Page 64 of V-Day
The Insurrecto was older, with a grizzled beard and red-rimmed eyes. He smiled, instantly understanding why fourteen women confronted him. He snatched at his machine gun, cocking it with a dense metallic sound which Calli would remember for the rest of her life. Her belly dropped and copper spit flooded her mouth.
She froze. Her thoughts froze.
Do something!she railed at herself as the submachine gun came up to the firing position.
Then the Insurrecto grunted and threw his head to one side. A black knife hilt stuck out from the side of his neck.
Nick leapt out from behind a pillar, to grab the knife with one hand, the man’s chin with the other. He wrenched the knife in a twisting motion, like forcing a cork screw into a tough cork.
The man sagged and Nick caught him and dragged him out of sight behind the pillar he had leapt from.
Calli still couldn’t move. Her heart rate climbed, until she heard it in her head.
Nick emerged once more, pushing the knife into a scabbard on his belt. An assault rifle hung over his shoulder—the one Duardo had given him, which Duardo had won from an American SEAL who didn’t understand cards as well as Duardo.
Nick was wearing gray fatigues and his dark copper hair gleamed in the pot lights set into the ceiling as he moved right up to her and gripped her arms. He gave her a little shake. “Yes, it’s me. I know it’s a shock—”
“A sh-shock?” she spluttered. She was shaking.
Nick held up a finger in warning. “No. Donotlose it. I need you to hold together for a bit longer. Hear me?” He shook her even harder.
His words and the shaking convinced Calli she was not imagining this. It really was Nick. She saw the warmth in his eyes. His concern. The fake-gruffness of his voice to make her stay cool was just like him.
Calli threw her arms around him. A sob escaped. She clamped down on any other sounds and shivered, instead.
Nick’s arms tightened around her for a moment. Just a moment. Then he pulled her away from him. His indigo eyes moved over her face, assessing her.
“I’m good,” she whispered. “I’m fine now.”
He looked over her shoulder.
Calli turned and waved toward the women, who were all standing and watching with smiles on their faces. “Loyalists, one and all,” she told Nick.
Nick nodded at them. “Do any of you have any weapons, which you know how to use?” he asked softly.
Head shakes.
Nick grimaced. “Ah, well.” He reached around behind him and extracted something from the pack on his back. He held it out to Calli.
“My Glock!” she breathed, picking it up. She looked at him. “You knew you would find me here?”
Nick cupped her cheek for one shining moment, his gaze steady. “You’re the reason I’m here.” He dropped his hand. “No fancy footwork. No agendas. I’m getting you out.” He glanced behind Calli. “All of you,” he added. He pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and held it out so Calli and the women could see the screen.
4 hours 3 minutes.
Get out of la Colinas!
“What does it mean?” Calli breathed.
“I don’t know,” Nick said. “I’ve been out of contact with everyone for a few days. I won’t ignore the warning, though. I have a feeling Chloe is behind it. She’s in a position to know things.”
Calli blinked. What on earth had happened since she had been caught and brought here?
Nick put the phone away. “So, straight up the stairs to the back door and out. I’ll take care of anyone who tries to stop us.”
Calli gripped Nick’s arm. “Marisa Roldán,” she said urgently. “We can’t leave her here. She’s somewhere in the Palace, Nick, and I think I know where she is.”
Nick considered her. “There’s no time.”
