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Foster shrugged. “I’m a bit less discriminating than most. But just because I did, doesn’t mean it was the right call to make.”

Mac gave his arm a squeeze. “It should hold off long enough to get the job done. And they really don’t have any other options. Kash.”

“I’ll go grab my kit and Nyx’s and meet you at your Jeep in two minutes.”

Kash raced out, Nyx hot on his heels. Mackenzie darted upstairs, changing into her clothes before heading for the door. Foster handed her a jacket then followed her out to her vehicle.

He opened the door, leaning against the frame when she rolled down the window. “I’m guessing Atticus was resistant to having anyone else join in.”

Mac sighed. “Something like that.”

“I’m welcome if I sign on the dotted line, right?”

“Basically.”

She reached for him, cupping his jaw when he bent low. “We’ll be fine. I’ve got excellent backup. And we’ll be back before the really bad weather rolls in. Though, there’s always a chance we get stuck at the hospital.”

“Have the old man call me if that’s the outlook, and I’ll meet you there.”

“Oh, I’d love to eavesdrop on that conversation.”

“I’m sure yelling will be involved.” He straightened as Kash and Nyx came racing down the path. “All Atticus, by the way.”

“You’re a big boy. You can take it.” She looked in her rearview when Kash opened the back, tossing stuff in before getting Nyx to jump up. “I’ll text you before we leave and then again when we land at the hospital. Now, go find those drugs.”

“Be safe.”

“I’m not the risk taker.”

He rolled his eyes, staring at Kash until the man flipped Foster some kind of hand signal.

What she assumed was Foster doubling down on how he expected his friend to have her back.

Not that Kash needed reminding. All of Foster’s buddies took guarding their teammates to the extreme.

And she knew they’d all gladly sacrifice themselves for each other without hesitation.

Mackenzie made the drive in record time, Kash keeping the conversation light. Though she suspected he was dying to grill her about her intentions with Foster, he avoided the topic, jumping out before she’d even put the Jeep into first.

She trailed behind, shaking her head at her father when he held the door for her. “I’m starting to wonder if you’re having me followed.”

Atticus smiled. “No need. I know exactly where you’ll be.”

She stopped. “Foster’s a good man.”

“He’s an exceptional man. Which is why I need him to grow a set and sign on.” Atticus held up his hand. “I know. He’s retired. He has demons. He’s broken.” Atticus sighed. “His words, not mine. But I still think he’ll come around given the right motivation.”

“And you think, what?” She cocked her head to the side. “That I’m the right motivation?”

Her dad simply smiled. “Coordinates are already in your nav. And I’ve got the latest weather reports waiting, too.

Just be careful, and for god’s sake don’t risk both your lives if that storm cell moves in quicker than anticipated.

I know how you feel about rescuing people and not leaving any behind, but you can’t help folks if you’re dead. ”

“Thanks, Dad. I hadn’t thought of that.”

Mackenzie headed out, shooting Foster a text as she jumped behind the controls then donned her helmet.

She checked out the location and the weather reports then rolled on the throttle.

The chopper started rocking, the instruments quickly springing to life.

She glanced back at Kash, waiting for his thumbs up before calling out her intentions across the airwaves then lifting the bird into the air.

The gusting wind buffeted the chopper, thick dark clouds filling the horizon. The first inklings of fog dotted the coastline. Nothing substantial but it was shaping up to be one hell of a storm.

Kash clicked on his mic, his voice rasping over the comms. “That’s quite the front baring down on us.”

“Definitely not something we want to get caught in. Though, I assume you’re accustomed to that with your comments about Foster.”

Kash laughed. “Beck’s crazier than most. And he never could say no if there was a fellow soldier at risk. Part of his charm.”

“I’d say you all share that trait. And thanks for coming along. I know I’m not Foster.”

“Nope. But just as crazy.” Kash grinned. “And just as good. I’ve got everything ready. Let me know when we’re getting close or if you need any help spotting a place to put this baby down.”

“Will do. And Kash?” She smiled. “Thanks.”

Mac followed the coastline, eyeing that front moving in along the horizon.

It was larger than predicted and she doubted they’d have any time to spare.

Not that she hadn’t flown in extreme weather with the Coast Guard, but this was different.

She didn’t have the same chopper, the same tech, despite Foster buying her damn near every advanced piece of avionics available.

And her dad was right. Dying wouldn’t save anyone. Still, she’d give it her best shot.

Rain started dotting the bubble as they came up on the edge of the reserve, the thick foliage standing tall and green against the cliffs. A few colored leaves still clung to the scattering of deciduous trees, granting fleeting glimpses of the forest floor.

Kash leaned in between the seats. “Even at this time of year that canopy is impressive.”

“Not that I could fly and work the hoist, but it definitely means we’ll be walking.

” She pointed to a small clearing not too far from the edge of the cliff as she did a low pass.

“I’ll put her down there. We’re a couple of clicks from the approximate coordinates.

But they should have heard me go over, so hopefully they’ll be making noise. ”

“Right, because safety is obviously their top priority.”

“It might be now.”

Kash laughed, reclaiming his seat as she brought the chopper around then lined up the landing site. The rain kicked up a bit as the gusting wind seemed to hit them from every direction, shaking the aircraft as she flared off a bit of speed, then placed the machine down in the center of the space.

