Special Forces: Operation Alpha: No Protection (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Gennita Low

while under fire. The knowledge that those around him were competent people who would do their job. He had two unknowns here—Ella and Zainab—yet he could see they were following their training, keeping low and moving quietly when ordered. So far so good.
    He’d been working alone all this time. He didn’t mind it. He’d designed his security company this way because he needed time alone, to find himself again. His new career had been demanding and the new challenges gave him a new lease in life when he had felt lost and angry.
    But he had years and years spent as a member of a well-oiled fighting unit. The old mantle wasn’t something easily discarded and tonight proved how much he missed having friends. Maybe Hawk was right, maybe he needed to expand his company and allow people in his life again.
    Talking about Hawk, that diversion he promised should be. About. Now.
    BOOooooooooM!
    Sound traveled through the desert space like waves crashing on the beach. Everyone immediately came to live.
    “Exact time, just as planned,” Liam said into his mic. “Ready! My side goes first.”
    “Copy. My side will follow on the count of three to give you the running start,” Wolf said.
    “Copy,” Liam said.
    They heard shouts from a distance, as the people behind the wall reacted to the explosion and hopefully, more distraction from Hawk’s men.
    “Now!” Liam said. “Ella.”
    “Right behind you.” Her voice was steady.
    They ran toward the target. He could feel her following his lead, moving in a zigzag fashion, until they came close to where it all began—the bunker outside the check point. Their vehicle was still there. He knew the fuckers couldn’t move it because they’d blown out the tires. He wondered if the Canadian troopers’ bodies were still out here on the ground or if they’d retrieved them. He couldn’t see them when they reached the vehicle. He tapped on his mic.
    “Bravo, Vickers and Wilson’s bodies can’t be found,” he said.
    “Copy, Alpha. We’ll look for them inside,” Wolf replied.
    Wolf and Zainab were heading to where Ella and she had crashed through the earlier with their M-ATV. The gate wasn’t secured properly then, but might be now. The plan was to use explosives on them this time so Cookie could drive through.
    “Charlie, you ready?” Liam asked, as he signaled to Ella to follow him towards the wall.
    “Waiting for Bravo’s orders,” Cookie confirmed.
    They reached the bottom of the fort-like structure. Liam knew, from previous visits to similar American-built structures, the wall facing the Syrian border was the highest and the opposite wall would be the lowest. There were two towers on the tall side and one on the other, usually manned by snipers. Hawk said the convoy would be approaching the two towers, so most of the militants would be stationed there to keep a lookout for it. The explosions right now would have brought most of them over there.
    He lifted one arm and aimed for the top of the wall. Pressing on the button attached to the gadget in his hand, a rope attached with a grapping hook shot out like an arrow and flew over the wall. The rope had knots for leg and hand holds, allowing the climber to use a variety of climbing styles.
    After securing the rope, he beckoned to Ella. She didn’t hesitate. They already had their special climbing gloves and he watched approvingly as she shimmied up like a pro, using the wall with her long legs in between each pull to create momentum. Damn, but those legs were strong.
    This time, he followed, SEAL-style, using his reach to help him go further and faster. He pulled his legs up to his chest and heaved up with his thigh muscles, while his hands grabbed for the highest point again. Rinse.Repeat. He got right below Ella as she reached the top of the wall, and just as he’d instructed, she immediately put her feet on his shoulders and used him to make that final pull to the top of the wall. She hadn’t questioned whether