Jungle Heat |

Arrival To The Jungle

Ella sat in the back of the helicopter as it made its approach to the launch site, the gusting rain making it a bumpy and miserable ride through the African skies.

The crew chief grabbed her shoulder and held up two fingers. “Two minutes and we’re home,” he shouted in her ear. Across from her, her traveling companion from the airport was dead asleep, slumped against his pack.

She studied him, taking in the sharp, weathered lines of his face, like someone who’d been through hard, lean times. A bush hat sat low on his head, and his clothes were a dull camouflage patterned shirt and pants and canvas boots worn down from use while she sat in her new, barely brokenin uniform.

He’d been silent the entire trip, barely acknowledging her existence as if he’d mastered the art of shutting people out. She didn’t know a damn thing about him, not even his real name. Just the nickname they gave him: Tam.

The helo hit the ground with a thud, jolting as a crosswind threw it off balance before the pilots corrected. Ella was tossed across the compartment, crashing right into Tam, waking him suddenly.

“Fuck me, there’s a reason we have seatbelts,” he cursed, which was about the longest sentence he’d bothered to say so far.

Her gear was scattered everywhere and frustration boiled inside her as she frantically shoved everything back into her bags, cursing herself and Tam, who had made it painfully clear from the beginning that he did not want her here.

But then, a smirk tugged at her lips as she remembered how his boss had laid it out for him with brutal clarity: “Just do it, or head back home to the farm… your call.”

“Ella, slow down,” Tam said tiredly. “Wait in here until the rain eases up.”

“Oh, so you can talk,” she snapped. “I’m shocked you even know my name.”

Ella shot him a daring look, but all she received in return were his cold, hard blue eyes locking onto hers.

“My job is to look out for you, Ella, but I don’t have to like it,” Tam said in his strange accent. You need to understand that where you are now isn’t like anywhere you’ve been before. Keep your smartass comments to yourself and start watching, listening, and learning from the people around you here. This isn’t a game, Ella. People come here to die, get that into your head.”

Ella stared at him, a chill running through her. Now, she saw him for what he truly was: cold, calculating, and dangerous. She wouldn’t make the mistake of underestimating him again. For the first time, Ella understood just how serious this was.

When the rain stopped, they grabbed their gear and walked across the pad to a squat, single building. “This used to be a primary school before we moved in,” Tam said over his shoulder, noticing Ella lagging behind. “Hand me some of that stuff.”

As he reached for her gear, Ella noticed something she hadn’t before: a pistol tucked in the back of his pants. She froze, realizing that Tam had been armed since they landed in the country.

The door to the building kicked open, and a tall, bulky black man stepped out, smiling at Tam. “Hey, Blesekop! I told you, man, that you’d be back here. I said you’re not fit for humans anymore, but no, your ears are just for decoration, not for listening.”

Tam muttered something in Afrikaans in response, and they both broke into laughter.

Ella looked around while the two men talked. It was, as Tam had said, an old school, but now had a perimeter of firing positions and enclosed bunkers. The vegetation and any obstacles had been cleared out for about 200 meters. She wondered why they needed all that when it seemed quiet enough here.

“It’s called a killing ground,” the man told her, his tone friendly. “You can call me Chris, since this ‘thing’ beside me doesn’t have the manners to introduce us.”

Despite her nerves, Ella smiled at him. “He doesn’t talk much, does he?”

Chris chuckled. “No, he don’t… but when he does, you listen. He’s been at this a long time.”

“Chris, you talk enough for both of us anyway,” Tam muttered, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “Come on, Ella, we need to figure out where to put you for the night.”

Tam’s hard exterior seemed to crack just a little in Chris’s presence, his posture easing as they walked. Ella followed the unlikely pair into the building. The room opened up in front of them, dimly lit and stale with the odor of old wood and sweat. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light, revealing the bare necessities: a few mismatched chairs, a desk piled high with papers and various supplies stacked against the wall.

 A skinny white guy shot up from behind the desk, grinning ear to ear. “WOFTAM! Welcome back!” He clapped Tam on the back with a half hug. “We even saved your gear so you wouldn’t have to break in a new set. Bru, I can read you like a fuckin’ book.”

