With a trembling hand, Beth tucked the knife into the waistband of her skirt and slipped the cord of the compass over her head. She was on a rescue mission for her best friend slap-bang in the middle of a drug processing operation deep within the Columbian jungle. There was a real possibility none of them would make it out alive, so she needed to buck up and follow orders. She brushed a stray tear from her eye and put on a brave face.
Hawk patted her arm. “Don’t fret, we’ve been in tougher scrapes than this before and came out smelling sweet.”
Of course they had. She’d heard snippets of their missions from Loretta. Zach needed her to be strong, and she wouldn’t disappoint. She stiffened her spine and forced a smile. “I believe you, and I have immense faith in you guys. I know you’ll get Loretta back, and I know we’ll all get out of here in one piece. I have to believe that.”
“You bet. Now, let’s find some cover.”
Hawk and she crouched in the undergrowth and edged closer to the perimeter. From their new position they had a clear view of Havoc and Zach. She watched with narrow-eyed interest and held her breath as the two men skirted the perimeter. Any one of the buildings could be Loretta’s prison, and their best shot at rescue was to find her without arousing any undue attention.
Hawk was left behind to provide sniper coverage, and for that she was grateful, given the praise heaped on his ability by the other two. Zach was staying low, taking the left path toward the largest building. Havoc waited a few seconds, then followed in his wake. They were both keeping as close to the jungle as possible.
When she tried to move forward for a better view, Hawk raised an arm and pushed her back. “Stay behind me, sweetheart, and keep that pretty head down.” He grinned as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
Unlike him, she was a total mess. Her heart was pounding like a jackhammer and her palms were clammy. But she did as commanded and hunkered down behind him, making herself as inconspicuous as possible, her sight still riveted on Zach and Havoc, who had covered the distance to the first building without incident.
As she watched, two guerrillas, patrolling this side, came into view. Otherwise engaged, they hadn’t spotted Zach or Havoc. Yet.
She placed a warning hand on Hawk’s arm.
“I see them.” He lifted Jacinta and pressed his face against the elongated barrel of steel. His eyes narrowed, his posture steady and sure. Cool and collected.
A shaky breath whooshed from her lips as the nearest one took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and placed one in his mouth before offering them to his buddy.
The first man cupped his hands around a flared match and lit the cigarettes. Both men were lethargic in their movements and obviously unaware of the imminent danger. Too many days of mundane non-action she guessed had made them complacent, and they would be unprepared for the assault when it came—swift, silent, and deadly. As was she.
She opened her eyes wide, and her hand flew to her mouth to prevent the squeal that shot up her throat from spurting out between her lips as Zach and Havoc made the kill.
“You okay?” Hawk asked beside her.
She nodded but was incapable of speech, and her eyes felt the size of dinner plates as she watched the men stomp out the smoldering cigarettes before dragging a body each into the undergrowth.
Gosh, they’d taken them out and hidden their bodies in less than twenty seconds. One minute they were smoking, the next gone. She shuddered and lowered her head. She recalled the time Christian had caught Loretta and her smoking. Man, had he gone ballistic, saying “Smoking will kill you.” Somehow she didn’t think this was what he meant. She gave herself a mental shake.
Zach and Havoc were sidling along the length of the warehouse, keeping low to the ground. Havoc raised a hand and both men stopped along with her heartbeat. Two Columbians appeared on their right, one jabbing his finger at the other as he spoke. She sucked in air and held it. Fear escalating, she gripped Hawk’s shoulder again but he was vigilant.
“I see them, but they’re too involved in their argument to notice if a rogue rhino were to charge into camp.”
The breath left her lungs in a whoosh. Hawk was spot on. Zach and Havoc had slipped around to the back of the building undetected.
Hawk stole a backward glance and gave her a reassuring smile. “Remember what I said, keep that head down.”
He changed his position, deliberately blocking her view. Well, she was having none of that. Her head popped up and she peered over his shoulder.
“I told you to keep your damn head down.” He growled and attempted to push her back, but she avoided his outstretched hand. When she glanced back to where she’d last seen Zach and Havoc, she gasped and pointed at a figure striding toward the opposite side of the compound.
“My God, that’s Carlos,” she hissed. “What the hell is he doing here?”
“I think that’s pretty damn obvious, sweetheart; he’s been in on it from the start.”
