Page 21 of Red Zone Awakened

CHAPTER8

She was losing it.And Mace couldn’t allow that to happen.

“Stop it.”He barked the order the same way his old commander had done back in his army days.“Stop it right fucking now.”

The chanting stopped, but the shaking remained.He felt it under his hand as he held her pressed against the wall.Keiko vibrated with fear.It had burrowed into her mind, insidiously threading its way through every part of it, like a worm in the earth.If he didn’t get her attention on him rather than her fear, she’d run straight off the ledge to escape her demons.He’d seen it before.Watched good men panic and run into gunfire instead of away from it.He had to snap her out of it.And fast.

“Look at me, Keiko Sato.Get your eyes on me.Now!”

Slowly, she turned her head slightly and cracked open her eyelids.The terror he saw in her eyes almost stole his breath, but he couldn’t soften.He couldn’t comfort her.That wasn’t what she needed.

Instead, he frowned.“You are going to get us both killed.”He kept his tone sharp, forcing her to focus on his command rather than on the danger.“Now, hold on to the corner and slide around it on the ledge.Do it slow.I’ll come with you.”

Her only response was a slight shake of her head.

“Fuck it, Keiko.Take the fucking step.”

Her shoulders jerked slightly.“Don’t curse.”Her whispered words were like manna from Heaven.

“Take the fucking step.Or I swear, I’ll lift you and carry you around that corner.”And if she struggled in any way, they would both die.It wasn’t his best plan.But, hell, they were stuck on the ledge.There were gunmen inside looking for them.Helicopters hovered on the perimeter Enforcement had established, trying to get close enough to film something of interest.On top of that, they didn’t have a safety net or a tethering rope or backup of any kind.

“Your language is foul.”Keiko’s voice trembled.

“Shout at me once we’re safe inside.”

“What if I step into thin air?”

“Do as you’re told, and you won’t.Keep your toes against the wall.Slide along.Look at the wall.Take tiny steps.Move slow.I’ll hold you.All you have to do is follow the wall.Turn where it turns.You’ll be fine.”

A single, silent tear rolled down her satin cheek.“I hate this.”

“Don’t think about it.”That tear was a band tightening around his chest.“Just do it.Now.”Mace curled his fingers into her dress.Holding on to her.Letting her know he had a good grip on her and would catch her if she fell.“I’ve got you.You aren’t heavy enough to pull me over.Now go.”

He put years of army training into his voice, making it clear it wasn’t a request.It was a do-or-die order.Literally.

Slowly.

Hesitantly.

Her foot slid to the left.

He almost let out a sigh of relief, but they weren’t out of danger yet.“Keep those toes against the wall.Reach for the corner.Hold on to it and keep your body tight against it as you turn.”

Shivers racked her, and he feared shock had set in.Another tear escaped to run down her cheek.She was breaking him in two with her courage in the face of overwhelming fear.

“I will never forgive you for making me do this.”Keiko’s fingers gripped the corner of the building as she inched toward it.

“I’ll add it to the long list of things you’re holding a grudge over.”He followed close, letting her feel his heat.Reassuring her with his size.His strength.His brutal determination that they make it through this alive.

A helicopter whirled and hovered just outside the signal-jamming radius, its powerful spotlights scanning the building.It was either the press or Enforcement.Neither was good news for Mace.

“Somebody’s watching us,” she said.

Not yet, they weren’t, but it was only a matter of time before they were spotted.

“Ignore it,” Mace ordered.“Focus on what you need to do and turn that corner.We’re nearly there.Another step, baby.Take it now so I can stand beside you.My arm doesn’t bend this way naturally.”

“I can do this, I can do this, I can do this,” she chanted in barely a whisper.