Page 107 of Second Chance Savior

Brynn peered through one of the gaps between the beams of wood. Fired. “Make that five.” She turned away as another wave of bullets smacked into the sturdy shelter.

I cocked my rifle. “Brynn, Charlie, you’ll go ahead to the ATV. They’ve got that surveillance drone, so you’ll have to stay out of the open. Disappear into the woods. Follow the same path we took and head for the 4Runner. I pinned the location in my satphone. It’s in your pack. Brynn, get Charlie to safety and contact Trace Novo in Hartley.”

“What about you?” Charlie asked.

“I’ll find a defensible position and pick off anyone who tries to follow. Make my way toward my cabin from there. Rendezvous with you later. You need to take Jud’s safe deposit key. Trace will find a way to get you to the bank. Get the list. That’s the priority.”

“What list?” Brynn asked.

“Explanations later, Marine. Do what you jarheads are best at. Following orders.”

She squinted like she wanted to flip me off. “We also love blowing shit up. When we get the chance.”

“I’m fresh out of explosives.”

Brynn slid a fresh magazine into her Glock. “Don’t worry, I can do plenty with this.”

More bullets smacked into the wood. Brynn and I used the gaps in the shelter to fire, taking down two more mercenaries.

That was seven. Another appeared. Brynn fired. A red circle bloomed in his forehead just before he collapsed.

Eight.

Okay, there had to be more than a dozen.

We were lucky that Stillwater hadn’t lobbed any grenades our way. That suggested they wanted us alive. Rather, theywantedCharliealive. Which meant their initial plan had changed. Jud was dead, but they assume Jud had given her the list of their moles in the government. They would torture her until they’d gotten every copy. And then they’d hurt her worse as a sadistic punishment for daring to act against them.

I’d go down in a blaze of hellfire against the Devil himself before I’d let them take her.

“Get ready. When I give the signal, head for the ATV. Ten seconds. Nine?—”

A barrage of gunfire interrupted me. We returned fire. The sounds of battle filled the air. The acrid aromas of gunpowder and smoke. Stillwater had sent a damn army after us.

Shit, they were charging. Trying to take our position. There were too many coming too fast.

“Charlie, stay down.” I signaled for Brynn to defend the east side, while I would cover the west. I rose to a crouch. Readied my weapon.

A mercenary in black tactical gear, grease streaking his face, appeared on my right. He shifted the aim of his sub-machine gun toward me. I was faster. Fired. He went down, and his buddy was there behind him.

Suddenly, the guy seized. An arrow was lodged in his throat.

I followed that with a shot to his head, then looked behind me. Charlie stood there holding a bow like an Amazonian warrior. I hadn’t even seen her go to the supply cabinet.

“Told you this is my weapon of choice,” she said, nocking another arrow from her quiver. “Haven’t had as much practice hunting with these lately, but I can get by.”

There was no time for lectures about whatstaying downmeant.

Brynn was still fending off attackers on the other side. Charlie turned to help her friend, while I dispatched the next guy dumb enough to show his grease-streaked face.

When the assault was over, Charlie and I met Brynn at the middle of the shelter. We brushed off. Reloaded. Nothing but scratches and close calls. But any second that could change.

“Charlie, it’s time for you to go,” I said. “When you reach Trace, tell him everything. Tell Brynn whatever you want too. Answer her questions.” Secrets were all well and good when we had plenty of options. But now, we were out of them. “I’m going to cover you and take out as many of the fuckers as I can.”

Charlie grabbed my arm. “You had better catch up. Meet us at the ATV. Because we’re not leaving here without you.”

Brynn looked on solemnly. She knew there was no arguing with Charlotte. Not with the fierce look in her beautiful eyes.

“Charlie—”

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