Chapter 24
CHAPTER 24
T he incline was punishing. Hawk’s thighs burned with each step as they trudged upward, their pace relentless despite the altitude sapping their strength. The path narrowed into a single-track trail, hemmed in by dense foliage on one side and a sheer drop on the other. His lungs expanded, dragging in thin, cool air. He scanned the surroundings, his eyes darting to every shadow, every movement in the undergrowth.
Phoenix, leading their formation, suddenly raised a clenched fist. Hawk immediately halted, his rifle snapping up to shoulder height. Behind him, Viper and Edmond froze. No one spoke. The air crackled with tension, every sense on high alert.
Voices.
Hawk strained to pick up the direction. A low murmur drifted through the trees ahead—deep, male tones punctuated by bursts of laughter. He dropped into a crouch, signaling the others to do the same, and motioned for Phoenix to confirm their source.
Phoenix disappeared in the direction of the plateau. Through the clump of trees, they could see a fertile patch of grass dotted with grazing cattle and nestled in a tranquil valley below, a village.
That mut be where Lexi was.
Phoenix returned, moving soundlessly through the bushes flanking the trail. When he reached them, he hissed, “Four tangos. Spread out but within range. Looks like they’re gearing up to move.”
“Attacking the village?” Hawk asked.
He nodded. “They’ve all got AKs and look like they mean business.”
“How’d you want to handle this?” Viper asked.
Phoenix didn’t hesitate. “I’ll flank right and circle around. Get behind them. Viper, you and Hawk take the left. Edmond, stay put for now and cover us. Eyes on me.”
Edmond gave a curt nod, clutching his weapon with white-knuckled fingers.
Hawk nodded. It was time to take out these bastards who’d been hunting his woman. He hadn’t forgotten. Stealth and speed, he still had both. “Let’s make it quick. We need to get to the village before dark.”
Viper gripped the strap of his rifle. “Quick and quiet. Got it.”
“Move out,” Phoenix hissed.
They watched as Phoenix melted into the undergrowth, his movements fluid and deliberate. Hawk and Viper waited a beat before veering left, each step carefully placed to avoid crunching twigs or dislodging loose stones. Edmond stayed behind, scanning their perimeter for any signs of reinforcements.
Hawk’s pulse steadied, his breathing slow and controlled. The weight of his rifle felt natural in his hands, a familiar extension of his body honed through years of SEAL training. His mind shifted into operational mode—calculating angles, assessing risks, running through contingencies. The rebels hadn’t posted a lookout, their posture casual and their attention focused inward. A mistake they wouldn’t live long enough to regret.
As they crept closer, his instincts took over. Twenty yards out, he motioned for Viper to hold position. They crouched behind a cluster of tall shrubs, the foliage providing just enough cover to obscure their approach.
He checked his watch. Phoenix would be in position any second now. Hawk tightened his grip on the M4 carbine slung across his chest, the familiar weight reassuring. SEAL protocol kicked in, his mind already assigning arcs of fire. He and Viper would take the left side of the group while Phoenix cleared the right. Standard two-two ambush formation. Clean and efficient.
“Ready?” Viper murmured, his voice a hushed whisper.
He nodded.
The seconds ticked by, each one stretching like an eternity. Then, faintly, Hawk heard the crunch of a boot on dry leaves. Phoenix.
Viper raised his hand in a silent count. Three. Two. One.
They struck in perfect unison.
Hawk rose smoothly from his cover, his rifle locking onto the nearest rebel. He squeezed the trigger twice, rapid and controlled. The 5.56mm rounds struck center mass, the force of the impact slamming the rebel backward. His AK-47 slipped from his hands as he crumpled to the ground.
Beside him, Viper’s shots cut through the air, two quick bursts aimed at the rebel nearest the tree. The man didn’t even have time to raise his weapon before he collapsed, his body folding like a rag doll.
Across the clearing, Phoenix emerged from the shadows. His movements were precise, methodical, like a predator closing in on its prey. He fired two double-taps in quick succession, the shots finding their marks with lethal accuracy. Both rebels dropped where they stood, their bodies hitting the ground in almost perfect synchronization.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Hawk scanned the clearing, his rifle sweeping over the fallen bodies. No movement. No sound other than the distant rustle of leaves and the faint bleating of cattle in the background.
“Clear,” he called, adrenaline surging through his veins.
Phoenix came over. “Too easy,” he muttered, nudging one of the bodies with the toe of his boot.
“Complacency will kill you out here,” Viper replied, his tone grim. He crouched beside one of the rebels, inspecting the weapon. “AK-47. Fully loaded. Looks like they were ready for trouble.”
“Not ready enough,” Hawk said, his gaze sharp. He turned to Edmond, who was just stepping into the clearing, his expression stoic but his eyes wide with unease. “Anything?”
Edmond shook his head. “No reinforcements. It was just them.”
Hawk let out a slow breath, his grip on his rifle loosening. “Good. Check the bodies. See if they’ve got anything useful—maps, intel, supplies. If not, lets head into the village.”
Phoenix and Viper moved quickly, their hands methodical as they searched the rebels’ pockets and backpacks. Hawk kept watch, his eyes scanning the tree line for any sign of movement, but there was none.
“Got something,” Viper called out, holding up a crumpled piece of paper. He unfolded it, frowning as he studied the contents. “It’s a hand drawn map. Looks like the village up ahead.”
Hawk exhaled. “Okay, then. Let’s move out.”