Mission: Her Security: Team 52 #3, page 13
Kinsey felt everyone go tense. “What’s that?” She kept her voice conversational.
“Old gold mine. Opened back in the 1870s. Never got much out of it.” His gaze narrowed on Kinsey. “I’d steer clear. Old tunnels are dangerous.”
She smiled. “Fascinating. We’re more just here for the sport and natural beauty, but we might check it out.”
Shep looked at her smile and blinked a few times. “Right. Take care.”
Kinsey thanked the man again and watched him drive away. When she turned back, the team had the snowmobiles prepped and ready to leave.
Smith stepped in front of her. “Kinsey, maybe you should stay here with the SUV—”
Her heart sank.
“And if the Cosca Unita find her?” Blair asked. “All alone? Unprotected?”
Smith glared at his friend.
“She’s safer with us,” Lachlan said.
Smith’s jaw went tight and he reached back, pulling out a large handgun from the storage on the snowmobile. He handed it to her. “You know how to use this?”
She did. When she’d joined the team, they’d made her practice at the range. She didn’t love guns, but she kept up her skills. She nodded.
“Show me.”
She checked it over. “Decocker.” She touched the lever. Next, she dumped the magazine, checked it, and shoved it back into the gun.
He nodded. “Keep it on you.”
Finally, everyone turned to the snowmobiles and mounted up.
Smith climbed on and looked at her. “You ride with me. If I give you an order, you obey. I tell you to run, you run. Got it?”
“Got it.” The word obey wasn’t one she loved, but Smith and the others were the experts in this situation.
She climbed on behind him. She’d never been on a snowmobile before. He handed her a set of goggles and a helmet. She pulled them on, then wrapped her arms around Smith, and a second later he started the engine. The snowmobile vibrated beneath her.
Lachlan zipped off, Blair following. Then, Smith gunned the engine and they took off.
Oh, boy. They darted through the trees, gliding over the snow.
She knew this was a dangerous mission, and there was a lot at stake, but this was fun. She held on tight to Smith and let herself enjoy the ride.
* * *
Smith followed the rest of his team, enjoying the feel of the snowmobile under his control. It had been a while since he’d visited his dad and taken his snowmobile out.
He dodged around some large trees, Kinsey’s hold tightening on him. He liked the feel of her, her warmth tucked up against his back.
Not that he wanted her on this mission.
He wanted her safe, not headed into potential danger.
He muttered a curse. He had to focus on getting the mission done. Take out Cosca Unita and recover the artifact. Then Kinsey would be safe and secure.
They all knew that it was likely Cosca Unita was using this mine as a hideout. The tracker was leading right in that direction, and that was the first location they were going to investigate.
Ahead, Lachlan slowed his snowmobile. He glanced back and even through the goggles, his gaze caught Smith’s. Smith nodded. He knew his leader wanted him to take the lead and look for signs of any tracks.
Smith moved into the lead, taking in the landscape around them.
He pulled in a deep breath of fresh air. The mountains were in his veins, but he had to admit that his cabin in Vegas, and the vast, empty beauty of the desert, called to him now as well.
Although nothing quite matched the way the woman sitting behind him called to him. The way he needed her in his arms. The way she soothed him and made him happy.
Moving over a large mound of snow, his snowmobile went airborne. As they landed, he heard Kinsey’s sweet, excited laugh. Maybe he’d bring her here for Christmas. He’d find a nice cabin, make love to her in front of the fire.
Suddenly, Smith spotted something ahead and slowed. He pulled the snowmobile to a stop.
He heard the others pull in behind him, and when Kinsey scooted back, he swung off the machine to check the churned-up snow he’d spotted.
He shoved his goggles up and crouched. He saw the trail leading into the trees.
“Tracks,” he said. “Boots and snowmobiles.”
Lachlan lifted his head, scanning the trees. “We’re close. They’re here.”
Smith nodded.
“Let’s keep moving,” Lachlan said.
