Prelude to a Rumor, Part Two (Harmless Book 4) by Melissa Schroeder Page B

lately?” Sean asked.
    “My parents, my old commanding officer. Oh, and some woman on the 405 last week, but I don’t think I have pissed off anyone enough for this.”
    “Then you aren’t living your life right.”
    They shared another smile, then they both went back to inspecting the room. Instinct and experience told him with the small click he’d heard; they had tripped some kind of alarm. Thank Jesus it was only an alarm and not a tripwire to a bomb. His heartbeat jumped up a few thousand beats as he glanced at his companion. Young raised one eyebrow. The former SEAL had heard it too.
    “Let’s get the fuck out of here,” he said, his voice eerily calm.
    Sean nodded and followed him out of the hut they had found. They had no idea how long it would be before someone showed up, and there was no use sticking around to find out. He followed Randy out of the hut and down the path they had taken. He held up his fist, indicating to hold position. Sean did as told. He had no problem taking orders from the SEAL. They both had about the same amount of experience, and there was something about a man who knew how to give as good as he got—in more ways than one.
    Thwap, thwap, thwap…footsteps hurried toward them. Again, instinct saved both of them. From the sound of it, they had too many people to go up against. There were at least ten of them heading in their direction. While Sean didn’t mind a good fight, he didn’t believe in suicide missions.
    Young motioned with his head and Sean followed. He was the better of the two at tracking and finding his way out of a shit situation. This was definitely a shit situation. They had gone in under the cover of night, no support. It had been a bad situation all around, but it had paid good money. Now, he was starting to understand just why.
    Shots rang out behind them, but neither of them stopped to answer the attack. They knew they were outnumbered. As their pursuers continued to shoot, Young and Sean put some space between them. When Young led them out to a road, Sean almost ran into the back of him.
    “Hey,” Young said.
    “Well, I didn’t know you were going to come to a stop like that.”
    Then, Sean looked around. “I know this area.”
    Young glanced at him. “You do?”
    He heard the skepticism and shook his head. He noticed a cargo truck sitting on the side of the road. “We can’t stand here and discuss it. We need to get the fuck out of here, and I know a place we can stay.”
    This time he took the lead, going across the road then back into the jungle. He knew if they got to the next road over, they were home free. They could definitely get a ride into Bulusan there and get the fuck off the island.
    Then, another shot rang out from behind them. It flew past Sean and hit the tree by his head. A piece of bark from the trunk flew off and hit him in the forehead.
    “Motherfuck.”
    It wasn’t that big, but the sharp edge of it had connected with his head. His first instinct was to move forward, but he heard Young stumble. When Sean turned around, Young staggered to his feet. His partner looked down at his upper arm.
    “Fucking hell.”
    A basic flesh wound, but Sean knew it probably stung like a bitch.
    “Come on.”
    “Go, keep going. There’s only one.”
    Sean shook his head and hurried back to him. “You go, I’ll watch your back.”
    Young agreed and went on his way. Sean stood still watching the forest, then he saw the flash of movement. He raised his rifle and waited. Movement again, and Sean took a shot. There was a yell, then cursing in a language he didn’t know, but he was pretty sure it was Eastern European of some sort.
    “Kaheaku, what the fuck?”
    “Go,” he said turning back to Young. “I know a place up here we can stay, no questions, and we can dress that wound.”
    “Who did you just shoot?”
    “I have a feeling it was supposed to be their lookout.”
    Young opened his mouth, but Sean wasn’t in the mood for it. “Just