Page 164 of Distress Signal

. . .

FINN

We mobilized quicklyafter the Tuck bomb dropped. Lane made calls, summoning his deputies to the station for a briefing before heading out on our rescue mission.

Owen and Aspen headed back to the ranch, much to Aspen’s dismay. She hated to miss out on the action, but as she didn’t have any formal training beyond the classes she’d taken to get her concealed carry permit, she was more of a liability than anything.

Lane had imparted that bit of wisdom, which pissed Aspen off so much Crew had to carry her out to the car before she started swinging.

I made all the appropriate noises and said all the right things, assuring Lane we’d meet them there, that West and I had to run home to get geared up.

He didn’t need to know I wouldn’t be going anywhere near the station—unless he arrested me after the fact for what I was about to do.

I’d been planning on filling West in on the drive, but I was unsurprised when he sidled up beside me and murmured, “You’re about to go rogue, aren’t you?”

“This is my girl we’re talking about here. You didn’t really think I was going to let Deputy Dipshit lead the charge, did you?”

West’s answering grin was feral, and he lifted his fist for a bump, which I obliged.

Unfortunately, while Lane seemed none the wiser to my plans, I hadn’t managed to dupe Trey and Crew.

“We’ll ride with you,” Trey—who was already outfitted in his tactical gear and weapons—said as West and I went to leave.

“Yeah,” Crew agreed. “Mind swinging by my house?”

“We don’t have time for that.”

Crew snorted.

“We know you’re going rogue, brother,” Trey said, ruffling my hair. I socked him in the arm. “And we’re coming with you.”

“No.” West uttered the rejection before I could.

“Then we’ll tell Lane,” Crew said.

“Oh, you’re going to tell big brother on us? Get the fuck out of here. I don’t have time for this bullshit.”

“We get it, Finn. This is your girl, and all of your military training is telling you there isn’t time to waste. Lane has to abide by the letter of the law, but none of us are bound by the same oath. Let us help.”

I glanced between them, finally landing on Crew. “You don’t even have formal training.”

He shrugged, then flexed his biceps like a douchebag. “I think I’ll be okay.”

West caught my eye.Up to you.

I suppose the four of us are better than two.

“Fine,” I conceded. “But I’m in charge here, got it?”

They both mock saluted, and I rolled my eyes as we got in the truck.

“See you at the station!” Lane called as he pulled away.

After three quick detours for Crew, West, and I to gear up, we were on our way back to the airport.

The sun was cresting the horizon when we parked in front of the hangar. When we walked inside, I began going through my preflight checks while the other three tossed around ideas for our best course of action to get my girl back from Tuck.

Fucking Tuck.