Page 60 of Renegade (The Santini Assassins #2)

YOU GOT ME FOREVER

GREYSTONE

G reystone kept his gaze trained on the missile as it circled back, heading right for Air Force One. Without hesitation, he flew into its path.

“C’mon, baby,” he said as it propelled toward him. “Come on.”

Wait for it.

With a second to spare, he fired one of his sidewinders, then banked left, hard.

The missile exploded, the shockwave sent him spiraling.

He lost control of the jet, then began descending nose-first at an alarming and accelerating rate.

He lost his peripheral vision and started forcing oxygen to his head, but he couldn’t get control of himself or the jet.

He could feel himself passing out and, for the first time in his life, he was powerless to stop it.

CAROLIN E

Caroline stared out the window in disbelief as Greystone’s jet plummeted toward the ocean below.

Pull up, she silently begged.

Panic gripped her by the throat, but she tapped the comm. “Grey, wake up.”

No response.

“Greystone Santini,” she said, the force in her voice causing Evelyn to jerk her head in Caroline’s direction.

Nothing.

“Grey, wake up,” she said. “You can do it. I need you to pull up. I love you. I need you to be alive so I can have your babies and grow old with you. You can’t leave me. It’s not your time. Grey, wake up! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP !”

There was no response from him as the jet vanished from view. A stabbing pain slashed through her heart and she cried out, “Ohmygod, no!”

Evelyn’s eyes grew large. “Tell me he’s okay.”

Caroline’s forehead was pressed against the window as she searched desperately for his jet, for a sign that he hadn’t been claimed by the ocean. Her heart sank, her soul felt like it had been shredded.

She closed her eyes and prayed. “Please, Lord, don’t take him.”

Her pounding heart was her only reply.

“Austin, I’m right here.” Grey’s velvety voice rumbled through her like thunder. “Hey, baby, it’s all good.”

Her eyes flew open and she peered out the window. Three F-18s flew in tandem. “Which jet are you?”

“The first,” he replied.

“I’m waving at you,” she said.

“I see you, babe.”

Caroline shuddered in a breath, tears filled her eyes and slid down her cheeks. “I thought I’d lost you. ”

“I heard the voice of an angel,” he said. “You’ve never, ever, let me down, Caroline. Thanks for the save.”

“Evelyn, he’s okay.”

Evelyn’s eyes grew moist and she clutched her heart. “That was terrifying.” After composing herself, she said, “You brought him back. How did you do that?”

Through the tears in her eyes, Caroline smiled. “It’s my job to bring him home safely.”

Caroline spent most of the flight staring out the window at Grey.

He, and the remaining two pilots, got them safely to Area 51 in Nevada.

She loved watching him fly, loved that he was there to protect her, to protect his mom, and to protect all the passengers and crew.

Knowing the three Hornets flanked the President’s airplane helped settle her down.

“Grey,” she murmured into the comm.

“I’m right here, babe,” he replied.

“Evelyn told me one of our pilots got gunned down,” she murmured. “Do you know their status?”

“Not yet,” he replied, “but he ejected safely.”

“How are you doing?”

“Never better,” he replied.

“You did good,” she murmured into the comm. “Damn good, Rambo.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you, Bella.”

The adrenaline stopped flooding her system and the taut muscles running down her back released. She tapped the comm, then continued watching him out the window.

Their love story had almost ended before it had even gotten off the ground. For as long as she lived, she would do everything she could to keep him alive. That had been her job for the past three years… and it would be her job for the next fifty.

Life with Grey was better. It just was.

Three hours later, Air Force One touched down and the cheering in the aircraft was deafening. People were hugging each other, then, when they began to deplane, every passenger hugged the pilots.

A group of military personnel ushered the group into a nearby building. As soon as everyone was safely inside, Caroline tapped the pod, still lodged in her ear.

“Grey, can you hear me?” she asked.

For the second time since their terrifying ordeal had started, she was met by silence.

GREYSTONE

Greystone and his team entered the debriefing room, glanced around the table. While he was expecting military brass, he was not expecting the President.

“There he is.” President Garrison rose from his chair and walked over to shake Greystone’s hand.

“Mr. President.”

The President shook Jamal’s hand and the female pilot’s hand. “I’m here because you all excel at your jobs.”

“Thank you,” Greystone said. “What’s the status of the pilot who ejected?”

“He was picked up by a Coast Guard helicopter,” said the President. “No life-threatening injuries.”

“That’s great news,” Jamal said.

