Reese nodded and squeezed his arm in signal of their brotherhood. Colt stood and did the same thing. Fighting back the thought that this might be the last time he saw his friends, he touched his own arm and ran from the room. Lainey entered the hallway just as he did, and together they hurried to William who sat in the chair that had been placed there earlier for Phillip.
“Reese and Colt are taking you to the hospital,” Ash called out as they ran past him. “We’ll check on you later.”
William raised his hand and waved them on. “Just go get your boy back,” he said.
They hurried down the stairs, and Lainey headed toward the front door, but Ash grabbed her arm and pulled her in the opposite direction. “We need to stop by the weapons room,” he said when they reached the first floor.
She nodded, and they ran to the room at the end of the hall. Ash pulled out his key, and they burst through the door. It only took him a few seconds to grab the gun and ammunition he wanted. He turned to leave, but as an afterthought he buckled a holster around his ankle and slipped a knife in it.
“I want a gun,” Lainey said.
Ash cast a startled glance at her. “I don’t think. . .”
She gritted her teeth and glared at him. “They have my son, Ash. I want to be prepared for whatever we encounter. Besides Casey has been doing some target practice with me. I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been here.”
“Then here,” he said and as he handed her a Glock 19 and an ankle holster. “This one is good for someone with small hands. Put this on.”
She nodded and did as he said. “Now a knife.”
He started to refuse, but the determined look on her face told him he’d be wasting his breath. He pulled a second holster from the shelf, slipped a knife into it, and strapped to her left leg. Then they ran from the room and out the front door. Within seconds they were in one of the Firebrand Jeeps and barreling out of the parking lot. Ash reached over and squeezed her hand before taking hold of the steering wheel again.
His stomach churned as she glanced at his profile. The muscle in his jaw flexed, and he gritted his teeth. Adrenalin flowed through his body, and he felt the rage he’d had for years every time he prepared for battle begin to emerge in the form of the warrior who lived inside him.
His years in the army and in Firebrand had molded him into a well-trained killing machine. Duty to his country had led him to turn that rage against enemies who had no regard for the law or human rights, but this was different. Now his wrath was directed at those who had taken their son.
Beside him Lainey started to say something, but then only nodded and settled back in her seat. Ash realized she’d seen once again into the secret places of his heart, and what she saw she approved. They were united in this mission to bring their son home no matter what they had to do.
Chapter 17
Ash pulled the Jeep to a stop at the overlook parking area and gazed at the trail to Devil’s Courthouse. Beside him Lainey stared through the windshield at the bare rock face of the mountain in the distance. Her chin trembled, and she turned to him.
“They have him up there on that mountain?”
He reached for her hand. “That’s what the text said. It’s about a twenty minute hike up the trail to the summit. I haven’t been there since I was a teenager, but I remember it’s a strenuous climb. Are you up to this?”
She took a deep breath and nodded. “I have to be. Max is up there.”
“I know, and he’s probably very scared. Let’s go see if we can’t do something about that.”
A look of fear flashed across her face, and she threw her arms around his neck. “I just want the three of us to have a chance to be a family.”
He hugged her close for a moment and then released her. “So do I. Let’s go get our son.”
She nodded, and they climbed from the car. He checked his gun once more and then headed up the trail for the hike to the summit. Lainey fell into step behind him. He glanced at her from time to time to make sure she wasn’t having a problem with the altitude, but she appeared to be doing okay. Neither of them spoke, but Ash knew that both their thoughts were focused on Max.
About halfway up he stopped and faced her. “Are you making it all right?”
“Yes. Have you forgotten I was on the track team in high school? I still run every day. Of course I haven’t been able to do that since you’ve been home. But I’ll be fine.” She pointed toward the summit. “Let’s go.”
He didn’t need prodding any further, and he continued to lead the way. They hiked in silence for a few more minutes, and then the summit came into view. He pulled his gun out and motioned for Lainey to stay behind him as they approached the end of the trail.
