Chapter 26

Samson set the first bomb. The timer was crude, and he had no way to know if it would work until it did.

He pulled his hands away slowly, cradling the air around the device until he was confident it was secure, then he lifted the box with the rest of the bombs and hurried down the hall to his next destination, glancing up the stairs as he passed.

When he heard voices echoing through the halls, he ducked into an empty room, holding his breath until the quiet returned. Then he hurried on until he came to a corner he hadn't been expecting.

He looked back the way he'd come, bringing a mental image of the blueprints to mind. It was impossible they'd reconstructed the basement since the blueprints were made.

"God," he whispered. "I need your help. I'm in the dark here."

He had little choice but to see what was around the corner anyway, so he continued forward.

A room at the end of the corridor had a light on. He approached slowly, his ears attuned to any sound no matter how small.

As he drew near, he heard a throat clear. It came from close to the door. He quickly set the box on the floor and prepared for a fight when someone came out of the room.

Demir stopped, then reached for his gun, but came up emptyhanded.

"Samson. This is unexpected," he said, his eyes flicking sideways, back into the room where he'd probably left his weapon.

When he moved to retrieve it, Samson said, "You won't face me man to man?"

Demir paused to consider his proposal. "It wouldn't be a fair fight."

"You're probably right. I am feeling strong."

Demir laughed. "You believe you could take me if we fought one on one after we've been starving and beating you?"

"I don't know. But I'm game to find out."

Demir looked into the room again.

"You could get your gun," Samson said. "That may make it a more equitable fight."

Demir cracked his fingers. "How'd you get out?"

"Answer my riddle, and I'll tell you."

"What riddle?"

"The one I told you when we met outside this place."

"Something about honey?"

"What is sweeter than honey and hotter than the sun? The king needs it, but the beggar has it. Whoever eats it dies. It's also what I'm going to leave you with because it's what I have to lose."

"Clever."

"You think so?"

"You think you're in a position to leave me with nothing?"

"I know I am."

Demir looked at the box Samson had left on the floor. "Your plan is to blow this place up? These walls are reinforced. But I have to give you some credit. You've fought until the end. Which makes it that much sadder. Because for all your preparation to get this close, only to fail. It's pathetic."

Demir dove into the room, and Samson took off after him but didn't reach him before he'd gotten his gun.

Samson lunged, knocking him to the ground as a round was fired. The feel of the bullet ripping through his flesh was a distant pinch as the two men wrestled on the ground.

Demir tried to bring the gun around to get off another shot, but Samson grabbed his wrist, wrenching it over his head and smashing it against the wall until he dropped it. Then they rolled across the floor, where Samson slammed into the leg of the table knocking the wind out of him. It gave Demir the chance to get out of Samson's grasp.

He scrambled towards the weapon, but Samson caught hold of his ankle and dragged him back, his side screaming in pain. But when Demir rolled around, he had the gun. Samson pushed his arm up as it went off, then bent it down, twisting as another shot rang in the air and Demir stilled.

Samson dragged himself up, grabbing the gun before he pushed against the wound in his side. Demir didn't move and normally Samson would check for a pulse, but today it didn't matter.

He looked around the room before tucking the gun in the back of his pants and going into the hall to get a bomb. He set it in the room against the far wall. It looked like it could be a load-bearing room, but he'd have to trust that God knew what He was doing because he couldn't be sure.

After one more look at Demir, he left the room.

His strength had drained considerably after getting shot. He must have lost a lot of blood, but he was running out of time, and he'd lost track of where he was.

He limped down another hall and checked a room. It was full of boxes. Some were open and contained various weapons.

Leaning against the door frame, he closed his eyes. "Thank you, God."

This was Demir's stockpile of weaponry, and it was all he'd need to finish off the job.

He set the box down and took out the last device he'd need to set, placing it carefully on top of a pile of ammunition.

"Demir!" He heard a shout.

"Don't let them find the explosives," Samson mumbled as prepared the last bomb.

More shouts followed, rising in volume and then fading as men ran past.

He moved to the door and looked out. The hall was empty. He didn't want to die in the room with the weapons. He'd rather find a quiet corner in the dark since the darkness had been his refuge lately.

He pulled out the gun and moved down the hall as fast as his injured body would let him, but it remained clear.

As he passed by the stairs again, he looked up and saw the door was open. He stopped, and his heart quickened. Would God give him a final gift to see the sky before the end? Could he die in the light instead of the darkness?

He climbed the stairs, his wound making it difficult, but he pushed through the pain and weakness. The blast would come any second. He just needed one glimpse.

Tears warmed his cheek as he neared the blinding white of natural light. But before he could get there, a deafening explosion shook the world, and everything went black.

Trevors had ordered Delilah to stay away from the embassy, but she wasn't ready to give up yet. She needed to face Demir, even if it was dangerous. She finally understood what it had all been about. Why she couldn't get him out of her mind.

She needed to tell Demir that she forgave him.

It didn't make any sense, but that's what Ryan had said. That she couldn't lean on her own understanding.

She lifted her eyes to the sky. "I can't believe I've forgiven him." All that time she'd spent seeking God and opening her heart to Him, He'd been healing her. And it was the only thing that mattered. God's way flipped everything on its head.

"I've forgiven him." She smiled as she looked out the window at the building surrounded by a construction fence.

"I guess you'll make a way for me to tell him?" she prayed.

