Undercover Texas - By Robin Perini Page 0,67
they will not survive.”
“You’re bluffing,” Ali said.
“Try me.”
Ali nodded to one of his bodyguards. “Go.”
The man gave a slight bow and, without hesitation, walked to the edge of the clearing. He stepped forward. One step. Two steps. Light flashed, and a loud explosion erupted. The man’s body burst into flames, but he didn’t scream.
He was already dead.
* * *
FROM BEHIND THE COVER of a large boulder, Hunter, Noah and Daniel peered through the cottonwoods and watched the plume of smoke billow into the sky. The acrid stench of burning flesh filled the air. Erin’s terror and Brandon’s cries shredded Hunter’s heart.
“Go,” Hunter whispered. “You know what to do.”
Noah crawled on his belly, hidden by bushes until he reach the electronic trip wires. While the standoff in the clearing continued, he dismantled two of the mines with great care, then positioned himself behind Ali, ready to attack. Daniel did the same.
Hunter made his way around to where Miller and Erin stood, and dismantled another setup.
Ali and the bodyguard held their weapons on Miller, Erin and Brandon. “I don’t see a winner for this game, General.”
“It’s not a game. You killed my son, Ali. You’re dying today.” Miller shoved Erin into the lone bodyguard. Erin dove to the side. The bodyguard raised his gun. Miller didn’t flinch. He aimed his weapon and took out Ali with one clean shot to the temple, just as bullets from the bodyguard’s gun strafed Miller’s chest.
Ali fell back into a mine. Another explosion shot debris and body parts into the sky.
Hunter raced through the shrapnel and flames and tackled the surviving bodyguard to the ground. The man slammed his gun into Hunter’s head and turned his weapon on Erin.
With one sharp move Hunter twisted the terrorist’s neck.
The man lay still.
“Erin?” Hunter shouted, peering through the smoke
“Hunter!”
He saw her then, Brandon cradled in her arms. Behind her, Miller rose, the Kevlar of his bulletproof vest showing through his shredded clothing. He grabbed Erin when she tried to get up and pulled her to his chest.
“No,” Hunter shouted. “Let them go. You got what you wanted. Ali is dead.”
Miller gripped Erin close. “Damn it, Hunter. I didn’t want you here. It wasn’t supposed to go down this way. I don’t leave witnesses. You know that.”
“General, please don’t.” Hunter eased closer, his gaze on Daniel’s and Noah’s movements behind Miller. He had to keep the man’s attention.
Hunter stared into Erin’s eyes, trying desperately to convey that he had a plan, that he would save her. No matter what.
“What happened to you, General?” Hunter asked. “I thought I knew the man you were. You would never have sacrificed an innocent mother and child.”
“You know nothing. Did you realize they were going to take away the organization I built from scratch? They said I was too old. That I should enjoy my golden years after all my exemplary service. No one was ever going to catch this bastard. He killed my son, beheaded him like an animal at the slaughter, and no one was going to do anything about it.”
“Miller, I’m sorry—”
“Don’t. Our company was fighting the good fight and those pansy-assed politicians were taking that away from me, too. Who would be left to make these murderers pay? They killed my son. They were going to destroy the company, and you...you were going to leave me, too. After all I did for you.”
“What?”
“Matt didn’t have to go back overseas on that last tour. He volunteered. Four times he went to that hellhole and came back alive. I wanted him to stay home and work for me, but then he met you. He admired you, Graham. Wanted to be like you. Save the world. So he returned and fell into Ali’s hands, and you didn’t save him.”
Hunter felt the blood drain from his face. “Is that why you chose Erin?”
“Serendipity. The moment the information on her prototype came over my desk, I knew Ali would want it—and her. He came all the way to me.”
Hunter stared at his mentor. “You were the leak? You told the terrorists about her prototype?”
“I needed to get Ali here. Kill him on my turf. I had it all planned out.” He glared at Erin. “She screwed it up. With her and the baby gone, you wouldn’t be distracted anymore. Ali would be dead. The team would get the credit. The politicians would reinstate the funds. Sure, there’d be collateral damage, but I’d explain away your name on those lists as part of our plan, and