Page 137 of Contract of a Billionaire

It has been ten weeks and three days since I last held her. At the same time I talked to Autumn, Byron received coordinates from Senator Ashford. That was three days ago. The Senator’s mercenary sent him the information, although thanks to Nico we knew they were on the move.

Because they were under attack.

My woman who wanted to save the world was under attack. Despite the cold temperatures, sweat rolled down my spine. I exhaled slowly, calming my pulse.

I just had to get my woman home. To our son.

The air in the helicopter was heavy, the tension thick. Sasha, Byron, and I were armed to the teeth. Nico was better suited to surveilling the area and being our eyes and ears from back home.

Conversation was impossible, the helicopter motor too loud. I didn’t have it in me to utter a single sentence. There was only one word, one name to be exact, that played in my mind. Over and over again. Autumn.

When I get her back, I’d hug her for days. Then insert a microchip into her so I’d always be able to track her.

I lowered my eyes to my phone. Our target was a green dot on our phone screen. Nico’s tracking device was on all our devices. Moving higher and higher up the mountain.

According to Nico, there were six people to rescue, including Autumn. It matched information Byron received from Senator Ashford. We’d save them, and failing wasn’t an option.

I promised my son. I promised my sister. And Autumn’s parents.

“Five minutes to landing.” The pilot’s voice was low in my ear. Sasha checked the ammunition on his sniper rifle. He called it his baby. Fucking weird but as long as he ended each fucker threatening Autumn, he could call it his mistress. I didn’t give a fuck.

Byron ran through his weapons too, checked each one of them. The helicopter landed. A wordless nod. I was front, Byron checking our left and Sasha being our eyes from up there and eliminating anyone with their eyes on us.

My heart thundered against my ribs. To be so close to my woman, yet be so far away. We hoped to be in and out. Once we get to Autumn and the mercenaries, we should have a decent chance at getting out of here.

Byron and Sasha trained for this. Sasha served with my dead sister, and his skills were well sought after. Byron served a good number of years in special ops. We were dressed in tan cargo pants and black Kevlar vests under our jackets. We’ve traveled for the past two days and all of us sported stubble.

The helicopter landed, my breath stilled, and we were on the move. With our guns ready to shoot, our fingers on the trigger, the three of us exited the helicopter and were on the move.

Sasha’s eyes scanned the area for the best spot to watch our backs. I knew the moment he found it. He was ready to cover us.

“Get your woman,” Sasha said coolly. I started to think Nikolaev was an adrenaline junkie. “Get back. No detours.”

A terse nod.

We made our way down the mountain, following the green dot Nico was tracking. Thank God Nico was able to pin the satellite phone after getting coordinates from Senator Ashford.

“Hurry up.” Nico’s voice projected in my ear. Byron and Sasha could hear the same. “They are surrounded.”

“I can start eliminating now,” Sasha growled, his tone dark in my earpiece.

“Do it,” I said. “It’ll give them a chance to fight them off.”

Byron’s finger was on the trigger. So was mine. If only we were already there so I could start killing those motherfuckers. The mountain rocks slowed our movements. The snow slowed our movements.

Another steep mountain cliff and it was then that I saw it. A group of thirty militants surrounding two women and four men. Autumn. I’d recognize her anywhere. She wore a burka but her headpiece was off.

The fear on her face was gut wrenching. Her eyes were stark brown, tears wetting her thin face. Fuck, she was so fucking thin.

Two heartbeats, Two silent breaths. A shared look with my brother. A nod and we rushed, snow crunching under our boots. Sasha’s bullets flew through the air. One by one, the men started dropping.

My rage mixed with adrenaline, The mercenaries fought against the men. One stuck to Autumn, and for the first time in my life, I actually hoped the fucking guy would remained glued to her.

With each step closer, I could see it. The fucking young boys using guns to attack my woman and her group. Those teenagers shouldn’t be here on this mountain, fighting in combat. They should be plucked off this godforsaken place and put somewhere where guns were out of their reach.

But I couldn’t think about that now. I couldn’t second guess it now. I couldn’t save them. It was down to them or my woman.

Byron and I ran towards them. Aimed. Pulled the trigger.Bang. Repeat.