Page 64 of Protecting Salvation

Lotus read it out and Hurricane tried to reach him over the radio and ask for his destination coordinates, but he wasn’t responding. Not surprising considering what had just gone down.

“They found the body. It’s McCain.”

“Thank God.” Air rushed out of him like a popped balloon.

“Look, they’re landing.” He cocked an eyebrow and she chuckled. “Sorry.”

Hurricane wanted to fly right up to them but he knew it would get Peyton killed so he held back. “I need to change course. Help me with these readings.” Changing directions and keeping his cool as he gave the location to the team on the ground was a feat of control he didn’t know he had. Especially with the panic swirling in his gut and the pain in his head.

“Land and meet us there,” Bás ordered.

“Roger that.”

He landed in a field with a lot of help from Lotus about half a mile away and they set off at a fast clip, him mainly following the sound of her and Titan’s less-than-quiet movements. He tripped a couple of times until Titan gripped his shoulder to guide him. None of them wanted to hang around, but he hated feeling weak like he was a burden. Ignoring the pounding in his head he pushed on. The only thing that mattered was Peyton.

He met the others at the edge of another abandoned farm with a stone farmhouse in need of some love and two barns long since past their best. His vision was clearing a little now, perhaps because of the lower altitude. “Well?”

“Trevor shot the pilot as soon as they landed. He took Peyton inside the barn. She looks fine. She’s walking and unharmed.”

He wished Bás’ words made him feel better but he didn’t think that was going to happen until she was safe in his arms again. “What’s the plan? He’s only one man. Why haven’t we gone in yet?”

“Because we now know what the ammonium nitrate was for.”

“He made a bomb.”

“Yep. Big enough to flatten this entire area and guess who he has sitting in the middle of it?”

“Holy hell.”

“Do we have eyes and ears?”

“Duchess and Reaper are sorting that now.”

Bás held a small device in his hand which allowed him to see the cameras once Duchess and Reaper got them in play. Hurricane watched, blinking wildly and cursing his fucking head for fucking with him. His pain was getting worse and it was a miracle he was standing right now but he’d walk through hell for this woman if he had to.

Suddenly the screen flickered and a voice came over the comms. Peyton sat on a chair surrounded by three huge barrels with leads weaving around them. He couldn’t make out her face but he didn’t have to. She’d be terrified but she’d hold it together because that was who she was.

“Motherfucker.” Lotus kicked a rock in anger and he got it, he did.

Bás glared at her. “Cool it or leave.”

Hurricane wondered if she was going to walk but she gave a short nod. That was the thing about Lotus, she’d never walk out on family.

A wave of pain hit him and he rushed to the bush closest and puked until he had nothing left, dizziness trying to claim him as his eyes watered. A bottle of water was shoved in front of him from Titan and he took it, rinsing his mouth and spitting.

“You good?”

“No, but I’m not leaving either.”

“Didn’t think you would, man. I’ve got your back.”

He walked back to Bás who was now talking to Duchess. “Is she okay?”

Duchess eyed him and he knew he looked like road kill right now.

“Scared but she’s holding her own. She’s keeping him talking but he’s coming apart. He’s angry that she tried to come between him and his wife. He’s talking about other bodies buried here and how the only way to keep his secret was to destroy the evidence.”

“With a bomb? Is he stupid? That won’t hide anything, and he’ll be dead too.” This man was more insane than he imagined. “Plan?” He could hardly talk in full sentences now as the pain was unbearable.