Tam grinned back. “Man, I had to come back just to watch out for you, Spider.”

Tam glanced at Ella, then shifted his eyes to Spider. “Now, we need a home for this stray journo who followed me here.”

“There’s only your old room left. We’ve got all the teams in for now until this weather eases up,” Spider said with a grin. 

“Shit, there’s not enough room for two and everything she’s brought,” Tam mumbled. “I’ll sleep down in the ammo bunker.”

Ella heard Chris snigger. “Don’t think he’s giving up anything special, Ella. That ammo bunker’s got the only air conditioning around here.”

They led Ella to “her room.” The air inside was damp from recent rains, with a musty odor. Along one wall, a single cot with a thin mattress was pushed up against the side. On the other side, a wooden chair sat beside a small table with an old electric fan and a table lamp. A large bookcase stood against the back wall, crammed full of tatty old paperbacks.

“Help her with her gear, Chris. Come find me when you’re done,” Tam said, already heading for the door. “Then we’ll eat.”

With that, Tam left them to it, the door creaking shut behind him.

Ella glanced at Chris. “He doesn’t like me much, does he?”

He shook his head. “It’s not about liking or disliking you. He’ll keep you safe out here, no matter what.” Chris paused, his tone softening. “And don’t let him fool you—he’s the best I’ve ever seen in the bush. I would know. I’ve been with him for years. My family asked him to come back. If he hadn’t, I’d be going home, and we badly need the money.”

“So, you two are close, then?” Ella asked.

“We are brothers,” Chris replied. “Same blood in our veins. Literally—twice for him, once for me. We usually work as a Sniper team, or as Team leader and secondincommand when they’re short on warm bodies in our team.”

Ella wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by that last part, but before she asked, the realization hit her. There were more than a few reasons why they’d be short on people—and none of them were good.

“Let’s go eat,” Chris said. “Tam’s gonna be awhile.”

Ella followed Chris to the mess hall. As they entered, the room was packed with soldiers, buzzing with conversation. But when they spotted her behind Chris, the chatter abruptly stopped. Every pair of eyes locked onto Ella, heat rising in her cheeks as she heard indistinct murmurs and crude comments about her looks and figure, her embarrassment deepening.

Tam suddenly appeared from nowhere, pushing past both her and Chris without so much as a word.

“What are you all staring at?” Tam barked. “This is a woman. Some of you have mothers and sisters who are also women.” He scanned the room, eyes narrowing. “She’s here to make you famous. So treat her with respect, or I’ll make you wish you had.”

Ella couldn’t help but giggle softly at Chris’s quiet remark: “Playtime’s over. Looks like he’s back in business.”

Tam turned, glaring at them both.

“Shit,” Chris cursed under his breath. “He still has ears like a fuckin’ bat.”

Tam’s gaze locked onto Chris, his tone sharp. “Since you think you’re so funny, you can show her the fine dining here. That should stop her laughing.”

Ella and Chris sat at a nearby table eating, while the eight other team members crowded around Tam, all chatting amongst themselves, wide smiles plastered across their faces. Each one greeted their team leader, grinning at Tam’s responses.

Ella noticed how each of them made a point to touch Tam, whether to pat his bare arm or a brush of his hand. Curiosity got the better of her, and she turned to Chris. “Why are they doing that?”

“They’re touching his skin, hoping to take a bit of his spirit with them,” Chris replied. “He doesn’t make fun of their beliefs. That’s part of what makes him the best team leader here.”

“And the other reasons?” Ella asked.

“Just watch, and you’ll see for yourself, Miss Reporter,” Chris said with a grin. “Let’s head over. This is mostly about you, anyway.”

“Right, sit down and shut up,” Tam said with mock seriousness, and the team settled. “As you can see, we have a guest with us. She’s here to see what we do… though I’m still not entirely sure what some of you do.” He paused, looking around the room. “Good news is, we’re no longer on stand down. You were all getting lazy, anyway.”

 “Tomorrow morning, we’ll be running through our drills to show Ella here what to do,” Tam announced, and all eyes turned toward Ella. “At the very least, we’ll teach her to run in the same direction as the rest of us.”

