“Let’s get a pony and get out of here.”
Limping behind Bunny, Rebecca hoped that Brandt was having a better day then she was.
* * *
Brandt turned to Lopez, “Figure it out.”
The corporal nodded and took off. If anyone could find a way for them to get out of this mess, it was Lopez. Vakasa dropped Brandt’s hand and rushed over to the pile of rubble.
What the hell was the girl doing now?
But once a dark hand was revealed, Brandt figured it out. Levont kept watch over the guards as Brandt leaned his back to pulling rocks off of Vakasa’s guardian. The poor woman had been nearly crushed to death.
When she tried to speak, Brandt tried to shush her. “Save your energy.”
“For what? The undertaker?” She chuckled, then coughed up blood. “You must promise me you will take care of Vakasa. She is special.”
“I will,” Brandt stated.
“No, you must promise me,” the woman said as she clutched Brandt’s hand. “There is a shaman in the jungle. You must find him. He’ll know what to do.”
“I will,” Brandt repeated.
“Promise me,” the woman begged, as her hand went slack.
“I promise,” Brandt said, not sure if the woman even heard it. The earth shook again, and he had to pull Vakasa back from the woman as rocks tumbled down, covering her guardian.
He pulled the little girl to his side and gave her a squeeze. It was the best he could do before turning to Levont. “Situation update?”
“We’re screwed?” The man said, then cleared his throat. “They’ve reorganized. I have no idea how we’re going to punch through that blockade without a division of Marines.”
“Lopez will think of something,” Brandt said, looking behind them to where the corporal had disappeared.
Then he heard a whooping. Not exactly professional, but ever-so-Lopez.
The sound of wheels on a track filled the air. Rapidly approaching, Lopez was pumping up and down on an old handcar. He was pushing a large steel container.
“Hop in!” Lopez yelled as he sped down the track.
Brandt grabbed Vakasa around the waist and threw them both into the bin. Levont landed on top of them.
“Hang on, we’re going to hit the end of the tracks!” Lopez yelled.
“Blow it!” Brandt yelled to Levont. The point man hit the detonator and the explosives did their job, both in collapsing the mine, and in providing the outward force to shoot the bin out the entrance and over the guards.
Lopez was thrown past the handcar and into the bin as they sailed over the shocked soldiers.
The corporal scrambled up and started firing. “Reverse skeet shooting!”
Brandt would let him have it.
They landed, hard, in the center of the village. Brandt grabbed the little girl and hurled himself over the side, his gun at the ready. Although he didn’t need it, as the trees burst with gunfire. Not only were his men providing cover, but the rest of the allies were, as well.
“Move out!” Brandt yelled, and Levont struck out for the jungle. They were just about to melt into the trees when Brandt was shot.
Pain ripped through his shoulder. Despite his attempts to hold onto the girl, he dropped her as his arm went numb. The bullet rattled around his chest. Hitting the ground, Brandt tried to take in a breath, but it was like trying to suck molasses through a straw.
Vakasa patted the wound, sending streaks of fire through his shoulder. The ground beneath him shook as the world went black.
* * *
Davidson slid down the slick tree’s trunk as the earthquake rumbled on. Brandt was down. How could Brandt be down? One of the enemy’s snipers must have snuck in a shot. And it had looked bad, the way the sergeant tipped over, hitting the ground face first.
He had failed Brandt. How could he ever look Rebecca in the eye again? To lose her groom just days before the wedding?
Slipping on the moist ground, Davidson caught himself, then sprinted to the rest of his men.
Talli ran up, as well. “It wasn’t me.”
How sad that a sniper had to announce that he was not the one who had shot his own commanding officer. But, with Talli, it probably was a good idea to let everyone know it wasn’t him.
Davidson sank to his knees beside Brandt. While Levont and the allies provided cover, Lopez checked Brandt’s vitals, having to move the little girl out of the way to do it.
“He’s alive, but unconscious.”
Could he dare to hope that Brandt could survive?
“Looks like his vest caught most of it,” Lopez said. “Then the bullet must have ricocheted, digging up into his shoulder.”
“Brandt,” Davidson said, as the watch on his wrist vibrated. “It’s time to call home.”
The sergeant roused himself, his hand flying to his holster.
