Mission: Her Protection (Team 52 #1)(42)

She peered at the sidewalk ahead, trying to keep Airman Kowalski in view.

She stabbed the buttons on the dash. “Brooks? Can you hear me?”

“Rowan?” Brooks’ startled voice. “Where are you?”

“I’m in one of the SUVs. I’m following Airman Kowalski.”

Brooks sucked in a breath. “Lachlan is going to lose his mind.”

Probably. But Rowan couldn’t worry about that right now. “Can you patch me through to him?”

“Sure thing. Give me a sec.”

Airman Kowalski turned down a side street and Rowan cursed. She swung the wheel to follow, tires screeching. From somewhere behind, a horn blared. “Sorry, sorry.”

“Rowan.”

Lachlan’s voice came through the dash and she winced. He was not happy.

“I’m in the SUV. I’m following Airman Kowalski at a distance. Uh, she took off down South Las Vegas Boulevard, and we’ve turned onto…” Shit, she had no idea what street they were on.

A strangled noise came through the line. “Stop the vehicle, Rowan.”

“No, Lachlan. We’ll lose her and the artifact.” Rowan saw Airman Kowalski turn again. “Hang on.”

She was on a smaller street now, moving into a more industrial area.

“We’re in the other SUV and tracking you,” Lachlan said. “We’re just a few minutes behind you. Do not get out of the car.”

“Okay—” Rowan slammed on the brakes and gasped.

She stared through the windshield, her mouth going dry.

“Rowan?”

Ice slid through her veins. Airman Kowalski, looking huge and menacing, stood in the center of the road, staring through the windshield at Rowan.

“Ah, we might have a problem.”

“What?” Lachlan snapped.

“She spotted me.”

“Hang on, Rowan, we’re almost there.”

Airman Kowalski leaped into the air, and Rowan’s hands clenched on the steering wheel. The changed woman landed on the hood and set the SUV rocking. Metal crumpled and the engine cut out.

“Lachlan? Brooks?” The comm line had cut off.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Rowan yanked her seatbelt off.

Airman Kowalski took a step closer, the hood crunching under her large feet. Rowan gripped the door handle.

Then suddenly, Airman Kowalski’s big body started shuddering like she was having a seizure.

What the—? Rowan frowned. There were wires embedded in Airman Kowalski’s side. Rowan swiveled her head and watched a team of soldiers wearing dark-gray uniforms moving in on her vehicle.

One soldier was holding some sort of weapon, and the wires were coming from it. It had to be some sort of high-tech, heavy-duty Taser.

Then, Airman Kowalski roared, tearing the wires free. She leaped off the hood. When she landed, she sent soldiers scattering. But some stayed on their feet. They converged on Airman Kowalski, firing their weapons.

Come on, Lachlan. Rowan had no idea who these people were, but they were clearly after the artifact.

Suddenly, Rowan’s door was yanked open. A hard hand wrapped around her arm and wrenched her out of the vehicle.

She looked up into the impassive face of a bearded soldier.

Shit.



*

Lachlan tried to control his rage.

“Sorry, Lachlan, we’ve lost comms,” Brooks said. “I’m pulling up satellite feed now. Give me a minute.”

Rowan might not have a minute. His hands clenched on his CXM7 rifle now resting in his lap. The little fool.

“Hurry up,” he barked at Seth.

“Going as fast as I can.” Seth took the corner fast, the back end of the SUV swerving.

Once again, cold, hard fear splashed over Lachlan. Come on.

“Okay, I have images,” Brooks said. Then the sound of him sucking in a breath burst through the line.

Lachlan’s heart hit his ribs. “Brooks, talk to me.” He leaned forward, willing the cars in front of them to get out of the way.

“The SUV is wrecked. A military team is attempting to contain Airman Kowalski.”

Fuck. “Rowan?” They screamed around another corner.

“Fighting with a soldier.”

“These guys any of ours?”

“Negative.”

“We’re going in hot.” Lachlan checked his rifle. “Seth, get us as close as you can.”

The man nodded. In the seats behind, he heard everyone checking their weapons. They’d all donned Kevlar vests.

They turned another corner, and he spotted the black SUV ahead, Airman Kowalski struggling against several gray-clad soldiers.

Seth sped up and then jerked on the brake. He slid their SUV to the side to give them cover. The vehicle screeched to a halt, rocking slightly.

Lachlan shoved his door open and leaped out. As he lifted his weapon, Blair and Axel flanked him.

He sighted the first soldier and fired. He heard Airman Kowalski roar, but blocked it out. The soldiers had her trapped under a net and she was fighting it.

He dropped down behind the hood of their vehicle. Bullets slammed into the metal. He caught Blair’s eye. She nodded and they popped up again, firing.

Lachlan spotted Rowan off to one side. She was struggling with a soldier who was trying desperately to subdue her.