Page 127 of Freeing Lark

Flint arrived beside him. “What’s the situation?”

“Calloway and Bradley are inside.”

Flint’s eyes narrowed. “And?”

“Unknown number of hostiles.”

A burst of static. Then Lark again. “...you can’t keep doing this.”

Hoot’s blood went cold. He knew that tone. She was scared. But she was fighting. His Lark was still fighting. He suddenly hoped that after all this was over, she could finally stop fighting.

Flint looked around at the team. “We do this clean.”

Hoot nodded. Jeeves and Voodoo moved toward the rear of the building. Spark stayed with Hoot.

Flint signaled. Three. Two. One.

The rear door exploded inward thanks to Spark’s boot kick. Hoot went through first. Chaos erupted. A man lunged from behind the corner of the building before Hoot could fully enter. Hoot dropped him with a single strike.

Another came from the side. Spark intercepted him. “Where are they all coming from?” Spark shouted.

“Don’t care. Handle it!”

Hoot pushed into the garage. “Lark!” Her head snapped toward him. Their eyes met. For one suspended second, everything else disappeared.

She was tied to a chair. Her hair was disheveled. One cheek reddened. There was fear in her eyes. But she was alive. “Cormac.”

He crossed the room in seconds. Calloway backed away. Bradley stood frozen beside him. Hoot barely noticed either man, knowing his team would have his back. He dropped to his knees in front of Lark.

“Are you hurt?”

She shook her head. “No. Wren⁠—”

“I’ve got her,” Spark assured.

Lark’s eyes filled with tears. Hoot reached for the restraints. “Hold on.” His knife flashed. The zip tie snapped. Lark’s hands fell free, and she immediately threw her arms around his neck.

Hoot caught her carefully, burying his face against her hair. For one moment, he simply held her. Then he whispered against her temple. “You’re safe now, little bird. I’ve got you.”

She clung tighter. “I know.”

“Next time you disappear, I’m coming with you.” She snorted out a laugh, which was exactly what he needed to hear at that moment.

Behind them, Flint’s voice turned hard. “Calloway.”

Hoot looked over Lark’s shoulder. Calloway stood surrounded by Condor’s Overwatch operators. His expression was remarkably calm. Almost amused. “Gentlemen.”

Hoot’s hand tightened around Lark. He’d never been more certain of anything in his life. This wasn’t over. Not even close.

CHAPTER 41

For one glorious second, Lark didn’t care about anything except the fact that Cormac was standing in front of her. He had come through that door like some modern-day knight in shining armor. A ridiculously clichéd thought.

She didn’t care. She was in his arms. She was alive. And she was safe. She buried her face against his chest and breathed him in, letting herself believe that the nightmare was finally over.

Then gunfire erupted. Cormac shoved her down. His body covered hers before she even understood what was happening. “Stay down!”

Men poured into the garage. Bad men. And they were armed.