Читать книгу Covert Pursuit - Terri Reed - Страница 8

January

“Agent down!” Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent Jason Buchett yelled as he scrambled on hands and knees across the hard-packed earth of the New Mexico desert to reach his fellow agent and best friend, Garrett Smyth.

The light of the full moon revealed blood gushing from a neck wound just above the flak vest guarding Garrett’s chest. The well-aimed shot was meant to inflict both pain and death. A fact pounding through Jason’s horrified mind as he applied pressure to the wound. Sticky, warm liquid oozed between his fingers.

All around them the exchange of gunfire rang in the night air, friendly fire from the agents advancing and enemy fire from Picard’s men coming from the windows and recesses of the large villa outlined by the moon’s glow.

Jason and Garrett were part of the team sent in to raid the elusive illegal arms dealer’s fortress.

And they’d been expected.

The latest intel suggested that their primary target wasn’t even there. This had all been for nothing.

“Come on, Garrett, don’t do this to me. You gotta hang on!”

Garrett’s tanned, hard-lined face showed pain but he managed a weak smile. “Yeah, make it about you.”

“Not today, brother. Today it’s about you living. You have to live!”

Jason’s heart twisted. Terror throbbed in his veins. He couldn’t lose his friend.

Please, Lord, spare him. I’ll do anything, anything You ask!

Garrett had been Jason’s anchor during the rough years of his mother’s illness and death. And after Serena had broken off their engagement, Garrett had pulled Jason out of the bottle, effectively saving not only his career, but his life.

The light in Garrett’s blue eyes dimmed, sending fresh panic and despair roaring over Jason. “Garrett!”

“Keep up the good fight,” Garrett said, his voice warbled. “I’ll see you in Heaven.”

“Garrett, don’t you die!”

Garrett’s eyes closed and his body seemed to sigh as he went limp in Jason’s arms. Death claimed him.

Jason hung his head. Tears of sorrow and rage gathered in his eyes. The burn of a building roar of anguish tore through his chest. Ignoring the risk to his own life, he threw back his head and let loose an agonizing sound until his dry throat hurt.

In a voice filled with determination and fire, he vowed, “No matter how long it takes or what it costs, I will bring down Felix Picard!”

The only trouble was he didn’t have an ID on Picard.

He had absolutely nothing.