Lose Your Breath (Detectives Kane and Alton)

“Copy. Yeah, well they’ll be searching for us. They know we’re in the Audi. We took fire when we left the last stopover. The old sedan limped here. It’s toast. We’re on foot and moving slow.”

Wolfe dashed a hand through his hair. “Did the package come through in good condition?”

“Yeah, it’s good. The wrapping is a bit messed up but it’s okay.” Ninety-eight H chuckled. “Man, I could write a book about this mission. I’ve gotta go. I need to locate a more suitable vehicle. I’ll check in at zero two hundred. Out.”

Wolfe shook his head. He’d watch the satellite feed. It would be difficult knowing exactly what was happening in infrared, but he’d know if Ninety-eight H and Annie had gotten themselves captured. He didn’t want to imagine the consequences. No one walked away from a band of hostile militia twice.

Chapter Nine

Syria

Dave squeezed Annie’s hand as they plodded on through the night. Her need for encouragement was his excuse, but he’d felt a connection with her the moment their eyes had met. He swallowed hard. Relationships in his line of work were off limits, so he’d enjoy her company and keep the memory for the bad times ahead. Traveling over rough ground by moonlight wasn’t easy for her and he wished he had another set of night-vision goggles to give her. The woman had grit. He’d give her that. Yeah, she’d been terrified under fire but that was a normal reaction. She’d recovered faster than expected, but after the sedan died, she’d kept pace with him and she hadn’t complained, not once. He’d noticed her trying to disguise a limp and no doubt she’d be covered in bruises come morning, but maybe keeping her moving had been a blessing in disguise. His night-vision goggles picked out the rocky mound high on one side of a valley. From Terabyte’s report, the way ahead was clear but a military truck was heading in their direction. He needed to get into position and pulled Annie along a little faster. “There’s a truck coming this way. We need to make it up the side of the hill behind those rocks.” He stopped walking and turned to her. “I’ll leave something here to slow the truck down. There are grenades in the right-side pocket of my backpack. Pull one out for me.”

“Me?” Annie looked at him wide-eyed. “What if I do something stupid and it explodes?”

Biting back a grin, Dave squeezed her hand before releasing it. “You have to pull the pin before it explodes and then we have two seconds to throw it. Just don’t pull the pin.”

Her hand trembled so much he could feel it as she tugged at the Velcro to lift the flap on the pocket, and lifted out a grenade between finger and thumb. He took it from her and sat it beside a small bush alongside the road. He’d use the bush as a marker, the landscape looked like the moon through his night-vision goggles, and the vegetation was sparce and dry. He took her hand again, her fingers cold against his palm. After the long walk she should be sweating. He glanced at her. “You’re freezing. What are you wearing under the abayah?” He took in her blank expression. “The dress.”

“Are you joking?” She pulled her hand away and glared at him. “I mean… really? We’re stuck in the middle of nowhere with people trying to kill us and you’re hitting on me?”

Dave snorted with laughter, unable to stop the wide grin spreading over his face. “Hitting on you? Nope, I wouldn’t dare even if I wanted to.” He held up both hands in mock surrender and then glanced back along the road, watching for any approaching headlights in the distance. “We’re going to engage the enemy in about ten minutes and, trust me, the last thing on my mind right now is jumping your bones.” He heaved in a breath and headed toward the hillside shaking his head in disbelief. “I’m concerned for your welfare; you shouldn’t be so cold. Most women in these parts wear thick undergarments, from neck to knee in winter. I’m assuming you’re not, as you’re so frigid.”

“Frigid?” Annie pulled on his arm. “Oh boy, you’re good at double meanings. I’m not at all frigid. I might be freezing my butt off, but if you took the time to get to know me, you’d find that I’m a loyal and loving person.” She stood staring at him, hands on hips. “They gave me undergarments but I figured if I was going to die, I’d die like an American, wearing a bra and panties. I did pull on the long black socks though, so I looked respectable in their eyes.”

Admiring her fierce patriotism, Dave held out his hand. “I meant cold, Annie. I wasn’t being sexist. I haven’t got a sexist bone in my body.”

“You’re so hard to read.” Annie stared into his eyes. “You have this look about you like a predator.”

Dave shook his head. “Your instinct is right about me. I’m a highly skilled assassin, Annie. That’s why your dad sent me to save you. Those guys out there are trying to kill us. Right now, it’s kill or be killed. We could die in the next hour, so let’s call a truce and be friends. For as sure as hell, I don’t want to spend my last hours on earth arguing.”

“I’d like that.” She to

ok his hand. “You certainly have a way with words, Dave.”

Her hand was cold against his flesh as he started walking. “There’s a town fifty clicks away. If we survive the next hour or so, I’ll buy you some extra clothes. In the meantime, there’s a blanket in the bag with the food. When we stop, wrap it around you and try to keep warm while I’m busy.”

“Okay.” Annie squeezed his hand and shuddered. “Jeez, it’s hard talking to a man with green glowing eyes. I feel like I’m walking on the moon with an alien.” She lifted her chin. “I’m sorry. I know you’d probably prefer to be home rather than risking your life for me.”

“I’m following orders.” Dave quickened the pace. “Stay close. The ground gets steep just ahead. We’ll have to climb up to the top of the hill. There’s cover up there.”

“We can’t possibly walk all the way to the border. I gather that’s where we’re heading, to Turkey? It’s a little safer there, right?” Annie looked up at him, a determined look on her face.

Dave glanced down at her. “That’s the plan. I’m hoping they’ll send a bird to evac us from there if it’s safe to land.” He glanced behind him, checking for headlights in the distance. “I’m planning on commandeering the militia truck. It would be perfect. No one will stop us until they discover their men are missing. We’ll have a few hours’ start at least.”

“Oh, yeah?” Annie snorted. “Like they’ll just give it up to you without a fight.”

Dave shrugged and pulled her up the hillside. “Oh, I expect a fight, but they won’t be needing it when they’re dead.”

“Dead, huh?” Annie puffed along behind him. “Are you out of your mind? You won’t be able to take on a truckload of militia alone.”

Biting back a grin, he stopped and turned to her. “I’ve taken on more than a truckload of militia in my time. That’s what I’m trained to do, Annie. One or twenty enemy soldiers, it makes no difference. I’ll take them down. I never miss.”

“Big words.” Annie jogged along beside him. “You’d have to be the most arrogant man I’ve ever met. It’s like talking to a machine. You don’t care who lives or dies, do you?”

Taken aback, Dave pulled her the last few yards to a rocky outcrop and turned to face her. “Do I care about taking out men who will rape, torture, and murder you? No! Do I care about killing the men who dragged my spotter through the streets behind their vehicle and then beheaded him and stuck his head on a spike? No! In fact, I’m damn sure I’d kill them all twice if I was able.” He pulled off his goggles and leaned down close to her face. “Do you have any idea what would have happened to you if I hadn’t saved your sorry ass? You couldn’t even come close to imagining the pain and suffering these people can inflict. It might have gone on for years before they tired of you.” He sucked in a breath to calm his rising temper. “You know, it would be easier for me to put a bullet in your head now and just walk away. I could go dark and no one will find me, but with you along, that’s impossible. Everyone will be looking for a young blonde American. You’ll have a bounty on your head.”

“So much for your orders.” Annie crossed her arms and eyeballed him.