“We have an entire unit, plus backup once we get to the site,” he reported.
“Good,” she said, feeling relieved and anxious for her coworkers. Once she led them to the bastards, she’d relocate Avie and Deni, then catch a flight to Texas and surprise Julio. Rebecca felt the need to see him now more than ever.
Once they drove a couple of miles from the cabin, she instructed them to pull onto an access road and park. “I marked the rest of the way. We can’t be more than two miles away. Hasan, Rahimi’s cousin, planned to arrive this morning. It’s imperative we catch him. Call your units and get them into position,” she ordered as she searched the trees for the marker. Feeling more fortified after her cup of coffee and breakfast, she ran through the snow to get to her friends. Agents followed her as Agent Hemming placed his call.
When they neared the cabin, she crouched down. “When I left, two men entered the cabin and a sniper stayed in the tree pointing his weapon at Director Jackson’s chest,” she said, huffing and puffing. “I bashed the first bastard over the head with his own gun and tied him to the chair. He’s not dead, but I’m sure he has one heck of a headache.”
“Do you have your weapon, Agent Rhodes?” Agent Hemming asked.
“No, I have his. I’ll need more ammo. I only have four bullets.”
Agent Hemming pulled out his weapon and handed it to her. “I have a backup. Let me take the other,” he said, holding out his hand.
Rebecca pulled the sidearm from behind her back and placed the butt in his hand, exchanging weapons. She pulled back the slide, checking for a bullet in the chamber. Nodding, she indicated for them to proceed.
The men drew closer to the cabin, splitting into formation as they circled the house. She stayed back among the trees, allowing the men with bulletproof vests to go before her. They burst into the house, and she heard the commotion as shots filled the air. Her heart pounded when everything went silent and Agent Hemming motioned for her to go inside.
She ran up the steps of the porch and entered. Shock filled her as she recognized four men from the unit down and bleeding profusely. She dropped to her knees, trying to stave off the flow of blood from one of the agent’s chest. No one bothered to help the other injured men, making her uneasy as she glanced up to find Agent Hemming watching her.
“What are you doing?” she shouted. “Call for a helo and render aid.”
The man pulled his weapon and pointed it at her chest. “I’m afraid they all died in the line of duty saving the agents.”
“Where’s Harrison and Jackson?” she demanded, realizing the man she tried to save no longer lived.
Slowly rising to her feet, Rebecca glanced at the men in the cabin. Where did Rahimi get all this manpower, and how did they know of her location this fast? Her mind went into overdrive as she pieced the puzzle together. Someone in her unitmust be a mole, exactly like Julio discovered. Agent Stills came to mind as one of the men approached her.
Rebecca refused to allow them to win as she spun and pressed the cold hard steel of her gun to his head. “Don’t come any closer,” she commanded. “I’ll shoot him if you make a single move.”
Agent Hemming walked toward her, making her aim the gun at his chest, while holding the other man in a chokehold. He smiled as he proceeded, thinking she wouldn’t shoot. Rebecca squeezed the hammer and fired. Yet, Agent Hemming continued toward her. Realizing he duped her into believing he gave her a gun with actual bullets, she threw it at his head, giving her mere seconds to make her escape. Rebecca shoved the man she held toward him, sending both to the floor as she fled down the hallway. Her heart raced as she heard the sound of thundering feet chasing her.
“There’s nowhere to run, Rebecca,” Agent Hemming called as she clutched the knob on the back door and twisted. It refused to open, trapping her.
“Can we finish with this?” Hemmings said as he stalked toward her.
“Did Stills order this?” she seethed.
He grinned as he grabbed her coat, jerking her close to his chest. “You trusted the wrong people. Now you’re caught, and I’ll put you in a cage.”
His hot breath hit her face, making her almost sick as her stomach twisted in knots. He pushed her forward, where another man dragged her back to the living room. They removed her coat and tied a piece of material over her eyes and ropes to her hands. Someone led her down the hall and shoved her into a room, making her stumble.
“Rebecca?” Harrison whispered.
“Harrison?” she whispered. “I’m sorry. Agent Stills betrayed us. Hasan will arrive shortly. Where’s Jackson?”
“I’m here, Rebecca,” he assured her weakly.
“The assholes beat him when you escaped,” Harrison explained. “He’s not doing good.”
“Shut up, Harrison,” Jackson growled.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she said sadly as the lump in her throat grew bigger.
“Did you ensure Avie got moved?” Jackson asked her.
“She’s safe,” she assured him.
“How do you know?” Harrison hissed. “You trusted those men and now we have no way of getting out of this. Do you know what they’ll do to us when Hasan comes?”
