Mercy and Mayhem Men of Mercy(21)

The Congo River cut across most of Africa, filled with predators above and below the water. Most of the country was straight-up tropical jungle, filled with mountains and deadly cliffs and drop offs, and home to dangerous animals like the snake Marley had come face-to-face with after their initial drop.

Her entire body shivered uncontrollably at the thought that she had nearly become lunch. She had no intention of ending up in the belly of any creature in this godforsaken jungle. She would do what it took to survive and get home to her little girl. It would become her mantra.

"You stay close to me like before. Keep your head down, your gun ready." Mack's harsh voice ripped her out of her thoughts and Marley nodded instinctively in agreement.

No matter how much he got on her nerves and no matter how much her body's reaction to him got on her nerves, this man and his team were her best hope for getting home to her daughter. "Okay."

"Ranger, you and Hunter did missions here before. Do you remember anything about the locals that we should know?" Mack asked.

Ranger pointed to an area north of them. "You've got your Mai Mai controlling the territory up there. To the east are the Ugandans. Both of them are pretty bad ass, and they have a solid policy of kill first, ask later, especially when it comes to anyone who looks like an outsider. There were a couple of French and British mining operations that took out entire villages before anyone found out about it, so they could have all the rights to the area. Those companies got filthy rich and managed to kill off a few hundred locals before anyone wised up to what they were doing and tried to stop it. Needless to say, both tribes have a reason to kill anyone who doesn't belong on sight."



       
         
       
        

Hunter picked up where his brother left off. "It would be better for everyone involved if we just avoid detection completely. I don't think they would appreciate anyone like us being in their territory."

Mack pointed to a spot on the map further east along the Aruwimi River. "Sounds like we're going west then. We'll try to avoid contact if at all possible. But if it proves unavoidable, take them out as silently as possible and move on. If we get separated, we'll meet up here."

The man they called Reaper unfolded himself from his position sitting on the ground, coming to his full towering height. Marley guessed that he had to be somewhere close to seven feet. "I'm not going anywhere until we find out from her exactly what happened in the cockpit."

Marley faltered, the soullessness of his gaze covering her in dread-filled chills. This man killed without hesitation, she could sense it, and he could do it to her before she took her next breath. Marley felt as if the world around her were shrinking, descending on her shoulders and pressing her down into the earth.

Mack stepped in front of her, crossing his arms over his chest and causing the muscles in his shoulders to ripple. "I'll be the one who questions her. Not you."

Underneath that veneer of rough command was a threat of protection, and Marley found herself leaning in closer to the shield that his back offered her.

"Everyone here knows the depths of Mankel's treachery," Reaper said gruffly. "His schemes have more layers than an onion. Don't act shocked that I would question her involvement."

Mack took a step toward the big man, and Marley had to fight the urge to tag along behind him.

Reaper dwarfed Mack, but the colonel didn't seem to mind in the least. He got up toe-to-toe with the soldier. "You're under just as much suspicion as she is. In fact, more so. Mankel could very easily have planted you and used Merc's past to get you in. I don't trust you. Not yet."

Merc edged in closer to the pair. "Commander, I think-"

But Mack cut him off with a sharp slice of his hand in the air. "I know what you think, and I don't blame you for it. But it's my job to protect everyone in this group, whether you want it or not."

"I'd like to hear what happened up there, if it's all the same. Not saying I blame the lady, but information is power. She might've seen something that can help us," Hoyt said.

Everyone turned to her and Marley recoiled. God, she should have never taken this mission. Sexy colonel or not.

She sought Mack's comforting gaze, but his expression had fallen into that cold mask he was so proficient at utilizing. Any single one of these men as an individual was intimidating as hell, but the collective put Satan himself to shame. 

So, what was she going to do? Stand here mute, like a scared little girl, or square up, like the soldier she'd been trained to be, and face them with the power of the truth?