“One guy means he’s outgunned. Two to one.” Micha held his hand out to tell Ava to stay put and moved to the kitchen window. The man, gun outstretched, marched their way. Purpose in his step, but too far away in the low visibility to identify him. “He fits Layne’s build, but seems awful confident in his shooting abilities.”
“There was plenty of time for him to get here after Reid left his place,” Colin said. “Nothing in his background suggests he’s a shooter, though.”
“It could be Buck, who we all know loves his guns, except Dev has eyes on him.”
“I have no clue how anyone could’ve found us. It’s next to impossible.”
In the dim light from the fireplace, Micha locked gazes with his buddy. “You weren’t followed here from the compound, were you?”
Colin’s shoulders rose. “I’m offended you even need to ask that, and before you suggest it, there’s no way anyone got into the compound to put a tracker on our vehicles without an alarm going off.”
The guy aimed and started firing at the cabin. He emptied one clip and popped another one in with the confidence of an experienced shooter.
“No matter who it is, he’s coming for us,” Micha said, hitting the floor and crawling toward the refrigerator again. “And he seems to know what he’s doing.”
Colin glanced back. “He’s acting as if he thinks we won’t return fire.”
“Then he doesn’t know us.” Micha gritted his teeth as he reviewed the situation and formed a plan. “Still, I’d rather not take a life if we can avoid it.”
“He might not give us a choice.”
Exactly what Micha was afraid of. “The log walls give us more protection than most buildings, but the place isn’t bulletproof by any means.”
“You two could leave via a bedroom window,” Colin said. “Get in the SUV and drive out of here while I pin him down.”
Micha shook his head. “And leave you behind and under fire? No way.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“All three of us go or none of us goes.” Micha left no chance in his tone that Colin could think this was optional.
“Agreed,” Ava said.
“Fine. Be that way.” Colin backed away from the window. “I can’t be responsible for Ava staying here and getting hurt, so we all go.”
Micha nodded. “Before we do, we return fire from three different points in here. The last position being as close to the front window as possible. That should keep him guessing as to our plan and make him think we’re moving closer to him and plan to shoot it out. The moment I take that last shot we head to the back bedroom. Circle the building. Lay down cover for each other if needed. Get Ava to the vehicle and take off.”
“Solid plan,” Colin said.
“Then let’s take those last shots. Colin, you from your location. Me from mine. Then you escort Ava to the back bedroom, and I take my last shot.” Micha helped her up and met her gaze. “Ready?”
“As I can be.” She clutched his hand. “Be careful.”
He nodded and shoved his phone deep into a cargo pocket and zipped it closed. “We’ll freeze out there in the cold rain without jackets, so I’ll grab them, then we take our shots.”
He bolted across the room to grab them from the hook by the door, dropping Colin’s on the floor next to him and handing Ava hers behind the fridge. He slipped into his and zipped it. “Take your shot, Colin.”
His gun exploded in the quiet of the cabin. Ava jerked, but he held fast and waited a beat to make it appear as if he was moving, then fired. “Ava, to the back now!”
Colin and Ava bolted from the room, and Micha moved to the window. Saw their shooter coming closer. Fired, aiming close but not hitting him. The shooter stopped walking and returned fire.
Micha fled down the short hall to the bedroom.
He pushed Ava toward the window and raised it. He plunged into the driving rain and reached back to help her through the opening. Colin followed, sliding the window closed.
Micha led the way, easing along the cabin’s side wall. Ava came behind him, Colin taking up the rear. They moved in sync. Blinking hard, he batted rain out of his eyes to see clearly. At the corner, he held up his hand to take a look. He glanced around the corner of the building, then back out of view. Glanced again and took a longer look. “Clear. Straight to the vehicle.”
He went ahead and wanted to take Ava’s hand, but he needed to keep both his hands free for his weapon. They charged through the rain. Reached the SUV.
