Ice (Elite Forces #1)

I finally see movement from one of our guys and signal to Bullet that I’m watching the front. He takes the back. Our guys move in, and I watch them take out a man with a knife. Kaleb and Harris are both in my sight, and I watch the surrounding area, waiting for so much as a fucking plant to move. They make their way inside, and we lose visibility of our team as all fucking hell blows up in that house.

The sounds of gunshots and screaming have me desperately listening for the voices I want to hear most. “Where is Al-Quaren?” Kaleb begins yelling, and Harris starts to speak in foreign, trying to get them to talk. I keep hearing gunshots and then notice movement in the front. Our team is all inside, so I know it’s not one of ours.

Bullet sends off a shot and starts talking quietly. “You have them coming in. We’re shooting out here.” I send off two shots, taking out two in my view, quickly seeing three more ambushing the house quickly. I work fast to take them all out, hearing just as many shots coming from Bullet.

“Get the fuck out of there. There’s a fuck ton coming your way. NOW, Fire. Get the fuck out now.” I start shooting as fast as I’m trained to do, not missing a single shot, but knowing at least one got past me. I have eleven shots before I have to reload.

“There are too many of these fuckers. Get the fuck out. Get the chopper here, now. We have to move.” Bullet starts giving orders, and I’m not sure if that makes it official or not.

“I have his ass, Fire. He’s under the floor. I want to blow his fucking head off more than anything, but I’m holding him. I need someone back here, he’s got four kids with him.” Jackson’s voice is desperate and loud in my ears.

“You sure it’s him?” Kaleb questions.

“Yes, all three markings are here. Get back here and help me pull him out of this hole.”

“Stone, get the fuck back there and tell him to move or we’ll blow his ass up.” I hear Kaleb giving orders and more shots going off. I get a small break in movement, so I reload, preparing for whatever is sent my way. Bullet shoots once more, and we both begin our scan of the area again.

“Come on, motherfucker. Crawl out of there.” Listening to the sounds of the team fight their way to get him out makes my adrenaline rush even harder. I can hear them all struggle, and I wish we were in there to help.

“Okay. Fuck, we’ve got him out. Get the chopper here now.” Kaleb sounds frustrated, and I can hear the loud sounds of the rest of the guys making their way out of the house. Bullet and I watch until the sounds of the chopper are near. The team has moved outside, and there’s no sign of any movement, so we start to move to the chopper, one at a time, just like we’re supposed to do.

We run like there’s someone chasing us, and we both make it into our new positions before the rest of them move. We watch the area and give them the clear to move.

“All clear, Fire. Move now,” Bullet orders them to the chopper, and I watch through my scope. I see movement after they’ve all moved out of the house, so I take the shot. I hear Bullet begin to shoot and cringe, knowing what this means as I take down at least five more guys. Harris has Al-Quaren, and the other guys are following him, shooting as they move forward.

“Get him the fuck in that chopper!” Kaleb yells. We take two more down, then they begin to run. Harris forces Al-Quaren onto the chopper and shoves him out of the way, holding him down. They all start to jump on around us, and I stay focused on their backs. Kaleb is last in line, and I watch him turn to look when more shots are fired. Men move in quickly, surrounding the last of them, and I shoot as fast as I can, taking out every single one I can get in my view. The rest of the team continues to move, but Kaleb turns to fire.

“Fire, move now!” Bullet yells between shots, and he finally listens and begins to run. I watch the area through my gun and miss how Kaleb lands on the ground. When I pull my scope back to him, he’s holding his shoulder and trying to get up before he’s ambushed.

“We’re being ambushed. We have to fucking go now.” I feel Steele begin to lift the chopper.

“Don’t you dare fucking leave him.” My voice is very loud in my own ear. My demand was heard, and he better fucking listen.

“Go, Steele. Get him the fuck out of here.” Kaleb’s voice crushes my heart.

“No,” I argue, only to have them talk over me.

“We have to go now. We’ll all die if we don’t get the fuck out of here.” The forcefulness of Steele’s voice is cold, and I’m instantly pissed. I take out the three men holding Kaleb down, missing him every single time, only to have more grab him. We lift off the ground, and my heart falls out of my chest, smashing all over the ground below. I can’t fucking feel. I can’t breathe, and panic begins to flood through my veins. We’re leaving him. I can’t. I love him. I can’t breathe. I’m dying inside. They’ll kill him.

Hilary Storm & Kathy Coopmans's books