Not a Hero

by Cherise Sinclair

  As he led the men upward, the trail sign got fresher.

  The rain was a bitch, but damned if he didn’t bless the weather. Thunderstorms weren’t common in Alaska, and chopper pilots hated them. The lightning and heavy clouds would delay Spyros’s helicopter for a time.

  As they hiked ever upward, and the worst of the storm passed, icy mountain winds created a thick cloud layer. With the vertical mountainsides and tall forest, and the dense fog covering the landing site, a pilot wouldn’t risk coming in.

  Not yet.

  Knox touched his arm.

  Gabe held up his fist, bringing everyone to a stop.

  “See how the trees open ahead? There’s a cabin up past this curve,” Knox said in a barely heard voice.

  Gabe looked around at the others, all wearing the silent camo raingear they used for hunting.

  This time they were hunting human game.

  Despite the muffling effect of the drizzling rain, an alert sentry might hear them. “We go slow and quiet.” Gabe eyed the trail. “Knox, stay right behind me and tap my back if you need my attention.”

  A few minutes later, Gabe stopped in the shadows at the forest’s edge. Glimpses through the fog showed a level, wide clearing—one adequate for a helicopter landing.

  A rough log shanty with moss-covered wood shingles sat at the west edge. Probably an old trapper’s cabin. Under the low overhang, a man stood guard outside the plank door. He had his pistol out and ready. Gabe growled low.

  A stack of logs and split wood lay beside a rock-ringed fire pit in front of the cabin. To the right was a massive fallen spruce surrounded by dead branches.

  Gabe frowned. How many were here, and how were they armed? The small cabin window beside the door was shuttered, providing no hint of what was inside. He kept his voice low. “Knox, is there another window?”

  “Seems like it had a window in the back wall. Too small for anyone to wiggle out. No glass. Shuttered to keep the wildlife out.”

  The urgency to see if Audrey was all right was fucking with Gabe’s brain. He made himself stand still. He didn’t have enough information to formulate a plan of attack.

  His brothers and Knox waited quietly.

  Gabe looked at Bull. “I’m going to check the back. Maybe get an idea of what we’re facing.” Coordination without comms was going to suck. “However, if the chopper arrives, you do whatever you must to keep Audrey off of it. If they lift with her onboard, she’s dead.”

  Expression rigid, Bull nodded. His pistol was in his hand.

  Gabe motioned for Caz and Knox to follow. Staying in the forest shadows, he circled to the back of the cabin. Stationing the others to guard his flanks, Gabe crept up to the back wall. The window shutter was closed, but the aged wood had warped, leaving large cracks.

  He looked inside.

  Hanging from a wall hook, a kerosene lantern illumined the single room.

  There was Audrey. Alive. Gabe pulled in a breath at the rush of relief.

  She sat on the plank floor, her shoulder against the left log wall. Her wrists were handcuffed behind her back, but her legs were free. Her soaked, tangled hair was filled with twigs and dirt. Mud, scrapes, and bruises marked her face and bare arms. Her T-shirt was ripped.

  Although she trembled visibly, her head was up.

  Yeah, that was the woman he loved.

  Focus, MacNair.

  Five men in the room.

  Face pale, Baumer sat on the floor, his only weapon a sheathed belt knife. Maybe Spyros didn’t trust him? Fabric wrapped around his wrist was stained with blood.

  A barrel-chested, buzz-cut blond leaned against the front wall. His shoulder holster held a handgun.

  Two more thugs sat on a plank bench on the right wall. More pistols.

  The last man…

  From the photos Dennison had sent, Gabe recognized Spyros. Of course, the sunken right eyelid made his identity obvious. Short black hair. Several days unshaven.

  With a pistol holstered at his hip, Spyros sat on a tree stump chair beside Audrey. He held a Bowie knife, flipping it repeatedly, watching Audrey like a weasel hunting a mouse.

  Catching the knife, he said something to her—and drew the knife down her arm.

  Gabe’s jaw clenched.

  Making no sound at all, she flinched. Gabe saw blood trickle down her upper arm…joining tiny streams from previous cuts.

  Red, the color of her blood, filled Gabe’s vision, hammered at his head, filled his world until every inhalation seemed hotter than fire.

