Page 110 of Hours to Kill
Mack didn’t hesitate but brought the drone down into firing range.
He aimed the gun. Hovered his finger over the button. Held his breath.
Memories flashed before his eyes, flickering like irritating bugs swarming at him, yet he couldn’t just swat them away. They were woven into who he was. The fabric of his life. His very existence.
Razo moved closer. Lifted the ax high above his head.
Mack ignored the memories. Ignored the strong pull that wanted to take him back in time to his military past. He tried to press the button. His finger wouldn’t constrict. But he had to shoot the gun. Addy was counting on him.
God, help me! I can’t fail her. I just can’t.
Chapter 28
ADDY NEEDEDto look. She also needed to keep her eyes closed. Seeing won out. She flashed her eyes open and glanced up. Heavy snow peppered her face, cold and biting, her eyelashes icy. She ignored the snow and focused on Razo.
He brought the ax over his shoulder.
No. No.She couldn’t watch after all.
She closed her eyes tight. Waited, her body trembling.
A rifle cracked in the distance.
What in the world?
A loud thump sounded next to her. Not the ax. Farther away. She opened her eyes. Razo lay on the ground, a bullet hole in his forehead.
She shot a look around, searching for Holt. He ran toward his truck. A bullet pierced a tire. Quiet save for the rustling of grass, and then another tire went. Holt was scrambling to hide.
Was this friendly fire? Mack’s or Razo’s rival? Was she safe?
She wouldn’t sit there and wait to find out.
She shot up. Grabbed Razo’s gun and fled as fast as her frozen feet allowed through the deep snow and into the copse of trees. She took a stance behind a large tree and watched as bullets took out the remaining truck tires. She looked around, trying to figure out where the shots were coming from. At a distance and up high, that was for sure. Trees maybe. Or a drone? Could you even fire a rifle from a drone?
Mack had talked about dropping missiles, but not firing guns. If it could be done, Mack would know how to do so. But would his past allow him to pull the trigger? She hoped he hadn’t been put in that position again. It would hurt him so terribly, and she didn’t want him to be hurt. But a rival would more likely shoot Holt than the tires. Had to be Mack.
A dog came bounding into the opening.Bear!
He charged at Holt. He raised his gun, aiming for Bear.
Addy couldn’t let Holt shoot Bear. No way. She bolted from the trees, Razo’s gun in her hand. “Stop or I’ll shoot!”
Holt glanced at her. Shifted his gun to aim at her.
“No!” Mack shouted from the other side of the clearing.
Holt shifted again, and Bear lunged for Holt’s arm. He clamped on and took the man down. They flew through the air and sank into the deep snow.
Mack, Sean, and Kiley came running. Mack stood over Holt, gun in hand, but he didn’t try to pull Bear free. He growled and tussled with Holt’s arm. Holt cried out in pain.
“Get him off me!” Holt yelled, anguish in his voice.
Sean and Kiley subdued a moaning Holt. Addy let out a breath. Took another, the muscles in her legs refusing to hold her. She dropped into the icy snow and rested Razo’s weapon on her knee. She wanted to call out to Bear and Mack, but they had to finish apprehending Holt. She watched them for a moment, then looked down at her hands. She’d almost lost them to an ax, but Mack had found her. Had intervened.
“Come, Bear.” Mack grabbed their dog’s leash.
Bear released Holt, and Mack pulled him back. “Sit.”
