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As soon as I reached the cross street, I rolled my hand on the steering wheel, careening the car into the middle of the road. Thank God the morning traffic was light. As soon as I managed to jam the gear into drive, the sound of gunfire permeated the vehicle. Fuck. I slammed my hand on the steering wheel, flooring it, racing around people and cars. While the soldiers on foot kept coming, in less than minute they’d dropped out of sight.
However, we weren’t in the clear.
Two massive SUVs skidded around a corner right after I’d barreled through the intersection, firing at will. Willow screamed as several bullets hit the car. I swerved, darting several looks into the rearview mirror. The shit storm continued, another vehicle trying to block our path. I swerved around it, the roar of gunfire pounding into my ears.
The second the passenger window was blown out, I hissed. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Her voice was soft, shaken.
I bellowed as I floored it again, not bothering to look back at first as I tried to remember the alternate route I’d mapped out. I took a hard right then a left, praying to God I’d lose them. When they didn’t follow, I searched my mind, trying to figure out if they’d be lying in wait somewhere else. There was only a single spot, but it was the only way to get to the damn airstrip.
“Are they gone?”
“Not by a longshot, sweetheart. When we get to our destination, there might not be time to grab your things.”
“I can live without them.”
I half laughed, swerving around another vehicle before heading into the area I knew could be dangerous. As expected, a single vehicle was blocking the road, two soldiers standing in wait. I yanked my gun into my hand, lowering the driver’s window. I was a fucking right-handed man, but it didn’t matter when I held a weapon in my fingers. I fired without hesitation, the two soldiers getting off several shots before I gunned them down.
As I careened around a corner, I held my breath as I noticed an oncoming car. “Fuck!” I pressed down on the accelerator, pushing the small car as hard as it would go. “Come on, baby. Come on.” The hard thump as I rolled over one of the soldiers forced a moan from the woman I’d been hired to protect. My mark.
One fucking beauty who’d managed to grab a part of me that I’d thought dead.
The second I was past the vehicle, I jerked the wheel to the right, missing the oncoming car by inches. The horn blast was just fine by me, but when I heard a loud crash, I threw my gaze into the rearview mirror as a fireball reached the sky.
That would block the road for several minutes if not longer. I didn’t slow down, barreling toward our destination. When I noticed the sign indicating the airstrip, I sucked in my breath, rolling through the gates, cursing the pilot ahead of time.
The plane was waiting exactly as I’d required, idling in preparation. I barely got the gear in park, cutting the engine before I jumped out, immediately opening her door. “Come on, Willow. We can do this.” I took a chance, grabbing the two bags from the trunk, keeping my weapon in my hand. “Now, run.”
She didn’t hesitate, running quickly toward the plane. I was surprised she was able to keep up with no issues. The pilot jumped down the stairs, yelling at me in Spanish. Only when we were closer did I understand what we were saying.
Incoming assholes.
I threw my head over my shoulder, hissing then moving behind her. Thank God the pilot jogged toward us, yanking the bags from my hand. “Get on the plane. Do it.” My order was harsh, but she followed it, still running toward the steps.
I turned around, standing my ground as two vehicles swung in through the gate. Then I started firing, peppering off a full magazine and loading another, backing away until I was at the stairs.
“Tenemos que imos!” We need to go! the pilot yelled over the roar of the engines.
The assholes started firing, at least two bullets pinging off the hull of the plane. I fired off several more as I ascended the stairs, yanking the chain link stairs into the plane and immediately shutting the door. “Go. Go. Go!” I screamed in English, immediately moving to one of the windows. I could hear her soft moans from behind me.
The pilot wasted no time, the plane immediately rolling down the short runway. The cargo plane was large enough I had no idea how he was going to get the goddamn thing off the ground. The only thing he had going for him was that the fuselage wasn’t loaded, the weight a hindrance.
I backed away, saying a silent prayer as my mother used to do. Then I grabbed Willow into my arms, holding her close as the pilot picked up speed. I could still hear the gunfire, at least two more bullets hitting the hard steel. Fortunately, I couldn’t detect a breach, but that didn’t mean one hadn’t crippled an engine.
But as the plane suddenly left the ground, I squeezed her tightly. This was as harrowing as any of the rescues I’d ever handled.
Only more so because I cared entirely too much about the precious cargo in my care.
* * *
The plane ride was without incident, the connections afforded to me allowing entrance into the United States without issue. As the pilot was preparing to land on the Big Island, I pulled out my communications device, ready to transfer the last of the man’s money. I noticed Willow was staring out the window, remaining in the same place she’d been for the long trip. She’d dozed some, but with every look on her face, I could see the exhaustion starting to take a toll. We had nothing more than water, but at least we were fucking alive.
That didn’t mean we were out of the woods yet. Even taking her to a little known destination for the duration of the mission didn’t preclude the possibility of Castillo managing to find out. However, I’d be in a location where I was in control, the elements harsh and often unforgiving.
“Where are we?” she asked, turning her head in my direction.
“The Big Island.”
