Without Wings Chapter Eleven

It was too easy, that was all she could think. Why didn't they have guards on the roof? And there was no one to stop them from coming into the tunnel. Mullah had used it just the day before, and he reported having seen two guards rotating their positions at the entrance to the cells at the end of the sewer. But now, there was nobody.

It felt entirely too much like a trap, and Bella didn't want to be the mouse. Her son was still in there, that much she was positive about. Their mission had to move forward, despite the uneasiness she felt. They couldn't afford to let doubt creep back in, or it would all be for nothing. Uneasiness, fear, and worry would get her nowhere.

The sewer tunnel smelled exactly as bad as they’d feared. With tactical gas masks covering their faces, those going in would at least be afforded fresh air to breathe. Those on the outside didn't have it as bad, of course. They were the lucky ones. 

But once inside the mouth of the tunnel, Bella felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. Slogging through ankle-deep waste was one thing, but encountering no resistance was another. Since she was in the middle, all she could do was follow commands.

Exiting the tunnels and finding the cells directly in front of them, Edward signaled for those nearest to use the bolt cutters on the main gate. Again, it was too simple. Bella wondered what the fuck the others were thinking.

Leaning close to Seamus, Edward covered the microphone on his earpiece. Raising his brow, Seamus did the same.

“It shouldn't be this simple,” she heard him say.

Seamus replied, “I agree, cousin. Where are the guards? Where’s the resistance?”

“Done,” Paul whispered, showing them the breach in the gate.

They moved forward, finding the three occupied cells around a short bend in the dirt tunnel. Quinn sat on an overturned bucket, clearly not surprised to see them.

“Mom.”

His voice was weak, and he’d lost weight. His face was dirty, and his hair long; the red had grown out from the blond dye.

“I’m here.” Bella moved up to the bars, and Quinn’s eyes filled with tears.

“Mullah said you were coming, but I didn't know if I should hold out hope.”

“You had to know we’d stop at nothing to get you,” Bella said. Those words nagged at the back of her mind, but she pushed it aside.

Paul bent the bars until they snapped, then moved to work on the next cell. Seamus and Edward hurried in to help Quinn stand. His once pristine suit was covered in filth, and his green eyes shone in the dim light. Bella hugged him tightly, ignoring whatever he might be covered in.

“Mom, how is Layla? How’s Aerinn?”

“With your mother-in-law. I’m sure they're eager to see you.”

His shoulders shook, and her heart broke for him. “I can’t believe how much time I’ve missed.”

Edward barked, “Don't start babbling now, son. It’s time to move.”

Bella and Quinn exchanged a look, but they moved forward with the others. Wilhelm limped along out of the cell beside Quinn’s, and the two clapped each other on the back.

“This has been anything but a four-star experience,” Wilhelm joked. “Zero out of ten, would not recommend.”

“On my count,” Edward ordered quietly.

He held up his fingers, starting with three and lowering them one by one. Most of the five men were able to walk unassisted, which added to Bella’s unease. From what little she knew of the Taliban, these men should have been severely tortured. Instead, they were merely malnourished and a little banged up.

As they turned to make their way out of the sewer, a boom sounded, shaking the walls. Clumps of dirt rained around them, and they covered their heads as they tried to make out what it was. The entrance to the sewer closed over, boulders falling to the ground and blocking their escape. Everyone tried to brace themselves, but the walls had become unstable.

“They realize we’re here,” Paul said.

Over the radios, Dwayne began shouting. “We’ve been spotted! What’s your ETA?”

“In the cages,” Jake responded. “Hoping to head out.”

Another blast rattled the compound, and the ten people crammed in the tiny area searched for an exit. 

“What’s our move?” Jake asked.

“Fuck if I know,” Edward muttered. 

God dammit, that was exactly what they’d feared. 

“Plan B was to run like hell, if I remember correctly,” Seamus said.

“But there’s little option for running,” Bella said. Pointing her flashlight around the mud-colored walls, she found an opening. “Looks like this is it.”

Funneling them like cattle through one specific hole in the wall. Fantastic.

“Weapons at the ready,” Edward ordered.

The wounded were shuffled off behind the soldiers, and Seamus and Edward went first. Bella knew deep in her soul something was wrong, but there was no way to know what to expect. They kept on high alert as they moved, only making it to one short curve in the tunnel before gunfire rang out.

