Kane took Carlyle at nearly the same instant. The man simply fell forward, the cards scattering across the table as he went limp. He moved forward while Mack covered him, removing the guns and securing the darts.
Jacob, you’re up again,
Mack said.
We’re running out of time. We’ve got to stay on schedule.
Yeah, I’ll just yank those bombs right off, Top,
Jacob replied.
Mack shot him a look and Jacob sobered, moving forward quickly and silently. Mack and Kane moved up into the narrow opening that led to a crawl space behind the makeshift kitchen.
Jaimie. I need you to tell us what we’re facing while Jacob disarms the bombs.
There’s something else here, boss,
Jacob said.
I found a switch. A remote. There’s another bomb somewhere. Koit’s got it right in his front jacket pocket.
Mack swore.
Come on, Jaimie. There must be another guard. And Armstice. Find them.
Jaimie skirted around the two downed terrorists, ignoring the fact that small beads of sweat had formed on Jacob’s forehead. She’d taken apart dummy bombs before. It wasn’t quite the same thing as working with the real deal.
Concentrate, baby, don’t think about what he’s doing. And don’t think about the children. Just find me those men.
Mack never called her “baby” during a mission. He was always very professional. She glanced at his face. He looked at her with worried eyes. She forced a smile.
I’m fine, Mack. Give me a minute.
So far, Mack’s energy had kept the pain at bay, but they were in the lion’s den and the violent energy surrounding the terrorists ripped and stabbed at her, the sensation very much like ice picks stabbing into her skull.
She took a deep breath, careful to keep her trembling hands behind her back where Mack’s watchful eyes couldn’t see. Javier was behind them, but he was facing back the way they’d come, watching their backtrail. Jacob kept his head down, intent on disarming the vest of explosives wrapped around Carlyle. Jaimie sent her energy rushing down the narrow tunnel, into the darkness.
As if she’d summoned the devil, energy rushed at her, forceful, ugly, extremely violent and evil. It punched through the shield Mack created around her, tearing at the fabric of her energy, shredding it. With it came fear. Pain. Terror. Rage. Both feminine and masculine and very young. She felt the victims, became entwined with them. She staggered under the assault and would have gone down, but Jacob caught her elbow and steadied her as she sagged against him. She felt him reach out to surround her with his strength and love. He shielded her without reserve, with the love of a brother—a teammate. With confidence in her ability to stand up to the assault.
Top.
There was caution in Jacob’s warning, but no panic.
His voice and quiet support and loyalty steadied her as nothing else could have. She pushed through the violent energy swarming her and forced her way down the tunnel.
One guard standing about halfway down. He’s watching Armstice and the children.
It wasn’t her job to figure out how they were going to get the guard before he could warn Armstice, only to report to Mack the position of the enemy and the children. Seconds ticked away. Every moment was dangerous and life threatening.
You can do this, Jaimie. Give me Armstice’s exact position. You can find him.
She knew what he was planning then. She moistened her lips. Kane could see through things. He was going to use his eyesight to pierce the dirty blanket at the end of the crumbling tunnel and try to dart Armstice while Mack took out the last guard. She had to give Kane an idea of where to look. He’d only have seconds before his sight shut down on him. It was a terrible risk to use that particular talent and it would leave him without sight for a brief amount of time.
She didn’t protest. If Kane was willing to risk his sight and go out of the tunnels blind, then she was courageous enough to push right into Armstice’s violent energy no matter what it did to her. She would give Kane the best chance possible. She didn’t wait. She rushed the energy, shoving deep, uncaring that it attacked, clawing and pulling her apart. She got a good silhouette of him, as well as a taste of evil that she knew would never quite leave her mind.
She sent the picture to Kane, paying particular attention to the head and neck. Armstice stood over the young male who had positioned his body as best he could between the terrorist and young Mi-cha. Armstice kicked him in the ribs repeatedly and then crouched down, pressing the tip of his blade just under Dae-sub’s eye.
Jaimie’s stomach churned. She held her energy in place, although it fought her, wanting to curl away from the violence in the surroundings. It seemed forever, but she knew only a couple of seconds passed. Jacob kept his hand on her arm.
