Page 38 of Coveting Catherine

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

Leo shook his head at Chase as the two helos raced across the sky. “When did your wife acquire these? I don't remember seeing them on my list of equipment and location.”

“Victoria gifted them to the team. You own three.” Chase smiled. Ivan and Victoria flew in the other helo with a team of men. Ivan studied the map of the area while Victoria organized the men on the ground to secure Serenity Mountain.

“I’m not sure if I want to know how her and Ivan get all these men in one place so quickly. It’s like they own an army,” he shook his head.

Chase grinned. “I’ve discussed it with Kassie. Trust me, it’s better we don’t know all the details. I never thought I’d say it, but we’re damn lucky to have such an extended…family.” His eyebrows arched as he used the word loosely, causing Leo to smile and shake his head.

Ash sat across from Leo holding his broken nose. Doc pulled the tracker from underneath his shoulder blade. The remaining third helo carried the tracker and showed it moving toward Canada. The team and Ivan's men flew to the abandoned farmhouse two hours from Seattle. As soon as Rahimi's man called him and sent the text of a beaten Catherine and unconscious Kassie, Matthew locked on the location. Matthew handed Ash his device as he began a search of the deserted area, a house with a helicopter in the backyard stood out like a sore thumb. Not a typical backyard toy, the men zeroed in on the place. Saint checked for the nearest civilians, Taco made calls to find the owner of the property, and Shadow geared up along with Chase. Leo counted the minutes until he held his girls, and Chase grabbed PITA.

So many questions ran through his head concerning Catherine and now, Melody. It felt good. His feelings for June Bug began the moment he and Catherine went on the run with her and Emma. The little girl captured his heart. Knowing there might be a small possibility she might be his daughter made his pulse race. She reminded him of a miniature version of Catherine, sweet and feisty. It brought a smile to his face.

Leo spoke into the team coms. “What we learned stays on the mountain. We keep it zipped until I talk to Catherine, and Ash explains himself.” The men within his sight nodded in understanding. Once they set the helos down, Taco volunteered to stick to Ash. The leader of the team needed his head clear in order to rescue the women and Melody. He didn't trust Ash and planned to leave him under lock and key at the facility. After considering his usefulness as leverage, Leo changed his mind. Surprisingly, Ash argued to accompany the team.

The helicopter flew closer to their destination, the team received their orders, and Catherine bombarded his thoughts. So many barriers stood between him and Kit Kat. Leo counted Ash as the first one he knocked down. He listened to the chatter between Matthew and Taco as he leaned against the wall of the helo. They planned to land the helo two miles out under the cover of darkness. Ivan's men waited for their leader on the ground and reported activity happening around the farmhouse. Victoria's men surrounded the mountain and secured the area. Saint distributed pictures of Rahimi and his right-hand men. If possible, they wanted them alive.

Rebecca Rhodes and her team eagerly awaited Leo's signal to retrieve the prisoners. The CIA became interested in how far Rahimi's men ranked within the military. Someone supplied information on weapons transfers and how they entered the country.

“Regardless of what happens, I want you to know, for what it's worth, I'm sorry for Catherine and Whiskey. They didn’t deserve this.” Ash confessed. Everyone in the helo heard the regret in Ash's voice. The apology came too late for the men. Grateful their teammate, Ragu would soon be exonerated by Ash’s taped confession, the team remained silent and let their leader handle Ash.

“As far as I'm concerned, you're too late. Once Catherine finalizes the divorce, you'll cease communications with her and the team. I'm sure Doc can refer you to someone to help you cope with PTSD.”

Ash seemed resigned to his fate.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

Kassie picked up the sleeping Melody. The poor girl tired herself out crying for her mama. Kassie slipped out the door and into the darkness. She hurried toward the wooded area at the back of the house. The cool night air woke the sleeping child.

“Mama,” Melody whined and began to cry.

“Shsh,” Kassie comforted her. “It's Auntie Kassie, Melody. Listen to me. Can you play the quiet game with me? Em says you're the best,” she soothed.

“I want my mama,” Melody's scared voice penetrated the night air. Kassie rushed into the nearest trees. She managed to knock three men out and gutted the one who entered her room and wanted a night of entertainment. Worry for her friend overwhelmed Kassie. Concern for Melody, and her promise to Catherine to protect her daughter, caused her to take stock of her situation.

