Chapter 32
“They’re here,” Leo said into the coms. “Team Hawk, SITREP.”
“We’re at the ridge. The dogs have alerted twice. We’re stopped.” Saint replied.
“Shit,” Leo muttered. “Why are their dogs alerting then?”
“Maybe to throw them off,” Saint replied. “None of our new friends came with the unit. They won’t let us lead. We’re in the back. There’s no sign of anyone.”
“Hollywood and Cole, how are the packages?” Leo asked.
“Cool as a cucumber, boss,” Hollywood replied.
“They’re setting up for the ambush. Lag behind them a bit. You don’t want to be on top of them when it goes down,” Leo ordered. “Shadow move into position.”
“We’re moving ETA ten minutes,” Saint reported.
Leo moved into position where he could see his team when they arrived and provide cover for them.
“Stopped again,” Saint informed them.
“Got movement over here. Sergeant Ford poured something on the ground,” Shadow said. “He’s leaving in another vehicle. My guess, he’s hightailing his ass back to the training facility for an alibi when they get the call.”
“Asshole,” Taco growled.
“ETA five minutes,” Saint said tensely.
Leo took a breath and readied himself. He trained this team himself and knew them capable of taking down these assholes. Then why did he feel his gut churning?
* * *
Back at the base, Sparky stood up as Ice let out a low growl.
“Ah, they left the blind lady here to guard their stuff,” Hayworth said mockingly. “Do you know you’re pretty?”
“Get out,” she demanded. “You’re not supposed to come in here.”
“What will you do about it?” he asked.
“I’ll kill you,” she said calmly. “Didn’t you come in here to do the same with me?”
Ice shielded her, and she signaled for him to lie down.
“See? We can play nice,” he said, moving to her left.
Sparky kept her head straight, listening to his exact location.
“Who’s we?” she asked.
“Jones, Billings, Sullivan,” he called. “She’s in here. They left her alone.”
“Don’t you want us to sweep the rooms?” Jones asked.
“Nah, we can have our fun. Sargeant Ford will let us know when they take the team down. Fuckin Cole Martin, I knew he’d screw this up,” Billings said. “He always wants to play the good guy.”
“Oh, did he hurt your feelings?” Sparky asked, distracting them. “Maybe he watched his brothers’ six like you’re supposed to do.”
“This pays better. Soon you’ll be dead, and we’ll pin it on Miller. He gave the wrong information to his team, and they got slaughtered.”
Sparky froze. “My team will be back any minute.”
Hayworth laughed. “I’m afraid not, honey. They’re about to perish right after the ridge. You see, the unit leaving today is mine. They get paid to stand aside while the rebels take what they need. Your team screwed it up.”
“You’re sick,” Sparky shouted. “You killed innocent people and K-9s.”
“Don’t forget you,” he said as his hand whipped out, grabbing her by the throat. Ice jumped up, barking as Sparky twisted, slammed her elbow down, and rushed him, as Leo taught her.
Not expecting her to fight back, Hayworth lost his footing and fell to the ground. Another man grabbed her arm, and Sparky turned, smashing his nose and holding her hands out, listening for their next move. She heard the click of the gun and froze.
“I suggest you move away from her,” Sergeant Taylor growled. “Jones might lose his head if you don’t.”
The men turned to see her holding a gun on their friend.
“We threw you in the trash,” Jones whispered. “You said she died,” he said, turning to Hayward.
“Guess what, Jones, he’s fucking stupid,” Sergeant Taylor said. “It’s not like I’m the first girl to play dead to keep him from pawing me. Now, nice and easy, put your weapons on the floor.”
Jones slid his gun from his holster and slowly knelt to put it on the floor. Hayworth grabbed his weapon and fired, making Sergeant Taylor dive for cover in the small space.
Sparky fired her weapon and heard someone hit the floor. Her friend scuffled with one of the men on the floor as another rushed Sparky. Taking her weapon, she swung, hitting him in the head.
