Page 15 of SEAL's Resolve

Rafe shifted his attention from Kristi to the job at hand. “Tell Quinn to get in front of us. I don’t want to explain to Bear why my ride needs repairs.” Quinn was also driving alone. He couldn’t fire a weapon at the pursuers unless they pulled up beside him.

After a pause, Durango’s leader laughed. “Quinn heard you. He’s coming around us.”

“Who’s Bear?” Kristi asked, her voice muffled.

“The mechanical wizard who upgrades all of our vehicles and keeps the fleet running in top form,” Rio answered. “He takes repairs personally and lets us know about it.”

“You’re afraid of him?”

“Anybody with common sense is afraid of Bear.”

“The only people he’s not gruff with are our wives or girlfriends,” Josh added. “They think he’s a teddy bear.” He shuddered. “The rest of us know better.”

“Will I meet him?”

“He’s not based in Otter Creek, so probably not.” Another pause. “Rafe.”

“I see him.” The vehicle behind them was closing in fast.

“Got one in front of Alex, too.”

He frowned. How did that happen? Only one road led in or out of the area where Kristi had been held captive. His jaw clenched. As he’d feared, more than eight men were involved in Kristi’s kidnapping. Fortress needed to get to the bottom of this mess soon.

Rafe raised the AR-10, waiting until the vehicle moved closer before he pulled the trigger. “Hold it steady, Josh.”

“Do it. I want Quinn behind us as soon as possible.”

Rafe’s SUV would offer another layer of protection for Kristi. “Copy that.”

“Cover your ears, Kristi,” Rio said. “Ready, Rafe.”

He blocked everything from his mind except the target vehicle. Rafe aimed and squeezed the trigger.

The center of the kidnapper’s windshield cracked. The driver swerved, but kept coming. Growling, Rafe fired again, this time aiming for the driver. When the bullet hit his target, the kidnapper’s vehicle veered off the road, broke through the railing, and plunged into a ravine. Seconds later, a ball of fire lit the night.

“Nice shot,” Josh said. “Quinn, fall back.”

“What about the other vehicle?” Rafe asked.

“Nate took care of it. We’re clear for now.”

Excellent. Rafe secured the AR-10, pressed the button to raise the window, and crawled over the seat to help Kristi. He frowned when he noticed her fast breathing and beads of sweat on her forehead. “Kristi?”

“I’m okay.”

“Liar,” he murmured and frowned at Rio.

“Back off, frog boy,” the medic said. “I’ll do what I can to alleviate the pain.”

“Cracked ribs?”

“Bruised. Still painful.” He inclined his head to the cold packs Kristi held in her hand. “Reposition those while I grab another one for her ribs.”

Rafe plucked one of the chemically-activated cold packs from her hand and laid it against the back of her head. Kristi held the second cold pack against her jaw while Rio activated a third pack and placed it against her ribs. “Can’t you give her a pain killer?”

“I don’t know what the kidnappers used on her. I don’t want to risk a drug interaction.” He looked at Rafe. “Chill. Another hour, and she’ll be at Memorial Hospital. Kristi’s tough. She can handle this for another hour.”

She was tough, but that didn’t mean he wanted the dressmaker to suffer. Since he couldn’t prevent it, Rafe closed his mouth and seethed in silence.

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