Invincible

9.

I flipped the light on in the hotel. Kyle was passed out in the bed next to some blonde girl, Vic was crashed on the sofa in the small living area. I knew the drill—if one of us was going to get lucky, he’d head up to the room first. We’d hobble in later when the coast was clear and crash on the floor, giving the loving couple the bed. Of course, Vic never did that to us. He was a serial monogamist. We’d always tease him, but I was starting to think Kyle and me were the ones who were fucked up and Vic had the right idea. I wouldn’t be in this mess now if I hadn’t given in to my needs, but then again I would’ve never found Annie.

I nudged Kyle. “Hey. Sorry to interrupt. But we need to go.”

Kyle understood. He rolled over to the girl. “Hey, sweetheart. Sorry, but I need to help my buddy out.”

The girl nodded, almost looked hurt. She reached for her clothes and grabbed them off the floor on the side of the bed. I couldn’t help but stare at her naked body. Great ass, perky tits, nice tan skin. She slipped her panties on, then her jeans, and pulled a pink tank top over her head. She either hadn’t been wearing a bra or didn’t bother to look for it. Kyle gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call you. We’ll be in town for two weeks.”

Kyle actually might call. He straddled the line of commitment-phobe and romantic. His usual M.O. was to start a fling with a girl, swear that she was the one, then vanish when it got intense, which it always did. Everything we did was intense. Sometimes I wondered what it would be like to have a mellow job, a relaxed life.

I gave the girl an awkward wave. But because I was paranoid about Annie, I decided to speak. “Where you staying?”

“Oh, a hotel down the road. I’m fine to walk.”

Fuck that. “We’ll take you.”

She looked at Kyle. “No, I’m okay. Really. It’s just a few blocks.”

Kyle got dressed. “No, Pat’s right. Sorry, I was about to offer but I was just groggy. We’ll drive you.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Okay.”

She slipped into the bathroom. I signaled to the guys to get their guns and night op gear.

“It’s on.”

Vic slipped on his gun. “You found her.”

“Not sure but think so. Her pimp is there.”

“Good enough for me.” Kyle loaded his pistol and gathered the bag full of our gear. “Hooyah!”

Kyle’s girl walked out of the bathroom, her mascara smudged. But at that moment, I didn’t see this nameless girl, I saw Annie. Annie’s eyes. In one careless, drunken night, Annie’s world had changed forever. Spring break, five years ago, a night like this. The girl that stood before me, she didn’t know that Kyle was a good guy. That the three of us weren’t going to gang rape her. But this girl took a chance, a chance on him, a chance with us. In a foreign country, with different laws. These girls had false senses of security, that they were invincible. But all it took was one wrong drink, one wrong man, and they could end up dead, or in a living hell. Just like Annie.

We headed out of the hotel and piled into the small rental car. We dropped the girl off at her hotel room, Kyle walking her in to make sure she was safe.

He climbed back into the car. “So what’s the plan?”

“Well, we’re going to go back and case the place. Not sure after that and I’m not even sure Annie is there.”

This amateur rescue attempt was so different than the missions we usually went on as a Team. We just had to clear the house, like we’d done many times in Afghanistan. These traffickers probably only cared about drugs and money; they weren’t going to try to start an international incident just to keep a girl that they’d kidnapped five years ago. Chances were, they were looking for a way to get rid of her anyway. Not that I was going to attempt to reason with them.

We parked a block away from the building and snuck up outside the door. It seemed quiet inside and the lights were off. They’d probably be asleep already. I wanted this to be clean.

“I think she’s in that room. Second window to the left.”

“Let’s check it out.”

I was a non-practicing Catholic. Even so, every time I went on a mission, I recited the Family Prayer from my favorite movie, Boondock Saints.

“And Shepherds we shall be

For thee, my Lord, for thee.

Power hath descended forth from Thy hand

Our feet may swiftly carry out Thy commands.

So we shall flow a river forth to Thee

And teeming with souls shall it ever be.

In Nomeni Patri Et Fili Spiritus Sancti.”

Amen. Let’s roll.

Stealthily, we left the car and snuck around the building. I heard a dog bark in the distance. Kyle and Vic stood watch alongside me as I used my night vision goggles to peer into the window.

There was a small cot in the room. Annie was curled up asleep on it.

I signaled to my men. There were bars on her window. We couldn’t just grab her. We had to go through the back door.

“The execution of my duties will be swift and violent when required yet guided by the very principles that I serve to defend.”

We had no intention to kill her captors. Our only goal was to save Annie.

Gun and scope out, Kyle touched the door; it was unlocked. He pushed it in, Vic and I were right behind him.

As they scanned for men, I crept to Annie’s door.

She was sound asleep. If I woke her, would she scream? She was probably high. I scooped her limp body in my arms and raced her out of the room before she could wake.

Her eyes opened, startled. But she didn’t say anything; just gave me a silent smile and wrapped her arms around my neck. My heart almost pounded out of my chest. Recognition lit those hazel orbs and instead of screaming like I feared. Her trust almost brought me to my knees.

Vic threw a flash bang. The stun grenade detonated. A blinding light and booming sound would render her captors helpless so we could make our escape.

Once outside the room, I saw the pimp cowering in the corner. The drummer was reaching for his gun but clearly disoriented.

It wasn’t worth the risk.

I turned toward Kyle. “Send it.”

Kyle killed them both, two shots to the head, two shots to the heart.

Done. Let’s get the fuck out of here.

Vic went in front of me and Kyle had my back. I walked out of that house, holding Annie. My heartbeat drummed in my chest.

She was finally free.

We dashed into the car, then hightailed it out of there.

“My Nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish our mission.”

We’d done it. “Annie, you’re safe. They’re dead. You’re free.”

Her eyes, which had seemed so disturbed on the night that I had met her, were soft, almost filled with an inner glow. She teared up, holding my hand and refusing to let go. But I didn’t want to let go of her either. I meant what I’d said: I wanted to make sure that Annie’s pain had ended for good and that I would always be there to protect her. But I knew that our time together would be short. And I couldn’t be responsible for someone else’s safety when I’d be fighting a war a world away.