“Right, well come on downstairs. Daniel and Sue are here with luggage so I’m assuming they’re staying for a while.”
Smiling at him, and loving that idea I agree and hop off the bed.
I felt Abigail watching me all dinner long. I wasn’t eating, but it wasn’t because of the baby. I had caught a news clip about my father while I was getting out of the shower. The reporter asked if there was anything new about my disappearance and my father said no, but he seemed a little different. I wonder what is going on there. I wonder if he paid the ransom money and then realized he wasn’t getting me back. Just merely seeing his face brought all sorts of emotions to the surface.
“Savannah?” Sue says bringing me back to the here and now.
I look up and see everyone has left the table.
She and Daniel are both standing watching me. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes,” I nod then look down at my barely touched plate. “Sorry, I’m just tired.”
Daniel looks at Sue and they both walk me into the living room and sit me on the couch, Sue makes me a cup of chamomile tea while Daniel hands me a light green gift bag.
“What’s this?” I ask, sitting it between my feet.
“Something for you now, and something for the little one later.”
“Oh!” I pull out the white tissue paper and reach in, feeling the softest little nose and a smile breaks out. I nearly cry when I sit the teddy bear on my lap, he’s brown, with black eyes and a black nose. He has an Army hat with Army boots and a little jacket, Logan Jr. is sewn in green thread making my heart burst. “It’s perfect, thank you,” I whisper, rubbing its little ear.
Daniel leans forward kissing my head. “No, Savannah, thank you.” He smiles, sitting back down as Sue returns with a tray full of fruit and cheese along with the wonderfully smelling tea. Taking a few sips, I soon find myself relaxing.
We chat about everything, my past life, my new life, what names I like for the baby, etc. By the time I head to bed I’m mentally fried, but for the first time in ages I’m feeling positive about my future. I reach down and rub my tummy. “Night, little one.”
Cole slams his body up against the wall, closing his eyes listening to the footsteps around him. Two upstairs and three coming from the east toward him. His radio clicks two times; it's Mark letting him know he’s still okay. Paul checked in moments ago but John hasn’t yet. He clicks his radio once, checking in himself. A reflection in a picture, he waits until the man steps into the bedroom. One… two… three…he counts, then reaches out, wrapping his hands around the guy’s neck and twisting violently, snapping it. Lowering the former threat to the ground, Cole rolls him under the bed and waits for the other.
“Raven Two, what’s your position?” he whispers into the radio.
“Two-Three west,” Mark replies. Perfect, he’s on the second floor, three doors from the stairs.
Cole sneaks a look out the door. “Ten-four, Raven Two. Raven One inbound.”
“Copy.”
Cole raises his gun and checks to ensure it’s clear. He spots the two men upstairs and sees two across the hall. The lights are dim and with his black gear, camouflage, and face paint he should be hard to spot. He moves fast and makes it to Mark’s room in a matter of seconds. Mark is crouched behind the door.
“Just a graze to the shoulder,” Mark quickly informs him.
Cole checks it out. It’s deep and bleeding and he’ll need a few stitches, but all things considered, Mark's okay. Cole makes fast work bandaging the wound, then hands Mark a few of the caffeine chocolates to help keep alert.
“John?” Cole asks, worried.
Mark shakes his head no.
“Okay. Paul?”
“First floor hall closet was where I saw him last.”
Cole shakes his head bitterly. He doesn’t want to use the radio unless he has too. He’s not sure where John is or whether he's been captured or killed. Either way there's a good chance they'd have found John's radio by now, and would be listening. Bad enough they possibly just gave out their own location.
“We need to move,” Cole says, looking out the window. “Have you seen The American?”
“No, but he’s here. The Hummer and Land Rover are still parked out front, no one has left.”
“Okay, I’ll head downstairs. I’ll signal for you to come when it’s clear.” Cole moves in front of Mark. “You wait, understand?”
Mark’s face is pale and drenched in sweat, but he nods.
“Remember our pact?” Cole says, grabbing his brother’s face so he’ll look at him. “We joined together—”