Page 101 of Enemy of My Enemy

“Status, Haunted House?”

“A whole shit ton of Russian military has descended on the airport. They closed the tower, and jeeps are moving in to block the runways. Russian media is broadcasting the same message, telling everyone to stay inside until the military operation is concluded. Looks like a platoon is lining up on our runway, setting up guns against us.”

“Shit, is this a coup?” Scott’s dark eyes fixed to Ethan’s.

“Could be, sir.”

“Keep our runway clear and get the engines started. We need assistance here, and we need to get out of this fucking country. Where’s the backup plane?”

“An hour out, Ghost Six.”

“Shit.” Scott shoved Ethan back. “Get back to your place. This is fucking real, Ethan. You’renotan agent anymore.”

The front door blew open, a hard crash banging through the house. Hollered Russian burst through the retreat, followed by thundering boots as a Russian army officer ran in with his men, flashlights bobbing and weaving through the darkness, picking their way to the edge of the destruction, and to Sergey and Sasha.

Scott threw his arm across Ethan and held him back against the wall, covering him and keeping them both out of sight.

“Mr. President,” the Russian soldier grunted. “Are you all right?”

Sergey ran his hands through his hair. “Yes, fuck, yes. What the hell is going on?”

“Where is the American president?” The Russian soldier nodded to his men behind him. They fanned out, slowly searching through the house.

Every hair on the back of Ethan’s neck rose.

My country is on the brink, Jack.

His eyes flashed to Scott.

The darkness fights back.

“His men have him secured. What’s our plan for getting out—”

Sergey never got to finish.

The Russian soldier lifted his rifle, aimed for the center of Sergey’s chest, and pulled the trigger.

Sasha bellowed and shoved Sergey sideways, tackling him to the ground, and the soldier’s bullets grazed over Sergey’s shoulder and slammed into Sasha’s arm.

Sweeping out with his feet, Sasha kicked the Russian soldier down and then leaped up, firing three rounds into his face. The soldier’s body shook, trembling with the bullets’ impact.

“Fuck!” Scott hissed. Beyond him, the soldiers who had backed up the now-dead Russian soldier shouted and opened fire, taking out Sergey’s last security agents along the wall.

“Mr. President!” Scott laid down cover fire and motioned to Sergey. “Over here!”

Sergey scrambled for the kitchen, trailing blood from his shoulder. Sasha hovered at his back, one arm stained with blood, droplets falling from his fingers. Ethan ducked under Sasha and helped him stumble to the circle of agents protecting Jack and Irwin. The ring of Secret Service agents opened briefly, swallowing Sergey, Sasha, and Ethan. A moment later, the agents were shoulder to shoulder again, weapons raised, aiming into the shadows.

Scott stayed in the kitchen’s doorway, firing at the soldiers until his gun clicked. Out of bullets. He pulled another clip from his belt.

“We’ve got to move!” Daniels bellowed. “We’ve got to get out of here!”

“I’m open to suggestions!” Scott shouted back.

Trapped in the middle of a coup. Ethan reached for Jack, running his hands over him quickly, making sure he was whole.

“I’m all right,” Jack breathed. “I’m all right. Sergey’s hurt. And Sasha.” He hovered over them both, pressing his hands to their bloody wounds. Blood slicked down Jack’s arms, stained his shirt and his pants. Cursing, he undid his button down and rolled it up, wrapping it around Sasha’s arm over the wound. He tied it tight.

Sasha grimaced but said nothing.