Page 8 of A Gathering Storm

James gave the last known coordinates for the chopper and Cole repeated them. “We need immediate evacuation, but it’s risky. There are enemy soldiers in the area.”

Hurt was quick to respond. “Sir, I’m a former Army Ranger, and I’ve seen combat. I have some friends who believe the way I do. They’ve served as well. We’ll get your people out.”

Relief threatened to buckle Cole’s knees. God was good and watching out for His people. Cole just prayed his bad decision didn’t cost lives. “Thank you, Michael. Stay in touch with Jordyn, and if you run into trouble. . .” He didn’t finish because he knew the type of man he was dealing with. As a soldier, Michael and his people were trained to go into dangerous situations and bring home those in need.

“Don’t worry about us, sir. I’ll let you know when the mission is finished.”

Cole smiled despite the situation. He’d just found the latest members of Strike Force.

Chapter Three

As hard as it was not to panic, Abby had to keep her head about her. She was now a prisoner of the enemy.

They’d shoved her into the back of the car, flanked by two heavily armed men. A pillowcase covered her head to prevent her from seeing where they were going.

As they’d sped away, she’d heard an exchange of gunfire. Abby had no idea where she was being taken; only that whoever had her was her worst enemy. She was now a prisoner of an enemy that was far more deadly than his predecessor.

“Where are you taking me?” Abby fought to keep her voice level. Think rationally. There had been four of them altogether. The cars hadn’t used any lights as they approached. Coming in dark prevented her and the others from knowing of the attack until they’d heard the engine sounds, then it was too late. There’d been so many shots exchanged. She was terrified for Brookes and the others.

“Keep quiet,” The man to her right barked the order. She detected an accent that sounded. . . German?

Her jumbled thoughts flew over the limited information she had. The press conference in Berlin. These were Kirkpatrick’s people. Think. Which direction was she being driven? She forced herself to pull in several breaths. Let them go. Untangle her mind. Even though she couldn’t see a thing, she closed her eyes. Breathing steadied. Northeast. They were heading northeast. Away from the people Cole had dispatched to rescue them.

The car continued down a smooth road at a rapid rate of speed. The driver wanted to put distance between them and the scene of what happened.

“We have two of them.” Another male voice interrupted her troubled thoughts. He spoke in German to someone on the phone, not realizing she understood the language. This was the man who had ordered her to surrender. “The others got away.”

Another person had been taken hostage. She had no doubt it was Brookes. Tears filled her eyes.

“We will meet you there.” The man continued speaking while a chill sped up her spine when she thought about what lay ahead for her.

Give me strength.

Silence returned to the car’s interior. She estimated they’d traveled ten miles by now. Still going northeast. Was there a military base somewhere in the area? She had no idea.

“He wants us to wait until he arrives to question her,” The German said.

Abby remained still.

More silence followed, and then. “The others will have alerted their team. We shouldn’t have retreated. He was there with them, and we let him escape.”

“It’s only a matter of time before she talks. We’ll find him soon enough and the others.”

The leader made a derisive sound.

Abby dissected every word spoken. They’d known she and the others were there with the president. Why hadn’t they come after the chopper with everything they could muster and wipe them off the face of the earth?

The answer popped into her head quickly. They wanted information. It was more valuable than taking out the president. Kirkpatrick wanted information about Strike Force. Information they planned to force out of her. The thought was chilling.

Her phone had been snatched from her hand and tossed aside. The men had taken her weapon, but they didn’t know about the phone tucked inside her boot. James would be tracking her and would dispatch people to rescue her and the other person who was taken.

Hurry,James.

Until Abby knew exactly what she was facing, she had to hold it together. Abby and Brookes had been through some dangerous situations in the past few weeks. Surviving Legion’s attempt on their lives, they’d flown across the country to rescue members of Strike Force out of Washington D.C.

The one man had mentioned someone was coming to interrogate her. With the world’s attention focused on Walton Kirkpatrick and the peace talks taking place in Berlin, there was no way he would leave to fly to the US for an interrogation. But it was someone of importance from the way the man had spoken about him.

The car turned onto another road. Tires contacted with several potholes throwing Abby all around. She sensed they were approaching their destination.

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