“We’ll probably have to abandon the snowmobiles soon and go in on foot. Otherwise, they’ll hear us coming.”
Soon, they were all back on the snowmobiles, following the trail.
“We’re getting close to the mine,” Kinsey said in his ear.
All of a sudden, gunfire broke out. Bullets hit the trees closest to them, tearing up the branches and bark.
Fuck. Smith swerved. A branch hit him in the face and he ignored it. He gunned the machine, heard more gunfire.
Behind him, he heard the whine of engines, and knew the others were evading the bullets.
Smith had to protect Kinsey. He felt her hands gripping his waist.
Then Smith heard CXMs firing. Some of his team were returning fire.
“Team 52.” Brooks’ voice came through Smith’s earpiece. “You have snowmobiles incoming. A lot of them.”
Of course, they did. Smith pulled out his SIG, firing one handed, while he tried to steer the snowmobile. Two snowmobiles, topped by men in black winter gear, came close and he fired on them.
“Hold on,” he shouted back at Kinsey.
He aimed for some trees, racing through a narrow gap. Branches hit at them. He saw a mound of snow ahead and sped up. They hit it, went airborne.
They landed, and when Smith turned the snowmobile, he got a clear view of Lachlan, standing up on his machine, shooting back at the incoming fighters behind them.
All of a sudden, the roar of an engine made Smith jerk his head around.
“Smith! Watch out!” Kinsey screamed.
A snowmobile shot out of the trees right beside him.
Fuck.
They almost collided, but Smith revved the snowmobile and swerved to the right. The Cosca Unita rider was right beside them. He raised a handgun, aiming right at Smith.
Bang.
When the rider tumbled off into the snow, his snowmobile flew forward, out of control, and slammed into a tree. Smith swerved again and glanced back. Kinsey was holding the SIG he’d given her.
He smiled. That was his girl.
More gunfire, and Smith jerked the snowmobile to the left. They hit a rock and it sent a huge jolt through the machine.
Dammit. Smith fought to keep them from tipping over.
And that’s when he felt Kinsey fly off the back.
No.
Smith pulled on the brakes, skidding. Snow flew up around the snowmobile. He turned, aiming to head straight back to her.
She was up on her knees, firing her weapon.
Smith turned his head and his gut clenched. Another Cosca Unita snowmobile was gunning right at her. The bastard was going to run her over.
Smith accelerated. He had to get to her.
Suddenly, a body dropped from a tree above, knocking Smith off his snowmobile.
He landed flat on his back, snow flying everywhere. He caught a glimpse of his snowmobile crashing through some trees before coming to an abrupt stop.
Rolling, he turned and saw another Cosca Unita fighter. The man rose. He was a big bastard, even a few inches taller than Smith. He had a bald head, and a snake tattoo slithering up the side of his neck. A brawler.
Dammit. Smith didn’t have time for this. He had to get to Kinsey.
The Cosca Unita soldier grinned at Smith, sunlight glinting off a gold tooth.
Smith braced, and the man rushed him like a linebacker.
Chapter Fifteen
Heart pounding, Kinsey watched the Cosca Unita man in snow gear riding his snowmobile straight at her.
Shit. Anger burst through her. She raised her gun and started firing.
She peppered his snowmobile with bullets, and the machine skidded to the side. The man flew off, sailing through the air.
Kinsey spun and started running through the snow. But it was too deep for her to move quickly, and she felt like she was running through molasses.
A weight hit her, tackling her to the ground. She got a face full of snow and her gun flew out of her hand.
She shoved the person off of her, and raised up on her hands and knees. As she lifted her head, she caught a quick glimpse of the rest of Team 52. They were all fighting with the attackers.
And she knew that they’d keep fighting, they’d never give up.
Nor would she.
She scrambled for her gun, the butt of it sticking out of the snow not far away.
“Nuh-uh.” The Cosca Unita man gripped her ankle, and dragged her back through the snow on her belly. “You’re my leverage.”
