Page 32 of Fighting for Family

“We need to move. They know we’re here. Damn it, Shadow, you gave our position away. You and your careless act. No one, and I mean no one, lets a blind person drive,” Saint cursed.

“You don’t know they followed us,” Shadow seethed. “Cole doesn’t exactly resemble a woman. Maybe he got made.”

Hollywood laughed. “A man offered me three goats and a chicken for him when I told him he was my sister.”

“Why didn’t you take him up on it?” Shadow asked. “I’d do anything for a roasted chicken or some fresh eggs.”

“Thanks a lot,” Cole muttered as he tore the chadari off, leaving it on the ground.

“Don’t take it personally,” Taco said. “He’d give his left nut if he could find it.”

“So now I’m getting compared to his balls sack. Nice,” Cole grumbled.

“Cole, you and Hollywood get the trucks. Ragu, Taco, and Shadow, pack up and move. Sparky, get ready,” Saint ordered.

“I’m on it,” she replied.

Hollywood stumbled and fell, scraping his face and hands. “Son of a bitch,” he swore as he got up and dusted himself off.

“You all right?” Cole asked, speaking into the coms.

“Yeah,” Hollywood said, scanning the ground. “What did they do to make the dogs lose the scents?”

“No idea, man,” Cole said. “Something tells me it’s the same stuff Fucker Ford uses.”

“Meet us at the road,” Saint interrupted them. “I’m tired of this shit. We’ve searched for four months, and we have no idea where Leo’s remains went, and we’re no closer to getting Sergeant Ford and his friends taken down.”

“We can discuss this once we’re situated. Let’s go to plan B,” Shadow said. “Hollywood, we’re coming up on you and Apollo now. Get into the first truck. Cole, you and Striker hop into the second.”

“You got it,” he said.

Saint pulled up, and Hollywood jumped into the back with his K-9. Shadow scanned the hills, searching for something. Cole jumped into the second vehicle further down.

“Shit, Hollywood. You’re bleeding all over the place,” Shadow said, gazing down at his pant leg.

“What the hell?” he muttered as he peered at the blood seeping onto his pants.

“Shit, you’re shot,” Shadow said, dropping to his knees and using his KBAR to cut the material. “Aw, fuck,” he said, banging on the back window. “We gotta book it. Hollywood caught himself a bullet, and I need hands.”

“Hang on,” Saint said before speeding up. The truck behind them kept up as Ragu opened the small window.

“Here’s some gauze,” he said, passing it through the window.

“Guys, I’m not feeling the greatest,” Hollywood said as he swayed.

“Lay him down,” Saint ordered. “When did you get hit?”

“When I fell,” he said, gritting his teeth. “My leg feels weird.”

“Hang on,” Shadow assured him, dragging his pack closer. He dug inside until he found the morphine. “This will help with the pain.”

“Listen to me,” Hollywood said. “If I don’t make it, tell Addyson I love her, and I want her to live a good life.”

“Shut up and tell her yourself. You got hit in the damn leg,” Shadow said, unable to hide his concern.

“One more thing,” Hollywood muttered. “Don’t lose my body. I don’t want to fucking die here.”

“You’re a real jokester, aren’t you?” Shadow said, cleansing the skin with an alcohol wipe and jabbing the needle into his thigh.