As they eased up to the top of the mountain, Ash studied the area in front of him. A waist-high stone wall separated the trail from the craggy rocks that jutted out from the summit, but there was no sign of Max or his captors anywhere.
“Max!” Ash called out.
“Dad?” The scared cry made the hair on the back of Ash’s neck tingle.
“Max, where are you?” Ash yelled.
“He’s here, Ash.” He closed his eyes and groaned at the sultry voice that drifted up from the other side of the wall. He’d heard it the first time in a Colorado diner.
He eased up to the wall and stared out to the rocks beyond. Max stood on the jagged cliff that hung out over the valley 5,000 feet below, but he wasn’t alone. Eve stood on one side and a man Ash had never seen stood on the other. Both had guns trained on Max.
Ash raised his gun and pointed it at Eve. “Let my son go, Eve, or I’ll shoot.”
She laughed, grabbed Max by the arm, and shoved him closer to the edge of the cliff. “I don’t think so. Not unless you want him to go over the side.”
Behind him Lainey gasped and pushed forward to stand beside Ash. “Please, he’s just a little boy. Don’t hurt him.” Her last words ended with a sob.
The man standing on the rocks beside Max chuckled and shook his head. “Don’t worry. He won’t feel a thing.” A sneer pulled at his mouth, and he let his gaze rake over Ash. “So this is the famous Ash DeHan. I’ve heard a lot about you from a man who wants to see you dead.”
Ash tightened his grip on his gun and trained it on the man. “Yeah, you look like somebody Eduardo Diaz would hire to do his dirty work, but I don’t know who you are. I think if I’m going to kill you, I should know your name.”
The man threw back his head and laughed. “You have a sense of humor, so I’ll give you this last request. My name is Victor.” He inclined his head in Eve’s direction. “And this is Sophia, or better known as Eve to you. That’s all you need to know.”
Ash took a deep breath. “Okay, Victor and Sophia, I’m giving you one last chance to let my son go.”
“Or what?” Victor said.
“Or you’ll be the ones who won’t feel any pain.”
“I don’t think so, Ash.” The voice came from behind him. He and Lainey whirled at the same time and stared at the gun in Phillip Tyler’s hand. “So there you are,” Ash said. “ I wondered when you’d show your face. How does it feel to be the first Firebrand member to stab his brothers in the back?”
“It’ll feel good when I get paid for what I did. I sure wasn’t getting rich playing army with you guys.” He pointed his gun at Lainey. “Ash, give me your gun, or so help me, I’ll shoot her where she stands.” When Ash didn’t respond, Phillip’s face contorted into a mask of pure rage. “Do it before I kill her!” he yelled.
Ash dropped his gun to the ground and held up his hands. “Okay, I’ve done it.”
He shook his head in disbelief at the hatred in Phillip’s eyes. “I don’t understand. We trusted you like a brother. Think about all the missions we’ve shared, all the moments unwinding and helping each other cope with what we experienced. Is money really worth what you’re doing to the best friends you’ve ever had?”
“Best friends I’ve ever had?” he scoffed. “You and Colt and Reese don’t care about anybody except each other. And I’m tired of being your hired help. I want to live a quiet life in luxury on some island, and Eduardo Diaz is giving me the chance to do just that.”
Lainey’s lips curled down in disgust. “And you think you’ll be content knowing that you help kill a little boy and his parents?”
He laughed. “I don’t know, but I guess I’ll soon find out.”
“How could you do this?” Ash yelled.
“It wasn’t a problem,” Phillip responded. “Neither was it a problem putting that snake in Lainey’s closet.”
Lainey curled her fists and took a step toward Phillip. “You’re despicable.”
He backed up a step. “Careful, Lainey. My finger is starting to tighten on the trigger.” He waved the gun back and forth between them. “Now the two of you climb over that wall and join your son on the rocks.”
Ash took Lainey’s arm and helped her as they climbed over and stepped onto the rock-faced cliff. Phillip picked up Ash’s gun, scaled the wall, and stopped behind them. Lainey took a step as if to go to Max, and Victor aimed his gun at her. “Don’t come any closer.”
