Zack wasn’t fond of movie theatrics, which didn’t always abide by the real laws of physics, but he aimed the HK at the right front tire and opened fire. Sparks flew off the inside of the wheel well, and several ragged holes appeared in the body, but he managed to strike the tire. The tire exploded under the vehicle, discarding large chunks of rubber like a lizard sheds its skin. He prayed it would be enough to slow the Mercedes before it completely lost control and crashed or flipped.

Noah was one step ahead of Zack, and yelled, “Get back inside and brace yourself!”

The two teammates had operated together for so long and were so fully synchronized in their movements that Zack had already cleared the window with his HK by the time Noah had finished barking the order. “Clear!” Zack yelled, and the SUV moved to the left as the Mercedes struck the rock wall one more time.

The Range Rover smashed into the Mercedes, making contact along the entire length of both vehicles, pinning the ruined SUV between it and the rock wall. Smart man, Zack thought as he felt the Range Rover press against the Mercedes. Explosions of glass and the loud sound of wrenching metal erupted from the left side of the Mercedes, but the Range Rover pushed harder, and both vehicles began to slow.

Zack looked into the back seat of the Mercedes and was greeted by the surreal sight of Aleksei Belyakov staring back at him with hatred and fury on his face. His wife in the driver’s side rear seat was turned around, holding the hands of her two children as they cried in terror. Zack returned the stare, mouthed the words “only you,” and pointed at him simultaneously. For a moment, Belyakov glared at Zack, hidden beneath the tan mask, but then he nodded slightly and turned toward his wife to calm her and his children down.

The two vehicles ground to a halt, the noise and vibration ceasing as quickly as they had started. Noah pulled the SUV from the side of the Mercedes, moved forward a few feet, and angled the Range Rover slightly to the left in front of the incapacitated vehicle.

“Second vehicle is stopping,” Noah said as both men opened the doors on the Range Rover, feet away from the Mercedes.

“I got it,” Zack replied. “Can you secure Belyakov? Change in plans. No one else is getting killed today.” He stepped out onto the pavement and moved around the back of the Range Rover, concealed from the second Mercedes, which was halfway through its turn thirty yards away.

“What about the security guys in the other vehicle?” Noah asked.

Good point. “Fine. Other than them, no one else is getting killed. We’re capturing both Moretti and Belyakov. Langley and Griffin can go fuck themselves.”