Liam’s second in command nodded. “Raven, jog if you can, but we have to go fast.”
“I’ll keep up.” She pivoted to face him. “You make sure you get on that plane. No more bullet holes. Let’s go, Rafe.”
The pair vanished out the front door.
“Come on, Liam. Lean on me as much as you have to. We’ll move faster than if you try to muscle through on your own.” Boone wrapped his arm around Liam’s waist. “Your chariot awaits.”
“Why did I hire you guys?”
“Because you love us. Now, move it.”
“Charlie Four, SITREP.” Dax’s voice boomed over the comms.
“Enroute.”
“Double time it. We have tangos approaching at a rapid clip.”
“Be there in two.” Boone tightened his grip. “Gotta pick up the pace, boss.”
The exertion had Liam wanting to curl up on the ground and let the enemy have him. But thoughts of Raven’s safety kept him going. Besides, he was Delta Force. Giving up wasn’t in his vocabulary.
At the plane, Dax and Rafe practically threw him on board. Boone jumped in behind him.
Dax closed and secured the door. “Hit it, X-Man.”
The plane lurched forward and sped down the runway.
Liam stumbled down the small aisle and collapsed in a seat. Forget buckling his seatbelt. He’d left his energy somewhere between the house and the makeshift hangar.
Gunfire cracked and struck the fuselage, but X-Man continued down the runway.
Liam gripped the armrest. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. His vision tunneled. He struggled to stay conscious.
Strapped in the seat across the aisle, Raven’s jaw tightened. Her eyes locked on him—the worry palpable.
The nose of the plane lifted and climbed, leaving the spray of gunfire behind.
Liam’s eyes closed. The last thought before he allowed the darkness to drag him under—how had these men found them?
CHAPTER 8
Somewhere over the U.S.
Friday – 1000 Hours
Code Name: Raven
Jade unbuckled and pushed the button to recline Liam’s seat. A blanket appeared over her shoulder. She looked up, smiled at Rafe, and took the cover. These men might claim to be rough and tough, but all five of them were teddy bears at heart. Although she’d never tell them that. She draped the blanket over Liam and stared a bit too long at the dried blood in his hairline. A couple of inches over and the bullet would’ve hit him between the eyes. She shivered at the thought.
“He’ll be okay.” Dax nodded toward his leader.
“For which I’m grateful. But he shouldn’t have been shot in the first place.” Jade slipped back in her seat across the aisle. Her gaze locked on Liam. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Occasionally, his fingers twitched as if he couldn’t escape a bad dream.
The man she’d connected with over missions. The one who knew her better than anyone else in her life had taken a bullet meant for her.
“It’s not your fault, you know that, right?” Boone crossed his ankle over his knee.
“Try telling my heart that.”
