BELONGING: Hope, Truth And Malice (Beauty 0f Life Book 3) Read online

  Relief increased when they heard Dan speak. “Drop the weapon, Basto.”

  But then the unknown voice, who they now assumed was Basto, screamed, “Goddamned cop! You’re dead!”

  Then they heard the other male voice coldly state, “You’re dead, cop.”

  It was four rapid gunshots that sent ice into their veins and made the command post still and silent. Then all hell broke loose after Dan’s labored voice said, “Officers down,” and was followed by dead silence.

  An uncontrolled, uncharacteristic, emotional outburst erupted from every member of Alpha Team.

  Jon roared, “Goddammit No! Dan, status. Report now, that’s an order!” He flipped a table on its side, sending the contents flying.

  Bram threw a chair as he yelled, “Shit, shit, shit, shit.”

  Loki hollered, “Hold on, Dan. hold on, not letting go,” as he slammed his fists on another table. Nothing good ever happened in the woods!

  Ray threw his coffee to the ground and shouted, “Fuck no!”

  Heard but unseen was Lexa’s reaction in the clearing. She clenched her fists and cried out, “Dan, respond. Dan! answer me, dammit! Dan!”

  Nick was silent, his face contorted in anguish. He ripped the hat off his head and with as much force as he had, he threw it to ground. Tightly clenching and unclenching his fists he tried to get control of his emotions.

  Rouge Park – Ravine – 8:15 p.m.

  Dan roused a short time after passing out and his first thought was that he needed to check on Aaron. He somehow managed to get to his feet, clenched his jaw tightly trying to control the pain and not cry out, and then shuffled towards Aaron. When Dan finally made it to where Aaron was lying, he saw the blood-soaked ground under Aaron’s profusely bleeding upper thigh.

  He dropped to his knees to check, but Dan could already tell that the bullet had hit Aaron’s femoral artery. Even knowing it was a fatal wound, Dan still pulled out his pressure bandage and tried to slow the bleeding. He pressed down hard with his left hand and grimaced at the sharp pain in his wrist. He tried to move his right arm, but couldn’t due to the intense burning pain. Dan wavered in place as the accumulation of his injuries took their toll. His vision grayed at the edges and he held onto consciousness by sheer force of will.

  Aaron’s eyes flew open at the pain caused by pressure on his wound. He saw Dan above him. His voice was a mere whisper, “How bad?”

  Dan glanced down at the completely soaked pressure bandage—staunching the flow of blood was impossible. Help wouldn’t reach them before Aaron bled out. Dan closed his eyes unable to say the words to Aaron.

  “That bad,” Aaron whispered. He could tell by Dan’s reaction that he was going to die. Feeling very weak from blood loss, but needing to clear his conscience, Aaron struggled to lift his hand and place it on Dan’s.

  Feeling Aaron’s hand on his, Dan opened his eyes and connected with Aaron’s eyes. Guilt crashed down on him like a huge boulder. It bowed his shoulders and threatened to crush him. Dan softly whispered, “I’m sorry … I wasn’t fast enough. I tried but failed you. I’m sorry.”

  Aaron shook his head slowly as he maintained eye contact. A tear slipped from his eye—for the look of guilt on Broderick’s face and because he’d never see his fiancée again or know his unborn child. His voice was soft and weak as his life’s blood continued to gush out and soak the earth, “I had you pegged all wrong … sorry for being such an ass.” Then Aaron gasped for air, knowing death was close. “Tammy … tell Tammy … I love …”

  Dan stared at Aaron’s unseeing eyes for a long moment. He’d failed again. Aaron was dead because he failed to save him. Physically and emotionally spent, Dan sat back on his heels. His head bowed as the weight of everything became too much to bear.

  His eyes saw his headset dangling at his waist. Dan reached for it with his left hand and clumsily fumbled with it trying to put it back into his ear—his left hand didn’t want to cooperate anymore, but he finally managed to get it into place. The first thing he heard was a cacophony sound. So many voices all yelling at once that he couldn’t decipher words—it was disorienting. Dan sat there dazed for several minutes just listening but not really hearing.