The outside of the building was quiet, and it was impossible to see inside.

"Is it too much to ask that, if Samson's in there and he's alive, you can get him out? Is that even possible?"

But the words sounded absurd, and she wished she hadn't said them. She'd forgiven Demir, but she had to let Samson go.

"Never mind. Just let me face Demir. And give me the strength I need when you do."

She squeezed her eyes shut to stop the flow of tears until a knock on the window made her jump. She looked at the passenger-side window and saw Trevors glowering.

She buzzed down the window. "Hi."

"I thought I told you to stay away."

Delilah wiped at her face. "I know."

"You're upset. Is that why you came? To make things worse?"

"How'd you know I'd be here?"

"I didn't. I was here doing my own surveillance."

"So you're watching the building too?"

"‘Too?' No. You need to go."

"I can't."

"What do you think it will accomplish?"

"I want to tell Demir I forgive him."

"You're not serious."

"I am."

"Go home."

"Have you seen any movement from inside?"

"That doesn't matter because it's none of your business."

"I'm telling you the truth. I want to tell him I forgive him."

"You're out of your mind."

"Maybe. Probably. It doesn't change anything."

"Delilah, go home."

"I can't." She started crying again and covered her face. "I'm sorry."

Trevors mumbled under his breath. "Look, Delilah. I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with this, but this is not the way to deal with it. In fact, I know someone. A psychologist I think?—"

A string of explosions shook the ground, and a shockwave blew in the car's windows. Delilah screamed and covered her head. Her ears pounded as she sat back up. Trevors wasn't at the window anymore. "Agent Trevors?" She tried to rise in her seat to see out the window, but her seatbelt caught. "Agent Trevors?" she yelled as she struggled with the release. "Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay."

He rose up beside the car with his hand on his head. Blood covered the side of his face.

"You okay?" he said, out of breath.

She shouldered the door to get it open, then came around to him. "You're bleeding."

"So are you."

She touched her face and felt the wetness. Her legs gave in, and she fell against the car, taking several deep breaths as her vision wavered.

"Are you okay?" The muffled words swirled in her head as a weight tugged at her arm. She looked back at Trevors. "You gonna pass out?" he said.

She shook her head slowly. "I think I'm okay."

"Good. I've got to call this in, but my phone's in my car. You going to be okay if I leave you here for a second?"

"Yeah, go."

She looked back at the smoke and debris that was still settling to the ground and fought to make sense of it, but it was beyond her reach.

The sound of sirens filled the air as Trevors returned to her. "Do you think you can walk?"

He held his hand out to her, and she took it, allowing him to pull her to standing.

"I think so."

He put his arm around her and helped her in the direction of his car. "It's about to get very busy around here. I want to get you somewhere safe and out of the way. When the paramedics arrive, you're going to let them take you to the hospital. Do you understand?"

"You think I want to stay here?"

"I don't really know what you want. All I know is that you do whatever you feel like, no matter what I say." He smiled.

"Do you know if Demir was inside?"

"I saw him go in today. I haven't seen him come out. Are you going to be okay with that? It means you won't be able to forgive him."

"I already had. I just wanted him to know."

"That's very generous of you. A guy like that doesn't deserve it."

"Neither do I," she mumbled.

"What's that?"

"Nothing. Never mind. I'll go to the hospital."

"Thank you." He pulled open his car door and set her in the seat. "I need you to stay here."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"You're not going to faint?"

"You already asked me that."

"Things change."

"I'm good."

"Okay."

Several firetrucks and police cars arrived soon, followed by an ambulance. Trevors sent them straight to her.

A woman with her blonde hair in a French braid crouched in front of her. "Delilah Rossi?"

"Yeah. That's me."

"My name's Erin. Do you know where you are?"

"Yeah, that pile over there used to be the Turkish embassy."

"Can you tell me what day it is?"

"I'm okay."

"Good, then tell me what day it is."

"It's Wednesday."

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"A building exploded."

"Where were you when that happened?"

"I was in the car back there. It blew out the windows. Besides the cuts, I don't know what other damage was done."

"Are you having any trouble breathing?"

"No."

"Do you feel dizzy or lightheaded?"

"Do we really have to do this?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Yes, I'm a little lightheaded."

"Can you tell me if you feel any pain?"

"I don't know. My head, I guess."

"You're not sure?"

"It stings a bit. It will probably hurt more once the shock passes."

"Can you walk?"

"Yeah."

"You sure?"

In response, Delilah stood. "Can we leave? I don't want to be here anymore."

"Let's get you to the ambulance."

She saw Trevors. "Wait. Agent Trevors!" she called out to get his attention.

He hurried over. "You said you'd go to the hospital."

"I know. I am. Will you tell me what you find out?"

"As much as I can."

"You promise?"

"Yes. I'll get in touch soon."

Erin helped her into the ambulance, and she stared at nothing while they checked her vitals. In one way, she'd gotten what she wanted. This was complete closure. Demir couldn't hurt anyone else, but that wasn't all. Some small part of her had held onto the hope that Samson was alive. That hope was now gone. It was closure, but it hurt a lot more than she'd expected.

When the ambulance pulled away from the scene, she closed her eyes and tried to pray, but the buzzing in her head was too loud, so she gave up and let her mind go numb. If God had brought her this far, she had to trust that He'd keep getting her through.