 “So all of you, take it easy on the beers tonight,” he ordered.

Turning to Ella, he added, “You’re coming with me. We need to see the boss, and afterward, I’ll show you around.”

Together, they headed for the door, but as soon as they stepped outside, the skies opened up. The rain poured down in sheets, soaking them to the bone. Within seconds, water was dripping from their hair and clothes. The rest of the team, who remained inside and dry, burst out laughing at the sight.

“Shitfuck,” Tam cursed, wiping water from his face as they stood in the relentless downpour. “We can’t meet the CO like this. We’d better get changed. My dry stuff’s still in my room.”

As they squelched toward the barracks, Tam turned to Ella. “First, I’ll show you where to go if we get hit. It’ll likely be mortars or rockets. If you hear explosions, don’t wait for me. Get to this bunker right outside your room, so I know where to find you. If there’s a ground assault, it’s the same—get in that bunker and don’t leave for any reason. We’ll shoot anyone running around out here. Do you understand, Ella?”

Ella met his serious gaze. “Yes,” she mumbled.

“Good,” Tam said. “Now, let’s get out of these wet clothes.”

As they walked toward his old room, Ella’s mind wandered. She hadn’t noticed before how Tam had a certain charm. The way he smiled with the guys earlier was rare, but when it happened, it lit up his entire face. In those moments, he felt less like a rigid team leader and more like someone the others genuinely admired.

She glanced at him again. His damp brown hair clung to his forehead, and in the fading light, his sharp features softened. He wasn’t traditionally handsome, but there was a ruggedness that tugged at something inside her.

Heat crept up her neck as Ella realized she was staring. She looked away, but her eyes kept drifting back to him. The more she fought it, the harder it became to stop stealing glances.

When they entered the room, Tam wasted no time. He shrugged off his wet jacket and pulled his olive drab Tshirt over his head, revealing a lean, muscular chest adorned with a small medallion around his neck.

Ella froze, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the sight of Tam’s body. A pockmarked dimple marred the otherwise smooth expanse of his back, while a scar slashed across his stomach.

Catching her gaze, Tam grinned. “Take a picture; it’ll last longer. We don’t have time for modesty around here, so get on with it.”

He tossed his shirt aside and dropped the pistol on the bed. With a casual ease, Tam began unbuttoning his pants, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Then, without hesitation, he pushed them down, leaving nothing to the imagination.

Ella’s jaw dropped, and her cheeks flushed as she quickly averted her gaze. She fumbled with her top, pulling it off. By the time she finished, embarrassment flooded over her as she stood in nothing but her underwear while Tam slipped into his dry pants, tucking his pistol into his belt. A warmer feeling stirred within her as her brown eyes locked onto his deep blue ones.

For a second, Tam’s gaze flickered down over her body before returning to her face. “You can’t wear underwear here, Ella. It’ll chafe and rub you raw in minutes.”

Ella reached for the towel Tam had left on the bed, planning to wrap it around herself before removing her thong. But when she caught the smug look on his face, something snapped inside her. She wouldn’t let him think he had the upper hand.

Holding his gaze, she slowly hooked her fingers into the waistband of her thong. Without breaking eye contact, she slid them down her hips and let them fall to the floor, wiping the selfsatisfied expression off his face in one smooth move.

Ella stood tall, defiant, letting him take in every detail. Tam’s gaze roamed over her, his eyes lingering on the curves of her perky breasts before drifting lower, his attention drawn to the smooth, shaved skin between her legs.

Tam was not easily swayed by emotions or distractions, but Ella had somehow gotten under his skin. She was more than just beautiful; it was her spirit and fire that drew him in with a magnetic allure.

The air hummed with tension as he locked his gaze on her intense dark eyes.

“You sure don’t make it easy to keep eye contact, woman,” Tam mumbled, feeling embarrassed and unsure of what had just happened. With a casual shrug, he added, “And shaving’s just an infection hazard.”

