Chapter Twenty Three
Charlie sat on the back deck of Steve and Diane’s house.
The last twenty-four hours were a blur. She had thought she was going to die.
Donnie’s team got them out. It had been chaotic, with explosions, bullets and dead bodies.
She had lost sight of Donnie when the first explosion hit.
Another group of men had appeared and got them to the bus.
Those men had stayed with the hostages, and they trudged through the terrain for what seemed like hours until they finally reached a military plane.
Charlie had kept her eyes on the open tailgate, expecting to see Donnie and his team behind them.
When the plane took off without them, her heart sank. He wasn’t coming.
When they finally landed in Coronado, they were taken to Westside to be checked over.
When she saw Sophie, Charlie had collapsed into tears.
Diane had arrived a few minutes later and the two women had not left her alone for a moment since.
Kelly and Mira had spoken to her by phone, but both were at the base, working.
She had been told the team were still on the mission.
Frustrated, she wanted to know exactly where they were, what they were doing, and if everyone was OK.
Kelly had calmly said she could not share that information, but at last check-in, everyone was alive.
Now she understood what it was like to love a man like Donnie. The not knowing sure wasn't easy.
“I made you a tea.” Diane handed her a mug.
“I’m supposed to be waiting on you,” Charlie said taking it from her.
Diane had been quick to insist Charlie stay with her, saying she could use the help at over seven months pregnant.
Charlie had agreed to stay for a day or so, but then she planned to go home.
Back to Albany. As much as she wanted to see Donnie get home safe, she had no idea when that would be, and she desperately wanted to see her parents and Maddie.
Donnie would call when he got home, she was sure of that.
“That was just a ploy to make you stay here.” Diane smiled, easing herself into the chair next to her.
“I’m grateful. This is hard. Not knowing if they’re OK, or when they will be home. I don't know how you do it.”
Diane squeezed her hand. “Think of it like no news is good news. If anyone was hurt, or something had happened, we would know. Sam or Kelly would tell us.”
Dex had been hurt. She’d heard his cries. She kept that to herself, unsure what she should share. Kelly must know, and if she hadn’t shared it with the ladies, then she wouldn’t either.
“How are you all so calm? I mean Sophie has gone to work, you’re taking Megan to school like any other day.” Meanwhile, she sat here torn up inside, worried out of her mind.
“Because this is like any other day for women of men like ours. It’s not that we’re not worried.
Trust me. In the beginning, years ago, when Steve first started deploying, I was like you are now.
Worried out of my mind. You learn not to dwell on it.
This is who they are. This is their job.
They are the very best team. I know Steve will not take unnecessary risks and will do everything he can to come home to his family.
I trust that, and it keeps me going. Together with Kelly, Mira, and Sophie, of course. ”
“I’m not even in a relationship with Donnie, and I’m worried.”
“With the amount of history you two have, relationship or not, you both have feelings for each other,” Diane said softly.
Charlie stared out at the ocean. She did have feelings.
She loved him. Seeing him there in Daram had been surreal, but she had never been so glad to see anyone in her life.
When he had promised he would see her real soon, there had been no fear in his voice, only a willingness for her to trust him before he was gone to face those men and do his job.
“I just thought they would be home by now. We’re safe.”
“I know it seems strange.”
Charlie looked at Diane. “Donnie told me they are some kind of special unit. Doing missions nobody knows about.”
If Diane was surprised, she didn’t say. “Exactly why their team went to Daram.”
The reality of the type of missions Donnie went on sank in.
They didn't have to go and save people in a country most people had never heard of.
But they did, without question. To stop innocent people from dying.
Men who did that were good men. Honorable.
Men who lived to protect and save others.
That was Donnie. To his core. She thought about the ambassador giving her life trying to help others.
“Ambassador Clarkson served in the army. I worked with her a couple of times. I looked up to her. Respected her. She did so much good. It’s so unfair.”
“She will be remembered for the good she did. She died doing what she believed in.” Diane stood. “I’m going to go and pick up Megan from school. Do you want to come?”
“No, I think I’ll stay here, if that’s alright? I’m going to see about booking a flight home.”
“Of course. I told you to make yourself at home. You know you’re welcome to stay.”
“I know. Thank you. But I need to see my folks. There’s something I need to tell them.”
***
HAKIM AZIZ PRAYED. Prayed to Allah to save him. His brother was dead.
This was supposed to have been their victory day. The New Dawning of Allah rising in Daram. Their first act was to have been beheading the American soldiers for their crimes against Daram and their people. Only it hadn't gone as planned.
Hakim had been about to lead his team to take down the prime minister when he got the frantic call from Omar.
He’d immediately gone to his aid only to find a sea of dead bodies, his brother’s included.
His throat slit. There had been no sign of the hostages, or the American team.
A Reborn soldier had lived only long enough to gasp out an explanation about an explosion and more Americans.
Another American team were on the ground in Daram. The hostages were free. Hakim had no doubt he was now being hunted.
The elder he had stayed with had told him about a tunnel to an old wooden hut, up high in the mountains.
He had been using the tunnels to get around, but he didn’t stay in them, for fear of getting trapped.
So far, he had evaded the team but had lost many of his soldiers.
