Free Moving Target by Cheyenne McCray Page B

to her body from the rain.
    At the same time he brought her to the driver's side of the Explorer he unlocked the door with the remote. He yanked open the door and shoved her inside. He landed in the seat, almost on top of her feet as she scrambled over the console and jammed her knee.
    A man reached in to grab at Daniel. He slammed the door, catching the man's arm and causing him to shriek. Daniel opened the door just enough to release him, then pulled it shut and locked the doors.
    Blood roared in Ani's ears as she sat up in time to see several of the huge men from the bar rush the SUV while Daniel turned the ignition. He threw the vehicle into reverse, barely missing one of the men as he backed up. With a squeal of his tires on the wet asphalt, he thrust the SUV into first and charged forward. Three men had to jump aside or Daniel might have flattened them.
    Head pounding with fury, Daniel growled and hit the heel of his palm against the steering wheel's grip as they drove away from the hotel. "This means the Russians figured out what we did and have a good idea exactly where we're heading. The airport or Fort Bliss. The road to the military base won't be safe. They're likely waiting to ambush us."
    Think , he told himself. Think! He thumped the steering wheel again.
    Rain continued to fall steadily and he had to use the wipers to see clearly. They made a thump and squeaking sound as they traveled back and forth across the window. Both he and Ani had gotten drenched when they'd run through the hotel's parking lot. He glanced at her and she pushed a strand of her damp hair behind her ear. A few droplets were on her face and she wiped them away with her fingers.
    With one hand on the wheel, he guided the Explorer through traffic, dodging the slower vehicles and gunning it in the open areas. He checked his rearview mirror to see if one of the local yokels had managed to tail him. Looked clear.
    He jerked his cell phone out of its holster with his free hand, flipped it open, and pressed the speed-dial number for the Phoenix main office. He talked to Bob, the operations supervisor on duty, and apprised him of the situation.
    "I'm going to head out on U.S. 180." Daniel stopped at a red light, checked for traffic, and hung a right. "Have a helicopter from Bliss pick us up. Call me back with an exit number and we'll meet them there."
    "Watch your asses," Bob said in a tight voice.
    "Damn straight." Daniel shut the phone and reholstered it as he drove through El Paso, taking the necessary roads to hit 180.
    "A helicopter?" Ani said, and he glanced at her to see her color had returned, but she had a troubled expression. "I've never been on one."
    He did his best to give her a smile to set her at ease. "You'll like it."
    When he cut his gaze to her again, she had an eyebrow raised. "Uh-huh. Sure."

    This time his smile was genuine. He heard the familiar feistiness in her voice. "Just hang on for the ride," he said as he took another turn to get them out of town.
    Fifteen minutes later, Daniel's cell vibrated. Bob gave him the exit number and instructions on what they needed to do. A soldier would be sent along who would drive the Explorer to the military outpost.
    It was another good twenty minutes before they reached the exit. The rain had stopped, but there were large puddles and potholes on the road.
    Daniel followed the instructions they'd been given, parked behind an isolated gas station, and told Ani they needed to stay in the Explorer for protection until the helicopter showed up.
    A few minutes later the whir of chopper blades cut through the air, followed by a Black Hawk that took only moments to settle a fair distance from the Explorer. The whoosh of the blades caused grass to stir and flatten and the sound was deafening.
    Daniel motioned Ani to get out of the SUV. The ground was damp from the rain and the air smelled of wet dirt and rain-washed sky. When Ani walked around the Explorer to stand beside him, he noticed her bare