by Billi Jean
“Shhh, come on Mandy, it’s going to be okay.” Mac’s brow creased in concern, his hazel eyes growing intense at her panic. Heck, she was trying here. “I’ve been on training missions worse than this, baby.”
“Why do they want you so badly, Mac?”
Before he could answer, if he was going to answer, two men dressed in black BDUs joined them. Immediately both took defensive positions in front of them and started firing the assault rifles they carried directly at the barrels. She heard more screams then silence.
One of the guys, a redhead, turned and nodded to his left. “You go on, sir, the Hawk is cleared for take-off. There are more of these coming in over the ocean side, but we’ve nailed them here.”
Mac lowered his weapon and slapped the guy on the back like they were old buddies, and squeezed the other guy’s shoulder. Both men grinned as if he’d just given them some kind of compliment. “Good job, boys. Come on, Mandy. Up you go.”
Who the heck was Mac now? She shook off the questions for later and looked to where the men had pointed. More men in BDUs were standing near the Black Hawk, all of them armed and all of them looking seriously professional. Ready to kill.
God, what had she got herself into? Was this what Mac did all the time?
Mac cupped her elbow gently and she glanced up to see him waiting for her. “Gotta get to the ‘copter, Mandy, then we’re all set.”
She nodded silently and loped alongside him to the hangar. Mac was good, in control, level-headed, and obviously used to being in charge. He always had been, she supposed, but now he was sharp, hard, ready to kill.
They stopped as soon as they got within earshot of the silver-haired guy from the base command centre. He wasn’t wearing all the medals now. Dressed in dark BDUs like the men around him, he looked fit, lean, and mean. He was younger than she’d first thought, maybe in his early forties, but the grey hair had thrown her. Two more guys watched the airfield from the hangar, guns ready. A Black Hawk stood outside the hangar and she hoped it was ready to go. She could hear Mac and the officer talking about Ace and Eagle but she couldn’t catch more than that both were good, but had tails on them.
She watched Mac nod. “Right, have them lose that shit before we meet up. I’ll send them the new coordinates. These boys had some help, didn’t they? And they sure aren’t afraid to spend some money.”
Mac was saying someone on the inside was in on this. The implications stunned her.
The officer nodded stiffly, looking even more dangerous. “It makes sense. They want something, you, the men on that mission, but more than that.”
Did his eyes flicker to her?
“Our intel points to someone inside the cartel breaking the pack apart,” he continued.
Mac rubbed a dirty hand across the scar on his jaw, leaving behind a sweat-streaked mess on his face. “That could be. What is the division over? Drugs?”
“You cut the head off but the snake still lived, man. A son and two cousins warred over it for a while, but the brother, the silent one, Manuel, he runs it now. Word is he wants to bring his family back together and wants the team that dropped his brother to pay. Build morale all that shit.”
Mac shook his head and said, “Sweet, absolutely sweet. And now he has our IDs.”
“There’s more, Wolf. Santiago’s widow is supposedly making her own bid for power, wants to deal. Word is the Feds sent someone in.”
She watched Mac’s face but his expression didn’t change. But she could tell he was pissed off. “Fuck.”
“Yeah, wouldn’t want to be him right about now.”
Mac growled something, but looked over at her. Narrowing his gaze on her face for a second, he turned back to the guy and held his hand out. They shook hands and Mac told him, “Yeah, he’s in a rough spot. I don’t envy him but that’s beyond us now. We need to be stateside. Can this ‘copter take us as far as the smallest island?”
“Those islands stretch out pretty far, but the Hawk can fly for about eight hundred miles before it needs to refuel.”
Mac grimaced and anchored his fists on his hips, staring down at the dirt at their feet. He looked back up quickly, clearly deciding something. “Shit. We go then, and I’ll send coordinates when I know more. Do these monkeys have aircraft?”
“Yeah, they have everything money can buy.”
She shivered, feeling as if the chase had just got bigger.
