Special Forces: Operation Alpha: Rescuing Pandora (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Online Free PDF Page A

He must be the voice spotting the headlights.
    “How many?” Ghost asked.
    “At least three vehicles.”
    Cam pressed the mic at his throat. “Then we go now.”
    A muffled snort came through. “Figured you were listening.”
    “Damn straight. Arriving at rendezvous point now.”
    “I have you,” Coach’s voice whispered through the earpiece.
    It was radio silence as they all waited for Ghost to decide. In or out. Either way, Cam was going in after Pandora. And he’d do it alone if he had to. They all knew it. He’d seen the look in Ghost’s eyes—he knew what Cam was going through. He must have a special woman of his own, to be able to give that particular look.
    “How long?”
    “Three minutes.”
    “Go,” Ghost gave the order.
    Cam sucked in a big breath; he was happy to have the back-up. Stepping forward, he placed a small charge on the door, then moved to the side about three feet. The charge would blow out, taking the lock with it.
    “Three, two, one.” Charges went off simultaneously. One at the front, one at the side door that led into a garden area, and the one Cam set on the door closest to the kitchen. Closest to Pandora. And the man who would be eating the barrel of his own gun very soon.
    No one threatened his wife.
    Cam moved like his namesake, slipping into the smoke and through the door that stood wide open. There was yelling and the high pitched cry of the child, through the ringing of his ears. Then gunfire. A pop, pop, pop as the man holding the gun dashed toward Pandora, who was on her knees holding a small child.
    Cam had a single moment as he met her wide eyes, and the bright eyes of the child as they stared at him. Then the target’s gun was coming up, and he was too close to bring his own assault rifle up in time to stop the man from shooting, so he threw himself forward, diving over Pandora as she pulled her child sideways and out of the line of fire.
    He heard the report of the handgun and felt the vibration like a sledge hammer into his chest, but he’d thrown himself so hard that he hit the man in the upper body and it propelled them both up and over the small table there.
    “One minute,” the voice in his ear said, and Cam knew he had to move.
    He’d worn a vest, so the bullet didn’t penetrate, but it felt like a battering ram had tried to rip into his body. Forcing movement, he lifted his body off of the combatant, twisted, and slammed his elbow into the man’s face. Blood gushed instantly from his nose and ran into his eyes, which fluttered briefly before closing. The body under Cam went limp.
    “We got injured,” another voice said through the earpiece.
    “Pandora?” he yelled.
    “Here,” she said. “We’re okay. Mohammed?” she called. But there was no answer. “Mohammed?” she yelled it this time. Still no answer.
    “Ma’am,” Ghost said. “We have to go. Now.”
    Cam got to his feet, wobbled, and felt steadying hands. “You good, Phantom?” It was the big guy, Truck.
    He nodded. “Let’s bug out.”
    Cam grabbed Pandora, who had her son in her arms and wrapped his arm around them both, leading them out the door he’d blown. Glancing back, he saw one of the guys had Mohammed in a fireman’s carry. Damn it. Keeping Pan close and not looking backward, he led the way as they moved away from the house.
    “Truck stashed a vehicle about two clicks away. Keep heading south.”
    Cam didn’t bother answering Ghost, since they could all hear the yelling. The cars had finally arrived at the house. Gunfire sounded in the distance as they ran, keeping in the shadows as much as they could.
    “Does someone have Aziz?”
    “Had to leave him behind, bro.”
    Cam nodded to himself. Better to leave the bastard behind than compromise themselves. And getting Pan and the kid out was his first priority anyway. Mohammed was a bonus, since he had information about the bases. But they’d have to wait to see how bad he was hurt.
    An explosion sounded as they fled.