She struggled against him, but he was too big and strong. She kicked, catching him in the chest. He grunted, but didn’t let her go. He rose, yanked her roughly to her feet, and started dragging her into the trees.
“You’ll get these bastards to back off,” he said.
“They’ll never back off. It’s their job to stop terrorists like you.”
The man scowled. “We’ll see.”
He kept pulling her farther away from the others, and Kinsey struggled, fighting him every step of the way. She knew Team 52 would come for her. Smith would come.
They moved across some rocky ground and she yanked hard, breaking free. With a curse, the man turned and she kicked him. Right between the legs.
He made a terrible sound and doubled over.
Kinsey took off running. Branches slapped at her arms and face, but she kept going. The snow was deep and she sank to her knees in spots, but she kept moving.
She finally had a man she loved, and she wasn’t going to let Cosca Unita and this asshole screw that up.
Her boots slipped and she went down on her butt. Hard. Ow. She leaped back up and kept going. The sounds of pursuit came from behind her and her pulse spiked.
The man was clearly still coming after her.
“Kinsey.” Smith’s voice in her ear.
“I’m here.”
“You okay?”
She sucked air into her burning lungs. “Running from a bad guy.”
Smith cursed. “Where are you?”
Oh, God. She looked around. She had no idea. “I don’t know. In the trees.”
“Hold tight, babe. I’m coming.”
“Hurry.”
A moment later, she broke out of the trees. But instead of the clearing where she’d last seen Team 52, she was right at the edge of a steep cliff.
Oh, God. She skidded to a stop, windmilling her arms.
The sound of a body crashing through the trees echoed behind her, her attacker almost colliding with her. He grabbed her arm, fingers biting into her bicep.
Movement at the base of the cliff caught Kinsey’s gaze. Down below, men in black winter gear were moving in and out of an old mine entrance cut into the side of the hill. A rusted metal structure sat higher up the slope, skeletal against the sky, and she knew it had to have been part of the old gold mine.
Suddenly, the man beside her jerked backward.
His violent move sent Kinsey stumbling. She landed on her hands and knees. She swiveled, ready to blast him, when she realized what had happened.
Smith had happened.
She watched him grab the man and throw him to the ground. Before the man could get back up, Smith was on him, punching him with hard, steady, brutal hits.
She winced.
“Kinsey?”
She looked up at Callie. The medic held out a hand and helped Kinsey up.
The rest of Team 52 stood nearby, watching Smith impassively. The man who had taken Kinsey was now collapsed on the snowy ground, bloodied and groaning.
“Smith,” Kinsey said.
His head shot up.
“Enough,” she murmured. “I’m okay.”
Smith rose, pulling the man up with him. Then he tossed the man aside. As Axel and Seth moved to fully subdue the Cosca Unita fighter, Smith strode toward Kinsey.
One look into that face she loved, and she saw he was on the edge of losing his control. He also had a cut on his face, and she reached up and stroked it.
“I’m right here, baby,” she murmured.
His arms shot out, wrapping around her and pulling her so close to him that her toes left the ground.
“I’m here,” she said. “I’m okay.”
Smith pressed his face to her hair, and she felt his big body tremble. She ran her hand through his hair and then finally, he relaxed.
Crisis averted. She leaned into him.
Lachlan stepped forward. “Time to shut these fuckers down.”
Smith raised his head and nodded. Together, all of them lined up along the cliff, looking down at the activity below.
“Let’s end this,” Smith said.
* * *
Smith crouched behind some rocks, studying the mine entrance. The rest of the team was dotted behind other clusters of rocks and trees nearby. They’d trekked down the hillside, and now were only forty feet away from the mine entrance.
Cosca Unita had several trucks pulled up out front, and were busy loading supplies into them.
“They’re getting ready to move out,” Smith murmured.
Getting ready to attack Cheyenne Mountain and NORAD.
“You see the artifact anywhere?” Lachlan asked.
Smith shook his head. “Nope.”
“Time to find it.”
