Chapter 14
Hunter”s thoughts raced like the rounds he”d chambered a thousand times before—smooth, swift, and with lethal precision. The Los Pedro cartel had taken more than they could ever hope to reclaim, but Hunter would be damned if they took any more. His grip on the mission was ironclad, each thought a hammer forging his will into an unbreakable weapon. Amber was safe now and he”d dismantle the cartel piece by bloody piece.
“Lock and load,” he muttered under his breath. His gaze was like a laser, sharp and unrelenting as he surveyed the Los Pedro house through high-powered binoculars. “East wall”s covered in thorny underbrush,” he murmured into his comms, “It”s a natural barrier, but it”s also cover.”
“Aftershock, you”re on demolition. Those walls won”t know what hit ”em.” The explosive expert, a mountain of a man with hands skilled enough to turn destruction into an art form, simply grinned.
“Arrow, find your nest.”
Arrow, his posture as taut as the string of a bow, gave a curt nod before turning and walking away. Hunter knew he wouldn’t see him for a minute, but he’d make his presence known soon enough.
Hunter”s commands flowed seamlessly, every man absorbing their tasks with a calm professionalism that belied the adrenaline coursing through their veins. They were a machine, oiled by trust and fueled by a shared purpose—each cog essential, each wheel turning in harmony toward a singular outcome.
“Remember, stay sharp, stay quiet, and stay alive. We do this right and we put an end to this cartel.”
Their affirmation was not spoken, but it resonated in the clench of their jaws and the resolve in their eyes. Ghost carefully examined his sidearm, stripping it down and reassembling it with the familiarity of a craftsman honing his trade. The slide of the pistol snapped back into place with a satisfying click.
“Everything functioning?” Hunter asked, though he knew the answer before Ghost even responded.
“Like clockwork,” came the reply, the corner of Ghost”s mouth lifting in a grim smile.
“All right then, let”s show them what happens when they take one of ours,” Hunter”s words were a promise of retribution. With a final nod, the team moved out like a precisely calibrated machine. Each step was calculated, calculated to avoid a twig”s snap or a branch”s creak. They were all professionals, and they performed like it. Hunter led the way, his steps light despite his muscular frame. He was joined by Ghost, who trailed close behind, a dark shadow ready to strike if needed. The Los Pedro cartel had underestimated what lengths a few motivated individuals could go when they had all been special forces operators. Hunter held up a fist and everyone stopped moving.
Aftershock went to work. With a deft hand, he planted charges along the east wall, every movement calculated and methodical. Sweat beaded his brow but didn”t dampen his grim determination. As he finished, he made his way back to the team, his face an impassive mask.
With a deafening blast, Aftershock”s handiwork shredded the silence of night, and the east wall crumbled like a cardboard box. The shock on the cartel enforcers” faces was palpable even through the raging inferno that now engulfed their stronghold.
“Ready to welcome them to hell,” Ghost grunted. Hunter nodded once in acknowledgment.
Arrow”s signal cracked through their comms—the field was clear for their entry. In response, a flurry of shots rang out, each bullet finding its mark in the guards” heads manning the perimeter. Taking no chances, they moved inward. The cartel members never stood a chance against their coordinated onslaught.
Hunter”s heart pulsed in his ears as they moved through the compound, room by room—a ballet of chaos and destruction paralleled only by the pain burning in his chest at every life they took. They were pawns in a game they never volunteered to play—just like Amber had been.
Hunter signaled for Aftershock to clear the next room while he knelt down, checking his weapons. He was out of ammo. He slammed a fresh magazine into his sidearm, and in the same fluid motion, ejected the spent one into Ghost”s waiting hand. In return, his friend handed him a fresh clip for his rifle, all without breaking eye contact. They were telepathic in their understanding of each other”s needs; it was what had kept them alive through countless missions in hellholes like this one.
“We”re close,” Hunter mouthed to the team as he peered through the doorway. The others nodded grimly, their faces etched with determination and fury. “Remember, we want intel,” he reminded them before kicking down the door.
The world exploded into chaos once more as they entered the room, guns blazing. Crimson sprayed the walls as they mowed down anyone foolish enough to stand in their way. Their moves were practiced and efficient, honed by years of hard-fought experience. No more than sixty seconds later, the room fell silent save for the harsh breathing of the team and the moans of the dying cartel members—pity was a luxury they couldn”t afford tonight.
The house was a ghost town, save for the twitching bodies littering the floor and blood staining the white walls a grotesque crimson. The one they sought, however, remained elusive. The cartel leader, had either been tipped off or had an impeccable sixth sense for danger.
“Split up,” Hunter growled into his comms. “He can”t have gotten far.” The team dispersed like smoke caught in the wind, each member fading into the shadows of the dilapidated building. Eyes trained and ready for any sign of their prey, they combed through the structure with practiced efficiency. They cleared room after room, leaving no stone unturned and no cartel member left standing. The coppery tang of blood stained the air, but he couldn”t afford to let it affect him.
Hunter found himself in what appeared to be a study. The room reeked of expensive cigars and hubris in equal measure, but it was devoid of its owner. He was about to move on when his boot connected with something hard on the floorboards beneath a plush Persian rug. Beneath it lay a cell phone, its screen cracked but still lit up with a missed call from an unknown number.
“Found something,” he said softly into his mic, trying to mask his surprise. “I”ve got a lead on our target.” He slid the phone into an evidence bag and tucked it into his tactical vest as he made his way back toward the east wall where they”d breached the compound”s defenses.