“Nice. Beck would be proud.” Kash hopped out, slipping a huge pack over his tactical vest before clipping Nyx’s leash around his waist. “Nyx will source them out once we get close. And I’ve got enough first aid supplies to at least stabilize our patient’s leg.

I’m not Chase, but I can handle the easy stuff.

Are you okay carrying the rescue stretcher? ”

Mac secured the controls, then jumped out, scanning the area before nodding at Kash. “Hell, yeah, especially if my other option is that bag. Do I even want to know how much it weighs?”

“About half as much as Chase carries, so, we’ll keep that between us. The guy’s nuts.”

“Right. He’s nuts, but you’re sane.”

“I’m glad we agree.”

She motioned to his vest. “Do you think you have enough ammo for a rescue mission? And since when do you wear a ballistic vest to a rescue?”

Kash merely shrugged. “The real question is, where’s yours?”

“I don’t have a vest, Kash.”

“Pretty sure you were wearing one the other night.”

“That was Foster’s, and it was about five sizes too big.”

“Big beats dead.” He reached for the straps. “You can have mine.”

“Kash, stop. I get Striker’s on all our minds, but this isn’t a covert mission. We’re just picking up a couple of weekend warriors who thought they were bulletproof.”

“Assuming shit still won’t go sideways is always the first mistake.

And I’m the first to admit, Zain, Chase and I have allowed ourselves to get complacent these past few months.

But we’ll be sure to rectify that for next time.

From now on, you don’t get in the chopper without being prepared for serious resistance.

Which reminds me…” He grabbed a pistol and holster from around his left ankle, though she suspected he had another on his other leg, then handed it to her.

“If you don’t have a vest, then I doubt you came armed. ”

She nodded her thanks, clipped the holster on her pants then followed behind him. Nyx tugged gently at the leash, leading the way before suddenly stopping. The hairs rose down her back as her ears flattened against her head, a low menacing growl sounding around them.

Kash reacted before Mac even registered the threat, firing off several rounds as he managed to dance around her, blocking two shots from behind.

He hit the ground, nearly yanking Nyx onto her side, before he rolled.

Somehow gaining his feet and shoving Mac beneath him in the space it took her to draw her weapon.

Footsteps sounded around them before a dozen men stopped in a lopsided circle, semi-automatic weapons trained on them.

Mac glanced up at Kash, inhaling at the two slugs lodged in his vest. What had possibly damaged some ribs or at least bruised the hell out of them.

Not that Kash showed it — kneeling above her, Nyx alert but still at his side, his Sig sweeping the gathering of men.

She shifted her focus to the assholes surrounding them.

Of the crew, she knew three. Thompson and a new deputy — Baxter, she thought.

But it was the other bastard standing slightly in front of everyone else that held her attention.

Cold. Focused. He looked as if he wasn’t quite sane, a slight twitch arcing through him ever so often.

Jack Voss.

Thompson edged forward, motioning at the men to hold their ground.

“I have to say, Sinclair, you’re impressive.

I didn’t think you’d get off a shot let alone down two of my men and catch a couple more in their vests before we even got two shots your way.

I bet your ribs are killing you. Guess you black op guys live up to the hype. ”

Kash didn’t move, his weapon still trained on everyone. “Which one of you has the broken leg?”

“Enough talking.” Voss inched forward. “You’ve got two choices, Sinclair.

You can holster your weapon and lock your dog in the chopper, or things can get bloody.

Either way, there’s no scenario where you come out on top.

Maybe if we weren’t locked in, you’d have a chance.

But we don’t even have to aim this close.

And your buddy’s girl won’t last long if you choose poorly. ”

The corner of Kash’s mouth quirked, his hand tightening around his gun. Mac squeezed his arm, shaking her head when he glanced at her. She mouthed, “He’s not worth it,” motioning toward the chopper.

Kash held his ground for another minute before easing up. He holstered his pistol then tossed the whole thing towards them, doing the same to hers after she handed it to him.

Voss grinned. “Good choice. Now put Cujo in the damn chopper. I have this thing against killing dogs, but I will if I have to.”

Kash offered Mac his hand, helping her up then keeping her glued to his side as he walked back to the chopper and put Nyx inside. “Good girl. Stealth mode.”

Nyx immediately crouched low, alert but still. And Mac knew Kash had given her some kind of covert command. One that would likely activate when their enemies least expected it.

He closed the door, still keeping his body in front of Mac’s. “This isn’t going to end well for you.”

Voss shrugged. “Why? Because of your teammates? Two of them are lucky to be breathing, let alone capable of going on the offensive. And Beckett?” He laughed.

“He’s just a fucking Prima Dona who’s too broken to do the one thing he was good at.

So sue me if I’m not worried about your teammates.

Though, you’re definitely worth being concerned about. ”

He struck, hitting Kash across the side of the head with the butt of his rifle, knocking him into the helicopter. Kash hit the back panel then bounced onto the ground, still trying to shake it off before Voss hit him, again.

Mac dove at the bastard, tackling him to the ground before he could get in a third strike. She managed a few hits before Thompson and his half-wit deputy yanked her off. She tripped the deputy onto his ass, catching Thompson in the groin, but Striker was already on his feet.

He grabbed her around the neck then pulled her in close, cutting off any chance at breathing as he tightened his hold. “Be nice, or Thompson will have one of his other men drive by the hanger and shoot your father.”

He shoved her off, and she gasped in a breath. “Now, let’s get this party started.”