25
Mack ledhis troops through the jungle in complete silence; they used minimal hand gestures to coordinate movements. With the help of the thick moss undergrowth that covered the jungle floor, their footsteps were completely undetectable. When the occasional step went wide, the rustling of the leaves was louder than they were. With their faces painted black and their gear uniforms just as dark, only the whites of their eyes were visible. Mack had even painted Marley’s face black, and she’d stood there silently, not protesting the oily grease they used for camouflage.
Riser stayed at the back of the group just behind Marley, keeping guard on her and protecting her. Mack had put himself at the front, keeping distance between them and pretending not to check over his shoulder every few minutes.
When they were within one klick of the location, Mack held up a fist and then flattened his palm and pushed it down toward the earth. His men stopped and crouched, their bodies completely hidden in the thick vegetation.
The only drawback to this plan was they didn’t know how Mankel’s men would be making their approach. They’d have to rely on their senses and instincts, something they did continuously anyway, but not with tracking. Without a GPS or radio or any type of satellite imagery, they were going in completely blind. Again. And with the inky blackness still blotting out visibility within six inches from their faces, they’d have to use the tools that Mother Nature had given them.
Mack circled his finger in the air; his men pulled in closer. Delivering his orders in a whisper, he said, “Split into two teams. Place traps. I want to know where those bastards are as soon as possible.”
His men nodded their agreement. Then Hunter tapped Ranger, Hoyt, and Jared on their shoulders and pointed to the east.
Mack gestured to the rest of the men and then pointed to the west. Then he made another wordless motion, telling Riser to keep Marley low and stay in place. Riser gently took her arm and drew her back to the nearest tree. Marley’s eyes latched on to Mack, pleading.
Mack hardened himself to that look, which made him want to go to her and tell her that everything was going to be all right. She didn’t need the gentle civilian now, she needed the bloodthirsty warrior. She needed him to protect her daughter.
They circled the location, which turned out to be nothing more than a hut in the middle of the jungle, about a ten-foot clearing all the way around. A team of assassins could easily use the location to their advantage to take out an approaching enemy. If Marley hadn’t told them about the ambush, his men could’ve easily been picked off.
They quickly laid sticks and twigs across most of the ground circling the location so that anyone approaching would have no choice but to step on them and alert Mack and his team to their whereabouts. Once they finished that, they hunkered down on opposite sides of the hut deep in the woods and waited.
Two hours before sunrise, Mack heard the first snap off to his left, back toward where they’d left Riser and Marley. Mack gestured for his men to follow him. He had to trust that Hunter and his team had heard it as well and were closing in the noose from the opposite direction. And, though the thought made his heart throb in his chest, he would also have to trust that Riser would keep Marley safe from harm. After moving about fifty meters in a crouched walk, they went to the ground, pulling themselves forward on their elbows and stomachs. In order for their plan to work, they would have to completely avoid detection.
A pair of black boots appeared about a foot in front of him and Mack froze.
The assassins stood completely still. They definitely weren’t stupid. Only well-trained men could be so quiet and patient. They probably sensed Mack’s team but didn’t have a location on them.
Long minutes stretched out as not a single man moved on either team.
Then one of the assassins spoke, his voice low but easily heard in the night air. “They’re still at their camp. We better set up a perimeter and get into position.”
There was no verbal response, but Mack could sense the current shifting around him. Silent as ghosts, the assassins began moving forward, the line of men splitting—half heading left, half heading right. They were probably setting up the exact same type of attack Mack had originally planned, lay down heavy crossfire and blow them all to hell. But that’s what you got for being one step behind. These men would never get the chance to complete their mission. Mack leaned back, glanced over his shoulder, and signaled for Merc to move first. Even though he was the biggest man on Mack’s team, he moved like a feather on the wind and killed with the accuracy of an assassin. Mack signaled for Ethan to move next, and Mack followed him.
Mack barely heard the gurgle as Merc sliced his blade across the enemy’s throat. Ethan and Mack pulled up parallel with the other two and rose at the same time to take them out.
Mack buried his blade in his man’s throat and ripped forward, severing the man’s esophagus and carotid artery with one stab. The assassin didn’t even make a sound, just went limp in his arms. Mack lowered him to the ground, laying his body out underneath some heavy foliage before circling his finger—giving the order for his men to move in on the team leader. He had to trust that Hunter had already dispatched the men who’d come his way.
There was no time to waste. They had to get the team leader and completely disarm and disable him without killing him.
Feeling the rush of cold adrenaline from the kill, he shrugged on more of his old self. The killer who had no emotions except hate and a thirst for revenge. This man didn’t have room in his heart for love. He didn’t have room for anyone but the team.
He spotted the lead assassin a few feet ahead still silently creeping through the woods. Mack grinned. This was going to be fun.
