Hostile Ground (The Arsenal #7) - Cara Carnes Page 0,57
within the woman beside him. The trusting, protective, and caring Addy that he’d sworn to protect so long ago was buried beneath layers of betrayal, carnage, and destruction.
Just like him.
A loud pop sounded from outside in the hallway. Kristof startled and shifted to position himself between Addy and the door.
“What the hell are you doing?” Addy snapped.
“Whatever it takes to get you out of here,” he said.
“We’re getting out. We are both getting out.” She touched his chest. “Come on. Let’s get you up.”
The door fell inward with a loud rattle that echoed within the cell. Fatima jumped. Three men entered, weapons drawn. Thunder fanned left, while Beast went right. Nolan Mason headed straight toward them. He angled his automatic rifle downward and swept his gaze from Fatima to Addy then to Kristof and back to Addy.
“We’re clear,” Nolan said.
“Glad you made the party,” Addy said. “We’ve got scans going on the hallway?”
“Marshall and Gage are handling that.”
“All the teams are here?” Shock registered in her voice. “Who’s with the missiles?”
“Levi’s team flew in after handling a side mission.” Intensity resonated in the man’s gaze. “None of us were sitting out on this one. You took priority.”
“Side mission?” Kristof asked. “Fatima’s father?”
Nolan nodded. His gaze swept to the woman when she approached. “We’ll debrief you when we’re secure, but your father is okay.”
Tears shimmered in Fatima’s eyes. “Thank you.”
“We’ll talk soon,” Nolan said. “Are you injured?”
“No.” The woman pointed at Kristof. “He needs help.”
“Get her above ground. The chopper should land soon,” Nolan said. “I’ll assess Lavrov and meet you all up there.”
“I’ll stay here,” Beast said.
“No. You and Thunder go with Addy and Fatima,” Nolan said.
Addy’s gaze narrowed as Beast settled a hand around her back and directed her toward the exit. Nolan’s attention shifted to him once everyone cleared the cell.
“I take it this is more than an assessment of my condition,” Kristof said.
Nolan removed his backpack and unzipped it. He set it on the cart nearby and dragged it over. He clicked a button on his headset. “Yeah, Jesse. I’m turning off my com for a minute.”
It was definitely more than a medical assessment. Kristof took a step backward, but the man followed. Nolan pulled a kit from the bag and opened it up.
“This’ll be brief. Otherwise Addy will know something’s up. Marshall and I had a chat with Edge earlier. We’re removing Addy and her team from primary position on this mission.” Intensity settled in his gaze. “She’s done with whatever this shit is. And with you.”
“Good.” Kristof forced the word out. “She needs rest. So does her team.”
“She ignored Edge’s direct order to stand down and remain in this cell,” Nolan said. “Before that, she intentionally goaded the interrogator and kept his attention on her.”
“She shouldn’t have done that,” Kristof growled. “I didn’t want her doing that.”
“It worked out but could’ve gone catastrophically wrong. It was a huge risk—one she shouldn’t have taken since she knew we were almost here,” Nolan said. “She wouldn’t have done that if you weren’t in this cell.”
“You don’t know that.”
“We both know that.” Nolan glared. “That’s not happening again. You understand what I’m saying?”
“She’s done with Russia and everyone in it. Including me.” His gut soured at the idea, but he realized the call was the right one for Addy. She could’ve been killed.
He’d thought as much earlier, hadn’t he? Sure, a part of him wanted more. He wanted time to help her heal from the past she’d likely shared with no one. He wanted her to forgive him for abandoning her.
He wanted to show her who he truly was. Would she understand why he’d done everything he’d done the past two decades?
Did it even matter?
Nolan treated the abrasions and knife wounds along his torso and redressed his previous wound, which was now bleeding once again. Pain coursed along his ribcage when the man prodded the area gently.
“She’s a good woman,” Nolan said. “Whatever history you two have should remain exactly that.”
“That’s where we’ll have to agree to disagree,” Kristof replied. Anger deepened his voice. “I admire you all for protecting her, but you have no idea what her history is.”
“We know enough.”
“Do you?” Kristof raised his eyebrows. “If you did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“Then enlighten me.”
“That’s not my business to share.” Kristof looked away and winced as the man slapped a new bandage on his old wound. “I’m glad she has all of you. She deserves that.”