Page 124 of Home of the Brave

I yanked the tape off his mouth. "Where's Viktor?"

He just stared at me, teeth clenched against the pain.

"Viktor Sokolov," I repeated in Russian. "Where is he? At your hotel? Coming later?"

"Hotel," he gasped out. "Knoxville. Waiting for... all-clear signal."

Smart. Viktor wasn't risking himself on the initial approach. Sending his expendable soldiers first. Only six here—that meant Viktor had two with him.

I pulled out my tactical first aid kit. The shoulder wound was bleeding but manageable. I packed it with gauze, applied pressure. The Russian grunted but didn't fight me.

"You just saved my life," I told him conversationally in Russian while I worked. "Accidentally, but still. So, I'm going to save yours. After that, we're even."

His eyes met mine. Confusion mixed with the pain.

I secured the gauze with medical tape, then used another zip tie to create a makeshift sling, immobilizing his arm against his chest. The hamstring was still bleeding some, but not arterial. He'd live if he didn't move around too much.

"We’ve got number six," Kai said through the comms. “Thanks for leaving us at least one.”

"Copy that," I replied. "I've got two out here. One dead, one wounded. Wounded one says Viktor's at a hotel in Knoxville, waiting for an all-clear." My blood ran cold. Katherine was in Knoxville.

"Perfect," Simon responded. "That gives us time. Bring the live one in. We need to have a conversation."

I looked down at the Russian. "Hear that? You get to live. For now. But you're going to tell us everything about Viktor's operation. Understand?"

He nodded weakly.

I grabbed him under his good arm and hauled him to his feet—well, foot. He couldn't put weight on the damaged leg. "Lean on me. Try anything, and I'll finish what your buddy started."

We made our way slowly through the woods toward the cabin, him hobbling, me supporting more of his weight than my ribs appreciated. Behind us, the other Russian lay dead in the undergrowth. The forest was quiet again except for our labored breathing and the crunch of leaves underfoot.

Six Russians down, one dead. But Viktor was in Knoxville and so was Katherine. I was not waiting around for the debrief. I was going to Knoxville.

For the first time since we started the mission, I took my phone off do not disturb, and saw the messages from Katherine.

“Holy fuck,” I breathed out.

All of the men in the cabin looked up, including some of the Russians who were tied up on the floor.