Page 3 of Her Chosen Protector

Now, nobody can find the off button.”

Cullen looked over at the two of them, then scratched his nose with his middle finger. This time, Asher laughed out loud and so did Ezio. Asher looked to his left and saw Leo put his book away. He was practically vibrating with energy. The man was always jazzed for a mission.

The plane touched down smooth as glass. The pilot on this assignment was damn good. Setting this tube down like a hummingbird on some drug runner’s dirt runway in the middle of a jungle was slick.

Ash heard a click as Leo unbuckled his belt. Yep, the mission was starting. Asher reached for his belt.

Screeeeech….

The grating sound of bending metal sliced through his eardrums as the explosion sounded.

Leo pitched forward, landing hard in the center of the floor, before sliding and hitting Raiden’s legs on the other side of the transport plane. Both men grunted.

“What the fuck?” Cullen yelled.

“Shit!”

“Goddammit,” Kane sounded pissed. Something must have happened to Kane’s computer.

“RPG?” Ezio gave a good guess.

“Landmine.” Lieutenant Max Hogan’s voice cut through the pandemonium.

Asher knew that the fuel wasn’t stored over the wheels so they should be safe. He watched as Raiden jerked out of his straps and held onto Leo while Nic Hale held onto Raiden. Hopefully, Leo would be all right until the airplane came to a stop.

The big bird continued to skid forward on its nose, and Ash prayed they wouldn’t hit another landmine because this time it would hit right under the cockpit.

His prayers weren’t answered.

A second violent explosion burst out from the front of the plane, the fiery percussion hurtling through to the back.

Asher’s head slammed against the metal wall behind him as the plane tipped onto its wing. He must have blacked out, because the next thing he knew, he smelled smoke, and Kane was unbuckling his belt and yanking him up into a standing position.

“You with me, Thorne?” he yelled into his face.

“Am now,” he slurred. He needed to get it together. Now!

Ash looked around and spotted a backpack. Didn’t matter if it was his or not, he grabbed it and staggered after Kane towards the breeze of the exit. Smoke roiled around him. He saw flames licking up from underneath the door of the cockpit.

“Pilots?” He croaked out the question, as he crouched and jumped to the dirt of the runway. He grunted in pain. God, that hurt. He looked around to do a headcount.

“Where’s Max and Cullen? Are they going after the pilots?”

“They’re going to give it a shot.” Kane thrust his computer tablet at Raiden and grabbed Asher’s arm. Kane forced him at least fifty meters away from the plane to where Leo was propped up under a tree.

“I’m fine,” Asher heard Leo bitching. Nic had his hand pushing down on Leo’s shoulder.

“You’re not fine until Kane says you are,” the young SEAL ground out impatiently.

“Well, I’d be better if you wouldn’t press on the shoulder that Ezio just jammed back into place.”

Leo’s sarcasm was clear.

“Fuck, Man. I’m sorry.” Nic immediately pulled his hands away from Leo’s body.

Leo gave a hoarse laugh like he’d pulled a big joke. Well, he couldn’t be too wounded.

“I’d say that’s one patient you don’t have to worry about.” Asher gave Kane a rough grin, trying to ignore the pain in his head.