  He bit his lip until it bled, then backed up, silently.

  If Spyros was toying with her, they had time.

  “This is just a sample, a hint of what awaits you, poutana,” Spyros grated. The knife sliced down Audrey’s arm again.

  Teeth clamped together, she forced herself to remain still…because if she moved, he cut deeper.

  Her skin split under the finely honed blade. A second later came the searing flash of pain and hot oozing of blood. Turning her face away, she blinked away the flood of tears. Her whole upper arm was one throbbing mass of pain.

  And she was so, so scared.

  Earlier, she’d decided not to taunt him or force him to kill her. Not right now. Not until the helicopter arrived. Maybe, maybe Gabe would find her. But as the trail led higher and higher, her hopes had faded until they’d arrived at this tiny cabin in the middle of nowhere.

  Did Gabe even know Spyros had her? What if Lillian had died…because of Audrey? Over and over, guilt battered at her heart. She sagged against the wall.

  Why had she ever come to this place? Made friends? Put them at risk?

  Loving people hurt far worse than anything else.

  “Yes, you’re beginning to see, to know how you’ll die, screaming and screaming.” Spyros’s lips closed over the words as if savoring the taste.

  Because he got off on scaring her.

  Rage seared away the fear. “A man who’ll fight another man, one on one, is impressive.” Even as her response snapped out, she tried to hold the words back—and failed. “I’m not a man. No, I’m female, a hundred pounds lighter than you, and tied-up. But you still need five minions to hold your widdle hand. Aren’t you brave.” Her rant was cut short by Spyros’s roar, and his fist smashing into her jaw.

  A cry of pain escaped her.

  Knocked sideways, she fell. As her shoulder struck the rough flooring, splinters dug into her arm and cheek. As the whole left side of her face throbbed with pain, tears trickled from her closed eyes.

  A couple of the men laughed.

  Okay, maybe that had been stupid.

  Back with the others, Gabe paused in his instructions as a yell of anger and cry of pain came from the cabin.

  Audrey. Blind rage swept over him. Kill. He started to charge forward.

  Bull grabbed his shoulder. “No, bro.”

  Gabe growled. A war raged inside him. He had to get her out of there. Now.

  But his stupidity would get her killed. Finish the plan.

  Go on, MacNair. He sucked in air through his nose. Focused. “Spyros is seated beside Audrey and cutting her with his knife.” He held up his hand to keep Knox quiet. “The cuts aren’t life-threatening, but a knife that close to her means we can’t risk breaking in.”

  Spyros would slit her throat before they could kill him.

  Damn cabin.

  Small shuttered windows. A heavy door that opened outward. Excellent deterrents to keep a bear from breaking in. Excellent deterrents to keep his team from breaking in quickly enough to keep Audrey alive.

  “The cabrón.” Caz had pulled one of his knives. “We wait until he brings her out of the cabin?”

  “That’s our best chance.” Gabe glanced up. The storm clouds had blown through, and the fog was lifting. “The chopper should be on the way.”

  A muted hiss came from Knox who was watching the door sentry.

  Everyone froze.

  After taking a piss against a tree, the guard sta
rted on a circuit of the cabin.

  In the distance, Gabe heard a chopper. His pulse picked up. Perfect. The noise would distract the guard.

  Now, the plan. Bull and Caz could operate without detailed instructions—they’d worked as a team all their lives.

  And Knox… Audrey was special to him. He’d shown that in the bar. He’d protect her well.

  “Caz, you and Bull grab the sentry and bring him to the front. I need him capable of talking. They need to think he’s still on guard.”

  Bull and Caz nodded.

  “Knox, you and I will wait on each side of the door for them to come out. When I yell ‘Go’, you grab Audrey.” Gabe narrowed his eyes at the man. “Your only job is to yank her out of the doorway—no matter what damage she might get in doing so. Then you keep her safe. The best cover will probably be prone behind the woodpile or around the cabin. Use your judgment, and stay out of the kill zone.”

  “Got it.”

  “Here. They have her cuffed.” Gabe gave his spare handcuff key to Knox and turned to his brothers. “We have Spyros, Baumer, and four unknowns. These bastards aren’t innocent bystanders; they know Spyros intends to kill Audrey. Take them down as hard as you need to.”

