Reid - Maddie Wade Page 0,66

Chef, you’re up. When you have him secure, we move on Runway.”

Reid waited, his muscles tense, coiled, ready to spring into action to ensure his sunshine’s safety. He wanted to tell Clay how he felt. That he couldn’t breathe without her. She was his air, his warm light but he couldn’t because the order came, and he was moving.

He ran with his head down, his black combat clothes and face paint allowing him to disappear into the darkness. Silent feet were beside him as his brothers moved, some he couldn’t see, but he knew they were there.

“King, get that door open.”

Blake blew the lock on the door and they ducked as Clay threw a flashbang through the glass. It all happened in seconds, but as Reid moved through the smoke toward the back clearing the space as he went, his only focus to get to Callie.

He saw a door to an office on the left and moved that way as Clay tucked in behind him. He reached the door and saw the blinds were closed; his heart knew she was there. Looking at Clay, he nodded, and his friend lifted his chin in agreement. Reid shouldered the door open, and Clay entered, going high as he went low.

He saw her then tied to the chair, her gaze strong on his before it moved behind him, and her eyes widened at seeing Clay. Only a cut to her lip marred her perfection. He couldn’t take the time he wanted on Callie though because Sophia stood behind her, a knife at his woman’s throat. He remained steady as he held his weapon on her, calm overtaking the red in his vision.

“Put the knife down, Sophia.”

“Never.”

“You won’t walk out of here alive if you hurt her.” He meant every word. If Callie were hurt, Reid would burn down the world to avenge her.

“You won’t let me live either way.” Sophia looked twitchy, edgy, and unhinged rather than the cool, calm, and collected woman he’d known.

“You can walk out of here and still have a life when you get out of prison.” He kept his eyes on Sophia, not trusting himself to look at Callie. Despite his words, he preferred she stayed in prison forever, the threat against Callie not one he could bear.

“I’d rather die than spend my life with those people.”

Reid knew her intent the second she started speaking and his eyes never left her hand on the knife.

His bullet hit sure and true, and Sophia dropped to the ground, the knife falling from her limp hand. He moved quickly to the woman he loved and Clay moved to secure Sophia who was alive but injured.

He was on his knees, his hands on her face, moving over her body, making sure she was safe before he spoke. “Jesus, sunshine, you took twenty years off my life.”

“I knew you’d come.” His throat clogged at her tremulous smile and the way her sweet voice sounded to his ears. She looked at Clay then. “When did you get here?”

Reid was crowded out by Clay who took over checking her for any injury. “Thought I’d come surprise you. Didn’t plan on a rescue first though.”

Reid stood to the side, his eyes on Callie and Clay, two people he cared about, each had a piece of his heart and he’d let them both down. He moved away, focusing his attention on Sophia. The shot had hit her in her arm, but the shock and pain had caused her to pass out. He wondered what made someone with so much potential become this person.

As soon as Clay untied Callie, she pushed up and hugged her brother before releasing him and turning to Reid. He wanted to resist and fight the pull he felt for her knowing he’d failed her so badly, but he couldn’t when she threw herself at him.

He caught her as her legs and arms went around him like a monkey, her head buried in his neck, and held on. He cradled her close, one hand on her back, the other on her head. He would stay like this forever if he could with her safe in his arms. She pulled her head from his neck and gazed up at him. The feeling there almost felled him, the tears in her eyes and a love so intense he knew he’d never forget it.

“Thank you for saving me.”

The five words were innocuous, but he couldn’t accept her thanks when he was to blame. He locked his jaw