Gunnar came over and took the bag from her. “Let me stow this where no one will find it.” He moved to the back of the vehicle.
At the rear, Logan and Max were pulling weapons out of the places Jake had hidden them in.
Max turned to Shae. “I know you’re not going to like this, but you have to stay here. There might be a firefight, and I won’t put you at risk.” He glanced at Logan.
“No way. I came all this way to save my dad, and I’m going.” She pushed back at Logan. “I’m paying for this mission. It’s my call.”
Max swore under his breath, and she glanced over to him and then back at Logan.
Logan stepped closer to her. She started to speak, but he held up his hand to stop her.
“This isn’t the same as the money drop. This is live ammo, jungle conditions. The stuff we were trained to do, not you. Risking you is not an option.” Logan cupped her face. “If I have to hog tie you and toss you in the back of the SUV, I will. I’d rather have you ready here, in case we need to take off in a hurry.”
For a moment, Shae wanted to fight it, to argue, but no. This is what they lived for, what they’d trained for, and why she hired them.
Max stepped up. “Look, I know you want to help, but this is how you can do it. Stay here. Guard the vehicles and be ready to bug out. Right?” His stare was intense.
Shae sighed. She wasn’t going to win this battle.
“I’ll be here. Ready.” She nodded to him and then to Logan. “I trust you guys to do what you said and get my dad back. Alive.”
“Good girl.” Logan grinned and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. She swatted at him and then turned to Max, who had Travis on the line.
“Ask him how many are guarding him?”
Max held up a finger and spoke into the phone. “Travis, what’s the intel?”
“Two men just headed off. Nine left. White shirt is still there. They’re in a clearing about three hundred yards west of your position.”
“What’s the ETA on Jake and Rowdy?”
“Should be at your location in three minutes.”
“Keep an eye on the white shirt. Don’t lose sight of him.”
“Roger.”
Max put the phone down and pulled a small object out of his shirt pocket. “Plug in, team.”
Logan and Gunnar did the same. Max pulled another one out of his pocket. “This is for you, Shae. It’s a communication device. You’ll be able to hear us and talk to us. Travis is on the live sat feed, guiding us in. You’ll need to keep your ears open in case we need to bug out. When you hear me give the order to clear out, get in the SUV and start it up. Got it?”
“Got it.” She nodded, and Logan took the device from Max and helped insert it in her ear.
“Don’t lose this, baby.” Logan tapped his ear. “It’s going to sound like pandemonium, but we got this, okay? You just listen for the clear out order.”
“I will.”
The sound of a car’s grinding gears brought them alert. A small beat up four-door car pulled up and parked. Jake and Rowdy crawled out.
“Where’d you get that?” Max pointed to the car.
Rowdy grinned as he got out. “Rented it from the hotel manager.”
Jake ran to the back of the SUV, and Rowdy came to them. “Hey, glad we got here in time.”
“Me too.” Max jerked his head and tapped his ear. Rowdy pulled out his comm device and inserted it. “We’re set to go as soon as Jake gets his toys.”
Jake called out. “Need some help here. Have all our luggage. In case.”
Max grinned. “Gunnar.” He jerked his head, and the man moved off.
“You packed our luggage?” Shae blinked at the men.
Rowdy called back, “Figured we might need to leave ASAP.” He, Gunnar, and Jake hauled their bags to the SUV’s rear and loaded it up. “Travis has the plane on standby if we need it.”
Max nodded. Shae hadn’t even thought about what would happen once they got her father back, but the team did, thank God.
Jake slammed the rear door of the SUV and joined them. He carried a duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder by the strap. “Got some diversionary devices.”
“Bombs?” Max quirked an eyebrow up. “Let’s try to do this without killing anyone if we don’t have to, okay?”
“Flash and bang. Smoke. Nothing fatal.” Jake shrugged. “Nothing fun.” He gave a wicked grin. He put the bag down, dug around in it, and then pulled out several black knit hats. Jake tossed them to each man, and they pulled them on. “Figured we might need these. No need for anyone to see us.”
