She also saw the acknowledgment that he would end his own life before ever facing the shame of that dishonor.
She stared at him, a mocking smile on her lips. “It would seem we’re both willing to die but for different reasons.”
“Stand down,” Hancock shouted. Then he pushed Rio forward, and the rest of the men behind him spread out, training their guns on the members of KGI.
Don’t be angry, Rio, she said gently in his mind.
Why? Why did you do it?
His voice was shaken and broken, despair ripping through him. Feelings of failure, his inability to protect her. That she’d sacrifice herself for the rest. It made him furious and yet he was awed by her courage. And finally, finally she felt worthy of that regard. She’d taken a stand. No longer was she a victim.
Because it’s the only way. I won’t have you all die for nothing. Either way he’s going to take me. You can’t help me if you’re dead. It’ll be up to you to find me. Don’t keep me waiting, Rio. I don’t know how long I’ll last this time.
You survive, he demanded harshly. You do whatever the f**k it takes to survive. You stay alive for me. I’ll come for you. There isn’t a force on this goddamn earth that can keep me away from you. You just do whatever it takes. You do what they want. And you goddamn stay alive for me. Live for both of us, baby. Because I’m coming for you and I’ll go to hell and back if that’s what it takes.
I love you.
God, Grace, I love you too. So damn much.
Make sure they leave. All of them. They will kill you. I saw into his mind, Rio. He doesn’t care about you or anyone else. All he cares about is carrying out his orders.
“Stand down,” Rio barked, echoing Hancock’s order. Then he turned to stare hard at the man who now held Grace’s fate in his hands. “How are we going to play this, Hancock?”
width="“Tell your men to get out of the plane. We’ll take that one. It’s been refueled already. As long as Grace is in that plane, you won’t do anything to bring it down.”
Rio gave a terse nod and then called to Terrence and Diego. A moment later they appeared just above Grace and she moved to the side so they could pass.
The gun in Grace’s hand never wavered. She kept it firmly to her temple, a sight that would forever be burned into Rio’s memory. It scared him to death because he too had seen Grace’s resolve. He was so damn in awe of her courage and daring he could barely breathe.
Hancock let go of P.J.’s hair and pushed her forward. She stumbled and went to her knees but then slowly picked herself up and held her hands out from her sides.
“Everyone over in the hangar,” Hancock directed. “No surprises or I give the order to start firing. I’ve always thought playing last man standing would be kind of cool.”
Insane son of a bitch. He’d always been a morbid bastard, but he hadn’t been this f**king crazy. Maybe Rio would’ve been this way if he hadn’t walked away from Titan when he had. Maybe he would be the one throwing Grace to the wolves. The knowledge hurt. This was what he used to be. Mission above all else. No conscience. No sense of right or wrong. Only of what his directive was. Right or wrong hadn’t been for them to decide.
Sam motioned for his men to fall back. Cole and Steele dragged Dolphin toward the hangar. He was bleeding heavily and Rio’s heart sank. He hadn’t wanted to lose even one man to this. He’d been a fool.
“Disable the other planes,” Hancock called to his men. “Make damn sure they can’t take off in them.”
Then Hancock turned to face Grace, and it was all Rio could do not to lunge after him.
“Well, Grace? Care to give me the gun now?”
“Fuck you,” she snarled.
The corner of Rio’s mouth lifted in a half smile. She was f**king fierce.
Hancock held up his hands. “Okay, okay, we’ll do it your way. Tell me what you want.”
“What I want and what I can have are two different things,” she snapped. “You don’t really want to know what I want right now.”
“Then tell me what the next move is. Ball is in your court.”
“I want every one of your men gone. If they’re getting on the plane, then get them there now. You have five minutes or I decorate the tarmac with my brains.”
Rio winced and closed his eyes. Calm down, Grace. You’re scaring the shit out of me.
She ignored his reprimand and continued to stare at Hancock like he was the nastiest sort of bug. “Get them moving. We don’t have all day. They have an injured man who needs medical attention.”
Hancock directed the men on the tarmac to board. Grace quickly stepped down and away so they couldn’t get close enough to wrest the gun from her grip. Rio had to admit, she’d thought this through with admirable speed and common sense. She was giving them no opening. No opportunity to back out of the agreement.
When the last of the men was on board, leaving only her and Hancock facing each other, Grace said, “Now you.”
“I’m not boarding without you.”
Slowly she lowered the gun and then extended it toward Hancock. Rio died a thousand deaths. Terrence wrapped beefy arms around him as if knowing he was about to go after Grace.
“She knows wC;She knhat she’s doing,” Terrence said quietly. “You’ve got one hell of a woman, Rio.”
Don’t make any moves, Rio. He has snipers out there. At least half a dozen. I have no way of knowing if he called them off but I’m betting not. You’ll have to figure a way out of the hangar without getting shot at.