Most had run, not wanting to die. Traitors to Allah.
Alone, inside the wooden hut, he knelt on the dirt ground and prayed for Allah to show him the way.
***
“I GOT IT.” RYAN PEERED through the scope of his rifle. He rattled off some coordinates and Donnie raised his binoculars. Yep, there it was, the small wooden hut the elder had told them about. In the dark, through night vision goggles, he could make out the outline.
“Any movement?” Dex asked through coms. Dex had taken a good beating and the roars they had heard had been a result of being struck with an electric cattle prod. Not fun, but no lasting damage. Dex was sore but insisted on continuing the mission. After he had slit Omar’s throat.
Another soldier had given up the safe house where Hakim had been staying. The elder, after being offered a considerable sum of money, had given Hakim up. That happened in places like this a lot. People switched sides in a second when the carrot dangled was big enough.
“No movement yet,” Ryan confirmed.
The Farm had limited eyes in this area since they could not deploy drones in a country they were not supposed to be in, and the mountains were not helping any satellite they could tap into.
“I say we move in,” Dex said.
“Let’s leave snipers on watch. The rest can surround on approach,” Liam said.
“Copy that,” everyone acknowledged through coms. Hakim might be one man, but they were not taking any chances. He likely still had soldiers with him, even if they couldn’t see them.
Donnie stayed with Ryan to have his back.
It was time to end this, so they could all go home.
Charlie was safe. Kelly had gotten more boots on the ground with one phone call.
Tracer. Donnie was guessing Kelly begged forgiveness, rather than asked permission on that one.
It was a good call. The man knew people.
While he hadn’t come personally, Tracer had men close by and they had escorted the hostages to safety, allowing Nyx to join Raven and complete their mission to end Reborn. The plane had taken off, but he wouldn’t be satisfied until he saw her with his own eyes. Held her. Kissed her. Claimed her.
He lay on his stomach next to Ryan, continually scanning the area while Onyx made their way toward the hut. They were less than a thousand meters away. If Ryan had to take a shot, it would be routine for a sniper. Even at night.
“Er, guys, you’re going to get some company.” Kelly's voice sounded in their ears. “We just picked up some chatter about Americans being on the ground. Daram military have activated.”
“The elder, double dipping?” Dex asked.
“Could be. If he did, then they’re going to know exactly where you are and will be there within twenty. Satellite is not clear; I can't track them.”
“Copy that base. ROE?”
Sam’s voice answered. “None. We’re not meant to be there so just don't get caught.”
“Copy. We’re moving.”
While Onyx picked up speed, Donnie scanned the area for any signs of Daram military. Suddenly, they were no longer just the hunters but also the prey.
Minutes passed before Onyx breached the hut.
Donnie heard movement behind him. When he and Ryan spun, they immediately found two soldiers advancing on them and had to duck shots.
They returned fire, taking them down. Two more came up behind them.
He and Ryan charged them, taking them by surprise, and knocked them to the ground. A hand-to-hand fight ensued.
Getting his man underneath him, Donnie knocked him out cold. He hated to kill any form of military. They were all obeying orders. But if it was a them or us situation, he didn’t hesitate.
“Troops in contact,” Donnie informed the others. Seconds later, the same notice came from Lucas, Nyx’s sniper about fifteen hundred feet to their east.
While Donnie secured the Daram soldier, he glanced up to see Ryan had handled his, but blood poured from his hand.
“Bastard got me with a knife.” Ryan cursed and dropped down, lining up his rifle to get back to the watch point.
“All call signs, hut is empty. He was here. He can’t be far,” Dex said.
Donnie raised his binoculars in the direction of the hut. Scanning for movement. Precious seconds passed. Movement got his attention. A solo person scurrying up the mountain.
“I got him.” Donnie gave the coordinates, so Ryan and Lucas could both line up the shot.
Ryan fired, then cursed as he missed. “Fuck, I can't take the shot, my hand won't grip. Lucas?”
“Negative, I don’t have a clear shot.”
“We are not close enough. Snipers, you need to handle this,” Dex ordered.
“We need to take him now, or we’ll lose him over the ridge,” Donnie said, following Hakim through the binoculars.
Ryan rolled away from the rifle. “Donnie, you need to take it.”
He froze.
“Donnie, you need to take the shot. Now!”
Donnie nodded, though his insides clenched.
What if he couldn’t? He hadn’t even handled a rifle since his injury.
He reached out and took the weapon. It settled into his hands with the familiarity of a long-lost friend.
After checking the chamber was loaded, he looked down the scope and scanned for his prey.
“Donnie?” Dex’s voice came through coms. Donnie blocked him out. Blocked everything out. His hand shook. He breathed slow breaths and calmed. Calm and focused. He locked on to his target. He needed a kill shot. This ended now.
It wasn’t clear. Night vision wasn’t helping. Fuck. He closed his eyes, then reopened them. Breathe, Donnie, breathe. You got this. He aimed, again locking onto the outline of Hakim scrambling up the mountain. His finger rested in position on the trigger. Moving targets were never easy.
“Take the shot, Donnie,” Ryan snapped, watching the scene through binoculars. “We’re going to lose him in seconds.”
Donnie squeezed the trigger.