Natasha was admiring the spectacular view as the vehicle was ascending the mountain. Then her stomach lurched as she realized that the shoulder was disappearing as they drove; the road was narrowing every foot they climbed. The ground was moist from the recent rainfall, and dark clouds were gathering at the top of the mountain.

“How far to the complex?” Natasha asked.

“Not far,” Mani said.

Natasha noticed that his eyes were looking at places other than the road.

“Is it always this humid on the island?” Natasha said.

“Yes, my dear!” Mani said.

The radio blared.

“We are under attack!” said the man on the radio.

“From what?” Mani said.

“Assassins are in the plane . . . Aargh!” the guard said before the radio cut out.

Mani hit the brakes hard enough to make Natasha hit the dash. Mani pulled his sidearm and pointed at Natasha’s head.

“What’s going on?” Natasha asked, looking alarmed.

“You are a fraud, and your people on the plane ambushed my men,” Mani said.

Natasha turned to face Mani.

“What are you talking about?” Natasha said in the most convincing tone she could muster.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Moving as fast as a viper, Dahlia pressed the cold steel of her serrated blade against Mani’s throat.

Mani raised his hands, and then pulled the gun back. Dahlia moved the knife from his throat. Seconds later, she covered Mani’s mouth, and then slammed the knife into Mani’s back. He gave Natasha a surprised look. Dahlia kept pressure on the knife as she took the gun from Mani’s hands. His body slumped over the steering wheel and the horn blared. The rearview mirror in the ATV shattered. Dahlia looked back. Another ATV was positioned sideways behind them, and two men were taking shots.

“Down!” Dahlia yelled.

“What did you do that for?” Nigel asked.

“We were made. Now get down,” Dahlia said.

She pulled out the gun she took from Mani, and then started shooting. Nigel jumped out of the ATV and ran around the vehicle, trying to avoid the gunfire. As he passed the side of the ATV, the side mirror shattered. Natasha slumped in her seat and then readied her weapon. She took out her 9mm Glock 17. She fired all seventeen rounds into the vehicle. One man was slumped over the side of the vehicle; the other took cover behind it.

“Nigel, where are you?” Natasha said as she reloaded.

“Here,” Nigel uttered from behind her seat.

Another ATV blocked their path to the front, and Natasha unloaded her gun into it. Nigel ran back toward the rear of the vehicle.

“Nigel, get in!” Natasha said.

Then Nigel lost his footing and fell. Natasha looked at the side of the vehicle, but he wasn’t there. She looked over the side; Nigel was suspended over the cliffside, hanging onto a branch that was bending and about to break.

Natasha dove toward Nigel, hand outstretched. “Grab on to my hand,” she called.

Nigel attempted to grasp her hand.

“Nigel, focus!” Natasha urged.

He stretched his hand, but Natasha’s was just out of reach. The gunfire was getting closer; Natasha was pelted with small amounts of dirt as bullets peppered the ground around her.

“Better get him quick. They are calling for reinforcements,” Dahlia said.

Dahlia ran toward the rear ATV. She rounded the corner as the guard was reloading. She threw something at the guard. He pulled the trigger, but it was too late; he was bleeding from the knife in his neck. She scooped up the guard’s sidearm and looked around for additional foes. When she was satisfied, she ran back toward the ATV. The guards in the front were still firing. Natasha was still trying to pull Nigel up. Dahlia checked her sidearm. Only a few bullets remained.

“Need to make these count,” Dahlia said.