Chapter 25 #2
“My name is not Lukas,” he said through gritted teeth.
Then he laughed. “I am Rashid Mantzour. I killed that piece of shit Lukas Murillo in Afghanistan. All my teammates who had ambushed those stupid Americans said I looked just like him. We stripped him bare, and I wore his uniform out of that valley, carrying the injured CO. I’d taken a few minor hits, so we were separated once we got to triage at the small camp.
The commanding officer died, but not until after he profusely thanked Lukas Murillo for checking every soldier and realizing that the officer was alive.
Your army gave me all these wonderful benefits and money, called me a fucking hero, then kicked me out because of my injuries.
But then your recruiter, Hank, came along and offered me even more money.
And all this time I keep getting my real orders from Adeel bin Laden through people right here in the United States. ”
“Okay, Rashid, you know we’re being watched on a satellite, and Homeland Security is recording everything.”
“So what? I’ll be just like these men, blending into the United States, awaiting my orders to do my part in cleaning up this vile country.
” The man Clint had known as Shadow for nearly five years continued spouting his vitriol.
Rashid gazed toward Piper and Mia. “Men here are cowards. They allow women to reveal their bodies by dressing as men. Women in prime birthing age are allowed to join the military. They sometimes walk around in nothing more than undergarments, calling them bathing suits. These women are disgusting.”
He poked the gun harder into Ashlin’s temple. “Especially her. She walks right beside you and often in front of you. You’re a man with no spine. You don’t keep her in her place. You are no true leader. But they listen to you. Tell them all to drop their guns now,” he insisted.
“Drop your weapons,” Clint finally ordered.
Everyone dropped a few weapons on the ground at their feet. Clint was pretty sure they still had several more, but he wasn’t going to bring up that fact.
“What now?” Clint asked.
Rashid chuckled. “You and your men will strip these women of their clothes, then tie them to empty bunks. Women have no place in combat. They’re useless with weapons and too soft to fight hand-to-hand. Allah made women for one reason: to give us men babies.”
His grin was evil. “We’ll leave these women here for my brothers to teach them their place.”
Clint was so angry, he was shaking. Since Shadow had an earpiece, he couldn’t ask the rest of the team if they had a good shot.
“Lady Lion and Lady Cougar, up in that experimental little helicopter of yours, I’m coming for you, too.
You won’t get a moment’s rest, looking over your shoulder, waiting for me.
I’ll take that little helicopter with me.
I’m sure we can get a lot of money for it.
We can always use more explosives and bullets. ”
Rashid glared at Clint. “Tie the women up and leave this camp. Report back that it was empty like the one in Montana.”
“No fucking way!” Over the last week, all the women had melded into his team perfectly. He would kill for them. Die for them. No way in hell would he leave them to the abuse of the men in that camp. He’d figure something out.
Clint heard a familiar whirr. Kayla was close with their new little helicopter, which made very little noise. He had no idea whether it had any kind of armament.
His comms unit seemed to have a lot of static and clicking. He rubbed his ear to clear it, but instead it continued to click louder.
Ashlin sprung to a standing position and slammed her elbow into Rashid’s gun hand, knocking the pistol away. She grabbed his left wrist and bicep, pulling out straight as she stepped forward and threw him to the ground. Ashlin dove forward, like a baseball player reaching for home.
The report of a large caliber rifle echoed through the air.
A sniper had taken a shot. Clint looked around to see where it came from as he ran to Ashlin. He covered her with his own body. “I’ve got you, my love.”
“Actually, Kira has us. She shot that idiot…from the helicopter. She is our secondary sniper, you know.” Ashlin twisted under him until she could see his face. He dropped down and kissed her as though he hadn’t seen her in years.
She ended the kiss. “I love you, but could you get off me before our Charlie Team gets here? They’re three minutes out. Besides, I need to go hug Kira for saving me from dying of bad breath. His reeked.”
Clint rolled to a sitting position and pulled Ashlin onto his lap, hugging her tightly. “Don’t ever do that to me again!” He held her, shaking now that the adrenaline had released.
Ashlin cupped his face in a way that had become familiar to him. “I love you. But I’ve got stuff to do and so do you.” She gave him a quick kiss, then stood. She turned around and extended her hand, then pulled him to his feet.
Clint hadn’t noticed that their helicopter had landed in the clearing on the far side of the tents. He watched as his wife ran toward her teammate and threw her arms around Kira. After hugging and rocking, they finally let go, and Ashlin returned to him.
“Oh, my, a weak woman who has no business wearing pants or being in the military just shot and killed him.” Kira announced she started walking toward the ground team with her medical-gear backpack in one hand when another shot rang out. She fell to the ground, grasping her shoulder.