Tiger scrambled over the side of the truck back onto the running board. “Jock, get this thing ready to go! Now! I got h—!”
A sudden burst of fire, this time at point blank range, as the muzzle flashes were right inside the window of the hotel room. Pieces of cockpit and fiberglass truck body disintegrated all around Tiger, as he could do nothing but dive to his belly.
Gunman. Inside the room. We’re sitting ducks. We’re dead. The only thing to do now was wait for the EM pulse with his name on it.
Then, as suddenly as it had started, the shooting stopped. Someone below them was screaming. “Cease fire! Cease fire, you damned idiot! You wanna hit the girl and blow the whole operation?”
Below him, he heard Amber growl. She raised the pistol she still held in her right hand and squeezed several shots off in the direction of the voice. Frost ducked around the corner of the building, as the rounds knocked chunks out of the stucco façade. He couldn’t help but smile.
Aren’t you a feisty little bitch!
Inside the hotel room, Seven didn’t argue with his orders, although frustration welled up inside him like a geyser of pent-up steam. Take action … get the target at all cost! … no wait … Stop! It could really try a man. Still, he understood. Lose the girl, and they all went home without a paycheck.
Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to lower his weapon, or take his finger off the trigger, as he kept Tiger in the illuminated crosshairs of his NightScope. God, how he wanted to kill that bastard!
Tiger began to realize that the dangling fox-girl was the best thing going for them. No one was going to be shooting at them as long as she was exposed and in harm’s way.
“Get us out of here!” he whispered to Jocko.
“What about the girl?” he replied, seemingly out of breath.
“Don’t worry ‘bout her. Just get this thing movin’ while it’ll still be able to move!”
Jocko questioned no further, as he pulled himself back upright and began diverting power back to the rear thrusters. Tiger hit a knee and reached down with both hands, grasping Amber’s arm firmly. The moment she felt his touch she looked up, her eyes locking onto his. In them, he saw only slight fear and no panic. Most of what he saw was determination. Pulling her up by the arm, he helped her onto the running board. Taking the pistol from her, he gave her a smile and a wink.
“You’re something else, girl, you know that?” he said as he slid an arm around her and pulled her close. He looked over his shoulder and gave Jock a nod. “Go!”
Jock had one hand on the joystick and held his PDC with the other. As the old truck pulled away, the commandeered drone fell in behind it, performing a rearguard action in their escape. Jock knew he should just be thankful they were slipping away with their scalps. Still, he couldn’t resist. The drone’s guns fired off one last “fuck you” volley, targeting Seven, Frost, and the ground team. All were forced to dive indignantly for cover one final time.
As Jocko banked the truck away, Tiger fell exhausted into the backseat. As the door closed behind them, Amber collapsed atop him, her mouth hungrily seeking his. Maybe it was appreciation for coming back for her. Maybe it was the danger that had aroused her. Whatever the reason, she now kissed him passionately, her tongue probing deep into his mouth. Physically and mentally drained, his body bruised and battered, Tiger was too tired to fight her, and made little effort to do so. After all, they’d barely escaped capture, serious injury, maybe even death.
What better time to feel alive?
He stopped her oral assault long enough to look into her eyes. Have I forgotten what it feels like to be alive? Is she here to remind me? Maybe if I had somebody wanting to kill me or do God-knows-what when they got their hands on me … maybe, I’d live every minute of my life to the fullest! ‘Cause the next second might be the last!
His smiled up at her and pulled her face back down to his. She was more than happy to resume. It didn’t take long before he found himself swept along in the river of her desire. His hands found the small of her back, pulling her tight to him, as the battered old truck slinked away, smoking and sputtering, into the night.
***
From the shattered window of Tiger’s room, Seven watched it go. Still running on adrenaline, the frustration of being so close and failing was eating away at him like sulphuric acid on his skin. He wanted to scream out his rage. Down below, Frost calmly stepped out of the shadows and lit a cigarette.
“Sitrep,” he looked up to Seven. The young man was really in no mood to report on anything, but with Two and Six down, he was the man on the scene. Shaking his head in frustration, he gave an angry sigh.
“Got one up here that’s definitely gonna need a hospital. I think the rest of us will be ok with some stitching up and Lunarol.”
“Okay, what about Thomas’ room? Anything left in there that might be useful?”
“I dunno. I’ll have a look-see.”
“Sweep it fast and get outta