Tears streamed down Max’s face, and he squirmed in Sophia’s hold. Her hand tightened on his arm. “Be still, you brat,” she shouted, “or I’ll toss you over the side right now.”
“Leave him alone,” Lainey screamed and reached out toward Max as if she could bridge the gap between them. “Max, it’s going to be all right. Your dad and I are here.”
Sophia laughed. “Do you think that’s going to do any good?”
Ash curled his fists at his side and glared at Sophia. “Max is a child, Sophia. Let him go and I’ll take his place. Just don’t hurt him.”
Victor laughed. “Let him go? We’re going to let all three of you go. But we’ll save you for last. Max and Lainey are going over the cliff. Then you’re getting a bullet in the head and following them.”
Before Ash could respond, Max jerked free of Sophia’s hold and grabbed hold of Victor’s arm. “Leave my dad alone!” Max screamed as he kicked at Victor’s shin.
Ash felt his heart lurch, and he heard Lainey cry out beside him. “Max!” Ash yelled. “Be still.”
But it was no use. Max’s determined expression told Ash that his son was beyond hearing. He clawed at Victor’s arm and kicked harder. Sophia, her mouth gaping open, grabbed at Max, but she couldn’t get a tight grip on him.
Max jerked free of Victor’s hold and took a step back just as the sound of cracking rock echoed across the cliff. Max’s eyes grew large as he looked down at the rock that was falling away beneath his feet. He held out his hands to Ash, his eyes begging for help, as the rock gave way, and Max disappeared over the side of the cliff.
“No! No! No!” Lainey screamed and charged forward like a crazed animal.
Ash tried to grab for her, but she eluded his grasp and lunged at Sophia. Before Sophia could raise her gun, Lainey plowed into her with the force of a raging bull, and Sophia staggered backward, her hands clutching at empty air as she tumbled over the side of the cliff.
Sophia’s scream split the air, and Victor whirled to stare downward. That distraction was all Ash needed. In one quick move he Ash pulled his knife from the holster on his leg, spun around, and plunged it into Phillip’s stomach.
Phillip’s eyebrows arched, and a stunned expression covered his face. The guns he held dropped from his hands, and he fell face-down on the rocks. Before his body had hit the ground, Ash dived for his gun, grabbed it, and pointed it at Victor.
Victor spun around, a snarl curling his lips, and pointed his gun at Lainey who had collapsed near the edge of the cliff. “You killed her!” he shouted.
The last word was barely out of Victor’s mouth before Ash fired two shots. The blast knocked Victor backward over the cliff. For a second Ash couldn’t move. His son had died, and the woman he loved lay face down near the edge of the cliff, her screams echoing across the valley. He’d never felt more defeated in his life. He and Lainey were alive, but the raid in Mexico had cost him the son he never had the chance to know.
He willed his shaking legs to stand and staggered over to Lainey. He touched her shoulder, and she stared up at him with tears streaming down her face. “We couldn’t save him, Ash,” she cried out.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured as the tears streamed down his face. “I would have gladly given my life for his.”
Lainey’s arms circled his waist, and they sat for a moment each lost in their own grief. A gust of wind blew across the cliff, and Ash frowned at the sound that echoed across the valley. It sounded like a voice calling for help. He listened, and it came again.
“Help!”
Ash stilled and listened for it again. “Lainey,” he whispered, “did you hear that?”
She looked up at him. “What?”
“Help!”
Ash released her and jumped to his feet. “There it is again.”
He leaned out over the edge of the cliff and stared downward. His heart nearly burst in his chest. Max sat huddled on a rock ledge about twenty feet down the cliff wall.
<><><>
“Lainey,” Ash yelled. “He’s alive.”
She jumped to her feet and stared down at Max then back at Ash. She swallowed, and Ash now saw the grief in her face replaced with fear. “How are we going to get him up?”