SEALs of Honor: Shadow (9 page)

“It’s beautiful. And I don’t talk too much.”

“Yes, you do.” He smiled. “But maybe that’s okay.”

*

Shadow searched the
rocky approach to the water. This was the most dangerous part of the rescue. With the new assault rifles the terrorists could shoot from hundreds of yards away allowing them to hide in the trees and pick off those standing on the beach – or worse, as they’d boarded the plane.

That they couldn’t afford. They’d made it this far, now was not the time to lose focus. It could go perfectly or they could be slaughtered. Only one was acceptable. He studied the terrain. There were few places to hide on the beach. It wasn’t sandy enough to burrow into, nor was it full of logs or large rocks to hide behind. Short and rocky, it was going to be hard to run across if that was their only choice. The trees were the enemies’ best bet and that in itself was where he’d go. He needed to scout the line and see what the approach looked like from all angles.

He glanced at Arianna. She was pale but holding on. Good. The trip wasn’t over yet. With a quick nudge of his head toward her, Shadow told Swede to watch her. Swede, still standing strong with the weight of the senator in his arms and the boy on his back, nodded.

Shadow, with a last look at the small group, disappeared into the woods. A hawk’s call, long and lonely in the predawn light, told him Hawk was standing vigil on the captured soldiers. He’d barely heard what had happened but knew men were down. He just didn’t know how bad. And the captives had another agenda. If they tried anything else, well they wouldn’t be around for a third attempt. He quickly slipped through the trees.

The light was fascinating. Early morning, not quite night, not quite day. But getting lighter by the second. Hearing something up ahead, he slipped behind a large tree and waited. A huge buck stepped out onto the path. Shadow smiled. “It’s okay, buddy, you go and get a drink.”

The buck gave a light snort, his coat was damp from the night but steam rose off his back. He was on his morning trek to the lake for a drink. If he stayed to the one side he’d stay out of the path of the bullets. But if not…well Shadow would hate to see him get hurt.

The buck passed by, his gaze never straying from Shadow. After the big animal was gone, Shadow shifted his position to see if any unwanted attention had been attracted. But nothing moved. Uneasy but with nothing to show for it, he hunkered down and waited.

In the distance he could hear the hum of the plane as it approached. He tensed.

This was where it was going to get dicey. This was a Canadian military plane. It needed to be able to take the four family members out safely. No one could be left behind.

Swede gave a low cry. Shadow answered with the same series of raptor cries they’d perfected.

The plane’s arrival had been noted.

He waited until the plane was visible. Still there was no movement. Either the enemy wasn’t here or they had been in position already. They were terrorists, but that didn’t mean they had outdoor training and maneuvers or were used to the sheer vastness of the Canadian wilderness. He’d spent months in the Yukon exploring a countryside that was so different than anything else he’d seen. If anyone needed to remember their connection to nature, spending a week in the woods up there would do it. Like here, there was so much country it was daunting. And stunning. And full of hardship, yet also offered great rewards.

The plane came in low and landed smoothly, just barely enough light to make it down. Thankfully, the storm had passed and the water was calm.

The first out of the plane were two soldiers with a stretcher.

Good, now to transport the casualties.

Swede met them at the edge of the water. Transferring the senator to the first stretcher and loading him on board took time. Knuckle baring time. According to Swede, the senator wasn’t likely to make it. He hadn’t regained consciousness once, and his old frail body had taken a beating that left Swede thinking major internal injuries. There’d been nothing they could do for him out there, but Swede hadn’t wanted the old man who’d given his life to his country in a different way – to die alone. So he’d held the injured man to the end.

Now as the senator was loaded up into the small plane, Shadow could only wish him well. Then it was the wife’s turn. He hadn’t had a chance to ask Cooper about her, but Cooper would have said something if it had been bad. He smiled as Cooper got wet carrying Kevin to the plane. Kevin turned to check on his sister’s progress.

Shadow had finally caught sight of something.

The enemy. Sneaking up on Arianna.

He lowered his rifle.

And took aim.

A
rianna watched the
plane land with wonder. It had actually arrived. The night had begun to feel endless. With the moon fading back and the sky brightening as the sun rose but a long time away from sunrise, she studied the area in surprise. It felt locked in time. Frozen by the years. She didn’t think anyone had been here since her last visit. Her favorite rocks and hollows leading to the lake where she’d spent hours of fun swimming were undisturbed. But it was not a world she wanted anything to do with right now.

“We’re up next,” Swede said. “Can you walk?”

“I can. But go ahead. Get Father on first.” She hobbled forward, hating the pain biting into her with each step.

They walked together as a group until she realized how slow she really was. “Go and come back for me,” she said.

Indecision rode him then he nodded abruptly and ran ahead. As in he picked up his feet and raced to the water’s edge. The plane had coasted in as close as it could. She watched as two soldiers hopped into the water and carrying a stretcher, made their way over to Swede. Catching her breath and trying to hold back the waves of pain, she kept moving forward. Her brother was almost to the water now. He’d gone with Cooper. She took several more steps and gasped. Then a couple more. She didn’t have far to go. And that plane was looking mighty fine. She watched her father being transferred and then it was her stepmother’s turn. They were safe.
Thank God.
Cooper had picked up Kevin and carried him into the water to the men. He turned and called back, “Arianna?”