  The pulsing pain in his right arm made Dan look down at it. He needed to stop the flow of blood. Dan lifted his left hand and cover the wound. It was then that Dan felt a deep throbbing ache in his left wrist and hand. Sharp pains shot through his wrist as he tried to squeeze and apply pressure to his right arm. He had no strength in his grip and it hurt too much to squeeze, so Dan let his left arm listlessly drop to his side.

  Dan’s adrenaline was completely gone. The protective cocoon that adrenaline had provided him had dissolved. He became aware of all his injuries as intense pain surged forth throughout his body. Dan was unable to stop the hiss of pain and moan that escaped as the pain rolled relentlessly through his entire body.

  Rouge Park – Command Post – 8:20 p.m.

  Nick was rubbing his face as he strained to hear anything, anything at all from Dan or Aaron. His team was falling apart and continued to yell. Nick barely heard a soft hiss and then a moan over the noise around him.

  “Quiet!” shouted Nick, pinning a glare at his guys. Then using his calm voice, he stated, “Dan, Dan, is that you?”

  “Mmm,” barely audible.

  “What’s your status?”

  “Alive,” Dan faintly whispered then moaned. He swayed on his knees trying to remain upright, but his strength was rapidly fading.

  “Injuries?”

  “Lots,” Dan said softly.

  “Hold on, buddy, we’re coming. You just stay with us, okay?”

  “K,” was followed by a hiss and moan.

  Nick didn’t like the sound of Dan. His single word answers didn’t bode well. He asked, “We heard Aaron. Do you know his status?”

  Dan glanced at Aaron and used the last of his reserves to reach out with his left hand to close Aaron’s eyes. He felt guilt and pain so deep that he forgot to breathe and ended up sucking in a ragged breath when the need for air burned his lungs.

  His voice imbued with guilt and grief, Dan finally answered, “Dead.”

  “Subject?”

  “Dead,” hiss and moan, “and dead.” Dan’s vision was graying again and tunneling into a pinpoint as his chest burned with each breath in and out.

  “Do you mean two subjects neutralized, Dan?”

  “Yes … Boss? …” hiss.

  “Yeah, Dan?”

  Hiss, moan, “Tell Jon … sorry … gotta …” hiss, “… nap … now.” Dan swayed again and toppled over, landing on his right arm. He couldn’t stop the loud cry of pain that escaped—Aaaargh—then blackness claimed him.

  Nick’s voice was urgent, “Dan, you hold on. Help is on the way. Hold on, buddy, we’re coming. You just stay with us, okay?”

  Silence.

  While Nick was talking to Dan the rest of the TRF officers went into high gear organizing what was needed. Alpha Team would focus on getting to their injured teammate. The remaining teams would take over the rest of the scene including getting EMS to Frank, securing the scene of the shootings, and taking care of Aaron’s body. There was shock and grief at Aaron’s loss, but the priority right now was saving an injured officer.

  Loki had pinpointed Dan’s location using the transponder. Overland would take more than an hour to get there, which was too long. Commander Gambrill had arranged for a police helicopter so that Jon, Loki, Colton, and Paul could fast-line to Dan’s position. The helicopter would get them there in about thirty minutes. Once there, Jon and Loki would handle the extraction plan for Dan. Sergeant Colton Harmon and his Tactical Lead, Paul Miller, would secure the scene until additional officers arrived overland.

  Rouge Park – Section Seven – Clearing – 8:30 p.m.

  Lexa paced as she guarded the restrained subject in the clearing. She glanced at Frank who was sitting on a rock with his gun also on the subject. Frank’s wound was painful, but no
t life threatening. The subject was subdued and quiet. She heard Jon say it would take thirty minutes to get to Dan.

  In her mind, that was way too long. If he was shot, Dan could bleed out in that time. Something deep inside her was screaming at her that she needed to get to him and make sure he was okay.

  “Hey, Loki,” Lexa called out over the headset.

  “Yeah, Lexa?” Loki responded.

  “Is there a direct route from this clearing to his position? If so, how far is it? I might be able to get to him in less time,” she said hopefully.

  “Great idea! Why didn’t I think of that? One second, let me map it,” he said quickly working the computer.

  Nick said, “Lexa, we can’t leave Frank alone, he’s injured.”

  Frank chimed in, “It’s really only a scratch. I’m fine. Not my gun arm. We don’t know the extent of Dan’s injuries, but I’m sure he’s worse off than I am since he’s unresponsive.”

