Page 34 (1/2)

While Leighton and Robbie were right in theno fire and had no targets fro down the narrow space between the trucks and the trees on the left side of the parking lot He kept glancing over his shoulder The parking lot ider than the bar, which meant he was exposed if someone realized where he was and came around behind hi advantage of their bulk He was hoping to get an angle on the shooters and provide cover for Leighton and Robbie to withdraw back to the Tahoe He’d then have to cross the open parking lot to join the look as he ran along the tree line and saw Robbie go down His stoside a beat-up F-150, but he quickly realized the big Ranger hadn’t been shot He had dropped into a coround for protection as hebehind the two-ton rig While Colin had been positioning hiet away fro Century wrecker, which was probably the heaviest thing in the lot and only two trucks away froot into position, he could provide covering fire while she retreated safely to--

He swore softly as Leighton pulled herself up onto the back of the wrecker and started firing, using the body of the tow ar, heard the splintering crack of safety glass and the sharp ricochet of bullets as they struck the heavy hton stuck to her position like a tick on a hound, her slender frame tucked in behind the thick tow arht Colin’s attention, holding up a hand with five fingers Colin nodded, watching as the fingers dropped one by one When the countdown ended, Robbie stood up and started shooting, joining his fire poith Leighton’s, pinning their attackers beneath a wave of death

Colin dashed across the lot and dove beneath the dually which was snugged up against his Tahoe, belly crawling under the dually first and then his own truck His back scraped on the Tahoe’s skid plate, but he blew out a breath and cahway He stepped up onto his truck’s running board

"Leighton," he yelled "Fall back"

He thought she shouted an acknowledgment, but couldn’t be sure as she ducked down and the backof the wrecker blew out when soht across where her head used to be Colin held his breath as she see in relief as she appeared next to Robbie who dragged her to the ground and shoved her under the next truck in line

Colin pulled the Benelli up and fired a couple of rounds into the trees He couldn’t see anyone, but soh away that he kneasn’t froun in hand, he crouched down, back-stepped along the side of his truck and opened the rear passenger door

"Robbie," he shouted "Let’s go!" Moving back to the hood, using the engine block for cover, he swung the Benelli away and took up his 9steadily The sound of a second 9 hton had rolled out from under the Tahoe and taken up a position near the rear end of the Tahoe As he looked over, she ejected the azine from her Glock 17, slapped in a replacement and resumed a steady, methodical rate of fire with a speed that spoke of a hell of a lot round on the far side of the dually, but he was too big and the truck was too close to the ground for him to crawl under, even if he blew out every ounce of air in his lungs The front end of the dually was snug up against the trees and fully in the line of fire from that side He duck walked his way to the back end instead, pausing long enough to slap the spareup on the Tahoe’s running board and firing over the roof It wouldn’t hit anyone at this distance, but it would keep their heads down Robbie took the advantage offered, rushing out of cover and backing toward the road, his Uzi spitting fire all the way He reached the relative safety of the Tahoe, ducked beneath the s and ran toward Leighton as still shooting her Glock in a steady double tap rhythlanced worriedly at the open highway behind the

The Tahoe tilted as Robbie juer co his Uzi on seeneral direction of their assailants, he roared at Leighton, "In the truck, Cyn Now!"

Fresh gunfire erupted suddenly fro lot, where Colin had been hiding earlier Colin dropped to the ground as Leighton stepped out and began firing, covering his back while he yanked the front door of his truck open, and began to return fire He felt lanced over to see hi to pull her out of her exposed position and into the protection of the truck

Colin heard a soft grunt and a gasp of breath, heard Robbie’s horrified shout of denial

He spun around, a wordless protest choking hihton was slu the front of her co into the dirt

"Get her in the truck, Robbie Get her in the fucking truck!"

"Last ht it one-handed He tucked the 9the Uzi on full auto, not even trying to hit anything His only thought was to force their enehton in the truck so they could get the hell out of here