“What?”
“Sorry, ma’am. Come with me, please?” He had an earpiece. She could see the wire when he turned his head. He was either military or a contractor then.
“Not until you tell me who you are.” Erin took a step back. She’d made enemies. She couldn’t blindly trust someone because they claimed they were there to rescue her.
“My name is Riley.” He lowered his weapon and glanced over his shoulder. “I’m with Aegis Group Lepta Team. We were hired to bring you home safely. Now, if you don’t mind, I think it's best we move. Now.”
Aegis Group.
That was familiar.
Riley strode toward her. Erin backed away, but he was coming faster than she moved. Riley wrapped his left arm around her, his hand firmly in the middle of her back, and hustled her around behind the homes. He didn’t manhandle her or drag her, which was a nice change of pace. If it weren’t for the situation, she might even call his touch comforting.
Lepta Team?
She couldn’t remember having heard that. Was he lying to her? Or was he her new guardian angel?
“Nice night, isn’t it?” Riley kept her moving at a steady pace. He had a destination in mind, unlike her.
Erin peered at the homes, but most of the lights were out. Did these people know what was going on? Were they taking cover?
“Thirsty? Anything hurt?” Riley peppered her with questions that didn’t matter.
“We need to get out of here,” Erin said.
“Glad we can agree on something.” Was it her imagination, or did he laugh?
“These homes, what about the people?”
“Oh, everyone’s safe. Figured if things were going to get hot, we should clear out as many people beforehand. Seemed like the neighborly thing to do.”
Erin gaped at the shadow shrouded man.
They’d taken time to empty homes before trying to rescue her? And risked someone spilling the beans?
Who were these people?
2.
FRIDAY. UNKNOWN, IRAQ.
Riley caught sight of another pair of men in long, white garments. They were being trailed from both sides. That accounted for four of the eight they’d identified as a threat.
“Grant? Nolan? Can anyone hear me?” he said, keeping his voice low.
“They’re following us,” Erin said.
Fuck.
There was some kind of interference on the comms. Once again, whatever toys these people had didn’t make sense for the kind of operation they were running.
“This way.” Riley grabbed Erin’s hand and pulled her into the darker shadows of one of the homes.
“What are we doing?” Erin whispered.
Did he lie to her and keep her calm? Or did he bank on the hope she was cool under pressure given her background?
He rolled the proverbial dice and decided to take his chances. The woman in that video who’d fought back was someone he’d like to work with.
“We’re cut off from my team,” he said. “We have a vehicle parked past these homes behind a service station. I need to get us there and swing back to pick up my people.”
“And you expect me to sit here and wait?” Her voice went up in pitch. Three days in captivity could do a number on a person. He didn’t blame her in the least for not wanting to be alone in the dark.
“Can you run?”
“I’m not waiting here.” She seemed indignant he’d even ask.
He liked her fire. However, making a run out in the open like that put her at risk. These people hadn’t hesitated to fire on their team. Riley might not be able to stick to their non-lethal tools. If it came down to the lives of people taking shelter, Erin or his team versus the kidnappers, Riley couldn’t hesitate to make the call.
“Then I’m going to need you to run in front of me. That way if they fire, they hit me, not you. Got it?” He dug the keys out of his pocket and handed them to Erin. “Can you unlock the SUV for me?”
“Yeah.” She took the fob from him.
“Those guys are going to realize we lost them and circle back. We’re going to cut between these homes then straight across. Blue service station, tan SUV. Got it?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
No tears. Not a bit of panic. Her voice didn’t even waver. God, if all their VIP assets were this calm Riley’s job would be a piece of cake.
He stepped out, fitting the butt of his rifle against his shoulder. Nothing moved in the narrow space behind the homes.
“Go,” he whispered.
Erin ducked between the two homes, sticking to the side where the shadows were thicker. Seeing her in action, it was easy to peg her as former military. The composure, how she moved.
They slowed to a stop closer to the street. Erin went to a knee, providing him a clearer view.
Sure enough, two of the kidnappers stood a few houses down, their heads together.
“Not yet,” Riley whispered.
The two turned toward their hiding spot, staring back toward the house where they’d held Erin hostage at.
In the distance little pops broke the stillness.
Someone had opened fire.
They’d hoped to pull this off without firing a shot.
The duo turned away.
Erin darted forward before Riley could tell her to go. His boot slipped on the hard-packed earth before he got traction, following in her wake. She had all the speed of a jackrabbit, outdistancing him in moments.
Men yelled off to his left.
Riley glanced at the pair, only to see the other two had joined them. One raised their gun. Fuck. Riley swerved. The bullet hit the dirt road a few feet away. Still too close for his comfort.
An engine revved to life.
Erin had made it to the SUV.
Another shot blasted the ground, this time on his other side.
A tan SUV roared out from behind the service station and flipped on its headlights, going directly to bright. Erin turned the wheel, putting the truck between the shooters and Riley. He threw himself at the passenger side, piling inside.
“Go!” he barked before he was even seated.
Erin stomped on the gas and shifted, turning them back toward the place she’d been held captive.
“Grant, Nolan, Vin, B—do