  Lexa looked at Frank with appreciation. He nodded with concern written on his face. He hated the idea of Dan being out there alone.

  “Are you sure?” Nick asked.

  “Positive. The subject is restrained. Starveling’s team is on their way. I’ll be fine. Lexa should go.”

  Loki stated, “Lexa, sending you the route. Depending on your speed you can get there in about ten minutes.”

  “Copy that,” Lexa replied.

  Frank gave Lexa a thumbs-up and then said, “Get going.”

  Lexa took off at a flat-out run, calling to Nick, “Boss, on my way to Dan. Frank has the clearing under control.”

  Rouge Park – Command Post – 8:35 p.m.

  Jon secured his harness, getting prepared for the upcoming rappel before the helicopter arrived, when a medic approached him. He stopped and waited.

  “I hear you have to rappel to get to your officer.”

  “That’s right,” Jon said as he tightened a strap.

  “I’d like to go with you,” the medic stated.

  Bram was double checking Loki’s harness as he asked, “You got any experience?”

  “You got the gear, I got the experience. Former Army medic—did my fair share of rappelling and fast-lining.”

  Jon nodded. “Ray, get him your gear.” Then he reached out his hand to the medic and said, “I’m Jon, this here is Bram, Loki, Colton, and Paul. Much appreciate you coming. We have no idea what his injuries are. All he was able to respond with were ‘lots’ and ‘alive’ before we lost contact with him.”

  The medic quickly assessed the tall, well-built, bald TRF officer. The look of authority in the officer’s intense gunmetal gray eyes told him that Jon was a man used to leading. As he shook Jon’s hand, the medic introduced himself. “James Shea. You can just call me Jim, though.” Then Jim shook hands with the rest of the officers.

  After meeting the medic, Loki nervously rechecked his gear. He usually loved rappelling, but not so much, tonight. As he scanned the surrounding trees, Loki thought, Nothing good ever happens to me in the woods. He sucked it up and pushed down that thought because he wasn’t going to let anything stop him from getting to Dan. Loki turned to the paramedic and said, “Dantastic’s a bit like Wile E. Coyote—injury prone. I hope you know your stuff. He’s important to us.”

  As he geared up, Jim turned to the nervous and worried looking TRF officer and stated, “I’ll take good care of your officer. I have lots of practice with an injury-prone buddy. He kept me on my toes for six years.”

  Loki nodded. “Good. Good.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  July 15

  Rouge Park – Section Seven – Ravine – 8:40 p.m.

  Dan slowly stirred. He lay still because moving hurt a lot. Focus on breathing, control the pain, he told himself. For several minutes, all Dan did was focus solely on the in and out of his breaths, eyes closed, not moving a muscle.

  Once he got a modicum of control, he moved on to an injury assessment. His right arm burned—bullet wound. The blood loss was a partial reason why he felt fuzzy. Head hurt—possible concussion. Cut above eye, split lip, jaw and cheeks hurt. Hell, his whole face hurt.

  His chest hurt, every breath in and out was met with searing pain. The level of pain made him certain that several ribs were cracked if not completely broken and several more were definitely bruised. His sides ached from the kidney punches—probably bruised. Lastly, his left wrist was throbbing and he wasn’t sure if it was broken or not. Conclusion? Nothing life threatening, just damned painful.

  Next up, assess his surroundings. In the woods in a ravine. Almost dark. Basto? Neutralized. Unknown subject? Neutralized. Aaron? Dead.

  Now mental status. F.I.N.E. really, really F.I.N.E. A few tears slipped from his eyes unbidden as he felt the guilt and pain of Aaron’s death fall heavily upon his shoulders and into his heart. He had failed to protect Aaron. Failed to protect someone under his command. Failed to protect one of their own. Aaron’s blood was on his hands—literally and figuratively.

  His team, his chosen family, would abandon him now. How could they not? Dan knew that was the way it always worked—he had ample experience.

  He failed to protect Sara. He lost his family that day. When they had gotten home the General had made him stand at attention in the corner of the room for hours as he dressed him down.

