Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Hendrix
"Matthew, stop!"
I cursed myself for not acting sooner. I was too busy listening to his side of the conversation with his daughter that I thought I had time to talk him into waiting in the car. Instead Matthew was running across the lawn with his arm up to his ear where he still spoke to Olivia and his other arm pumping at his side.
"Fucking A . . ." Maverick was right behind me chasing Matthew down.
When I got close enough, I dropped my shoulder like a linebacker and charged for the man I hoped to one day be my brother-in-law.
We both hit the ground hard, and I heard a crunch underneath me, followed by a howl.
"Get off me! I think you broke something."
"Daddy!"
Matthew and Olivia screamed at the same time.
With Maverick's help, we flipped Matthew over but kept him pinned to the ground. "Keep your voice down," I hissed. "And assure Olivia you're fine. I know you want to get in there to her, but we can't run in half-cocked. That's how people get killed."
"Olivia, I'm here, I'm fine. We're coming in for you." That last part was directed at me and I nodded my head in agreement.
"In position," Aaron advised us through our earpieces.
We had put them in on the ride over and devised a plan while Matthew was talking to his daughter. I doubt he heard it, or even bothered to listen. If he had, he would've known we were going to do a quick three-sixty to cover all exits before storming in.
"Copy that. Getting into position now."
Maverick and I were taking the front door. Lex and Aaron had the back. Nolen was on overwatch making sure no one slipped out a window without us knowing.
I hauled Matthew off the ground and winced when I saw the angle of his arm. Definitely broken. Maisie would be on my ass about that, but it was better than him being dead.
"Stay behind us and do exactly as we say."
I took low, Maverick took high. On the count of three, we kicked in the front door as Lex did the same to the back.
"Living room, clear."
"Kitchen, clear."
"Dining room, clear."
"Bathroom, clear."
"Moving to the second floor."
"Car inbound at a high rate of speed. Four tangoes," Nolen warned us.
"Does anyone have eyes on the package?" I asked at the same time, going in search of Matthew. He was no longer behind me. Son of a bitch, the man moved quick when he wanted to.
"I've got the package and Matthew," Lex was quick to answer and I sighed in relief. My friend would protect them with his life.
"Two more vehicles approaching." That warning was followed by gunshots. "We need to move. Now," Nolen warned.
"Hendrix and I will hold them off in the front," Maverick advised. "Aaron, you're with Lex. Get the packages to safety."
Gunshots continued to ring through the air. Glass shattered. Wood splintered. Pieces of debris rained down around us. It was a game of duck and cover with the occasional head popping up to get a few shots off.
"Five down. You've got two headed around back," Nolen continued to provide updates from where he was taking tangoes out.
Despite the loss of men, gunfire continued to rain down around us. It was an unfair fight. Five against an unknown number, but the odds were getting better.
"Two more down. Three are pinned behind the vehicles. I can't get clear shots."
"What about the two that headed around back?" Maverick asked.
"One down," Aaron advised. "No sight of the second one. We're on our way to you, Nolen."
"Copy that, switching to provide you cover."
"We'll cover you from the front." Maverick looked at me and I nodded. We worked our way through the broken glass in the living room until we were on either side of the large picture window.
I waited for Maverick to give the go-ahead and then we let loose. With no real target other than the vehicles parked haphazardly in the front yard, I squeezed the trigger over and over again.
"Reloading!" I hollered to Maverick and spun so my back was against the wall as I popped the clip out and put a new one in.
Shots continued, but at a much slower pace. I wanted to kick myself for only having my two sidepieces on me. I had been in such a hurry to catch up to Matthew that I didn't get a chance to grab my rifle. If it weren't for Nolen, we would've been in a much worse position.
"Shit!" Aaron's expletive came through my earpiece. "Matthew's down."
"Cover me!" I told Maverick and headed for the front door. I could see Aaron dragging Matthew's body behind our SUV.
I waited for Maverick to open fire and rushed out the door. I zigged and zagged my way across the front lawn as several stray bullets flew through the air in my direction. I skidded around the vehicle and fell to where Aaron was holding a piece of cloth over Matthew's bleeding stomach.
"What the hell happened?"
"He saved my life, that's what happened. Pushed me out of the way when the missing tango snuck out of the bushes."
"Hendrix . . ." Matthew groaned.
"Shh, don't talk. You need to save your energy. We've got medics on the way."
With surprisingly more force than I thought him capable, Matthew grabbed my arm and pulled me down so my ear was next to his lips. "Take care of my girl. I want you and Marmar to take Olivia. She deserves a good life."
I moved just enough so I could look him in the eyes. "Don't talk like that. You're going to watch your little girl grow up. You're going to get the chance to make up for all the things you missed out on."
"I hope so." His words were weaker than they had been a moment ago.
Gunshots no longer filled the air and the silence was now replaced with sirens.
"Do you hear that? Help is on the way, stay with me," I demanded.
Matthew's eyes drifted close. "Come on, Matthew." I shook him gently. "You need to stay with me. The medics are almost here."
The sirens grew louder as I begged Matthew not to die. For Olivia's sake and Maisie's. I didn’t know how I would explain to Maisie that I failed.
Medics rushed over and pushed both Aaron and me out of the way so they could assess the situation. I watched in horror as they worked to revive him while loading him up on the ambulance.
I didn't hear the discussions going on around me. I didn't care what my team had to say. All I could think about was the little girl in the back of the vehicle who potentially had to watch both of her parents die in one day. Then I thought about Maisie, who just got her brother back and how crushed she would be if he didn't make it.
And the chances were slim. I've watched too many people die over the years not to recognize when the light went out for someone. Matthew had that look just seconds before the medic pushed me away.