Hunter couldn’t help but be disappointed. They’d killed every last bastard there and gathered enough evidence to hand over to the state police, but the leader was missing.
“Scar is down,” Ghost voice came through the radio. “Looks like green on blue.”
Green on blue.
“Are you sure?” Hunter asked.
“Positive. Witnessed it myself. It was a cartel hit.”
Fuck.
The cartel took out the leader of Hell Speed.
“Were done here. Head back to the vehicles.” Hunter couldn’t wait to see Amber with his own eyes. He needed to know she was safe. He needed to reassure himself that she was all right.
Amber.
Hunter”s heart rate sped up at the mere thought of her name. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves as they reached the SUV. His heart leaped into his throat when he spotted her in the lead vehicle’s backseat.
His steps quickened, boots pounding on the hard-packed earth as he sprinted toward the vehicle. The others fell into formation around him, securing their perimeter while he yanked open the door, wrapping his arms around her small form and lifting her clear off the ground. Her arms circled his neck, clinging to him like a life raft as she nuzzled into his chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. He didn”t care about their audience or the impending danger; all that mattered was that she was here, alive and in his arms once more.
“I thought I”d lost you,” he whispered hoarsely into her hair, one hand stroking her hair in an attempt to soothe both of them. “I thought they”d—” he broke off, unable to finish the sentence before she silenced him with a searing kiss that left him breathless. The world around them melted away as they clung to one another as if this were their first and last chance at redemption— and perhaps it was.
When they finally broke apart, Amber”s eyes were glassy but defiant. “I”m okay, Hunter. I promise. Let”s get out of here.” The drive back to Amber’s grandparent’s house was tense but uneventful. The men from Spartan Watchmen would crash here tonight. Between them all, they’d take shifts keeping the house secure, just in case.
Hunter couldn”t keep his eyes or his hands off Amber, as if she were a mirage that could vanish at any second. She didn”t seem to mind his possessive behavior, her hand resting on his thigh a silent balm to his raging emotions. Heat pooled in his pants, desire warring with relief and rage at her narrow escape.
“I’m sorry,” he said hoarsely, foreheads touching hers. “I’m so fucking sorry I couldn’t protect you.”
“None of that,” she chastised gently, cupping his cheek in her cool palm. “It isn’t your fault.”
He growled low in his throat, tugging her closer despite their already close proximity. “It is my fault! I promised you. I should’ve protected you, gone after you and Lauren. I could have shot the bastard and he wouldn’t have been able to get you off the ATV…”
“Don’t. Don’t do this. No what ifs or should have beens. It’s not your fault, Hunter.”
“I just found you and the thought of losing you…” Emotion caught in Hunter’s throat. He’d not felt this way about a woman ever before. He held her close until they pulled into the garage of her grandparent’s house and then escorted her up the stairs to the guest bedroom.
Once the door was securely closed behind them, he swept her into his arms and carried her upstairs to the guest room, never breaking eye contact with hers. A part of him feared that if he looked away too long, she”d vanish like a dream upon waking. He set her down before the door and reached around her to open it. His heart hammered in his chest as he turned back to her. He carried her into the bedroom.
As they entered the dimly lit bedroom, Hunter”s gaze softened as he took in Amber”s tired form. Slowly, he lowered her onto the edge of the bed, his touch gentle as he brushed a strand of hair from her face.
“Let me take care of you,” he murmured.
Amber nodded, her eyes locking with his, a silent plea for reassurance and comfort. Without a word, Hunter moved to the ensuite bathroom, filling the tub with warm water, and adding fragrant bubbles that filled the air with the scent of lavender and vanilla.
Returning to Amber”s side, he helped her out of her clothes with tender hands, his touch reverent as he caressed her skin, tracing the outline of her bruises and cuts with gentle fingertips. He wanted to erase the pain of her ordeal, felt responsible for each, and also wanted to go back to the cartel house and kill the fuckers who did this all over again. Slower this time. More painfully. They didn’t deserve the instant deaths they’d been granted.
Carefully, he guided her into bathroom and helped her into the tub, supporting her as she settled into the warm embrace of the water. Amber sighed in contentment, as Hunter knelt beside the tub, a soft cloth in his hand.
With infinite care, he began to wash away the dirt and grime of their ordeal, his movements slow and deliberate as he cleansed her skin with delicate strokes. Amber closed her eyes and smiled in contentment. A few moans of pleasure escaped her lips as Hunter massaged her shoulders and rubbed her back.
When he reached for the shampoo, she leaned back against the edge of the tub, allowing him to lather her hair. As he rinsed away the suds, his fingers massaging her scalp with expert skill, she leaned into his touch, a soft moan escaping her lips.
Hunter”s lips curved into a tender smile as he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her forehead, his touch feather-light against her skin. “You”re safe now, baby” he whispered, his voice a soft murmur in the quiet room. “I won”t let anything happen to you.”
Amber opened her eyes, meeting his gaze with a look of trust and gratitude that stole his breath away. In that moment Hunter knew that he would do anything to protect her, to keep her safe from harm.
As the water began to cool, he helped her out of the tub, wrapping her in a fluffy towel before carrying her back to the bedroom. Gently, he laid her down on the soft bed, tucking the covers around her as she drifted off to sleep, safe in his arms. And as he watched over her throughout the night, his heart filled with a love so fierce and passionate that he knew he would never let her go. Fuck a one-night stand. Amber was not just a woman who needed help getting bad men off her family land, or in need of rescue; she was his soulmate. Until a week ago, he thought there was no such thing as soulmates. Then Amber walked into the wrong tent.