Page 315 of Redeemed

“Almost there, I promise.” He’s frantically typing away at his laptop, which is hooked into the keypad to the tunnel door.

The Rooks we brought shift behind us—Wes, Kellan, Cal, and a few others. They’re itching for action. We all are.

Alex Perrison and Theo are positioned on the other side of the compound. They’re the best snipers in the organization, so it’s their job to take care of the men in the guard towers and by the gate as soon as I give the signal. According to Wes and Kellan’s recon work, they’re the only ones consistently armed, so they’re our biggest threat at the moment.

The trees shield us from view of the guard towers, but that’ll change once we’re inside. Theyshouldall be looking outside instead of in, but that’ll change once Theo and Alex start shooting. It’s why we have to be quick.

“Got it,” Lucas says, and a moment later, the door opens.

We all dash inside, weapons ready. Assuming we’re right and the tunnel leads to the parsonage, we could burst in on Beckham in his own house. Or, if the ceremony has already started, he’ll probably be at the church.

When we reach the end of the tunnel, there’s a set of stairs cut into the rock that leads upward. I take them two at a time until I reach the door at the top and shove it open. We stumble into a small, sparsely decorated kitchen.

The parsonage.It has to be.

“This way,” I shout once I locate the back door. I dash through it just in time to hear a little girl cry, “Heaven!” from inside the church.

Xander and Lucas are right behind me as I sprint across the parsonage’s yard. If Haven is inside the church, that means the ceremony has already started. And based off the terror in that little girl’s voice, she was right about Isaiah.

Just hang on, angel. We’re coming.

We run along the back of the community building and come up on a side door to the church that looks like it opens right into the sanctuary. As we approach, I hit the send button on a pre-written text to Alex and Theo, giving them the go ahead.

When I reach the door, I stop until everyone catches up. They’re all watching me expectantly, waiting for my orders.

“Plan B,” I tell them as I shove my phone into my pocket. “Burn the place down.”

With that, I burst through the door. The church is packed with people, and their attention diverts to me as I focus in on Haven.

She’s in front of the congregation, and three men surround her. One is Isaiah, and he has one hand in her hair, forcing her head back, and a knife in the other.

As Isaiah raises the knife, I realize I can’t shoot him. The risk of hurting Haven instead is too high. But I can’t let her die. I refuse to lose her again.

So I raise my gun to the ceiling and squeeze the trigger three times.

Haven

Itfeelsliketimeslows as Isaiah’s knife nears my neck. The ache of regret hits me first, followed by a sense of peace. Because if this is what my life is going to be—trying to claw my way out of Cornerstone’s grip but always getting dragged back—then death isn’t scary anymore. It’s a sweet mercy.

But the feeling of the knife slicing my skin doesn’t come. I open my eyes, confused.

And then everything happens at once.

Jeremiah has rushed forward, and he grabs Isaiah’s wrist just in time. The knife stops inches from throat, but I barely have time to process that fact before three gunshots sound behind me.

My ears ring as screams fill the church. Isaiah is looking past me, his face slack with shock.

It’s them. They made it in time.

Jeremiah takes advantage of the distraction and shoves his body into Isaiah’s. They both topple to the floor, and I’m knocked over in the process. I fall right at Beckham’s feet, and when I realize he’s reaching for me, I scramble away.

“Get back here, you—”

“Don’t fucking touch her,” a deep, commanding voice says.

Colton.

There’s another gunshot, and Beckham crashes to the floor. I stare in shock for a half-second until a shadow crosses over me.

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