Page 45 of Covert Past

“Where are Robert and Carter now? Therest of your children?” Ellie had a terrible feeling once the men were no longer useful . . .

“It was only Robert and me here. The kids are all scattered around New England doing their own thing. They forced Robert to call Carter when they learned he had our boat at our place in Maine. Apparently, theirs sank. Carter picked up Robert, and those men had them set out to pick someone else up. I’m so worried. The men who were here left a little while ago. I don’t know where they went.”

“To my cabin.” Declan told her what happened.

Becky’s hand flew to her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Declan. What are they thinking? They’ll burn the entire island down.”

“It’s because of me.” Ellie introduced herself while Boone explained as succinctly as possible why the men were coming after her.

“I’m so sorry.” Becky shook her head. “I thought I’d seen a lot as a police officer.” She noticed Boone’s injury. “You’re hurt. And so are you.” She’d seen Eli favoring his shoulder. “I have medical supplies upstairs. Let’s get you patched up.”

“I’m calling JT.” Declan tried his phone, then held it away from his ear. “It’s not going through.”

“They’re jamming calls.” The news was not completely unexpected. Ellie went over to the living room window and cracked the curtains. No sign of them.

“Sorry about the mess.” Declan explained the need for extra weapons.

Becky finished patching up Boone and Eli. “Don’t apologize. None of us expected this to happen. We’ll do our best to hold them off until your backup arrives.”

A terrifying thought chased through Ellie’s head. What if there was no backup coming? What if JT and Bryce had been taken care of? It would be up to them to stand and fight. From the number of people Becky indicated were on the island before the rest of the men arrived, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

Chapter Seventeen

Boone had lost enough blood to leave him weak. He’d do his best to protect Ellie and his friends, but if it came to hand-to-hand combat like he believed it would, he wasn’t sure any of them would make it through.

“Nothing. I don’t like it.” Ellie stopped beside them. Her pretty face held worry. “How are you feeling?” Her clear eyes searched his, seeing what he wished he could keep from her.

“I’m okay. They’re out there somewhere, no doubt waiting for this person to give the command.”

He tugged her closer, surprising Ellie. His heart told him to say what he wanted because this was critical. “I care about you,” he whispered for only her ears. “I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I can’t deny it, and I think you feel the same way.”

Tears filled her eyes. She only nodded. Perhaps because words didn’t seem easy.

“No matter what happens, I want you to know that I care about you and I want you with me for however long we have.”

She touched his lips. “No, don’t say that. It can’t end like this. Not now. Not after we’ve come so close to finding the truth. Not when I’ve found you.”

He let it go and simply held her because he loved her.

Their tender moment ended with the shattering of glass. It took only a second for Boone to realize the enemy was using flash bangs to disorient them. Soon after, the second round of assault was tear gas. “Get low.” He managed and tugged Ellie down withhim. The gas immediately burned his eyes and made breathing difficult. Boone held Ellie close trying to protect her, but he couldn’t hear or see anything.

Figures moved within the gas-filled room. Their faces distorted by what he believed were gas masks.

Ellie was torn from his arms.

“No!” He crawled toward a fractured image of light.

Two people hauled Boone to his feet and dragged him along. He struggled to breathe.

Then he was tossed aside. Fresh air filled his lungs, clearing out the gas. Tears streamed down his face. Eventually the blurred figures came into focus. A virtual army of men surrounded them. Ellie lay a little in front of him. He turned his head. The rest of his team were there along with Becky.

None of the soldiers made a move. They were waiting for someone.

Boone rubbed his irritated eyes. He felt for his weapon. It had been taken from him along with his phone.

Soon, the soldiers turned, and another group of men came into the clearing near the house. Boone heard her shock first as Ellie gasped. Then he realized her attention was on one man as he stopped close to her.

???

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