Page 54 of The Soldier

The four of us—Forte, Mickelson, Rodriques, and I—grab our weapons and race down the hill.

“White shirt,” Forte calls out. “He’s getting in the SUV.”

Shit.

“We need a vehicle,” Rodriques calls out as we reach the road and the SUV tires spin, dust flying in the air.

We run toward the cars that are parked in front of the houses and start yanking on the handles.

Shots are still being fired at us, so I duck and curse until finally Mickelson yells. “Got one!”

We clamber into the old truck as he gets it started, then, foot to the floor, the roar of the engine fills the air as we race away and out across the desert.

Farther from Trina.

Farther from home.

I tug my satellite phone out of my pack and send a message to Josh. He won’t be happy.

Fuck, I’m not happy.

Ahmad Al-Kharafi has enough of a lead on us in the modern vehicle that we trail behind them as we follow.

“Faster.” Forte bangs on the dash.

“Dude this isn’t a Maser-fucking-rati.” Mickelson laughs.

Rodriques smirks.

I rip out a handgun and lean out the window. Someone tugs on my pants to stop me falling out and I aim.

One tire goes out.

“Nice,” Forte says, and as we finally make ground on them, the assholes begin shooting at us.

I am climbing back inside the vehicle when a bullet grazes my arm.

“Ah shit,” I yell and grab at the flesh wound. “Jesus motherfucker.”

The truck bounces and pain shoots through my shoulder. It’s not my first bullet wound and likely won’t be my last.

“Stay back a little. Let them run out of bullets.” Rodriques instructs as he grips the back of Mickelson’s seat and leans forward to look at my wound.

Then my phone beeps.

Josh. With an order to call. It’s now or never, so I press dial and put the phone to my ear.

“Marshall,” Josh answers. “What’s happening?”

“I’m shot.” I yell. “I’m with Delta Force, and we are in pursuit following Ahmad Al-Kharafi across the desert.”

Silence.

“That wasn’t the plan,” he responds, and I hear the worry in his voice.

“Yeah, we’re pivoting.” I groan.

The loud engine doesn’t allow me to hear everything clearly, but I hear him curse and I’m certain I heard Aidan, too.

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