Her cheeks burned crimson as Ella grabbed the damp towel and quickly wiped herself, acutely aware of him standing there. The towel brushed against her skin, carrying his lingering natural scent, which now clung to her. The subtle, masculine aroma quickened her heartbeat, highlighting the intimacy of sharing a towel. Avoiding Tam’s gaze, she snatched up her clothes and dressed in record time.

After she got dressed, Ella smirked at him. “So, you’re just going to stroll around halfnaked?”

That snapped Tam out of it. He blinked, grabbed his tshirt, and pulled it on, covering both the scars and the pistol.

“Do you sleep with that gun?” Ella teased.

“I haven’t slept without it in over a decade,” Tam replied, his tone instantly sobering her as she realized he wasn’t joking.

Tam grabbed his jacket and led the way out. Ella followed, still considering his response. They stepped into the damp air, the smell of rain lingering around them as they walked silently toward the command center.

The building was easy to spot, distinguished by its cluster of radio aerials reaching into the sky.

“Why so many antennas?” Ella asked.

“Different radios,” Tam explained. “FM for short range and VHF for long range. We have small UHF radios for emergencies. I’ll get you one with a spare battery to carry when we’re out there. The radios are our greatest weapon.”

As he spoke, Ella felt a tight knot in her stomach. His ease in explaining everything—like it was just another day at work—was both terrifying and impressive. 

When they entered the command center. Tam led her to the CO, who looked pleased with himself as he handed Tam a large folder.

“How’s my favorite trained killer?” the CO said with a grin. “I’ve got your orders here, Tam. Chris will take over as Team Leader. Now, you—and I mean YOU, Staff Sergeant—will stay right beside our PR representative here.” He motioned toward Ella. “You don’t leave her side for any reason, understand? Got that, Staff Sergeant?”

Tam’s expression darkened as he bit back a retort. Babysitting. That’s what this was.

“Yes, Captain,” he ground out through gritted teeth.

As they stepped back outside, Tam felt his frustration boiling over. This was an illadvised operation. Chris and the others would be the ones taking risks while he was stuck watching over her. People were going to die. His people.

“You better get to bed, Ella,” Tam said sharply. “Big day ahead tomorrow. Chris sorted out your gear. I’ll show you how to wear it properly in the morning.”

“Not so fast,” Ella smirked, glancing at Tam. Thinking their recent moment of intimacy had warmed him to her, she teased, “You were just ordered to stay with me, right? Sooo… where are we sleeping? No way am I staying in that hovel of yours—”

Before she could finish, Tam was suddenly in her face, his expression cold, interpreting her playfulness as smugness.

“Who do you think you are, lady?” he growled, fury in his voice. “My people are out there risking their lives, while you’re here acting like this is some sort of photoshoot.”

He grabbed her arm firmly, causing her smile to fade as fear flashed in her eyes. “You?” he spat, shaking his head in disgust. “You need to wake up. This isn’t about you… and you show some respect for the sacrifices made for your safety. Got it?”

Ella blinked, opening her mouth to respond, but nothing came. The intensity of Tam’s gaze left her at a loss.

Suddenly, Chris stepped between them, pushing Tam back hard with one hand. “You need to cool off, bru.”

“Yeah, you just read this bullshit,” Tam snapped, throwing the folder at Chris. He then spun around, stalking off into the night, spitting a string of rapidfire Afrikaans as he walked away.

Chris turned to Ella, his gaze softening as he noticed her trembling hands. Her confident exterior crumbled. “He’s got a bad temper, hasn’t he?” she muttered, her voice shakier than she intended.

Chris nodded. “Ella, it’s not just about you. It’s about his team and keeping people alive. Cut him some slack, hey?”

Ella swallowed hard, the sting of Tam’s words still fresh. She knew Chris was right—Tam’s anger wasn’t random; it stemmed from the responsibility he carried for his team.

But even though Ella understood that, it didn’t mean she was going to just stand there and take it. She hadn’t signed up to be anyone’s punching bag. She was here for a reason, too.

