Delta Recon (SEAL Team Phantom Series, Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

out the correct direction and make plans. Uncapping a bottle from her bag, she drank deeply. She wasn’t paying attention, or she’d have noticed the silent wraith creeping up on her. Her first warning she wasn’t alone was the eerie feeling of being watched, or stalked.
    Slowly, she glanced up and over her shoulder, seeing the large creature not five feet away. If her memory served her correctly, it could easily clear that distance. With an economy of movements, she reached into the bag, keeping her eyes locked with the cat. The gun felt good in her palm, but she feared if she pulled it out too quickly, he’d be on her. Yet, if she waited he’d be on her.
    She finally understood what they meant when people said time stood still. In the moment before her hand came clear of the bag, she had the safety off and her other arm up, ready to help steady for the shot. The scream from the jaguar scared her, almost making her scream herself. She wanted to tell the gorgeous beast to go away, but reasoning with an animal would be a waste of time. Jaqui paused, waiting for the subtle shift in his body. Just as the bunching of its muscles flexed, she pulled the trigger. A terrifying scream ripped from the jaguar, but he still leaped at her. She fired again, and again.
    Falling over backward, the heavy weight of the animal bore down on her. Jaqui screamed, and screamed some more as she pulled the trigger. The animal’s huge head was inches from biting her, and then it dropped, half on, half off her. Its deadly claws looked vicious even in death.
    Jaqui tried to scramble out from under the animal, its blood covering her, along with everything else, was enough to make her lose control and scream until she was hoarse. She didn’t care that others would hear her, if there were more in the area, only knew she was too tired to care.
    The rising sun no longer held a promise of rescue, or safety. Her body began to shake uncontrollably, yet she couldn’t seem to get her legs out. The jaguar’s large head mocked her as she lay there, shaking, screaming until her throat hurt, until her limbs went numb. Finally, she released her hold on the gun, letting it drop beside her. “I’m done,” her voice came out scratchy, barely above a whisper.
    ****
    T ay swore in several languages when they’d heard the echo of gunfire. The tracker Jaqui had pressed had been found, yet no sign of the woman. Now, as they raced through the forest toward the ominous sound of shots, he prayed. He prayed like he hadn’t since he couldn’t remember when. Even with the night vision goggles, he worried about what they couldn’t see. The thought that little Jaqui Wallace was stranded with nothing but her wits had him freaking the fuck out, and he wasn’t ashamed to admit it. If the last thing he did on this earth was save the tiny blonde beauty, then he’d die a happy man. If one hair on her gorgeous head has been hurt, he swore he’d make each and every person responsible wish they were already dead.
    He leapt over some fallen trees, leading the team even though it was Kai’s place. They all knew he had feelings for the Navy’s computer specialist. What he didn’t understand was why she was allowed to come out on a mission with his SEAL team. No way in hell was she trained for the things they might encounter. He grunted as his legs ate up the distance where they were sure the shots had come from. He wouldn’t allow himself to think she wasn’t still alive. The gunfire had sounded as if it’d come from one gun, not several.
    “Yo, Tay. Slow your roll man. Check this out.” Kai pointed at some markings on a tree at the base of the forest where it opened to a huge waterfall. “Looks like some sort of large jungle cat, man. Keep your eyes open.”
    Tay nodded, his eyes looking up and down along the water’s edge. Surely she hadn’t jumped in to escape the animal chasing her?
    “We split up. Half go up, half go down.” Kai checked his gear. “Tay and