“The four of you will be awarded the Medal of Honor for your acts of heroism during enemy combat,” said the President.

“Not necessary,” Greystone said. “We were just doing what we’re trained to do.”

“Not so fast, Greystone,” Jamal added. “I’m honored to accept that medal.”

On a smile, the President gestured to the empty chairs at the table. As the three pilots sat, the door opened, and Evelyn entered.

“Mr. President,” she said as she swept the room. When her gaze landed on Greystone, she beelined over. “I don’t care about protocol.”

Greystone rose, hugged her, and she squeezed him so tightly, he chuckled. “It’s all good, Evelyn.”

“I’m very proud of you,” she murmured before sitting to the right of the President.

The meeting lasted ninety-eight minutes. The enemy pilots were identified as a specially-formed group associated with the Haqazzii terror cell. Fire burned deep inside Greystone. While the enemy pilots had been taken out, the terrorists on the ground had not.

Someone entered the room, spoke to Evelyn, and she left with the messenger. A few moments later, Evelyn returned.

“Mr. President,” Evelyn said. “I’ve been told that the threat of explosives has been eliminated. The six buildings have been swept for additional bombs. None were found. The EOD unit did a thorough clearing of the White House and the Pentagon. The canine units found no explosives.”

“When can we return to DC?” the President asked.

“Tomorrow,” she replied. “Our flight will be escorted by a squadron of F-16’s.”

“Isn’t that overkill?” the President asked.

“No, sir,” said the three-star Air Force General. “It’s not.”

“I want these three exceptional pilots at the front of that squadron,” the President said.

“Sir—” the General pushed back.

“General, based on what just went down, I don’t think you’re in any position to disagree with me.”

“Of course, Mr. President.”

President Garrison regarded him. “I’d like you to lead us home, Greystone ”

“Yes, sir.”

Though honored, Greystone had something else in mind, but he’d stay silent until he could run his idea by Caroline.

The President closed out the meeting. As the attendants began talking amongst themselves, or making their way toward the door, Greystone extended his hand to Jamal.

“Love flyin’ with you, J-man,” Greystone said.

Jamal pulled him in for a hug. “We kicked some serious ass.”

The men laughed before shaking hands with the female pilot and congratulating each other on their successful mission.

As they made their way toward the exit, the President said, “Greystone, can you hang back?”

After telling his team he’d catch up with them, Greystone returned to the conference table. “How are you doing, Mr. President? Is your family okay?”

“We’re good, thank you. I wanted to personally thank you for your extreme bravery and excellent aerial combat skills. Without you, we wouldn’t be here now.”

“Thank you, sir, but it was a team effort. It’s a privilege to serve.”

“If there’s ever anything I can do for you, you let me know.”

“I appreciate that.”

“I was told you did quite a nose dive.”

“I lost consciousness, but my partner, Caroline Austin, brought me back.”

The President made a call. “Evelyn, is Caroline Austin with you? I’m still in the debriefing room. Can you bring her in?” He hung up, regarded Greystone. “How long have you worked together?”

“Three years.”

The president jumped on his computer. After a short time, he showed Greystone his screen. “She was your handler, now she’s with BLACK OPS? ”

“Correct.”

Knock-knock.

“Enter,” said President Garrison.

Evelyn entered with Caroline. Greystone’s heart slammed against his chest. She took in the room, her attention homing in on the President, but when her gaze found his, the explosion of joy on her face sent hit after hit of excitement pounding through him.

He wanted to go to her, take her in his arms, and never let her go. In true form, he stood there like a statue.

Fuck it.

He strode over, wrapped her tight, and held her for several seconds. “Thanks for the save, Austin.”

“Of course.” She stepped away as the President joined them. “Hello, President Garrison.”

He shook her hand. “Ms. Austin, congratulations on an outstanding job.”

Through her smile, she said, “Thank you. It’s an honor.”

He gestured to the conference table. After he sat at the head, Greystone, Caroline, and Evelyn took their seats.

“You neutralized the bomb threat,” the President said. “Excellent work. Update me on the status of the Haqazzii terror cell.”

Greystone and Caroline exchanged glances.

“Of the fourteen we identified, three were eliminated,” Greystone said.

“And the remaining eleven?” he asked.

“Most likely, they fled,” Caroline replied. “One of our team members has been searching the dark web, but they’ve gone underground.”

“They’ll resurface,” President Garrison said. “And when they do, your team will need to go after them and take them out. The Director of NSA is very concerned more are finding their way into the country. ”