“I’m coming.”

Swede started back toward her. She grimaced, but managed a smile for him.

And saw his expression change. He grabbed for his gun. She tried to hurry, but her leg gave out and she dropped to the ground.

Shots rained around her as rough hands picked her up and threw her over a shoulder and raced back toward the woods. “No,” she screamed, flailing at the man who carried her. “Leave me alone.”

More shots fired. This time toward the plane. As she struggled to free herself, the man shifted his grip on her leg and from a different direction grabbed at her wound. She screamed in agony.

The pain continued to ripple through her. She couldn’t stop sobbing. Oh dear God. She swore he dug his fingers into the bullet hole on purpose.

“Shadow,” she screamed, then couldn’t speak as the pain kept rolling in deep greasy waves. So much damn pain. At least her family had made it. They’d been worse off than her. Tears rolled down her face as the plane started up and pulled away from the firestorm. Damn. She wanted to be on that plane. She so wanted to be leaving with the rest of her family. Instead, she was being carried deeper into the woods.

Shadow would save her. Surely.

Please.

A single bullet sounded. A man on the left dropped. She didn’t even realize what had happened to him until he didn’t get up again. Good. Bastards. Picking on her like that. Hanging down over the man’s back, she could see he was dressed in khakis, so one of the damn terrorists. Of course. Through the pain she tried to focus. How many men were with her? Four. Well, three now. Any chance they were the last four? Because she was damn tired of this. The men were racing in a tight group and moving fast. Every step made her stomach roil in pain, and she came close to losing the peanut butter sandwich she’d eaten hours ago.

Then her eyes caught sight of something important. Could she?

She reached down and without letting herself second guess, she grabbed the man’s handgun from the hip holster and pointed it at the head of the man running beside her.

Pop. Down he went. She turned to the next and clenched her fingers and shot him. The man carrying her squeezed her injury again and she screamed. And fired and fired and fired.

She couldn’t stop even after the hammer fell and fell and no bullets came out.

“Easy. baby. Take it easy. They are all dead.”

Shadow’s voice washed over her. He’d come. He’d saved her again. Crying out, she opened her arms. He picked her up and cuddled her close.

She burst into tears.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you.” He rocked her gently in his arms as Swede and Cooper raced to their side. She couldn’t stop crying. Her leg. Killing those men. Seeing the plane and knowing her family was gone. To know she’d been so close to flying out safely and having it all snatched away.

Finally, she wound down, and just lay against his chest. The odd sniffle still escaped but it was softer, faint. Then gulps of air as she tried to still the inside wretchedness.

Finally, she muttered, “Sorry.”

He squeezed her gently. “Don’t be. You needed that.”

“Then how come I don’t feel better?” But she did. She felt much better, but was that being safe again or being in Shadow’s arms or from a complete breakdown in front of all the men? Then she remembered. She’d missed the flight. “They left without me, didn’t they?”

“We sent them off. In a case like that, it’s the best answer.”

“I know.” But she hated it. “I’m sorry I missed it.”

“They couldn’t wait. Your dad needs medical attention.” Shadow hesitated. “He’s in bad shape, Arianna.”

She stared at him dry eyed. “He won’t make it, will he?”

Shadow’s lips curled down. She nodded. “I was afraid of that. He was always a stubborn old coot. But honorable.”

“He’s still alive, and we have to give him a chance so don’t write him off just yet.”

She nodded but inside she knew the chance was beyond slim. “Kevin and Linda?”

“Kevin is fine, although likely traumatized if he saw you carried off again. We’re getting word to them…”

She winced. That would be hard on him. “The sooner the better.”

“Right. And it looks like you’re stuck with us,” Swede said cheerfully.

“And what does that mean?” She tilted her head back to stare up at him and swiped her eyes. “Are we done here? Are there more assholes or did we finally get them all?”

Cooper coming up behind them laughed and said, “There are always more assholes.”

“Any more around here?”

“Not likely. The man you took the picture of initially, have you seen him since?”

So much had happened she had to stop and think. Then frowned. “I’m not sure I did actually. He was here when we landed. That’s when I snapped his picture. Then…” She shrugged. “I haven’t seen him again.”

Shadow nodded. “That would be my guess.”

Leaning her head back against his chest, she thought about that man. “Are they going to come back after us again? After we get home?”

“You and your family? Not likely. Besides, they have pretty much decimated it already.”

“Great,” she said in sad tones. “I wasn’t going to come, you know. I only came to spend time with Kevin and show him the great things to do here. The cabin was my grandfathers. My dad always used it as a getaway, but we haven’t been here in years. I don’t know what prompted it. Nor do I know why now. But out of the blue they made plans. I wasn’t asked to join,” she admitted, feeling the injury even now. “He wanted to bring Kevin, I think. Before the relationships with him and Kevin soured further.”

“Was it bad?”

“Yes. I wonder if Father had been threatened before the trip.” She frowned. “Maybe he figured getting away would save us.”

“We’ll figure it out. I know his house and office are being turned upside down as we speak to find answers.”

Right. Of course they were. And her place most likely.

“Can we leave now? Or are we waiting for the plane to come back and pick us up?”