Page 138 of The Lazarus Protocol

“He ran off to take care of something. I figured it was about Vesper, but he wasn’t with her. Maybe he had other orders.” Adam didn’t have an answer for his friend aside from that. He turned and looked at the island behind them. “How many men did you guys take out?”

“All of the ones we encountered,” Noah said.

“Add to that the drones…” The ones that had tried to box them in that cable car, pinned down. Like trapping prey in a tight space to see what happened when your target was cornered.

Ash shook his head. “How are we still alive?”

Kai hopped back out of the boat just before it pulled away from the dock and came over. “Are you guys having the ‘that was too easy’ conversation? Because I don’t agree. I’m getting off this island, and neither of you is going to ruin it because you think it should’ve been harder. None of us needs to be bleeding more than you already are.”

Adam didn’t look at his vest. “I brought a sat phone in the backpack. And other necessities.”

Noah waved the phone at him. “Everyone I’d call, or who might be able to help, is on this dock. Or they’re way too far away to render assistance.”

“Call the last saved number.” Adam scanned the trees, and every inch of the shore he could see. Kai might’ve been making a point about not taking escape for granted, but it did sort of seem like this might’ve been too easy.

Noah put the phone to his ear. “It’s ringing.”

Adam saw movement to the west—Kyle running out of the trees, being chased by armed men in black fatigues. Kyle spotted them and raced across the sand from about half a mile away, grinning like he’d won that round despite the fact the enemy was in hot pursuit.

One of the gunmen clocked the small group on the dock and raised his arm, pointing a weapon at them.

“Everyone, get down!” Adam broke away from the group, ran to the end of the dock, and went down on one knee to present a smaller target. He fired at the gunmen chasing Kyle, giving them a steady stream to provide his friend cover fire.

His buddy tore up the sand until he was on the dock, running by Adam with a quick, “Thanks.”

“Now what?” Adam said between firing at the Earthnet guys headed for them.

Whatever Kyle had taken from them, they were pissed about it. But they probably weren’t interested in dying for their employer. Would they even listen?

The gunmen fanned out, taking cover to shoot back. One behind a tree, and the other two behind an overturned trunk on the beach.

Someone screamed. He heard a splash behind him, and then another. “Kai!” That was Marina.

Adam kept firing, feeling the whip of bullets moving by his face. He winced and ducked lower, finally hitting one of them.

“Let’s go!” Noah said. “Swim to the boat!”

Adam heard them take off behind him, the whole group splashing into the water.

“Adam!” That was Steph.

He yelled simply, “Go!”

Whether or not she paid attention, he didn’t turn back to check. Adam fired relentlessly at the two men behind the tree. One fell back and the other to the side.

Adam spun around, launching out of his crouch. He ran to the end of the dock and dove into the water, his hands braced out straight in front of him. With the gun, his boots, and all the gear—and his injuries—this wasn’t going to be good. But he used the momentum of the running dive to get him going and kicked his legs. When he broke the surface, he swam as hard as he could to the boat.

The others were climbing on board the tender, which had made it about two thirds of the way back to them. Another thing that had gone their way.

Adam got close enough that Noah and Kyle hauled him aboard. “Good to see you, buddy.” Kyle slapped his shoulder.

“Thanks for that.” Adam shouldered him out of the way.

Kyle chuckled. “We all have our assignments.” He glanced around. “Where’s Vesper?”

Across the small vessel, Steph sat on the side of the boat, looking out at the ship. Whether she’d heard the comment about her sister or not, she didn’t give him any indication.

“Vesper didn’t make it.” Adam glanced back at the shore and saw one man on the dock, watching them sail away. As they did, the man drew out a phone and made a call.