Page 81 of Mountain Target

“Not yet. It’s going to be up to us to convince them.”

Beau’s cell phone rang. He looked down to see Valentina’s name flash on the screen. His stomach twisted, his hands shaking so hard he almost dropped the phone.

“Valentina!” he said.

Her voice was cautious. “Is everything okay, Beau?” A large buzzing began behind her. “Shit, somebody’s grinding coffee behind me. Listen, Beau, we’re at the market. Can we speak tonight?”

“No!” he shouted. He forced his voice lower. “Don’t hang up, Valentina. You and Ren need to get out of there. I need you and Ren to go—“

“Tell her to get away from all buildings,” Ry instructed.

“We’ll drop down on the north side of the village,” Tristan said over the headset. “ETA three minutes. Tell her to head past the bridge.”

Faking a calm he wasn’t feeling, Beau relayed the instructions. “Get out of the market, Valentina. Walk north, all the way past the bridge. Do it right now.”

“The bridge? What’s going on, Beau? You’re scaring me.”

“Please do it. I promise I’ll explain later. I’ll stay on the line until you’re there.“

Valentina hissed something at Ren. He listened with relief as they started moving, away from the noise of the crowd. For a long time, he didn’t say anything. It was enough to just listen to their breathing and to know that they were moving away from the buildings.

“Okay. We’re going, Beau. But I’m going to need—”

Her words were cut off by a low-pitched rumble that went on and on. And then came the screams.

“Valentina!” he shouted, clutching his phone in his hand, as the call was disconnected.

26

Beau

Breathe.

Fucking breathe.

Breathe or you’re going to pass out.

And then you won’t be any good to Valentina or to Ren.

Calm returned to him slowly.

He was in the right place to help Valentina, and anybody else who needed help. But first, he had to ensure more support would be coming.

“Colonel,” he said calmly. “Yes. It looks bad. We need more support. Rescue and fire crews. Anything anyone can spare.”

“Fuck,” Alex said, looking below. “The access road is cut off.”

“It looks like … it looks like Pompeii.”

Outside the window, the small, picturesque town of Megève had turned into a disaster zone. The entire town, normally green and lush, was covered in a gray cloud. People—their shapes gray with dust as well—ran through the rubble. All along the main square, the roof and top floors had collapsed onto the streets.

Beau tried not to think of the people who might not have been able to get away.

“I’m circling, Commandant,” Tristan said, his voice harsh. “It’s not safe to touch down.”

Beau nodded. They couldn’t risk the helicopter. They were going to need it to get injured people out of there.

“Hold it steady, Tristan. We’ll rappel down.”