  They nodded.

  “How about the pilot?” Knox asked.

  “He’s probably a hire from Anchorage. Unless he jumps in, don’t shoot him.”

  Caz tossed off a salute.

  Bull gave Gabe a smile. “We’ll get her out.”

  Gabe tried to smile back and knew he’d failed. The odds…sucked.

  Still lying on her side, Audrey heard a whirring, and her heart sank. Oh, God.

  Earl Baumer tipped his head. “Is that the chopper?”

  It was.

  The cabin fell silent. The engine sounded funny. Loud, then soft.

  The New Yorker frowned. “Almost sounds like there are two of them.”

  “Noise tends to echo off the cliffs.” Earl slung his pack over his shoulder. “I can’t wait to get out of here.”

  A thud on the door sounded, and the outside guard called, “Copter is coming in now.”

  “Let’s go.” Knife in one fist, Spyros grabbed Audrey’s T-shirt with his other hand and yanked her to her feet.

  She staggered, almost falling when he shoved her forward.

  Get it together, Audrey.

  Once outside in an open space, she might be able to break free. Head down, she tensed and relaxed her muscles to get the circulation going. She’d run—and if the way wasn’t clear, she’d dive into the tail rotor and die fast.

  Her heart quailed. Die. She didn’t want to die.

  She would. She must.

  The door opened, and Earl walked out.

  Behind Audrey, Spyros gripped her hair. “Wouldn’t want you to run, now would we?” The yank on her head pulled her backward a step.

  As her hopes died, despair emptied her mind.

  * * *

  Flattened against the wall beside the front door, Gabe waited.

  Bound hand and foot, the terrified sentry had recited his “Copter is coming in now” nicely. Caz’s knife pricking his eyelid had proved an adequate incentive for cooperation.

  Bull had knocked the guy out, tossed the body around the side of the cabin, and took up position there.

  Caz was stationed at the other corner.

  Knox and Gabe stood on either side of the door.

  Overhead, the helicopter started to descend. The tree branches whipped in the turbulence stirred up by the helicopter blades.

  The door opened. Gabe tensed.

  Baumer came out, hand over his eyes as he looked at the helicopter.

  C’mon, Spyros. Be next. Keep the bastards inside.

  Fate wasn’t listening. The buzz-cut blond walked out and frowned.

  As the two thugs followed, Buzzcut scowled. “Look for Jones. He must be taking a piss.”

  Laughing the two separated.

  Gabe stiffened. They’d see him and Knox any—

  Audrey stepped out. Spyros came right behind her, left fist in her hair, knife carelessly to one side.

  Now. Gabe punched Spyros’s forearm, paralyzing the nerves, deadening his grip on Audrey’s hair. “Take her!”

  Even as Knox yanked Audrey away, Spyros tried to stab her.

  Gabe lunged and knocked him against the doorframe.

  Braced by the wall, Spyros twisted, catching Gabe’s coat with his left hand and stabbing with the knife in the right. Barely slowed by Gabe’s raingear, the sharp blade punched into Gabe’s side.

  Fiery pain burst along his ribs as the blade scraped the bone. Jesus. With a furious downward block, Gabe knocked the knife into the dirt, then head-butted Spyros. The asshole’s grip on his coat loosened.

  Gabe ripped free.

  Firing broke out across the clearing.

  “Gamóto!” Spewing Greek curses, Spyros staggered forward and yanked out his pistol.

  Hell. Powering from his legs, Gabe slammed a right hook into the man’s jaw.

  Spyros dropped, landing on his side.

  Drawing his pistol, Gabe snap kicked him in the head, knocking him out. A flick of his foot sent Spyros’s handgun under the cabin.

  Good. A quick check showed one thug motionless on the ground and another dead with a knife in his chest.

  Ignoring everything, Baumer was running toward the helicopter.

  Near the fire pit, Buzzcut spotted Gabe and charged, snapping off shots.

  A bullet whizzed past. Gabe dodged sideways, aimed—

  “Noooo!” Directly between Gabe and the man, Audrey jumped up from behind the woodpile.

  Fuck!

