“I promise. Thanks, Charlie Five.”
A grin split Xander's face. “Never thought I’d hear my call sign from you in person.”
Same, my friend, same.Liam kept his gaze on the road ahead while Rafe maintained a view of their six.
“Why on earth are these people after you, Raven?” Dax asked.
“I honestly don’t know.”
“Give us the quick version of why you’re here.” Boone’s casual tone belied his intense driving.
“My therapist and I have been working on my agoraphobia. I’ve improved so much that she recommended I take a trip for a new experience. She thought I was ready for the challenge.” Raven’s last words came out in a whisper.
“Did she know where you went?” Rafe asked.
“Yes. I talked with her right before I took a walk on the property.”
Liam exchanged looks with Rafe. Could the therapist have lured Raven here?
“No. Just no.” Raven glared at him. “I see that thought running through your head. Breana is not only helping me, but I trust her completely.”
“We have no idea why you were abducted. We have to look at all angles.” Liam refused to put Raven’s safety at stake by not considering all possibilities.
“I guess. But you are way off base.”
Liam fought the smile, pushing forward. There was his feisty Raven. The woman in his ear, whose calm, consistent tone got him through several harrowing missions. His breath caught. His Raven. Not in a possessive sense, but one of closeness. The woman had intrigued him since they started working together. If he could get her out of this mess, maybe he’d find the courage to ask her out on a real date. Now that he’d met her in person.
Rafe narrowed his gaze and tilted his head as if to ask what was up.
He smiled and shook his head. No way would he announcethatin front of his men.
“The car’s closing in,” Boone commented like they were sitting around shooting the breeze at a picnic.
“Two miles to the airfield. Winding roads with drop-offs oceanside and rocky hills opposite. No room to maneuver if you get in trouble.” Liam rattled off the information.
“Copy that.”
He noticed the others prepare for the worst-case scenario. Liam trusted Dax, but man, it was hard not to be the one protecting her.
“Dax.”
“I’ve got her.”
The car rammed into the bumper of the SUV.
The SUV fishtailed. Boone wrestled with the steering wheel and won.
The car struck them a second time, throwing the large vehicle onto the gravel edge. The tires skidded and caught the edge of the road, causing Boone to overcorrect. Charlie Four fought thepull across the road, the back end sliding wide, but he gained control.
When the car hit their SUV, it had been thrown off course and ended up stopped at an angle on the two-lane road.
“Hit the gas.” Liam tapped the back of Xander’s seat. “X-Man, get that plane ready for takeoff as fast as you possibly can.”
“Fifteen minutes. Twenty tops. I want to make sure it hasn’t been tampered with.”
“Dax, you’ve got Raven. Boone, you’re with me on perimeter, but first drop the gear at the luggage hold. Rafe, store the stuff and help Xander if he needs it. Everyone go to comms.”
A round ofCopyfilled the SUV.
