Page 11 of Last Chance

He considered that for a moment. Was it possible the terrorists had planted a tracker on Janie without her being aware of it?

Logan tilted his head, concentrating hard. Finally, he gave the all clear, and the group resumed their run toward the landing zone.

At the edge of another large clearing, Brody pulled out his satellite phone and made a call. “It’s Brody. We’re ready.” A pause, then, “Copy that.” He looked at the others. “Two minutes. Be ready.”

Janie looked at each man before settling her gaze on Sawyer. “Ready for what?”

“Choppers are noisy. It will attract attention all over the jungle. If the terrorists are close enough, they’ll zero in on this location. We may be in for a firefight before we’re on board the helicopter.”

“Sawyer, put me down. You need both hands free. I can run the few feet to the helicopter. I promise.”

Reluctantly, he set Janie on her feet, hovering close while she got her balance. “You good?”

She nodded. “Thanks for the lift.”

“Any time.”

A minute later, they heard the chopper in the distance. As one, Sawyer and his teammates readied their weapons, remaining in a loose circle with Janie in the middle.

Thirty seconds before the chopper appeared in the sky, Sawyer threaded the fingers of his free hand through Janie’s. “You and I are going to the clearing first. The rest of my teammates will cover us. The goal is to get you inside before the terrorists open fire. No matter what happens, you run as fast as you can and climb into the helicopter. I’ll be right behind you.” Covering her in case of enemy gunfire.

“What about your friends? They’re getting on board, too, right?”

“As soon as you’re clear, we’ll pile into the chopper,” Brody assured her. “You focus on the goal. Sawyer will give you instructions. Do exactly what he tells you to do, and you’ll be all right. We’ve got your back, Ms. Moran.”

“Janie.” She smiled. “After all this danger, I feel like we’re best friends.”

Brody smiled. “Janie, then. I’m Brody.” One by one, he introduced the rest of the Texas Team. He glanced at Sawyer. “Ready in ten seconds.”

“Copy.” He squeezed Janie’s hand. “Hold on to me and run as fast as you can. Got it?”

She nodded. “Tell me when.”

Sawyer drew in a breath and said, “Now.” He easily kept pace with Janie as she raced into the clearing. When she paused as the helicopter descended, Sawyer released her hand, wrapped his arm around her waist and caught her against his side as he urged her to quicken her pace.

Janie ducked her head against the grit and leaves whipped up by the force of the helicopter blades. When she stumbled, Sawyer scooped her into his arms and raced over the last few feet to the open side door of the chopper. He dumped her inside, then hauled himself into the belly of the beast. “Get in the farthest seat and strap in,” he ordered Janie.

Bullets pinged off the side of the chopper.

In a crouch, Sawyer spun, aimed, and fired his MP5 over the heads of his teammates. One by one, Max, Jesse, Logan, and finally Brody leaped into the helicopter.

“Go, go, go,” Brody shouted and joined Sawyer in firing off his weapon to protect the helicopter while it lifted into the air.

When the helicopter banked to the left, Sawyer and Brody strapped into their seats, removed their comm devices, and slipped on headphones with microphones attached.

“Any injuries?” Jesse asked.

Sawyer held up his hand, forestalling any genuine conversation until he helped Janie don a pair of headphones so she could hear what was being said. “Repeat the question, Jesse.”

“Any injuries to report?”

Each one of Sawyer’s teammates reported no injuries. Although he’d hoped no one had noticed that he hadn’t responded, Jesse zeroed in on him.

“Let’s hear it, Sawyer.”

Janie gasped and twisted in her seat. Worry filled her eyes. “Were you injured?”

He shrugged.

---