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Just right for an ambush.

“Move up to the front of the line,” he said. “Tell everybody to fall back.”

Seconds later, STUD One and its three rescued hostages were gathered around him.

“Okay,” Dec said quietly. “We’re no more than ten minutes from where the Black Hawk will pick us up.” He paused. “It’s possible we’re no longer alone.”

The ambassador took his wife’s hand. “You mean we’re being followed?”

“I mean that these mountains are home to these bandits. They know every trail, every pass, every switchback. It’s possible they went around us, that they’re waiting for us somewhere ahead. They have to figure we’re getting out by helicopter and there are only a couple of places where a bird could land, Maybe they guessed which we’re using—and guessed right.”

He looked at the faces of those grouped around him.

The men of STUD One looked resolute. They were tough, battle-hardened, and fighting their way out would not come as anything new.

The ambassador looked worn. His wife’s expression was still a blank.

No surprises so far—until he got to Annie.

Her expression was not one of fear, it was of unwavering determination. Flattened mouth. Narrowed eyes. She looked like a woman who’d come to a conclusion…

But about what?

“Princess? You have something to say?”

She looked at him. Hesitated. Shook her head.

“Okay.” Dec cleared his throat and focused his attention on the three hostages. “We’re going to do these last few minutes as quickly as possible. We’re also going to change formation. You three will stay together with us clustered around you.” He checked his watch. “We should get to the extraction site just as the Black Hawk touches down. You’ll run for it. Run, not walk. Mr. Ambassador, Lieutenant Olivieri will carry your wife. None of you are to turn back to check what’s happening behind you. You’ll make for the ’copter, grab the hands of those waiting to pull you on board, and that’s it. Any questions?” Nobody spoke. Dec nodded. “Fine. In that case—”

“Lieutenant?”

“What is it, Princess?”

“Actually, I do have a question. It’s the same one I asked before. Where will the helicopter take us?”

Dec’s mouth thinned. “The big question for you, obviously.”

“Do you know or don’t you, Lieutenant? Where will they take us? Where will they take me?”

Lieutenant. Is that who he was to her? Yes. Damn right. He was Special Ops and she was his mission.

“We’re dealing with a COM blackout,” he said brusquely. “A communications blackout for the next…” Dec glanced at his watch. “…for the next eight minutes. Once I make contact, I’ll ask.”

The look on her face changed. It wasn’t that she no longer looked resolute, it was only that she looked…different.

“Thank you, Lieutenant.”

Dec flashed a cool smile. “Nothing to thank me for, Your Highness. We live to serve.”

They moved out. The ambassador was doing his best, but his pace was flagging. His wife was stumbling along between Chay and Aidan.

The princess was still matching his men’s pace.

Why not?

A bride wouldn’t want to be late to her wedding.

At the six minute mark, Dec dug out his dug his satphone. He, Black and Andy Stein had agreed not to use it until the last minutes for fear of being tracked. Now, those last minutes were fast approaching.