires. “Lily, listen to me. Blade did this for you. I’m not going to risk your life by going to get him. He wouldn't want that.”

Lily stared at him. She was numb. Broken. Destroyed.

Blade was back there, being beaten to a pulp, and she was supposed to just walk away?

Emotion choked her, and she burst into tears. She couldn't help it.

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