“Guys, get back inside. I need to shake this bastard,” Catch growls.
Having a military sniper and pilot on hand is valuable. Conveniently, he stores a military helicopter in one of his warehouses.
Kicksand I slam the helicopter doors shut before hurrying back to our seats. We buckle in just as the rotors roar louder overhead.
Catch banks hard to the left.
Then, to the right.
Without warning, the helicopter drops several feet.
“Shit!” Serenity squeals.
I take her hand.
She latches onto mine so tightly my fingers ache.
She’s shaking.
Not the slight tremble of nerves.
Full-body fear.
I tighten my grip, silently promising I won’t let go.
The helicopter bucks again as Catch fights the controls, the metal frame groaning around us. Every dip sends my stomach into my throat.
No one speaks.
The only sounds are the deafening blades overhead, the strained engine, and our uneven breathing.
None of us knows if we’ll survive this flight.
I notice Catch approaching the ocean.
“Nico, Kicks, now,” Catch shouts.
Kicks and I scurry into position. The second we have a good angle, we fire. Kicks manages to hit the first one, and I land an array of bullets on the second helicopter.
Their men fire back and barely miss our helicopter. I feel something gripping my ankle. I look down and my eyes widen.
“Serenity,” I say. Shock in my voice.
“Kill them,” she says as she slides the strap over my foot.
I’m thankful she secured my foot and keeps hanging on because my cousin is flying like this is a toy helicopter. I get why he does it. To keep us from getting hit.
“Serenity, get back in your seat and buckle. I can’t have you falling out the door.”
She grabs onto the net hanging along the wall, sits in her seat, and secures her seatbelt.
Once my wife is safe, I aim for the fuel tank this time. Just as I’m about to pull the trigger, one of the guys from the second helicopter fires my way. I dip my head back inside. No time to let up. I take the risk of peeking out the door. I fire again and land my shot. Black smoke billows in the air. The helicopter careens wildly, spiraling down toward the ocean. Kicks unleashes a hail of bullets that slam into the first helicopter’s fuel tank, igniting it in a blazing inferno. The pilot of the second helicopter manages to crash into the water, the craft exploding into flames. I unleash a barrage from my AR-15, determined to end every last one of the bastards who dared go after my wife. None of her enemies survive this war.
“Catch, let’s take the war to them.” I remove my foot from the sling and take my seat beside Serenity.
He chuckles. “Got it, Nico.”
Ritchie laughs too as he checks his AR-15 magazine.
