Chapter 11 #2
Zain focused on where Saylor had stopped, motioning for her to fall back, when that asshole with the comm unit grunted, then started firing.
No warning, just the rifle lifting to his shoulder, then chaos.
Bullets cut through the foliage, dropping branches and needles as the bastard sprayed the surrounding area.
Zain popped up — clipped the guy in the shoulder with one shot — before he hoofed it toward Saylor. Zigzagging through the tress. Leaping over a downed log, then sliding on the mud — scrambling to his feet beside her ten seconds later. Just in time to cover her as the other men started shooting.
Bullets ricocheted off rocks and trees, whizzing past his shoulder. Kicking up mud and moss. Drowning out the storm as it raged overhead. Footsteps pounded the ground, twigs and branches snapping as the men raced toward them.
Zain rolled off Saylor and fired half a dozen rounds into the mix. “Get ready to run. And don’t fucking stop unless I yell.”
Saylor waited until he tapped her shoulder, then took off, firing a few shots back at the men — catching one of them in the thigh before disappearing into the brush. Zain followed suit, going through the rest of his mag before darting behind a tree as the path lit up with more automatic fire.
He changed mags, waited for an opening, then booked it, diving for cover when another asshole appeared off to his right. Bullets preceding every step as the guy closed the distance. Eating up the mud and the ferns. Killing any chance at sourcing more cover until his gun clicked.
Zain didn’t hesitate. Just popped up and caught the guy twice in the chest. He staggered back, bounced off a tree, then recovered, his damn armor keeping him in the game. An oversight Zain wouldn’t make again. Assuming he made it out in one piece.
Avoiding the next round was half-luck, half-fate, Zain’s hits affecting the guy’s aim just enough he missed wide as Zain scrambled behind a tree. Voices sounded around him, all those footsteps closing in.
He readied his gun, his next mag already in his pocket, when Saylor burst out of the underbrush, gun at the ready, dropping two front runners with hits to their vests. Not lethal, but it opened up his left side — gave them an out.
She motioned to the path as she changed her mag, then laid down another fifteen shots, keeping the forces at bay while Zain followed her down the trail. She stayed slightly ahead, jumping over bramble and ducking under branches. Looking like a freaking gazelle as she raced amidst the misty trees.
They’d reached the far north section when his teammates materialized out of the dark.
Moving in perfect sync. Rifles notched in their shoulders.
Looking like wraiths as they swept through the underbrush, fog swirling around their legs, smoke curling off the muzzles as they fired a few controlled bursts at whoever was still standing.
They stopped moving once Zain and Saylor darted past, covering their six as they waited, the lingering echo of gunfire still playing in the trees.
Chase moved in beside them, giving them both a once-over. “Anyone hit?”
Saylor shook her head, turning to Zain. “Zain took all the chances.”
Zain waved it off, still focused on the tree line. “I’m good. I could use a damn rifle, though.”
“Thankfully, Foster grabbed extra before meeting up with Chase.” Kash slipped a second rifle off his shoulder. “I thought you’d be feeling a bit naked. Any idea what tipped them off? Because I know it wasn’t you.”
Zain shook his head. “One of them got a call. The next thing I know, they’re unloading everything they’ve got. As if they somehow saw…”
He cursed, that hum echoing through the trees.
He raised the rifle, then searched the trees, looking for some kind of heat signature when one stopped next to a large branch, hovering behind a thick covering of pine needles.
It rotated, then zipped off, darting through a collection of stabbing branches.
He adjusted the scope, followed the path, aiming in front before releasing his breath — firing.
The shot hit the drone dead center, spinning it counter-clockwise a few times before it crashed into the ground, a dull thud scattering a few birds from a nearby tree. Shouts rose in the distance, the growl of an engine carrying through to him.
Zain gauged the direction, then took off. “Kash!”
He didn’t wait to see if his buddy followed, just focused on catching whatever truck the bastards had piled into.
That engine noise growing louder before slowly starting to fade.
Zain lowered his head, pumping his arms to get a bit more speed as he hit an open section of trail and really picked it up.
Kash caught him as they neared the fence line, Nyx pulling on the leash wrapped around Kash’s waist giving his buddy a bit of an added boost. They reached a hole in the wire just as taillights bounced down a rutted two track, the headlights cutting a swath through the darkness.