More shots sounded and Mac gripped the other guy’s arm. “Thanks, man, we’re good. Is our pilot all set?”
“Hey, I’m ready and waiting on your sorry ass.”
She turned and grinned, recognising Tad Thorne’s voice.
Tad grinned at her and walked over to give her a big hug. He was bigger now, more like a linebacker than ever, but solid, hard muscle. He held her at arm’s length and shook his dark head. “Damn, Mandy, look at you all grown up and deep in this, huh?” He stood back to glance at Mac. “Finally manned up, huh? Good for you, Wolf, about time, too. Now, let’s hit this before one of those idiots grows a brain and shoots my baby.”
Mac looked at her, then behind her to the men already running across the field. More of them headed off past where she stood until only she and Mac were standing there. Even the older man had left.
“Who was that guy? What was he talking about?”
Instead of answering her, Mac took her hand and headed them to the waiting helicopter.
“Mac?”
He glanced down at her, his face tight with tension but said, “That was Commander MacIntyre. He took over for Ace when Ace retired.”
“Ace retired?”
That brought Mac up short. “Yeah, he retired. A few years ago.”
She didn’t say anything but the accusation in his tone lingered between them for a few unsettling moments. He was pissed off that she didn’t know Ace had retired? He turned and took his black backpack off while he got them to the open doors of the helicopter. “Here, give me that inhaler.”
“Why?” She dug it out and handed it over, though, watching him seal it in some kind of Ziploc-looking baggie. As soon as he was done, he zipped the bag back up and helped her up inside the helicopter’s dark interior. Two cushioned seats on each side of the vehicle sported straps and buckles that made her stomach lurch. She trusted Tad, heck she’d known him for years. He’d gone to basic with Mac and Rob. But she also knew a Black Hawk went fast, real fast.
Mac jumped up next to her and waved over at Tad. Tad grinned, saluted Mac, and winked at her before he turned back to the massive amount of controls.
“In case of a water landing, I want—”
She frowned and interrupted him. “Water landing?”
Mac was looking in her direction but she watched as he shifted his eyes off, over her shoulder. She almost turned when the ‘copter started. Her stomach felt like it landed in her toes.
“Just strap in tight.” He matched words with actions and before she could say more, he had her buckled in tight. She swallowed her protest and simply sat there. Something told her that Mac was on a hair trigger—one more thing just might make him blow.
For once, she listened to her instincts and simply sat, watching him buckle himself in, pull his headset on and turn to Tad with the thumbs up. Her knight in shining armour, wasn’t he?
Why did she suddenly feel like she’d just stepped on a minefield with Mac along for the explosion? God, she didn’t want to watch him die.
She’d left to ensure that sick bastard didn’t kill him—but he’d been in danger the entire time, hadn’t he? He could have died probably more times than she wanted to think about. Her brother’s death still brought a sting of tears to her eyes. What if she’d lost Mac and hadn’t even known?
Holding on tight to the straps, she settled for watching him, simply watching him as they took off into more danger than she’d ever dreamt she’d be in. Danger he saw daily. What if they worked this out, survived this attack, captured her stalker, then he died on some mission?
Chapter Twelve
Mac stared at Mandy feeling as if his heart was filling his chest to the point that he might not be able to breathe. They’d only been up flying for a short while, but she’d remained quiet. He knew she had to be scared to death, but she remained watchful, counting on him to get them out of this. He felt like he might fuck this up merely because she trusted him so completely.
“Mac, we have a tail, man.”
“Fuck.”
Mandy paled but remained silent. She had her earmuffs on and had heard Tad. Her eyes widened and the grey turned darker with fear.
“It’s going to be all right.”
She shook her head in denial.
Reaching across the space, he took her small hand. She was cold. “It will be. Keep on trusting me, sugar. It’s going to be okay.”
Shots sounded, blowing his theory out of the water. Mandy jerked like she’d been hit and scared the shit out of him until she rolled her eyes.
“Oh, great, now we’re in a moving object above water getting shot at! Freakin’ fantastic!”
