Cole slouched farther behind the gravestone and adjusted his headset as the men and Bailey approached. It took every ounce of self-control not to spring up and rush for her.
Landon signaled for everyone to remain steady.
After searching for a bit, the party stopped in front of Princess Maksutov’s grave. Anton dropped an equipment bag on the ground, water splashing in its wake.
Grigor seized Bailey from Kiril, and pressed his gun to her side. “You had better be right. And don’t even think about trying to run, or you’ll get more than the knock Kiril gave you on that pretty head of yours.”
They’d hurt Bailey. Cole fought every instinct tearing at him to race for her, to wrap her in his arms, but Landon was right. They had one shot and he couldn’t let his anger get the better of him. Too much was at stake.
“Start digging, boys,” Grigor instructed, and the other two set to work as he kept Bailey pinned to his side. She stood stiffly beside him, wearing an oversized white T-shirt, her dark swimsuit showing through the drenched fabric. Shovelfuls of mud flung past them, and Grigor scanned the perimeter intermittently, his right leg shaking as they waited.
Thirty minutes passed, an hour. Cole would have chosen to rush the men sooner, but Slidell and Landon had insisted that they wait until the optimal moment. So . . . they waited.
Kiril and Anton were starting to move slower, each mound of mud appearing heavier and denser than the last, until finally a thump pierced the silence.
“I think we’ve got something,” Kiril said.
“Faster,” Grigor urged.
“When they reach down to lift the casket lid, we move in,” Landon instructed. “That should leave only Grigor freehanded.”
“And what if he shoots Bailey?”
Landon patted his sidearm. “I’ll have him in my sights the entire time.”
Cole nodded, adrenaline and fear racing through him.
“I can see the casket,” Kiril said.
“Clear it off,” Grigor clipped.
Landon lifted a hand. “On my mark.”
“We’ve got trouble,” Slidell radioed.
Grigor shifted his gaze in their direction.
Landon cut the volume.
Cole slouched down beside him, his heart thudding in his ears, afraid to even breathe.
Seconds passed excruciatingly slow, but finally Grigor shifted his attention back to the dig.
Landon turned the volume back on its lowest setting and whispered, “What?”
“We’ve got company.”
Cole lifted his head and scanned the area. “There.” Someone staggered across the cemetery. He was young, clutching a bottle in one hand.
The boy took a large swig and stumbled. “Here’s to you, Dad.” He lifted the bottle in the air. Grigor’s head whipped in that direction, and he stilled Kiril and Anton with his hand.
He waved his gun at Bailey and signaled for her to be quiet.
The boy stumbled closer, mumbling under his breath. He finished the bottle off and smashed it against a tombstone, sending shards of glass flying.
Cole’s stomach lurched as he came into view. Jesse. It was the anniversary of his dad’s death. With everything going on, he’d completely forgotten.
Jesse pulled another beer from his cargo pants pocket and wrestled with the cap.
Grigor signaled to Kiril. “Take care of it.”
Kiril nodded and stalked toward Jesse.
Cole’s heart lodged in his throat.
“I’m sorry, Cole,” Landon said. “We’ve got to help Jesse.”
“I know.” He just prayed that Grigor wouldn’t react by killing Bailey.
“I’ll take care of Kiril,” Slidell instructed. “Landon, you neutralize Grigor. Tom and Thoreau have Anton.” He exhaled. “On my mark . . .”
Jesse spun around. “Who’s there?” His hazy gaze fixed on Kiril. “Who are you?”
“The last person you’ll ever see.” Kiril raised his gun.
A shot pierced the night.
The bottle dropped from Jesse’s hand.
Kiril stumbled back, then slowly slumped to the ground clutching his chest.
Slidell appeared out of the gloom, his gun still leveled on Kiril.
In horror Cole lunged toward Grigor. If he couldn’t reach Bailey in time, he could at least give Grigor another target.
Grigor’s arm lifted, his weapon shifting toward Cole.
“No!” Bailey screamed, struggling in Grigor’s hold.
Grigor’s hardened gaze met Cole’s, and a smile flickered across his lips.
“Down,” Landon roared, barreling at Grigor from behind.
Shoving Bailey to the side as he turned, Grigor fired.
A bolt of heat and pain collided with Cole’s arm, jarring the breath from his lungs. He hit the ground, the shot reverberating in his ears.
Bailey raced to his side, tears streaming down her face. “Cole, are you hurt? You shouldn’t have come.”
Shots rang out in quick succession, like a rifle’s report.
Cole rolled over, pulling Bailey to the ground and shielding her with his body.
“Get her out of here,” Landon shouted.
Scrambling to his feet, Cole wrapped his arm around Bailey’s waist and they ran, heads ducked as bullets sailed overhead. With a lunge, they landed in a heap at the base of a tombstone. “Are you all right, Bay?”
Rain streaked down her face, her eyes wide with horror. She nodded frantically, wincing with each gun report.
He peered over the concrete marker.
Flashlights flooded the cemetery. Backup had arrived.
He slouched back down.
“You’re bleeding, Cole.”
He followed Bailey’s gaze to the blood pooling at the base of his arm.
“You’re shot. You should’ve stayed away.”
“How could I? I love you.”
“You love me?” Her eyes widened. “No, I’m not worth it. Can’t you see that?”
Heat and pain seared down his arm. “Bailey, you are worth it—to me, to us all.”
When she reached down to explore his wound, he moved his arm away. “It’ll be fine. I’ll be fine. What’s important is that you’re okay.”
“Piper, stop.” Landon’s anguished admonition rent the air.
Cole staggered to his feet, assessing the situation. What was Piper doing? She was supposed to stay at the Post. “Bailey, don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
“No.” Tears rolled down her face. “You’re hurt.”
“I’ve got to.” He stumbled forward, his gaze blurring. “Landon?”
“Over here.”
A shot pierced the night.
“Piper, no!” The terror in Landon’s voice cut Cole to the quick.
He ran blindly forward.
Another shot and another.
His heart pounding in his throat, he came upon Grigor, dead at the foot of a tombstone, a bullet square between his eyes.
He rounded the stone and his heart lurched.
Landon cradled a body in his arms, tears streaming down his hardened face. He looked up, his hand covered with blood.
Cole dropped to his knees, the breath whooshing from his body. Piper.