“It’s okay,” Lopez said, patting the sergeant on his other shoulder. “We’ve got to get out of here, though.”
“But I’m shot,” the sergeant said, sounding confused. “I’ve got a slug in me.”
“No, your vest caught it,” Lopez assured him. “We’ve got to evac before the soldiers regroup.”
Brandt shook off the cobwebs pretty quickly, rising with little help. “Then don’t let me slow us down.”
The sergeant picked up the little girl as they headed off into the jungle.
Next to Davidson, Talli shook his head. “What?” Davidson asked.
“The guy is made of steel.”
Yes, that Brandt was.
* * *
Rebecca stared at the sat phone. Brandt was supposed to check in an hour ago, but he hadn’t called yet.
Not that she hadn’t been busy. Local authorities hadn’t found any sign of the Disciples except for the dead bodies of their guides. Since murder, let alone a double murder, was extremely rare in Iceland, Rebecca and Bunny had spoken to nearly every law enforcement agency on the island, including, strangely, the Coast Guard.
Bunny walked over as the National Police Commission hopped into his Passat and drove off. Guess they had finally gotten ahold of the State Department, which must have demanded their immediate release. There were going to be lots more questions once they got home, Rebecca was certain.
But the single largest question was, why wasn’t Brandt calling? It was one thing to miss a check-in or two. It happened. But this close to the wedding? He had promised to call when they were heading back to the States.
As if her prayers were answered in real time, the phone in her hand rang. A blocked number.
“Brandt?” Rebecca said, as she answered the phone.
“Hey, babe.”
“Are you okay?” Rebecca asked.
“I’m great,” he said, with more enthusiasm. “But I’m not coming home just yet.”
“What?” Rebecca demanded. Their wedding was in four days. “That’s cutting it awfully close, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but I have a promise to fulfill,” Brandt said, then hurried on. “But I’ll be there, don’t you worry.”
And, strangely, Rebecca wasn’t. “So how was your day?”
“Oh, you know, just another day at the office. And yours?”
“Ditto,” she answered with a smile, as Bunny dabbed the cut on Rebecca’s forehead.
Afterword
Thank you so much for visiting the Betrayed world. Brandt, Rebecca, Davidson and especially Lopez appreciate it!
I love writing these bridge short stories since they give me so much freedom to really explore our heroes' character and get everyone ready for the next big book!
If you enjoyed Covert, could I ask you a favor to go back to Amazon and leave a review? We indie authors live and die by our reviews!
Want more heart-pounding action? Check out the next section for more thrills by Carolyn...
* * *
Other Works by Carolyn McCray
The Betrayed Series – Carolyn’s controversial historical thiller series
Have you read the entire Betrayed Series?
Ambush
Carolyn’s short story prequel to the extremely controversial 30 Pieces of Silver
30 Pieces of Silver
Extremely controversial historical thriller
Targeted
A 9000 word short story bridge between 30 Pieces of Silver and Havoc
Havoc
The soon to be released exhilarating sequel to Carolyn’s 30 Pieces of Silver!
Praise for the Betrayed Series…
“Part minefield and all roller-coaster ride, here is a story as controversial as it is thrilling. Hunker down for a long night, because once you start reading this book, you won’t be putting it down.”
James Rollins
Author of Bloodline
Have you read 30 Pieces of Silver’s prequel, Ambush? If not click here to purchase.
Haven’t read 30 Pieces of Silver yet? No worries, just click here to purchase.
To purchase or read a sample of Targeted on Amazon, click here.
Click here to pre-order Havoc!
* * *
Encrypted – Carolyn’s action-packed techno-thriller
If you enjoyed the adventure-filled romp of Hacked, you might also enjoy Carolyn’s action-packed techno-thriller, Encrypted.
“Dan Brown blinked, and Carolyn McCray took over. Encrypted is the best thing that I’ve read in the thriller genre, hands down. It’s got history, mysticism, and shadowy organizations manipulating world events. Oh, and did I mention the most incredible opposites-attract relationship EVER? This novel knocked my socks off.”
ThrillersRockT
Book Reviewer
More praise for Encrypted…
“I found this book to be just as the title said an action packed techno thriller. I read at least a book a week but this was one of those impossible to put down books. It was well worth the money and based on this book I bought her other book and will be placing the next in her series on my wish list.”
