Page 85 of Guarded from Treachery

Maybe it’s not as bad as I fear. Maybe Erik will come out chuckling, and Rhi and Isla will follow him out with matching sheepish expressions, explaining how the ring was triggered and they didn’t realize it.

Which is stupid to consider, really. Rhi would never make a mistake like that. And if something accidental happened, she’d tell us right away.

In the seconds it takes for Erik to return, it feels like ten lifetimes pass by.

Then he comes back through the curtain, a grim look in his eyes. Leaning close to speak near my ear, he speaks just above a murmur. “There are two men in there. I didn’t go far enough to see them, but I could hear them talking. From the sounds of it, they’re armed.”

My heart stops.

How?

We did everything right.

Or did we?

What did I do wrong? How did I screw this up?

No. I can’t waste time on self-recriminations and second guesses. All that matters right now is getting Isla and Rhi to safety.

Swallowing back against the rising panic, I reply, “Rhi’s armed. But she may not have wanted to engage with Isla so close.”

“Right. But if we get in there, give Rhi a chance to make a move…”

“Alright.” Pausing, I take a deep breath and blow it out. “You take one, I’ll take the other. Assuming Rhi is okay, she’ll have our six. And whoever is closer to Isla?—”

“Got it.” He gives a short nod. “Isla’s the priority.”

After a quick shared glance, I make the motion to move.

And I pray for the first time since I was a little kid.

Erik creeps forward, through the curtains and left down a narrow hallway. At first it’s quiet, but about six feet in, we hear the low rise and fall of voices.

Male. Rough. Threatening.

Threatening my Isla. And one of my best friends.

As we get closer, the words turn from unintelligible to distinct.

“If you don’t come now, I’ll shoot your friend. Is that what you want?”

And then a slightly different voice, “You know, I could shoot you in the foot. Or the hand. Maybe that would make you more agreeable.”

The first man hisses, “Idiot. We need her in one piece. Just knock her the fuck out and shoot this other bitch. We’re running out of time.”

Erik edges towards the open door to the changing rooms with me several feet behind him. Both our Sigs are out and at the ready.

And then I see them.

Two men all in black—so damn creative—with masked faces and hoodies drawn up over their heads. One of them has a gun pointed at Isla, the other at Rhiannon.

I can only catch a tiny glimpse at this angle, but from what I can see, both women look unharmed. Scared in Isla’s case and pissed off in Rhi’s, but there’s no blood or other obvious injuries.

Erik glances over his shoulder at me. His eyes ask the question without having to say it.

I lift my chin. A silent agreement to go.

As we prepare to move, I shove my emotions down deep. I clamp down on the fear and worry, leaving only room for the single-minded concentration I perfected in the Army.

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