Chapter 7
The next seconds felt endless.
The drone dipped west.
Enemy fighters turned.
Two ran toward the old road.
Then a flash-bang exploded near the ridge cut.
The screen went white.
Gunfire cracked through the speakers.
The command room held its breath.
Thermal signatures moved fast through the blind spot.
Four friendlies.
Then six.
Then eight.
The assault team emerged behind the gunmen like ghosts.
Chief Maddox threw himself sideways, knocking another SEAL down just as bullets tore through the space where their heads had been.
Linda whispered, “Good boy.”
Ethan heard it.
For the first time, he did not mock her.
He looked scared.
The rescue team reached the hostages.
Zip ties were cut.
Smoke rolled across the valley.
One gunman grabbed Maddox from behind and raised a pistol.
Linda saw it before the drone operator did.
“Left rock wall!” she shouted. “High shooter!”
Peterson repeated the order.
A sniper corrected.
One shot.
The gunman dropped.
Maddox stumbled forward into the arms of the rescue team.
The command room erupted.
Not in celebration.
Not yet.
They were still waiting.
“Package one secure.”
“Package two secure.”
“Package three secure.”
The radio crackled.
Then silence.
Linda’s face tightened.
Peterson leaned forward.
“Say again.”
Static.
Then a voice came through, rough and breathless.
“Package four secure. All four alive.”
For one second, no one moved.
Then the room broke open.
Officers cheered.
A drone operator slammed his fist on the desk.
A woman in uniform started crying quietly into her hands.
Chief Maddox lifted his face toward the drone.
Bruised.
Bleeding.
Alive.
Then he raised two fingers to his temple.
A small salute.
May you like
For the woman everyone had almost thrown out.
Read Part 8 to see what happened when the four SEALs came home and faced the woman who saved them.
