“Charlie One, Charlie Five. Four is hunting.”
And just like that, the situation was like a bucket of cold water over his head. “Raven, lock yourself in your room!” He heard a chair scrape across the floor and sensed the movement behind him.
Rafe appeared next to him. “She didn’t hesitate. She’s secure.”
“Good.” He peered out the curtain, searching for anything off.
“I hate waiting.”
Rafe lifted an eyebrow as if to say,Really? I never knew that.
Liam closed his eyes and gently shook his head. He’d momentarily forgotten he wasn’t muted.
The comms erupted with gunfire. Sharp cracks and shouting filled his ears.
“Cabin Breach!” Boone’s warning came at the same time the back door exploded open.
He and Rafe spun. Their Sig Sauer M17s pointed at the point of entry.
A canister hit the floor a couple of feet in front of them.
“Flash! Get down!” Liam dove to the ground.
The thing detonated. A concussive blast slammed his head and chest like a sledgehammer. White lights streaked behind his eyes, stabbing a dagger into his brain.
Rafe’s hand clamped onto his leg.
He twisted, willing the contents of his stomach to stay in place.
Raven.Rafe mouthed.
Or Liam assumed he did. At the moment, he couldn’t hear anything but the incessant ringing.
They both lifted to their hands and knees when a second canister bounced across the floor.
“Second Flash!” Liam covered his head with his arms, bracing for the head-splitting explosion.
Pain flared behind his eyes, and his stomach lurched. Whoever had infiltrated the cabin knew what they were doing. The staggered detonations had rendered him and Rafe useless to protect Raven, giving the enemy the time required to capture and abscond with her without a battle.
He grabbed the couch and hauled himself to his feet, only to fall back to the floor. The room spun, and his stomach revolted.
“Liam?” Rafe’s muffled voice swam in his ears.
“Help Raven.” He closed his eyes and braced himself against his whirling head.
Rafe ran toward her bedroom. “Charlie team, Charlie Two. The package is missing.”
Silence filled the comms. Or at least Liam thought so. Who knew with his ears feeling like they were stuffed with bumble bees.
“Do you copy?” Rafe demanded.
“Lima Charlie.” Each man responded with loud and clear.
“Status.”
Thankfully, Rafe had taken command. He needed a minute or twenty that they didn’t have to keep his brain functioning.
“Four, clear.”
