Page 96 of Home Town Knight

The path zig-zagged down the hillside between the trees. The wind picked up, shaking tree branches and throwing dust into my eyes. The roar of the chopper engines crescendoed. Trees shifted and creaked in the rushing wind. The helicopter was descending.

I used the noise to cover my grunt as I pulled my bloody hand free of the cuff. The burst of pain made me stumble. I almost fell. Duke’s hand grabbed my coat to haul me upright. “Be careful,” he barked. “You’re slowing us down.”

We rounded a curve in the path, and I saw the helicopter. The thing was huge. It was landing in a broad, paved clearing. The blades whirred.

Men in tactical gear, their faces covered, jumped out of the open side door.

I had to make my movenow.

Duke was still right behind me. I spun and shoved the bloody tea towel into his face, using my other hand to knockhis gun aside. His momentum slammed him into a tree trunk.

Another gunman leapt out of the trees right behind Duke. I screamed and took several rapid steps back. But the new guy was fighting with Duke. What was going on?

Strong arms grabbed me around my waist and hauled me off the path. I kicked. Then lips pressed to my ear, and a voice said, “Genny, it’s me.”

“Owen?”

We ducked down by the base of a huge evergreen. Owen was in camo gear, complete with body armor and weapons. A stocking cap covered his hair, and his face was streaked with paint.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“You really think I’d leave you? I’d hoped you knew me better than that.”

I launched myself at him and hugged him. Tears streaked my face.

Something heavy thudded to the forest floor beside us. Duke. He was grappling with another man, who I finally recognized. It was Aiden from Last Refuge. Neither of them had their guns anymore. Duke had a gash on his forehead, but he wasn’t out yet. He kneed Aiden in the side.

Owen slammed into Duke. My kidnapper went sprawling. Owen punched him hard in the face. Once. Twice. Duke went limp.

Aiden got up and went to grab the fallen weapons on the path. The helicopter had covered the sounds of the fight. Voices shouted in the clearing below, but nobody came up the path. The Stillwater commandos were busy with something else down there.

Chest heaving as he caught his breath, Owen said, “We heard you scream in the cabin. We were about to breach the door, but then you and the shooter came out of it. We decidedto follow and ambush him on the path. You made that much easier, so thank you. Are you hurt?” He noticed my hand and took it gently between his. “Did that piece of shit cut you?”

“It’s not important. That chopper belongs to Stillwater. I saw armed men.”

“River and Lynx are handling it,” Aiden said. “They’re covering us.”

Owen took off his pack and dug into it. Brought out a first aid kit. His knuckles were bleeding, but he ignored those. He wrapped a bandage quickly around my hand. Meanwhile, Aiden sat the unconscious Duke in front of a tree. He pulled Duke’s arms back and secured his wrists with zip ties around the trunk.

I pointed at Duke’s bag. “He’s got a laptop in there. Grab his phone too. Who knows how much he’s got on Stillwater.”

“Good thinking.” Owen stowed those items in his own pack, as well as Duke’s handgun. He found the handcuff key in Duke’s pocket and freed my other hand, tossing the bloody cuffs into the pack.

Owen looked to the side and touched a finger to his earpiece. Listening. Aiden rushed over, keeping to a crouch.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

“River says the Stillwater people are in the bunker,” Aiden told me. “They’re carrying boxes out.”

Stillwater’s cash and medallions. No wonder they were busy down there.

More urgent shouts came from downhill. Then rapid bursts of gunfire. Owen tugged me down. “River and Lynx were spotted. We need to go. Aiden and I will take you to safety. Stay with me.”

He tried to pull me uphill, but I said, “Are you kidding? No. I saw at least half a dozen commandos jump of thathelicopter. Six or more against two? We’re going back to help them.” Owen’s friends had come here to save me. We were not leavinganyonebehind.

“We?”

“I can shoot well enough to lay down cover. I can help.” My left hand was a mess, but I was right-handed. I’d make do.

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