Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Buck stared at Tierney, wondering if she’d insist they make a stand, consequences be damned, when she mumbled something under her breath — walked over to the edge of the cave.
He followed, head on a swivel, his Sig at the ready.
He’d already used up half his ammo, and he knew, if they didn’t disappear soon, they’d never make it out alive.
Cracks sounded farther up the cliff, a couple ropes dropping onto the shelf at the far end.
Tierney glanced over, cursed, then stepped out, testing the first few feet before fully committing.
She didn’t rush, picking each footfall carefully, her right hand tracing her progress along the salt-slick basalt.
Ahead, a massive wave crashed against the path with a deafening slap, spraying fifty feet into the air before raining down, soaking the rocks as the breaker rolled out, gathering more strength for the next surge.
Tierney forged ahead, catching herself whenever her boots slipped on the mix of water and algae.
Buck stayed close, grabbing her pack whenever she tanked toward the ocean, determined to see she made it to the other side in one piece.
The spray soaked through to their skin, the heavy breeze chilling them to their bones as they picked up a bit of speed, still listening for more trouble.
Water dripped off her hair, her clothes sticking to her skin, outlining every curve as she maneuvered the treacherous route, making it look easy.
Buck watched her move, drawn to the elegant way she flowed over the rocks and gaps, how even exhausted and cold, she still kept them on track — identified potential pitfalls before they’d fallen into them.
Just more evidence of how deeply he trusted her with his life. That he’d follow her anywhere without hesitation.
Barnacles scraped his palm, the constant ocean breeze whipping salty spray into his eyes as the path dipped lower, following the massive cliff off to the right.
Ahead, the next inbound wave flooded twenty feet of the jagged trail, submerging it beneath a couple feet of white-tipped water before exposing it again as it retreated, water dripping off the rocks.
Tierney stopped, waited through another sequence, then darted forward, tripping her way along the slick section, constantly eyeing the next wave. Buck followed close behind, counting down to when the breaker would hit, likely dragging them into the surf.
They reached the other side, pressed against the cliff just as the water broke over the trail, taking the chunk of rocky path they’d been standing on with it as it churned against the basalt, finally rolling back out.
A couple lights flashed behind them, the beams bouncing off the shimmering rock before vanishing.
Tierney sighed. “That can’t be good.”
Buck placed his hand on the small of her back. “Let’s just keep moving. We’ll deal with them if they find another route.”
She lingered for a moment as she leaned into his touch, then turned, staying close to the rock wall as she continued along the trail. They reached the next submerged section, waited, but only half of the surge retreated, leaving the path a foot beneath the surface.
The lights behind them returned, the beams barely reaching them. Just enough that the men popped off a few rounds, crushed any thoughts of doubling back.
Tierney looked over at him, counted it down, then took off, half-jogging in an effort to beat the next breaker. Buck kept pace, slipping and tripping, slicing lines along his palms as he fought to keep from falling into the surf.
The ocean roared, the wave closing in on them, all that white water frothing and spitting as it tumbled across the rocks and sand, crushing everything in its path.
Tierney broke into a sprint, covering the last ten feet at some insane speed, looking as if she was dancing over the water as it splashed up her legs, sending out concentric ripples, the utter blackness of it more than unnerving.
Buck raced after her, that wave already engulfing the cliff several feet behind him, the outer edge bearing down on him.
He gave one last push, the breaker sweeping out his legs a foot before he cleared the edge.
He gasped, the water lifting him off his feet, slamming him into the basalt wall hard enough to knock the air from his lungs, spinning white dots across his vision.
He clawed at the stone, scrambling for any kind of a handhold, only to be sucked down, the current dragging him out toward the reef.
He made one last reach, hoping to snag a root, when Tierney’s hand cinched around his wrist, holding him still as the water churned around him.
He gulped down a few mouthfuls, nothing but white froth circling him before the wave retreated, left him gasping and coughing on the side of the cliff, legs dangling over the side.
His lungs burned, his muscles barely functioning, when a series of bullets whizzed past, a couple men on the far shelf trying to pick him off the ledge.