“But what’s he up to now?” she asked as Carlos whipped his head around furtively before entering what looked to be an old woodshed and shutting the door behind him. “Do you think that’s where they’re holding Loretta?”
“You could be onto something.”
“Don’t just sit there then, go and investigate.” She prodded him in the back.
“Quit it. I can’t leave my post on a whim.”
“Then I’ll go. I know she’s in there, I feel it in my bones.” As she made to rise, his hand shot out and grabbed her arm, yanking her back down. Her butt hit the earth with a dull thud. “Hey.”
“Shut up and stay put. What the hell do you think you could do against a man like that anyway?” Hawk snarled. “Now settle down while I contact Zach.”
He raised his hand to his throat mic, but while she waited for him to speak, his body tensed, and with precision slowness he turned toward the jungle behind her.
It was eerie. There was no discernible noise, but his body language implied they were in danger. With a quick about-face he arranged her behind him and aimed Jacinta on the vegetation in the direction they’d come from not ten minutes earlier.
“What is it?” she hissed, holding his shoulder and trying to peer around him.
“Shush, there’s something there. Stay low and close, and remember your promise.”
She tensed and crouched into a ball. Her ears strained for a footfall, a snap of a twig underfoot, anything, but there were just the usual noises she’d become accustomed to.
The seconds were slow in ticking by, but still Hawk held his position. When she fidgeted, he raised his hand and she froze.
Minutes later, cramped and tense, she was beginning to believe Hawk’s imagination was playing tricks when the faintest rustle of parting branches and the appearance of two camouflaged armed men emerged panther-like from the jungle.
*
“Drop your weapons or I’ll put a bullet through you.” Hawk’s voice was low but menacing and would have leveled the gaze of lesser men, but they stood their ground not budging an inch and eye-fucked him right back.
Jacinta was aimed point-blank at the lead man. At this range he could take them both out, but the second man might get off a shot before he died, and where would that leave Beth and the others? The noise would alert the compound, and all hell would break loose.
“Don’t shoot, Hawk!”
Beth used his shoulder for leverage as she sprang to her feet. He grabbed her skirt and yanked her down. “Shit, Beth.”
“They’re my brothers,” she enlightened him and shot to her feet again. This time he watched in silence as she crossed the distance and rushed into the arms of one of the men.
“Sis, thank God you’re safe.”
“This is Nick and Christian.” Beth identified the men. As she spoke, Nick stepped around his brother, intense dark eyes searching the area.
“What are you doing here?” Beth’s eyes were wide with astonishment.
“I think that’s obvious, but holy hell, girl, what’s happened to your face?” Christian quietly voiced his concern as he set her aside.
Her hand flew to her cheek. “Oh this, I…tripped and fell.”
Nick’s face darkened, his eyes hooded over as they caught sight of her bruised face. “The hell you did.”
“Please, Nick, not now.”
Hawk cleared his throat. “Sorry to break up this little family reunion, but we’ve got some serious shit going down here.”
Three pairs of Carmichael eyes zeroed in on him. “So talk,” Christian demanded.
Hawk jutted his chin at Christian’s rifle. “Is that weapon just for show, or do you actually know how to use it?”
The guy’s face turned puce, he squared his shoulders and opened his mouth to say something, but Beth got in first.
“Of course he can, he’s a Force Recon Marine Sniper.”
Ah, that explained it. The Marine would be pissed he’d gotten the drop on them. Chalk one up for the SEALs, but this was no time for a pissing contest. “In that case he shouldn’t have a problem covering my ass while I check out what our friend Carlos is up to.”
“We think Loretta’s being held over there,” Beth explained, pointing to the ramshackle shed.
“What are you waiting for, an invitation? Hop to it, son, and go check it out.” Christian grunted as he moved into position.
Hawk gritted his teeth. “Wolf and Havoc are behind the large building, they shouldn’t be hard to recognize, both blond and wearing camouflage.” He cocked his head in that direction. “Or at least that’s where they were when you two came stumbling in like a pair of bull elephants.”
“Listen here, you fucking little twerp, are you going to talk us to death, or are you going to move your ass and look in that shed?” Nick muttered.
Hawk felt a nerve jump in his cheek. He lowered his eyes and checked his watch. Four minutes had elapsed since Carlos was first spotted. Enough time had been wasted. He made a move.
“Be careful.” Beth squeezed his arm.
“Don’t worry about me,” he said, and with a wink turned and set off at a crouching run.