“I get it,” Ella said, her voice steadier, though sharp. “He must be fun to live with. “

Chris raised his hand, cutting her off gently. “And you, miss, have a bit of a mouth, don’t you? I know you’re upset, but provoking a man like him? Not the best idea.” He paused, offering a small, almost sympathetic smile. “That man,” Chris said, pointing in the direction Tam had gone, “he’s a killer. He has a gift for this, one he never asked for. So maybe—just maybe—you should think twice about pushing him like that.”

He gave her a knowing look. “Trust me, Ella, he’s got his own battles.”

Ella nodded, kept her mouth shut, and went into her room. She grabbed the towel and carelessly tossed it onto the floor before lying down on the mattress. The day had been overwhelming—too many words, too many things she didn’t fully grasp. 

Then there was Tam, with his attitude, as if she was supposed to just take it. Chris’ warning wasn’t going to make her feel sorry for him.

She scowled at the ceiling, still angry. She wasn’t about to roll over just because Tam had problems. He didn’t know her either.

What made her angrier was herself for letting his outburst get under her skin. Then there was that fleeting attraction she’d felt earlier. Stupid. So stupid.

Ella closed her eyes, trying to shake off the strange pull toward him. She reminded herself of who he really was—a soldier, a killer, hardened by his life. A life with no room for anything else. He belonged out here.

She had to stay focused and keep her emotions in check. People like Tam didn’t belong in her world, and she didn’t belong in his.

The Mission

Chris was already briefing the team when Tam walked in, his heavy web gear slung over one shoulder, swinging with each step. His rifle hung loosely in his left hand.

He scanned the room, checking every detail—gear, boots, clothing—ensuring there were no tells to expose them. His gaze briefly flickered to Ella, standing in her stiff new webbing. When their eyes locked, heat surged up her neck, flushing her cheeks with remnants of unspent anger. Tam, catching the fire in her gaze, looked away.

He nodded at Chris. “Plans have changed. We’re going in at 1500 today. No rebel movement has been spotted in our area for the past week, but we know how they operate when the weather grounds air support. So, we go in with our eyes wide open. Chris has command.”

He paused, letting his words sink in. “Get something to eat now. Weapons check after. Check your ammo. Gunners, ensure you’ve got a spare barrel. Bend the pins on your grenades. Fill your canteens and doublecheck the leads on your claymores. You know what to do. And remember—no soap, no deodorant.”

As the team moved to follow his orders, Tam turned to Ella. “Ella, come with me, please.”

She stepped forward, standing where he indicated, lips pressed together, waiting for the apology she knew wouldn’t come. He didn’t meet her gaze or acknowledge the tension between them. Instead, his hands moved methodically over her webbing.

He muttered, “You don’t need that… dump this…,” as he adjusted her gear with ease. A quick tug here, a strap tightened there. His fingers worked quickly, taping buckles with green electrical tape and tying knots at the ends of loose straps. Ella watched closely, catching the blue glint in his eyes and his clinical sharp focus.

“Jump up and down for me, Ella, please.”

She complied, feeling every shift of her gear. He didn’t look at her, just fixed what rattled, taping down anything loose.

His gaze flicked to her camera. “Put that down your shirt. You don’t take pictures unless I say.”

Finally, he stepped back, his voice steady but serious. “If we get separated, don’t panic. Find somewhere to hide, use your radio, and sit tight. We’ll come for you.”

Finally, his gaze met hers, flat and unreadable. “You know how to use that radio?”

Ella’s lips tightened, her response sharper than usual. “Yes. Chris showed me last night.”

“Do you understand how lineofsight works? This is UHF only. It’s good for about 1 km. Get somewhere high if you need to reach me. You know how to swap the batteries?”

“Yes, I do,” she replied, but the heaviness in her chest persisted. Nothing in his tone or eyes reassured her.

“Good.” His voice was distant, as if running through a checklist. “Stay with me. Keep your eyes and ears open. Move when I move. If I tell you to do something, do it quickly. No arguing this time, please. Got that, Ella?”

“I’m not stupid, Tam.”

“If you were smart, you wouldn’t be doing this,” he replied, his tone flat. The words landed heavier than she expected, void of any care or hesitation. It was a harsh truth that left her feeling smaller.

This was who Tam was: detached and precise. Ella swallowed hard, knowing nothing would change.

