Waiting, a shuffle from the left told her it was time to go. She burst out of the rocks for the trees in front of her, being sure to make as much noise as possible. Bullets chewed up the ground behind her.
She ran faster, her breathing matching the cadence of her run. She vaulted over an overturned tree and kept going, bullets continuing to dog her steps.
Up ahead, she saw the clearing and tall outcropping of rocks that she’d seen this morning when she’d gone for a walk. She picked up speed, and leaped up the rocks and into a small crevice hidden behind them. Pulling around her M4, she rested it on the rocks as she waited for the men following her.
A few seconds later, two men fully dressed in camouflage stepped into the clearing. Their eyes scanned the area, looking for their target, looking for her. Without pause, she took down one and then the other, both shots center mass.
She waited another few beats. No one else appeared. Silently, she thanked her uncle for the shooting lessons he’d insisted on when she was a teenager. It had been his idea of bonding time. Who could have known how helpful they would be?
She cautiously crawled out of her hiding spot and waited, listening for any sound. She could hear Yoni’s gun in the distance and the returning fire, but nothing close. She headed back towards her uncle, stopping to listen every few feet.
As she passed a giant sycamore, she hesitated, sensing rather than hearing someone was there. She inhaled sharply at the press of the gun barrel between her shoulder blades.
“I must admit, Dr. McPhearson, you are much more resourceful than most college professors I’ve met. My brother greatly underestimated you. I, however, have not."
Gideon. Panic flashed through her and she struggled to keep it out of her voice. “If you’re waiting for me to apologize, it’s going to be a long wait.”
He pushed his gun deeper into her back and she forced herself to ignore the pain. “Not at all, not at all. I am merely paying my respects to a worthy opponent. Now, please lower your weapons.”
Laney’s mind scrambled, running through all possible scenarios of escape.
Gideon, though, seemed to know what she was thinking and his voice turned cold. He leaned in close, his lips almost touching her ear, and his voice turned cold. She couldn’t help but flash back to Paul doing almost the exact same thing.
“Do not misunderstand me. I would as soon shoot you. But for now, I need you alive. I do not, however, need you completely unharmed. Try anything and I will take great pleasure in giving you pain.”
Laney didn’t doubt him. She slowly lowered her weapons to the ground.
He nudged her forward with his gun. “Excellent. Now, let us proceed.”
A man burst through the trees on her right. She leaped back at his appearance. From his clothing, she could tell he was one of Gideon’s men.
He took in the scene and then walked towards them. His eyes stayed on Laney. She didn’t like the look in them.
“I can take her, Mr. Gideon.” He looked her up and down. “I’ll take real good care of her.”
Gideon sighed and then beckoned the man closer. The man leaned forward. Gideon pressed his gun to the man’s forehead and pulled the trigger.
Laney stumbled back as blood and bits of bone sprayed across her face. She started to shake.
Gideon hauled her to him, his hand firmly clenched around her arm. “One thing I can’t abide is a man who would mistreat a woman.”
She stared up at him in disbelief.
Catching her look, Gideon smiled. “My dear, my intentions towards you have nothing to do with the fact that you are a female. And neither will the pain you experience.”
He raised his gun and brought it down on her skull. Pain exploded through her head before everything went black.
CHAPTER 61
Jake tried to reach Laney again, but she didn’t pick up. He tried Yoni and still nothing. He didn’t like it. Something was wrong.
Pushing down the accelerator, the tires of his Suburban squealed as he turned onto the winding lane that led to their rented house. A quick glance in the rearview mirror showed that Henry, who was following in the other Suburban, had matched his pace.
Jordan Witt glanced over at him. “Problem?”
Jake and Jordan had served together in the SEALS. When the tough Californian had left the military four years ago, he’d joined the Chandler Group at Jake’s urging.
“Can’t reach anyone at the house,” Jake replied tersely. “Something feels off.”
Jordan nodded and turned to the four armed men seated behind them. “Trouble ahead, gentlemen. Suit up.”
The house was the only one on the block and stood almost a full mile from the street. As Jake approached the drive, he noticed a shape lying in the drive.