He laughed, so relieved she could give him such a comeback that he unbuckled his harness and leaned in to kiss her quickly. “It adds some spice, sugar.”
“Ah, Mac, man, can you cut the lovey-dovey and get your ass out there and return fire?” Tad called.
“Out there?” Mandy looked near panic and clutched her hands together around his. “Mac, swear to me you’re not going to get hurt. Please? I don’t think I could bear you dying.”
He froze. It was as close to saying she cared as she’d come since he’d jumped back into her life.
“Baby, I’m not going to die. I’m just going to lean out a bit, not all the way.”
Instead of him reassuring her, she looked even more frightened. She’d lost her brother—she thought—and now she feared losing him. What did he do with that? He leant forward and brushed a kiss to her cold lips. “I’m pretty good at this shit, Mandy. Trust me, okay?”
She nodded quickly and fought the wash of tears he saw in her eyes.
He gently pulled away from her and got his rifle out from where he’d slung it next to them. “Gonna return fire now, hold it steady as you can,” he instructed Tad.
He shut Mandy out, cleared his head, and aimed his gun. She’d seen him kill already today and didn’t seem as concerned about the life he’d taken back on the ground as she’d been for him. He shut the thought out and did what he did best.
The two ‘copters after them were top of the line, but they weren’t manned by a crazy Irishman. Tad dived down and over, tipping the ‘copter and giving Mac the aim he needed to hit the guts on the other craft.
Mac fired in rapid succession and turned immediately to his left where the second craft should be. “Other.”
Tad immediately dipped and spun to give him his shot. Mac didn’t bother with the guts. He fractured the window shield, killing the pilot and anyone else dumb enough to sit up front.
They returned fire, landing a couple of hits that shook the ‘copter badly. He glanced away from scanning the skies to see Mandy gripping her seat and looking pale and sick. Tad called out a warning and more bullets hit the side, ripping apart the black rubber under his feet. One shot hit the doorway where he still leaned. He jerked out of the way as more landed and cursed under his breath. Mandy was in here. They needed gone. Or to land. Under him, miles of dark, choppy ocean lay as far as the eye could see.
“Tad, we need closer to land. These scumbags aren’t going away, but hell if I want an aerial battle.”
“Tell me about it, Wolf. What the hell did you do to piss these guys off?”
Mac grunted. “Arrested them.”
Tad laughed in the com link and cut the Hawk sharp to the right, towards the western horizon. Mac saw distant peaks—two, possibly more.
A round of fire hit them, and Tad dived down before straightening. Smoke billowed out of the engine and the entire machine shook. Fuck. They were going down.
Mac shoved away from the open door and faced Mandy. She stared up at him like he’d lost his mind, but she didn’t look as freaked as he knew she was going to be. He’d given up praying long ago but he sent a silent prayer out now. Mandy had asthma. He was going to shove her off this beast and into the sea below.
“Mac, I don’t know if those islands are the best option.” Tad sounded frustrated and angry.
“For you, that’s the best option. But without us.”
Tad cursed through their link. “Man, are you sure?”
Mac’s heart clenched hard like someone had fisted it, but he fought the fear and settled on keeping Mandy alive. There wasn’t another option.
“We’re going to have to jump.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Repeat that?”
Mandy stared up at Mac, not quite believing what he’d just said. The roar of the wind coming in from the open helicopter door made it insane. She could barely breathe, let alone hear Mac even if he was right in her face.
He grimaced and pulled her by her shoulders until he could yell in her ear.
“You heard me, sugar, up, now. The ‘copter’s going down.”
He released her and unbuckled her safety harness before she could stop him. Hauled to her feet, she grabbed his arm and tugged at his uniform only managing to get a glance down from him.
“I— We can’t— I mean, where are we?”
A sudden shudder rocked her into him just as a loud explosion roared through the cabin. Mac hauled her in tight against him and forced a pack on her back.
