Page 2 of Danger Close
Ricky froze.“Eyes on.”
The forest had gone still in the worst possible way.They came to the edge of the tree line beside the abandoned road, the cracked asphalt shining wet and black under the dying light.That’s when Ricky saw them—three figures at the far end of the road, rifles slung like they owned the place.
He threw a fist up, signaling stop.
The others stopped behind him.
Bateman hissed, “Contact?”
“Three.Maybe more in the trees.They’re waiting for us to step out.”
“Fan-fucking-tastic,” Bateman muttered.“I always wanted to die wet, cold, and underdressed.”
Ricky shouldered his rifle.“We go left, take cover at that tree line and—”
A shout cracked the air.One of the enemy stepped forward, weapon raised.
“Move!”Ricky barked.
Gunfire erupted.Ricky pushed Bateman hard to the side just as the first bullet hissed past.Another came fast—and he turned into it, catching it clean through his shoulder.
The force staggered him, but he stayed upright.Pain bloomed hot and sharp down his side.
“Fuck!”Bateman yelled, dragging him toward cover.“Man down!What the hell was that, Ricky?”
“Better me than you,” Ricky grunted, blood already soaking his shirt.“You’ve already lost too much blood.”
They dropped behind a wrecked car at the road’s edge as Marsh, Van, and Hogan laid suppressing fire from the trees.Dale’s sharp command barked through the comms, and the team moved in unison like the fucking war gods they were.
It didn’t take long.Seconds of chaos and then it was quiet again, save for the rain and Bateman’s pissed-off breathing.
“You stupid, reckless, son of a bitch—what the fuck were you thinking?”Bateman demanded, crouched beside him.“That was a kill shot aimed for me!”
“Yeah.I noticed.”Ricky said dryly, trying not to think about how much that fucking hurt.
Bateman’s eyes flashed.“You’re smiling?Are you—Jesus, Ricky, don’t fucking die with that smug look on your face.”
Ricky chuckled, the sound tight and hoarse.“Relax.It’s just a shoulder.You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”
“That’s not the point!”Bateman practically shouted.“You think throwing yourself in front of me proves something?”
“Yeah,” Ricky muttered, letting his head fall back against the wet metal behind them.“That I give a shit.”
Everyone went quiet.
Even Marsh, who was already pulling gauze and gloves from his kit, paused.
“That’s ...new,” Marsh said slowly.
“Shut up,” Ricky and Bateman said at the same time.
Marsh crouched beside him, shaking his head.“Damn, Bowen.Never thought I’d see the day you catch a bullet and feels at the same time.”
“I did not catch feels, you unsympathetic asshole,” Ricky grumbled.
“You’re bleeding and smiling,” Hogan added helpfully.“That’s worse.”
Ricky hissed as Marsh began cleaning the wound.“I’m just glad it was me and not him.”
