Page 13 of SEAL's Promise
“The target warehouse is close to a half-mile area of woods. You can park the SUV park under tree cover and reach the women on foot.”
Eli grunted. “Doable although not ideal if they’re injured. We’ll make it work. Once we’re in position with the comm system activated, we’ll bring you into the loop.”
“Copy that.”
Eli looked at Cal. “Text Rachelle. If she and Amy hide in the woods, it will make our jobs easier.”
After firing off a text, he received a response seconds later that sent a river of ice water into his veins. “Three armed men are walking the back perimeter of the warehouse district. If they leave the warehouse, they’ll be spotted.”
He sent another text. “Hide. We’re ten minutes out. Where are you in the building?”
“Corner office closest to the woods.”
“Hold tight. I owe you a hug.” He slid his phone away. “They’re in the corner office at the back of the warehouse.”
“Good.” Eli glanced over his shoulder. “We’ll move as soon as our boots hit the ground.”
The last few minutes of the drive, Wolf Pack geared up in the close confines of the SUV and went through a comm check. When all was ready, Eli contacted Zane and looped him into the network. “Any change?”
“Yeah, none of it good. The terrorists are searching the last row of warehouses. They’re three warehouses away from Amy and Rachelle.”
“How many?” Jon asked.
“Ten.”
“Piece of cake.” Eli grinned.
Another time, Cal would have agreed. He didn’t like the odds with Rachelle’s life on the line. The terrorists wanted Amy. Rachelle would be collateral damage.
Two minutes later, Jon hid the SUV in the deep shadows of woods.
Wolf Pack exited the vehicle and spread out. “On the move,” Eli whispered to Zane.
“Roger that. Three bogeys moving your direction, ten feet apart. Two hundred yards out.”
“Copy.” Eli motioned for Jon to take the man on the left and Rafe the one on the right. They melted into the shadows. After signaling that he wanted the man in the middle, Eli sent Jackson and Cal for the women.
Suited him fine. Resolve hardened inside him. Didn’t matter how many men stood between him and Rachelle. They wouldn’t stop him.
One hundred yards into the woods, Cal held up his fist. Jackson dropped to a crouch behind a tree, weapon up and ready.
A twig snapped to their right. Mission clock running in his head, Cal grabbed his Ka-Bar. A gun battle would draw more terrorists to their location.
“Fourth bogey in the woods, twenty yards to your right, Cal,” Z murmured.
Cal acknowledged the information with a click of his comm device. Time to end this before the women were found and spirited to another location or killed.
He signaled Jackson to hold position and moved toward his target. Another twig snapped, followed by a low-voiced curse in Spanish. Cal adjusted his course to circle behind the terrorist.
Zane’s voice came over the comm system a minute later. “Fifth bogey following behind the fourth, same heading.”
He glanced over his shoulder at his teammate and motioned for him to take the fifth terrorist, then acknowledged Zane’s information with another comm click.
Jackson moved toward the new threat.
Cal tracked his target a few more feet. Motion to his right caught his attention. He scanned the darkness, waiting. There. An armed man dressed in black crept through the woods, doing his best to be silent but failing miserably as he continued to step on twigs and stumble over rocks and tree roots.
He slipped up behind the man, clamped a hand over his mouth, and drew the sharp blade across his throat. Easing the body to the ground, Cal wiped his blade on the man’s pants and sheathed his knife. He activated his comm system. “Bogey four is down,” he said in a toneless whisper.