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“Oh, God, Finn could be in danger. There’s no better way for Fariq to even the score with Christian than to hurt Finn.”
“We tried calling and got no answer. Noah has people in route and Thom is getting us set up. I’m going to make sure both the jet and the chopper are ready.”
Pulling on his clothes, Croft followed Avery down the stairs, diverging when they reached the bottom. Croft went to join the rest of the team; Avery headed out to the makeshift landing and heliport. The plane had enough fuel, especially considering the auxiliary tank. The chopper was another matter. It was low on fuel, but more important, the ammunition had been seriously depleted by their attack on Fariq’s compound.
Sardinia was the closest and best place to refuel and rearm, but the helicopter currently in their possession wasn’t big enough to transport the entire team. She looked up at the house. Without thinking, Avery got in the chopper, lifted off, and plotted a course for Sardinia.
“Mustang Sally! This is base. Where the hell do you think you’re going?” growled Mac.
“This chopper won’t do, boss. I established a pretty good relationship with the boys in Sardinia. They were practically drooling over this baby the last time we were in there. They also had a fully armed Sikorsky that could hold the entire team.”
“And you didn’t check with me or…”
“Or who, Mac? I wouldn’t have checked out with anyone but you in the past. And this time I wouldn’t have checked either. The chopper barely has enough fuel to get just me there. Before you guys can get together a plan and be ready, I’ll be back with our new ride. Mustang Sally out!”
Chapter
Sixteen
Thom would have liked to be every bit the angry daddy that Mac seemed to think he ought to be. He would have liked to get on the radio with Avery, telling her to get her cute little butt back to Cadiz. But Finn’s rescue and safety had to come before his own selfish need to keep Avery out of the fray.
“There is no one better,” said Mac. “But if you need her to stand down, we can leave her here.”
Thom shook his head. “No. I promised her that our relationship wouldn’t interfere with her work.”
“I get that.” Mac put his hand on Thom’s shoulder. “I do, but I also know the need to keep your woman safe. We’ll make it work one way or another, but I’ll understand if you want her grounded.”
“Do you have another pilot in mind?”
“You’re right,” Mac sighed. “Junior is as good as anyone else and better than most, but no one comes close to Avery’s combination of skill, experience, and courage. She’s fearless. I don’t envy you that. At least Willa just wants to cook gourmet food and take people on high-end wilderness trips… and save every mangy mustang on the planet.”
“Gourmet and mustangs,” Thom mused. “That actually sounds pretty good.”
“Fucking A,” Mac scoffed. “Seriously, she makes this one dish that is so good. Every bite is worth the three hours I spend on the treadmill afterward just trying to run it off again. Admittedly, those kinds of skills don’t help much when it’s a life or death situation.”
“Fucking A,” he agreed, his turn now to pat Mac on the shoulder. When it came to the women of Wild Mustang’s elite security force, they were all loved, all cherished, and all of them skilled in their own way. But right now, it was Avery’s specific talents that everything seemed to hinge on the most.
Avery watched her fuel carefully. She hadn’t been exaggerating when she told Mac she had just enough to get to Sardinia. The fact was if she was right about the weight of her remaining munitions, she’d be landing on fumes. And she needed to land the chopper safely or she’d never be able to strike a deal.
Fortunately, the wind was blowing in her favor and she made it to Sardinia in good time. The gang she had been dealing with was more than happy to trade the workhorse Sikorsky for the sexy prototype. She was even able to get them to throw in some extra fuel, infrared goggles, black parachutes, rebreathers, and an inflatable boat. Fully loaded, she lifted off. It was dark and the Sikorsky had been equipped with stealth technology. Although she knew she ought to make a beeline for Cadiz, she had a hunch she wanted to check, and so detoured.
Ducking below radar, she engaged the stealth feature and skimmed along at sea level toward one of the many rockoutcroppings that made up most of the tiny, unmanned islands in the area. She remembered a small grouping that formed a horseshoe-like cove; it was just the kind of place Fariq might want to hide. Sure enough, when she swung around the end of the island, she spied his familiar yacht.
I’ve got you now, she thought… or more correctly,we’ve got you. Turning back for Cadiz, she pushed the chopper for all it was worth. And still when she got there, the corporate jet was gone. Mac must have sent Junior to take Christian back to Arizona, along with anyone not needed on the raid. She suspected that would leave Mac, John, Croft, and Noah for the assault, with her and Thom providing backup.
“Base, this is Mustang Sally. I’m coming in hot with a new sweet ride, lots of party favors plus lots of goodies for you and the boys. Why don’t you boys come on out and I’ll take you to the party!”
Once the helicopter was on the ground, Thom climbed in beside her, leaned across to kiss her, and just as his lips went to claim hers, she whispered, “Meow.”
His lips slanted across hers in a kiss that was hungry and inviting. Avery could feel her toes curl, her nipples bead, and her pussy clench. She’d like to have said that it was the anticipation of going into a battle that had her system amped up and firing on all cylinders. And while that might have contributed to how she was feeling, what had her massively turned on was Thom and not just Thom, but that he seemed to understand and support her decision.
“Where we headed, Avery? Did you get a reading on Finn?”
Avery grinned. “I did indeed. Your Finn is in a stateroom on the aft starboard side.”
“How the hell do you know that?”
“Remember the bandanas Mandy had made with the company logo on them? It’s hanging out of the porthole.”
