“Shit.” He lowered his NVGs into place, raised his hand to Eddie, and pointed two fingers toward the men. “Viking, be ready.”
He didnotwant these guys shooting at Carl.
Hawk was still about five yards from the gravel road when the big bear picked up speed and started crashing through the brush like a four-legged bulldozer.
“Did you hear that?” Kimball pulled out his pistol, swung toward the sound, and frantically searched the darkness.
“Can you see anything?” Bloody nose guy peeked out from behind the tall guy.
Carl cleared the edge of the woods and rose to stand on his back legs. He tilted his head, opened his mouth, and let loose a long, deep roar that resonated up from his chest. His lips fluttered, exposing the sharp canines that could rip through human flesh with ease.
That’s when all hell broke loose.
“It’s a fuckin’ bear!” Toby shouted. His eyes were huge, and he raised his gun, ready to shoot.
In one fluid motion, Hawk reached over his shoulder, slid an arrow from the quiver and loaded it. He lifted his bow, drew the bowstring back to his right cheek, and released it.
The carbon flew straight and silent through the air, and the man screamed and dropped the pistol when the arrow sliced clean through his forearm.
“Ahhhh!” He grabbed his arm and fell to the ground, screaming and writhing around in pain. “I’ve been hit! I’ve been hit!”
“What the fuck!” Nosebleed guy held out his gun, his hand shaking as he looked down at his injured colleague and back toward Carl.
All of the noise and commotion was too much for the solitary bear, so he turned and headed back into the woods.
Kimball, the third guy, and Nosebleed pointed their guns toward the trees, their arms shifting wildly back and forth. Wondering where the arrow had come from.
“Looking for me?” Hawk stepped out of the darkness, his bow up and loaded and ready to fire.
The unnamed third guy swung his gun toward Hawk.
Thwip.Hawk heard the distinctive sound of Viking’s rifle in his ear a nanosecond before the man dropped to the ground.
“We’re surrounded, Vinny!” Nosebleed guy was in an absolute panic, his head swiveling wildly back and forth, up into the trees, looking for the unseen gunman.
“You’re smarter than you look.” Hawk stalked toward them, his bow raised, loaded, and ready to launch another arrow. “Toss your weapons over there and lay face-down on the ground.” He tilted his head toward a spot away from them.
Nosebleed couldn’t ditch his pistol fast enough, then he dropped to the ground on his belly and locked his hands behind his head. He’d obviously done that before.
Kimball, on the other hand, appeared to be considering his choices.
That’s when Eddie joined the party.
Kimball swept his gun toward him, andthwip, dust kicked up an inch from his shoe.
“Wow, you’re lucky.” Eddie smiled. “You actually got a warning shot.”
“I’m not going to ask you again.” The cams on Hawk’s bow turned as he slowly drew back the bowstring and sited him in. “Put the gun down.”
“He’s kinda pissed at you right now, so you should probably listen to him.” Eddie had his rifle up, ready to fire.
Cole strolled down the gravel road, his Glock raised and pointed right at Kimball.
The asshole gave him a quick sideways glance and did a double-take.
“You came after someone he cares about.” Surrounded by darkness, Cole’s large form was especially intimidating. “I suggest you do what he says.”
“Jesus, Vinny, you can’t win this.” Nosebleed looked up from the ground. “The guy’s a fuckin’ giant.”