“Good thinking.” Max slapped him on the back.
“Hats? In the jungle?” Shae looked at Logan.
He pulled it down, and it covered his face, with only openings for his eyes and mouth.
“Oh. Got it. Disguises.”
“Let’s go, team.” Max stepped in and took control, a born leader. They gathered around him as a unit.
Shae’s heart pounded so loud she could barely hear them through the comm bud in her ear. She turned to all of them. “Guys, team… Men of Maximus Force…good luck and go get my dad.”
They grinned at her, turned away, and faded into the jungle.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Shae climbed into the driver’s seat of the SUV and hunkered down, her attention focused on what she heard over the comm device stuck in her ear. Or lack of, that is. Right now, no one said a thing.
Radio silence.
She bit her bottom lip as her knee bounced wildly. God, had she made a mistake choosing to send the men to get her dad? Should she have just given them the money? Taken the chance of getting him back? Could she even trust the kidnappers?
All she wanted was her father back. Safe and alive.
Nothing much mattered after that.
She exhaled. That wasn’t completely true. These men mattered. Logan mattered. They needed to come back safe also. She’d asked Logan for his help and ended up hiring a team of, well, mercenaries for lack of a better word.
She could go to jail for this. Probably. So could they.
She put her face in her hands and shook as the fear and uncertainty of what she’d decided hit her.
What was she thinking?
She swallowed down the bile that rose into her throat, refusing to let her emotions get the better of her. These men, Logan, Max, and her father, all depended on her to stay calm and ready. She had one job to do. To fail, like Logan and Max would say, was not an option.
She gazed into the rearview mirror and then flicked to the side mirrors.
A beat up car with a driver and passenger came down the road. It slowed as it neared. Shae couldn’t see any official markings. Not the local police, but still she tensed as she slid her gun out of her bag. Just in case.
“Fuck.”
“Shae, what’s going on?” Logan came over the comm.
“Two guys in a car.”
“If they stop, get rid of them.”
“Right. I’ll just tell them to keep driving.”
“Just don’t make them suspicious.”
The car slowed down as it passed the small car, then rolled to a stop next to her. The window was open, and the man leaned out, pointed to the car parked behind her, and asked if she needed help in Portuguese.
“No. It’s okay,” she answered back. “My husband and his friend went to…piss.” She jerked her head at the jungle and shrugged, trying to look embarrassed. Praying they’d believe her and just keep going.
Oh God. What if they decided to get out and rob her? Her grip on the gun tightened as she held it ready just out of sight. Could she actually shoot a man? Two men? Her hand shook.
Instead, the men laughed, waved at her, and then drove off down the rugged road. “Holy hell. They’re gone.”
“What did they ask?” Logan sounded concerned.
“They noticed the other car. Asked if I needed help.”
“What did you tell them?”
&n
bsp; “My husband and his friend were pissing in the jungle.”
Several snorts came over the comms.
“Smart lady.”
Shae grinned at that from Max. Thank God he couldn’t see her shaking. She leaned back, exhaled, and released the gun. She wiped her sweaty palm on her pants and then took hold of it again.
That was too damn close.
Her job was to wait here, be ready to bug out when and if needed. She had to be ready to move, so she didn’t have time for fear or doubts.
If a fast escape became necessary, the team depended on her to pull her weight and do her job.
For the first time, she felt she was part of this team.
Shae narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath.
She had this.
Travis’s voice sounded in her ear. “One hundred yards out. All quiet.”
“Copy that,” Max replied. “Spread out, men. Logan, take Gunnar and Rowdy left. I got Jake and Travis on the right. Get into position surrounding them before we make a move. Got it?”
“Right, captain.”
Shae could tell each man’s voice as they replied. She pressed the ear bud a bit to seat it in it better but didn’t take her gaze off the mirrors as she scanned her surroundings.
