by Elle James
The road ran straight for the first two kilometers until they approached a line of hills in their path. They zigzagged through the hills, climbing higher before they topped a ridge and worked their way down the other side.
As the road curved past rocky outcroppings, Mac strained to see the valley ahead.
A light blinked in the distance. Or did it? Mac couldn’t be certain. They rounded another rocky bluff area, blocking his view of the valley below.
As they turned back the other direction, Mac saw it again.
The lights belonged to a vehicle on the road at the base of the hill. Every glimpse he managed to catch made Mac more certain the vehicle wasn’t moving. It had stopped at the base of the hill, shining the headlights off the road.
His gut knotted. Why would they be shining their lights off the road? Were they were trying to find someone?
“We’ve got company ahead of us,” Josh said. “What do you want me to do?”
“Stop in the next curve. I’ll go the rest of the way on foot.”
“By yourself?” Josh asked.
Mac’s jaw tightened. “Yes.”
Blade snorted. “The hell you will.”
“We can’t leave Ahktar,” Mac said.
“Josh can handle him,” Blade said.
“What if the two of us run into trouble?” Mac said. “How’s Josh going to get to safety?”
“I’ll hole up until the rest of your team catches up to us.”
“If they can find us.” Mac shook his head.
“I got off a call when we were stopped in traffic in Kabul,” Blade said. “They could get the Intelligence community working on finding us and send help our way.”
Mac laughed, without humor. “And pigs could learn to fly.”
“I can handle him,” Josh said.
“If he causes any problems, shoot him,” Blade said.
Josh laughed. “Kylie’s the better shot. That’s what got us into all this trouble.”
“And if she hadn’t been a good shot,” Mac said, “you wouldn’t be here today.”
Josh nodded, the smile slipping from him face. “You’re right. She’s the only reason I’m alive.”
“And we need to make sure we’re the reason she stays alive herself.” Mac nodded toward a bend in the road that had enough room for them to pull off and park the SUV behind a boulder.
Blade climbed out of the back seat, released the magazine out of the rifle and examined it. “I have about ten rounds.”
Mac did the same with his AK-47. “I have about the same.”
Josh released his magazine and removed several bullets from it and handed them to Mac. “You might need more than I will. I really only need two. One to shoot Ahktar with, the other in case I miss the first time.”
Blade ripped a piece of fabric from what he’d used to tie Ahktar’s wrists. He wadded it up and yanked the man’s head back and shoved the fabric into the man’s mouth. “That way he can’t give your position away.”
“If we aren’t back in two hours…” Mac shrugged. “I’d like to say head back to Kabul, but you don’t know who you’ll run into on the road. You might be better off waiting here for help to arrive.”
“I’ll figure out something.” Josh waved a hand toward them. “Go. Find Kylie. I’d go with you but…” He jerked his head toward Ahktar. “We can’t leave this guy. He’s killed to many of our own.”
Mac glanced at Blade. “Ready?”
Blade nodded in the starlight. “Let’s do this.”
“If it’s nothing, we’ll be back soon. If it’s a full can of worms, well…” Mac paused. “Keep your head down. Don’t let them know where you are. If you have to leave that bastard, do it. Just don’t let the Taliban catch you.”
Josh nodded. “Gotcha. Shoot the bastard and run. Seriously, be careful out there. And find Kylie. I hate to think what they’ll do to her.”
Mac hated to think of that as well. The Taliban weren’t known for their kindness to the opposition. They’d sooner cut off your head than sit down to peace talks.
Without another word, Mac and Blade set off down the hill, taking a more direct route than going by the winding road.
They slid down the slopes in their hurry to reach the bottom where the vehicle was shining the headlights into the hillside. When they could, they ran, but for the most part it was a steep incline. All they could do was sit and ride the gravel downward. As they neared the bottom, they heard men shouting in Pashto.
A small rise blocked their view of the vehicle below. When they reached the top, they peered over the edge, keeping their heads down in case they came face to face with their enemy.
Below, flashlights blinked in and out as men climbed the hillside, dropped down into ravines and moved up the other side.
They were headed in Mac and Blade’s direction. If they shined their lights higher up the escarpment, they might even catch sight of them.
But they weren’t shining the lights higher, they were looking closer to where they were.
What were they looking for?
“I’d give my eye teeth for night vision goggles right now,” Blade whispered.
“Yeah,” Mac murmured, searching the area in front of the flashlight beams.
The starlight helped some, but whatever they were looking for must be hanging in the shadows or crawling low to the ground. Mac couldn’t make out—
“Fuck,” Blade said. “Do you see what I see?”
“No. What area they looking for?”
Blade grabbed Mac’s head and turned it so that he was looking farther ahead of the men with the flashlights and closer to where they were perched. “Look at that ridge down below us. See that?” Blade pointed.
Mac followed his finger to the ridge Blade indicated. Movement caught his attention. He squinted, trying to make out what it was. “What is it?”
“I’m not sure. Something big. Looks like it has four legs.”
The creature stepped into the starlight and Mac sucked in a breath. “It’s two people. One holding onto the other. One shorter than the other.”
