Page 73 of Guarding Zuri
Zuri grasped Daemon’s arm and leaned close to the phone. “I’m here, David. Please stay safe. We are almost there.”
“Five minutes out,” Daemon confirmed. He squeezed Zuri’s hand.
“The space has changed.” David’s frantic voice came over the line. “Fighting along the fringe areas of the capital has shifted westward, and the site is compromised.”
Westward!That was toward the shoreline. That meant conflict would be between her and Daemon and David.
“We have another—”
“No time, Daemon. I am trapped here, and we wouldn’t be able to reach you. I don’t have the men to secure another route. You’ll have to bust through.”
Daemon cursed underneath his breath. “If we drop her off in the middle of it, you know what could happen, David.”
“You have my word, Daemon. I will not fail you.”
Daemon sighed. “You never have…”
“Get her through and I’ll take it from there.”
Daemon looked at Zuri, who met his gaze. “I’m not kidding, Zuri. I meant it when I said do exactly what I tell you. You made me a promise. Time to hold up your end of the deal.”
His stern expression demanded her acquiescence, and she willingly gave it with a nod. She wouldn’t allow her pride to get in the way of their victory, not when they were so close. Nor would her desire for his safety cloud her judgment. This was bigger than her, bigger than the two of them. There was no other way to get her safely inside the city. She had asked to be here, and this was what they had to face.
Tonight, she was resolved to put Bendola first. Nothing else would matter if her country didn’t gain its freedom. Failure meant a life on the run and her people demoralized. Would they have the strength for another battle? She couldn’t ask them to sacrifice any more if she wasn’t willing to give it all up for them—including her heart’s one desire.
They docked at the port. It was eerily quiet. Many of the ships that Zuri had seen a few days before had gone.The Select have fled.The wealthiest of the country had probably been informed that Gohi was about to lose all power, and their access to money would be cut off. Would any of them give Gohi protection?Not if they don’t want to be sanctioned and lose access to all their money.
On the shore, black SUVs waited for them. Daemon ordered her inside one and she complied. He slid in beside her and the convoy started toward the city. Several cars broke off and traveled in a different direction.
Squinting, Zuri watched them disappear down another street. Although they were still headed into the city, it would take longer to reach the capital building. “Where are they going?”
“Decoy,” Daemon said. “They’ll radio when they’re being chased. With a clear path, we can speed this up.”
“Won’t that put them in more danger?” Zuri breathed. None of the men who worked for Daemon knew her. They didn’t care about her cause.They could die!She collapsed into herself as painful memories assaulted her. “I can’t have anyone else dying for me. You have to stop them. No more chases!”
“It’s the job, Princess. Besides, that’s my old unit. They were already on the ground for another operation.”
“Your old unit?”
“Yup. For this favor, all they asked was that they get some of the action.”
Get some of the action?She stared at the side of his face, firm and resolute. He had to be joking. How she had taken him and his men for granted. “You are all crazy.”
Their eyes met. He smiled and cupped her cheek. “It’s what they do best. Zuri, trust us. Remember why we’re here.”
She brushed her lips against his palm before removing it from her face and straightening her shoulders. No emotion.Focus on the mission. Oh, father, I’m doing this. Help me, please!
Five minutes later, the vehicles came to a hard stop after weaving around large crowds and avoiding some altogether. People had taken to the streets to get a glimpse of what freedom looked like in action. Flares lit up the night sky in streaks. Shouts drowned out inner thoughts. Guns were going off, and people used what they could to fight back: bricks, their own vehicles, and other sharp objects.
Zuri exited the vehicle when Daemon told her to. He held her close to his body, a shield from the fighting on the streets. They hugged the side of the buildings. Daemon shouted orders to his men, and they made a semicircle of protection around them. He touched the piece in the ear and Zuri wondered if Daemon was communicating with David and whether her friend was somewhere in this frenzy.
“David’s just ahead!” Daemon shouted into Zuri’s ear.
An orange ball lit up the night sky from an explosion a few blocks up the street. Zuri peered into the large crowds surrounding them, looking for David.
“We’re almost there!” Daemon yelled. “When I say go, Zuri, don’t look back!”
Zuri ducked as bullets zinged overhead and shards from explosions stretched in their direction. A wave of people flooded towards them. It was difficult to make out the uniforms of the Elite Guard in the pre-dawn haze. Zuri clung to Daemon’s hard waist, and forced her feet to keep moving forward, over and around the debris that littered the sidewalk.
