Defending Raven (Mountain Mercenaries #7)(71)

The second the last words were out of his mouth, he heard his Mountain Mercenaries yelling from what sounded like every direction. Telling the men to put down their weapons. The light that had been pointed at Dave disappeared as del Rio’s men were suddenly busy protecting themselves, plunging him back into darkness.

Dave turned his attention back to the wall, striding confidently and quickly toward his target destination. He heard del Rio yelling orders at his men, but all Dave’s attention was on his footing and getting off the wall. “Ready, champ?” he asked his son as he moved into position. He sat on the edge of the wall facing away from the barrio, his feet dangling off the other side.

“I’ve got you, son. Do you trust me?” Dave asked when the boy didn’t respond. He tightened his arm around David and held him tightly against his body.

“Sí.”

“Good. Close your eyes, and hang on.”

He waited until David’s little eyes clenched shut and he tightened his legs and arms around him once more. Then Dave pushed off the wall and jumped.

The landing hurt a bit, but Dave bent his knees and absorbed most of the impact with his legs. He stumbled and had to use his other hand for balance when he began to fall, but caught himself. No way was he going to fall over with his son in his arms. It would scare the boy to death and could possibly hurt him in the process. Dave would sooner die than do anything that would hurt his son after everything he’d been through.

He was up and running down the hill as soon as he’d gained his balance, not daring to look behind him. He heard more shouting from the direction of the barrio and in his earpiece, but he didn’t stop or slow down, tuning out the voices. It was obvious they hadn’t guessed he would jump off the other side of the wall. Del Rio was conceited enough to believe that Dave would have to simply surrender.

Not happening.

Having studied satellite pictures of the area until he knew them by heart, Dave knew exactly where he was going and where he would hide. Del Rio was arrogant. He wouldn’t give up easily, but the Mountain Mercenaries would keep him and his men busy until Dave could disappear with David and hide until morning.

He knew his team was good, but the barrio was unfamiliar territory, even if they’d studied surveillance photos. Del Rio and his men were much more comfortable there. It was likely del Rio would be able to escape, but Dave wasn’t concerned. As he’d told the man, he’d get his own one day. Dave would make sure of it.

He hated that Raven would be frantic with worry when he didn’t immediately return with their son. The next few hours would be uncomfortable, but his team would come pick them up as soon as they could, and they’d be on their way back to the United States, so it would all be worth it.

The voices of his men now crackled in his earpiece, and the farther he got from the wall, the more static there was. The radios were made for short ranges. They’d all known there was the possibility of losing touch, so Dave wasn’t concerned. The plan was set, and his men could take care of themselves.

“He was really mad,” the little boy whispered after they’d headed away from the barrio wall and into the neighborhood.

Dave didn’t slow as he quickly made his way toward the first street. The houses were close together, and the tallest were only two stories. There were hundreds of houses in the neighborhood, and while it was nicer than the barrio, it was still poor. An upscale neighborhood would be harder to hide in. Del Rio would come looking for him, especially after Dave had gotten the best of him and insulted and threatened the man. He couldn’t let that slide, not when several of his men had overheard. He’d look weak.

But Dave didn’t give a shit. Let del Rio look for him. He wouldn’t find him.

His team and the Peruvians would kill del Rio, if given the chance, and if they failed, Dave suspected his men would be pissed. But what they didn’t know was that del Rio would still pay . . . eventually. He hoped the man would spend some time wondering when and where payback would occur. He wanted him to become paranoid and more concerned about his own safety than putting together plots to sell children and kidnap more women.

But if that didn’t happen, and del Rio shrugged off his threats, karma would still happen one day. Dave would make sure of it.

“He was mad,” Dave told his son, “but he’s not going to find us. We’re going to hide, then we’re going to get your mom and go home.”

David’s head came up off his shoulder as he stared at him. “Promise?”

“Promise,” Dave said immediately.

“Del Rio said if I left, he’d kill Mamá,” David reminded him fearfully.

Dave was furious at the mental torture del Rio had inflicted on this precious little boy. Knowing this was important and that he needed to address it right this second, Dave dashed between two houses and crouched down. David put his feet down and stood, biting his lower lip uncertainly.

Dave put his hands on David’s shoulders and looked him in the eyes as he spoke. “Del Rio is a bad man, champ. He’s mean and a bully. He doesn’t care if he hurts other people. I have no doubt that he was telling you the truth, that he meant what he said. But he can’t hurt your mom if he can’t find her. And trust me when I say he’s never going to find her. Or you. Today was the last time you’ll have to see that man, and the last time he’ll ever see you. He won’t be able to hurt either one of you because we’ll be gone.”