Page 32 of Duty Devoted
“We’ll adapt.”
Lauren shot me a look but didn’t slow her pace. She understood the implications even if she didn’t like them.
The crack of gunfire erupted ahead of us, automatic weapons mixed with the heavy thrum of helicopter rotors. Through the trees, I could see muzzle flashes and the distinctive silhouette of our aircraft struggling to maintain position under fire.
“Contact!” Tyler’s voice came through sharp and clear. “Taking fire from multiple positions!”
Lauren and I stopped at the edge of the clearing, still hidden in the tree line but close enough to see the chaos unfolding closer to the landing zone. Silva’s forces had positioned themselves around the landing zone, using their vehicles as cover while they opened fire on the helicopter.
The pilot was fighting to keep the aircraft stable, but I could see sparks flying from impacts on the fuselage. Smoke was beginning to trail from the engine compartment.
“Citadel One, this is Two.” Tyler’s voice was tight with controlled urgency. “We’re airborne. Evading.”
My heart sank as I watched the helicopter climb rapidly, rotor wash scattering debris as the pilot fought for altitude. The aircraft was gaining height as quickly as possible to avoid ground fire.
“Two, this is One. Just go. We’ll find another extraction point.”
“Negative. We don’t abandon people.”
“You’re not abandoning us. You’re following fucking orders.” I forced authority into my voice despite the knot in my stomach. “Ty, get those doctors to safety. That’s the primary mission.”
The helicopter was gaining altitude now, still taking sporadic fire but moving out of effective range. Through my binoculars, I could see it banking away from the landing zone, carrying my team and three of the four medical personnel to safety.
“Logan, we can circle back.” Jace spoke now. “Give us coordinates for an alternate LZ.”
I looked around at the dense jungle canopy, then up at the darkening sky where the first fat raindrops of Hurricane Tristan were beginning to fall. The hurricane would be here before they could return safely—especially now that the helicopter had sustained bullet damage.
“Negative, Two. No suitable alternate landing zones in range before this storm hits.”
“Then what’s the plan?”
Lauren was watching me with those green eyes, waiting for an answer I didn’t have. We were stranded in Silva territory with no backup, no extraction plan, and a big-ass storm bearing down on us.
“Plan is we move to Puerto Esperanza on foot. Forty kilometers north. We’ll hole up there until the storm passes, then arrange extraction from the coast.”
“That’s two days minimum in hostile territory.”
“It’s what we’ve got. Be safe. Wait for my contact. Over and out.”
I clipped the radio back to my vest and turned to Lauren. “Hope you’re good at hiking.”
She shouldered her medical bag without complaint, sweat beginning to bead on her forehead from the humid heat and exertion. “Lead the way.”
But as we prepared to disappear into the jungle, I caught one last glimpse of the helicopter disappearing into the gray sky. My team was safe, the other doctors were safe, and we’d completed the primary mission. Seventy-five percent. I wondered if that was still considered a passing score.
Now all I had to do was keep Lauren alive for forty kilometers through cartel territory during a hurricane.
Just another day at the office.
Chapter 11
Lauren
“Hope you’re good at hiking.”
As the helicopter’s rotors faded completely into the distance, the reality of our situation settled over me like a crushing weight. We were alone in enemy territory with no viable options for escape. This was my doing. If I’d just agreed to leave…
My legs felt unsteady, and I had to grip Logan’s arm to keep from swaying. The adrenaline crash was hitting hard, and with it came the flood of images I’d been pushing away—Carlos’s body hitting the dirt, the spreading pool of blood, Diego Silva’s casual indifference as he holstered his weapon.