Return fire boomed above him, a handful of spent casings hissing next to him when they landed in the pooling water. His head swam, his breath still burning through his lungs, as he pulled himself onto the slightly larger path, another wave already inbound.
Tierney yanked him to his feet, bracing his weight as she laid down more cover fire. “We need to move. Now, Buck.”
He willed his legs forward, got one boot pounding the stone as he inched ahead, the cold air finally starting to clear his head.
Tierney maintained her grip, half-leading, half-dragging his ass along the path, stopping occasionally to check their six, fire off a round.
The noise rattled his skull, the hit from the wave still messing with his head, as they rounded a bend, finally lost sight of the cave.
Tierney paused, patted him down before holding three fingers up in front of his face. “How many?”
“I’m fine.”
She hitched out a hip, still holding up her hand.
He coughed on more water, grabbing her hand and pressing it against his chest. “Three, not that it matters. I’m not tapping out until we’re clear.”
She huffed. “It was two, and I only wanted to know what I was dealing with. Just do us both a favor and aim at the middle object.”
“Roger, that.”
He scanned the area. Their pathway ended another hundred meters up, quickly dissolving into a rocky shoreline, then onto another dense forest. Above, the cliff slowly sloped toward them, narrowing into a fully exposed ledge before disappearing into the same thicket of pines and spruce, just higher up the hillside.
Tierney swept her gaze over him one more time, then started along the path, still avoiding the cresting waves as they pooled water behind them, the shoreline quickly vanishing amidst the rising tide. She’d covered half the distance when she stopped, grabbed him and plastered him against the cliff.
Lights cut through the night above them, bits of gravel and dirt avalanching down the face. A blast of static rose above the crashing breakers, a couple choppy words rasping free before shutting off.
Buck looked up, following the men as they paralleled the cliff, twin beams tracking the surging water below.
He pointed at the exposed ledge before removing his rifle.
Tierney arched a brow, then held out her hand, waving her fingers at him.
He cocked his head, silently asking if she really wanted to be the one to eliminate the current threat, only to sigh when she motioned for the weapon a second time.
Her hands looked incredibly small compared to his as he slipped the Havak into her grip, positioning himself so he could help spot without falling into the ocean.
She readied the scope, making a few adjustments when the men appeared at the edge of the opening, scanning the beach before moving across the ledge.
No hesitation.
Just the rifle notched in her shoulder, the scope pressed to her left eye. She exhaled, finger slipping inside the guard, slowly compressing the trigger.
The rifle barked out a round, hitting the first guy square in the thigh. The force knocked out his leg, and he pitched forward, tumbling over the cliff to the rocks below.
Tierney fired again, hit the second asshole dead center of his chest, reeling him backwards, his damn armor taking the brunt of the attack. His light tipped upward, painting the fog, shining most of the lumens back at him before he scrambled away.
She swung the weapon over her shoulder, switched to her Beretta, then swept forward, still maneuvering across the jagged line as she closed in on the guy crumpled across the shore. Blood covered the rocks, the man’s eyes wide, unseeing.
Buck checked for a pulse, shook his head, then flipped the guy over, stripping off his tactical rig before grabbing a spare magazine, handheld radio, body cam and sheath.
He pocketed the tech, strapped the knife around his thigh, then checked the mag on the semi-automatic.
About half full, but it beat the four bullets he had left for his Sig, the nearly empty mag of the Havak.
He held out the ballistic vest, but she shook her head.
“It’s way too big.”
He shrugged. “Beats getting shot.”
“You wear it.” She huffed when he just stood there. “We both know you’re gonna jump in front of any bullets whether I’m wearing the vest or not so, put it on.”
He reminded himself to have a serious chat with her once they were safe as he slipped it on.
Tierney scanned the area, shifting on her feet. “It’s too quiet. We should—”
Gunfire.
Spraying down from above. That asshole she’d hit in the vest looming overhead.
Brass ticked off the rocks, a couple hitting the other merc as Buck lunged at Tierney, took her to the ground, one hand cushioning her head, his body covering hers.
He rolled, gaining some distance when a round punched through his right arm, instantly numbing his hand all the way to his fingers.