Page 61 of Rescued by a SEAL

Chapter 17

Mason’s gaze swept the perimeter of the camp in Syria through his night vision goggles, the scope of his weapon trained on the lone guard outside. The night air was still, save for the rest of his SEAL team members quietly moving into position.

“All right team, move in!” Hunter’s voice quietly commanded over the headset.

Mason jogged forward in the darkness alongside Hunter, fifty feet away from the compound. The guard jerked his head in surprise at the red dot on his chest, fumbling for his weapon, and then a muffled shot sounded.

The guard slumped over. “One guard down. The north end is clear,” Hunter said, his voice cool.

“Roger that. We’re entered the south end of the compound,” Ryker said over their headsets. “No guards in sight. We scaled the wall and are moving toward the center.”

“Roger. See you fellas there,” Hunter said.

Mason and Hunter moved quietly forward, the rest of the camp sleeping. They passed two supply buildings on the left, weapons and ammunition piled in the open doorway. Whatever training occurred here was clearly a large-scale operation. Mason wondered why only one guard was outside the front of the compound. Hopefully it wasn’t an ambush.

“Drone surveillance shows four men guarding the main building where the leader is located,” Noah said. “I’ve got eyes on it now and only see three.”

“The fourth guard is twenty feet away taking a leak,” Ryker said. “I’ve got him in sight.”

A quiet shot came over the headset, and Mason clenched his jaw, waiting for someone to hear it. For more insurgents to come running. The three guards at the center of the compound came into view. He could see slight movement in the distance where Ryker and Noah were quietly moving forward.

“There’s no one approaching from outside the camp,” Colton said. “I’ve been sweeping the entire area, and we’re in the clear. Jacob and I are ready to roll out after we secure the package.”

“Then let’s grab this mofo and get the hell out of Dodge,” Hunter said.

Shooting erupted as the three guards spotted them in the cover of night, and Ryker and Noah took them out from behind. Mason ran forward toward the door to the building, quick despite the heavy gear and Kevlar vest he wore.

The target appeared in the doorway, looking confused. Mason lunged for him, tackling him to the ground. Shouts erupted around them, and then Ryker and Noah deployed smoke bombs and flash bangs to confuse the insurgents.

Hunter hauled the terrorist to his feet, he and Mason each gripping one of the man’s arms as they dragged him, barefoot, back through the compound.

Their two Humvees rolled into sight, and then they were tossing him into the back, climbing in. Ryker and Noah came running behind them, hopping into the second vehicle. Smoke rose through the air in the background, looking hazy even through their night vision goggles.

Hunter spoke quietly into his headset. “Target is secured. ETA is fifteen minutes.”

They received a confirmation over their comm channel.

Mason huffed out a sigh of relief as they sped through the night. Adrenaline surged through him, and he felt damn near ready to take on the entire world. Worry had niggled at the back of his mind since they’d landed in Syria, and for the first time of his career, he found himself wishing he had a regular job.

The type of thing where he didn’t have to leave at a moment’s notice, worrying about the woman he’d left at home.

The type of job where he could call up his woman. Send her a text. Hear her voice.

He’d never heard back from Taylor after he’d texted her that he’d be gone, although he figured she was still sound asleep by the time they’d gone wheels up.

He wished like hell he’d gotten a chance to actually talk to her. The Delta team was incommunicado with the rest of the world while out on an op, and it killed him that he couldn’t check in on her. Make sure she was okay.

Tell her he’d be back soon.

The sooner they were in the air on a return flight across the Atlantic, the better he’d feel.

***

Taylor ran to the corner of the parking lot of her apartment complex as she heard sirens in the distance. As soon as Amy had shown up to give her a ride, the women had rushed down the stairs.

Amy had called the police, but Taylor had been so scared she’d kept running, wanting to get as much distance as possible between the building and her.

“Taylor!” her friend shouted. “The police are on the way!”

---