  The General made it crystal clear that he’d failed in his duty to protect his sister. The General berated him and told him he should’ve pushed Sara out of the way and that he was a total and utter disappointment—he wasn’t family and he didn’t belong.

  The most painful thing the General said to him was that he wished that he’d had been killed instead of Sara. When he started to cry, the General harshly told him that he wasn’t allowed to cry and to man up. From that day forward there was no family. No love. No care. No acceptance. Dan knew he wasn’t worthy and didn’t belong because he’d failed to protect Sara.

  He failed to protect Brody, too. He lost his unit brothers that day. No one would look him in the eye or speak to him. They blamed him—he blamed himself. He killed Brody.

  Brody always protected him. He should’ve seen it was Brody. He should’ve seen. His unit no longer trusted him. They no longer cared. He was no longer worthy of them. He’d killed one of their own. He no longer belonged with them, either.

  Today he failed to protect Aaron. Dan knew that he would lose his newly chosen family today—that was the way it worked—always. He should’ve fired faster. He should’ve seen the other subject sooner. Aaron was under his command, his protection today.

  He failed to have Aaron’s back. His team would never forgive him. They would no longer trust him. It was his fault. He wasn’t worthy to be a part of this family. He always failed to protect.

  Yeah, he knew how this worked, the team would reject him. He’d gambled a third time and lost a third time. Overwhelming pain, both emotional and physical, washed over and through him as his eyes slowly closed. Dan retreated back into the comfort of oblivion.

  Lexa panted heavily as she stopped at the top of the ravine. The sight that greeted her was gruesome. To her left lay an unknown subject—dead with a shot between his eyes. A little way from the bottom of the ravine, Basto lay dead with another perfect kill shot to the head. Aaron lay at the bottom of the ravine, a blood-soaked pressure bandage applied to his thigh. So much blood, too much blood—the bullet must’ve hit the femoral artery. It was clear that Dan had tried to save Aaron because Aaron’s hands weren’t covered in blood.

  Her eyes moved to Dan next, afraid of what she would find. It was horrific. Dan was lying on his back. He was so still—she couldn’t see his chest rise or fall from here. His face and hands were covered in so much blood. Her heart missed several beats. Lexa shook herself out of her stupor—head wounds bled a lot and the blood on his hands was likely Aaron’s.

  She quickly moved down the steep incline. Lexa knelt next to Dan and checked his pulse— reassuringly present, if not overly steady. Her vision was blurred for
a moment as tears filled her eyes. Alive. Dan was alive. Lexa brushed away her tears because they wouldn’t do Dan any good right now.

  His face was smeared with blood. She found that most of it was coming from a deep cut above his right eye and noted that the cut was already starting to clot. There were multiple smaller cuts, tons of abrasions and contusions across his face, and his bottom lip was split. He’d been hit hard many times.

  Lexa moved on from his face. His right sleeve of his black uniform shirt was darker, moist, and had a hole in it. He’d been shot. She ripped his sleeve open to check the wound. She found the entry and exit points and it was still bleeding too quickly—she needed to stop it. Having used her pressure bandage on Frank, she reached for Dan’s, but then realized he’d used his on Aaron.

  She moved to Aaron’s body and carefully removed the pressure bandage from his pocket. They all carried them in the same location. She was glad that she didn’t have to check his other pockets. She laid a hand on Aaron’s shoulder as grief at his loss hit her. He may have bad-mouthed Dan, but he didn’t deserve to die. Lexa rose and went back to Dan then applied the pressure dressing. She thought, At least they don’t have to dig out a bullet. She didn’t dare move him for fear of causing more harm to any unseen injuries.

  Finally finding her voice, Lexa reported, “Boss. Found Dan and Aaron. Aaron is gone—he bled out. Dan is alive. Unconscious, but alive. Pulse a little thready and he’s lost a lot of blood. He looks pretty messed up. The injuries I can see are not life threatening—but I don’t know internally. Applied pressure dressing to a gunshot wound in his right arm, the bullet went straight through. Got the bleeding slowed.

  “He’s at the bottom of a steep ravine. By the looks of his face he fell down the ravine and Basto used him as a punching bag. So I’m not moving him until EMS arrives in case there are internal injuries,” Lexa said, her voice cracking with emotion. She could hear the concern of her team as they listened to her report by their gasps and sighs.