Page 34 of Lucky Charm

“Is there anything we can do about it?” She pulled her jacket back in around her neck and glanced at Quaid when he handed her water.

Carter’s eyes flashed with sympathy. “No.”

“Let’s move on then.” She jerked when more explosions shook the ground. “Are they close?”

“The good news is no. The bad news is it doesn’t matter. Those suckers can tear us up, loosen snow and rock.”

Hunt moved to her, Tommy behind him.” “Once we’re over the pass, we’ll double time.”

“I take it you know where you’re heading?”

“Prearranged Plan F.” He left the details unspoken. She wanted him to touch her, to reassure her, then she chastised herself and toughened up.

“Understood.” She took a drink from the canteen Quaid had handed her, and let the men steady her on the way to Tommy. “I’m ready when you are.” If she exhausted herself staying balanced during the few short feet, she wasn’t going to show it.

Few words we’re spoken. Tommy bent, and she used what energy she had to climb on his back and hang on. Silently, they moved to a break in the mountain hill. Shortly after, they were heading more downhill than up. She couldn’t see ahead of her, she couldn’t see Hunt, and she closed her eyesto protect her vision. Even though the skies were gray and overcast, the white glare was an eye killer.

Ali Haquiri might be hot on their trail, but never surrender was stuck in a loop in her brain. The mantra helped her keep her focus which saved her life.

The gunfire came from the front and below in a deadly volume.

Tommy dove for the rocks to the side of the trail. She slid off his back in an uncontrolled dismount. Colliding with a boulder, she stifled a verbal expression of pain.

Hunt shifted next to her and pulled her behind him. “Hang on to me. We’re going to slip on up the trail, using the rocks for cover. Tommy stick to the plan and cover our six.” They ducked against another barrage.

“We have a plan?” Cait struggled in the deep snow, fighting to keep her balance and battle the shivers at the same time.

“Yep, first contact, plan already in progress.” A lull spurred them to action. Hunt pulled her close and carried her more than walked her. His footing in the snow was sure and careful, yet faster than she could fathom.

Plowing through the snow, they made it to another large outcropping and stopped. The sounds of weapons fire had followed them.

Fear warred with exhaustion.

The only thing holding her together was Hunt’s arms.

A sudden worry filled her thoughts. “Where are the others?”

“They peeled off. Chaos theory plan.”

She looked at him, not even able to discern what he was talking about.

He pushed her hair from her face and helped her slip against a crevice in the outcropping. “You didn’t think all this shock and awe was them, did you?”

“How did they get ahead of us?”

“They played the odds. Not many ways up, over, or around these mountains. They will have covered all the logical routes.”

“Why? Why are they so desperate to stop us?”

“Anything strange happen before the surgery?”

“No, not really. I talked to the mother before. She seemed scared, but a man broke in after not more than two minutes of conversation.”

“You talk to him?” Hunt’s voice sharpened in intensity, an emotion that tightened her gut.

“No. I never saw him again after that. Or the mother for that matter.”

“Nobody interfered in the surgery? You never heard anything?”