Ducking, the group tried to defend themselves. Edward and Seamus fired back, and Paul moved up to throw a small grenade.

“Cover your ears!” he shouted.

The blast shook the underground hole worse than before, and more clumps of dirt and rocks fell on their heads. Squatting against the wall, Bella checked her ammunition and tried to think of an escape plan.

“What’s it like out there?” she asked into her radio.

Emmett answered, “Taking fire!”

“Fuck,” Edward muttered.

“Should we split up?” Jake shouted. “Force them to follow some of us while the others take the prisoners out?”

“I can’t think of a better plan,” Seamus said.

Edward surveyed the team, a frown on his face. “Fine. Seamus, Paul, Jake, you take the prisoners. Bella and I will lead them deeper into the compound.”

Her hands shook at the idea of it. Being separated from her son after having just reunited, and knowing her mission was now more deadly than the rest of the team’s was not her favorite plan.

With a quick, hard hug for Quinn and a grip of the shoulder for Seamus and Jake, Bella followed Edward into a tiny crevice in the stone. Sweat trickled down her back, and she knew this was a mission that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

For one, it felt like actual hell. For another, she couldn't help feeling her husband was leading her to the slaughter in order to save their son. Despite knowing she’d gladly take a bullet if someone was trying to kill her child, she didn't want to walk purposely into the lion's den.

Turning off her earpiece, she whispered, “Are you sure this is wise?”

“You have a better idea?” he growled.

“I don't hear gunfire anymore.”

“Give it time; I’m sure they’re regrouping to find us.”

Maybe he was right. Maybe he was crazy. Either way, she would follow him until she could think of an idea that sucked less.

Slowly, they shoved debris out of their way, creating a passage big enough to shimmy through. If someone came up on their backs, they’d be dead. 

Shivering at that thought, Bella shoved an overhanging rock out of the way, letting it crash to the ground behind them. Edward moved up a little, his broad shoulders touching both sides of the dirt wall. Good thing neither of them were claustrophobic.

“An opening,” Edward whispered, low enough she almost didn't hear him.

He nearly fell when he pushed through the crack, reaching back to help her through. In front of them, a cavernous space opened up, with a state-of-the-art bunker room plopped in the middle. The glass and metal walls were a stark difference from the red dirt cave surrounding them.

“This would have been a better place to hold the men,” she murmured.

No one appeared to be around, but they couldn't discount cameras. Never had it been more obvious they’d been set up.

But by whom?

“Here.” Wrestling with the lock on the door, Edward eventually bashed it with the butt of his rifle, and the handle busted enough to open the door. “There’s water over there, and what looks to be a few grenades.”

They stuffed everything in their packs, and Bella took a minute to remove her mask to drink the water. Part of her worried about what was in it, despite it being completely sealed. Their desert camo had come in handy since they were currently covered in layers of dust and dirt.

Edward took the water bottle when Bella offered it, then moved to a desk with a computer on it. Shaking the mouse woke the monitor, but the words on the screen were not in English.

“Should have brought Quinn’s interpreter with us.”

Shouting from down a hall alerted them they weren’t alone, and they dropped to the floor. Indicating the desk, Edward urged Bella beneath it. The foreign language eluded them, but the tone was agitated. Footsteps passed the bunker, but they sat still for several more minutes to ensure they were alone again.

“Stay here,” Edward said. “I’m going to scope out the hallways for an exit.”

Before she could protest, he went out the door, pushing it closed and shoving the broken handle back into place. It would pass a brief glance, but it wouldn’t fool anyone for long.

Alone, Bella stretched her legs out and reclined against the metal wall under the desk. Clearly, the CIA had led them on a wild goose chase. Quinn and his men weren’t in as much danger as they would have been with the real Taliban. Once they escaped, they would need to take a long, hard look at who had done this and why.

Hearing a noise, Bella clamped her mouth closed. Too wary to check who it was, she remained in place, her weapon clutched against her chest and her heart in her ears. Boots appeared in her vision . . .

And they didn't belong to her husband.

“I know you’re here,” the man said in clear English.

Fuck. She said nothing, waiting until he moved closer.

“I found your husband wandering the halls, so I’ve already taken care of him.”

It’s a lie, it’s a lie! But her chest ached at the thought. Still breathing quietly through her nose, Bella tilted her head around the desk chair to see where he was and if she could take a shot.

