Willie screamed out in fear as Highlander flattened himself and the young boy to the ground, pulling out his weapon at the same time, looking towards the river where the others were.
“Yo, Lt! You ok?” Mac screamed out, running towards the two.
Two more shots rang out on the ground, near where the others had been, forcing them to flatten themselves onto the ground as well.
“Where’s Cody?” Highlander yelled at his teammates.
“He’s here. We’ve got him Highlander. Focus on William. We’ve got Cody.” Hank told Highlander, hoping to calm him down, knowing a father’s fear for their children.
“Who the fuck is shooting at us?” Snake growled low, looking around.
“That’s the billion-dollar question now isn’t it. Snake, you and Joker with me. Hank, you, Highlander and Mac focus on the boys. We’ll distract them, have them follow us while we sneak around, see if we can’t corner them.” Swede advised the others.
“Go!” Highlander ordered, keeping Willie covered enough that he doesn’t get hurt but has enough space to breath.
“Da?” Willie questioned, confused by the way the older men were acting.
“Shhh, it’s ok son. Ye need to listen to me and ye uncles right now. Okay. I need ye to be a really good boy and do everything we say, ok?”
“Yes, sir. I promise.” Willie said, quietly, nodding into his father’s chest.
“Cody, ye ok son?”
“Yes dad, I’m ok. Uncle Hank has me with him and Uncle Mac.”
“Good. Do everything they tell ye to do son. Promise me!” Highlander pleaded, worried about his sons in the crossfire.
“I will. I love you daddy!” Cody whispered, trying to keep from being scared.
“I love ye too son. We’ll be ok. I promise. I love ye too, Willie.” Highlander whispered down to his youngest, kissing the top of his head.
“Is mommy going to be ok too?” Willie asked, his fear showing through.
“Aye son, ye mum will be just fine. We’ll be home to her before ye know it.”
Suddenly, there were several other shots fired over Highlander, Hank and Mac’s head, hitting the trees near them, causing them to lay flat on the ground.
“Thought you could get rid of us that easily, huh, L.T.?”
“Jones? Is that ye?”
“Which one asshat? There’s two of us?” Another voice rang out, laughing, mocking Highlander and his accent.
“Sounds like it’s both of ye here.” Highlander answered, looking at his surroundings, trying to figure out his options with the boys in tow.
“Looks like we’re going to have a grand ole time, Davie! Not only do we get the good ole lieutenant, we also get the rest of your dipshit team and the lieu’s boys as a bonus. Ya know, I think I know just the person who likes little boys.”
Highlander growled at the laughter that rang out from the men taunting them. “Where the fuck are Swede and the others?”
Two shots rang out, two shouts, more laughter, then quiet.
“Looks like we got two of your assholes, Lt.” Frankie taunted Highlander.
“Actually asshat, you only got one.” Snake growled, holding his shoulder, trying to stop the bleeding.
“Awww, poor baby got shot.” David mocked Snake, smacking him in the wounded shoulder to push him towards the camp. “Get up, all of you. Where’s the other two? I know there’s more of you!”
“You lose one of yours?” Mac taunted back, earning him a punch in the face by David.
