Page 102 of Trapped Truth

The ride to Sabre’s sprawling rooftop is brief but tension-filled. Thankfully, the company is agile. It moves fast in a crisis, and whatever Blaine has said clearly worked. The chopper is already whirring on the helipad, beating the frigid air with sprawling metal rotors.

“Ember!”

Over the loud noise, an unwelcome sight climbs from the cockpit.

“What are you doing here?” I shout at Gunnar.

He scans over my hastily applied protection. “Got summoned.”

“You’re coming with us?”

“All hands on deck, I hear.”

Now this is a scene Axel definitely won’t like. Something tells me his twin wouldn’t be top of the list for mission teammates. Particularly as he isn’t here to take part himself.

Skin prickling with uncertainty, I wave for Gunnar to resume his pre-flight checks. Before much longer, the doors to the skyscraper’s roof are thrown open to admit our backup.

Blaine moves in lockstep with Hudson, now dressed in all-black. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the director himself armed and ready for a fight. He looks equally lethal in military-style cargos and an array of stowed weaponry.

Behind them, two members of the Falcon Team follow—Archer and Kyle. Just enough to fill the chopper’s limited seating.

“Em, you should stay here.” Hudson trains an authoritative glare on me. “Your last seizure wasn’t long ago.”

“I’m coming and that’s final!” I bellow over the wind.

“I can’t have you getting hurt on my watch.”

Approaching the group, Gunnar nods in my direction. “I’ll cover her.”

I’m tempted to knock his head off his shoulders for making me sound weak, even if he is working in my favour. I don’t need covering. Least of all by him.

“Anything happens to her, you can answer to the three men blowing up my direct line,” Hudson growls at him.

“Is my brother one of them?” Gunnar grins wolfishly.

“Fuck off,” I snarl. “You know he is.”

“Just checking.”

“Enough! Let’s move!”

My gaze locks with Blaine’s determined orbs as we file into the helicopter. The tight smile he offers in return screams of his uncertainty. I make a point of muscling into the seat next to him, leaving me opposite Archer and his surly teammate.

At least he spares me a nod of acknowledgement, unlike Kyle. The sniper has barely looked at me since the last raid we attended together ended in his team member’s death. I don’t blame him, but it still stings.

“You fly?” I pull on the headset to call up front.

After a crackle, Hudson responds. “I’ve held my license for a few years now.”

“I want that training course next.”

“Then Warner really will have my balls for endangering you.”

He runs through the final checks that Gunnar hadn’t already performed faster than I fear is safe. Next to me, Blaine’s cargo-covered leg bumps mine, his hands still clutched around the phone.

“How were they found?” I ask into the mic.

Blaine cuts me a brief glance. “I don’t know. We’ve been moving positions regularly, but if my ranks aren’t airtight, it’s possible my father received word of where we’d be next.”