More silence. Minutes passed.
Shae glanced at her phone to check the time. In fifteen minutes, the kidnappers would try to pick up the ransom. How long would it take Max and the men to get into position? How long before they got to her father?
Could they really pull this off without firing a shot? And if they did wound or kill someone, what then?
She forced those thoughts out of her mind. Thinking on them would just make her crazy. She strained to hear from the men.
Max: “We in position?”
Logan: “Just about.”
Travis: “Circle is complete. It’s a go.”
Max: “On my mark in three. Move in fast. Hold your fire unless fired on.”
Jake: “Firing bang-flash on your mark.”
Logan: “Move in tight.”
Travis: “Looking good.”
Shae held her breath. This was it. She prayed Please God, let them all be safe.
Max: “Go. Go. Go.”
»»•««
Walter jerked as a loud boom and a large flash of light exploded in their small clearing. He dove for the ground with the rest of the men, his heart pounding at the sudden noise rocking his eardrums and blinding his vision.
Everyone was shouting, voices crying out, as smoke drifted in the open space around them. He covered his head with his arms as he curled up on the ground, trying to make himself as small as possible.
What the hell was happening?
He peeked out as the smoke cleared. Some of the men around him were back on their feet, weapons swinging wildly back and forth, looks of panic and fear on their faces.
Okay. Not good. They didn’t know what was going on, either.
He had no idea whether to sit up, run, or stay down. Running was still out of the question. There was a good chance the others would just shoot him. Staying down seemed the best option.
Marco appeared next to him. “Get up!” He grabbed Walter by the arm and jerked him upright. Walter tried to make his body dead weight, anything to keep Marco from controlling him.
“Get up!” Marco screamed and shoved a gun at Walter’s head. In English, he yelled out, “Stay back. I’ll kill him.” Marco moved Walter in front of him as if using him for protection.
Walter stared out and blinked, the smoke clearing.
Men he didn’t recognize stood in a circle around them. They wore camouflage and black face masks and held automatic assault rifles. Far more armed than his little band of kidnappers and their single action rifles.
“Drop your weapons!” One of the men shouted out the orders, while the others jerked their weapons in the international sign for “We’ll shoot.”
The guards looked at each other and then back to the men who had the drop on them. Two men eased their weapons to the ground and raised their hands. The others looked around, a few shrugged, and they placed their rifles and handguns on the ground.
Marco gave a feral growl. “I’ll kill him.”
A man stepped forward. “If you do, I’ll kill you and your men.” He pointed a sleek black handgun at Marco’s head. “Make your choice.” These men weren’t Brazilian. Definitely American.
Walter swallowed. What the hell? Marco’s grip on Walter tightened, and his hand holding the pistol shook.
For a longer than hell moment, everything froze as they waited for Marco’s answer. Either Walter would live or die. He really hoped Marco would do something stupid and these men would kill him.
Marco exhaled and lowered the gun. He shoved Walter, who fell to the ground, hitting his knees but breaking his fall with his hands.
“Drop it.” The masked man waved the semiautomatic. “Now.”
Marco let the weapon slide out of his hand, and it hit the ground.
“On your knees. Like the others.” Two men surged forward and surrounded Marco, pushing him down and then using plastic ties to cuff his wrists and tie his ankles together. They picked up the gun and tossed it into the jungle.
Another of the masked men stepped closer. “Walter Walker?”
Walter’s heart skipped a beat, maybe two. He pushed up off the ground. “I’m Walker. Who the hell are you?”
The man shook his head. “No time. Let’s go. Can you walk?”
“Wait. I…I’m not sure…” He licked his lips and got to his feet. He knew his kidnappers, sure. But who were these men, and could going with them be more dangerous?
“Shae sent us.”
“Shae?” Walter staggered, his knees almost giving out as one of the other masked men came up to him, lowered his gun, and grabbed Walter around the waist to support him.
“I got you, sir.” Another American.
