Gregg slid a Sig 552 toward him. “The lion’s share of our weapons are still in the other cabins.”
Bridger growled low in his chest and chambered a fresh round. “I know. We’ll just have to make do with what’s available. If we survive this one, we muster up and hit them back. Hard.”
Gregg gave him a lopsided smile. “Please tell me we’re bringing the rest of the team in on this.”
Bridger shook his head. “Not if we can help it. This ain’t their fight.”
The group watched his head disappear into the abyss then turned their attention back to the kill zone outside. “It’s too quiet for my taste. Why aren’t they closing ranks and finishing the job?” DJ wiped at the back of his neck. “This don’t feel right.”
Mauk slid in next to him and checked the rounds in his magazine. “My bet would be that they’re waiting for backup.” He glanced at his watch then shook his head. “If they’re waiting until sundown, this is gonna be a helluva long wait.”
Bridger appeared at the hole again. “There’s an access, but it’s so small—I don’t think Lisa could squeeze through it.” He pulled himself back up out of the hole and set the rifle at his feet. “The best we could hope for would be to chisel out some of the mortar and nest down there. Use the stone as cover.”
Mauk’s shoulders slumped. “Talk about minimizing your angle of attack.”
Bridger swiped at his pants, removing the moist soil. “We’re pinned down.” He glanced at Gregg. “Unless we get coms back, we’re sitting ducks.”
DJ stood slowly and shook his head. “I’ll draw their fire, Top.”
“Like hell!” Bridger stood and placed a firm hand on his chest, holding him. “We know there are shooters out the front and logic dictates that there’s at least one in back.”
DJ nodded. “And if I make a break for it, I draw their fire. You step out and remove the shooters before they can get a bead on me.” He placed a gentle hand on Bridger’s grip and pulled him away. “If they decide to burn us out, we’re all dead. If they do a slow approach and lay down fire as they come, there’s no defending that from inside here.” He lowered his voice and leaned close. “You know this is the best move we have.”
Bridger shook his head. “They’re not advancing and nobody is shooting. I think our best bet is to lay low and—”
“And what? Wait for them to get more shooters?” DJ shook his head. “They’re waiting for a reason. Either backup or…” He shrugged. “Whatever their reason for waiting is, I say we take that option off of the table for them.”
“We can’t know how strong they are.” Bridger pointed to the front door. “There could be a dozen shooters out there.”
“Or one,” DJ stated flatly. “I only heard one shooter earlier. Sounded a lot like an Uzi to me.”
“There were too many rounds for one Uzi,” Lisa added.
DJ shook his head. “Not with an extended mag and controlled bursts.” He sighed heavily and gave her a solemn look. “I don’t want to end up dead; trust me on that. There’s far too much bourbon in the world for me to quit now.”
“And too many women,” Gregg added absently. “Don’t forget the women.” He glanced to Lisa and flustered. “Present company excluded.”
DJ gripped Bridger’s shoulder. “Top, I’m smaller than you and probably a damned sight faster.” He squeezed the larger man’s shoulder. “Just be ready to return fire. I’ll do my best to use the larger trees as cover.”
Mauk stepped closer and nodded. “He’s right. We have to distract the shooter’s attention. If nothing else, it will give us an idea of their strength.”
Bridger groaned. “I hate it when you do shit like this.”
“Like what?”
He glared at DJ. “Make sense. Especially when it puts your skinny ass at risk.”
DJ smirked. “I got a nice ass.” He winked at him. “You’ll get a good view of it as I’m hauling it through them woods.”
Luis hung up the phone then motioned to Hector, who adjusted the jammer back to full spectrum. He tucked his satellite phone into his jacket pocket then nodded to Fernando. “Jefe says we sit tight. He has sent a team from Houston.”
Fernando rolled his eyes then settled in against the rock outcropping he was using for cover. “Of course. Let the outsiders take the credit.”
Luis gave him a curious look, unable to hear his mutterings. “They won’t be long.”
Fernando had to set his weapon down and clench his fists, flexing his muscles to burn off some of his anger. “This is not right, Luis.”
Luis stayed crouched and made his way closer to Fernando. “What are you saying?”
“I said that this is not right.” Fernando gave him a hateful stare. “If these are the people who killed Teresa, then they are the same people who destroyed our crops, bombed the villages, and shot down our planes.” He shook his head. “My entire familia worked for Murillo then. Most of them were killed during these attacks.”
Luis moved closer and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “We all lost somebody in those attacks. That is why el jefe has sent us here.”
“We should be the ones to destroy these cabrónes, not another team.”
Luis gave him that soft smile again. “They are coming to provide support.” He nodded to Fernando. “Trust me. It will be your knives that remove their hearts.”
Fernando squeezed his eyes shut tightly and forced a deep breath to try to calm himself. With a quick nod he turned his attention back to the cabin. “Then let them hurry. My blades are thirsty.”
“Son of a…” Matt pulled the Jeep to the side of the road and slapped the small black
