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Bryan matched my smile with one of his own. “Thanks. Any other time in my life and I’d be right in there with you. Lucky for you though, I’ve got a guy.”
“You’ve got a guy?” I asked.
“Buddy named Hank Ford. He’s a demo guy from my old team. He’s actually in town, on break from doing independent contractor work for the government.”
“And he’s trustworthy?”
“Sure as shit is. I’ll get in touch.”
He looked me and the rest of the guys over.
“Listen, I know you’ve all got hearts in this, but I’m not about to let you go off half-cocked. Prepare, then execute.”
“Prepare then execute,” I agreed.
I was already prepared. And when I got my hands on those pricks that’d taken Vic, there’d be more than a little executing to go around.
33
AJAX
We wasted no time getting to the airport and getting ourselves booked on a flight to Germany on another cargo plane. Hank Ford was there, a short, stocky guy built like a brick shithouse, his head shaved, his beard full, and his hands big enough to punch through walls. The barely constrained maniacal grin on his face was a tell-tale sign that he was a demo man through and through.
“Pleased to meet you all,” he said, shaking our hands, one after the other, as we stood in front of the plane. “Bryan filled me in. Don’t worry, we’re going to get your princess back.”
Bryan had sent us the background on Hank, and I had to admit I was impressed. Going by his skills and history, he seemed like the kind of demo guy who could take out a suspension bridge with a pack of matches and a home chemistry kit. We’d need a man like him on our side.
We loaded up on the plane. Just as I sat down, a text came in from Bryan, who’d gone to the hospital to check on Pyke. Turns out that he’d lost more blood than we’d initially thought and was in the process of getting a transfusion. Luckily, he had a common blood type, and the transfusion had been no problem at all to arrange.
For the time being, he was out. Between the transfusion and the surgery to clean out and close the wounds, he’d need ample time to recover.
I put all of that out of my head as quickly as I could and focused on the task at hand.
“What’s the plan, Ajax?” Hud asked from the seat next to me. Kid was on the other side, Hank one more down.
“Got in touch with my guy in Germany. We’re going to land near Dusseldorf where we will receive our intel. My man is in the process of locating Jurgen’s home—it’s somewhere near that part of Germany, but we still need to track him down. Hopefully, my guy will have the details when we land and—”
“And then we can blow it up?” Hank asked the question with an expression of mild concern on his face as if he wanted to make sure we hadn’t forgotten about that part of the plan.
I laughed. “We’ll know what needs to be blown up when the mission becomes clearer.”
He nodded, relieved. “Good. As long as something gets blown up.”
It wasn’t long before the plane’s engines revved up and we were on our way. Hank blasted a couple of beers and was soon asleep on one of the far aisles, leaving me, Hud, and Kid alone.
I knew something needed to be said about Vic. I wasn’t quite sure how to say it, exactly, so I simply started and hoped I’d figure it out as I went.
“Listen, Kid, Hud.”
Kid turned to me. “What’s up?”
Hud nodded, looking at me from the other direction. “What’ve you got on your mind, A?”
I glanced down for a moment, the subject the height of awkwardness. I could take apart a man with my bare hands without a second thought, but sharing something that was in my heart? Damn near impossible.
“Listen. I don’t think it’s news to any of us that this situation with Vic has gone far beyond a simple protection mission. Hud, I know you’ve gotten involved with her, and Kid, I’ve got a damn good feeling that’s the case with you too. I’m starting to feel the same way, and I’d put good money on Pyke having similar sentiments.”
Hud and Kid shared a knowing look, neither of them disputing a single word.