Walter blinked his eyes and let the tears fall. He didn’t have the strength to fight the overwhelming surge of relief washing over him.
“My Shae?”
“Yes. She’s waiting for you.”
Walter dug in his heels. “Wait. Over there.” He pointed to Marco’s rucksack. “He’s got my passport, cell phone, and wallet. I need them.”
One of the men trotted over to it and looked inside. “Got it.” He dumped out everything on the ground, scooped up Walter’s stuff, and shoved it in a pocket on the side of his camo pants.
Walter hesitated and then gathered up his strength. Fury filled him. He strode over to Marco, who lay on the ground, trussed up like a roped calf. “You bastard.” Walter hauled back and kicked Marco in the ribs. “Son of a bitch.” He made to kick him again, but one of the men grabbed him and pulled him away from Marco.
Instead, he spit at Marco, hitting the side of the man’s head. Thank God, he didn’t have a gun, or he might have shot the fucker. His chest heaved with hatred for his kidnapper and tormenter.
“Get him out of here.” The leader jerked his head, and the man holding him up started to move.
Walter didn’t know how, but he got his legs going. They headed toward the jungle with one of the other men following, gun at the ready. He glanced over his shoulder before the greenery closed behind them.
The kidnappers were on their knees, hands on their heads, as the last men finished tying up their hands with plastic zip ties.
Walter closed his eyes and concentrated on keeping one foot ahead of the other and not tripping on the roots and vines in their path.
“Who are you guys?” He looked at the man helping him.
“I’m Rowdy. That’s Jake.” He clamped his lips together, and Walter figured he wouldn’t get much more from him, but he had to ask. “My daughter sent you?”
“Something like that.”
They continued moving. Walter had no idea where they were going, or how long it would take to get there, or if his legs would hold out, but if Shae had sent these men to rescue him,
he’d do what he had to do to make her efforts worth it.
After he’d passed the point of I can’t go on, they burst through the jungle and onto a road. Ahead of them two vehicles sat, one small car and a much larger SUV.
A woman jumped out of the Navigator. Water halted, blinking as he tried to clear his vision. He stared at her, his mouth open, his heart pounding.
“Shae?” It came out as a weak croak. He’d wanted to be strong for her, but dammit, he just wanted to crumple into her arms and weep for joy.
“Dad!” She broke into a run.
He fell into her arms as she slammed into him, nearly taking him to the ground.
“Shae, baby.” He burst into tears. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
“I know. Me too. But I never gave up hope, Dad. Never,” she whispered into his ear as she held him.
Behind them, the other men stepped out of the jungle.
The leader came up and jerked off his stocking mask. “Let’s go. The guy should be getting to the pickup site and finding out he’s been left with nothing right about now. I want to be on the plane and airborne in an hour.”
Shae nodded. “Let’s go, Dad.”
Rowdy gave him a pat on the back. “Get in the SUV, Shae.”
The others pulled off their masks and trotted past them to the cars. They opened the back and got all the gear stowed as Shae and he reached the rear doors. She eased him in and he slid over to the middle. Shae climbed in next to him.
All around, the men’s conversation floated in the air as Walter leaned his head back against the headrest. His eyelids weighed a ton, and his body just wanted to fall down, get flat, and sleep. Real sleep.
He forced himself awake. “How the hell did you do all this?”
Shae grinned at him. “I’m a Walker. It’s what we do.” She put her head on his shoulder.
“But these men. Who are they?”
All around him, his rescuers took their seats. The driver turned to face him.
“We’re Maximus Force. Your daughter hired us to rescue you, sir.” He faced front and started the engine. “Logan, what’s the plan?”
“Jake is going to drive the car back to the hotel. We’ll follow. We’ll pick up Travis and head to the airstrip.” The conversations floated around him, nothing registering with him. He sank lower in his seat, the warmth from Shae settled next to him. Happy just didn’t describe how he felt right now.
Logan Page 17
