Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Brody got to his feet, twisting in order to lay down some cover fire of his own. His chest ached, his ribs tender after the bullet he took.
One, two, three shots and he sprinted toward the safety of the maze of boxes. He hauled Tucker along by his shirt, praying the damn thing was well made because he wasn’t sure what he would do if it came apart in his hands.
All around him gunfire split the air. “Paradise City” became “Welcome to the Jungle” as Brody pulled Tucker deeper into the maze.
“Let me take him, mate.” Alfi was suddenly at his side. His shirt sleeve was torn and blood soaked the material.
Damn it. “Why didn’t you stay back?”
“Because I bloody well don’t deserve to be safe when my best mate is out here near dying,” Alfi shouted back. He pointed to the west side of the building. “De Vries managed to send a couple of men up the stairs. They’re going up to take out the snipers and then you’ll be a sitting duck.”
Brody watched the black-clad mercenary sneaking up the stairs. The bad guy hugged the back wall, but dropped to one knee and brought up the AK-47 he was holding. It wasn’t a sniper rifle, but it would do.
And it was pointed straight at him. Fuck.
Alfi stepped in front of him like a complete moron, since he wasn’t wearing a damn vest.
Before he could shove Alfi away, a shot cracked through the air. The Belgian’s head flew back, his body hitting the wall, and he went down.
Thank god for snipers.
“What the hell was that? Why would you do that?” Brody looked around, trying to see if anyone else had a line on them.
“I don’t know,” Alfi shouted back, frowning ferociously. “I guess I’m just stupid, but I know I’m not going to be the reason you die. I’ll take Tucker, or you take him and I’ll hold the line.”
Tucker had somehow managed to make it to his feet. “He knows my name. I have to talk to him.”
This was why the Lost Boys weren’t allowed in the damn field. “You’ll go with Alfi. I have to work my way back and make sure none of those fuckers gets close to where Steph is. Go with him. No excuses or I’ll knock you out and he can carry you.”
Taggart’s voice came over his comm line. “Carter, we’ve got them all except de Vries. Can’t see him and the comms are out with the boys above. I can’t get info from them. It looks like he’s in the maze, brother. On your side. Li’s coming in after you. Don’t shoot him.”
Shit. His best bet was getting back out the same way Li was coming in. He couldn’t engage de Vries as long as he had two civilians to protect. He couldn’t be sure this close to the side of the building that the snipers would have a shot. “We’re heading back out.”
“I’ll take him,” Alfi said, hauling Tucker up with his good side.
Li moved around the corner. “Brody, I need you with me. De Vries slipped in here somewhere and we can’t see him. I’ve got Erin on the other side and Theo and Case are taking the south end. I have no idea how the fucker got by us.”
“Where’s Steph?” If Erin wasn’t with her, had she run?
“Alex got grazed,” Li said shortly as he started to move past Brody. “The last time I checked, she was stopping the bleeding. It’s not a big deal, but we brought Shane and Dec down to help wrap up the ones left alive for Ezra.”
He nodded back at Alfi, who started to lead Tucker away, and then followed Li. “Where the hell is Ezra? I would have thought he would come in by now.”
“No idea. Hope he didn’t get stuck in traffic. Tag will have his arse.” Li moved down the big aisle toward the far end of the building.
Brody touched the comm. “Alex, I need you to watch Steph for me. Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“She’s fine,” Li insisted.
“She’s working on one of the Ukrainians.” Alex’s voice came over the comm. “We’ve got more than a few dead Belgians, but the Ukrainians came out of it with two GSWs. One’s pretty serious, but Steph thinks she can stop the bleeding.”
Steph was certain she could save the world, even if it killed her. “I need you to keep eyes on her.”
Liam rounded the corner. “Shit. What the hell happened?”
Brody stopped, his body going cold as he heard a familiar voice. He couldn’t see what Li was seeing.
“I thought he was hurt,” Steph said, her voice shaking.
Shit and shit. He was going to kill them all.
“Let her go and I’ll walk away,” Li offered.
Oh, but that wasn’t going to work. There was no way de Vries gave up his prize.