The sound of the rotor filled the air as Mark grunted in pain. He clutched his side, eyes locked on the chopper flying away from his vantage point.
Behind him, the sound of yells and shouts erupted. Within seconds, ard n poured through the entrance, one after another—but all they found was Mark... and the helicopter disappearing into the sky.
"Damn it!" one of the n shouted in frustration.
Another man raised his rifle and aid at the chopper, only for the guy beside him to place a hand on the weapon.
"It’s no use," the man said. "You’ll just hit soone else."
"Captain!" One of them rushed to Mark’s side, squatting near him. He reached out to grab Mark’s shoulder, but Mark winced.
"Ugh—"
The bodyguard imdiately let go. As he did, he noticed the blood on his palm.
"You’re shot?"
"Grazed," Mark muttered, clutching his shoulder as he sat up, eyes still on the chopper.
The man beside him also looked up at the sky. "We missed them—shit!"
Forget saving Penny—Zoren was going to kill all of them. No... not Zoren. Renny.
"Report back to HQ," soone ordered, eyes still locked on the vanishing aircraft. "They got away... with her."
"Yes, sir."
"Boss," another one said as he approached, panting hard like the others who’d rushed in without a mont’s pause. "What are we going to tell Sir Wild? They got away—and we have no idea where they’re headed."
The man Wild had assigned to lead the team looked around at the rest of the rescue group—Wild’s team, Zoren’s, the police, even Holand Security.
"Don’t worry," said one man from Holand Security. "We’ll track them down soon."
"You don’t have to," Mark said, reaching out.
The man beside him helped him to his feet.
Everyone turned to him, and for so reason, the area fell silent.
Mark exhaled sharply, eyes still on the empty sky.
"I planted a tracker on the chopper," he said. "We’ll know exactly where they’re headed."
His eyes sharpened, not even the wound on his shoulder could extinguish the fire blazing in his eyes. His grip on his bleeding shoulder tightened, his jaw clenching.
"Let’s prepare," he said, facing the guy next to him. "It’s ti to make the smiles (The Phantom Circle) involved."
---
anwhile...
"Ugh..." Brad grunted, tying off his wounded leg, grinding his teeth. "I’m going back in there and I’ll slit that motherfucker’s throat."
He hissed, furious at the thought of Shawn letting the guy get away. Shawn was one of their best shooters. He could’ve taken Mark out without blinking. And yet, like always... he hesitated. Instead of ending Mark, he just let it be.
The only good thing about it was that Mark "slid off" from the chopper.
Brad glared at him and spat to the side.
Shawn glanced back briefly but said nothing. He turned his focus to Penny instead, adjusting the cloth he’d laid down before gently moving her onto it.
"Shawn, what the hell are you doing?" Brad snapped, watching his back. "We’re dumping that woman the mont we don’t need her anymore. No point in making sure she’s comfy or bruise-free. Her end’s the sa either way."
Shawn said nothing, quietly tucking the cloth beneath Penny’s arm.
"Shawn." Brad’s tone darkened.
This ti, Shawn sighed and slumped down beside Penny’s unconscious body. With his massive build, just bending his legs was enough to shield her.
"So what?" he muttered. The usual cowardice in his voice was gone—he sounded calm, grounded, almost defiant. "She looked after when I was in her office. What’s wrong with making sure she’s okay?"
"The hell is wrong with you?" Brad hissed, pointing his pistol at him. "Did you hear ? We’re going to drop her."
Shawn gulped but stayed silent.
Brad scoffed. "That woman’s ant to die, Shawn. You think all this pampering will make her forgive you?"
He laughed harshly, shaking his head. "Don’t kid yourself. You already put her at gunpoint. You sedated her. You carried her onto this thing. Even if you shot yourself in front of her, she’s not going to forgive you."
He raised his pistol again, pointing it at Shawn. "You did this. There’s no turning back now."
Shawn lowered his head, hiding the regret in his eyes. A lump ford in his throat as he looked at Penny. Slowly, his fists clenched.
"I know that," he whispered. "I know she’s not going to forgive ."
Shawn had known it from the very first mont he t Penny.
He rembered her leaning in the corner of the interview room, staring through the window.
He rembered her bursting into the police station that day—fierce, unshakable—to protect him and Patricia.
He rembered how she stord into that private ward, uninvited, to confront Cassandra Smith.
He knew it the day she hired all four of them.
He knew Penny wasn’t soone who forgave easily.
And yet... he had no choice.
Shawn rested his arms over his knees, head down.
"I’m sorry," he whispered. "Miss Penny."
"Tsss," Brad hissed, shaking his head, tempted to roll his eyes. He leaned against the wall and tilted his head back, eyes closed for a mont. His wounded leg throbbed—pain crawling through his entire limb.
But it was nothing.
"Shawn," he said again, this ti more calmly, his eyes slowly opening. He looked across the chopper at the sulking giant.
"The boss sent you in ten years ago for this very reason. Sure, there were changes along the way—but this is what you were ant to do."
He nodded once, waiting for Shawn to et his gaze.
"You played the long ga. And it’s paying off. You did well. Soon, we’ll be free of that bitch Nathalie Zorken."
"You should rest," he added. "You deserve it."
Shawn pressed his lips into a thin line, eyes lingering on Brad. After a mont, he looked away and exhaled heavily.
That was right.
He’d started this mission ten years ago. He was just a teen then.
And today... that mission had finally co to an end.
Reviews
All reviews (0)