Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71880 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
He actually grinned for a second, then shook his head and—I went rigid when he cupped my face in his hands and leaned closer. The intensity in his eyes—in those familiar silvery-blue eyes… Don’t fucking do anything. You’ll break me again. He couldn’t know how badly I wanted—
He was done. He finished talking and backed off, and I immediately missed his muddy fingers on my muddy fucking face.
I clenched my jaw. This was what he did to me. Even now, years later.
Goddamn bastard.
I hated him with every fiber of my being.
A beat later, he was airborne, and I was next. I grabbed on to the rope and unfastened my gun from its holster on my hip, and I fixed my stare on our surroundings. A decent shot could have a field day with us right now, pick us off one by one on the line.
Right before my feet left the ground, I lowered my monocular and switched to thermal vision.
What the hell had he said to me? He’d never had any issues giving me shit to my face before. Although, the silent treatment had been his favorite up until this mission—not counting the few times we’d been forced into the same room for Blake’s birthday party. He saved his digs for when she couldn’t hear.
Reese Tenley
“Sleep, baby. I’m not letting you go.” I tucked the blanket under Shay’s seat belt and made sure he was wrapped up tightly.
He nodded and rested his cheek on my shoulder, but that wasn’t good enough for me. I had to put my arm around him, and then I grabbed the other blanket and gave him a better pillow than my vest.
“There we go. Just relax now.” I kissed the top of his head.
Even with the constant helicopter noises, this had to be a hell of a lot more peaceful than being held captive. The danger had passed. He was safe. He was back with me and River. Where he belonged.
I’d snatched three seats for us closer to the back of the helicopter, so that River could take the edge seat and lean back against whatever cargo they had there. Then he could rest his injured leg across Shay’s lap and my own. And get some shut-eye.
The seats lined the sides, ’cause this type of helicopter could take a fairly big payload and even had a back ramp. Hell, a few four-wheelers would easily fit in here. But for now, just Danny. He was lying flat on his back on a gurney on the floor, eyes closed, his uninjured arm folded under his head, not a care in the world—though, I knew he missed Emerson. He wouldn’t relax properly until they were reunited tomorrow morning. But I bet the painkillers helped with both missing his hubby and the gunshot wound in his bicep.
Shay burrowed himself closer to me and glanced up. “What happens now?”
I combed my fingers through his hair. “We’re probably heading to Hillcroft’s training center outside Quito. It’s just across the border in Ecuador. We’ll regroup, shower, eat, get some rest… We’ll probably say goodbye to Greer and Cullen.” They’d done what they came for, and they’d been the best backup we could’ve asked for. “River and I would like to send you with them.”
Shay lifted his brows. “Do you see that happening?”
I exhaled a laugh and shook my head. “Not for a second—but it would be ideal. We’d know you were safe and surrounded by people we know and trust.”
I’d already asked Greer if Shay could stay with him and his family while River and I assisted the others in Europe.
“Your aunt and brothers miss you like crazy too,” I said.
He bit his lip and dropped his gaze, thinking about it. “I can call them, can’t I? And I’ll see them soon, regardless?”
I half nodded. “It depends on how quickly we can find Marisa and Blake, but it shouldn’t be more than a few days. We think we know where they’re headed.”
“Then I’m going with you,” he said firmly.
I was too weak to argue. I didn’t wanna look away from him for a second. His mere presence was stitching up my ticker as we spoke.
“Fair enough—but you’ll be with Darius and Gray for the extraction,” I answered. I wasn’t budging on that. “You’ll be close by, just not smack-dab in the middle of it.”
“I can live with close by.” He kissed my jaw. “Can you fill me in on everything? Crew went to Europe or something, right? And who’s Carillo? I’ve heard his name tonight—and before. And did we lose anyone at the ranch?”
Oh hell.
“First, you rest,” I bargained.
Elliott Jones
Jesus Christ, I hadn’t been here in…over fifteen years.
I jumped out of the helicopter and glanced around me.
The place looked the same.
It was still dark, but my memories filled in the bits and pieces cast in shadows. Hillcroft’s training facility was a one-story red-brick building that formed a square around the courtyard, which was big enough for a helicopter to land in. Gravel crunched underneath my boots as I jogged toward the main entrance.