24. Rebel

It was already week two,and we were in hiding mode. The people we were sent to rescue were missing, and we couldn't find them anywhere. We'd wasted ten days trying to locate them.

The Iranian army spotted us, and we were on the run. Only two men were after us, but there was no telling how many others had been called. We spotted an alley and turned down it. You know how they say not to run down a dead-end alley? Well, don't do what we did. It was a dead end.

A ladder appeared from the roof. We didn't question where it came from; it could have been the Iranian army for all we knew. As soon as we were up, I grabbed the ladder and pulled it up behind us. We barely missed them as they turned into the alley.

We saw them run down the alley, and we all held our breath. They started shouting at each other, looking around, clearly wondering where we went. Then they took off running the way they came.

I looked at Reaper and Steel and then turned to the man sitting next to us. He grinned, and we grinned back. Tag Harris is a Navy SEAL and part of the Golden Team. When I looked around, River Channing smiled. He held a knife in his mouth and one in each hand, facing the door to the roof. This is why they were the Golden Team.

As each man ran onto the rooftop, River's knife flew, and they were dead. We hurried off the roof, the Golden Team going one way, and we went the other. Not a word was spoken between us. Now, we had to find the people we were hired to rescue.

"Why don't we return to where we were supposed to pick them up? We have to get out of here before they find those bodies on the roof," I said as we walked quickly. We had hidden a jeep about a mile from where we were and needed to hurry to get there before we were spotted.

We didn't encounter any more of the Iranian army, but we kept to the shadows. My mind drifted to Evie, and I wondered how she was doing. It was time I built a home on the property I owned on the mountain.

I saw Steel hold his hand up, and we tried to blend into the wall of the building. Six heavily armed men ran by, looking like they knew where they were going. I kept my fingers crossed that it wasn't our Jeep. We turned the corner toward our Jeep as soon as we could, but we were now in the open.

"We're going to have to wait until dark to make our way to our vehicle. Hopefully, they won't be there waiting for us," Steel said. "If I get caught, Charlie will kill me." We chuckled because we knew he spoke the truth.

We ate an energy bar, drank our water, and settled back into the bushes until it got dark. Out of nowhere, a pack of skinny dogs started running around us. I knew they would attack us at any moment, and I didn't feel like fighting a bunch of hungry dogs. We stood up, threw them some energy bars, and ran back to the building.

"What are we going to do?" Reaper asked. When I leaned against the building, I almost fell down as the door I leaned on opened. We hurriedly slipped inside. We couldn't see or hear anything, so it must have been vacant.

We needed a plan. Obviously, the Iranians knew we were here and had known for a few days. They were going to be hunting everywhere for us. Now it was a matter of saving our own asses and worrying about the others later.

It was almost dark when we heard gunfire; it sounded like it was far away. "Who the fuck is shooting those bullets? I don't like being where I can't see what the hell is going on," I whispered. "Let's put our night vision goggles on and get the hell out of here."

We cautiously opened the door and stuck close to the building as we looked around. I couldn't see anything. We took off running and didn't stop until we reached where we left the Jeep. We stopped and looked around. I didn't see anything until I turned and came face to face with someone. My fist flew, and he landed on the ground.

"Who is that?" Reaper asked.

We looked down at the guy and had no idea who he was or why he was waiting for us. "He doesn't look like he's from Iran, but we'll have to wait until he wakes up to find out who he is." I drizzled a small amount of water on his face, not wanting to waste it.

When he opened his eyes, he smiled. "I was waiting for you to tell you where the couple you came to rescue are. They are waiting for you. I'm returning to America with you." He touched his chin where my fist hit and shook his head.

"Who are you?" Steel asked.

"My name is Herman Strout. I came over to get my in-laws, but they were scared to leave, and then my ride left me without a way out. I knew Shirley and Bob found a way out of here, so I decided to go with them."

"Look, Iranians are looking for us. You should know there's a chance you could be shot," I said.

"I've been shot before when I was in the Army, so don't worry about me. I've been here for over a month and am ready to leave."

"Okay, you can leave with us. Let's find the others and get the hell out of here," I said as we got into the Jeep.

We drove for another hour before we came to a building that stood out like a sore thumb. "Please tell me they aren't in that building," I looked at the guy when he said nothing. He looked like he was waiting for something to happen, and he was ready to jump from the Jeep.

With my foot, I pushed him out of the Jeep and stepped on the gas. "What are you doing," Reaper shouted. "Get down," I yelled as bullets flew at our vehicle. I felt a bullet hit my shoulder; I must have made a noise because Reaper shouted for me to move over so he could take over.

"Stay down," I yelled as another hit me.

Steel pulled me to the back as Reaper took over driving. "Head toward the plane," I shouted. "It's our only chance of getting out of here. I took out my gun as Steel took out his. I could feel blood running down my back and knew the bleeding had to be stopped. I saw the Jeep come up behind me and pointed my gun at the driver. Steel did the same thing. Two bullets hit the driver, and the Jeep went off the road.

"This gives us a few minutes; turn down another road so I can check Rebel," Steel yelled at Reaper.

"No, get to the plane; you can look at me there. Reaper, drive straight to the plane. We have to get out of here. They're after us. Step on it and get the fuck out of here," I don't remember much of that trip to the plane; I was in and out of it from losing so much blood. We stopped our Jeep, and Steel threw me over his shoulder and into the plane as Reaper ran to the cock pit.

"Here, bite this," Steel said as he ripped my shirt off. He started probing my wound in the back of my shoulder. I bit down on the leather before I passed out.

I was burning up when I opened my eyes. "Did you get the bullet?" I asked Steel, who was wiping a wet cloth on my forehead.

"I got one bullet out. The other is still in there, so we are landing in Germany. An ambulance will be at the airport to pick you up. We are getting a room there. We need to figure out what happened to the people we were supposed to pick up."

I don't remember that conversation well because I was in and out. Once, when I woke up, I told Steel that I was happy I married Evie; she would have Hannah if I died.

"You haven't married her yet?"

"Are you sure?"

"Unless you eloped, then I'm sure."

Then, the nightmares started. I learned later I got into a fight with Steel, thinking he was the cartel and they had kidnapped Evie and Hannah. He had to knock me out so I wouldn't kill both of us.

I was out for three days before the fever was gone. I looked at Steel and couldn't help but chuckle at his big shiner. "Get my clothes so we can leave.

"If you laugh again at my eyes, I will leave you here alone."

"What about me? It feels like you broke my chin; I'm sorry; I do remember some of those nightmares, and I'm sorry for hitting you."

"Good, I'm not sorry for hitting you," Steel said, grinning as he walked out of the room. "You should call Evie and tell her you'll be home soon."

I must have gone to sleep because I don't remember calling her.