“Damn it. She shot me. I’m bleeding everywhere,” Billings said, desperately. “Get her.”
“Come near me again, and I’ll shoot,” she threatened. Someone threw something across the room. They didn’t count on the team to teach her to listen for the footsteps. One of the men took a step toward her, and she turned her head toward the thrown item and shot the weapon straight ahead.
Another gun fired as Sergeant Taylor yelled, “Get down.”
Dropping to the floor, Sparky’s heart raced as bullets flew. A thudding of racing footsteps came from the entrance as men entered with guns, shouting, “Get down on the ground with your hands up.”
“Ice, Ice,” Sparky called. Her hand reached for her dog, but she felt only air.
“I’m getting up. I’m Sergeant Taylor. She’s blind, and these men attacked us. She has a service dog who needs medical care. Call for a Medvac team,” she ordered.
“We can’t do that for civilians,” the guard said.
“He’s to your right, Sparky,” she directed her. “You’d better order one. Four men from the US Army shot her dog while she and I fought for our lives. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. They knew she stayed in here and planned to attack. Move it.”
Tears streamed down Sparky’s face as she felt Ice’s soft fur. “How bad is he hit?” she asked. “Someone help him, please. I have to call my team. My com flew out of my ear. I need one,” she said desperately.
Sergeant Taylor stood and searched the floor. Locating the earpiece, she helped Sparky place it in her ear.
“Leo, it’s a trap. They know you’re coming. It’s Hayworth’s team. The entire unit’s in on it.”
* * *
Leo heard the desperation in Sparky’s voice. “Copy that,” he said, jumping up from his position and heading for his team. “What’s your position, Sparky?”
“On the floor, sir. I think I’m getting arrested. They shot Ice,” she sobbed.
“Call Rebecca Rhodes. Don’t say a damn thing until we get back. She’ll know who to call,” he said as he ran down the hill.
Seeing Shadow do the same, Leo watched Hollywood step out of the vehicle as one of the other handlers said something to him.
Apollo sniffed the ground while the unit moved to the opposite side of his team.
“Damn it. They jammed their coms,” he told Shadow. “Hollywood, move your ass,” he shouted.
Hollywood heard him and signaled Apollo to attack as he drew his gun.
Shots volleyed from the vehicle as he watched Taco and Saint dive for the cover of the rocks.
Cole sent his dog toward the unit, providing enough distraction to pull Patch from the vehicle.
Patch lay down fire as he jerked Knight from the truck and threw him toward the rocks.
Shadow fired from behind the men. Leo fired his weapon at the man headed toward Knight, making him fall to the ground.
Leo raised his weapon and fired again at the man coming behind Saint.
Something stung his neck, and he swiped at it as he fired again, taking another man down.
Trucks headed toward them, and he didn’t know if they were friend or foe.
Glancing at his hand, he saw the blood. He struggled to swallow as he fell to his knees.
Leo grasped his neck and tried to speak, but nothing came out.
He coughed, and blood splattered on the rocks as his life replayed like a movie in his head.
The day he married Kit Kat. When he discovered Melody was his daughter. The day he pleaded for Kit Kat to breathe after they pulled her from the fire. He relived the day Grace came into this world and how his friends helped him get there by dragging him up the mountain.
Leo frantically reached into his pants pocket and touched the strand of Catherine’s hair.
Knowing death lingered, he gripped it with all his might.
His friends, Chase and Kassie, would ensure his family never wanted for anything.
Coughing again, his body dropped the rest of the way to the ground.
Regret filled him as Kit Kat’s disappointed face filled his vision every time he missed a school function, never came to bed, or came home for dinner.
I’m sorry, Kit Kat. I never meant to let you down.
Gripping her hair, he listened to the chaos happening down below, unable to help his brothers. Leo closed his eyes and waited for the end to come. I love you, Kit Kat, he thought one last time before he took his last breath.