Page 74 of Fast Kill

“See you soon,” Easton said.

Logan nodded and got out of the vehicle, careful to land on his good leg. His knee throbbed but there was no way he could use crutches right now, and he didn’t care if the damn thing imploded, he would take the pain and the consequences of it to get to Taylor.

He set the butt of his rifle to his shoulder, sweeping the area. Nothing moved except the tall grass waving in the breeze. Maintaining caution, he got up and started for the dirt road, staying parallel to it in the grass.

“Alpha squad in position,” Zaid said through Logan’s earpiece. “Searching area now.”

Still no sign of anyone in this area, but the tire tracks on the dirt road looked fairly fresh. The back of his neck itched at moving out here, exposed and alone, but there was no help for it.

The other teams reported in, and Logan felt better knowing the guys were all fanning out and searching the vicinity. Once they cleared the area, they’d converge at the marina and continue the search. Taylor had to be nearby.

She had to be. When he thought of how she’d kissed him goodbye this morning, naked and sleepy in the apartment bed, a soft, happy smile on her lips as she’d looked up at him…

He mentally shook the image away and increased his pace, limping with each painful step as he angled to the northeast toward the thick stand of trees sixty yards away. Halfway to it, a glint of something metallic caught his eye.

He headed for it, his heart beating faster when he finally made out the rear bumper of a dark green van parked in amongst the trees. “Found a van.” He recited the license plate.

“Copy,” Hamilton answered. “I’ll have the analysts check it. Be advised, HQ has reported that there’s a small cabin hidden in the woods at your location.”

“I copy.”

“In the meantime, I’m sending Rodriguez and Khan to you.”

“Roger.” He’d be glad to have backup.

His pulse kicked up as he approached the van. It was empty, the rear doors open. The trampled grass behind it led in a trail toward the trees and disappeared as the path turned to dirt. “Heading for the cabin now.”

“Do not engage targets until backup arrives,” Hamilton ordered.

Logan acknowledged the command but already knew he’d disobey it if Taylor’s life hung in the balance.

A soft breeze rustled the leaves and branches of the trees as he reached the entrance to the thicket. He paused there, ignoring the pain in his knee, motionless as he listened and scanned for any movements or threats.

The path turned right and disappeared into the trees. He followed it, staying off the worn area and using the screen of trees to help conceal him.

Then he heard it.

Muffled voices. A scuffle.

He dropped to his good knee, all his senses training on the spot where the sound had come from. Then he crept forward, the pain in his knee barely registering beneath the rush of adrenaline in his veins.

“Contact thirty yards east of my position,” he whispered, and gave his location. “No visual yet.”

“We’re five minutes away,” Easton answered.

“Do not engage on your own,” Hamilton warned.

Logan moved closer, picking up speed. The path narrowed again, and he saw the cabin. Just as he started toward it, someone burst out of the far side and started through the woods.

Taylor’s voice, shaken but distinct. “Dillon. What are you doing?”

His heart seemed to stop beating for a moment, then shot into triple time. “It’s her. Taylor. She’s with Dillon.” And that son of a bitch wasn’t harming one hair on her head.

Logan’s feet were already moving, his boots nearly soundless on the pathway. He didn’t care about being exposed now. All he cared about was rescuing Taylor.

“Yes, you can. You don’t have to do this.”

Do what? He forced down the fear, fought the urge to let out a roar and charge toward them.

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