“I read you loud and clear, buddy.” Liam sorted through the events of the last couple of days. The mission to find the contractor’s daughter. Getting called off. Discovering Raven in a hut, injured and terrified.
“Car on our six.” Rafe’s calm words almost made Liam chuckle.
“Got it.” Boone sped up.
Liam noted the trailing vehicle’s response. He clutched his HK416 tighter. “Matching speed.”
“Annoying backseat drivers,” Boone grumbled.
Xander nodded. “That’s why none of you are allowed in my cockpit.”
He and Rafe glanced at each other and smiled.
“Our job here is done.” His second-in-command raised his knuckles, and Liam bumped them.
He thanked God every day for these men in his life. Liam had questioned his choice of starting BlackKnight Security, but when he finished forming the team, he knew he’d done the right thing.
“Doing okay back there?” He twisted to check on Raven. Even through the light-hearted banter, Liam worried about their exfil.
“Believe it or not, I’m okay. I’m enclosed inside this SUV. It’s daylight out. And I have five men I trust with my life.”
He glanced over the seat and studied her for a moment. She did look more relaxed.
“But if you could get me on that plane and back home, I’d appreciate it.”
Chuckles filled the interior of the vehicle.
“We’ll do our best.” Liam refocused on Boone. “Lose him.”
“On it. Hold on.” Boone hit the accelerator, and the SUV lurched forward.
Raven squeaked then whimpered as if in pain.
“Raven?” Dax’s concerned tone hit Liam.
A grimace contorted her face, and she held her middle.
“Sorry, Raven.” Boone navigated the curvy roads like a professional NASCAR driver.
“’is okay.” Her words slurred a bit behind her gritted teeth.
Her response sent Liam’s stomach plummeting to the floor. He called out to his medic. “X-Man.” Dax was beside her, but he wanted Xander’s expertise.
“Raven, where does it hurt?” Xander asked.
“I’m good.”
Xander twisted in his seat. “Raven, stop. You know better than anyone that we don’t hide things from our teammates. That can get people dead. You are one of us. The only difference is you aren’t behind a computer monitor at the moment.”
She nodded. “My ribs. When we sped up, my body slammed into the seatbelt.”
“Better. Any worse than before? Or just a jolt to remind you they’re there?”
Liam listened to the back and forth between Xander and Raven. The pain in her voice ripped his heart out. But he stayed quiet, allowing his medic to take charge.
“A jolt, I think. Give me a second.” She breathed through the discomfort. “They’re settling down.”
“Good. If that changes, you let me know.”