  Pistol out, she fired at Buzzcut. Missed. Kept firing.

  Staggering back, the bastard shot at her. Shot her. She dropped.

  No. God, no!

  Target now clear, Gabe shot the bastard between the eyes, turned.

  With a roar of fury, Spyros tackled him from the side.

  Barely hanging onto his pistol, Gabe landed on his hip. A fist slammed into his kidney, sending a blast of pain through him. Twisting, he rammed his elbow backward into Spyros’s face. He rolled to his feet.

  Spyros had his knife.

  Gabe shot from the hip—double-tap.

  The bastard fell.

  Audrey. Gabe charged across the clearing.

  Bull was already there, bending over her. He saw Gabe. “She’s okay.”

  As she sat up, the relief made Gabe’s head spin. Thank God.

  He made a quick assessment. All the bad guys were down but one.

  Baumer.

  At the helicopter, the ex-officer yanked open the rear door and climbed in.

  Gabe sprinted toward the chopper.

  The sound of the engine changed. Rather than taking off, the chopper powered down. What the hell?

  Pistol in one hand, keeping out of the line of fire, Gabe sidled up to the open door.

  Fingers laced on top of his head, kneeling between the passenger seats, Baumer didn’t move.

  Gabe blinked and glanced at the pilot.

  Pistol aimed straight at Baumer’s head, Hawk smiled at Gabe. “What the fuck, bro. You threw a party and didn’t invite me?”

  Fist pressed against her mouth, Audrey tried not to scream for Gabe to be careful. She tried to rise, but her leg gave out and dropped her back onto her butt.

  “Hold on, champ.” Bull wrapped his coat around her. “I think your ankle got messed up when Knox landed on you.”

  “Help Gabe. Leave me and help Gabe.” Her heart pounded so intensely she had trouble speaking. Gabe wasn’t moving, was staring in the helicopter door. Did someone have a gun on him?

  Then Gabe grabbed his handcuffs from his belt and leaned into the helicopter. A minute later, he dragged a cuffed Baumer out and shoved him to his knees.

  When the pilot came around the helicopter, Gabe slapped his shoulder.

  Gabe knew the pilot?

  Audrey’s view was blocked when Caz dropped do
wn on a knee beside her and pulled Bull’s coat back. “Your arm needs tending, chica.”

  She pushed him back. “Knox needs help first. Something hit him in the head.”

  Caz’s gaze swept over her, then he nodded and gave her a fleeting smile before turning to Knox. “Let’s see.”

  Hand to his bloody head, Knox sat up. “Don’t think I cracked anything.”

  Still standing guard over everyone at the woodpile, Bull raised his voice. “Yo, we got company, Gabe.”

  A wave of people emerged from the trail and spread out into the clearing.

  Oh God, no. They must be Spyros’s backup men. Heart sinking, Audrey straightened her shoulders. “I need some bullets. Who has bullets?” She braced for the shooting to begin.

  “Don’t shoot them, chica. They’re ours.” Caz opened his pack, pulled out a first aid kit, and tossed gauze to Bull. “Put pressure on her arm for me, sí?”

  When Bull grunted agreement, Caz tilted Knox’s head up. “Looks like wood from a bullet ricochet caught you. You’ll be fine.”

  “The men are ours?” Audrey asked as Bull knelt beside her. He pressed the gauze to the cuts and wrapped his hand around her arm. Her teeth ground together at the blast of pain.

  “Yeah,” Bull said. “That’s Chevy with reinforcements.”

  As the group came closer, she recognized Chevy in the lead. He gestured, and Tucker, Guzman, and others headed for Gabe. Uriah led some toward the cabin.

  Oh, there was Zappa from the gas station. Didn’t hippies hate guns?

  God, her thoughts were getting weird.

  “Hey, Chief, we caught some weasels for you.” Chevy motioned toward more men—and some had wrists tied behind their backs. And looked roughed up.

  “They got them.” Audrey turned to Bull. “Spyros had backup coming, he said.”

  “Good job.” Gabe shook Chevy’s hand. “Just think, there’s no hunting season restriction on bad guys.”

  A wave of laughter swept the clearing.

  “Chief, the blue shirts are on the way,” Uriah called.