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“The back gate was compromised,” the soldier said, his expression one of fury. “We’ve got Humvees rolling in, at least four of them and they’re heavily armed.”
Valentin hesitated for less than four seconds.
“No. We’re rolling. Send the decoy out. Now.”
Decoy. He meant another plane. Oh, my God. He’d known this was going to happen. As soon as the man backed away, racing down the stairs and dragging them several feet in the opposite direction, Valentin shut the door to the plane. I backed down the aisle, watching everything Valentin did. He charged toward me, planting me in my seat, his fingers digging into me.
“Goddamn it, Cassidy. This isn’t a game. We’re under attack and I can’t be certain we’ll get out of here alive. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Then stay put.” He grabbed the rifle, shifting toward the front into the cockpit.
My hands were shaking as I tried to fasten the seatbelt. Then I stared out the window, watching as at least eight men scrambled back and forth in the hangar. I heard the rumble of the plane’s engines as they were started and what seemed like seconds later, the aircraft was moving closer to the massive hangar door.
This wasn’t happening. I couldn’t be on a plane with him. I had to get home. Sadly, I knew I couldn’t remain in Chicago. Valentin was right about one thing. I’d continue to be hunted. I had played a game of Russian roulette and I’d lost. Still, I needed my life back. Somehow. Some way.
The plane sat idling for a couple of minutes. Then the door was powered open, the pilot immediately taxiing onto a runway. Seconds passed. A full minute, maybe more. Everything was pitch black. Then I noticed lights somewhere else.
And I felt another rumble. Seconds later, a bright light flashed across the sky. A fire. The force of the explosion forced the plane to the right. I gripped the arms of the seat, unable to breathe. Within seconds, it was obvious the plane was being fired on. Lights flashed from every direction, several high powered, glowing in the night sky. They were the runway lights.
Another explosion rocked the plane again, the pilot forced to swerve.
We were going to die.
Valentin appeared, making his way toward me, his weapon slung over his shoulder. When he sat down, he pulled my hands into his, slowly turning his head in my direction. And for the first time, I realized I wasn’t certain I could stand to be without him.
A loud pulsing noise sounded off, a whooshing sound shifting past the plane, the windows rattling. There were flashes everywhere. He pinched my chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to stare into his eyes. “Don’t take your eyes off me, angel.”
This time, I did what he asked without question, still shaking as fear kept a lump in my throat, tears in my eyes.
We weren’t going to make it.
As the plane increased in speed, the inertia shot through me. He refused to let me go, leaning closer and pressing his lips against mine. Within seconds, I pushed my hand against his chest, the heat of his body as disruptive as the explosions that continued out the window.
He slipped his arm around me, pulling me even closer.
As if he was saying goodbye.