“You think it might be Kylie?” Blade asked.
Mac’s jaw hardened and his fists closed around his rifle. “If it is, someone could be holding her hostage. Come on. We have to be sure before we blow our cover.” Mac slipped over the top of the ridge, keeping his body as close to the ground to avoid presenting a silhouette target for the Taliban to shoot at.
They had to be stealthy and swift at the same time. On the rugged terrain, that was nearly impossible. Especially when they needed to get to the two people before the men with the flashlights reached them.
The race was on.
Chapter 10
Kylie’s back ached and her legs burned and felt like jelly at the same time. They could hear the shouts of the men below. It wouldn’t be long before they caught up with them. Unfortunately, Kylie couldn’t keep up the pace. Hell, she could barely stand, and Musa was quickly losing what little strength he’d been able to muster thus far.
The man had been beaten so badly, it was a miracle he was still upright.
At that moment, Musa stumbled, his body lurching forward, taking Kylie down with him.
Once they started to fall, Kylie had no way to keep it from happening. She couldn’t take one more step. All she could do was aim to land in the shadow of a large boulder, praying it would provide enough concealment for both of them to remain hidden from the flashlight beams.
Maybe the men below would miss them all together and leave.
Kylie hit the ground on her knees.
Musa landed on one knee and toppled onto his side. He lay so still, Kylie thought he might be dead. She pressed her fingers to the base of his throat, her pulse pounding hard from her rush up the hill.
Before she could feel the man’s pulse, a hand came up and Musa whispered. “I am not dead, yet.”
“Good,” she said so softly, no one but Musa would be able to hear her voice. She grabbed the man’s
arm and pulled him toward the shadow cast by the giant boulder. “Must hide,” she said as she inched him across the ground.
He helped as much as he could. Between the two of them, they were able to scoot, roll and slide into the darkness of the shadow.
Musa lay on his back, his eyes closed.
Even if they weren’t being chased by the Taliban, Musa might not make it. He could be suffering from internal injuries caused by the beatings.
Kylie collapsed on the ground beside Musa and dragged in deep breaths, filling her starving lungs with air.
Just when she could breathe normally again, she heard a sound in the darkness.
Instead of it coming from below them, it was coming from above. Loose gravel slithered down the slope behind her, landing at her feet.
Kylie gasped and spun on her haunches in time to see two figures, both carrying guns, sliding down the hillside toward her.
She had no time to react. No time to run before the figures crashed into her and Musa.
Though she was exhausted, Kylie rolled onto her feet and prepared to take on whoever it was who’d plowed into her and her new friend.
“Kylie?” a familiar voice said beside her.
“Mac?” She spun and threw herself into his arms. “Oh, sweet Jesus. Is it really you?”
“Shh, sweetheart.” He chuckled softly. “Yes, it’s me. And Blade’s here as well.”
“Josh?”
“Waiting in a vehicle not far from here.”
“He’s alive?” she asked, tears welling in her eyes. “You’re all alive.” The tears spilled down her cheeks. She quickly swiped them away, grabbed his hand and pulled him to. Crouching position. “You have to get down. There are men after us.”
“I know. I counted a cool dozen,” Blade said. “Give or take a few.”
The crunch of gravel sounded nearby.
Mac touched a finger to his lips, indicating they should all be silent.
All four of them hunkered low behind the boulder.
Mac stood at one side of the boulder and held his rifle at the ready, aiming toward the sound of footsteps heading their direction.
Blade took up a position on the other side of the boulder, aiming in the direction of the sound.
A moment later, a young Taliban soldier walked by the boulder, shining his flashlight right then left, the beam landing on Mac’s face at the same time as Mac grabbed him clamped an arm around his neck and locked him in a chokehold.
The soldier dropped the flashlight and his rifle and clawed at Mac’s arm trying to free himself.
Mac’s arm flexed as he tightened his hold.
Kylie grabbed the rifle from where it had landed on the ground and assumed Mac’s previous position on the edge of the boulder. She couldn’t stand by and not do anything. Their lives were at risk. And Mac had found her. Her chest swelled with love and gratitude. Together, they could conquer the world.
Mac’s heart swelled. This woman was smart as well as beautiful.
She knew that, though he’d caught the young man before he could fire a shot or shout, the sound of their scuffle could draw attention.
As if on cue, another man, wielding a flashlight and a rifle appeared on the opposite side of the boulder.
Still contending with the first man, Mac prayed Blade could handle the new threat on his own.
Blade flashed the knife he’d taken from Ahktar’s men and dispatched the latest Taliban soldier with little more noise than the clatter of his rifle and flashlight hitting the ground.
The man would no longer be a threat to anyone as he bled out of his torn carotid artery.
Mac’s guy finally slumped in his arms. When he released him, the guy sank to the ground.
A quick check for a pulse indicated he was still alive. Mac secured the man’s hands with his own belt. Then tearing a piece of fabric from the soldier’s loose-fitting outfit, Mac stuffed that wad into his mouth, effectively gagging him, in case he woke before Mac got Kylie out of there.
