Deadly Game (Fortress Security #5)(85)

Eli took a hard right and pushed the SUV to its limits on the asphalt road. In the distance, two sets of headlights waited. Grumbling under his breath, the SEAL guided the vehicle off the road into the field. Thankfully, the teeth-jarring ride was short and Eli skidded back onto a paved road, racing toward the airstrip.

“Two vehicles on our six,” Adam reported.

Brent turned, glanced out the back. “Rowan, get on the floor with Alexa.”

Without a word, she gathered the girl close and slid off the seat. “We’re playing a game, Lex. Hide and seek from the bad guys.”

Alexa’s giggle brought a smile to Brent’s face. He was glad she could laugh in the middle of this situation. “Jake, switch seats with me.” If Rowan or Alexa were injured in the next few minutes, he wanted the medic on hand to help them. Besides, Brent was a better shot.

After he and Jake switched places, Brent reached into the cargo hold for his Go bag. “We can’t let them too close,” he murmured to Adam. This vehicle wasn’t reinforced. A well-placed bullet could hit Rowan or Alexa.

“No problem.” Adam grabbed his rifle and aimed at the fast-approaching vehicle. “We’ll stop them. Don’t want the girl scared,” he said, voice gruff.

At that moment, Jon growled. “Two more vehicles in front.”

Crap. Classic pincer move. The four vehicles were going to ambush them from the front and the back.





CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT


Brent scowled as he stared through the windshield. “Don’t suppose you brought a rocket-propelled grenade.”

“In my Go bag.”

With the exception of Jon, the Fortress men chuckled. Of course Jon had brought an RPG. The sniper believed in being prepared for the worst because that’s usually what they faced.

Reaching into the cargo hold again, he chose the largest Go bag and hauled it onto the seat beside him, passed it to the sniper. Jon pulled out the launcher and grenade, rolled down the window. “Right target, Eli.”

“Yep. Don’t miss.”

“Ha ha.”

Eli grinned at his partner’s dry tone.

Brent grabbed his rifle. “Raise the hatch,” he said to Adam. The Marine slapped the button and the hatch slowly raised. “Baby, cover Alexa’s ears. It will be loud in here.”

After a whispered conversation with her niece, Rowan said, “We’re ready. Take care of these guys, love. I’m ready for that date with you.”

He blinked in surprise at the endearment from her, the first of many, he hoped. “Yes, ma’am. You heard the lady, Jon. Let’s take care of business and go home. Adam, I’ll take the truck on the right. Fire when ready, Jon.”

The sniper readied the launcher, then shifted to sit in the opening of the window. He lifted the launcher to his shoulder, aimed, pulled the trigger. The vehicle on the right exploded as Eli took evasive maneuvers to avoid the still oncoming vehicle and the fiery wreckage.

The sniper ducked inside the cab of the SUV, reloaded. “Hold it steady,” he told Eli. Despite the other vehicle coming straight at them, his teammate kept the SUV moving at a constant clip. Two seconds later, Jon pulled the trigger and the last remaining attack vehicle in front of them exploded in a ball of fire.

Eli maintained course and speed until his partner had ducked inside, then evaded the mess.

“Our turn,” Brent said. He and Adam would have to take out the pursuing vehicles without an RPG. Brent raised the rifle to his shoulder and fired off several rounds, as did Adam.

The trucks behind them weaved, almost hitting each other before renewing their pursuit. “This road is terrible,” he groused as he fired off another round.

“What road?” Eli said. “More potholes that anything else.”

True enough. The Mexican government wasn’t wasting money on roads in this province. As much traveling as Garcia did over the years, Brent was surprised the cartel leader hadn’t applied pressure in the right places to have the roads taken care of for his own convenience. Drug money bought privilege and power in this part of the world.

He fired a volley of shots. This time, his target vehicle veered off the road and slammed into a stand of trees. Excellent. The vehicle wasn’t going anywhere. A moment later, the other vehicle was also out of commission, thanks to Adam.

“Nice work,” Eli said as he sped up. At the next right, he turned to avoid a federale checkpoint set up a half mile in front of them. More than likely, the checkpoint was manned by men and women sympathetic to the cartel.

“We’re clear,” Brent said to Jake. The medic nodded and backed away from Rowan and Alexa. He’d hovered over top of them during the firefight to protect them as much as possible. “You can sit up, baby.”

Rowan climbed onto the seat with her niece and gifted him with a brilliant smile.

Man, he loved this woman. Brent needed to tell her soon. The next twenty miles, he and his operatives kept a wary eye on their surroundings. Thankfully, they arrived at the airstrip with no further confrontations.

“Stay inside until we’re positive it’s safe,” Brent said. He and the others exited the vehicle, weapons in hand, and scanned the surrounding area. When he was reasonably certain no threats lurked in the darkness, Brent opened the door for Rowan and Alexa. Alexa lifted her arms to him. An invisible band squeezing his chest, he gathered her in his arms, ignoring the pain from his ribs, and held out a hand to help Rowan from the vehicle. Eli fell into step beside her, weapon ready, scanning as he walked with her toward the plane.