Page 31 of Fighting for Family

Saint glared at Shadow, arching a brow and frowning.

“I know, I know. There’s nobody around here for miles. I figured it wouldn’t hurt anything,” Shadow said, giving his lame excuse.

“What about the truck? It’s not easy getting vehicles,” Saint lit into him. “What if she wrapped it around a tree? Did you see a car lot as you whizzed past?”

“Uh, boss, I didn’t see any trees. I swear,” Sparky held up her right hand.

Shadow and Knight covered their mouths to contain their laughter, and Saint fought to keep a straight face.

“You’re lucky Leo wasn’t here to see your little stunt. When we get back home, you and Shadow will report to my office. You two know better than to horse around the desert,” Saint said sternly.

“Yes, sir,” Sparky said, accepting the reprimand. “If it’s all the same to you, I’ll take Shadow’s punishment, too. He gave me a rare gift, and I enjoyed the hell out of it.”

“Then I’ll assign you double the punishment, and he’ll get latrine duty for sheer stupidity,” Saint barked. “Did you learn anything else?”

“They’re having a market day next month. The neighboring villages will call a cease fire to share and barter their goods. It seems they’re concerned about the east village. A few of them brushed it off, saying they’re protected and not to worry,” Sparky informed them.

Knight frowned. “What do they mean by protected?”

Shrugging, Shadow said, “We don’t know. Their weapons appear outdated, and the huts seem as if they’ll fly away at the first major windstorm.”

“What about protection from others?” Sparky suggested. “What if the military watches over them? Since they’re close to the base, and close to the attack, could they be part of it?”

“It’s a possibility,” Saint mused. “Where the hell did Cole and Hollywood go? I expected them to arrive around the same time as you.”

“We left to keep from garnering attention. The small market allowed us to drift into the village today, but they must know most of them by now,” Shadow offered.

“Maybe they’re having better luck than us,” Sparky said, taking the canteen from Saint and getting a drink.

“They’re coming,” Ragu announced. “Cole doesn’t seem happy.”

“I don’t blame him. You try wearing the chadari and topi. It’s hotter than Hades,” Sparky said. “Those women have earned my respect.”

“They’re covering the truck and their tracks,” Ragu reported. “Cole seems preoccupied. He’s scanning the area, and Striker keeps stopping and staring.”

Saint ran to the entrance with his weapon ready. Ragu, Knight, and Shadow positioned themselves as Sparky moved to the floor to load the weapons as needed.

Striker growled, and a shot rang out, and a bullet barely missed his foot. Cole ordered the K-9 to attack as Hollywood circled around the area with Apollo, determined to lead their attacker away from the base. The dogs took off, determined to catch their prey as Hollywood and Cole attempted to keep up. Cole stumbled, still dressed in women’s clothes.

Rounds fired around him, blocking him from going farther.

“Damn it,” he yelled, ducking away from the fragments flying around him.

“Go, go, go,” Saint ordered as they rushed out, careful to stay out of sight. They already lost Leo. He wasn’t about to come home with another man in a box.

As the team rounded the mountain, someone threw a flash bang in front of them, making them hold back.

Hollywood recalled the K-9s, which seemed to run in circles, confused. “Damn it, they must have put something on the ground. The K-9s have lost their scent.”

“Do you see anything?” Saint demanded.

“No. It’s like no one was even here,” Hollywood said, sounding livid.

“Search the area. It’s not as if they disappeared in thin air,” Saint said, running in their direction.

“Maybe they adopted Leo’s talent,” Shadow muttered. “How can they vanish within minutes?”

The men surveilled the area again while Hollywood and Cole redirected the K-9’s.