Read Online Betrayed (Hostage Rescue Team Series Book 9) by Kaylea Cross - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kaylea Cross
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coiling in his gut.
His thoughts flashed to Melissa, her hazel eyes glowing in the sunlight as she smiled up at him the morning he’d left for this job. She was his whole life, the only one who had ever given him a chance and not dismissed him as a fuckup. Well, her and his uncle. He’d taken this job to give them a better life, but that was before he’d found out it meant killing Bautista.
Don’t think about it. He’s just another target. Do your job.
Creeping back out of the bush, he paused to do another sweep with his rifle. He could just make out Georgia’s legs sprawled out, in the gap between two tree trunks.
A quick look to both sides of her showed no movement. Whoever had shot her would be coming to confirm their kill though. Might be closing in on her now.
Nico didn’t think he’d been spotted yet, and he planned to keep it that way. The rain would help conceal the few tracks he inadvertently left behind, but a skilled tracker would be able to follow him no matter what. His orders were to kill both Bautista and the woman. He might be able to carry out both hits tonight, if he was smart and a little bit lucky.
He clenched his jaw. Before Melissa he’d been reckless, would have taken stupid risks at a time like this. Not anymore. She’d changed him. Captured his whole heart and made him realize he had more to live for than just himself.
He had to be careful now, think this through instead of charging ahead. He’d left an ATV ditched in a hidden cache about three miles from here. He’d pull back for now, find a safe place to keep watch from and find out what the hell was going on. He needed a lot more intel before he could plan out his next move and act on it.
There were too many players involved in this mess for his liking right now, too many unknowns. He had to get the hell out of here now, before anyone spotted him.
Turning around, he hurried up the hill and melted into the protection of the forest.
Chapter Six
Georgia was down.
Bautista remained still and kept sight of her through his scope, while everything in him demanded that he run to her. A stupid move that could get them all killed. He blocked the impulse.
“Got movement to your two o’clock, about eighty yards out,” Rycroft murmured through his earpiece. “Hold your position while we check it out.”
Not bothering to reply Bautista remained stretched out on his belly, took a quick look around then locked his gaze on the woman lying prone on the wet ground. Despite his training, despite that until recently he’d made an obscene amount of money operating as a contract killer, it bothered him to leave her lying there like that in the rain when he knew she was already gravely ill. The cold and the wet wouldn’t be good for her.
At least from his vantage point he could protect her, he told himself. His vigilance was ingrained from years of operating off grid with only his own wits to keep him alive.
If anyone besides Rycroft and Briar were moving around out there and hoping to take a shot on Georgia, they would be shocked when he took them out instead. For the second or two it took for them to die, anyway.
As he waited, the minutes ticked past with agonizing slowness, each one ratcheting the pressure inside him higher. He’d done rescue before, back in his military days. But never in an op like this one, where he’d been personally involved with the victim they were trying to save.
Complex and tangled up as his feelings for Georgia might be, they were still there. Every second she lay there in front of him cost him, and the struggle to hold back was real.
He was more than willing to risk going to her before he got the all-clear from Rycroft. In fact, he was leaning toward ignoring the order altogether and going to her when the man’s voice sounded in his earpiece again.
“Possible suspect sighted. I’m in pursuit. Briar’s moving back toward you. You’ll both take the target back to the cabin and
His thoughts flashed to Melissa, her hazel eyes glowing in the sunlight as she smiled up at him the morning he’d left for this job. She was his whole life, the only one who had ever given him a chance and not dismissed him as a fuckup. Well, her and his uncle. He’d taken this job to give them a better life, but that was before he’d found out it meant killing Bautista.
Don’t think about it. He’s just another target. Do your job.
Creeping back out of the bush, he paused to do another sweep with his rifle. He could just make out Georgia’s legs sprawled out, in the gap between two tree trunks.
A quick look to both sides of her showed no movement. Whoever had shot her would be coming to confirm their kill though. Might be closing in on her now.
Nico didn’t think he’d been spotted yet, and he planned to keep it that way. The rain would help conceal the few tracks he inadvertently left behind, but a skilled tracker would be able to follow him no matter what. His orders were to kill both Bautista and the woman. He might be able to carry out both hits tonight, if he was smart and a little bit lucky.
He clenched his jaw. Before Melissa he’d been reckless, would have taken stupid risks at a time like this. Not anymore. She’d changed him. Captured his whole heart and made him realize he had more to live for than just himself.
He had to be careful now, think this through instead of charging ahead. He’d left an ATV ditched in a hidden cache about three miles from here. He’d pull back for now, find a safe place to keep watch from and find out what the hell was going on. He needed a lot more intel before he could plan out his next move and act on it.
There were too many players involved in this mess for his liking right now, too many unknowns. He had to get the hell out of here now, before anyone spotted him.
Turning around, he hurried up the hill and melted into the protection of the forest.
Chapter Six
Georgia was down.
Bautista remained still and kept sight of her through his scope, while everything in him demanded that he run to her. A stupid move that could get them all killed. He blocked the impulse.
“Got movement to your two o’clock, about eighty yards out,” Rycroft murmured through his earpiece. “Hold your position while we check it out.”
Not bothering to reply Bautista remained stretched out on his belly, took a quick look around then locked his gaze on the woman lying prone on the wet ground. Despite his training, despite that until recently he’d made an obscene amount of money operating as a contract killer, it bothered him to leave her lying there like that in the rain when he knew she was already gravely ill. The cold and the wet wouldn’t be good for her.
At least from his vantage point he could protect her, he told himself. His vigilance was ingrained from years of operating off grid with only his own wits to keep him alive.
If anyone besides Rycroft and Briar were moving around out there and hoping to take a shot on Georgia, they would be shocked when he took them out instead. For the second or two it took for them to die, anyway.
As he waited, the minutes ticked past with agonizing slowness, each one ratcheting the pressure inside him higher. He’d done rescue before, back in his military days. But never in an op like this one, where he’d been personally involved with the victim they were trying to save.
Complex and tangled up as his feelings for Georgia might be, they were still there. Every second she lay there in front of him cost him, and the struggle to hold back was real.
He was more than willing to risk going to her before he got the all-clear from Rycroft. In fact, he was leaning toward ignoring the order altogether and going to her when the man’s voice sounded in his earpiece again.
“Possible suspect sighted. I’m in pursuit. Briar’s moving back toward you. You’ll both take the target back to the cabin and
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