Page 177 of Uprising

“Shut up.” I snarl letting my fury out and everyone turns to stare at me.

I press my hand to my ear. I can hear her. I can hear her voice.

My heart sinks as she says his name. So she is with him. But what else did I expect?

“Give me that…” Hastings walks up to me and I look up at him for the first time really wanting to claw his fucking face off.

I shake my head.

“Give me that earpiece now or I will rip it from your ear.”

“What did you say?” I snarl.

He slams me into a tree, wrenching the device out.

“It won’t help you. Not right now.” He says.

“We have ears inside.” I reply.

He shakes his head pocketing it. “No. Not like this. This will only distract you.”

“Distract me?”

“If you want to save her you have to go in level headed. Hearing what he’s doing won’t achieve that, it will only make you reckless.”

I blink, my rage threatening to overwhelm me. Make me fucking reckless? Darius has her. Right now he could be doing anything to her.

But he’s right. Hearing it won’t help. I need to be there. I need to get up there and stop it.

“Then let’s go.” I snarl.

“Wait.” Someone else says making us all turn.

“What now?” Hastings growls.

The man bends down, swiping at the snow and we all freeze as we see what he uncovers. It’s a fucking IED. He’s got the place rigged.

I meet Hastings gaze and his is as cold with fury as mine.

“Please tell me you bought someone who can clear them?” I say.

He grunts. “Do you think I was born yesterday?”

It takeswhat feels like forever. We make slow progress, walking in a line, keeping low, ensuring we only cover the ground that’s been cleared and is safe.

Two men are ahead clearing each patch of snow inch by inch. If we lose them I don’t know what the fuck we will do.

But Darius is waiting for us. I know that much.

I clench my fists, staring ahead, keeping my eyes fixed on the horizon and slowly, so fucking slowly the cabin comes into view.

It’s built in the Swiss style. All wood and glass. In truth, if I didn’t know what had gone on here, it would be beautiful.

My heart picks up. I grip the gun tighter. She’s in there. She’s in that fucking place with Darius.

As we make it to the front, we pause. No one has shot at us. No one seems to be making any attempt to stop us now and it feels odd.

The two explosive guys inspect the building, and all to soon their confirming what I already suspected; that the place is also rigged. That it’s a set up. If anyone tries the door they’ll be blasted into fuck knows where.