Apollo sniffed the ground while the unit moved to the opposite side of his team.
“Damn it. They jammed their coms,” he told Shadow. “Hollywood, move your ass,” he shouted.
Hollywood heard him and signaled Apollo to attack as he drew his gun. Shots volleyed from the vehicle as he watched Taco and Saint dive for the cover of the rocks. Cole sent his dog toward the unit, providing enough distraction to pull Patch from the vehicle. Patch lay down fire as he jerked Knight from the truck and threw him toward the rocks. Shadow fired from behind the men. Leo fired his weapon at the man headed toward Knight, making him fall to the ground.
Leo raised his weapon and fired again at the man coming behind Saint.
Something stung his neck, and he swiped at it as he fired again, taking another man down. Trucks headed toward them, and he didn’t know if they were friend or foe. Glancing at his hand, he saw the blood. He struggled to swallow as he fell to his knees. Leo grasped his neck and tried to speak, but nothing came out. He coughed, and blood splattered on the rocks as his life replayed like a movie in his head.
The day he married Kit Kat. When he discovered Melody was his daughter. The day he pleaded for Kit Kat to breathe after theypulled her from the fire. He relived the day Grace came into this world and how his friends helped him get there by dragging him up the mountain.
Leo frantically reached into his pants pocket and touched the strand of Catherine’s hair. Knowing death lingered, he gripped it with all his might. His friends, Chase and Kassie, would ensure his family never wanted for anything. Coughing again, his body dropped the rest of the way to the ground. Regret filled him as Kit Kat’s disappointed face filled his vision every time he missed a school function, never came to bed, or came home for dinner.I’m sorry, Kit Kat.I never meant to let you down.
Gripping her hair, he listened to the chaos happening down below, unable to help his brothers. Leo closed his eyes and waited for the end to come.I love you, Kit Kat, he thought one last time before he took his last breath.
CHAPTER 33
Saint crawledon his hands and knees toward Knight, who clutched his leg. Patch ran toward Cole as a missile exploded. Hollywood held his gun on one man while Apollo pinned down another.
“You all right, brother?” Saint yelled to Knight.
“I’m hit. It’s my leg,” Knight yelled. “Where’s Patch?”
“He’s patching Cole,” Saint said. “Our coms aren’t working. The bastards set us up.”
“Where’s the rest of the team?” Knight asked, grunting, as Saint checked his leg.
“We have backup. Apparently, someone alerted them. They’re taking everyone into custody. Will you be all right while I check in with Leo? I haven’t seen him,” Saint said.
Shadow held a gun on one man while he watched another soldier tie his hands and lead him to the truck. The blast's heat intensified as he saw his team limp toward Hollywood.
“Hey, where’s Leo?” he shouted toward them.
“I haven’t seen him since he yelled for me to get down,” Hollywood said as he checked on Apollo and held Striker.
Fear ran through him as he scanned the scene, searching for his leader and friend. Jogging toward Shadow, Saint called, “Where’s Leo?”
“He might be checking on Taco. One of the rebels got him in the vest. It hurts like a mother,” Shadow replied as he lowered his weapon and scanned the crowd.
“Our coms went dead. We need to spread out and find Leo,” Saint said. “It’s not like him to not be down here barking orders and taking names.”
“We’ll start on this side. You go in the other direction, and we’ll meet in the middle,” Shadow suggested. “Let out a whistle when you find him.”
Saint approached Knight and Hollywood. “None of us has seen Leo. Can Apollo track him?”
“Do you have anything of his?” Hollywood asked.
“No. I’m getting worried. Stay here, Knight, and tell Patch we can’t find Leo. We’re searching for him. Shadow will take the other side.
When the team met in the middle with no sign of their leader, their eyes met, conveying their concern.
“All right. Before we panic,” Saint reasoned. “Let’s scour the area where we last saw him.”
Cole cried out as two men lifted him onto a cot and took him to one of the trucks. Two more assisted Knight as Saint started up the mountain.
“Damn it, Leo. It’s time for us to finish this and go home. I’m calling Bryanna from the plane and telling her I want a big batch of snickerdoodle cookies.”
“Leo,” Shadow shouted, glancing in Saint’s direction.
