“He plays soccer now. He’s good. Averaged two goals a match in summer league.”
Ford’s words from less than a week ago. If this doesn’t work—no. Ithasto work.
I set Mateen on his feet, kneel, and drop my voice to a whisper. “Your mom says you have a killer back heel kick. When I tell you, show it to me and hide, okay?”
Confusion furrows his dark brows, but he nods.
Twisting one arm behind me, I make a fist, then splay two of my fingers wide and point toward the guy with the AK-47. Austin coughs. Darius is probably confused as fuck, but he’ll catch on. I hope.
“I am losing my patience!” The helicopter gets louder. It’s so close, Raziq has to yell to be heard.
“Zephyr, need a distraction,” Austin mutters.
Shapur’s voice fills my ear. “I can give you one. Thirty seconds.”
After I hug Mateen tightly, I slide my pistol halfway to Raziq and straighten.
Lisette wails, “No!”
“It’ll be okay, sweetheart.” With a glance behind me, I give the order. “Lower your weapons.” Darius tosses his M4 to the side, and Austin kicks his Beretta away.
“Pull her up, asshole.”
Raziq narrows his eyes. “Mateen, come here,” he shouts and jerks Lisette back in front of him.
Tears shine on her cheeks. Her entire body shakes with her sobs. The look of betrayal in her eyes is enough to destroy me.
“I love you, Lisette. With all my heart.” I give Mateen’s shoulder a squeeze. “Go to your uncle, kiddo. But take it nice and slow.”
He takes two tentative steps, then glances back at me. “Nomar…?”
Fuck. If this doesn’t work, I’ll lose them both. I’ll lose myself. “We’ll play soccer—sorry,football—again soon. You can show me that kick you love.”
The helicopter’s only a few hundred feet away. The air starts to pulse around us.
Shapur counts down in my ear. “Five. Four. Three…”
“Now, Mateen!”
He takes off and drives his heel back against the gun. It spins and skitters over the concrete. A high-pitched whine fills the air. Shapur found the goddamn rocket launcher.
The helicopter explodes into flames. It spins out of control, then plummets like a stone.
I dive for the Beretta. Mateen is only a blur as he passes me. Lisette screams. Raziq tries to pick her up andthrowher over the railing, but she plants her feet on the edge and locks her knees.
I fire.
Raziq doesn’t move. His mouth opens. His arms are still tight around Lisette’s torso. They fall backwards onto the concrete together. It’s so slow. Like a movie played at a quarter speed. A trickle of blood stains his temple.
Austin jogs over to the stairs. I didn’t even notice who shot the last of Raziq’s men. Didn’t hear the shot. I don’t give a fuck who did it as long as he’s dead.
I drop the gun and scramble for Lisette. Behind me, Darius tells Griff he’s coming to help.
Snapping the thin cord around her wrists, I pull her into my arms. She cries out, her entire body going rigid before her head falls onto my shoulder and she collapses against me. Boneless. “What’s wrong? What hurts?”
“Mateen?” she whispers.
“He’s safe, sweetheart. You’re both safe. But I need to know where you’re hurt.”
