Page 18 of Firestorm

“You are holding a prisoner by the name of Blake Hancock. He has information about a possible impending threat. I’ll need him released to me right away. Do you understand me, soldier?”

The man took several steps back. “No. But—”

“But what?” James’ heart pounded so loudly he wondered if the soldier could hear it.

“But I don’t have paperwork—”

James turned to Kaid who had gotten out as well. “Call Pamphili. Maybe interrupting the soon-to-be leader of the free world will convince you to do as he ordered.”

The soldier’s face lost all color. James clenched his hands together and prayed for God’s intervention.

Inside the shack, the soldier grabbed his cell phone. Tension filled the space between them while James prayed the cell jammer was doing its job.

“There’s no answer.” The soldier grabbed the LAN phone and spoke briefly before replacing the receiver. “Prisoner is being prepared for transport. If you and your people will drive through. I’ll have him brought out to meet you.” He hit a button and the arm raised to allow them entrance.

The young soldier near James backed away.

James pivoted and slid into the Humvee along with Kaid. He pulled the vehicle forward and out of earshot before releasing a huge breath and glancing behind them. “I can’t believe that just happened.” The two soldiers were both watching them.

“You think it’s really going to be this easy?” Kaid asked with misgivings in his tone.

James glanced his way. “I sure hope so.” But he didn’t.

The Humvee stopped in front of the building.

“What do we do now?” Ben asked. No one was around.

“We wait,” James said. “And pray. Pray for God’s protection.”

And it didn’t take long. Within a few minutes, two men escorted a badly beaten Blake from the building. James climbed out along with Kaid and the rest of the team.

Blake squinted at James right away, giving a single, subtle nod to show his recognition.

The two soldiers stopped near James and released Blake.

“Sorry for the mix-up, General. You’ll have to sign for your prisoner.”

James quickly scribbled General Jackson’s name, then grabbed Blake’s arm and led him to the Humvee. “Don’t say a word,” James whispered the warning. Then he shoved Blake in the vehicle. He jumped into the Humvee and turned it around as fast as possible without drawing attention to himself.

They approached the guard shack while James’ pulse hammered in his ears.

“Brother, am I glad to see you.” Blake leaned forward and patted James’ shoulder. “When they pulled me out of the room where they were holding me, I had no idea where they were taking me. Then I saw you.”

James trembled through every long second it took for the guard gate to open.

“I can’t believe that worked,” Kaid said with a relieved sigh as they passed the two saluting soldiers.

“It won’t for long.” James noticed one man had picked up the phone again. James increased the Humvee’s speed.

“You’re right. We’ve got trouble.” Peter craned his neck to see behind them. The men in the shack had stepped from the structure with their weapons drawn. Bullets pinged off the Humvee. “They’ll come after us with all they’ve got.”

“Dustin, did you hear that?” James hit the mic and spoke.

“That’s a roger. We’re waiting for you.”

James careened onto the road and floored it. “What’s happening back there?”

“Vehicles heading this way,” Brookes confirmed. “They’ll call in backup from the police department.”

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