Was this some random holdup or were they looking for Mya?
Beckett quickly stole a look around the overturned table and spied Mya’s cartel source slumped over the bar, a bullet hole in his head. Another sweep of the area revealed the man-child who’d hit on Sydney groaning in pain from a stray bullet to the shoulder.
“Your guy is down,” Beckett whispered, and Mya closed her eyes for a moment—either in mourning or shock. Probably both.
“They’re looking for you, Mya,” Sydney announced.
“And I think they found us,” Oliver hissed. “On my count?”
Beckett nodded and held up two fingers to let Oliver know he’d get the two gunmen coming their way from his left side.
“Roger that,” Oliver mouthed, then counted back from three.
In one fast movement, they darted into action, surprising their would-be assailants. Keeping low to the ground, they shifted to the side and popped off kill shots.
Guests screamed as chaos ensued. “Tangos down,” Oliver commented while rising to his full height and burying another bullet in each of the three guys to ensure they were down for good. Something Beckett would have lost his job over back in the States, but this was different.
“There are probably more guys on the way,” Sydney said as the guests’ cries continued to echo around them.
Beckett looked toward the jungle in search of the ATVs he’d seen come and go earlier, checking for security.
A hundred or so yards away, he spotted three of the all-terrain vehicles fast approaching. His gut told him they sure as hell weren’t the security crew or brave tour guides looking to earn their hero badge. “I’m pretty sure more are coming.”
“Let’s get out of here before they kill everyone just to be sure they got me,” Mya whispered. “I won’t let innocents die because of me.”
“The other two were pissed at the shooter for taking out Mya’s source before he met with her,” Beckett quickly translated what he’d heard before they’d taken the men down.
Beckett focused back on the three approaching recreational vehicles. Ten guys by his estimates, heavily armed, coming straight for them. He doubted the police would be en route if they learned this was a cartel-related hit, not until the situation was no longer an active one. “Salgan de aquí. Vamos!” he yelled toward the frightened guests, and they began fleeing the bar.
“We need to get them to chase us away from the resort,” Mya suggested, taking sharp breaths. “It’s the only way to keep everyone at the hotel safe.”
“The jungle is our best option,” Beckett said, breathing heavily as he calculated the odds. “But we need to use another entry point since they’re coming from there now.”
“We have to draw their fire.” Sydney walked toward the edge of the bar on the jungle side, and Beckett joined her while they waited for the vehicles to get within shooting range.
“Ready?” Sydney asked as Oliver stood alongside Beckett.
“Yeah,” Beckett answered. He and Oliver shot off a quick round, catching the closest driver, and the vehicle veered to the side and hit a palm tree.
“Well, we got their attention,” Oliver said while facing them, and he motioned for Sydney and Mya to move. “And now would be a good time to run.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“I need to grab my contact’s phone.” Mya spun in the opposite direction, but Sydney quickly hooked her by the arm and swung her back around.
“Hell no. You can’t save anyone if you’re dead,” Sydney bit out. “And also,” she began, pulling Mya along, “the cartel most likely tracked your contact here using his phone. We don’t need to lead those assholes right to us.”
Sydney tossed a quick look over her shoulder to see Oliver and Beckett running closely behind them, acting like human shields.
“That way.” Sydney pointed to a narrow outdoor hallway between two buildings that would provide some cover and prevent the ATVs from following.
They could gain some ground before showing themselves near the jungle, luring the men away from innocent bystanders. The archaeological ruins and other tourist sites were north of their hotel, so they’d have to do their best to avoid any heavily populated areas like those as well.
“Turn your phone off,” Sydney instructed Mya while running alongside her, grateful they’d both worn flat shoes instead of wedges to lunch. “They don’t know who you are yet, but if they manage to track your contact’s messages back to you, then—”
“I’m so sorry,” Mya rushed out as they entered the open-air hallway, passing the empty fitness center on their left.
Word of the active shooter situation traveled fast.
“Just stay alive today, and we’ll be good.” Sydney grabbed hold of Mya’s arm and came to an abrupt halt, then slowly poked her head beyond the cover of the hallway to ensure it was clear.
Beckett sidestepped Sydney and announced in a tone that brooked no argument, “Stay here, I’ll check.” He kept his back to the white stucco wall and peeked around the corner.
“Will the police come?” Mya asked, and honestly, Sydney had no answer for her.
“Let’s just assume we’re on our own for now,” she responded, her eyes landing on a row of what looked like archery targets in the distance.
“It’s clear from what I can tell, but I hear engines out there somewhere.” Beckett faced her, and she reached for his arm on instinct. His gaze briefly cut to her hand before moving up to her face.
“I need a weapon,” she said after swallowing, unsure why her heart was playing some weird game with her right now. Pitter-freaking-pattering because of how he was looking at her? At a time like this. Really? Pissed at herself, she let go of his arm and shook her head to focus. “I can grab a bow from over there.” She pointed toward the archery center. From the looks of it, golf clubs had been abandoned on the ground when guests fled the scene after hearing shots fired.
She started to exit the hallway, but Beckett snatched her wrist, taking her breath right along with him. “Let me check again,” he said in a steady voice, and she didn’t resist.
Maintaining his grip on both his Glock and her, he edged out beneath the exposed overhang. “We’re good. I’ll lead. Oliver, you stay behind them.”
Human shields again? She didn’t argue, but he would need to let go of her at some point.
An uneasy look crossed Beckett’s face, a flicker of fear flashing briefly in his eyes. Was he worried she might die out there? Hell no. Leaving her son motherless was not an option. He doesn’t know me, she reminded herself and slowly pulled her wrist from his embrace.
With that, he wordlessly took off as planned, and she hung close behind.
This should work. She snatched a discarded learner-level recurve bow from the ground near the archery target. There was a quiver full of arrows nearby as well. A right-handed one, at least. “Let’s go.” She slung the quiver’s leather strap across her body and to her back, then gripped the bow and began running again.
“We have company,” Beckett warned as they neared the thick bank of trees parallel to the dirt pathway meant for horses and ATVs.