Page 12 of Hayes (Voodoo Guardians #37)

“I’m sorry,” whispered Hayes breathlessly as they struggled down the mountain. The trail spiraled around the rocky terrain, allowing them to be on one side, while their pursuers were on the other.

“What are you sorry for? This isn’t your fault,” she said breathlessly. His injured arm was tight to his side, his good arm draped over her shoulder.

“I’m sorry that I’m weaker than I thought. I shouldn’t need this much help,” he said breathlessly. Victoria stared up at him, then looked down and across the plain to see the vehicles getting closer.

“Let’s rest a minute,” she said. “Hayes, you have nothing to be sorry for. Your team was blown up. That child, that poor, misled child, was sent to kill you all. That wasn’t your fault.”

“I know,” he said, nodding his head as he leaned against the boulder. “Frenkel, Darnell, Hatcher, and Bonds were ahead of me. I’d stopped to ensure that we got the comms off, and the chopper would come in. I saw that kid and knew we were all dead.

“I flew backwards and started rolling. I remember looking up and seeing blood and…” He stopped, frowning.

“It’s alright, you don’t have to say anything else. I understand,” she said, ensuring they were still alone on the mountain.

“No. No, I looked and saw the blood, but I saw someone walking toward me. Bonds. Bonds was walking toward me.”

“There is no one else on this mountain,” she said. “I didn’t see a soul. Surely if someone were here, especially an American SEAL, I would have seen him.”

“I know what I saw, Victoria. He was walking toward me. The cave, the cave where you found me, were there any signs of others having been there?”

“I don’t think so,” she said, staring at him. “In fact, I only went inside because I heard you moaning. When I approached the opening, it looked like you had dragged yourself into the cave.”

“No,” he said, standing straighter. “No, that wouldn’t have been possible with just one arm and my injuries. Someone dragged me in there, and I think I know who.”

“But why would a teammate do this to you? What purpose would it have?”

“He kept questioning how I knew so much about the equipment we used. It’s all from G.R.I.P.

They’re older models, but I was able to update them to suit wherever we were.

At first, I thought he was curious, but then it became creepy.

He’s my superior, so I tried to answer without giving answers. ”

“I know what you mean,” she said, nodding.

“My rifle. Where’s my rifle?” he asked.

She handed him the rifle, and he dug inside the pack for the long-distance scope. As he fitted it to the weapon, he used Victoria’s shoulder to steady the weapon so that he could see who was coming toward them.

“What do you see?”

“Him. It’s him with a man we do not want to meet. Khalil Aamani.”

“I know that name,” she frowned. “Doug and Ryan were talking about him before I left. They said that the Rangers had asked for something that would prevent Aamani from running the region.”

“The comms disrupter,” he frowned.

“Yes. How did you know that?” she asked.

“That’s why Bonds was so curious about what I did and how I did it. We need to see how close the others are,” he said. She pulled out the tablet and held it so they could both see.

“Everything okay?” asked the image of Luke when it connected.

“No. Everything is not okay. I just figured out that I was intentionally attacked and my team killed. By my Lieutenant.”

“Fuck,” muttered Luke.

“We’re dealing with Lt. Leland Bonds and Khalil Aamani.” There was silence on the other end of the line, then a few more faces filling the camera space.

“Did you just say Aamani?” asked Mo.

“Yes, sir. We need to get off this damn mountain fast. What’s your ETA?”

“Forty minutes, thirty-three if we punch it. Can you hide until then?” asked Eric.

“I think so, but if we go down, there will be nowhere for you to land. I think we have to go back up to our original landing zone. It will be flat, or at least somewhat flat, and we can be more visible for you. If they’re climbing the mountain, they won’t see us at the top.”

“How long would it take them to get to the top?” asked Cam.

“It took me a little more than six hours with horses,” said Victoria, “but I’m alone, carrying a very heavy pack. They might have horses that are better trained and lighter packs.”

“You’re still ahead of them,” said Luke. “Turn around and get to the top of that damn mountain. We’re going to deploy drones and see if we can provide some distraction and cover. Just ignore whatever you see or hear and keep going.”

“Yes, sir,” they said in unison. Luke smirked at their images.

“Before we pick the two of you up, is this bullshit between you settled?” he asked.

“Yes,” said Victoria definitively. “Wherever Hayes is will be where I am.” Mo and Hoot both laughed, shaking their heads. Mo stared at his adoptive daughter.

“Thank fuck!”