Scott Powner
Amazon Reviewer
To purchase or read a sample of Encrypted on Amazon, just click here.
* * *
All Hallow’s Eve – The one night it’s BAD… to be good
If you are in the mood for some more great serial killer catching I also have, All Hallow’s Eve: The One Night it’s BAD to be Good.
People are being martyred but not for their faith. Instead the deaths are part of a serial killer’s sick game as he chooses his victim by their name… then kills them in that Saint’s grisly manner.
What people are saying about All Hallow’s Eve…
“Scary and smart, All Hallow’s Eve is perfect for anyone who wants to read a horror story that makes them think. From the intricate psychopathology of the serial killer, to the hair-raising tension, to the skewering of pop culture, All Hallow’s Eve is simply a great read.”
Your Need To Read
Book Reviewer
To sample or purchase All Hallow’s Eve, click here.
* * *
Got Thrills? A Boxed Set With Your RDA Allowance of Thrills
From the Carolyn McCray, #1 bestselling author in Technothrillers, Men’s Adventure, Action/Adventure, and War comes a pack of thrillers to get your blood pumping!
AMBUSH
The prequel short story to the extremely controversial 30 Pieces of Silver
ANATOMY
See where the Harbinger Mystery series began
HACKED
The prequel short story to the #1 action packed Encrypted techno thriller
GAUNTLET
The action packed prequel short story to the bestselling Mystery/Horror novel All Hallow’s Eve
ROOK
Let’s avoid the Apocalypse, people! Occult Thriller
CLUB DEATH
Come for the Dancing. Stay because, well, a madman has you trapped inside.
SUPPER
The horror short story you’ve been craving
Praise for Carolyn’s thrillers…
“I found this book to be just as the title said an action packed techno thriller. I read at least a book a week but this was one of those impossible to put down books. It was well worth the money and based on this book I bought her other book and will be placing the next in her series on my wish list.”
Scott Powner
Amazon Reviewer
To purchase or sample Got Thrills, simply click here.
* * *
Acknowledgments
So many people contribute to any book that it is hard to list them all. However, I intend to try!
This book would never have come into existence without, of course, Jim. Ever cool. Ever there.
Ben, who faithfully edited the manuscript through its many, many, many incarnations.
Dee Dee, who has believed in me for so long it is almost impossible to remember a time without her. #andnothatsnotadissonyourage
Carrie, my editor, who knows of my love for sentence fragments and run-on sentences, yet who still patiently edits them to the point where they are readable!
About the Author
Carolyn has had a long and extremely interesting road to become a bestseller.
When she head to veterinary school those many years ago she had no idea decades later she would be writing controversial historical thrillers, gut wrenching mysteries and roller coaster-style action/adventure tales!
Born in San Francisco and raised in the beautiful Napa Valley, Carolyn always had an overactive imagination. As a child you could usually find her dragging the neighborhood children out to the haunted barn to make her Nancy Drew-style audio tapes. Oh and did she mention, there was an entire life-sized recreation of the nativity scene in the rafters? Yeah, that wasn't just a little creepy.
Which of course was great practice for writing such blockbusters as Plain Jane: A Patterson-style thriller with a dash of Hannibal and 30 Pieces of Silver: An Extremely Controversial Historical Thriller.
With over 250,000 books sold, Carolyn now lives on a beautiful lake in the Pacific Northwest where the fog rolls in over the water, snuffing out all signs of life around her. Yep, she still loves the creepy!
Contact Info:
Website
[email protected]
Copyright Information
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, places, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Covert
An Off Our Meds Project/published by arrangement with the author
FIRST EDITION
Copyright 2012 by Carolyn McCray
All rights reserved
Kindle Edition
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Any inquiries can be made to:
3524 South Star Lake Rd
Auburn, WA 98001
[email protected]
Table of Contents
Main Menu
Start Reading
Afterword
Other Works by Carolyn McCray
The Betrayed Series – Carolyn’s controversial historical thriller series
Encrypted – Carolyn’s action-packed techno-thriller
All Hallow’s Eve – The one night it’s BAD… to be good
Got Thrills? – A boxed set with your RDA allowance of thrills
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright Information
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