Dust lifted and swirled as a gust from the chopper’s blades covered Ellena, Price, Walker, and Hall. Using their hands, they all turned their heads, protecting their eyes from the assault.
Gabe glanced at the two men with the guns who looked as confused as he felt. “This is wrong.” Pulse racing, he looked over at Nate and then the others. “It’s all wrong.”
Just as Gabe went for the gun at his lower back, Price reached for Ellena in an attempt to pull her toward the plane.
A shot rang out, sending Gabe’s heart into this throat. Price’s blood showered one side of Ellena’s face as a second bullet passed through the man’s skull.
Her scream traveled through Gabe’s ear and into his soul as she stood shell-shocked, watching Price’s lifeless body fall onto the asphalt below.
“Ellena!”
Gabe and his men had their weapons drawn, but more shots rang out before they could take aim. Back-to-back, the two guards dropped where they stood as several bullets pinged against the sides of the metal building.
“Oh, my god!” Jenna cried out from behind him.
The sound of gunfire increased. Gabe grabbed Jenna by the wrist as he and his men took cover inside the hanger.
He assumed Ghost’s team was responsible until they heard Ghost shout out, “We’re taking fire! I repeat; we’re taking fire!”
The panic Gabe felt for his wife nearly consumed him. He leaned out from the metal barrel he’d ducked behind, eyes scanning the chaos to find her.
There!
She was lying on the ground next to Price’s body, her hands covering the back of her head. Somehow through the cloud of dust, their eyes met.
“Ellena, run to me!” Gabe yelled, praying she could hear him. “I’ll cover you!”
He raised his gun toward the helicopter. At the same time, a man dressed head to toe in black combat gear pointed an ATAS—or Air-to-Air Stinger—shoulder missile launcher right at them.
Sonofa—
“Take cover!”
Gabe and his men dove to opposite sides of the hangar’s opening. He hunched over Jenna’s crouched body to give her some added protection as the ominous whistling sound flew past. A large explosion took out the back wall of the building, along with Walker’s car.
“Ellena, stay down!” Gabe quickly recanted his earlier order.
Ghost’s pissed-off voice came over the receiver again. “I can’t get a visual on our shooter. Too many shots coming in!”
“Damn it! I’m hit!”
“Hollywood?” Truck shouted from his position on the roof. “How bad, man?”
“Just a scratch. I’ll live.”
Thank God.
Matt looked to Gabe. “Who the hell are these guys?”
Gabe shook his head. He had no idea, and he didn’t have time to give a single fuck.
All he cared about was getting to Ellena and keeping her safe.
There was a lull in the gunfire, and the chopper turned as if it were finally retreating. Risking a glance, he looked back out to where he’d last seen Ellena, shocked to find Walker hovering over her—protecting her—the same way he had Jenna.
I’ll be damned.
Making a mental note to thank him later, because he was damn well going to make sure there was a later, Gabe knew he needed to take advantage of the uncertain reprieve.
