Page 116 of The 9th Man

“Move it,” he said to her. “I’m right behind you.”

He bent down and clasped Eckstein’s wrists, dragging him toward the barn. The helicopter rose vertically and moved back toward them. In the open rear door a figure cradled an automatic rifle and started firing.

Bullets peppered the ground, coming closer.

“Keep going,” he told her.

He released his grip on Eckstein’s wrist, dropped to one knee, and poured shotgun pellets into the helicopter’s open door. The figure fell backward out of sight. He then grabbed the old man by the belt and hauled him into the barn.

He spotted another set of doors at the other side. “See if we can get out that way.”

Jillian rushed ahead.

The horses were rattled by all the commotion, uneasy in their stalls.

He knelt down. “David, are you with us?”

No response.

He jostled the old man’s shoulder. “David, talk to me.”

A string of garbled words came out in a gasp.

“We can go this way,” Jillian called out.

Eckstein clutched at his sleeve and opened his mouth, but only a whisper emerged.

“We need to go,” Jillian cried out.

He leaned closer to Eckstein’s mouth. “Say it again.”

“NAI.”

“One more time.”

“N…A…I…316…21.”

“What’s that mean?”

“Say it back,” Eckstein croaked.

He did so.

He glanced back toward the house and, in the fire’s glow, saw four armed men advancing his way. One of them cocked his arm and threw something. He caught a fleeting glimpse of its unmistakable shape and silhouette.

Grenade.

“Frag,” he shouted.

Then he dove back, deeper into the barn. The grenade bounced off the snowy ground and exploded. He felt the whomp of the concussion and stayed low. But it had only been a flashbang.

Luke rolled onto his knees, found the Beretta, and took aim through the doorway. A man was there, arm cocked for a second throw. He put two rounds in his chest and the guy stumbled from view. Was he wearing a vest? Probably. But that still stung. A few seconds later a grenade detonated outside. He made sure Jillian was okay then crawled to Eckstein, who lay on his back, open eyes staring skyward.

He checked for a pulse. None.

He sprang to his feet and ran toward Jillian. “He’s dead.”

“And we will be too if we stay here much longer.”