Page 116 of No Going Back

He sensed Hakim lifting the knife and heard his words.

“Americans will continue to pay for the sins against Allah.”

Tyler couldn’t stop the strangled cry that escaped him as he pinched his eyes shut.

***

TYLER SCREAMED. THE guttural sound came from deep in his chest. Eyes squeezed shut, he waited for the blade to touch his neck. It didn’t. Too afraid to move, he listened. His chest heaved as he struggled to comprehend what was happening. Gunshots. Voices. Shouting. Smoke, he could smell smoke.

“Clear.”

Was this some kind of cruel dream? But he was breathing. Fuck, he was breathing, and he knew that voice. Would know it anywhere.

“Target secure.”

Daring to open his eyes, Tyler saw his team leader crouched in front of him. He could just make him out through the effects of the smoke grenade.

“Hey, buddy. Talk to me. You OK?” Dex held his gaze.

Tyler couldn’t speak. Fuck, he’d been so sure he was going to die. Relief swept over him, and he hung his head as tears spilled down his cheeks.

“It’s OK, man. We got you,” Dex said quietly, placing a hand on his arm.

Someone was untying him. Tyler kept his head down, embarrassed for his teammates to see him like this. A mix of relief, shame, and guilt flooded him. He didn’t have the right to call them teammates, he’d walked away from that privilege. Yet they were here. They had come for him.

“Guys, search the bodies, take any phones and someone take that fucking camera,” Dex instructed, not moving from Tyler’s side.

“Are you hurt?”

Tyler shook his head as he tried to calm himself.

“Boss, we got about a dozen armed men heading our way. No way to tell if they’re good guys or bad guys.”

Tyler glanced up toward the voice. Mackie stood at the window, keeping watch.

“Doesn’t matter, we’ll be treated as hostile by both. We cannot be caught here. To the van, now. Keep your guard up. Tyler, you good to walk?”

Tyler wiped his face with his freed hands and nodded. Dex held out a handgun. The team were in civvies and were only armed with handguns. “Ready?”

He lifted his head and nodded again, not trusting himself to speak. He took the gun and glanced around.

“Where’s Hakim?” He said, finding his voice.

“Who?” Dex asked.

“The guy that was holding the machete. He’s not here.”

“He must have got away. We don’t have time to look for him. We have to go. You stay with me. Got it?”

Tyler nodded. “Got it.”

Dex squeezed his shoulder. “It’s fucking good to see you, man. Now let’s get the fuck out of here and go home.”

Stepping over the dead bodies, they moved to the door. Dex activated coms. “Raven 3, ready for exfil.”

Tyler stayed on Dex’s six as they made their way between buildings to Steve waiting in a van.

“Dex, we need to pick up the pace. There are four tangos heading this way going to see us any minute.” Donnie spoke from where he was covering their rear with Ryan.

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