Page 99 of Leave Me Behind
“Wait, let me talk to them.” I rush to stand but Bradshaw grabs my wrist.
His voice is cold. “We don’t have time. If they resist… We have to get out. This is our only chance.” I nod and quickly step out into the hall.
Drake and Paul instantly raise their guns. I pull down my mask and run to them—their eyes cloud with uncertainty.
“Nell. What are you doing?!” Paul hisses and looks around quickly before leaning in closer. “Do you know what Jenkins will do if he finds out you’re trying to leave?”
“Jenkins isn’t here. We need to get outnow.It’s my only chance.Please,” I beg them both. But I know they heard “we”more than anything else. Their heads snap up to Bradshaw, who cautiously approaches with his M16 drawn.
The two of them trace their guns on him. Sweat rolls down their foreheads.
“Jenkins is on his way back as we speak. He wanted to come back early to surprise you,” Drake drawls, glaring at me.Shit.
“You two can come with us. You want out, don’t you? This is your chance.”
“Bunny,”Bradshaw hisses, his finger trained on the trigger.
Their expressions are twisted. I know they won’t shoot me. Jenkins would kill them mercilessly.
“Let’s go,” I say dully and walk between the guns pointed at each other. Bradshaw hesitates before lowering his weapon and following. We run to the terrace without glancing back. I’m not sure what will happen to those two, but at least they didn’t do anything to stop us.
Bradshaw jumps down first and I trail him. The second my boots hit the ground, he mutters, “That was risky.”
“If they wanted to kill us, they would’ve,” I retort.
“They can tell the others what direction we went.” We sprint through the tall grass. The scent of the poppies in the field nearby tickles my nose.
I hope they don’t.But I know Jenkins can make quick work of getting information out of people.
Anxiety builds in my chest as a chopper flies above us, heading toward the fortress. I know it’s Jenkins and he’s about to return to chaos. How long would it take him to hunt me down? My stomach twists.
Bradshaw doesn’t look back at me as we slide down a muddy slope, but his voice is sure. “Don’t worry. We won’t let him take you.”
My brows pinch in confusion as we stand and start moving forward again.
“We?” I ask.
He stops and turns back to look at me. He pulls down his mask and gives me a grin that sets my heart on fire.
“Did you think we’d send our favorite psycho out here by himself, little bun-bun?” Jefferson steps out from the underbrush, his face completely smothered in mud for camouflage.
“Jobs?!” I let out an embarrassing squeal as I jump into his arms. He laughs and pats my head.
“Malum doesn’t leave their own behind,” Pete says proudly as he emerges from the bushes and rests his hand on my shoulder.
Harrison stands next to Jefferson and winks at me. “Miss us?”
Eren comes to Bradshaw’s side and offers me his hand. I stare at him for a moment. This is the man who planned on serving me to Jenkins on a silver platter—dead. He’s the reason all of this happened. But time has a way of killing anger.
“Bunny. It’s good to see you again,” he mutters softly, remorse and guilt laced in his voice.
I take his hand and smile. “Happy to be back, Sarge.”
He smiles at me before refocusing. “Well, let’s stop wasting time and get to the extraction point, soldiers!” he shouts, and we all fall into form. He shoots me a wicked grin before nodding at his brother.
We slide our night vision goggles on and move quickly through the dense forest. It doesn’t take long before we’re further into the mountains than I’ve been since our last mission. Northern Labrador is a treacherous place; the wild animals alone are terrifying.
The first hour is bliss. We make it a great distance before hearing the four-wheelers roar somewhere beyond the trees. My heart rate spikes but Bradshaw sets his hand on my shoulder, assuring me he’s right behind me.
