CHAPTER 26
Riley and Liz are on high alert during the short dive back to their bunker, watching for any sign of Scott’s soldiers. They speed along the winding road as fast as they are able without wrapping Riley’s truck around a tree, only slowing once they pull onto the dirt trail leading home.
Every horrid thought of what is happening to their friends hangs in the air as they jump out of the truck, sprinting back inside. Liz watches, her anxiety growing by the second as Riley rushes to Tyler’s room, loudly trying to find what he is looking for. When he finally finds it, he runs back to where Liz is waiting for him.
Now isn’t the time for questions, instead, she stays quiet, sitting herself at the table, silently supporting him while he does what he needs to do. Minutes feel like hours while Riley messes with the computer in front of him. Eventually, the tension in his shoulders ease, the computer is shut, and the small hard drive attached to it is removed.
Liz slips her hand into his, outstretched to help her from herseat. The silence is heavy as they drag their feet to the couch. Pulling her into his lap, Riley finally starts explaining.
“We were right, and I am so fucking angry that we were. It’s worse than any of us thought. Before I tell you anything, I need you to be honest and let me know if you want out. This is a lot, even for me, and I won’t put more on you unless you want it.”
“I’m with you, my love. Whatever is happening, I will stand with you through it all,” she says, placing a tender kiss on his forehead.
“I only got glimpses when I was moving everything over, but Scott is up to something. I could be wrong, but I swear I saw something about getting rid of us. All of us.” His voice is solemn when he says it, leaving out what they are both thinking.
Their team isn’t being held for punishment, they are being held to die.
“We need to get them out,” Liz shouts, jumping up from her perch on Riley’s lap. “I told them he was trying to kill you. I saw him do it. Hewillkill them, Ry.”
“We will. It’s not going to be easy. I usually have a whole team behind me, but it’s just us now, and no offense, princess, but you’re not ready for making mission plans,” he says, tracking every step of her panicked pacing, cracking a smile when she halts to glare at him.
“No shit. I have been doing this for like… eight-ish months. I have been training nearly fourteen hours a day everyday since the moment you asked me to join the team. I have been watching you guys plan, and I have been brought on multiple missions to rescue your ass. I know I’m not ready, but I’m also not useless,” she snaps.
“I know. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I think we can handle it, but if we need a team, why not just make one?” Liz asks, picking her pacing back up. “I was at the base forweeks. I know there are plenty of people who trust and respect all of you, and I’m sure at least a few of those people also don’t trust Scott. Lauren can’t stand him and adores Mikey, I bet she would help.”
His eyes go wide. Riley climbs over the back of the couch, scrambling into her path. His hands grip her cheeks, squeezing them until her lips pucker. Her eyes search his, wondering what brought on his sudden burst of energy.
“Remind me to kick my own ass for underestimating you,” he says, tilting her head up and kissing her deeply before running to his own room, leaving Liz dumbfounded.
Down the hall, more sounds of objects being shuffled around have Liz more confused than ever. It only takes a minute for him to come striding back out, phone in hand. One she hasn’t seen before.
“Wanna tell me what’s going on big guy?” she asks, ignoring her heart beating wildly in her chest. He is up to something, and she is not about to let him keep it from her.
“Sometimes I forget this is the whole point of having you trained exclusively by the spec ops team. You might not be there yet, but you see things we miss. I don’t know why I didn’t think of calling in some favors, but I am glad you did,” Riley says, punching numbers into the screen, starting his own slow, methodical pacing around the kitchen, waiting for whoever is on the other end to pick up.
“Are you at the base yet?” he asks, skipping right over the pleasantries. “Good, I need you to come to my house first,” he stops for a moment, opening and closing the cabinets before he adds, “And if it’s not too much trouble, can you bring some groceries? You know how Mikey is,” he gives a quick thank you before hanging up and starting all over again. This time, Liz knows it’s Lauren. She listens patiently while he gives a recap of what is going on, asking her to figure out who will standwith them.
When the calls are over, Riley brings a blueprint of the base up on Tyler’s computer. The table is scattered with pens and notebooks. Maps of the surrounding area as well as a U.S. map are placed throughout their mess.
Liz sits, watching intently while Riley scribbles notes into one of the books, going back and forth between maps. Unsure of what he is doing, she slides her own book over and begins writing down anything she thinks could be helpful.
Riley keeps a close eye on her, never saying anything or asking what she could possibly be working on, but just seeing her putting in the work next to him makes him proud.
The whirring of the elevator lowering has Liz jumping out of her seat, knowing the ones with access are all imprisoned. Seeing Riley not budge helps. He would be faster than her if he thought for a second someone had found them. Heart thumping out of her chest, the doors finally creak open, and a much too familiar woman steps out.
Riley leaves the table, greeting the woman with a hug, sending a wave of jealousy through Liz. She forces it back, reminding herself how absurd it is to be jealous over an innocent sign of friendship. Trying not to appear too nosy, Liz continues scribbling her notes into her book. She looks over every few seconds, trying to place where she has seen the woman before.
Dark brown hair falls just past her shoulders. She’s dressed in a casual, comfortable outfit, no military insignia anywhere. What used to be white, well-worn tennis shoes are paired with plain jeans and a loose-fitting blue t-shirt.
Riley drops his arms, walking the woman over to the table where Liz still sits. When she sees them walking over, she stands to greet the woman, not wanting to be rude. Shock ripples through her when the woman strides right to Liz, pulling her into a tight embrace.
Liz looks at Riley with panic in her eyes.
“It’s so nice to see you not chained to a table,” she says, squeezing Liz a little tighter. That statement has her remembering exactly who this woman is. Paula, the one who defended her while she was helpless in the hospital bed, then again when the general screamed at her for the first time. Liz lifts her arms, returning the hug. They drop their arms and Paula takes a step back, looking Liz up and down.
“Groceries are in the car, so you may want to get them before the cold items spoil,” Paula says in a motherly tone as she turns back to Riley.
