Page 142

It didn’t take long for Danny to return, jogging down the side of the slope from where Zach had taken up overwatch. The SEAL was out of breath and sweaty, the black duffel slung over his shoulder stuffed with the SCAR rifle, their handguns, and ammunition.
“Roy and Fordare taking Zach and Jennie to the hospital,” Danny said. “Zach took a hit to the shoulder, got some shrapnel to the face, but he’ll live.”
Thank God.
Relief lightened the pressure in Caleb’s chest. He and his cousin had a relationship now—one he intended to hold on to.
He winced as he slid back into his shirt. “Where the fuck did that helicopter come from?”
“Not Gallup. Zach called his contact while we were dragging him to Roy’s truck.” Danny nodded at the bodies. “What do we do with them?”
“Leave them. We don’t have time. They aren’t going anywhere.”
Danny beat him to the Charger. “You better let me drive.”
Caleb didn’t argue. “Can we track the helo?”
“I fired off an SOS to Nathan. Helicopters don’t have to file flight plans, but if anyone can locate it, Nathan can.” Danny tossed the duffle into the trunk and slid behind the wheel. “He hasn’t responded yet.”
He started the engine and hit the gas. The muscle car leaped forward. “Any idea where Lopez might take Gia?”
“My money’s on Mexico. I don’t think he’ll risk Miami.” Caleb stifled a groan when the Charger hit a pothole. “Either way, they’ll have to refuel or switch aircraft somewhere.”
If Lopez secreted Gia over the border, it would become exponentially harder to bring her home. He needed to find her—fast. “How quickly can we get a plane?”
Danny shot him a side-eye. “Dude, you just took a couple of rounds. You may not be leaking, but you’re in no shape to mount a rescue operation over the border—especially an unsanctioned one.”
“I’ll go alone if I have to.” Caleb’s jaw flexed. “I’m not leaving her with that bastard.”
“You’d never make it into the compound,” Danny said grimly. His phone chirped.
He glanced at the screen and passed it to Caleb. “Damn. Nathan works fast.”
Caleb read the message.
Intel says Lopez headed to Mexico through Phoenix airport. Plane waiting for you at Gallup.
He looked up. “Danny, better to ask forgiveness than permission. Let’s see how fast this car goes.”
They made the fifty-minute drive in thirty and were escorted to a ramp area where a Gulfstream waited, engines humming.
As they approached, the cabin door dropped to unfold air stairs. A tall, dark-haired man in a navy suit stood just inside.
Caleb’s stomach knotted.
FBI Assistant Director Lucas Caldwell.
What the hell?If the Feds were involved, his hands were tied.
Lucas looked as happy as Caleb felt. Then again, Caleb wasn’t sure he’d ever seen the former Army colonel turned Fed smile—unless his goddaughter, Nathalie, or her mother, Vivienne, were in the room.
“Lopez has a hostage on board—Doctor Gianna Barone. My priority is to get her back, unharmed, before he can take her to Mexico,” Caleb said as he and Danny mounted the stairs.
He ducked his head to step into the cabin—and stopped short.
Lachlan Mackay, founder and president of Dìleas Security Agency, sat in one of the plush tan leather seats, dressed in black trousers and a crisp white button-down.
Across the aisle, Nathan Long hunched over an electronic tablet, his usual uniform of a black metal band t-shirt and faded jeans making him look more like a roadie than a corporate VP.