“We have to jump. Feet pointed down. Straight down or you’ll break your legs. Feet down, arms crossed and stay the fuck near me.”
“What! No, no, Mac, I can’t!”
Rapid rat-a-tats hit the side of the ‘copter and she screamed as they started to spin in a circle. From her peripheral, she saw Tad’s head slump forward. Mac dived for the front and she swallowed to keep from throwing up while trying to keep an eye on Mac struggling with Tad. For several tense seconds she thought she might be pulled from the plane by the sheer momentum of their spin, but somehow Mac and Tad got the ‘copter flying right again. Mac stayed up front a bit longer, but turned back to her with a look so frighteningly intense she felt tears rush her eyes.
They were going to die and she’d never even told Mac she loved him.
Mac pushed her back down in her seat and grabbed the side of the ‘copter and leaned out so far she had to close her eyes. That only made it worse. She quickly opened them to see Mac bring his rifle up, take aim, and fire. His big shoulders barely moved with the kick. He let go of several more rounds, his face tight with such deadly concentration she shivered. After two more shots, he pushed away from the opening with one hand. This was what he’d not wanted her to see. Him killing. She knew it like she knew she’d never survive if he was taken from her.
An explosion louder than before sounded above the whirl of the Hawk’s engines and the wind whipping through the cabin. She grabbed the straps above her head as they rocked back and forth like some crazy kid’s beach toy.
Mac turned and slung the rifle strap over his shoulder, grabbed her hand, and jerked her up against him. Her legs felt like noodles. She shuddered uncontrollably and couldn’t stop a small laugh from bursting from her numb lips when he said, “They’re gone. We jump. Now.”
He was serious. “But the… Oh, God, oh, God, can’t you simply fix…? I mean, Mac, we can’t leave Tad! He’s—”
“He’s dead.”
Dead? She shook her head, tears burning her eyes. Tad dead? But he’d been there, right there… Mac reached up and caught her face in his hands.
“Sugar, I can’t fix this. It’s going to crash and we’re not going with it,” he yelled. “I rigged it so it will fly on its own far enough away from us to not come down on our heads, but it’s going down.”
She tried hard to stop the flood of tears spilling over but she could feel them wetting her face. The wind rushed in, chilling her throu
gh her layers of gear, but her face felt flushed and too warm. Mac grimaced and brushed at her face. “Just stay close, point those feet and stay alive. If I thought you couldn’t do this, I’d not make you.”
She shook her head. She couldn’t do this. Her stomach lurched to her throat. The helicopter dipped and shuddered, but he tugged her upright and to the open doorway. What looked like deep, dark ocean spread out beneath them like some kind of creepy Jaws movie.
“I can’t do this! I can’t jump out of this. Oh, God this is crazy!”
Her wail was met with a ‘don’t fuck with me’ look she absolutely hated. Reaction set in and her body began to shake like Jell-O. The ‘copter dipped again and he braced them both against the side, one arm tight around her, plastering her from head to toe to his bigger, stronger body. The open door bit into her back. Sweat dripped down her spine and ribs. A chill rushed her immediately followed by heat like she’d caught a fever. He was serious. So serious she knew, if she didn’t jump, he’d simply push her out the open door.
She looked down and regretted it instantly.
“We have to jump. Now, before it’s too late.”
She met his hazel eyes and tried hard to focus. “I—”
“If you open your mouth to say you can’t, I’m going to spank you.”
She smacked his chest light enough but it hurt her hand on the straps he had across his chest. “Stop! Please, Mac. This is serious! I’m not a SEAL! Why can’t—?”
“Mandy.” He finally turned serious and gripped her shoulders to hold her still. Had she been trying to get away? “Listen, we have to do this. Any lower and we won’t make the fall. Tad is gone. Now, think, sugar. We can do this.”
She glanced away from his determined stare. The wind whipped so loudly through the open door, they were yelling at each other. Her throat hurt. Breathing was getting harder and if she didn’t get a grip she was going to black out, but she looked back up at him.
