Read Out of the Shadows (Falcon) for Free Online Page B

the emptiness before him and thought of A .J. What if they were too late? Could he already be dead? Tortured and hung out to die alone.
    Frank hadn’t heard a word since the raid . Those thoughts sent a surge of anger exploding through his mind. He’d once lived the horror A.J. was experiencing, and the nightmares still woke him in the middle of the night screaming in terror.
    Four Falcon agents had been sent to Mexico with orders to get Oscar Chavez. Instructions were to bust up his drug cartel and destroy his weapons arsenal. There had been a leak, and they were ambushed immediately. They engaged in one hell of a fight. Right after touchdown, A.J. took a bullet in the side. Before he could be extracted, Chavez’s men took him captive.
    That made it impossible for them to blow the place. Frank got word from Washington to clear out of the area. Once back in Dallas, Frank tried to make arrangements to get A.J. released, but the DEA, ATF and Border Patrol were crawling all over Falcon demanding answers.
    Chavez claimed he didn’t have a prisoner. There was no raid, and he didn’t know what Frank was talking about. Last week Chavez complained to his government that he was being harassed by the United States.
    Falcon Securities had to back off or else risk embarrassing the president. Something his boss would never do, because Frank and Colin Davis had been friends for years.
    Determined to get A.J., Brody pushed as far as he could for approval to go in after the captured agent, but the situation was too hot, too political and too hopeless.
    So Brody did the only thing he could. On his own, he found a way to infiltrate the compound. While there, he planned to bring A.J. home or they would both die.
    In spite of her earlier protest s, Stone stood on shaky legs. “I’m ready if you are.”
    Brody picked up his bag. “Let’s get this over with.”
    “I can’t help but think you’re making a big mistake.”
    “I’ve done that before.”
    “You like risking innocent lives?” she asked wearily. Alarm set in when Brody realized she was closer to dehydration than he’d thought.
    “No, but I’m getting my friend out.”
    “Just how do you plan to do that? The minute Oscar Chavez sees me there’s a good chance he’ll shoot me. And you too while he’s at it.”
    “I told you- you’re not going to be hurt.”
    “ I know that man. I know what he’s capable of. Your plan is too risky and unrealistic. If you’d spent more time learning about Chavez instead of me, maybe you’d be better prepared.”
    Brody’s lips drew tight. Wome n. They could be so fucking logical. He braced his hands on his hips. “You finished? Are you done with all the negativity crap? Cause I came to get a buddy out of this hellhole, and he’s leaving with me, no matter what.”
    “What good are you to your friend if you’re dead?”
    “At least then it won’t haunt me at night.”
    They moved toward several stucco huts. A d og barked, and a child cried out. Maybe twelve buildings made up the whole village. Two old beaters were parked outside the shack to their left. Faded light spilled from the grimy windows.
    To his right was a corral with horses and mules. Next to the fence sat a small wooden shed with closed doors. In the center of the village a bricked well served as the residents’ only water source.
    Except for the one hut, darkness enveloped the landscape. A lone coyote’s howl sent chills over his body. He didn’t like the feel of the place. They had nowhere to hide should anything happen.
    Quietly he signaled to cross the r oad. With her against his back, they moved to the shed. Brody opened the doors and looked inside. Finding it empty, he went around to the side. The barnyard animals showed little interest as they made their way to the back of the building.
    Fr om his bag, Brody removed a .357 Magnum. He handed it to her. “Take this.”
    Kate glanced at him. A frown drew her brows together as she tilted her head, but she