“We need to cover all that nice, shiny skin you’re showing,” Tam said. “Ella, roll those sleeves down and keep them down.”

She complied, the sting of his indifference settling deeper with each command. He tossed her a pair of fingerless gloves. “These are the smallest we could find. Put them on.”

Ella pulled them over her hands, feeling the stiff fabric against her skin. She watched him, hoping for something beyond his cold orders, but it never came.

Without pause, Tam looped some scrim net around her neck, his fingers brushing her skin without warmth. “Use this like a towel when you sweat, then wrap it around your face to hide. Keep it loose.”

He stepped closer—too close—but Ella stood still.

“Now for some different makeup,” he muttered, a smile on his lips that never reached his eyes. “This has mosquito repellent in it. Don’t apply it above your eyes—the repellent will sting like hell if it gets in when you sweat. Trust me.”

His hands were quick and efficient as he smeared the green paste onto her face.

“Hold still,” he instructed.

His fingers pressed the sticky goop into the cheekbones, nose, lips, and chin. The brown followed on the lower contours, his touch impersonal, like he was painting camouflage on a rifle rather than a person.

The team split in half as the sound of approaching helicopters grew louder. Tam grabbed Ella by the arm, removing her hat as he led her to the first helicopter. He sat her firmly in the middle seat as the others scrambled in behind her, their heavy gear making their movements clumsy.

Without a word, Tam pointed to the seatbelts and then at Ella, shouting over the roar of the turbines, “Strap in this time!” He laughed at her, but he could see it—the fear in her eyes, the tension in her body, and how desperately she was trying to mask it.

As the helicopter lifted off, the ground seemed to drop away, and her stomach lurched as it pitched forward. Panic, which she had been holding back, washed over her as the reality of what lay ahead sank in.

“When we touchdown, you go out the left side… three steps, then drop flat. Got it?” Tam’s mouth was just millimeters from her ear, his voice barely audible over the noise. “I’m lefthanded, so stay on my right and stick behind me. Grab my belt if you need to, because we’re moving fast until we hit the treeline. And remember, do exactly what I do.”

They flew on for another 20 minutes, tension thickening as the ground drew closer. Tam shifted Ella to the edge of the floor, sitting her next to him in the doorway, one arm holding her in place.

The door gunner flashed two fingers at Tam—two minutes to land. Tam began checking his gear, tapping a magazine on the floor before slamming it into his rifle and pulling back the bolt with a practiced flick. He switched the selector to auto, his movements precise and methodical, almost ritualistic.

Ella’s gaze drifted to his face as the ground rushed up too fast for her liking. His hand unconsciously rubbed the small charm around his neck, but his expression remained hard and focused.

As the wheels hit the dirt, Tam shoved her off the aircraft. Ella hit the ground as debris and turbulence exploded around her, the rotors thudding above as the pilots pulled pitch and lifted off.

Ella lay flat on the dirt, heart pounding, as Tam dropped to one knee beside her, his eyes scanning the area and the barrel of his rifle moving with his gaze. The entire team hit the ground within seconds, half of them racing past her toward the nearest cover. Tam thumped her shoulder to get her attention.

“Move now, after me,” he ordered, running past the rest of the team as they provided cover. They reached the treeline and dropped flat, Tam immediately pushing Ella against a broken tree limb.

“You stay there,” he said, rising to one knee, scanning the area while covering his team as they regrouped.

The only sound was the quiet murmur of the radio operator calling in their report. The helicopters had vanished, and the jungle swallowed them in silence. Ella could hear her heartbeat in her ears, the heavy scent of damp earth filling her nostrils.

Chris signaled the pointman and two flankers forward, and one by one, the team rose and disappeared into the shadowy depths of the bush.

Tam moved through the undergrowth like a shadow, blending seamlessly into the environment with an eerie quietness. Ella followed behind, struggling to keep up, marveling at his silent, fluid movements—his head constantly turning, searching, listening, even smelling the air.

