CHAPTER SIX

Garr, Joseph, Liffey, Dalton, and Sorry checked their weapons and packs.

"Welcome to the team, Sor," said Alistair. "Not sure this is the introduction you were hoping for."

"It's all good, man. Let's just get your girl."

"Alistair, she's in the middle of dense forest. If we find a spot to land, we're going to be hours from her," said Autumn from the controls. Alistair shook his head.

"We jump," said Sor. "I was pararescue. I can drop in, find her, and get her somewhere safe until you guys can get there."

"I jump with you," said Alistair. The others nodded as the two men began strapping their chutes and gear on. Autumn placed the bird in stealth and slowed as they neared the locator for Clark.

"Boys, you need to hurry," said Autumn. "I've got more than twenty heat signatures on her tail, and they're moving fast. They know this land better than she does."

"Get us directly over her, and we'll drop by ropes," said Alistair. "Fuck the chutes. You with me?"

"I'm with you, brother," said Sor.

"If we're dropping by rope, I go too," said Joseph. The other men nodded as well. "Liffey, you stay with Autumn just in case the bird gets into trouble. Find a spot to land and stay there until we notify you."

"Roger that," said Liffey. He took the seat beside August and buckled in.

"Get ready. We're nearly over her signal. You'll have about ten minutes to get her and move fast," said Autumn.

"Let's do this."

Clark thought she heard the familiar whisper of an Osprey belonging to VG but couldn't stop long enough to be sure. She could hear the men behind her whistling and calling out to her. The mountains and dense forested area were nearly impossible to traverse without knowledge of the area.

"You're a damn Marine, Clark. Act like it," she whispered to herself.

Briefly stopping, she scanned the area, the blackness nearly overwhelming her. The marked trails were the obvious route for her, but they would know that, so instead, she stepped off the trail and into the forested area where she could follow the path on her left without making an easy track.

She moved as quickly as she could, although the fallen trees and uneven terrain made it more than difficult. Hearing a loud snap, she stopped, lost in her own heavy breathing for a moment. Realizing that she was releasing a cloud of air with the cooler mountain temperatures, she covered her mouth and listened.

Then she heard it again. Someone was moving behind her. Now, she was running for her life. The sound getting closer and closer until she felt the massive hands on her shoulders, shoving her to the ground. She kicked and squirmed, trying to get away until that massive hand covered her mouth.

"It's me, baby. It's me," whispered Alistair. Her huge green eyes stared up at him, gripping his neck and squeezing the breath from him. He chuckled softly. "It's okay. We've got you."

"We gotta go," said Sor. Alistair stood, pulling her to her feet.

"Are you hurt?" he asked. She nodded.

"I didn't realize it until I saw you. I think I broke my wrist during the crash. I blew the chopper. I'll pay you back. Somehow."

"Baby," chuckled Alistair, "we don't give a damn about the Osprey."

"The men chasing me are from my team's last op. They were running an opioid factory, and I think they still are. Someone recognized me at the convention center."

"Let's worry about that later. We need to go," said Garr. "Move to the northwest toward this ridge. That's where the bird is waiting."

"What are you going to do?" asked Joseph. Garr smiled at his friend.

"I'm going to set a little surprise for them. Give me your jacket, Clark." She removed her jacket, and he handed her his.

"Um, that's not going to fit you," she smirked. He smiled at her.

"Yeah, wrong size, but right style and color. Go. I'll be right behind you."

While the others took off, Garr set the jacket on the trail, tying a wire between it and the explosives hidden beneath. When they lifted the jacket, they would find a very big surprise beneath it.

Hearing the men trouncing through the forest behind him, Garr heard one of them yelling for Clark.

"I know you're here, girly. I can't wait to taste you," he laughed.

That only served to piss Garr off more. He quickly dug a hole in the path and planted more explosives, then took off toward the rest of the team.

"Look! She's gotta be cold," laughed one of the men. Then, the sky was lit up like a Christmas tree. Screams echoed in the trees as cursing followed.

When Garr got to the ridge, the others were smiling at him.

"Nice work," said Joseph.

"Not my best, but I was in a hurry. How is she?"

"Her wrist is definitely broken. We're headed to Philly to get her to a hospital. Dalton gave her something for the pain, and he's stabilizing it now."

"They certainly knew who she was. We need to find that site and blow it," said Garr.

"Which begs the question, why didn't the feds blow it once they had everyone out of there?" asked Liffey. Alistair stared at the others with a deadly expression.

"That's positively a question I'll be asking."