Because if they didn’t, he’d be dead.
“We need to call Sydney,” he said, “see if she was able to remotely activate his tracker.”
Only...this part of Texas was hell when it came to satellite transmissions and tracking. Cell phones barely worked, and locating Drew’s GPS signal could be near impossible.
It was a good thing Dylan liked a challenge.
* * *
THREE MEN CLIMBED from the vehicle. A quick check revealed that they were all armed. The HAVOC group always was. “They’re coming toward us,” Drew said. The men had already checked the ranch and now were splitting apart as they searched the surrounding land.
Tina stood just behind him. She’d grabbed a broken leg from an old wooden chair and was clutching it like a baseball bat. He had no doubt that, if necessary, she’d be ready to swing.
The men had made short work of searching the house. After they’d cleared that place, they should have just gotten in their Ranger and rode the hell out of there.
They hadn’t.
Lee must have given orders to thoroughly search the area. So that was exactly what those three bozos were doing.
One suddenly called out, voice excited.
You don’t call out. That alerts your prey. Amateurs.
But Drew realized they’d seen the shack. He backed away from the window as he planned his attack.
“I want you to stay inside,” he told Tina. He didn’t want her in the line of fire but he didn’t have a whole lot of options. I’ll keep her safe.
“I can help you,” Tina said as her grip on her makeshift bat tightened.
“You will help me.” He hated to do this but... “You’re going to be my bait.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Say that again. I’m going to be your what?”
“When those men get close enough, I want you to call out and beg for help. You’re the prize they want. They aren’t going to fire on you.”
He wouldn’t give them the chance to fire.
But he did need them distracted.
“Stay against the wall when you call out. Do not let them see your body at all, understand?”
“I understand that I don’t like this plan.” Her jaw had firmed.
Damn but she was cute. “Think positive. Maybe I’ll take ’em out before they even get close enough to hear you.” He’d do his best. Drew turned away from her.
Tina’s hand wrapped around his arm. “Be careful.”
She was worried about him? “Don’t worry, Doc, we have unfinished business, right?”
Her fingers jerked back as if he’d burned her.
Ice shouldn’t burn.
He left her quickly, ready to eliminate this threat and move on as fast as he could. He exited from the back of the small house. He kept his body positioned close to the old walls. He’d need to circle around for his attack. The problem? There wasn’t a lot of cover. So those men had to stay totally focused on what was happening inside the house.
Not what was going on outside.
He could hear their footsteps rushing toward them, coming closer and closer with every tense second that passed.
Now, Doc. I need you now.
As if on cue... “Help!” Tina shouted. “Please, help me!”
The footsteps moved even faster. Drew crept around the house. He peered around the corner and saw the men at the front door. They weren’t even looking his way.
Mistake.
He tossed his knife and it sank into one man’s side. The guy cried out, and down, down he went.
The other men spun at his cry, but it was too late. Drew grabbed the second guy, applied the right amount of pressure, and he was unconscious seconds later. A fast, hard kick slammed the third man into the side of the wall. His head connected with a thud and he fell with a groan.
“You...bastard!”
Technically, he wasn’t. Drew spun toward the new threat. The attacker had yanked the knife out of his side and blood dripped down his body as he advanced toward Drew. “I get to kill you,” he said, eyes bright. “Lee said you didn’t have to come in alive. Not you, just her.”
Drew backed up, trying to lead the man away from the house.
“I will kill—”
Tina rushed from the house. She swung her chair leg at the man’s hand. The knife hit the ground while he howled.
Drew drove his fist into the guy’s face.
No more howling.
The guy crumpled on the ground just as nicely as the other two men had.
Tina’s breath was coming fast and hard; panting.
Her cheeks were too pale.
Drew frowned at her. “You okay?”
She lifted her hand. “Just give me...” She sucked in more deep breaths. “A minute.”
He didn’t like the pallor of her cheeks. He reached for her and wrapped his hands around her arms.
Her breathing seemed to slow.
In. Out. In. Out.
“You were great,” he whispered to her. “I knew you’d be a slugger with that chair leg.”
Faint color rose in her cheeks. Her breathing was definitely easier now. After a moment Tina eased away from him and stared down at the unconscious men. “You know I’m going to have to stitch that one up, right?”
“I know we’re cuffing them and tying them up.” The old bed cover inside would work perfectly once he cut it into strips. He glanced over at the ranch. “Then we’re leaving them here and we’re taking their ride.” Because if Lee saw the Ranger high-tailing it down the road he’d just think his men were continuing their search. The vehicle would be their perfect cover.
Tina smiled. “We’re going to make it, aren’t we?” Hope lit her face.
He nodded, but Drew didn’t actually speak. He’d learned long ago that some lies could taste too bitter on the tongue.
* * *
LEE’S HANDS WERE sweating. There was no sign of Mercer’s daughter, and if he didn’t turn that woman back in to the boss... I’m dead.
Anton Devast wasn’t exactly big on giving second chances. You messed up once with him and you were dead.
He motioned to Grayson, and the pilot circled the chopper around. The bird jerked in the air, then steadied. Lee hissed out a sharp breath and stared below with grainy eyes. He saw the familiar Ranger heading down the narrow, broken road. Reynolds, Morris and Sanchez. They’d been sent out to the abandoned ranch that he’d spotted. He’d given them orders to radio in if they saw anything suspicious out there.
He squinted as he stared down at them. Their vehicle was moving in the wrong direction. They weren’t heading back to the compound. They were going east.