She didn't know where they were, and neither of them wore clothing for the outdoor conditions. Kassie scouted the area in the dark. She debated her choices. Take Melody and seek help or leave the child in the woods while Kassie attempted to rescue Catherine. What if she failed or got caught? Melody, already traumatized, would be left to her fate in the cold, damp area. Kassie weighed the options and knew if the situations were reversed, Emma would remain her priority. She needed to honor Catherine's wishes as her eyes stung with tears at leaving her best friend. She bit her lip as she pressed on.

Melody finally fell back to sleep after Kassie stopped and slipped the child underneath Chase's Navy sweatshirt. Thankfully, Chase’s size doubled Kassie’s easily, and the sweatshirt provided another layer of protection from the wind. Kassie hefted Melody up further. Her head pounded, and she wished she listened to Chase when he ordered her to take it easy. The woods felt endless as she zigzagged through the trees. Her nose ran, and her legs wobbled. Nausea rose between the headache and adrenaline. Thinking of the cozy thinking chair, she wished she’d stayed put. No, she wouldn't be here to help Melody or Catherine. She sobbed as she thought about her best friend in the farmhouse alone with those men. Would they hurt her more or attack her like the man intended to do with Kassie earlier? She rendered him useless for the unforeseeable future, but the other men remained. She marched on as tears rolled down her cheeks.

A noise to the left made her pause. She shivered and waited next to a tree. Waiting a few more minutes to ensure no one followed, she began walking again. She hoped an animal traipsed in the woods forging for food. Then she remembered when she escaped Chase, she ended up in a den of coyotes. Kassie grimaced and hiked Melody further. When did she get so big? Kassie's arms ached from holding the child, but she ignored it.

The sound of leaves rustling and a slight noise to the right caught her attention. She backed against a tree and waited. Someone else walked out there. Her heart raced as she calculated how fast she could run with Melody. A movement from behind her sent her darting between the trees. She held Melody tightly as branches smacked her in the face. The sound behind her got louder as she began zigzagging and she heard a mumbled curse.

A shadow appeared in front of her, and she dodged to her left like a frightened rabbit. A hand clamped over her mouth, and she promptly sank her teeth into the flesh. She tasted the metallic liquid as the jerk let go and cursed. Kassie wasted no time flying through the trees. A set of arms enclosed her and lifted her off the ground. She elbowed her attacker to no avail. He dropped her but held on tightly. Kassie kicked his shin and used all her strength to pull out of his embrace. She turned right into a cement wall. Panic set in. They surrounded her. She worried. With Melody attached to her front, they might hurt the little girl.

“Please don't shoot. She’s innocent. Don't hurt her,” she begged.

The attacker from behind turned her around, and a small light flashed the captor’s face. Kassie almost collapsed in relief. Chase stared down at her and put a finger to his lips. The woods returned to darkness as he held her tightly to his chest. Rollo lent support by leaning into her leg. Silently, the team surrounded her one by one. They stayed quiet until they assured themselves no one followed. Leo shined a light on Kassie. His eyes widened by the bulkiness of her shirt, with two legs sticking out.

“PITA, where's Catherine?” he whispered.

“She's back at the house. They beat her. The room was dark, but her ankle is broken and possibly her arm. She begged me to take Melody and run. I couldn't save her. I didn't have a choice. Melody came first. I promised.” Kassie's voice broke in anguish.

Leo cupped Kassie's face. “You did good, PITA. I would’ve made the same call. I'm going in for Catherine. Now tell me what you know.”

Kassie's head bobbed up and down. Taco pulled a thin blanket from his pack and wrapped it around her front as Chase eased her back along his chest. Rollo sat at her feet. Saint dug into Doc’s bag as he whispered what he wanted.

“The man boasted about ten men guarding the house and others out here along the perimeter waiting for the team. They have someone watching the mountain. I injured two of the men and knocked them out before leaving. They’re holding Catherine in the third room to the left on the top floor. I left through the back door and saw only one guard. He walks back and forth and smokes. Two men watched TV on the ground floor, and I don't know about the rest,” she babbled out the information she felt Leo needed to save her friend.

---