You Only Love Twice (Masters and Mercenaries #8)(121)

She hoped Ten was getting into position.

And then she saw him. Simon rounded the corner and then seemed to hear Ten and paused, his hand coming up and making a fist. It was a clear signal to stop.

Jesse still came around the corner and she watched in utter horror as he caught sight of her. He was shirtless and she could see blood on his chest and arms. He moved without his usual grace.

What had he been through?

“Yes. Now you’ll come in handy.” Al Fareed pressed the gun to her temple. He walked across the grass, putting distance between them and the helicopter.

Phoebe struggled to stay upright. The ground around her was soft and her feet seemed to sink in.

“I’m almost in place. Almost there. I’ll take al Fareed first, but we still have to deal with the guard,” Ten’s voice purred in her ear. She’d watched her brother work before and invariably he calmed as he got close to doing the actual job. He would slow down and even his voice would slip into his deep, Southern accent when he focused. “Drop when I tell you and don’t give him a chance. I’ll take him before he knows what’s happening.”

She had to buy him some time because now they were in a standoff. The guard next to her had his weapon up, pointing at the same side of the house the other guards had disappeared behind.

Jesse walked out, dropping his gun to the ground and holding his hands up.

“That was inevitable,” Ten said and she could almost see him shaking his head. “Darlin’, I’ve got a shot lined up, but unfortunately your head is in the way. When I tell you to, you need to move about two centimeters to your left.”

This was going to get so icky. And then there was the problem of the gun to her head. It was pressing her to the right. And the problem of Jesse, who moved toward them with the singular purpose of a man who was going to save his woman no matter what the cost.

God, she loved him. She had a gun to her head and all hell was breaking loose around her and she thanked the universe for Jesse. And Jamie. And Ten. For the love she’d been given.

“Don’t cry, baby,” Jesse said. “I’m going to get you out of this.”

Simon and Theo stalked behind Jesse, their guns trained on al Fareed.

“Hand over the girl and we’ll let you get on that helicopter,” Simon explained. It was easier to hear now that they were away from the chopper.

She felt al Fareed’s head shake against hers. “I think you would simply blow up my helicopter. No, I’ll take one of you with me. I wanted to take them both, but I fear two would be too much.”

“Me.” Jesse stopped a dozen feet away. “You’ll take me. I’m the one you want. Let go of the girl and I’ll go willingly with you. Anything you say.”

“And if I want to put a collar around your neck and walk you through my training camp to show my soldiers how we should treat Americans?”

Her stomach churned because it was everything Jesse feared. And yet he simply nodded.

“Yes. Anything. Just let her go.”

Her captor started to back away, dragging her with him. “No. I no longer believe you. I think she’s the only thing that will keep you in check. You surprise me. I think I failed with you. I think I would always have failed with you.”

“No.” Panic was plainly stamped on his face and he started toward them.

One wrong move and al Fareed would shoot one or both of them. The guard moved with his boss.

“Si, you got a bead on the guard?” Ten asked. “Nod to verify.”

“Jesse, stay back.” Everything would go to hell if that guard got his hands on Jesse. She saw Simon nod.

“I can’t let him take you.” Jesse moved toward her.

“Three,” Ten’s voice said.

If he came closer, Ten wouldn’t be able to take his shot. “He won’t. Have faith in me. Don’t take another step.”

“Two.”

Jesse stopped. “I do.”

“Such a little fool,” al Fareed said in her ear. “Perhaps I will break you instead. Let’s go.”

“Now.” Ten’s voice was as calm as a man reading the news.

She went completely limp in al Fareed’s arms, ducking her head and trusting her life in Ten’s shot. She heard the ping and then she was falling. Before she could hit the grass, Jesse was there. He lifted her into his arms and then fell to his knees, but not before he pulled her free of al Fareed’s body. The guard dropped beside them. He’d never had a chance once Simon had him in his sights.

“Erin’s with the boat and I’m coming in,” Hutch said cheerfully as if he hadn’t just witnessed a bloody battle. “Simon, I’m going to need that chopper. Could you hurry? He’s going to try to take off.”

Simon moved in and there was the sound of another shot.

She looked in horror at Jesse’s back as she scrambled to her knees. It was a mass of welts and cuts. He was bleeding from his shoulder. “Oh, baby.”

He stared at al Fareed’s body, but the minute she spoke, he turned and reached for her. “It’s over now. Phoebe, we can go home.”

As gently as she could, she wrapped her arms around him. “My home is wherever you are.”

He held her tight. “Good, because the minute I can, I’m putting you over my knee.”