Page 61 of Leave Me Behind
Bradshaw leans forward and by the way his brows have furrowed I’m guessing this is news to him too. “What do you mean mydouble?She’s supposed to watch my back from afar,”he snaps at his brother.
Eren pulls a chair in front of us and sits on it backward so his arms are splayed over the back rest. “Bunny will dress exactly like you and will be provided a matching mask and helmet set. You will move together at all times and follow orders without fail. Is that understood?” Eren doesn’t break eye contact with me once.
I flash a concerned look at Bradshaw and he returns the uncertainty, but the trust he has in his kin is strong. He nods, even though his eyes betray him.
I clear my throat. “But we are veryobviouslydifferent in size…” My voice trails off because I’m still trying to process this and what the point could possibly be. “Sergeant, excuse my saying so, but I specialize in distance shots. What is the point ofsending Bones in if I can’t keep the area cleared and the squad safe?”
My nerves start to buzz in my limbs.Something is gravely wrong.But my hunch about the close combat being necessary was right.
Eren’s eyes narrow as he replies, “Yes, and unfortunately it does not matter. As long as the enemy is hesitant on which one is the real Bones, that should buy both of you time to kill the enemy soldiers.”
Bradshaw stands with a force that nudges his chair back and it shrieks across the tile. He stares down at Eren with fury blazing in those icy eyes. “Have Ian take her place. He has my same build,” he says firmly.
Eren looks away but shakes his head as he mutters, “I’m afraid it’s out of my hands.”
I set my hand on Bradshaw’s forearm as he’s reaching to grab his brother by the collar. Our eyes lock and distinct emotions flash through his eyes, but I can’t place them. I look back to Eren. “What’s really going on? Something changed the night we got back from the last training. Tell me. You can’t expect to keep us in the darkandhave this plan go smoothly.”
Eren blows out a breath, the stress evident on his features as he lets his chin fall to his arms. “Goddammit,” he says. Bradshaw’s jaw tenses but he lets his shoulders relax. Eren’s eyes are dull. “Where to start… We first suspected foul play when Abrahm was shot. The bullet he was hit with was unlike the rest in the raid. It was a bullet meant for Bones.” His fists curl with fury and he gives his brother a remorseful glance.
“What kind of bullet?” I ask, brows pinching.
A black one.
Eren stares at me for a beat before answering, “A black one.”
My spine stiffens. I search his eyes as he does mine.A black bullet.Everyone knows only Riøt used black bullets. My stomach twists with the searing look he gives me.
Bradshaw’s gaze is set on the door instead of either of us. Unmoving. I’m not certain he can handle this conversation. My grasp tightens around his wrist and it draws his eyes down to me. The pain in his gaze is a gut punch.
Eren stares at where my hand connects to Bradshaw as he mutters, “Then,targeted for a second time, when Bones was poisoned on the training field. We think it happened sometime after you hit him and everyone crowded around. There was an injection mark found on his arm.”
My eyes widen. “What?”
Eren nods grimly, avoiding my gaze.
I look up at Bradshaw and his eyes are back on the door, mouth twisting with fury.
Do they think I did it?
“Is that why you were gone for a week?” My voice wavers.
Bradshaw’s arm flexes and I take that as answer enough, but Eren mutters, “Yes. And you will keep it a secret. I’m only telling you because I personally vetted your record and you’ve never betrayed your squad. So you’re in the clear fornowand you’ll be his double until we can find out who the rat is. I have no doubt there will be soldiers specifically trying to kill Bones out there.” His eyes hover on me distrustfully, but he must have a bit of faith in me.
My chest seizes. “There’s a rat? Onoursquad?” I almost askwhy, but it’s obvious. Bones is the most dangerous soldier we have. Whoever we’re on our way to kill must be powerful to be able to pull strings this deep. For them to even know that the dark forces exist is impressive. My stomach sinks with the idea that one of our squadmates could be a traitor.
Eren nods again. I glance between the two of them.
“How do you know someone else didn’t get close enough? What about the med team?” I try to find the silver lining because Eren is wrong. Malum wouldn’t do this.
“I was by his side the entire time in there and I found the syringe discarded in a bush near the chopper. You think I’d make this accusation without being sure?” Eren’s voice turns sharp.
“This is exactly why precautions are in place.” Bradshaw’s voice startles me. It’s hurt and strained. He points to his mask and I find loss in his eyes. Even if he doesn’t know which of his comrades has done this to him, he’s lost his faith in all of them… and with the black bullet knowledge, I think he’s even lost faith in me.
“But won’t the enemy know about me being the double if the rat is in communication with them?” I query, still wrestling with the fact that one of our teammates is trying to kill Bradshaw.
“That’s why no one else is being informed of the plan. They won’t know until their boots are already on the ground and all communications will be heavily monitored by me personally. I’m suspecting that whoever it is will be so stumped by it that they’ll falter when they realize Bunny is masked as well and sticking close to Bones, rather than far away.”
“What’s stopping them from killing us both?” I ask.
