Olivia
I’ll be waiting for you just like this.
Tate started side-eyeing me, so I typed out a final text.
Drake
Gotta go. I’ll see you soon.
I stuffed the phone into my pocket, and Tate tapped my arm.
“Who was that?”
“Liv.”
“What did she want?”
“Asking for an update on when we’ll be home.”
“Uh-huh,” he said, giving me a look that saidI know you’re lying, Battle.
The Humvee took a sharp turn, knocking my shoulder into the door. I grabbed the seat to steady myself, but the bumpy ride continued.
“Sir, we have company,” the driver shouted, sounding unnerved.
The motionless men across from us turned around. One spoke to the driver while the other listened. Over the road noise, I couldn’t hear much of their conversation. We took another sharp turn down an even more desolate road, headed in the wrong direction.
“Major, what’s going on?” I asked.
“Nothing to worry about. Just making a detour.”
“Why?”
“Unidentified vehicles are blocking our way out. Just hang tight. We’ll get you back to your car shortly.”
Tate shifted his weight and leaned into me. “I don’t like this.”
I nodded in agreement.
All day, I had a strange feeling about coming here. We were exposed, vulnerable without our own vehicle or security team. I could only bring Tate with me.
“Hold on,” the driver said, swerving to the right, tilting the vehicle ever so slightly.
As the Humvee gained speed, I peeked out the window and spotted oncoming vehicles. Four armored black SUVs built to withstand just about anything. They were almost as indestructible as the Humvee.
“Battle King,” Tate whispered to me, a worried look in his eyes. “Do it now.”
“What? No.”
“We’re about to be taken, Drake. Do it.”
Four SUVs approached from all sides. Any second, we would collide. I’d prepared Cole for this very moment. He would know what to do when Lovelace put my homes and offices on lockdown.
I raised my watch to my mouth and tapped a button on the face. “Lovelace, initiate Battle King protocol.”
Those were the last words I spoke before four SUVs smashed into us on all sides, sending the Humvee flying across the desert.
CHAPTER 21
