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Caleb released Gia, moving to comply, then froze.
Movement at the plane’s doorway.
Ramón.
He glanced at his son’s body, then at Caleb.
No rage. No grief. Just cold calculation.
The boarding stairs began to retract, Juan’s body tumbling onto the concrete.
Caleb held Ramón’s stare until the closing door hid him from view.
The plane’s engines revved. It rolled forward. Agents scattered from its path.
Hell no.
Ramón Lopez was not getting away.
Caleb grabbed Gia’s hand and strode to the team leader.
The man pulled out a wallet from his tactical vest and flipped it open to show his ID. “FBI Special Agent Terrell Walton—Assistant Director Caldwell sent me.”
Lachlan leaned toward Caleb and murmured, “Former Special Forces. Served under Lucas’s command back in the day.”
“Ramón Lopez is on that plane—El Víbora’sbrother,” Caleb said. “He ordered his nephew’s murder.”
Walton’s eyesflickered in surprise. “How many on board?”
“Ramón.” Caleb recalled the shadowed movement at the cabin door. “At least one other.” He looked to Gia, who trembled, skin cool, eyes unfocused.
“Gia, baby.” He brushed a knuckle down her cheek. “Did you see anyone else?”
“Pink Hat,” she murmured, then straightened. “Emilio. The younger one who tried to take me from Lucero’s.” Her voice steadied. “Two pilots. No one else.”
Walton relayed the information to his team and snapped out orders. “Keep that plane from the runway!” He surveyed the carnage inside the hangar. “Jesus.”
Police vehicles flooded the tarmac, strobes flashing red and blue. An armored SWAT vehicle rolled in behind them.
“One of the dead men is Vincente Lopez Garcia,” Caleb added, tucking Gia closer. “He kidnapped a Navajo Nation tribal member to trade for Doctor Barone. When that failed, he took Doctor Barone at gunpoint, intending to fly her to Mexico.”
He didn’t mention the two cartel soldiers left behind at Old Joe’s place. No need to answer questions they didn’t want asked.
“So the guy Lucas Caldwell had an arrest warrant for is in there.” Walton exhaled sharply, hands braced on hips. “Jesus,” he muttered again, shaking his head.
Lachlan extended a hand to Gia. “Doctor Barone, Lachlan Mackay. 'Tis a pleasure to meet you. Pity it’s under these circumstances.”
“Nice to meet you.” Gia offered a tired smile. “You’re Scottish.” Pink bloomed on her cheeks. She rubbed her forehead with a sigh. “I guess you know that.”
“Aye.” Lachlan grinned. He and Caleb exchanged a look.
Nathan appearedout of the dark, his rifle and backpack conspicuously absent. He joined Ryder and Danny as SWAT surrounded the plane.
“We’ve got them boxed in,” Walton said.
He turned to Gia, his tone softening. “Doctor Barone, I know you’ve been through hell. My vehicle’s right here if you need a breather.” He gestured to the dark blue, government issued SUV beside the hangar.
“Thank you, but I’ll stay with Caleb.” Gia glanced toward the hanger. Shuddered. “I’m not going back in there.”