“You’ll see.”
There was a shout informing them that they were closing in, to get ready for attack. Hawk looked out the window at the pretty countryside, with the shadows and sunlight of dusk settling in, giving it a postcard effect that belied the tragic horrors of war happening in its cities. The truth was hidden in this twisted world.
So what truth was Amber Hutchens hiding? For the first time, Hawk admitted to himself that he wanted to find out because he needed something—someone—solidly real, and not some abstract reason, on which to hang his sanity.
“Ready, Hawk?”
“Ready,” he said, as he watched all the men spill out of the vehicles, scrambling toward the top of the hill. Time to stop thinking.
Hawk jumped off the Humvee, grabbing his weapons in both hands, and not glancing at Dilaver, started running. No use being a sitting duck contemplating about life and death in the vehicle. He’d get himself killed.
The ground under his feet rumbled with the familiar sound of an exploding grenade. Clumps of earth flew up over the crest of the hill. When he reached the top, he went down flat on his stomach and started a belly-crawl. The scene from his vantage point showed a chaotic battle under way. Apparently, the only strategy these guys knew was pretending to be cowboys and Indians. Circle the wagons and make a lot of noise while shooting. He didn’t think Jazz, the co-commander of his SEAL team, and the consummate strategist, would approve. There was nothing to do but aim and shoot as bullets whizzed past.
“Hawk!” Dilaver shouted from behind. He was limping but was still able to keep up with his men. He came up close behind Hawk. “Take a few of my men and circle around to the other side. We’ll cover this side. Once they know they’re surrounded, they’ll surrender.”
“Care to tell me first why this band of brothers is in the middle of nowhere like sitting ducks?” Hawk shouted back.
“They’re guarding territory. And looking for something.”
“What?” Hawk shook his head. “Never mind. I’ll get rid of them and collect myvezapoints first.”
Dilaver smacked him on the back. “There you go. Now you get how we do business here.”
Hawk studied the area quickly, noting the landscape and impending nightfall. A barrage of RPGs and small arms fire disturbed the air. Hell, he didn’t need anyone to help him. But this was a test of his skill and he wasn’t going to show his hand just yet. After all, he was merely a guide who happened to be in excellent shape, not a mercenary. Or a Navy SEAL.
He signaled to two of Dilaver’s men whom he’d gotten to know. They were the most skilled ones, least likely to get too excited when sneaking up toward the enemy’s rear. For now, he had to view them as part of his team.
“Bring grenades,” he ordered briskly. “We’re going to make a lot of noise.”
Amber closed the container. “That’s it, that’s the last one,” she said. “Do you have the drinks and clothes packed?”
“Yes, and I have the car out back, ready to load.” Lily taped the box she had filled up with clothes. “I think this will be enough for this and the next group.”
The boxes of clothes, food, and amenities were for the young girls they had in hiding in various basements around Velesta. The girls needed a few weeks to recuperate from their injuries. Those who were stronger helped the weaker ones.
Amber stacked the containers near the doorway. “We have to be careful,” she cautioned. “Our groups are getting bigger and we don’t want Dilaver to start getting too suspicious.”
“So it’s good we have your Hawk to tell us he isn’t in town, right? We can do our runs and maybe tell Brad to get in another raid.”
Amber cocked her head. “So are you calling Brad again today?”
“You can.”
“I will, if you’ll tell me what happened last night.”
Lily scowled. “I told you—nothing happened.”
“Right. And that isn’t a hickey on your neck.” Amber grinned when Lily smacked at a certain spot on her neck and made off to the bathroom. There wasn’t any hickey, but she’d tossed the lie out to see how her friend would react. Now she knew for sure that Lily and Brad hadn’t just had dinner.
“Bitch! There’s nothing there!” Lily yelled from the bathroom.
“Of course. Nothing happened, so how could there be any hickey?” Amber laughed when Lily reappeared, her dark eyes flashing threateningly at her. “Ooooh, busted again, huh?”
Her friend made a face at her, running a careless hand through her short tresses. Her gold ear hoops jiggled and glinted against the black hair. Her smile turned rueful. “Oh, okay, so we kissed.” At Amber’s raised eyebrows, she made another face. “Among other things.”
“My, things are progressing between the two of you, aren’t they?” Amber took a bite from a freshly baked cookie.
“Yeah, well, don’t expect it to progress too much,” Lily muttered as she moved some of the boxes.
