Reed is motionless against the vehicle. One move and the guard will see him.
He pinches out the cigarette and says something to whomever is inside, then he closes the door and strides across to our building. He’s going to walk within a meter of Reed.
Fuck.
I can’t breathe as I watch. Reed waits, and waits, then he pounces.
The guard lets off a spray of bullets before Reed can stop him. Reed twists the man’s head, and he drops.
Was Reed hit? I can’t tell. I’m too far away.
He grabs the rifle, and glances in my direction. He lifts his hand, telling me to go as several other men step out of the building. The sound of gunfire has alerted others.
I’m frozen, as our easy escape just got complicated.
With controlled shots, Reed drops the men. But each shot is so loud, no doubt it will draw more men out.
I have to go or I’m wasting time, and his distraction. We’ve been through this possibility. I force myself to look away. Another burst of gunfire. I don’t know if it’s him or the others.
If I turn to look, I won’t be able to leave.
Even though I hate myself with every step, I run into the jungle, stopping only when I’m in the shrubs. I can’t see anything through the rain.
If he can get out, he will.
He knows what he’s doing.
Meanwhile, I’m too close to the camp armed only with a knife and a crowbar and with no supplies. I can’t go back, so I need to go forward.
He told me to put some distance between me and the camp. That’s what matters more than anything.
The rain will hide me.
I pray that it does.
I pray that Reed is not far behind me.
And that he does find me.
CHAPTER14
Reed
I haveno idea what’s left in the magazine. But I’m going to pick off as many of the fuckers as I can. I move around the vehicle, trying for as much cover as possible. I want to run after Ash, but if I do, I’ll be leading them right to her.
Everything hurts. I’m leaking from a fresh hole in my arm, which fucking sucks. Rounds ping off the metal near my head. I lie in the mud, no longer caring about dirt in my wounds. I’ll be lucky to live long enough to worry about an infection.
I almost laugh as I shoot some asshole in the legs.
As long as I have rounds, I can do this all day. At ten yards I don’t miss.
There’s enough dead or wounded that there’s a pause in their shooting while they think. I don’t want them thinking too long. There are three other four-wheel drives. I put a quick burst through each of them. Flat tires and leaking fuel tanks are a pain in the ass. Then I do what I told Ash was a bad idea. I climb into the vehicle and start it up.
Now I’m a big fucking target. But if it gets me out of the camp, that’ll be good enough for the moment.
Rounds pepper the vehicle and for a moment I’m back in the desert and I half expect to drive over an IED. If I’d had time, and the implements, I’d have made a few myself. I slouch and put the light on high, to mess with their vision, then I drive out of the camp. I don’t plan on getting far,
The fuel gauge drops to empty. Someone pinged the fuel tank, and I didn’t smell it because of the rain. The ride becomes lumpy.
