40. Cash

40

CASH

"We need a medical team, stat!" I shouted, gearing up for the ride.

We were a well-oiled machine working as one, but everything was on the line with this job. One screw up and many people could get hurt or killed. There were so many unknown factors that could ruin our plans.

"Fox, I want you with Nicholas and his team. No Funyuns!"

"But Boss?—"

I narrowed my eyes at him and he sighed, grabbing his gear. I ran over and slung Sally 3 over my shoulder, readying for our departure. Zavala was going to be on the helicopter, that much I was sure of.

"We leave in three minutes!" I shouted, running out to the helicopter.

"Whoa," Knight stopped me. "You can't be on that chopper."

"I need to be."

"You look just like Rafe. How the hell are you going to explain that?"

I gritted my teeth, realizing he was right. I was going to have to ride with Nicholas. "You do not take out Zavala until we're sure we can get everyone off the island."

He gave a stiff nod and climbed in with Max, who was already in the pilot's seat. I was about to turn away when a waft of smoke filtered into my face. Coughing, I blew it away and glared at the man who was being so offensive. He slid his sunglasses onto his head and grinned at me.

"Miss me?"

"IKE, what the fuck are you doing here?"

"Thought I'd join the fun."

"You mean, you were bored and needed a tougher assignment."

He shrugged. "I even ditched the suit for you."

I studied his outfit, wondering what the fuck he was supposed to be. "I missed the dress-up list. What is this?"

"I'm a medic. See?"

He pointed to the velcro armband, then quirked his head at me. "Not convincing enough?"

"Do you even know how to stitch a wound?"

"I've done it plenty of times. I've got this."

"On someone actually in danger of bleeding out," I corrected.

"I do it on myself all the time," he retorted.

I shook my head. "What about other human beings? Do you know how to help them? Zavala will be pissed if you don't know how to save his wife."

"I took a class once. Trust me, Cash. I know everything."

And suddenly, the acronym made sense. "One of these days, you'll tell me your real name."

"But it won't be today," he said, sliding his glasses on his face. He slammed his fist into the roof twice. "Ho!"

I slid the door shut and rushed over to my own helicopter, leaving in just a few seconds. Scottie was flying and looked a little green around the gills, but that was his usual state and probably when he did his best flying. We had Nicholas's team with us and FNG since he knew his way around the property at least a little. I was just about to shut the door when my father grabbed the handle, stopping me.

"You're not going," I gritted out.

"I have to. She's my daughter."

"You're a fucking liability. Everyone on that island knows who you are."

"And you look just like your brother. How the hell is that any different?"

It wasn't, but I didn't want to put my father in danger when I knew my team could handle it. "We've got this."

"Son, I've been going on missions since before you were in diapers. Move the fuck aside."

I couldn't argue with that. I scooted over and let him in, then nodded to Scottie. "I really fucking hope you have enough barf bags," I shouted.

He held up a lifetime supply, then dropped them on the ground. Clicking on comms, I spoke to Knight. "Sync in three, two, one, sync." I clicked the timer on my watch to start the countdown clock. It would take approximately fifteen minutes to get to the island, and if we played our cards right, we could slip below the radar and with no one the wiser.

We needed a distraction, and Rafe provided one for us. I wasn't positive that the air ambulance was called for Isabelle, but she was the most likely candidate since she was the only one Zavala gave a shit about in his own fucked up way.

Either that or Rafe had lost it and severely injured Zavala.

"Scottie, how are we looking?" I asked as we approached Zavala's island.

"Uh…a little green!"

I frowned at that. "How only a little?"

"Well, we'll see as we get closer," he said over the noise of the helicopter.

"Scottie, we need to know now! Is it green or not?"

"Oh, it's definitely green!"

"How was it a little green two seconds ago and now it's definitely green?"

He grabbed a barf bag beside him and vomited into it, then held up a thumbs up. "That's how."

"Scottie, get ready to split," Max said over comms.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm on it."

I rolled my eyes at the level of enthusiasm in his voice.

"Hold up," Max said. "I've got eyes on Raven. Ten o'clock. Holy shit, she's kicking ass!"

"Scottie, get us over there!" Nicholas shouted.

"I'm going, alright? Geez, calm the fuck down."

"Me? You want me to calm down? You throw up in a fucking plane. And you're a pilot!"

"Hey! It's a tactical maneuver!"

"It's a fucking sickness!"

"I'll have you know I've taken out many a baddie with my tactical vomit!"

"Everybody shut up!" I shouted.

"Zavala's on the helipad. I'm moving in," Max said.

"You keep eyes on him the whole time. He doesn't get away with Isabelle," I ordered. "And do not take him out until we've secured Rafe and Raven."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't kill the nasty cartel leader. I got it."

I turned to a very eager Nicholas. "You're up."