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“Planes and crew are on standby at LAX. I’ve been told they’re cleared to fly.”
“Can we get transport arranged from here to there?” It was a five-hour drive from Cambria to Los Angeles. They couldn’t afford that kind of time followed by a seven-plus hour flight.
“Affirmative,” said Mercer. “There’s a CH-53K out of Vandenberg that can get us there in under an hour.”
“Let’s move.” Striker didn’t know who intended to follow him, but it didn’t matter. He was going in, even if it was alone.
Doc motioned to a door Striker hadn’t paid attention to. “Get as much of your gear together as you can from here.”
“What’s in there?”
“Full tactical gear, plus what’s in the safe. I’ll give Merrigan an inventory of whatever else we need while we’re on the road to the airfield. She’ll make arrangements to have it delivered to the plane in Los Angeles.”
“You mean planes, right, Doc?” asked Gunner.
“Affirmative. We’ll split into two groups. Striker, who do you want with you?”
“Me,” said Razor.
“And me,” said Monk.
Doc waited for Striker’s response.
“That’s the first team,” he said. Before he could ask if Mercer was in, he saw the man coming out of the small storage area with his arms full.
“Gunner, Mercer, and I will be team two.”
“What about Ranger and Diesel?” Razor asked Striker, who looked at Doc.
“Let me see what Cope can do. What’s their twenty?”
“Right outside DC.”
“Shouldn’t be too difficult, then. Striker?”
“We’ll head out in fifteen?”
He heard a variety of responses as he went upstairs, all confirming they’d be ready to go.
As much as he didn’t want to wake Aine, there was no way he could leave without saying goodbye to her.
When he walked in, she was walking toward him.
“I wasn’t sure you’d be awake.”
“You have to leave, don’t you?”
He nodded. “I do, sweetheart.” Striker brought his lips to hers and kissed her. “I wish I didn’t have to,” he whispered. “It’s wrecking me inside.”
“I know,” she whispered too. “You have no choice, Griffin. I know you don’t.”
He looked at his watch and kissed her again, this time more deeply.
“I have to go. I’ll be in touch as much as I can, as soon as I can. If you have any questions, ask Merrigan. I love you, Aine.”
“I love you, Griffin.” She tightened her arms around his neck. “Please stay safe. Please come back to me,” she said into his ear, her eyes filling with tears.
Instead of leaving, he led her over to the sofa and pulled her onto his lap.
