Page 71

“It always is.” He ended the call then hit Bodie’s number, already reversing the truck with Chase and Zain still buckling in.
Bodie answered immediately. “People are gonna get the wrong idea about us, Beckett, if you keep calling me at odd hours.”
“Are you at the hospital with Greer?”
“Actually, no. She’s at my place. She’s as stubborn as everyone else and insisted on leaving. Against doctor’s orders, no less. Chase was going to get a room ready over there and catch a few hours of sleep, then drop by and grab her. Why?”
“I need a favor, brother. It’s big and it’s dangerous.”
Any hint of humor left the man’s voice. “Name it.”
“Greer should be safe at your place until we get back. But tell her not to let anyone in, even if they’re wearing a badge. I’ll have Chase send you Saylor O’Conner’s address. She’s ex-Coast Guard, and she’s readying a boat as we speak. I need you to meet me there in ten. Five if you can swing it. And Bodie… Bring as much as you can carry.”
Foster disconnected the call, taking the roads faster than he should, not that Chase or Zain called him on it. In fact, they looked as if they were willing the vehicle to go faster — skid around each turn a bit quicker. They were hitting six minutes when he turned onto the small marina road, the wind already blowing over fifty. A couple boats rocked against the dock in the small cove, the rough waves spraying water across the shoreline.
Saylor waved them over once they’d parked, arching a brow as they chucked a number of bags onto the main deck. “Is this some kind of invasion?”
“More like a tactical assault.” He gave her a quick rundown of the situation, doing his best not to scream. Because if he thought, for one second, that Mac was out there, bleeding along with Kash, he’d lose it.
Saylor schooled her features, simply nodding. “Then, let’s go get this bastard. And Beckett? You’d better have a weapon for me in there.”
Then, she was off, doing something to the nav at the helm when Bodie roared down the road and skidded to a halt in the middle of the parking lot. He didn’t bother parking the truck properly, just jumped out, grabbed nearly as much gear as they’d brought and loaded it onto the boat.
Chase took one of the bags, nodding toward town. “Is Greer secure?”
Bodie snorted as he arranged some of his supplies. “She took one of my semi-automatics, two handguns and three smoke grenades. Then I locked her in what’s likely the most secure building in town with a buddy of mine arriving as backup within the hour. I think she’s good for now. I assume this involves Striker, and he’s got leverage.”
Chase clenched his jaw, glancing at Foster. “Kash, Mac and Nyx. Kash has a head injury, and Mac’s got a GSW to her upper left shoulder. They’re both still alive, but time isn’t on their sides. We didn’t see any sign of Nyx, but I swear if they hurt her…”
Bodie looked over at Foster, then nodded. “Then, what are we waiting for?”
Bodie grabbed one line and tossed it onto the deck before heading for the second. He waited for Saylor to give him the go-ahead then launched the line before jumping onboard. He didn’t ask any other questions, just moved up beneath the canopy as Saylor hit the throttle, deftly maneuvering them out of the secure harbor and into the raging ocean.
Water sprayed over the bow, the wind howling around them as she checked her instruments then gunned it. The boat nosed up, plowing through the white caps at some insane speed, each bounce into the next trough threatening to tip them over before the vessel finally leveled out.
Saylor headed south, keeping the boat angled into the large swells. “I really hope you boys have a plan because this inbound system is going to sink us if we don’t play this right.”
Foster held out his phone, showing them the flashing blue dot, before spreading out the map Saylor handed him. “There’s a beach, if you can call it that, north of where they’re waiting. Assuming you can get us remotely close, I was hoping Bodie could jump out there. It’s going to be a beast of a scramble up those rocks to a heavily wooded plateau, but it should be close enough you can reach us in time, but far enough away they won’t spot you, even if they have some kind of overwatch.” Foster arched a brow. “You are skilled with a sniper rifle, right?”
Bodie scoffed. “Now, you’re just being mean.”
Zain gave Bodie a slap on the back. “No worries, Beckett, because I’m definitely skilled with a sniper rifle and I’ll be backing Bodie up.”
Bodie motioned to Zain’s arm. “With that arm in a sling?”
Zain merely grinned then slipped his arm out before tossing the material onto a spare seat. “What sling?”
“Zain.” Beckett shouldered up beside him. “I appreciate what you want to do, but I’m not willing to trade your life for Mackenzie’s. Mine sure, but that’s different. And no, you don’t get to challenge that.”
“I’m not trading my life. I’m doing my job.” He waved off Foster’s attempt to correct him. “I’ve rescued entire squads hurt worse than I am, now. So, stop arguing, and lay out the rest. Because, brother, we’re gonna need one hell of a Hail Mary to walk away from this. Assuming we don’t die before we even get there.”
Saylor gave Zain a not so gentle shove. “Piss off. I’ll get us there in one piece. Anything after that is up for grabs, but one way or another, we’ll get there.”
Foster smiled his thanks. “Then, listen up. Because we’ve only got one option, and it’s going to be one hell of a ride.”
“Hey.”
Mackenzie blinked, finally bringing Kash’s face into focus as he kneeled in front of her, that huge medic bag opened beside him. His hands were zip tied together in front of him, though whoever had bound him hadn’t been very thorough, leaving enough room he might be able to break them given a chance.