Page 47 of Holding the Line

“I used what I knew about the Ridge and the team.I helped the rest of those mercenary bastards get into the Ridge.”Kai’s voice was low, and there was no missing the self-loathing tone in it.

Before he knew it, Eli stepped forward and punched the other man in the face.“You know them?The Pathfinders?You know who they are and what they do, and you fucking betrayed them!”

Kai stepped back.“I know I did!And it is fucking killing me, but I had no choice, Eli.I know what this is going to do to the team, to H— well, to everyone.I know, and you cannot hate me more than I hate myself, but I will stop at nothing to get my sister out of this mess and home with her family.Now, you have to come with me, I’m leaving the mercs for the Pathfinders—they can handle it.I also broke into Marsh’s network, pulled your plans.I knew that man couldn’t resist pulling the plan together so he could run scenarios on his laptop.I didn’t give that information to the mercs, only I knew what you were up to.But, Eli,I need to walk you out through the construction site.Get to the Colonel.Then once my sister is safe, I’ll get you out.I swear.”

“And if I refuse?”Eli asked, wanting to know how far Kai would go.

Kai’s expression turned bleak.“Then I will walk out of this lab and try to find her on my own.I would never take you by force, Eli.I’m an asshole, I know that, but I’m not a complete fucking asshole.Besides, he’d never forgive me.”

Eli frowned.“Marsh?”

Kai jolted then turned his gaze away from Eli.“Yeah, sure.”

Eli’s chest heaved.He stared at the man who was connected to the Pathfinders somehow, and now stood here as their betrayer, begging Eli to help him save his sister.But there was no deceit in his eyes.Only fear ...and hope.

Eli swallowed hard.“Okay.”

Kai blinked.“Okay?Really?”

Eli looked him dead in the eyes.“I can’t let someone else fall into his hands.If you are here for that man, then you know him and know how he likes to hurt people.I can’t stand by and let that happen—not when I can stop it.”

Kai flinched, guilt washing over his features.“I’m sorry.I fucking hate that I am asking you to put yourself back in that bastard’s hands.I learned a little of what he put you through but I’m so scared for her.I didn’t know what else to—”

“Stop,” Eli cut him off sharply.“Don’t do that.Don’t make me feel for you right now or I won’t be able to do what you need me to do.”He took a breath and added, bitter and resolute, “So, go ahead.Lead your sacrificial lamb to slaughter.”

Kai’s jaw tightened, voice low and sincere.“I’ll get you out.I swear to you, Eli—I will get you back to Marsh.And as a thank you, I will send Colonel Adrian White to hell.”

They crept to the exit, hiding in the shadows.Eli heard Marsh, Dale, and Bateman charging through the Ridge.Marsh’s voice rang out among them, commanding, urgent—and terrified.Eli caught a glimpse through the shadows, and it nearly undid him.Marsh was moving fast, scanning every angle, eyes wild with fear, like a man hunting for the piece of his soul that had just been torn away.

Eli’s breath hitched.His heart clenched.Seeing Marsh like that—so desperate, so raw—shattered something in him.He wanted to run to him, to scream and stop this madness, to tell him it wasn’t goodbye.But he couldn’t.Not yet.

They waited until the moment passed—then moved out, walking casually through the east path.

They crossed the open dirt of the construction zone.Ahead, Hogan appeared, gun raised.

“Let him go!If you don’t then I will end you!”Hogan shouted.

Eli raised his hands.“Hogan, don’t.It’s okay.”

“Not a chance,” Hogan said.“You don’t get to be the one bleeding for us again.”

Marsh appeared beside them.“You hear me, Eli.You stay with me.You do everything you can, anything it takes.Because I’m not fucking letting you go.”

Eli’s voice cracked.“Kaore nga mea katoa e rite ana ki te ahua.Kei te haere au, ehara mo taku anake, engari mo tetahi atu e tika ana kia ora.Not everything is as it seems.I love you.I’ll be waiting for you to come get me.”

Two figures moved in the shadows behind Hogan.Mercenaries, guns raised.

“Hogan—duck!”Kai barked.

Hogan did.Kai shot both mercs, clean headshots.Then, returned his pistol to Eli’s temple.

A black SUV pulled to a stop just at the entrance to the building site.Eli’s stomach churned at the sight.

Hogan slowly rose.“You son of a bitch,” he said, voice tight.“We trusted you.”

Marsh took a step closer, frowning.“Who is it?”

Eli saw pure rage, and what looked like pain, radiate from Hogan’s face.“We fucking trusted you.You were supposed to have our backs.You said you understood what we were building here.You said you stood with us.”His voice cracked.“And this is what you do?”