Page 123 of Samson

He scrambled towards the weapon, but Samson caught hold of his ankle and dragged him back, his side screaming in pain. But when Demir rolled around, he had the gun. Samson pushed his arm up as it went off, then bent it down, twisting as another shot rang in the air and Demir stilled.

Samson dragged himself up, grabbing the gun before he pushed against the wound in his side. Demir didn’t move and normally Samson would check for a pulse, but today it didn’t matter.

He looked around the room before tucking the gun in the back of his pants and going into the hall to get a bomb. He set it in the room against the far wall. It looked like it could be a load-bearing room, but he’d have to trust that God knew what He was doing because he couldn’t be sure.

After one more look at Demir, he left the room.

His strength had drained considerably after getting shot. He must have lost a lot of blood, but he was running out of time, and he’d lost track of where he was.

He limped down another hall and checked a room. It was full of boxes. Some were open and contained various weapons.

Leaning against the door frame, he closed his eyes. “Thank you, God.”

This was Demir’s stockpile of weaponry, and it was all he’d need to finish off the job.

He set the box down and took out the last device he’d need to set, placing it carefully on top of a pile of ammunition.

“Demir!” He heard a shout.

“Don’t let them find the explosives,” Samson mumbled as prepared the last bomb.

More shouts followed, rising in volume and then fading as men ran past.

He moved to the door and looked out. The hall was empty. He didn’t want to die in the room with the weapons. He’d rather find a quiet corner in the dark since the darkness had been his refuge lately.

He pulled out the gun and moved down the hall as fast as his injured body would let him, but it remained clear.

As he passed by the stairs again, he looked up and saw the door was open. He stopped, and his heart quickened. Would God give him a final gift to see the sky before the end? Could he die in the light instead of the darkness?

He climbed the stairs, his wound making it difficult, but he pushed through the pain and weakness. The blast would come any second. He just needed one glimpse.

Tears warmed his cheek as he neared the blinding white of natural light. But before he could get there, a deafening explosion shook the world, and everything went black.

Trevors had ordered Delilah to stay away from the embassy, but she wasn’t ready to give up yet. She needed to face Demir, even if it was dangerous. She finally understood what it had all been about. Why she couldn’t get him out of her mind.

She needed to tell Demir that she forgave him.

It didn’t make any sense, but that’s what Ryan had said. That she couldn’t lean on her own understanding.

She lifted her eyes to the sky. “I can’t believe I’ve forgiven him.” All that time she’d spent seeking God and opening her heart to Him, He’d been healing her. And it was the only thing that mattered. God’s way flipped everything on its head.

“I’ve forgiven him.” She smiled as she looked out the window at the building surrounded by a construction fence.

“I guess you’ll make a way for me to tell him?” she prayed.

The outside of the building was quiet, and it was impossible to see inside.

“Is it too much to ask that, if Samson’s in there and he’s alive, you can get him out? Is that even possible?”

But the words sounded absurd, and she wished she hadn’t said them. She’d forgiven Demir, but she had to let Samson go.

“Never mind. Just let me face Demir. And give me the strength I need when you do.”

She squeezed her eyes shut to stop the flow of tears until a knock on the window made her jump. She looked at the passenger-side window and saw Trevors glowering.

She buzzed down the window. “Hi.”

“I thought I told you to stay away.”

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