Page 84 of Explosive Vengeance

The instant he cleared it, his vehicle’s Bluetooth system signaled a call. He hit accept without looking, expecting it to be Jean-Pierre about the drone. “Yes?”

No one answered. But a classical song came on the car’s radio.

He frowned, glanced at the display. He didn’t like classical. “Hello?”

A chill ran up his spine as he read the words on the screen.

“Ride of the Valkyries,” by Wagner.

He slammed on the brakes, his heart rocketing into his throat. The bitch was still alive and trying to fuck with him.

****

Satisfaction pumped through Chloe when the Audi suddenly slammed on its brakes partway down the driveway. The vehicle’s side windows were tinted enough that she couldn’t see inside, but God, she wished she could see Dubois’ expression.

That’s right, you bastard. I’m coming for you.

Except he was too far away, because earlier security personnel movements had prevented her from getting to the correct spot. She needed to get closer. It was just her and Heath now, the others were waiting in vehicles, ready to extract them once she detonated the device.

She crept over the crest of the hill on her belly, ignoring the pain shooting through her hip and arm as she urged the vehicle forward.

Come on. Just a little more.

The remote she held only worked within a specific range, and Dubois was sitting just outside it. She thought of Fleur and the hundreds, maybe thousands of faceless women Chloe couldn’t save.

Valkyrie justice was the only way.Herparticular brand of justice, delivered in a searing ball of fire with the bomb she’d planted in the dead of the night while her team assisted.

A hand grabbed her ankle. Chloe froze and looked back at Heath.

“Drone,” he whispered, face grim as he moved only his eyes upward.

She followed his gaze, lying perfectly still, and sure as hell, a drone was flying toward them from the house.Shit.

She flattened herself against the ground. They were pinned in place for the moment. Their camouflage-pattern clothes would help hide them in the grass. But if that thing had thermal imaging on it, they were screwed. The rest of the team had left the area to avoid detection, and was too far away to back them up.

“Three armed men inbound,” Heath said.

Chloe’s gaze snapped back to the house. Three men were sprinting across the lawn, heading in their direction, two holding pistols and one carrying a rifle.

Hell.

“Let’s go.” Heath grabbed her hand and pulled her to her knees, letting go when she winced. “We gotta move,” he said, putting his rifle to his shoulder.

He was right. “Go. I’ll be right behind you.”

He cut her a suspicious look. “Not moving until you do.”

Her gaze strayed back to the Audi, pulled there with a force too strong to resist.

“No. We gotta go.Now,” Heath snapped.

She was torn. Torn between escaping the men running toward them so Heath wouldn’t be in danger, and Dubois sitting right there, so close to the trigger point.

“Chloe.”

The Audi suddenly started reversing.

No!

---