Page 131 of No Fear

Like fuck they would. Donnie tightened his grip on his M4. They had anticipated this, but it didn’t make it any easier. With Nyx ready to take down the soldiers on the mountain, Raven could take these guys, but no doubt, if they did that, the hostages would die.

When Dex put down his gun, the rest of Raven followed suit. They removed guns from leg holsters and knives from belts. When the team moved forward with their hands raised, Reborn soldiers surrounded them, roughly patting them down.

Donnie’s hands were pulled behind his back and secured with zip ties. Someone should have warned them they could get out of zip ties in less than thirty seconds. Not yet though. Patience. Their coms were ripped from their ears. Then, Reborn’s soldiers punched machines guns into their backs, shoving them forward.

Like a general surveying troops, Omar Aziz paced them, then stopped in front of Dex.

“Finally, your team will pay for all the death and pain you have caused my people. My family.” He sneered.

“I think you have that the wrong way around.” Dex taunted. A soldier slammed a machine gun butt in his face.

Dex reeled and spit blood. Omar snapped, “My grandson is growing up without his father, because of you. My daughter without a husband.”

“Your son in law is a rapist. They’re better off without him.” Dex’s mouth dripped blood as he spoke.

Donnie winced when Dex took another blow to the side of the head.

“Get them in the truck. Now,” Omar ordered.

***

CHARLIE HUDDLED IN the corner of the dirt room. She wasn’t sure how long they had been there. With no windows, no phones or watches, she’d lost track of time. A small oil lamp provided the only light, and she could just about make out the others. Bowls of water and scraps of bread had been placed on the floor, not that she had an appetite. Initially, there had been tears and panic as the reality of their situation set in. Now everyone was quiet. She was cried out, scared, and almost numb with fear. She was going to die here in this dirty room. Alone. Did anyone know what had happened to them? Was anyone looking for them? A team were supposed to come, right? Maybe they had tried and failed. How would her parents get over this? Or Maddie? She wouldn’t see those wonderful babies grow up. She would never know what being a mother was like. She would never see Donnie again. Donnie. All the drama with Simon, the revelation about Nate’s death, him leaving her. None of it mattered anymore. She loved Donnie. Now he would never know.

Shouting outside had her squeezing her eyes shut and shrinking into a tighter ball against the wall. She didn’t want to know what was happening. Voices, and lots of footsteps, were getting closer. The screech of the door opening. She placed her hands over her ears, not wanting to hear. She tried to block it all out. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be happening.

“Charlie?”

Jesus, was she hallucinating now? She knew that voice. The soft whisper of her name in her ear as he had kissed her neck. No! No! No! She shook her head, her hands clamping harder over her ears.

“Charlie, baby. It’s me. Donnie.”

When hands covered hers, she froze. Donnie? No, she had to be losing her mind. The voice stayed soft as her hands were gently pulled away from her ears.

“Baby, open your eyes. Tell me you’re OK.”

It sounded just like Donnie. She opened her eyes, but the figure crouched before her was still shrouded in darkness.

“Baby, are you alright? Are you hurt?”

Slowly, her eyes adjusted, and then she saw him. With a strangled cry, she lunged forward, then his arms were around her. She clung to him, fearing if she let him go, he would disappear.

“Ssh, Charlie, it’s OK. We’re going to get you out of here.”

He released his tight hold, though his arms stayed loose around her shoulders. She looked up at him. The light was poor, but she could see his eyes.

“I can’t believe you’re here. You can see? Are the team here? Are the bad guys gone?”

“Slow down, sweetheart. Breathe.”

He was here. It really was him. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s kind of what I do, babe.” He gave a small smile. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No. I’m OK. You can see me. Really see me. Are your team here?”

“Yes, I can see you, and yes, my team are here.”

A deep guttural cry got her attention. She looked at Donnie. His face tensed.