Suddenly, Ella’s foot caught on a root, causing her to trip and fall hard. Before she could react, Tam was there, silently pulling her up. His mouth was inches from her ear as he whispered, “Watch where you put your feet, hey? Walk where I do, and put your hat back on. It might save you from a stick in your eyes.” He gave her a gentle shake. “You’re doing fine. Just keep calm and breathe, okay?”

“Thank you,” Ella whispered as Tam moved to kneel next to Chris. Her heart raced, but being near Tam eased her panic, if only slightly.

“Bru, we need room to move,” Tam said, his voice steady, cutting through the tension. “This place isn’t right—no noise, no people, no animals. They know we’re here. Get on the radio and ensure the artillery has the grids I gave them, ready to shoot. Get those gunships up now because we’re going to get hit soon. I promise you. Also, find us an extraction point to fall back on.”

He pointed at the map, tracing a line with a twig. “You guys will move up here to ambush them as they come through. Leave me three claymores and one of your radios. I’ll set up another ambush here. When you fall back through my position, stay to my right. I’ll hit them again. Now get moving.”

Tam’s gaze shifted to Ella. “We got some messed up intel, Ella… better take your pictures now while you can.”

As Chris and his team moved forward, Tam guided Ella behind the cover of a fallen tree. “This is where you stay put. I’m not going anywhere—I’ll be right next to you, okay?”

She nodded, watching as he quickly laid out three green concaveshaped mines, aiming them toward where the team had disappeared. He ran the leads back to her position, attaching them to what resembled large clothes pegs.

Without hesitation, Tam pulled off her ammo pouches along with his own. “Put these with mine,” he ordered, his tone calm but urgent. “Chris will grab them, and you, on his way through here.”

Before she could react, sharp cracks of claymore mines detonated in the distance, instantly followed by the rattle of automatic weapons. The radio crackled to life—Chris was coming back. Ella saw Tam on the radio, requesting immediate artillery support. The rest of the team scrambled past, with Chris giving Tam a quick compass bearing before grabbing Ella and pulling her along.

Tam turned, already firing as shadows emerged from the bush. In one swift motion, he detonated the claymores; the explosions tearing through foliage and bodies alike. The first artillery rounds slammed into the ground, adding to the chaos—the noise, the concussive blasts, and the sheer violence of it all. Ella’s senses began to overload, her vision tunneling as fear took hold.

Tam was at the rear of the column, firing steadily, his movements precise and unflinching. As his second magazine emptied, he spun and sprinted past the next man, who immediately opened fire  in turn. On his way, Tam grabbed Ella and pushed her ahead of him without missing a step.

The artillery response was swift and brutal, catching the rebels in the open and forcing them into cover. Their return fire slackened as the shells exploded around them.

“Airs on its way, 15 minutes out!” Chris shouted, leapfrogging past Tam while calling in corrections to the artillery.

The rounds marched across the terrain, carving a corridor for the team to fall back up the slope toward the extraction point. Ella, barely keeping up, glanced at Tam. He was talking to Spider as if making a casual phone call. Despite the thundering artillery and enemy fire, Tam remained unshaken. Chris had been right about him.

The team quickly established a perimeter as Tam and Ella burst through, dropping flat to the ground. Tam pivoted, firing downhill at the figures closing in. Amid the chaos, Ella’s eyes stayed fixed on him.

As the artillery fire lifted, two helicopters emerged from the clouds, their pilots spotting the orange smoke grenade Chris had thrown. Tam reloaded and tossed his rifle to Ella, who struggled to steady her trembling hands as her vision blurred and her breath caught in her throat.

Tam was back on the radio, commanding the gunships, his voice firm amid the chaos. Ella felt adrenaline surge as his commands echoed in her ears, anchoring her even as the world spun around them.

The first helicopter hovered nearby, and the door gunner opened fire to cover their retreat. Tam threw her a quick, reassuring glance to ensure she was ready to move.

When the second Hind touched down beside them, Tam was already moving, practically throwing Ella into the helo as the rest of the team piled in.

As they lifted off into the darkening sky, Ella instinctively searched for Tam, her heart calming at the sight of him. There was something mesmerizing about how he navigated the mayhem, a focus that both terrified and fascinated her.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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