She couldn’t quite make out his expression in the dim light given off from the engine room, but there was a strange stillness to Mark’s stance. He gestured to her to sit down again and she obeyed.
“Will the good scientists please get up and go into the cabin?” Mark continued. “If things go well, you won’t get hurt and will be back in the States in no time. Come on. The doorway to your left. Just go down and wait. Don’t come up for any reason because if bullets start flying, you might get shot.”
The two scientists got up slowly and complied with Mark’s orders. Surya leaned back against the seat. She still had her weapons in her belt, although her chances of shooting an armed SEAL before he got her were absolutely nil.
“You do know there will be other SEALs on that island, right? Probably this MacKenzie about whom you’re so concerned,” she said.
“I’m counting on it,” Mark said very quietly. “Oh, listen to that. Your friends are behind us.”
* * * *
The CRRC was a vehicle for recon work. It offered no protection; there was no hiding from the enemy in open waters. The boat ahead moved steadily but not too quickly, as it navigated toward the deeper waters.
“He can hear us, so keep low,” Lucas said. “He isn’t shooting at us, though. Either he’s in a hurry or he doesn’t care. Or maybe the asshole doesn’t want to make more SEALs angrier at him.”
Kirk nodded. He’d been relating what had happened to Declan via the helmet mic and Lucas had been listening in. They’d concluded the men at the market had been looking for the forbidden territory to retrieve the prisoners. Why the terrorists had kept the location a secret from their “friends” hadn’t been sorted out yet. However, it was apparent their arrivals—his and then Hawk’s team—had been right at the moment the Americans had freed the scientists and were heading to the boat they were currently on.
“Declan has updated your commanders that there are two groups. The confusion will be sorted out once the dust settles. Sorry you’re missing the action, Lucas.” He didn’t think he should call the big guy Cucumber. “They’re tracking Surya’s GPS right now.”
Lucas glanced at him. “That’s the GEM operative, right?”
“Yeah.”
He grinned. “She’ll kick that fucker’s ass.”
In spite of his worry, Kirk grinned back. “Yeah.”
“Kirk,” Declan’s voice interrupted.
“Right here, Declan,” Kirk said.
“It looks like he’s taking Surya and the scientists to where Jed and my team are stationed.”
Kirk sat up in surprise, then hunched back down. “What? He’s heading toward your operation?”
“Jed traced the sale of the rocket and we’ve tracked it to here. We’ve been pinpointing the exact location quietly, hoping to get the terrorists before or while you’re negotiating, but it looks like we’re ditching that plan.”
“No kidding.” What the hell was that rogue SEAL up to?
“You’re probably ten minutes away.”
“He just killed the engine, Sir.” Lucas interrupted the mic exchange. “I did too.”
“Follow closely.” Hawk’s voice came on. He must have been listening in too, while coordinating his combat operation back in the jungle. “He’s trying to keep his presence quiet. That means he won’t shoot at you. Declan, you there?”
“Yes, over.”
“Boy’s on a solo mission. Apparently, he left behind the mercenaries he’d hired and they’re plenty mad here. He has an agenda.”
“So what do you think he’s up to?” Kirk asked.
“The mercs don’t know but they told me there are two SEALs on that boat. Two dishonorable traitors who betrayed our code. They know it and right now, they know their asses are history. Declan, what do you think?”
“Desperate men and desperate measures,” Declan said. “Kirk, whatever they’re planning, it’s likely going to turn bloody. Get your weapons ready. Cucumber, much as I’d rather do it myself, shoot to kill.”
“Copy, Sir,” Lucas said.
Kirk readied his weapons as Lucas paddled the watercraft closer to the boat. The SEAL controlled the movement with ease, causing hardly a ripple as his oar cut through the dark waters.
