Firethorn (Discarded Heroes) by Ronie Kendig Page A

prison? “Who are you? Why did you bust me out? I mean, I appreciate your help, but now I’m a wanted fugitive.” Madyar had to be shouting a few “Oh sweet Jesuses” right now in heaven.
    “In two hours you would’ve been dead. A hit had been hired out on you.”
    A hit? Why? He was behind bars, immobilized, paralyzed. “Who wants me dead?”
    “What you need to know is why you’re out. They’re all down.”
    This was crazy. “Lady, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He couldn’t believe he’d followed Lara Croft’s sister out a Supermax without a second thought. The eyes. She flashed those innocent eyes at him and knocked him senseless. “As soon as we can, I’m hoofing it back. No way I’m going to let my respect—“
    “Your team, Mr. Riddell. The team has been flatlined.”
    Nightshade?
“Not possible. Nobody knows who we are.”
    “They found
you,
didn’t they?”
    Oh sweet Jesus.
    “From what I’ve been able to uncover, Midas is imprisoned in Venezuela. A place, as you know, Mr. Riddell, is very unfriendly to Americans on the wrong side of the law. A place where nice guys like your buddy disappear and nobody hears from them again. The newest member, the assassin, faces execution one week from today in a Hamas safe house.”
    The news looped his heart into a knot.
    “Cowboy was arrested in London and faces charges of terrorism.”
    The knot tightened. He couldn’t breathe.
    “Marshall Vaughn is hooked up to a machine and not expected to live. Someone found your Shack, grabbed the men, then blew the building into the Hudson.”
    Unbelievable. Griffin leaned against the wall, rubbing a hand over his face. No wonder Colton missed their weekly meeting—arrested. On terrorism charges. The Kid on life support? It made him sick to his stomach. Metcalfe…“Frogman. Where’s Max? And Squirt?”
    Her green eyes met his. “Unknown. Both disappeared two weeks ago. Frogman made a call to his wife, then vanished. His wife was shot, but it wasn’t fatal. She and the other wives and children are safely tucked away, out of sight and mind.”
    Whoever had gone after the team hit hard and in a way that would decimate any chance of the team recovering.
    A slow burn worked from his toes, through his legs, stoked by the sickening feeling of being hunted. It surged through his chest with volcanic fury. He’d handpicked the team with Olin. And he’d be among the damned if he let someone disassemble Nightshade. “What’s the plan?”

CHAPTER 6
     
    W inter had crowded out the heavenlies and silenced the familiar song of the cicadas as they waited along a barren runway. Griffin remembered sitting on the front porch with Madyar, rocking. Talking. Enjoying. Doing nothing but listening to one another. To nature. To God.
    Strangely, God had been as quiet as the stark night that stretched before him. An icy wind rustled the tall, uncut grass waving under the dull glow of the winter moon. Eerie silence drifted through the starless sky. Pop-Pop had taught him to watch for God in the small things, the whisper of the wind, the smile of someone unknown. Was this woman sent by God?
    No, Lambert sent her.
    Griffin had to be a fool to cooperate with the escape—but Nightshade needed him. He had to get the guys back together. And the only way to do that was to be free. Wrestling with the notion that he served time for a crime someone else committed—well, God would have to sort that one out.
    Cupping his hands over his mouth and blowing hot breath provided little warmth. Griffin remained quiet, ignoring the bitter cold worming through the thin scrubs. Beside him, Wonder Woman sat like a loyal guard dog, watching. Her wide eyes sat glued on a fixed point down the airstrip. She shifted onto her toes and crept forward a few feet.
    “There,” she whispered as two lights blinked in the distance.
    Slowly, the thrum of a plane droned into his awareness. Red wingtip lights grew brighter.
    “Let’s go.” Kacie