The ropes slipped away from his elbows, the rush of blood through his arms bringing its own kind of pain, making him groan.
But he’d heard her. Hell, yes, he had.
She went to work on his wrists. “I think your shoulders are dislocated. God, I’m so sorry. I wish I’d gotten here sooner.”
Then with another tug, his wrists were free.
He groaned through clenched teeth, his arms falling useless to his sides, the pain staggering as blood flow was restored.
She helped him to sit, the sound of her voice soothing, her touch cool. “I’m going to pop your shoulders back. It’s not fun, but it will help with the pain.”
“Okay.” That’s all he could say.
Blinding pain and then…Snap!
It didn’t take away all of his suffering, but it was a huge relief.
She moved to his other side, took hold of his left arm.
A rush of agony and …Snap!
He exhaled, relief leaving him dizzy.
“Can you walk? I grabbed one of your pistols. Are you going to be able to shoot?”
“I don’t know.” He fought to clear his head. “We need to get the fuck out of here. They’ll be back the moment they realize you’re missing.”
He struggled to his feet, his arms like dead things swinging, heavy and aching, at his side, his fingers swollen and tingling. She got one of the SIGs out of her backpack, held it out for him. He reached for it, but lifting his arm was excruciating.
He managed to close his fingers around the handle, but his grip was weak and clumsy. Not good. “Let’s move.”
Men’s voices. Angry shouts.
Running on adrenaline, Malik hurried with Kristi toward the wall near the door, hoping to take the bastards by surprise.
Bello and Kuti rushed in, maybe a dozen armed men behind them, all holding handkerchiefs over their faces and coughing. They didn’t see Malik and Kristi flattened against the wall behind them.
“He’s gone!” Bello shouted.
Malik ignored the pain in his arms and shoulders, raised the pistol, and squeezed out ten quick shots before he could no longer hold up his arms.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
Kuti fell dead along with one of his henchmen. Bello dropped to the floor, blood spilling from his side. Two more henchmen fell. One dropped his rifle and sank to the floor, moaning. The other shot went wild, Malik’s aim off.
Malik had ten bullets left, but the element of surprise was gone. The bastards he hadn’t killed turned on them, rifles raised.
Fuck.
“Kill him!” Bello shrieked. “Kill him and bring her to me!”
It happened all at once.
“No!” Kristi crying out, jumping in front of him.
Weapons firing. A blast. A blinding light.
BAM!