Both Kane and Mack squeezed the triggers. The guard hit the ground hard. His gun rolled out of his hand. Armstice slumped forward, falling directly on the teenage boy as he lay on the ground, hands tied behind his back, unable to protect himself from the large body as it toppled over him.
Kane sank to one knee in the soft dirt, covering his eyes. Jaimie immediately took his place, gripping her weapon and following Mack into the lower region, deeper into the bowels of the earth. Dirt fell continuously, sliding with an ominous rumble, just small dusty trickles, but it was distracting and alarming. The walls tapered and crumbled as they neared the end of the corridor. Mack had to walk bent over, but she merely ducked her head a little.
Mack paused to retrieve the dart, pocket it, and then push the terrorist’s jacket open.
He’s wired, Jacob.
I expected it,
Jacob admitted as he followed them down the narrow tunnel to the fallen terrorist’s side.
Mack kept the weapon in his hands and nodded to Jaimie. She caught the edges of the dirty blanket and ripped it down. Mack covered Armstice.
Be careful, Jaimie. Stay back. The kids are probably wired as well. These guys were prepared to take the place down before they were taken into custody.
Water seeped through the walls and steadily dripped overhead. Everything smelled dank and moldy, mingling with the scent of blood. Mack stepped into the cramped, hollowed-out space. She could barely make out the two hostages, tied together at the far end of the room.
Mack pulled the dart from Armstice’s neck. He held up his hand for silence as the girl began weeping.
Tell them to be quiet, Jaimie.
Jaimie moved up where the young man could see her. His swollen face was a mask of defiance and bruises. He was fighting for breath with the terrorist’s weight crushing his chest. She was fairly certain he had broken ribs. There were streaks of blood all over his face from the thin cuts Armstice had made in the boy’s skin. His face. His chest. His arms. She let her breath out slowly, her teeth chattering. Her skull felt as if it was exploding, and her stomach lurched. She wouldn’t give in to it, not with two tortured children and Kane nearly blind.
“We’ve come to take you home,” she whispered softly in Korean. “You’re father is waiting, Dae-sub. And your parents, Mi-cha. But you must be very quiet. Not a sound. We’re not out of danger. Can you stay very quiet for me, Mi-cha?”
Mack dragged Armstice’s body from the boy, who winced and grunted in pain, but refused to cry out.
Dae-sub studied her face and then Mack’s. It took a moment for him to believe. “You cannot move us. There is a bomb.” He nodded toward Armstice. “He has one too.”
Mack nodded his understanding. “We’ll take care of it,” he answered in perfect Korean.
Jacob, you finished there?
I’m not a bleeding miracle worker, Top.
Jacob shuffled forward, making it impossible for Jaimie to stay in the confined space.
“Tell him to take it off Mi-cha,” the boy insisted when Jacob knelt beside him.
“He wants you to get rid of the bomb on Mi-cha,” she translated.
Jacob had to step over the boy. “Hold the light up, Mack,” he said.
Jaimie made her way back to Kane. “Jacob has to clear them and then we’re out of here. Are your eyes clearing?”
She knew little about the effects of using his enhanced vision. It wasn’t the same as using “eagle eyes,” as they all called seeing great distances. Kane could see through objects, but only for a short period of time, and then he’d get a blinding flash that nearly knocked his vision out. He couldn’t take light. The tunnels were lit with old-fashioned kerosene lamps and not quite as destructive on his eyes.
“Let’s start moving back toward Javier,” she suggested. “Jacob and Mack will have to bring out the kids.”
“You’ll have to protect them, Jaimie,” Kane said. “I can’t do it.”
Her mouth went dry, but she nodded. “I will. Can you keep the dogs away while we bring them out?” And she knew she would. Maybe it was that she had a tranq gun instead of a loaded weapon, but she thought it was because they were doing something she believed in. And the men had made her feel as if they believed in her.
“Yes,” he replied, his voice grim.
She slipped her arm around him and helped him up. He glanced down at her without really opening his eyes. “I can feel you shaking, Jaimie. How bad is it?”
