Page 22 of Cooper's Command

“Unless you’ve got a predator drone we’re unaware of that can take of the situation, then no. Your girl’s fit but even she won’t be able to get to the top before those assholes are out of their vehicle. And none of us can outrun a bullet.”

Cooper nodded, ignoring Ethan’s dig about Nova being his. “I’m thinking four inside that SUV.”

Rusty chuckled. “Not even a pause at theyour girlcomment. Interesting. And you always were the optimist, Coop. That baby’s riding as low as can be. She’s full, which means either five, large, heavily armed mercs or they’ve got some serious firepower in the back weighing it down. Neither is in our favor.”

Bellamy grunted. “Stop worrying about whether we have to engage and focus on keeping Nova out of the line of fire. We said we’d have your back and that doesn’t change because the situation might get messy.”

Cooper knew Bellamy wouldn’t back down. “If anyone’s going to end up in jail for this, it should be me.”

“Us, buddy. We’re a team. Besides, you’d be lost without us to keep your pretty face from getting all the attention in the clink. We’ll each take a target. And because I’m feeling generous, you can have two, Coop. Watch for crossfire from those trailing SUVs if they manage to catch up. And once you’ve got Nova, we’ll run shotgun for you — meet back at Hawk’s. Ride or die, brother.”

Ride or die.

That was always Bellamy’s way of thinking. Ethan and Rusty, too. Which meant Coop would have to be damn careful not to get any of them killed.

He checked his weapons one last time then started down the trail, keeping Whiskey close. He’d branch her off once he had a bead on the mercenaries hunting Nova — have the canine flank them — but until then, he wanted her guarding his ass.

She moved with him, scenting the air whenever a gust blew across the hill. He’d just reached a small outcropping when the dog froze, her hackles raising along her back.

Coop crouched low, edging forward until he had a clear view of the lot. Not that it made him feel any better because Rusty had understated how wrecked Nova’s sedan was. Only one of the headlights was working with multiple dents and holes across the panels. And the back… Either she’d crashed into a pole or she’d attempted to take out one of the other vehicles because the trunk had been pushed halfway into the rear seat.

The vehicle limped into the lot, chugging out smoke from beneath the hood before shaking to a halt. One front tire flat against the rim.

Nova was out and heading for the narrow path seconds later. Not quite running. More of a fast stagger. What looked like her favoring her right side. She reached a bend in the trail just as the first SUV barreled into the lot, busting right through the short posts at the far end and onto the path. It bounced across the rocky ground, skidding to a halt where a couple of scrubby trees blocked its path.

Five men poured out of the vehicle, AR-15s slung across their chests. Cooper couldn’t tell if the vests they were wearing were Kevlar or simply to hold extra mags and a spare pistol, but he made a mental note to aim accordingly.

One of the men made a twirling motion with his left hand and the two guys on his right broke off toward the opposite direction — started hoofing it through the brush.

Ethan clicked his mic. “We’ve got the assholes on the right. That leaves the other three for you and Bellamy. The trailing vehicles are about two minutes out so let’s wrap this up before we’re facing ten more.”

Cooper acknowledged with a single click then picked his way down the hill. Whiskey stayed low, hugging his side as he made his way over to the ridge just above the path. A lone figure moved along the trail, her auburn hair just starting to show in the breaking dawn. Not enough to put her in a spotlight, but it would only get brighter. And once the sun was fully up…

There’d be nowhere for Nova to hide.

All the more reason to get her ass in his truck and someplace safe. Not that he was convinced he and his team wouldn’t have to break ranks and move on from Hawk’s ranch — that Emery wouldn’t try to arrest Nova once they’d had a chat — but he’d worry about that later. After he’d taken care of the mercs.

Nova must have heard the men trailing behind her because she froze, glanced over her shoulder then veered off into the brush. None of it thick enough to fully hide her but it beat being out in the open.

Cooper moved, covering the next section of the path in record time before sending Whiskey off to his right. The dog shadowed him, staying low until he raised his hand — had the canine poised to strike.

Only one of the men rounded the far bend, studying the ground then continuing forward. Likely following Nova’s footprints. Cooper didn’t know where the other two were. If Bellamy had already eliminated them or if they’d separated in order to cover more ground. Were trying to circle around and cutNova off. A damn uncertainty that was liable to bite him in the ass.

Regardless, Cooper was going in.

He started forward, weapon trained on the guy as he slowly closed in on him. While he could have dropped him with a single shot, the noise was bound to bring the others running. And the last thing Cooper wanted was to screw up whatever his team had set in motion. Which meant, taking the bastard down by hand.

A twig snapped off to the right and the mercenary jerked to a halt, aiming his weapon toward the area Nova had darted into. What could be her final few moments if the creep started firing — threw enough bullets at the spot that she’d eventually get hit.

Not on his watch.

He signaled Whiskey and she was up and running. Nothing but a black blur against the shadows as she raced for the perp. Body streamlined. Barely a hint of dust kicking up. The guy didn’t even know the canine was there until Whiskey leaped — caught his arm in her jaws as she bowled him over. He cried out, writhing on the ground as Whiskey yanked him sideways, eliminating any chance he had of surging to his feet.

Footsteps pounded in the distance, a few shouts sounding farther down on the path.

So much for maintaining the element of surprise.

Not that it mattered when the guy reached for something on his vest. What Cooper knew was a knife.

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