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“To hand Gooch his ass one last time? You better believe it. Will feel good to give Whiplash another reason for her name, too. You know, when she’s looking behind her to see us on her tail.”
I chuckled as Solo pulled on his G-suit and began securing it around his thighs, then I moved into his bay to hand him his survival vest. As he stepped into the harness and pulled it up his legs, I made sure to keep my eyes on his so I wouldn’t get distracted by just how well that piece of safety equipment emphasized…well, his equipment.
“I had a feeling Levy was gonna pit us against each other,” he said as he slipped his arms inside the straps and secured it. “The four of us have been circling the top of the leaderboard for a while now.”
It was all up to us now, and what we did in the air today. The person who was named the best of the best was going to have to exhibit both exemplary piloting skills and top-notch leadership qualities, and I knew that the man standing opposite me was my biggest competitor.
Smart, sexy, and one hell of a pilot. Solo was everything I wanted wrapped up in a flight suit and a pair of Aviators. He was my partner in the air, on the ground, in my bed, and in my life, and no matter who came out on top today, I couldn’t help but believe we’d both be winners in the end.
“Hello… Earth to Panther. Did you hear me?”
I blinked, pushing my thoughts aside. “Sorry, what did you say?”
“Are you good? Is there anything else you want to go over before we head out there?”
We had already run through our game plan back in class, but beyond the initial setup, there was really no way to predict what would happen once we were airborne. We had been assigned the role of the aggressors today, but instead of getting down and dirty like everyone expected of us once we hit the air, I’d come up with a new plan: stealth.
“No, I’m good,” I said, then reached for the straps of his harness, tugging him in as close as I could get him with all his safety gear on. “But you be careful up there today. I want you back in one piece at the end of this, you hear me, Lieutenant Morgan?”
“I’ll fly smart and follow your lead, how about that?”
I knew that was as close to a promise of carefulness as I would get from Solo, especially considering what was at stake today. So I let him go and gave him a clipped nod.
“That works. Okay, I’m gonna go suit up. I’ll meet you out there in a few.”
I turned to head out of his bay and over to mine, then heard him call my name. I stopped and looked back to see him looking every inch the cocky, rebellious fighter pilot I’d fallen for.
Solo flashed that charming grin and said, “I love you.”
Wow. It was amazing how three simple words could make you feel as though you could conquer the whole damn world, and I felt invincible. I had the most talented, quickest-thinking pilot in the Elite flying by my side this afternoon. I was out to prove to Levy, our fellow trainees, and my father that I was worthy of Mateo “Solo” Morgan, and I pitied the poor fools who were about to have to face off with me.
33 Solo
THE SUN BARELY managed to slip through the clouds as we headed across the runway to where our planes waited fully fueled and ready for their pre-check. I could see Houdini and that asshat Utah coming in for a landing one runway over, and after the way they’d just annihilated Phantom and Alphabet up there, I had a fire lit under my ass.
From day one I’d entered this course with every intention of winning, and just because I’d gone and done the unimaginable—fallen in love—that didn’t mean my determination to kick everyone’s ass had flown out the window.
One ass I was particularly looking forward to spanking was Utah’s. The last time we’d gone head to head, I’d been all up in mine and that motherfucker had gotten the best of me. But today was a different story. I was one hundred percent focused, and the only way I was leaving that sky was victorious.
This newfound confidence also came because I just so happened to be partnered up with the best pilot in the program. Don’t get me wrong, I was a close second and nipping at Panther’s heels, but I’d have to be stupid to think that anyone who beat Captain “Razor” Hughes wasn’t a serious threat.
Panther had this cool, calculated way about flying that you couldn’t help but be in awe of. And when he flawlessly executed some of the most difficult maneuvers without breaking a sweat, damn, that was just sexy as fuck.
