Page 5 of Storm Warning

“Team One, move out.”

“Copy,” Noah said.

As Riley listened to their teammates acknowledge Seth’s orders, she widened her stride. The back of her neck tingled, and that wasn’t good. Someone was bearing down on them. If they weren’t careful, they’d face another delay.

Riley hopped over a fallen log and plunged ahead through the thick underbrush, dodging tree limbs and roots. Breathing became more difficult the longer she ran. She hated running through jungles, and every time Brent Maddox deployed them to a tropical climate, that’s what she ended up doing.

Why couldn’t he send them on a mission in Hawaii? She could get behind that in a big way. Beach, sun, plus a briny breeze added up to a perfect atmosphere in her opinion.

She tapped her comm device. “How’s the boy?”

“He’ll need counseling,” Violet said.

“Copy.” Riley hated to hear that. No kid deserved to be used and abused. Before the boy left the jet, Riley would make sure he could contact her if he wanted to talk. Yeah, most boys didn’t liketo share their feelings. Didn’t mean the kid shouldn’t have that option if he needed to use it. What she would have given to have had the same option when she was a kid.

If he wouldn’t talk to a professional counselor, Riley would be glad to be a listener. She knew without asking that Teagan would also offer to listen any time the kid needed to vent.

Riley checked her GPS and adjusted her course. If they didn’t have interruptions or delays, she and Andre would reach the rendezvous point in five minutes.

“Team One in position.”

As each of the teams reported in, Riley realized everyone was at the rendezvous site except her and Andre.

“Team Five, report.”

“One minute out,” Andre said.

Seconds later, they burst into the small clearing where their teammates waited with Christopher Hatton, their principal. The boy’s face lit up when he saw Andre.

“You’re safe.”

Andre ruffled his hair. “Yep. I told you I’d be back to help you get out of this furnace of a jungle.”

The boy laughed.

“Let’s move.” Seth quartered the area. “Clock’s ticking, and we still have to make it out of the jungle while dodging terrorists.”

“Fine with me.” Iona grimaced. “I hate the jungle. The humidity makes my hair frizz.” She winked at Christopher, who grinned at her.

Violet scanned Riley. “Are you injured?”

“Nothing a cold pack won’t cure when we’re airborne.”

“Really? Where did you get the cut on your neck?”

Her teammates swung around to stare at her. Not what she wanted. Riley hated being the center of attention. “It’s just ascratch. One kidnapper held a knife to my throat and nicked the skin. I forgot about it.”

“I’ll treat that on the jet, too. We can’t take any chances in this atmosphere.”

“Gear up and let’s go. The terrorists haven’t given up on the package yet,” Seth said.

Riley and her teammates settled Go bags on their backs and checked their weapons.

Andre crouched in front of Christopher. “Want me to carry you out of here, or do you want to stay with Noah and Violet?”

“I want to go with you.”

Noah laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “If Andre becomes tired, come to me for a while, all right?”