Page 4 of The Writer
She nods, and I offer a reassuring smile. Or what I can muster as reassuring under fire. All her attitude and fire seem to have been extinguished. “Hey, we’ve made it this far. Maybe when we’re back in the city, I’ll tell you what regiment the team’s part of after all. Now go. See you in a minute.”
“I’m holding you to that,” she says.
I watch them both slip into the dark and refocus on the threats around us, my back closing in on a wall. I just need to hope the team can get us all out of here in one piece. The firing has stopped, but that’s only because they haven’t got a target to shoot at. As soon as AJ or Cole move, it’s a different story.
The low rumble of the Fox vibrates around the buildings before we can see it in the dark, but we’re not the only ones. Gunfire picks up, and I can track it to the building adjacent to the safe house. The roof looks like an ideal sniper spot. Let’s just hope he’s not got that good of an aim.
Watching our vehicle squeeze down the narrow streets provides all the cover we need to walk up towards the safe house and get AJ and Cole out safely. I keep my eyes on the rooftops, firing at anything that moves as shots ping off the armour of the vehicle. It isn't until we realise there's a second shooter popping up from the other side of the street that memories start to resurface.
In a break in fire, AJ moves from his position towards us and springs the doors.
“Blake?” Ivy shouts.
“Right here. We’re all good. Tanner needs attention.”
“Tanner, Cole can triage your wound in the back. I’ll ride up front,” AJ says.
“Copy,” Tanner confirms and moves to climb in.
Cole makes his way to us from the safe house and follows Tanner in, as AJ rounds the side of the Fox. I let off a few cover shots as he grabs the handle to open the side door. When he’s in, I secure myself and the doors and barely have time to sit before Dougie’s shoved the truck into reverse.
We all grab to hold onto something, and I glance over to Ivy. Her eyes meet mine. She’s holding up well, all things considering, and it makes me wonder what other situations she has gotten herself into over the years. If she’s a journalist working in Afghanistan, she’s experienced. Add in the backing of Broderick Media, and I'm not overly surprised at her tenacity to have made it this far.
The adrenalin starts to cool as the driving evens out. Dougie navigates us out of the village, and AJ consults the nav system. The primary now is to get back to Kabul without running into any more of Asif’s spies or men. At the moment, we're all alive.
The route back is long. We've avoided the areas we already encountered and stuck as close to the main roads as possible, but it's taken us hours out of the way. AJ's patched Tanner. He’ll need medical attention when we get back to base but seems alright. Conversation is in short supply, though, and the boys are still a little twitchy after the two gunfights.
My mind drifts to the project I was here for and what I have to do over the coming days. I’d kill for a hot shower. Sadly, the water pressure in my small room won’t come close to satisfying the itch.
After all the problems from tonight, we’re all half expecting a roadblock or other complications, but we make it back to the main highway heading to Kabul without incident.
It’s a little before dawn before the Fox pulls up to the first checkpoint of the base. My eyes drift to Ivy again, watching the way she's half dozing. She was quiet and avoided eye contact with AJ or Tanner for most of the journey, only giving me the slightest look every now and then. Still, time for her to wake the fuck up.
I stand, knocking the inside of the Fox with my hand. “I appreciate the assist, AJ.” Ivy's head moves, a groan coming from her, and I smile as I clap AJ on the back as we exit, shaking his hand the second we're out. “Tanner.” I nod at him, understanding what this cost him. Hopefully, his injury won’t be serious.
“You watch yourself, Blake. We can’t be there to watch your arse every time you want to take a snap.”
“I hear you. I’ll play it safe from now on.” It’s not a promise he means me to keep, but I get the message loud and clear.
Unstrapping the gun from around my neck, I hand it over to Cole. He gives me a curt nod, and I offer my hand to help Ivy down from the Foxhound.
“Where are we?” she asks.
As soon as she’s clear, Dougie takes the Foxhound through the entry.
“Outside the Army base. My car’s over there.”
“You’re not going in?” She looks at me, confused.
“I’m not part of the team. I was along for the ride, so to speak.”
“Along for the ride?” Her eyes widen, and her voice drips with cynicism.
“Talking of, do you need a lift into Kabul? I’m not sure there’s another taxi service here.”
“Well, you just can’t seem to quit, can you? Do you have a saviour complex or something?”
“Believe it or not, no. You’re my first journalist.” I start steering us over towards my SUV.