Smith glanced down. Kinsey was right beside him, peering around the rock. “You stay back here, out of sight.”
She nodded, touching his arm. “Be safe. All of you.”
He pulled her in for a fast, hard kiss. Then he spun, moving with the rest of his team as they crept forward.
They ducked from tree to rock to tree, staying in cover. Once they were closer to the mine entrance, Smith and Axel pulled some smoke grenades off their belts.
Axel looked at him and nodded. They lobbed the grenades, and they landed right near the trucks.
Bang. Bang.
There were shouts and confusion. The smoke rose in a cloud. Smith heard gunfire.
Team 52 rose, CXMs lifted, and moved in.
Additional fighters ran through the smoke, and Smith fired. Bam. Swiveled. Bam. Bam.
Ahead, he watched Lachlan kick one man, and aim his CXM at another soldier’s chest.
“Where’s the artifact?” Lachlan’s voice was ice-cold.
“Fuck you!”
Lachlan swiveled the CXM and slammed the butt into the man’s face, knocking him out. “Wrong answer.”
Through the smoke, Smith spotted two men running to a canvas-covered, bulky pile of supplies.
That could be the artifact. “Lachlan, I have eyes on—”
But when the men yanked the canvas sheet off, what he saw made his blood run cold.
“Turret!” he shouted.
Smith dived, just as a rapid-fire hail of machine-gun fire sprayed all around them.
His team was cursing in his earpiece. They all took cover where they could—behind stacks of crates and the trucks. More deadly waves of bullets pinged all around them, tearing up the ground.
“What now?” Blair barked on the comm line.
Seth popped up and fired, but a hail of bullets came back at him, and he dropped back. They were all pinned down.
Dammit. Smith glanced at their surroundings, looking for a way out.
“Someone needs to circle around and shut down that turret,” Lachlan bit out.
Smith eyed the nearby cliff. “I can sneak in along the base of the cliff, get in close, and neutralize the turret from the side.”
“Too risky,” Lachlan said. “You’ll be in their line of fire. If they spot you…”
“Not if you guys make a big enough distraction.”
From their hiding places nearby, Blair and Axel grinned.
“I’m good at distractions,” Axel said.
Lachlan’s gaze narrowed. “Okay, let’s do it.”
Every muscle in Smith’s body was tense. He waited for his team to act, and a second later, several grenades rolled in close to the turret. CXMs opened fire.
Leaping up, Smith sprinted across the open ground.
Boom. Boom.
“This is better than the Fourth of July!” Axel shouted.
Bullets hit the dirt near Smith and he dodged, zigzagging as he ran. It was some asshole with an assault rifle.
“I’ve got him, Smith,” Callie said.
The gunfire cut off. He ran in close to the rocks at the base of the cliff face, and slid in behind some large boulders. He pressed his back to the rock, lifted his CXM, and took a second to suck in some air.
Then he rose, circling in closer to the turret. He aimed for a stack of boxes.
A Cosca Unita soldier leaped out, popping up from behind the crates. Fuck. Smith changed direction. The man fired and Smith fired back. The Cosca Unita asshole leaped onto the boxes, aiming right at Smith.
Smith took his time, aimed, fired.
The man cried out and fell off the crates.
“Smith!” Lachlan’s roar.
Smith turned his head…the turret was tracking in his direction.
Shit. He sprinted for the nearest cover, but it was too far. The universe seemed to be moving in slow motion. He wasn’t going to make it.
Kinsey’s smiling face filled his head.
Then he heard the sound of a gunning engine.
His head snapped up.
One of the Cosca Unita trucks was driving toward him, bouncing over the rough ground. Its tailgate was open and boxes were falling out of the back of it.
He saw Kinsey’s pale face in the driver’s seat.
What the hell?
She drove past him, right between him and the turret.
The machine gun opened fire, bullets ripping into the truck.
Kinsey. No. Fuck, no!
Chapter Sixteen
As bullets ripped into the truck, Kinsey ducked down below the dashboard, throwing her arms over her head.
