Page 20 of Whispers and Warriors
Chris turned his attention back to the road ahead, his jaw set with grim determination.I will lead them through this darkness even if we have to make a light of our own to get through this.
Their trip this time might just be more dangerous than the last with all the dangers of the broken world paired with the force of the U.S. government. Last time their employment afforded them certain safeties and supplies that no longer existed. They were fugitives now, hunted by an enemy that would stop at nothing to see them captured or dead. Every decision, every move, could be the difference between life and death. He had to assume he could only use a government fuel stop once before his card was tracked and they’d be in danger from the nearest base.
His unit was counting on him, looking to him for guidance and protection. And he would not let them down. There would be no Marcus this trip. There would be no danger at supply runs or idiotic stops at abandoned malls for training.
They needed to find shelter, a small break where they could regroup and plan their next move.
With furrowed brows and a sense of urgency, he mentally reviewed their meager supplies, their rusted weapons, and their limited assets. It wasn’t much, but it would have to be enough to face the looming threats that awaited them. Despite the odds stacked against them, they were determined to fight until the very end. With determination in his eyes, he knew that they would give it their all with what little they had at their disposal.
Chris stopped petting Ranger and slid the pass-through window shut with a soft click, the barrier providing a modicum of privacy for the conversation he needed to have with Liam. The window wasn’t soundproof by any means, but it muffled the sounds from the back just enough to allow for a semblance of discretion.
He turned to face Liam, his voice low for an added attempt at privacy. “Liam, I need you to promise me something. No matter what happens, no matter what obstacles we face, you have to make sure Emma and Ranger get on that ferry. Their safety is our top priority.”
Liam’s blue eyes widened slightly behind his glasses. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he met Chris’s gaze.
Chris words clenchedLiam’s heart, sending a mixture of dread and determination washing over him. He wanted to protest, to insist that they would all make it to safety together, but the gravity in Chris’s eyes told him that this was not a request—it was a command.
His gaze drifted to the closed pass-through window, his thoughts lingering on Emma and Ranger. They’d both been a constant source of comfort amidst the hell. They represented hope in his world after he’d long since forgotten the meaningof the word. It wasn’t shocked Chris gave him that command, it was after all, why they were doing any of what they did now.
Liam drew in a deep breath, the weight of the responsibility settling heavily on his shoulders. He knew Chris was entrusting him with the most precious cargo imaginable—the very future of their family.
“Chris,” Liam began, his voice low and earnest, “I understand what you’re asking of me. And I give you my word, I will do everything in my power to ensure Emma and Ranger’s safety. I’ll get them on that ferry, no matter what it takes.” He paused, his jaw clenching as he gathered the courage to voice the next part. “But I won’t be going with them if things are that dire. Alex, William, and Bash can go. I’ll be with you.”
Chris’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise and confusion passing over his features. “Liam, that’s not up for?—”
Liam held up a hand, cutting him off. “No, Chris. I won’t abandon you or the rest of the unit. We started this together, and we’ll see it through to the end. I’ll make sure Emma and Ranger are safe, but my place is here, fighting by your side.”
No matter how much I’ll forever miss her.
His mind was made up, no matter the implications of his choice—the sacrifices that would inevitably come with it. But deep down, Liam knew that he could never leave his brothers behind, not even for the promise of safety.
Chris stared at him for a long moment, a myriad of emotions playing out across his face—gratitude, fear, and a profound understanding of the bond they shared.
He knew without a shadow of a doubt, Chris was absolutely determined to face danger alone if it came to it.
His voice was a hushed but fervent whisper as he leaned closer to Chris.
“Chris, you can’t ask me to abandon you all. We’ve been through too much together. I won’t leave you to face this alone.”Liam’s blue eyes blazed with a fierce loyalty behind his glasses, his jaw set with determination.
But Chris’s steely gaze never wavered. “Liam, this isn’t a debate. If it comes down to it, you will go with Emma and Ranger. That’s an order.” His voice was low but held an unmistakable note of authority, the weight of leadership heavy on his shoulders.
Liam opened his mouth to argue further, but the resolve in Chris’s eyes stopped him short. He knew that look—it was the same unwavering determination that had gotten them through countless missions, the same iron will that had held their unit together through the darkest of times.
With a heavy sigh, he sat back, his shoulders slumping in resignation. “I don’t like this, Chris. Not one bit. But...I understand.” The words left a tang on his tongue, a reluctant acknowledgment of the chain of command that had guided their lives for so long.
Chris reached out, clasping Liam’s shoulder in a firm grip. “I know it’s not easy, but this is how it has to be. Emma and Ranger’s safety is our top priority. I’m counting on you to make sure they get out, no matter what happens to the rest of us.”
Liam swallowed hard, the weight of the responsibility settling like a lead weight in his gut. He knew Chris was right—Emma was the future, and she would never leave without Ranger if she also lost one of them. If it came down to it, he would move heaven and earth to ensure their survival.
But the thought of leaving his brothers behind, of not being there to fight alongside them in their darkest hour...it was almost more than he wanted to think about.
His thoughts turned to his brothers, to the unbreakable bonds forged in the fires of adversity. Alex, with his quick wit and unwavering loyalty. Bash, stoic and dependable, a rock inthe midst of chaos. And William, the youngest of their group still had so much life left to live.
Chris tugged open the pass through, signaling the end of their conversation whether Liam liked it or not.
“Okay all, pause is over. We drive until your bladders burst or the gas starts to run out.”
Liam’s gazed out the window, the weight of Chris’s words hanging heavy in the air between them. The responsibility of ensuring Emma and Ranger’s safety felt like a physical burden, pressing down on his shoulders and constricting his chest. He drew in a shaky breath, trying to steady the rapid pounding of his heart.