But he was closer than she expected, and he kicked the gun right out of her hand. Her wrist screamed at the pain, but she didn't yell. She didn't want to alert anyone in the vicinity of what she’d just encountered. Reaching under the desk, the man grabbed her tactical vest and hauled her to her feet.

Kicking and flailing, Bella hit her mark more than once. Apparently, the man knew his target well, because he was heavily padded, his face covered with a black balaclava. 

“Fucker! Let me go!”

No gun, every blow and kick landing on armor; what was her next move?

He dropped his shoulder into her gut, tossing her over his back and walking out. Screaming now, hoping to alert everyone in the entire desert, Bella beat his back to no avail. Finally, she remembered her earpiece and turned it back on. Silence met her ears.

Down a hall and one turn to the left, she memorized their path in case it became useful. When he stopped, they appeared to be in a massive underground warehouse.

“What the fuck?” she snapped as he dropped her on the ground.

“Shut up,” he barked.

Though she fought him, he peeled off a long strip of duct tape and slapped it none-too-gently over her mouth and part of the way around her head. He tried to bind her hands, but she moved too fast, shoving him away and standing up.

Ripping off the tape hurt like a fucking bitch, but she’d be damned if she went out tied up like a helpless, fragile little lamb. He’d stumbled when she shoved him, but he didn’t go down.

“You know your number is up, don’t you?”

“Who the fuck are you?” she demanded. Her chest heaved, and she checked around her for a weapon as he advanced on her.

“I’ll kill you like I did Edward, then go back to the states to take out the others. Quinn, Layla, your granddaughter. How is little Aerinn these days?”

Head pounding, Bella tried to make sense of how he knew so much about her family members. “Did Holden set this up?”

“Oh, please.” Laughing, he grabbed for her, but she dodged him. “Holden will die too.”

Fuck, fuck, who was this guy?

“First, though, I’ve got the green light to do with you as I please.” Circling her, he swept a leg to try to knock her down. She avoided it, much to his displeasure. “You are one feisty hellcat, aren’t you, Isabella?”

“Fuck off.” Spitting at him, she backed up, belatedly realizing he’d steered her to a wall. 

His body weight pinned her in place, and she spit in his face again. With a grimace, he slapped her, and she tasted blood in her mouth. Bringing her hands up, she clawed at the holes near his eyes, his mouth, and anything else she could reach. He leaned his head back, swearing about the scratches she left on his skin. Though she kicked him in the balls out of instinct, she recalled the padding he wore, which only pissed her off.

“You can't even fight me fairly, you pussy bitch!”

Finally, he head-butted her, and she saw stars winking before her eyes. Slumping against the wall, she struggled to regain her senses. The asshole dropped his full body weight on top of her, pinning her to the concrete floor. Picking up her head, he slammed it repeatedly on the floor, and she knew she was about to black out. If that happened—if he won—that would be it. He’d beat her, rape her, and kill her. 

She couldn't let that happen.

“You don't scare me, you spineless motherfucker!” she screamed, though her strength waned. “Can’t even fight like a real man!”

“Shut the fuck up, bitch.” He punched her in the jaw, then worked open the fly on his pants.

“I bet you can’t even get that tiny dick up.” Laughing, feeling fucking insane, Bella waited for a better opportunity to overpower him. “Fucking weak ass bitch with a limp dick thinking he’s gonna rape me?”

“Fucking shut up!” he roared at her.

Finally, voices exploded in her ear. She knew it was only a matter of time before they found her, so she only had to hold out for a little longer.

Just as he pulled his pathetic dick from his pants, she acted. Without his precious armor and padding, he was just like any other man. He loomed over her, and she grabbed his dick, squeezing with all her strength. As he doubled over, she pushed him off her, kicking her steel-toes into his balls.

Scrambling up, she snagged the duct tape he’d used on her and bound his hands before he could recover. Bella had no doubt he could overpower her again if he got the chance, so she shoved him closer to the pipe running the height of the wall and strapped the tape around it and him until it ran out.

Dropping to her knees, she sucked in air and tried to think. Falling forward, she caught herself before she fell on her face. She picked up her head, glancing around, but couldn't find the strength to hold herself upright. Dropping back down, she prayed the voices in her ear could find her before it was too late.

Paul