Page 101 of Luck Be Mine
Hunt kept focused. They weren’t done yet. “Copy. Scout Two, unfriendlies coming our way.”
He noted Tate’s bruises, awkward posture, and his bloody clothes. He was a short, thin man with a scruffy beard. But his eyes were clear, and his hands gripped the chair. It was obvious the man was in pain. “Can you move?” Hunt helped the man stand to assess for himself.
“To get out of here, I’ll drag myself over hot coals.” The man’s raspy voice held the promise.
“We’re moving with package. Exfil,” he radioed to everyone.
Expecting contact at every point, they met by the stairwell door. Carter came around the corner last and made his way to Tate. “Do I need to check him?”
The man shook his head, and Hunt agreed. “No time. Let’s save it for the chopper.”
Doogie came to his side. “Men out front and pouring into the building. At least ten maybe twelve. Let’s separate. We’ll meet at the chopper.”
“Plan?”
“Monitor, evade, engage if we have to.”
Hunt stayed silent, thinking the idea through.
Doogie checked his weapon. “Let me take Hernandez, Tommy, K-Rock, and Carter. We’ll give them a distraction while you get to our exit.”
Hernandez came to his side. “Let’s do it. We don’t have much time before they discover the man is gone.”
Hunt agreed. “Buy us five minutes, then move to exfil.”
“Copy, LC.” Hernandez proceeded with instructions to the team.
“Baxter, Brennan, with me. Let’s get Tate out.”
The men separated. The five-man assault team went down the stairwell to the first floor and split up, three inside and two outside.
Hunt waited a few seconds, then led his team to the exit door. “Stallion. Silver complete. Fury coming at us hard. Exfil in progress.” Hostage saved, but clusterfuck in progress.
Gregg’s response stayed brief. “Copy, Scout One.”
Brennan had Tate. Hunt held the door. Baxter stepped out to cover them.
Gunfire.
Thud. Silence.
Baxter dropped.
Blood.
Hunt blew out the door returning fire, aiming at a shooter hanging from a second-floor window next door. Bullseye. The enemy fell from the window.
No other shooters appeared. Gunfire erupted at the front of the building.
Hunt looked down.
Baxter’s eyes remained open, but the two bullet holes in his forehead said it all.
He was gone.
“No, no. God dammit.”
“We gotta move LC. Now.” Brennan already had Tate in a fireman’s carry.
