Page 49 of Wild Tempest

I took the opportunity to pick off a goon as he dropped down. My rifle hammered my shoulder. Bullets rocketed across the foredeck, pelting the dirt bag. He lost grip and fell to the deck, flat on his back with a smack.

That drew the fire of the door gunner.

I ducked for cover around the superstructure as copper spewed.

The other goons hit the deck and had their rifles shouldered in seconds.

More bullets sprayed.

I hustled back toward the hatch.

The helicopter pulled away and banked around.

The door gunner opened fire at me, chewing up the deck at my feet as I ducked into the superstructure.

My heart thumped, and my chest heaved for breath.

Jack had joined me in the corridor. “What the hell’s going on?”

Still slick with sweat and feverish, I’m sure this wasn’t on his Bingo card.

I signaled him to cover the starboard hatch.

He did.

I shifted my weapon to my left shoulder and angled my rifle outside. I took aim up the side deck and opened fire at the two goons who approached. They wore gas masks, limiting visibility. With body armor protecting their torsos, I aimed for their melons.

BANG!

BANG!

I dropped Thug One with a headshot, followed by Thug Two. They both flopped to the deck.

The gas masks told me they knew the dangers of this ship. This was a containment mission. My distress signal had reached the wrong people. They were either Russian Special Forces or contractors. Here for cleanup, they’d destroy the boat and all evidence of the illegal bio lab.

This was an international incident waiting to happen.

Another goon on the starboard side deck tried to flank us.

I darted onto the port side deck and hurried forward, stepping over the bodies. I held up at the corner and angled my rifle around, sweeping the barrel across the helipad.

It was clear, but for the dead body of the goon who fell on his way down.

I darted across the deck to the other side and angled my rifle down the starboard side deck. The remaining goon hovered just outside the starboard hatch, hugging the bulkhead.

I squeezed the trigger twice and put two shots into his noggin.

Blood spurted as he fell to the deck.

The helicopter circled around, approaching from the stern. The door gunner opened fire.

Bullets sprayed, peppering the exterior bulkhead.

I took aim and let bullets fly, pelting the helicopter.

My bullets tagged the gunner.

He flopped back into the cargo area, and another goon pulled him in as the helo continued to circle the boat.