Page 87 of Rescuing Erin

“You got two choices, tandem up with me,” Zane shouted over the noise, “or in the basket!”

“Neither. Do you know who the fuck I am?”

“Yes, sir, I do.” Zane’s lips twitched.

“I’m a goddamn UDT. I may be battered but I’m not broken. There’s no chance in hell, I’m going up in a basket.”

“Hooyah!” Linc, Leo, Zane, and Rocco’s team all belted out.

Jax and I shook our head. “Damn Navy SEALs and Hooyahs.” I laughed.

“You know what we say to you Army grunts, right?” Rocco chuckled good-naturedly. “Follow us, we’ll lead the way,” he finished.

“That’s because we’re smart. We let the frogs draw ’em out and cover your asses.”

“You’re up first, Rocco.” Zane cut off our banter.

Once Rocco was in the helicopter, then the president, I took my first deep breath since the whole ordeal started.

“You’re next, brother. And when we get to Camp David, I wanna look at your arm. You good going up the rope?” Zane asked.

“Do you know who the fuck I am?” I said, using Tom’s words from earlier.

Zane’s face finally relaxed, and he smiled. “Yeah, brother, I know exactly who you are.” His hand landed on my left shoulder and he gave me a bone-jarring pound on the back. “You’re one of the toughest sons of bitches I know.”

I wrapped my left arm around the rope and when my feet were off the ground, I tangled my leg around the line, making a foothold. I glanced around the wooded area with dead bodies scattered about. Tom was right, it looked like a war zone. I thanked my lucky stars we’d made it through another battle, lived another day, and when the time came for the next one—we’d be ready for another fight. It’s what we did. What we lived for.

Chapter 31

This wasn’t my first time in a helicopter, and each time I went up I swore I’d never fly in one again. It was worse today because I was already on edge. It wasn’t that I got airsick, exactly, but I always got a little queasy. Alice was sitting next to me, happy as a clam, staring out the window as we flew north toward Camp David.

Gerard had received a call from Zane, and, within minutes, there was an executive helicopter on the roof of Z Corps ready to take us to my dad and the rest of the guys. We were told there would be a Delta Force team following us and not to be alarmed, it was simply a safety precaution. Gerard hadn’t given us any information about my father’s condition, and I hoped, for my mom’s sake, he was okay. The past few hours had weighed heaviest on her. Yes, he was my father, and I loved him dearly, but he was my mother’s everything. If she lost him, I don’t know what she’d do.

The beautiful trees of the Catoctin National Park gave way to the retreat. I wanted off this aircraft and to find Colin. I needed to see for myself he was okay. That they all were. Looking around the cabin at Violet, Ivy, and Liv, I knew they were feeling the same as I was. Not to mention, Alice had been worried sick about Colin. Jasmin had stayed back with the twins, not feeling comfortable with them flying yet. She blew it off and said Linc would be home when he was done with his debriefing. But my cousin wasn’t fooling anyone, she was just as worried. I think everyone was right, the babies had softened her, but not in a bad way. The boys had brought out all the best parts of Jasmin. Sure, she was still as brash as ever, but she seemed to show her emotions more. I liked it.

“Two minutes,” Gerard mouthed.

He was the only one wearing a headset, staying in communication with the pilot.

I picked up my mom’s hand and was rewarded with a tight smile. “Everything’s fine.”

For all the reassuring my mom had done today, she didn’t sound fine.

My ears popped as the altitude changed, and it wasn’t long before the pilot gently put the helicopter down. Gerard held up his hand signaling for us to wait, I’d say he had mere moments before five anxious women rushed him and exited whether he wanted them to or not.

The blades whined down to a slow thrum, and the door was opened. Seven men dressed in all black, complete with covered faces stood outside.

Alice stiffened beside me. “It’s okay. Those are the good guys. They’re just making sure we’re safe.”

She didn’t speak but nodded. Gerard got out and helped my mother out before assisting the rest of us. My mother was straightening her skirt and otherwise making herself presentable. I knew it was a nervous habit, but with my nerves frayed I wanted to scream that no one cared how she looked. But I didn’t. Instead, I took my mom’s hand in one of mine and Alice’s in the other. Gerard took the lead and started walking toward the Fieldhouse. We were halfway there when Zane, Leo, Colin, Linc, Declan, and Jax came into view. The six of them looked like tall, strong avenging angels. Violet, Liv, and Ivy walked ahead and were nearly jogging. I didn’t dare let go of my mother and Alice. At first, I thought it was because they needed the support, but I realized it was for me. My legs felt like jelly, and my heart was beating so fast I was getting dizzy. He was safe. Alive. Sweet relief flooded my body.

But my dad was nowhere in sight. Which I told myself was because it was unsafe for him to be out in the open. However, I knew that wasn’t the case.

Colin waited for the three of us to approach while the others broke away and were ushered into the house. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and pepper his face with kisses, but I couldn’t my mom and Alice needed to be taken care of first.

“Did they task you as the one to give me the bad news?” my mom said to Colin when we stopped in front of him.

“Mother!” I scolded.