Page 46 of Red, White, and BearCat Blue

Christ. There could be only one reason for that move. I moved slightly right to get a look and a rifle barrel suddenly appeared.

“Bloody ‘ell!”

Beth swerved right, but the Audi was nearly level with her backseat where Cam’s mom was seated.

“Gun!” Mickey shouted.

“I see it, Mick—” Beth’s words abruptly cut off when a volley of automatic gunfire shot into the Beemer just as she gunned the big V12, pulling ahead so the bullets impacted only her left rear bumper and boot. “Keep them off me, Mars!” Beth cried.

I gave it some herbs again, foot pressing harder on the pedal, and came up hard and fast on the Audi. “’Ang on tight!” I shouted just as I smashed into their back bumper as hard as I could. The passenger’s shot went wide and the gun barrel disappeared from the window as the driver instantly swerved. He dropped back as I called out, “Where’s our bloody backup?”

“Coming soon,” Kindness said, sounding only slightly worried.

Mickey had pulled his Glock and was half leaning out the window as I gunned the motor again. Multiple shots took out the Audi’s rear window with a great crash. Mickey landed several well-placed shots through the gaping hole, and the Audi swerved right again, dropping farther behind Beth.

I put pedal to the metal, smashing into the back of their car, cringing at the squeal of metal. After this rubbish, the scratch on the passenger side was going to look like a ding. The impact on the Audi made it swerve violently but she eventually straightened, back on Beth’s tail again.

Mickey dropped his clip and slammed in another one, emptying the magazine into the back of the Audi. Surely to God, he’d hit something worthwhile soon! But the passenger and driver both ducked, so that was something.

“Where’s our fucking backup?”

The whump whump of rotor blades overhead answered the question as my coms came to life. “Would you be throwing a wee tantie there, my sweetie Mars Bars!”

The lilting Irish accent of Patsy—one of my best friends—penetrated my brain just as the chopper swooped overhead. I leaned forward and looked up, spotting the helo as it seemed to appear out of nowhere. It banked hard over Beth and I caught sight of the open side. Two figures sat, legs dangling, automatic rifles aimed at the Audi.

I recognized both men, dressed head to toe in tac gear, and couldn’t stop the grin on my face. Captain Candy Sorensen’s long, red beard was easy to see, but it was the taller figure of our team sniper, Rex Monroe, that made my heart flood with warmth.

Reese’s Pieces was finally back at work after having suffered a bullet wound to the back, temporarily paralyzing him for months while his spinal cord healed. Now happily married to Cachi, the love of his life, he was anxious as hell to be useful. I’d missed my fellow sniper. I’d been filling that role full-time while he underwent months of physical and occupational therapies prior to being given the green light to come back to work.

“About time all you lot showed up. Ya nearly missed the party. Ya didn’t tell us the team was ‘ere in Vegas, Michaels,” I said, feeling overwhelming relief.

The low chuckle came from Beth almost instantly.

“Glad to see you, boss,” Mickey said, leaning forward and looking up too. The grin and relief on his face couldn’t be missed.

The com crackled. “I couldn’t let you boys have all the fun,” Candy said. The humor in his voice was comforting as hell.

“Looks like we’re just in time,” Rex drawled. “Got yourself a damned tail, huh, Michaels?”

“Weren’t expecting one, but glad you boys decided to come,” she replied, laughing.

“You couldn’t be keeping Candy away from the action if ya tried,” Patsy said.

“Bloody well right,” Almond drawled. “He’s chuffed to little bits.”

I spotted him in the front windscreen of the helo, seated beside Patsy as he flew directly at us this time, swooping overhead playfully as Rex strafed the road on the passenger side of the Audi. Someone else lobbed a smoke grenade at the sports car, landing it in between the Beemer and the Audi and cheers went up in my coms. The team was playing with the fuckers. I shook my head in glee. It wasn’t lost on me how the Audi had slowed considerably as we tore down the long street, giving the bullets and smoke a wide berth.

“There’s a football field up ahead,” Candy said. “Turn into the lot, Michaels. We’ll meet you there.”

“Yes, sir.”

Seconds later, Beth pulled hard right, followed by the Audi, once again, hot on her heels. I shook my head, surprised at the stupidity of the driver, knowing full well he was outgunned. I followed them into the empty car park as the helo swooped back overhead with greater speed, coming from behind us. Patsy was more than a hundred yards ahead, hovering fifty feet off the ground before Candy and Rex tossed long lengths of rope out of the bird. I recognized Napoleon’s dark face flash a brilliant, white smile as he appeared in the doorway and a moment later, he and Candy made the drop to the tarmac. Rex stayed, ready to lay down covering fire.

The Audi sped up, gun barrel appearing. They hit the gas, pulling out of range as the Audi’s passenger once again strafed the boot of the Beemer.

“Are they stupid?” Mickey shouted. “They can see they’re way outgunned and outmanned.”

“Stupid criminals?” I asked, biting my lip to hide my grin. “’Ooever ‘eard of a stupid criminal?”