Page 4 of Maddox

“I told you. Somewhere safe.”

Loud voices cut through the night sounds, the fury in their tones finally causing a reaction.

“Are you hurt?” I asked.

“I don’t think so.”

“Then if I were you,” I told her, “I’d run.”

CHAPTER 2

Maddox

Thank God for small favors.

She did as I asked.

I remained behind her as we took off running, Charmaine was surprisingly fast after what she’d endured. As we cut through the forest, I was keenly aware of our surroundings and the increasing noise. I kept the pin light pointed forward, the beam not enough to attract any attention, but enough to guide our way through the muck.

Another loud voice was closer.

The escape had been discovered.

“Come on. Keep running,” I told her in a soft voice, remaining just behind as I constantly scanned the jungle.

There were too many fucking things that could go wrong. At least she’d figured out the danger we were in, remaining silent as we pushed our way deeper into the forest.

Within minutes, I sensed the soldiers were attempting to surround us. It would seem Charmaine was important. That was the reason I was here. My guess was the other women would be forgotten, their determination to recapture my target providing precious time for them to escape.

Panting, Charmaine looked behind her as the shouting sounded closer. When she tripped over a fallen limb, I managed to grab her arm, placing my hand over her mouth before she had a chance to make a single sound. I turned off the light, pitching us into blackness. She tensed immediately, her ragged breathing becoming more pronounced.

I lowered my head as I pulled us into a crouched position behind thick foliage. “Be very quiet, Charmaine. Not a word. Stay right where you are.” I pulled my hand away, keeping my other on the weapon.

She took ragged breaths. She smelled of fear, but there was more, a primal strength stronger than she had no right to claim.

The sudden silence was worse than enemy shouts. I knew their tactics. I’d fought insurgents of every nationality, learning their methods and storing them in the back of my mind.

When I shifted, she squeezed my arm. I placed my finger across her lips.

There was no indication they’d approached, but my instinct told me otherwise.

Without second guessing myself, I bolted from my position, firing off several shots.

As gunfire exploded into the night, the fact we were outnumbered didn’t faze me. The fuckers would never take us down. That just wasn’t going to happen.

Movement caught my eye. I fired a series of shots then dropped and rolled, firing off again. The subtle sound as the dead men hit the dirt was sweet music.

But we were far from being out of the woods.

I grabbed her hand, pulling her through the jungle.

The sound of being followed lessened the deeper into the terrain we went.

Rain began to fall. Soon there would be a torrent.

She slipped, the single yelp breaking the silence.

I pushed her harder, dragging her into the deepest part of the jungle, closely following the path I’d taken before.

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