Ice (Elite Forces #1)(58)



“We get him alive and take him home. Steele will be listening in the chopper and will drop down for all of us right here. Once you hear the clear, get your asses to that chopper that will drop between the house and where Ice and Bullet are watching us.” Everyone shifts just slightly as he stands to place his knives and guns in their places on his body. We all follow his lead, and I get a feel of the rifle he hands me.

“It’s go time. Get back in the truck and let the old man get us to our locations. He knows this area and will be vital to us moving around tonight.” Three o'clock in the morning and we’re off. All the guys follow his orders, and I follow behind, knowing he’ll have something to say to me before we leave.

“Please be smart out there. I want you safe.”

“Kaleb. You know I’m great at what I do. I’ll be fine. Don’t baby me, damn it.”

“I’m not. I just can’t wait to f*cking go away somewhere with you and have all of this shit behind us.”

“What did you say, four days and we’re leaving? You can wait that long.” I choke back a laugh.

“I sure as f*ck hope I can wait that long to feel you around my dick. Quit your damn testing me or I’ll make you regret that shit when we get back.”

“Oh, I sure hope you do.” His eyes widen, and he’s visibly struggling. I know if we had even five minutes, he’d pull me to the side and f*ck me good. I wish we had ten minutes, but we don’t. After this mission, we’ll have a few weeks together and can make up for it then.

“You be safe, Kaleb. I’ll be watching your ass for you.”

“I know you will.” We both look into each other’s eyes without any further words. Our eyes are screaming to say more, but the time doesn’t allow it. I turn to walk away and feel the depth of his stare as I do. This team has to feel the chemistry from us. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking when I thought we could hide this.

Tank hits the top of the truck twice, and the old man starts to move us. “He won’t be stopping, just slowing down, so be ready to drop and roll when it’s time.” Tank starts to instruct all of us on the drop. When it’s time, we get the signal, and I go. The rifles are tossed out in their protective bags right behind us, and we quickly throw them over our shoulders and move to get out of sight. Trying to keep my heart calm, I try to zero in on Kaleb and the reason I want to get this over with soon.

“Here.” Bullet is moving quickly, and I stay on his heels until we’re moving on the roof of a building. It’s rectangular-shaped, and one end faces the direction we need to be watching. We set up near each other in the center of the wall and start looking for our team. The first drop is made, and I listen to them talk in my ear as we wait for the second. My heart is pounding. I’m sweating. I want this done.

They’re all moving in on the target quickly, and I look for any sign of anything I would need to shoot. So far, it’s very quiet and I hate it. Why is it so f*cking quiet? The guys are breathing, I can hear them in my ears, so I know they’re all good, but I just have an eerie feeling. I stand to look behind us and see no signs of life. Trying to feel more relaxed, I face forward again and watch through my scope.

I finally see movement from one of our guys and signal to Bullet that I’m watching the front. He takes the back. Our guys move in, and I watch them take out a man with a knife. Kaleb and Harris are both in my sight, and I watch the surrounding area, waiting for so much as a f*cking plant to move. They make their way inside, and we lose visibility of our team as all f*cking hell blows up in that house.

The sounds of gunshots and screaming have me desperately listening for the voices I want to hear most. “Where is Al-Quaren?” Kaleb begins yelling, and Harris starts to speak in foreign, trying to get them to talk. I keep hearing gunshots and then notice movement in the front. Our team is all inside, so I know it’s not one of ours.

Bullet sends off a shot and starts talking quietly. “You have them coming in. We’re shooting out here.” I send off two shots, taking out two in my view, quickly seeing three more ambushing the house quickly. I work fast to take them all out, hearing just as many shots coming from Bullet.

“Get the f*ck out of there. There’s a f*ck ton coming your way. NOW, Fire. Get the f*ck out now.” I start shooting as fast as I’m trained to do, not missing a single shot, but knowing at least one got past me. I have eleven shots before I have to reload.

“There are too many of these f*ckers. Get the f*ck out. Get the chopper here, now. We have to move.” Bullet starts giving orders, and I’m not sure if that makes it official or not.

“I have his ass, Fire. He’s under the floor. I want to blow his f*cking head off more than anything, but I’m holding him. I need someone back here, he’s got four kids with him.” Jackson’s voice is desperate and loud in my ears.

“You sure it’s him?” Kaleb questions.

“Yes, all three markings are here. Get back here and help me pull him out of this hole.”

“Stone, get the f*ck back there and tell him to move or we’ll blow his ass up.” I hear Kaleb giving orders and more shots going off. I get a small break in movement, so I reload, preparing for whatever is sent my way. Bullet shoots once more, and we both begin our scan of the area again.

“Come on, motherf*cker. Crawl out of there.” Listening to the sounds of the team fight their way to get him out makes my adrenaline rush even harder. I can hear them all struggle, and I wish we were in there to help.

Hilary Storm & Kathy's Books