Page 86 of Lorenzo & Lily

“Lorenzo.”

“I don’t feel like you’re safe, either.”

Alex pursed his lips and looked around. “I think you might be right. Let’s go.” Alex signaled to the agents nearby and told them about the change in plan.

As they began walking out, Lorenzo’s unease only increased. “Stick close, big brother.”

“You, too, little brother.”

Lorenzo glanced at his buzzing phone. “Peter still wants the meet. Just for a few minutes. He knows we’ve arrived at the docks, so he’s wondering why we’re pulling back now.”

“Pushy, isn’t he?”

He frowned. “Yes, which is unusual for him. I wonder–”

Lorenzo turned his head and his eyes caught someone standing on top of a row of storage containers.

They were holding something that was pointed straight at them.

A rifle.

Holy shit.

Instinct took over and Lorenzo leapt onto Alex, covering him and tackling him to the ground.

The first bullet hit Lorenzo’s arm. He gasped in pain, then scrunched his eyes shut as his mind flew into the past.

He was in the jungle. Perez was in his arms and the chopper was too far away. He stumbled as the bullet stung his arm.

The second bullet hit the ground nearby. The agents scrambled to protect them, their guns now drawn and firing back.

A second bullet hit his thigh. He was on the ground. Perez was screaming in pain. He was screaming, too.

Alex was calling him, saying something. He couldn’t hear. He couldn’t hear anything. Everything was white noise all around him.

Another bullet. More pain. He was burning up. The jungle and the fire were too hot. He couldn’t breathe.

He couldn’t breathe. He blinked his eyes open, but the harsh lights of the dock were all he could see. Blurs of color moved around him.

He had to get up. Had to help Perez. Had to get out. They were getting closer.

He was on his back, Alex’s worried face now over his. Why was he worried?

He felt blood or sweat or both rolling off his body. He knew he didn’t have much time. The chopper was nearby. He could hear it getting closer. Then he felt the rush of air from the chopper’s blades as it flew over them.

Fresh air.

He could breathe.

He could finally fucking breathe.

The chopper stopped and hovered at the extraction point, waiting for them.

He had to get them out.

He screamed as he stood, the pain vicious and clawing.

He picked up Perez again.

Then he ran like hell.

“Lorenzo! Lorenzo!”

Alex’s voice got further and further away, until there was nothing.

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