“Raven. Charlie Three will get your bag and backpack. Get yourself on board and buckled in. Once Charlie Five gives us the ready for takeoff, we’ll join you and get out of here.”
“I’ll do my part.” Raven held her ribs, but the determination in her gaze eased Liam’s concern.
Liam drummed his fingers on the stock of his rifle. When the SUV turned into the entrance of the airfield, he scanned the surroundings as Boone sped toward the plane.
“Coming up on the airstrip,” Boone announced.
Liam eyed the distance and silently counted down. The SUV skidded to a stop. “Charlie Five, go.”
Xander jumped from the SUV and hit the ground running.
Boone slammed the vehicle into Park, and the rest of the team filed out.
“Mr. McKnight, the gate to the field is closed. I’ll return the SUV.” The man who owned the airstrip, and who they’d paid quite nicely for help, held out his hand.
Boone dropped the keys into the guy’s palm.
“Thank you, Marco,” Liam said.
“Anytime, sir.”
His team executed his orders while he finished the quick conversation with their connection. Liam jogged the gear over to Rafe and joined Boone on lookout.
The plane engines cranked and hummed to life. He’d give Xander ten minutes to get the thing warmed up.
Weapon across his torso and finger close to the trigger, Liam swept his gaze along the perimeter. The more he thought about the whole debacle with Raven, the more he worried. Especially after the mission in Syria. According to Raven, she hadn’t uncovered who leaked the equipment codes and had received nasty emails from an unknown source. He hadn’t read any of them. Maybe Raven had downplayed them, and the messages hadn’t simply been unkind words, but threats. He tucked that question away for later.
“Charlie One, Charlie Two.”
“Go ahead, Charlie Two.”
“I’m not liking this. I recommend a safehouse until we get to the bottom of Raven’s abduction.” It was as if Rafe had read his mind.
“I concur,” Charlie Four added.
“Charlie One, shouldn’t we ask before making that decision?” Charlie Three had a point.
He’d never force Raven to do anything she didn’t want to. But he’d make sure she understood the severity of the situation. “Charlie Three, go ahead. Explain it to her.”
“Thanks a lot, Charlie One.” He could hear Dax’s eye roll from here.
After a couple of minutes of silence, Dax returned to the comms. “She’s in agreement. Although fair warning, she’s glaring at me. Raven does not like to be excluded from our discussions.”
Now, that was the Raven he knew. “Copy that, Charlie Three.”
“Charlie Five to all. Ready to roll.”
Liam and Boone dashed to the aircraft and hurried aboard. Rafe closed the door and locked it in place. The wheels rolled as they found their seats. He took one near Raven. Having her out of his sight for the last fifteen minutes made his skin crawl.
The eight-passenger Cessna lifted off. Liam shifted to face Raven. “Did Dax explain our concerns?”
She nodded. “I don’t like it, but I’ll agree to the safe house.”
“Thank you.” Liam exhaled with relief and texted his buddy in Colorado, requesting the use of the man’s property. The answer came back immediately. He tucked his phone in his pocket. “Charlie Five, process to safe house six. Use of runway approved.”
“Copy that, Charlie One.”
Liam rested his head on the seat and closed his eyes. If he hadn’t gone with his gut, what would have happened to Raven?
