Saving Her

Chapter 37: Azerbaijan

Zayn's POV:

I stood by the window, staring out. Everyone else is sitting at the table discussing the plans, double and triple checking every single detail, leaving no possibility of error. I have it memorized, I know exactly what I need to do. So doesn't everyone else. We've been over it 30 times, from the plane to the safe house. We have it memorized. The air feels tense. Like one wrong breath and everything goes wrong.

I suddenly felt someone leaning against my back.

"You feel the tension in the air too?" Leo asks, leaning his chin on my shoulder, looking out the window with me.

"Yeah, something feels wrong." I sigh out, turning around. I quickly glance behind him and see everyone still distracted by the papers on the table.

I lean against the windowsill and pull him closer to me, he stands between my legs. I wrap my arms around him and pull him into a hug, kissing the side of his neck. Leo sighs in contentment, leaning his head against my shoulder.

"The last time a pre-op felt like this you almost died, Luci. Watch yourself out there today, please." Leo sighs

I nod and bury my face in Leo's neck for a second, closing my eyes as I breathe him in. "I lo.." I start,

"All right, guys. Get your asses over here, we need to go through this one last time and head out." Daniel interrupts me, calling us over.

I sigh hating that I was interrupted from finally having the courage to tell Leo how I feel. I gently push Leo back and take a seat next to Daniel. Leo sits next to me. We go over the plan one last time.

Leo scoots closer to me and lays his elbows on the table listening intently to what Daniel is saying.

"Alright, do we all understand?" I ask when he finishes

"Yes" everyone answers before standing up and leaving the room.

I stand and pull Leo back to me, he leans against the table and I stand in front of him, putting my hands on the sides of his neck. "I need you to be safe today. I need you to stay communicating through the earpiece. I will do the same. We won't be working together until the end when we get into the building and look for Audrey. I need you to stay safe, I need you to come home with us. Audrey is going to need you. I'm going to need you, Lee." I plead, internally groaning that I lost the nerve I had to tell him the one thing I know he needs to hear. He just nods, grabbing my wrists.

"I know, Zayn. I will. You stay safe too." He answers and I chuckle.

"I'm always safe, Leone. Don't you know who I am? I'm the king of safe." He rolls his eyes and pulls my head down to kiss me. I kiss him back softly before pulling away. We haven't done anything beyond kissing. It feels too wrong to do anything with Audrey being gone. We always stop it before it gets too far.

I lean my head against his "Let's go. I'm tired of waiting. I know where she is, I know the plan. Let's go get her and bring her home." I spoke, stepping back, grabbing all my gear, and heading out to the garage. Leo is on my heels.

"Alright let's head out. Grace you're on command" I simply say, climbing in the back, Leo sitting beside me. Alice is next to Leo. Daniel is in the driver's seat and Jeremy is in the passenger seat.

We drive for a while before pulling into an abandoned lot.

"We have to go on foot from here. Any closer with the vehicle and they'll be able to hear us coming." Daniel spoke getting out of the car and we all followed.

"Alright, you all know what to do. Stay safe. Keep communications open at all times. We will meet at the exfill point once we get Audrey." I spoke clearly, Looking at Leo, who is strapping guns and knives to his body. I adjust my own before meeting Leo's eyes. We nod at each other simultaneously, an unspoken goodbye. We then turn and head in different directions.