Setting foot in another military base is something Liz had hoped she would not have to do for a long while. Unease grows with every step she takes, regardless of how safe she feels with the trio of men surrounding her. The base looks the same, yet so different from the one she was held prisoner in. The same brick buildings are adorned with the same perfectly manicured lawns scattered inside the walls. Helicopter pads and aircraft hangars line one side of a brilliant green yard with a flagpole stretching into the clouds. Administrative buildings line the other. Rows upon rows of soldiers march by in unison, their boots nearly shake the ground as they pass.
Liz tries and fails to ignore the many pairs of eyes glaring at their small group. She never did good with large crowds, and it seems like military bases have a near constant flow of people running around. Her shoulder bumps into Mikey, not realizing she has been stepping closer to him on their trek across the lot. He wraps his pinky around hers once more, keeping them locked as they walk, a silent promise that she is safe with him.
The team stops just outside what looks to be the mainadministrative building, forming a huddle away from prying eyes. Standing tall, Alex carefully watches a squad of soldiers stroll by, eyeing them carefully as they do. Once clear, he takes a step forward, closing their small circle.
“I need everyone focused in there. We don’t have much to go on right now, but we do have an approximate location where we believe Riley is being held. Whatever you do, do not let Scott know that. You tell him we have a game plan and a location. I will present him with a list of equipment and units to approve. Once we get his seal, we get the hell out. Understood?”
Liz will never have the strength to tell Alex how much she appreciates him stepping into Riley’s role, allowing Mikey to stay by her side as the friend she desperately needs. Liz’s heart swells as the men step back into position, forming a protective triangle around her. Despite only knowing her for a short time, they understand how hard things have been for her and have been sure to make her feel safe. She assumes this is what having brothers would be like, or rather, brothers who don’t abuse you and murder your family.
She takes a steadying breath and follows Tyler into the dimly lit corridor. Cool air washes over her as soon as her boots hit the polished tile. A wave of nausea hits her, the walk feeling too much like when she was brought to the interrogation room. It’s Alex who notices the change first, seeing her begin to pick at her nails while they walk, her pace slowing ever so slightly. Heartbeat pounding like a war drum in her ears, she stops, whirling around the moment a hand lands on her shoulder. He yanks it back to his side when she looks at him with wild, panicked eyes.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he says, stepping back into formation. “You look like you’re not doing well, and I’ve seen how Ry and Mikey help you when you start to freak out. I didn’t stop to consider that I would make it worse.”
Words evade her. She and Alex have not exactly gotten along well, but she has seen a shift in the way he treats her. She has proven her innocence, and he accepts that. In his own way, he is trying to treat her as a member of the team, and that means looking out for both her physical and mental wellbeing. Putting the moment behind them, their pace picks back up as they make their way down the maze of hallways to where the general is waiting.
Faces blur past as Liz forces one foot in front of the other, swallowing the fear threatening to rise again. She made a promise to be on her best behavior and follow all orders. Following orders is not the problem, however, following orders that will directly harm Riley, is. The last thing she wants to do is something stupid that will get the unit punished, but if they can’t convince the general to let them find Riley, she may finally snap and do what she has wanted to do since the moment she met him.
Growing increasingly angry at all the faces watching the team while they hurry up the stairs to the third floor, Liz looks anywhere but the men and women they pass. The pale brown walls are adorned with an unbalanced mix of cheap modern art and paintings depicting different events in history. The decor fades into walls holding portraits of top leaders. Smaller frames holding various badges, medals, and awards are nestled between sets of double doors that line the hall. Liz sucks in a deep breath, knowing the man they are here for is waiting on the other side of one of those doors. Wondering what room he is in, Liz almost doesn’t notice the soldier standing at attention outside the only single door in the hall. Her heart sinks at the sight. She knows exactly where he is hiding, but she is not ready to face him.
As they approach, the man seemingly guarding the door turns to them and smiles, his eyes landing on Liz. Her eyes roam over him, trying to remember if she has seen him before. He is tall byher standards, but shorter than the rest of the men with her, still easily six feet. His rich bronze skin and chiseled jaw make him look like he just came from a day at the beach rather than a military base in Montana. Liz can’t help but be suspicious. He is clearly here by orders of the general, but does he know just how evil the man is? Or is he just doing his job? None of that matters when they finally reach the door. Riley’s fate lies just on the other side. The man standing guard silently pushes the door open when the team approaches.
