“I’m not the one being tortured as we speak. Even if I were, I no longer have anything or anyone to lose. Carter is your blood, your brother; you said it yourself thousands of times. Maybe we can deal a trade or something. But get it through your skull. I. Am. Going.” She has a calm tone, paused, like someone who’s at peace with anything that may happen to them.
I hate the words she says. I feel cheated for trying to protect her when she’s clearly trying to die, desperately. I can’t let her do that. In my complete state of madness and with the help of a dose of adrenaline, I walk back to her, grab her chin, and look straight into her eyes to make her understand. She has to!
“You can’t be this blind! Can’t you see what you mean to me? If you die, I die. It’s that fucking simple. If you care for me at all, please, stop stepping on my heart and let me think for two fucking minutes, just… TWO… FUCKING… MINUTES.”
She doesn’t say anything but breaks free from my grip. She punishes me with distance. Now I realize I was too harsh, it was too much. I feel empty now, knowing that I drove her away. I didn’t want to push her away, I just need to solve this. Is there a way to save both of them? No. I can’t. There are too many variables at play. Either one of them could die, if not both, and both of them are too important to me. How can I do this alone? If I bring Sarah, she dies. If I don’t bring Sarah, Carter dies. If I bring someone and they notice, Carter dies. Unless…
“To hell with this,” I say and make way for the gym. I lock myself in it.
The gym is not just a gym; it houses most of my weapons behind a fake wall of mirrors. To access that hidden corner, a code must be punched in on a keypad that sits under the bench press. If you input the wrong code three times, an intrusion system is triggered, locking down the room. What comes next is not pleasant.
Once the code is accepted, the mirrors open up like a garage door, allowing entry to the back room where the arsenal is stored in a showroom style, waiting and ready for me. Every time I come here, I take a good minute to contemplate them all hanging on the wall. They are a work of art. This time, I take more than a minute, waiting desperately. Maybe they’ll whisper a solution to this problem because what I’m about to do is something I’d like to avoid.
I really don’t want to do this, but considering how things are, there’s no way around it. Owing him a favor is… Let’s just say I’d rather owe the devil a favor. But in dire times… I can’t think of anyone else.
My old swim buddy from the Navy Seals— one tough motherfucker, one of the few men who have my same skillset.
A man hiding in the shadows to remain unknown. He doesn’t want to be recognized, identified or questioned about anything. If you happen to be unlucky enough to bump into him on the street, I’ve got one piece of free advice: Run, hide and pray that he doesn’t find you.
I pull my cell out of my pocket and search my contacts for a call sign: RAGE.
I hit ‘Dial’ and it starts to ring. Rage picks up and we start to talk.
After the call ends, I realize that sometimes you don’t really need a big plan, just a big pair of balls… and mine are HUGE. With him in play, saving both of them is no longer impossible. Just like I said before, somebody will die, but now it won’t be Sarah or Carter. I’ll trade places with them in a heartbeat. I believe there’s nothing more honorable than dying for one’s family.
Finally, I emerge from the gym. Sarah’s quietly waiting on the couch. Such an obedient woman. She gets up the moment she notices me and clears her throat. She’s still afraid; I can sense it.
“Ready?” I say in a low and dark tone. I can’t help it, that’s just how I feel right now.
I regret nothing. All the things I did to her were a necessary evil. I chose to be the villain, I couldn’t let another guy take my place. I needed to control the situation.
I believe that having her in my house was the right move. And my feelings for her also feel right. Nothing seems wrong when it comes to protecting Sarah, not even death.
Not just any death.
My death.
“Yes. Is there anything I need to know or do?” Her voice is jumpy. It’s subtle; she’s trying to conceal it, but it’s there, and my attitude is not helping at all.
“The less you know, the better. I will tell you this much though— I’ve called for backup.”
“But Bruno, Leon specifically said he’ll kill Carter if he notices someone else.”
“He won’t.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
I need you.
Sarah
Bruno’s exotic car comes to a stop in an empty parking lot. The only visible landmark is an old, rusty warehouse in front of us. The place looks abandoned, and so its surroundings. No people are to be seen around here, there are no sounds; not even stray dogs are roaming the area. We’re completely alone, or at least it seems that way. Bruno unclicks his seatbelt, unlocks the doors and lets out a loud sigh. We haven’t really spoken since we had that very unpleasant argument. Something clicked in him, triggered his alter ego to appear. I can see a cold-blooded man in his eyes— the Professor. I know him well. He’s ready for anything or anybody. There’s no sign of Bruno in those eyes, that warm and sweet man is far away from here.
“We’ll carry on by foot from here. Let’s head for that warehouse there.” He points at it. “If you have a weapon with you, now’s the time to leave it in the car. We’re going to be frisked for weapons.” I shake my head. “Good. It would be stupid of you to try to conceal one, even from me.” His words are like sharp knives that puncture my chest. I never thought I’d feel this way with him again.
“I told you already, I’m not carrying anything. Feel free to search for yourself, if that’s what you want.”
“Not necessary, I believe you.” He’s about to say something else but swallows his words before they leave his mouth. He scouts the perimeter from where we are, and his eyes come back to me. “Also, don’t make any sudden moves or try to be a hero. That means stand still, don’t talk unless you’re spoken to, don’t fight… you know the drill.”
