Page 72 of Murder Island
Kira felt a surge of adrenaline. She grabbed Lial’s arm. “Doc? So he’s still alive?”
“Apparently Cal thinks so.” Lial glanced down and saw Kira’s blood-soaked thigh. “What happened there?”
“Stupid. The assholes set a trap, and I walked right into it.”
Another volley of fire blasted from the jungle, pinning the giants down. Lial reached into her backpack and fished out a plastic syringe. She pulled the needle cap off with her teeth and spit it away. She nodded toward Kira’s hip. “Pants.”
Kira tucked her thumb under her waistband and lowered it enough to expose the top of her right buttock. Lial jabbed the needle in. “Gentamicin,” she said. “Killsalmost anything.” She tossed the syringe away. “How’s the pain?”
Kira’s leg was throbbing and burning from hip to toe. “It’s fine.” She knew Lial would have said the same thing.
The firing from the jungle was getting more intense. Kira saw the first line of invaders emerge from the trees, taking positions on the opposite side of the mine. The five giants were laying down a field of fire, but they were clearly outgunned.
Kira realized now that this was her fight. She was done running. But to engage, she needed weapons and ammunition and support. Lial seemed to know what she was thinking. She pulled out her Glock, slid in a fresh clip, and rose to her knees. She pointed toward the right flank of Cal’s force. “I’ll go make a nuisance of myself. Do what you need to do.” She made a dash for the undergrowth.
Kira moved around the edge of the trunk and started crawling toward the compound. Every move put her punctured thigh in contact with the rough ground. Agony. She gritted her way through it and kept going. Kira had been shot at more times than she could remember. But this was different. This was a battle zone. It was terrifying. It was deafening. The air was buzzing with death.
As she moved through the field of fire, puffs of red dirt exploded around her. She heard bangs from Lial’s pistol in the jungle. Muzzle flashes started blasting in that direction. The distraction was working. It was giving the five defenders time to find better cover and reload.
Kira inched closer, circling behind them. The giants reminded her of Doc. At least in size. They were fierce fighters. And for the moment, they were holding off the men who came to kill her.
That made them her new best friends.
CHAPTER 92
BLODGETT AND HIS mates made a strategic retreat to a position behind a row of three huge metal dumpsters. Now they were firing from between the containers and over them, as rounds hit the metal panels like blows from a sledgehammer.
Blodgett emptied a full clip, then rolled onto his back and pulled another from his pocket. As he jammed it home, he saw movement behind him. They were being flanked! “Check your six!” he shouted.
The others whipped around as Kira stepped out of the shadows, hands up. “I’m unarmed! Don’t shoot!”
Blodgett put his sight square on her heart anyway. “What the fuck?” he muttered.
Another volley hit the dumpsters. The giants turned to return fire. Kira dropped to the ground and crawled forward until she was wedged between Blodgett and Marley behind the middle dumpster.
“Did you boys miss me?” she asked. She reached over and pulled a .45 from Marley’s holster. She stretched out in a prone firing position and started placing shots from between two dumpsters. On the other side of the mine, one intruder fell. Then another. And another.
Fenwick looked over. “Jesus! Shaba doesn’t miss!”
Kira was out of ammo. She made a gimme motion with one hand. Fenwick tossed her another clip.
“Who the hell are we shooting at?” asked Tagaloa between rounds.
“Somali militia,” said Kira. “They’re looking for me.”
“You’re popular tonight,” said Harper as he reloaded. “Gurney’s looking for you, too—personally.” A bullet kicked up dirt beside him.
“Gurney’s dead,” said Kira, getting off another shot. “And the rest of your buddies were probably ambushed by these guys. I wouldn’t count on them for reinforcements. It’s just us.”
Blodgett lifted his head to peek over one of the dumpsters. A bullet pinged off the metal rim. He ducked back down. “They’re advancing!” he called out.
Kira emptied another clip, driving a few intruders back under cover. “Don’t stop!” Kira shouted. “Keep the pressure on!”
Blodgett looked over at the young woman beside him. She had caused him a shitload of trouble over the past few weeks. And now this. “Tell me something. Why the hell should we fight to save your ass?”
“Because she’s earned it!” A booming male voice from behind.
Blodgett whipped around.