Kash stopped just long enough to pull a camera out of his pocket and snap it onto Nyx’s harness. “Go.”
The dog took off, nothing but a streak of brown amidst the black.
Eating up the distance as if the truck wasn’t even moving.
Kash waited until she’d damn near latched onto the bumper before calling her back.
Nyx slid to a halt, staring at the truck as if she intended to ignore Kash’s command before turning and hauling ass back to them.
She dropped into a sit at Kash’s feet, tongue lolling out. Looking more than a bit victorious.
Kash gave her a scratch. “Good, girl. But don’t think I didn’t see that hesitation.”
Nyx whined and turned her head.
Zain chuckled. “I dare say you hurt her feelings. ”
“Talk about a diva.” Kash retrieved the camera. “With any luck, she might have captured the license plate. Or at least a make and model. Maybe a guess at the color.”
“Beats nothing.” He clapped Kash on the shoulder. “Thanks. I owe you guys. I should have insisted on some damn rifles from the start.”
Kash blew out a rough breath as he turned and started back. “Too many ways that could have turned ugly. Besides, it seems everyone came out of it unscathed.”
“For now. Doesn’t bode well for next time, though.”
Kash merely nodded as they jogged back, calling out before they got within range.
Foster met them at the tree line, ushering them over, his damn head on a swivel. “We swept the west side. Either they took any dead with them, or you only winged them.”
Zain sighed. “Hard to question corpses.”
“Either way, there’s nothing but some blood. Maybe some casings, but we’ll have to wait until morning to search for those. Chase took a few swabs, but even if the samples haven’t been degraded by the rain and the mud, I get the feeling those assholes aren’t in any database Greer has access to.”
“None you’d want showing up at your doorstep.” Jordan had that drone at her feet as she picked through some of the wreckage. “Zain? We’ve got a serious problem.”
Ice sluiced through his veins as he grabbed Saylor’s hand, joined Jordan beneath a massive pine. “That sounds ominous, coming from you.”
Jordan sighed, turning a few pieces over before picking up a large chunk of the frame.
“I’ll admit. I’m not an expert on drones.
My job required a more personal touch. But I know Black Ops hardware when I see it.
And this thing…” She whistled. “It’s about as advanced as it gets.
We’re talking IR, thermal, limited x-ray with sound and recording capabilities.
What looks like some kind of deployment circuitry.
If this isn’t CIA or DoJ issued, I’ll French kiss Nyx. ”
Chase nudged her. “Be careful what you say. I think that’s Kash’s secret fantasy.”
Kash gave his buddy a shove. “You’re such an ass.”
“I love it when you talk dirty to me.”
Kash rolled his eyes, picking up another piece. “I think this might be a gun.”
“The chip in here is insane.” Jordan placed it in her palm. “And might be the break we’re looking for.”
Foster moved in beside her. “You think Bodie can trace it?”
“If not, I’m betting Greer can call in some favors with the Bureau.
If that fails, I can call Becca Tate. She basically told me to contact her if I ever found myself in a…
sensitive situation.” Jordan held up her hand when Foster visibly paled.
“I know. Cannon warned us to use her superpowers wisely or we’d have Homeland Security busting down the door.
But if Bodie can’t uncover anything, I’m making the call. ”
Foster took the chip, turning it over a few times before sighing.
“Great, now I’ll have the thought of agents breaking through the door stuck in my head.
” He glanced at the sky when the rain got impossibly harder.
“I think we’re clear. Let’s get inside. Regroup.
See if we can get anything off that camera Kash strapped onto Nyx.
Then, we’ll call in some favors because this isn’t pirates hoping to mete out some payback.
This was organized. Highly specialized, and too damn reminiscent of all those missions we ran. ”
Zain nodded, holding Saylor’s gaze. “I think it’s time we uncovered exactly what the Vigilant was researching. Because there’s no way we find a body you think’s connected to the crew, then some rogue squad comes after you. Twice.”
Saylor paled at the mention of the ship, her breathing kicking up before he squeezed her hand — smiled. “If I knew…”
“We’ll figure it out. But first, we get warm. Dry off. Have Kash brew some of his ridiculously insane coffee. Then, we dig in, because these assholes aren’t going to stop until we either take them down, or die trying.”