Into the Fray (Daring Escapes #3) - Margaret Daley Page 0,59

no one is outside guarding it. Then you can come in after me. According to Tory, there should be four men, although Juan could possibly be one of the four. He left the shack and could have been captured. Ramon should still be tied up.”

Finally, Bob pulled over into the vegetation a few hundred yards close to the shack. Before Bob cut the engine, Guerrero scrambled from the vehicle. Bob quickly followed. They used the foliage to hide the Jeep before crossing the road.

They ran into the trees and hurried toward the cabin. A shot rang out. Guerrero didn’t slow his pace. Sweat drenched him as he clenched his weapon tighter. Knowing Tory, she might have come back here to help protect Ramon. She hung up before he could tell her to stay put. The thought that Tory might be hurt—or dead—dominated his mind.

Please, God, save her if she’s in harm’s way.

He slowed his movements as they reached the north side of the cabin with a vehicle outside it. He signaled Bob to circle the building while Guerrero crept toward the side of the cabin. At the edge of the northwest corner, he peeked around it toward the front entrance about twelve feet away. The odds weren’t in his favor, but he’d dealt with worse situations in the past—if he could keep his focus on what he must do rather than Tory.

He had to. He wouldn’t let another woman die. Losing his concentration could lead to deaths. Again he sent up a prayer, and all his training fell into place. As he crept toward the entrance, Bob rounded the corner, holding up three fingers.

Guerrero paused while Bob fell in step right behind him. Guerrero tried the handle, trying to be as quiet as possible. With his hand, he counted to three then barged inside. A large man, several inches taller than Guerrero, dropped the limp body of Ramon while next to him another thug lifted his firearm and aimed it at Guerrero. Guerrero fired before the man got the shot off. Bob took care of the third assailant.

The hulk charged toward Guerrero as the guy tried to pull his pistol from its holster at his side. Wanting to keep the assailant alive to question, Guerrero aimed for his upper arm as the attacker freed his weapon. His shot hit the large man, who dropped his gun. He staggered back a couple of steps then quickly shook off his wound, withdrew a knife, and came at Guerrero, who shot again, going for the man’s leg. Guerrero wanted him alive.

* * *

The sound of the gunfire coming from the cabin stopped Tory momentarily. She had to get there. She hurried forward. There were at least three attackers in the car, possibly a fourth. The darkened windows might have blocked her from seeing everyone.

A noise to the left of her drew her attention in that direction. She slowed her pace as Juan came from the place Bob had shown them to go if there was a problem.

He stopped next to her. “What’s happened? I heard gunfire.”

“Where have you been?” Tory started again for the shack.

“At the safe place. I wanted to see if we could get cell reception from there since Bob said that would be where they would find us if there was a problem. But there wasn’t any cell reception.” He glanced in the area she’d been. “Did you leave Ramon alone?”

“Yes, I was worried about you when you didn’t come back. Then I saw a car. I thought you might be in it. I was trying to get help.”

“Did you?”

She nodded. “Guerrero and Bob.”

“We need to go and help.”

Tory took a couple of steps toward the cabin. A chill zipped up her spine. She looked over her shoulder at Juan who withdrew his gun. Two more shots reverberated through the jungle. “We need to move fast. No telling what’s going on.”

“I agree.” Juan came up beside her. “I must admit I’m a little turned around. I’m not an outdoorsman. That’s why I was gone longer than I thought I would be. The gunshots are what drew me to the right path.”

“I camped a lot as a little girl. My father taught me to track animals and even his footsteps when he would leave camp and I had to go find him.” Another thing she had to be thankful for. In spite of her disagreement with her dad over her career, he taught her good life lessons that came in handy