The moment Liz steps into the cramped office her gaze lands on the general. He is perched in a plush leather chair, a pompous look staining his face. Flexing her hands, Liz looks around the office, trying to focus on anything but launching herself over the desk, standing between them, and physically removing the look he has. Tyler steps around them, plopping into one of the chairs in front of the desk. He gets right into digging through his bag, pulling out all their hard work, and tossing it on the desk. The chair next to her squeaks before Mikey’s hands find their way onto her shoulders, urging her to take a seat. Although she reluctantly agrees, his hands never leave, staying firm as her emotional anchor.
“I don’t have much time. What’s all this about, gentlemen?” the general asks, eying the growing pile of maps and charts atop his desk. Liz glances up to Mikey, his jaw clenched tight like he is trying to stop himself from saying something.
“Sir, we have located Riley,” Alex begins, taking a small, folded paper from his pocket and handing it to the general. “We just need you to sign off on our equipment and we can bring him home.”
The energy in the room shifts.
“Now, you know I can’t approve that,” he says, matter of factly, a scornful smile playing on his lips. “Even if you did know where Reaper is, I won’t risk my best men going after him. He made a stupid, impulsive decision that got him caught, now hehas to live with that choice. If he is even still alive, that is.” He looks directly at Liz with those last words, smiling as his verbal attack lands. The room goes quiet. They all knew he would be difficult, but no one thought he would refuse their request, no one but Liz.
“But sir—” Mikey says, stepping around the chair.
“You got my answer, soldier, or did you forget who you really answer to?”
“No sir. I understand you call the shots, but Riley is one of ours. We can’t just leave him to die,” Mikey argues, trying not to let his anger get the better of him.
“We know exactly where he is. I believe with minimal equipment and a small tactical unit, we can get in, get him, and get out,” Tyler adds, sliding another stack of papers to the general, who now sits with his arms crossed and leaned back in his chair.
“They’re right. This is a low risk, high reward, mission. Riley would fight like hell to get any one of us back, and I’ll be damned if I don’t do the same for him,” Alex shouts, shaking the desk when he slams his hands against its metal surface.
The general’s face twists with anger. This is not how the meeting was supposed to go. Liz stays silent, racking her brain for anything she can use while the rest of her team argues with their boss. Then it hits her. She takes a moment to calm her nerves, sitting straighter in her chair, crossing her arms and legs.
“Enough guys. He made his choice?—”
“What the fuck, Liz? Now is when you’re going to listen? What about Riley? He almost died trying to save you from the same cocksucker that has him now,” Mikey shouts at her, instantly regretting it when he sees her flinch.
“We knew he would leave him to die, and this way he won’t have any blood on his hands,” Liz says, staring down at the man in front of her. She can’t help but smirk as she watches his face growred. “I guess we resort to plan B and release the footage.” She stands and starts for the door when a voice calls out behind her?—
“What footage would that be, Elizabeth?”
She would give anything to be able to slap him, just once. She pushes the feeling out of her mind, replacing it with the burn in her chest when she sees Riley. Solely focused on getting him home, she turns, smiling wide, “Oh, the footage from the bar. You did know there were cameras everywhere, right?” Her smile turns genuine when the color drains from the general’s face.
Mikey, Tyler, and Alex exchange confused glances, looking between the general and each other, hoping someone has answers.
“They might not have seen you that day, but I did. While I was screaming for help, willing to sacrifice myself to keep Riley safe, you were aiming a fucking RPG at him, weren’t you?” she shrieks. “No one believed me, but Riley’s truck has a dash cam, and Mitch has cameras all over the bar. Your own fucking soldiers had cameras on their helmets. It was simple enough to go back and get the footage.” His eyes dart between Liz and the men surrounding her. He tries to form words, but Liz cuts him off. “Now, you can either sign those fucking papers and give us permission to go find him, or we will release those videos and turn you into a pariah. I will make sure your career and credibility die with Riley.”
The general stammers, quickly realizing he is losing control over the situation. Liz has run out of fucks to give. The guys may not know it, but she knows without a doubt that the general wants Riley dead. His actions directly led to Riley being captured, and there is nothing in this world that is going to stop her from getting him back.
