Page 78 of Her Chosen Protector

“I’m not going to drive up until the explosion. I don’t want anyone looking your way. Ezio, you know that the only reason they’ve stayed away from this entrance is because part of the wall fell on that truck, so everybody thought this entire wall was compromised.”

“Only because it is,” Ezio ground out.

“Don’t be a whiner,” Cullen chided.

“Anyway, I’ll tell you the second I’m driving up. We have to wait until Kane and Max do their diversion.”

“What’s that?”

“They still haven’t gotten to the point where they can deploy the dynamite and pentolite. So Max is on recon to find out where they’ve stored the explosives. If he can set charges without getting himself killed, great. If not, then they’ll arrange for a grenade launch.”

“Got it.”

“Be ready.”

“The story of our lives,” Eden muttered.

Asher looked down at the woman at his side and pulled her in even closer. They needed to take this fast, but easy. Ezio caught his eye and sidled over to Eden’s other side. She gave a put-upon sigh when he eased an arm around the other side of her waist.

“I hate being an invalid.”

“Suck it up, Woman. We’ve all been there,” Ezio admonished.

“Can you hear me?” Max whispered through their receivers. Ash turned his up so Eden could hear.

“Yep,” Asher answered.

“Got the explosives targeted. Kane’s going to Cullen. I’m taking the shot. I’ll do a countdown after Kane gets to Cullen.”

“How are you getting back to the hacienda, Boss?” Cullen asked.

“I’ll figure out something. If I’m late, you men get the coalition members to the plane. Do you understand?”

“But—” Eden interrupted.

“Not now,” Asher shushed her. “Trust Max.”

They all heard the roar of an explosion through their receivers. “Bullseye,” Max’s voice was filled with satisfaction.

“I’m almost to Cullen, he’s at the doorway,” Kane said.

“Come out,” Cullen yelled. “I’m in the ambulance.”

The back doors of the ambulance were being flung open as they came out the door and ducked under a portion of cement wall. Eden stumbled but Ezio and Asher kept her upright.

“We’ve got company,” Kane yelled as he knelt down alone on the right side of the vehicle. He aimed his MK 46 and started shooting at the oncoming men. Cullen was inside the ambulance and he pulled Eden in as Ezio and Asher threw her at him.

Ezio turned to get into the firefight with about eight to ten fighters headed at them, but Raiden and Nic were already in it, their rifles making mincemeat of the secret police.

The shooting was dying down. “Up!” Ezio yelled to Asher. Before he could comply, he saw Kane take a hit. Must have been a sniper, he thought as he ducked under the door to help Kane.

“I’m fine,” Kane said as he pushed up from the ground. His shoulder said otherwise.

Asher pulled Kane back under the door. Nic and Raiden were in the ambulance with Eden and Cullen. Ezio helped push Kane up into the back. Asher and Ezio got into the vehicle and rushed to shut the doors.

That’s when Asher felt the bullet hit him. He flew backwards into the ambulance.

“Asher!” Eden screamed.