Page 24 of Chinook Winds

“They’re coming up quick.” Kinsley spotted the first vehicle enter the woods. “Once we reach the river, we’ll be trapped.” She sure hoped Tom had a plan because she didn’t see a good ending.

Danny grinned. “No, we won’t.” He kept driving.

She and Victor exchanged a look. “What do you mean?” As much as she trusted Danny and Tom, unless there was a boat waiting, there would be no getting across the water.

“Tom has a houseboat on the James. He and his wife take trips down the river from time to time. We just have to reach it before those guys catch up with us.”

And that was the challenge.

Kinsley slipped her hand into Victor’s “We should pray.” She looked around at the faces of the men and women of Strike Force. “All of us.” She watched as everyone closed their eyes and bowed their heads. Even Howard Duncan and his wife. Kinsley prayed earnestly for their protection. They’d all fought too hard to die in these woods. She whispered Amen in her head.

Then the world around them exploded in gunfire.

The vehicles in pursuit were coming up at an alarming speed. There was no way around it; they’d never reach the boat before the men caught up to them.

Kinsley rolled the window down, aimed for the tires, and fired. The first truck behind them immediately veered hard to the left. The driver did his best to control the truck, but it was a losing battle. The truck slammed head first into a tree.

One down. Too many to go.

Chapter Seven

“There’s the river,” Danny told them. Up ahead the James River peeked through the trees.

Victor looked over his shoulder. At least three more vehicles were keeping pace with them. “We won’t be able to get our people onboard the boat with those behind us.”

A houseboat came into view, next to a pier. Tom reached the water and jumped from the truck along with his wife.

A couple of seconds later, Danny jerked the van sideways to block the boat from view of the advancing vehicles.

“Get Duncan and his wife onboard,” Victor directed the order to Emily and Hannah.

The two women ushered Duncan and his wife onto the boat while the rest of the team piled out of the van.

Seconds later, the first of the vehicles screeched to a stop.

Victor braced the Glock against the back of the van and opened fire. The windshield shattered on the vehicle. The occupants immediately returned shots, forcing Victor and the rest of the team to duck while bullets peppered the van.

More vehicles were approaching. They were grossly outmanned. Without a doubt, their window of escaping was closing quickly.

“They’ll have radioed for backup by now. Let’s get to the boat while there’s a break in the shooting,” Victor told everyone. The team ran toward the pier.

Men poured from the vehicles and opened fire.

“No, we have to go now.” Kinsley grabbed his arm and pulled him beside her when he would have returned shots.

The moment the last person was onboard, Tom pulled away from the pier. The houseboat was anything but fast. Many of Legion’s men had reached the shore and had begun shooting.

“Everyone, get down.” Victor yelled over the noise of gunfire, and the team hit the floor.

The boat chugged away amidst heavy fire. Windows shattered.

Victor glanced beside him for Kinsley. All he could think about was the last time they’d been shot at. She’d taken a bullet for him. Would have died if they hadn’t been rescued. Their eyes met. He reached for her hand and entwined their fingers. He couldn’t lose her. Not to Legion. Not to the job.

Soon, the shooting faded. Legion’s men had realized they’d escaped for now, but there was no doubt in Victor’s mind they’d try to find a way to cut them off. “We should be safe for a while.” He rose and helped Kinsley to her feet but kept her hand firmly in his. The look on her face assured him she was trying to understand his thoughts. He shook his head. Now was not the time. On the shore, more than a dozen men watched them disappear. Victor voiced his fears aloud. “We can’t stay in this boat for long. They’ll find a way to come after us from the air. Tom, is there a place to anchor and get out of sight?”

Tom didn’t hesitate. “I’ll call Bob. He’s the friend I told you about before. The one with the plane.” Victor recalled Tom mentioning his friend when they were trying to escape D.C. “Bob can meet us up at the road that’s not far from here. As soon as we pass the bend in the river ahead, we’ll drop anchor and climb ashore.” Tom grabbed his phone and made the call. Once he’d explained what happened, he stopped to listen. “Great. I’ll see you then.” He ended the call. “He’s on his way.”

Victor blew out a breath and nodded. He hadn’t seen this much action since he’d left the marines. While conversations started up around them, he turned to the woman at his side. She’d never looked more beautiful to him. He touched her face. Watched her close her eyes and lean into his hand. More than anything, he wished he could tell her the things of his heart. But too many obstacles stood in their way. Would there ever be a right time for them?

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