The well-planned attack took everyone by surprise, on a rough stretch of road surrounded by fields and foliage on all sides. When Gage had caught a glimpse of the targets’ vehicles barreling through the brush, he knew that they were screwed—and outnumbered. His only thought—live long enough to get to Chantal. He prayed Team Five’s training would pay off as a pimped-out Land Rover slammed into the MSD armored vehicle. Seconds before the collision, Lucius and Gage had already begun firing at the occupants as Gannon reversed. At the last second, and thanks to a headshot, the Rover driver veered off target, striking the hood of the MSD suburban, instead of pounding Gage and his team to kingdom come.
“They’ve blocked the road to the front and rear!” Gannon shouted. “Heavy goods vehicles.”
They’d need to evacuate on foot. There was no way that the teams could retrieve both princ
Chantal focused on the warrior leading them through the brush rather than the awful hollowness settling into her bones. He’d lost Jason. She knew that feeling—the emptiness in his heart—the waves of misery pounding in his skull. That’s how she’d felt when she lost her father. And she’d blurted out those thoughtless words. The day’s horrors could never be unseen—images now layered on top of old memories. Her shattered mind recalled old violence which melded with the new. Was this her fault? Because of the flash drive?They walked in silence—more like jogged. Although Chantal worked out three times a week, her yoga routine didn’t prepare her for jungle warfare. Both men scanned the landscape, always looking for danger.“I don’t have it,” she stated between breaths. “God, I wish I did. I could’ve saved them.”Gage glance
Gage stopped suddenly and drew out his satellite phone. Dishan immediately took point, checking for danger. Gannon answered on the second ring, and Gage verbally gave their coordinates. “We’re within a klick. Use your GPS tracker.”Gannon complied, and ten minutes later, Gage crested a hill and spotted Team Five and the rest of the survivors. Letting out a relieved breath, he guided Chantal into her mother’s arms. For the first time, the ambassador showed genuine emotion, sobbing into her daughter’s shoulder. Turning away from the heart-wrenching sound, Gage greeted the rest of his team.“It’s good to see you standing, bro.” Gannon pulled him into a tight hug, and Gage shuddered out a sob.His friend’s arms tightened. “We couldn’t save Jase. I tried. I fucking tried.”“Hey, man.” Liam Dalton limped over, and Gage turned to face Team Three’s Team Leader. The guy looke
Gage’s horror switched to primal anger. Shedding his pack in one swift move, he rushed towards the mudslide. No-one or nothing would rip Chantal away.“No!” Gannon shouted, but Gage didn’t care. Launching himself at the brown river in a suicidal leap, he braced himself for the rough descent. The powerful tide swept him along a chaotic path, and Gage focused on keeping his head above the mud—a challenge when his heavy tactical vest weighed him down. Something slammed into his back, twisting him sideways as the avalanche gained speed. A fucking tree. Trying to spot Chantal, he raised his knees and leaned back, guiding himself with outstretched arms.“Chants… Chantal!” He caught a glimpse of her shooting around a bend. Gage tried to sit up, instead, he slammed into a log, and his strapped rifle became snagged, ripping him to a stop and flinging him to his stomach. Gage refused to
“Easy. I’m here.” Gage entered in just his boxer briefs and boots, his gun held by his side.She let out a relieved breath and turned to her back.After placing the weapon on the chair and shaking out his wet hair, he closed the door and strode over to the cooker. “I added more wood about ten minutes ago, and I’m boiling water from the river. He pointed at the pot. We don’t have much firewood left. I couldn’t find food. Critters aren’t out in the storm.”Moisture droplets glistened on his tanned skin, and Chantal admired his carved physique. His side looked raw and painful. “You remind me of a wet dog, coming in from a muddy walk.”“Woof.” Gage shot her a saucy wink before turning and warming his back.“You went out like that?” She gestured towards his wet gray briefs, trying not to linger on what lay beneath. He’d also r
Rajin didn’t like the news. The ambassador bitch and her daughter had escaped the ambush. Harris seemed confident in tracking down the women. His soldier was a loyal dog, trailing their scent. But Rajin couldn’t remain on Sri Lankan soil. He trusted his network, but one betrayal could lead to his arrest, and without that USB, he had little leverage over the president. He glanced at his Rolex before taking a seat on a leather sofa. A maid walked by. “How long must I wait? Are they done packing?” His loafer tapped against the coffee table impatiently. “I’ll check, sir.” She rushed towards the stairs and Rajin admired her shapely ass. He’d fucked her a few times—along with the rest of the female help. They all bore the marks. Rajin wasn’t a gentle lover. He’d tried with Pearl—his dedicated wife. But she’d never seen the monster below the surface—the man who got excited with thoughts of torture and death. That’s why he’d recorded his “interrogations.” Watching th
“Come quick! It’s Chantal.”Gage froze, and his heart paused at Alexis’s words. He’d been gone ten minutes, and he’d kept close to the women—within shouting distance.“What happened?” Breaking into a run, Gage rushed towards a frantic Alexis.“Something bit her. I think a snake. I thought she was joking. But when she collapsed and—”“Where?” Stumbling over a root, Gage spotted Chantal lying in the leaves. “Honey! Oh, God. No!”“It doesn’t make sense. Unless she’s dehydrated. She’s not waking up!”Alexis’s babbled words barely registered. His brain screamed, and Gage tried not to lose his shit.“I placed her in the recovery position. She’s not responding. Does she have a puls
Panting against the dizziness, Gage tried to push himself up. His heart hammered in terror when he thought of Chantal—in the fields—being chased by a fucking assassin. Alexis—Jona—was well-trained but had made one fatal mistake. She hadn’t given Gage the full dose of whatever drug she’d probably bought on the black market. And now, he’d hunt. Snapping Jona’s pretty neck would be a satisfying revenge—especially if she hurt his woman. The best he could do was get to his knees. Roaring in frustration, Gage crawled from cover and rolled down the hill. His damn legs wouldn’t work, and he couldn’t slow his descent. His head slammed against a rock, and blood poured from a sliced-up cheek. Another shot sounded as he rolled to his stomach. Had Jona found her? If he lost Chantal, his soul would crumble to dust. “Hold it together. She needs you.” ***
His chest felt like it would burst as he shoved to his feet and staggered after the women. Spotting Jona in the distance, Gage sped up and fell in his haste to save Chantal. The drug felt like syrup in his veins.Gage saw Jona raise the gun as he pounded through the field. Chantal knelt before the skilled slayer, and her shoulders straightened defiantly. Too far off, he was out of time. Gage felt it in his bones. Jona shifted her stance—straightened her elbow at the last second. Even as he flung himself across uneven ground, Gage knew he’d failed. With one last futile shout, he called out to his love and closed his eyes against the horror.The gunshot echoed across the valley, shattering his soul. Gage’s foot caught on a root, and he flew, landing and sliding to a final stop. Twenty feet away. Tea shrubbery blocked his view, and Gage rose to face a killer. Two pairs of eyes turned his way. Chantal still sat on he