“Armstice is a pretty sick man, Kane,” she admitted. She glanced back. Jacob was handing the little girl to Mack.
She cried out in terror. Dae-sub spoke to her and she went quiet, clinging to Mack’s shoulder, but keeping her eyes on Dae-sub.
Fall back now, Jaimie. Get Kane out of here. We’re right behind you.
Jaimie urged Kane down the corridor at almost a dead run. He stayed right with her, running blind. She guided him, slowing when they were nearing the bends. He never made a sound and her admiration for him rose even more.
Coming up on you, Javier,
she warned.
Don’t shoot us. Kane’s blind.
Not entirely,
Kane denied.
It’s nighttime and it’s not quite as bad.
Hell of a shot, though,
Mack said.
Jaimie glanced over her shoulder and her heart nearly stopped. Jacob had the little girl and Mack was carrying Dae-sub out in a fireman’s carry. The boy was slippery with blood and his face was twisted in a mask of pain. Mack would not only have to carry him through the patrolling Marines, but get him over the fence.
Javier crouched at the entrance to the tunnel. He moved forward to give them room, his eyes moving restlessly, ceaselessly, trying to pierce the heavy blackness and fog. His ears strained to read the night sounds. He crawled forward to get into a better position to defend the party.
Jaimie, do your thing.
Her pulse pounded in her throat. Her energy was tattered and her skull pounded. She could taste blood in her mouth, knew it leaked from her nose. She kept her face averted to prevent Mack from seeing her. Once again she sent her energy out.
Two Marines with dogs approaching. They’re coming directly toward us. They’ll come through that small maple garden any moment.
Javier put his eye to his night scope while Jacob and Mack both put fingers to their lips to keep the children quiet. Right on cue, two Marines with German Shepherds on leashes walked toward them.
Kane reached for the dogs just as they began to show signs of agitation. One of the handlers stopped and looked around.
Jacob,
Mack hissed. A clear order.
Jacob concentrated on the man.
Go the other way.
Sometimes suggestion worked and sometimes it back-fired. Jacob practiced often, but there was no telling how someone would react. There were a few resistant, but most reacted as if hypnotized, and strangely, the higher the IQ, the easier it was for Jacob to give them a “push.” The Marine and his partner walked off and disappeared into the drizzling rain and fog.
Jacob went first with the girl. He whispered soft assurances to her when she clutched at him, scared of the dark, scared of leaving Dae-sub. Once he was in the garden, Mack moved after him, running lightly with Dae-sub, weaving in and out of the shadows and shrubbery.
You ready, Kane? We’ve got two more soldiers close, but if we hurry, we can slip through to the fence.
Javier?
Kane asked.
Right behind you, Gunny,
Javier said.
Once we’re near the fence, Gideon will have us and he never misses.
She guided Kane through the dark grounds, running from shrub to shadow until the fence was looming ahead. Jacob, still holding the little girl, cleared it with ease, dropping to the other side and running to the van with his burden.
Mack shifted his burden and crouched low. He propelled himself up and over, using only his leg muscles. Dae-sub cried out softly when they landed, but Mack clapped a hand over his mouth to muffle the sound. They lay almost in plain sight.
Jaimie dragged Kane down as the guard’s radio crackled and running footsteps could be heard.
I’ve got him, boss,
Gideon said.
Give me the go-ahead.
The guard reported all was fine. It was the longest minute of Jaimie’s life with every second lasting an eternity.
The footsteps stopped and faded away.
Go, go,
she urged Kane and they ran for the fence as Mack leapt up, dragging the boy with him and sprinting for the van.
Kane and Jaimie went over the fence together. Javier stood beside the guard, showed him his watch, and whispered, “You have thirty-seven minutes left to do your job. Get them the hell out of our country.” He leapt the fence and made his way back to the van.
Javier yanked Gideon inside, the doors slammed shut, and the van was hurtling down the street toward safety where General Chun waited for his son and the kidnapped girl. Jaimie could actually breathe again. The little girl began to cry softly and the young man pulled her into his arms protectively. Jaimie knew none of them looked reassuring in their masks and night combat gear, but it was essential to protect their identities. She touched the young man gently to try to give him confidence in them.