“Three, clear.”
“Five, clear.” Heavy breathing, like Xander was running, filled the air. “Charlie One?”
“Here but dazed.” Liam pushed to his feet, using the couch for stability. His gaze drifted to the back door. The thing hung on its hinges. Smoke hazed the interior. So maybe his vision wasn’t foggy.
Rafe rounded the corner. “Whoever broke knew what they were doing. They occupied our patrol and had Raven in and out in less than a minute. Her bedroom door was kicked in.”
Not hard to figure out her location in an open concept cabin with only three bedrooms, and with hers the only room locked.
“I found this on the floor.” Rafe held out Raven’s comm.
Liam’s heart sank. “Charlie Team, any sign of the people who took her?”
“Negative. They had us chasing our tails. All that’s left is a cloud of dust.” Boone’s tone held an edge Liam normally didn’t hear.
“Fall back. Regroup at the cabin.” Rafe gave the command.
“How did I allow this to happen?” Liam’s heart hurt as badly as his head. He’d promised to protect her, and he’d allowed her to be kidnapped—again.
“Weare not done yet.” Rafe’s hand landed on his shoulder. “Don’t give up hope, brother. Wewillfind her and put a stop to this.”
Acutely aware of Raven’s phobias and the danger she was in, Liam closed his eyes and prayed for her safety.
Don’t let me fail her. Please.
CHAPTER 10
Location Unknown
Friday – 2200 Hours
Code Name: Raven
Ablack bag over her head, Jade’s heart pounded. She gasped, but oxygen refused to enter her lungs. Of all her issues, claustrophobia hadn’t been one—until now. Zip ties dug into her already damaged wrists, and her shoulders protested the position of having her hands secured behind her back. A seatbelt cut across her battered body with each bounce from the vehicle, hitting a rut. The sour smell of body odor and diesel fumes mixed, roiling her stomach. She shifted her weight to relieve the pressure on her shoulders.
“Sit still.” The command from an unknown male made her jump.
Tears burned her eyes. The memory of the men snatching her from the cabin came roaring back. The door hanging on its hinges. The percussive blast. The smoke hovering in the air. Liam. Was he hurt? Or worse yet, dead? The gunfire outside, moments before being dragged from the house, exploded in herhead over and over. Charlie Team. Her team. The men who’d saved her life twice before. Could they all be gone? No way. Those men were the best of the best. She tossed the idea aside and held on to hope that they’d all survived. Jade had to. If not, the chances of her getting out of this mess had plummeted to zero.
Gravel popped off the undercarriage as they left the paved road. The vehicle bounced, lifting her off the seat. Uneven terrain jolted her healing ribs. She whimpered at the pain slicing through her torso.
The vehicle came to an abrupt stop, and she slammed forward against the seatbelt. She cried out.
“Shut up.” A hand grabbed her arm and yanked her from what had to be a large SUV.
A helicopter whomped not far away.
Her feet hit the ground, and she stumbled. The man gripped her so tight that bruises on her skin were inevitable.
Too afraid to speak, she allowed the man to half-drag her to the next location. Dirt swirled in the air, stinging her arms and legs, and snuck under the hood, coating her tongue with grit.
“Get in.” He pushed her forward.
A metal edge caught her stomach. Being without her hands and unable to see made it impossible for her to do what the man commanded.
Hands from above grabbed her arms, hoisted her upward, and flung her onto the hard surface. A wind tunnel of air pulled through the helicopter. The door slammed shut, and they lifted off the ground.
Jade’s stomach lurched. The aircraft’s nose dipped, and she slid forward into what she assumed was a seat.