“We’ve got more coming,” Kylie said. “We’re far outnumbered. Any plans for getting out of here alive?” she asked.
Mac shook his head. “Not one.” If all four of them left the protection of the boulder, they’d be spotted. Even with two fewer soldiers, they still outnumbered Mac and Blade ten to two. They could attempt to pick them off, one by one until the others got smart and came at them from another direction. Hell, if they circled and came at them from behind, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Between what ammo we brought with us and the additional weapons we just acquired,” Blade said, “we can make it sound like there are more than two of us. Maybe we can scare them off.”
“And when the ammunition runs out?” Mac asked.
Blade shrugged. “It was a thought.”
“Or we could create a diversion,” Kylie offered in hushed tones. “Any way we can blow up their vehicle?”
Mac’s mouth twisted. “One of us would have to get there without being detected.”
“I’ll go,” Blade said.
Mac shook his head. “You’re better at hand-to-hand combat. You’re more likely to take down one of these guys without all the noise of firing a weapon. I’m better at making a lot of noise.” Mac pulled Kylie into his embrace and brushed a kiss across her lips. “I’m going.”
She held onto his hand. “No.”
“I’ll draw their attention away from here. Then I’ll work my way back to their truck and find a way to make a statement. When their attention I diverted, get back to Josh and the SUV.”
“Please,” Kylie whispered. “Be careful.”
He nodded. “I will be. But I have to do this.” After a quick kiss, he left them and eased out from behind the boulder.
At that moment another Taliban soldier appeared, shining his light at a different outcropping.
Mac clamped his arm around the man’s neck and cut off the air to his windpipe to keep him from calling out to his comrades.
Instinctively, the man dropped his rifle and flashlight and grabbed at the arm around his neck with both hands.
Tightening his hold, Mac dragged him back behind the boulder.
Blade was there to gag he man and took over. He secured him, tying his wrists and ankles. “Go,” Blade urged. “It won’t be long before the others find us here.
Mac left, swinging wide of the line of men with flashlights combing the hillside for Kylie and Musa. He hurried downward, formulating a plan as he went. A couple times on the way down, he chucked a rock toward some of the searchers, making them think they were getting close to their quarry, when, in fact, they were led in the opposite direction.
Most of the man were in the hills. A couple had remained at the truck, guarding it with their AK-47s. But they were looking up at the men conducting the search.
They didn’t see Mac as he circled around and came up from behind. The truck doors hung open. He thought about lighting a rag and sticking it in the gas tank, but he didn’t have a match or lighter to create a flame.
As the two men stood near the front of the vehicle, their backs to him, Mac slipped into the driver’s seat. Taking a deep breath, he twisted the key in the ignition, praying it would start on the first try. He wouldn’t get another chance.
The engine turned over and engaged.
The two men in front of him spun, their eyes wide.
Mac pointed his gun out the window and fired at them, forcing them to dive to the ground. At the same time he shifted into first gear and stomped on the accelerator. The doors on each side slammed shut as the vehicle leaped forward.
The men on the ground rolled to get out of the way of the oncoming truck. By the time they got up, Mac had the truck heading toward a rocky escarpment at full speed.
Bullets slammed through the back windshield, spraying glass into the cab.
Mac ducked low and kept going, increasing the speed as he bumped over rough terrain.
At the last moment, he gunned the accelerator, flung open t
he driver’s door and threw himself out. Hitting the ground hard, he tucked his arms and legs and rolled away from the racing vehicle.
The truck slowed as soon as his foot left the accelerator, but not soon enough to stop it from crashing into the bluff.
A moment later, the gas ignited, shooting a column of flame into the sky.
Mac lay for a moment in the ravine, knowing that if he stood, he would be silhouetted against the fire and make an easy target for the Taliban. And if all went according to his plan, they would be heading toward him and away from Kylie and the others.
Low-crawling to the top of the ditch he’d landed in, he blinked to adjust his night vision after being blinded by the light of the flame still burning behind him.
For a moment, he could see nothing but blackness. But as he studied the hillside he’d come down from, he could see the silhouettes of men hurrying back down to investigate the crash of their only mode of transportation.
He let go of the breath he’d been holding. His plan to distract them had worked. Before he could break his arm patting his own back, he realized he would soon be surrounded by Taliban soldiers.
With the bluff behind him, he didn’t have many avenues of escape. He could really use a miracle to get him out of the situation alive.
As the roar of the fire faded, Mac could hear another sound that gave him hope…the thumping rumble of rotors beating the air grew louder.
Mac looked to the sky. Two Black Hawk helicopters sped toward them.
Could it be possible his team had found them?
A miracle he’d needed. Now one winged its way toward him.
All he had to do was stay alive long enough for the people in that chopper to rescue him from the bloodthirsty men converging on the crashed vehicle and his position.
He crawled along the shallow ravine, heading away from the fire, staying low to the ground.
As the chopper neared, the Taliban soldiers slowed and looked up at the sky.
“That’s right,” Mac murmured to himself. “Focus on them, not me. They’re bringing a whole lot of whoop ass on your heads.”
At least he hoped that was why they were there and not on their way to another engagement.