Page 106 of Shadow Redemption

She held his gaze with her own steady one. “I love you.”

Man, what had he ever done to deserve this woman? In the midst of a room of pain and death, she still gave him her trust and sought to encourage him to be strong no matter what was ahead for them both. “You own my heart, sunshine.”

“Shut your mouth,” Buckner snapped. He pointed a finger at Ruth. “You’re going to regret that. I’ll be sure to report your disloyalty to the prophet.” When Ruth didn’t look at him or respond, the guard sucker punched her in the stomach.

She moaned and sagged against the restraints.

“You’re a dead man,” Ben vowed.

“Big talk from a coward hanging from the ceiling.”

The door opened and Davidson walked in. He’d changed into a dark shirt and pants, what the community thought of as his discipline uniform. Any time he walked through the compound wearing those clothes, community members averted their gazes and prayed they weren’t the recipient of the prophet’s ire.

Satisfaction gleamed in Davidson’s eyes at the sight of Ben in chains. He flicked a glance to Maren. “Don’t move from that chair until I release you.”

“Yes, prophet,” she whispered, head bowed.

“Joe, Nate, on my command,” Nico murmured through the comm system.

The operatives acknowledged the order.

“Hold,” Ben whispered. Neither Buckner nor Davidson was close enough for him to take down.

“Negative,” was his team leader’s response. “We need you functional for this to work.”

Frustrated, Ben willed Buckner to move away from Ruth and toward him. He stared at the remaining guard, hoping Buckner would see the look as a challenge to his authority.

The guard’s face reddened. “Prophet, assisting you in disciplining the traitor would be my honor.”

Oh, yeah. Ben’s mouth curved in a mocking smile, egging him on. That’s exactly the response he was looking for.

Davidson eyed Buckner speculatively, then gave a slow nod. “You may not use a whip or knife. That privilege is mine. Other than that, you’re free to do as you wish until I’m ready to begin.”

As the gloating guard stalked toward him, Ben looked at Ruth’s horror-stricken face. “Don’t say a word, baby.” If she protested or begged Davidson to spare Ben, the prophet would hurt her. At the moment, her silence was the only tool Ben had to protect her.

Buckner smiled broadly as he balled his fist. “I’m going to enjoy this.”

“A civilian family is in the line of fire,” Alex murmured.

“Copy,” Nico whispered. “Hold tight, Ben.”

The guard slammed his fist into Ben’s gut. One of his stitches popped and blood began to seep from the wound on his back as Buckner continued to pummel Ben. When the thug punched him in the face, Nico began the ten-second countdown.

Davidson cupped Ruth’s face and turned it toward him. “This is what happens to those who fall from my favor. Remember this lesson well.” His hand trailed down her throat toward the buttons of her blouse. He flicked open the first, then the second and third.

Ben jerked on the chain, rage an acid in his gut. No! He wouldn’t let the prophet assault Ruth no matter if Ben screwed with the Fortress plan.

Buckner landed another blow, this one directly on the knife wound. White-hot pain detonated in Ben’s side as more of his wound ripped open. Seconds later, a massive explosion rocked the compound.

The prophet jerked around, shock on his face. “What...?”

The lights winked out and the Den fell into total darkness.

Davidson swore viciously. “Stay with the prisoners while I find out what’s going on.” A door opened.

“Yes, prophet,” the guard responded, and the door closed again.

Perfect. Those two words gave Ben the location of his quarry. He grasped the chain with both hands and wrapped his legs around Buckner’s neck. A strong twist and jerk, and the guard’s body dropped to the floor. He wouldn’t be getting up again.

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