Chapter 41

CHAPTER

FORTY-ONE

Heidi glanced at the man on the plane.

The man wearing a suit.

Rocky Velasquez, one of Rafferty's top agents. A man who'd also used the name Alfie in order to trick the men working for the Shadow Agency.

He was someone who'd do anything for Rafferty. Anything.

Stephen had taken Edward out. That was a relief.

But now there was Rocky.

"Take care of this!" Rafferty muttered as he sat in a seat and strapped his seatbelt over his waist. The only other person on the plane was the pilot.

Rafferty wanted to make a getaway involving only a few people. Probably smart.

But Heidi hoped that worked to his disadvantage right now.

Rocky stood at the door with his gun in hand.

At once, the reality of the situation hit her.

Stephen was determined to get to her, but in the process he could be killed.

She couldn't let that happen.

As Rocky tried to close the door, she threw all her weight into the man.

The gun flew from his hand and onto the tarmac. He stumbled back a couple of steps, clearly not expecting her move.

The interruption gave her just enough time to throw the door open.

As she did, she looked down at the ground. Saw they were moving. Saw how far it was for her to fall.

Her head began to spin.

"I was going to watch this play out," Rafferty muttered. "But there's no more time. Let's go!"

Was he talking to the pilot? Did Rafferty want to take off with the door open?

Heidi couldn't let that happen.

Stephen reached for her as the plane began to roll away from the stairway. "Heidi!"

Just as she stretched her arm toward him, Rocky came at her again. He grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back inside the plane with a grunt.

She landed on her butt, her palms softening the fall. But all she could think about was Stephen.

"What do you think you're doing?" Rocky's nostrils flared as he stared at her. "You stupid woman."

The next instant, Stephen propelled himself inside the plane. He landed on his side and quickly hopped to his feet. She wasn't sure where his gun was. Had he dropped it also? Was it in his waistband?

Rocky stared at him, his hands raised.

The two men began to circle each other.

In the distance, gunfire sounded.

Her heart rate ratcheted. Had the commander just been shot?

Sirens wailed.

Stephen and Rocky continued to face off as Rafferty sat in his seat.

The plane moved faster.

Heidi crawled out of the way.

As she did, she glanced at the open door.

The plane picked up speed.

If Stephen and Rocky didn't play it right, one of them could fall out that door.

She prayed that person wouldn't be Stephen.

Stephen faced off with Rocky, anger surging through his veins.

"You've been helping Rafferty this whole time, haven't you?" Stephen growled.

"It's an abomination what the military did to us," Rocky said, his fists also raised and ready to fight. "They need to pay. They treated us like we were disposable. Rafferty is the only one who's ever really cared."

"He only cares about himself." He moved to the side as he anticipated Rocky's next move.

"That's not true. We're like sons to him."

"If he had a choice of who to save, he'd always choose himself."

Rocky snarled. "You don't know that."

"I do. And so do you. You just don't want to admit it. You're disposable to Rafferty also, not just to the government."

"That's not true!" Rocky's pupils widened as fire seemed to ignite inside him.

"It is!"

The words spurred Rocky to action, and he took the first punch.

Stephen ducked, missing Rocky's hit.

Stephen swung back, and his fist connected with Rocky's jaw.

The man faltered, wincing with pain.

Then he sprang back to life and launched toward Stephen. The man caught him in a headlock.

Stephen used all his strength to propel Rocky over his shoulder.

The man landed with a thud on the floor.

Before he could get to his feet, Stephen grabbed his arms and flipped him over. He used some zip ties from his pocket to tie his hands together. Then he tied Rocky to a thick metal handle on the other wall.

"It didn't have to be with this way," Rocky muttered with a sneer. Blood drizzled from his nose and lip, but his eyes still looked feral. "You should have stayed on the right side."

"I am on the right side."

When Stephen looked up, Rafferty stood in the aisle glaring at him. He'd finally stood from his throne to join the fight.

"Why couldn't you just leave things alone? Let me go?" Rafferty raised his gun.

"No!" Heidi threw herself across the aisle until she stood in front of Stephen, her arms outstretched.

"Heidi . . . what are you doing?" Stephen started to move her aside. She was going to get herself killed.

She didn't budge and held her ground. "Rafferty won't shoot me."

He hated to break her confidence, but that assurance in her voice might get her killed. "I wouldn't be so sure of that."

"He won't. I'm . . . I'm his daughter."

Stephen's eyebrows shot up. Had he just heard her correctly?

He knew he had.

He would guess that update was news to Heidi also. He prayed she would have a chance to explain that more later. But survival was the most important thing right now.

Stephen stared at Rafferty. "I can't let your men kill the commander, no matter how much you think he deserves it. And I can't let you get away with this."

His eyes sparkled. "It's too late."

Heidi gasped. "What? He's already dead?"

"If everything went according to plan, then yes." Satisfaction stretched through Rafferty's gaze.

"You're not going to start a new life and take no culpability for this," Stephen growled. "I'll make sure of that."

"You know nothing," Rafferty barked. "All you are is a traitor. You're no better than him."

"You mean, the commander?" Stephen asked.

Rafferty sneered. "Yes, of course I'm talking about the commander. The mastermind of this whole program. The one who gave us authorization to proceed with it before turning on me."

"He fired you . . . so now you're trying to kill him?"

"It's a little more complicated than that."

"What are you talking about?" Stephen was in no mood to play guessing games right now.

"The truth is, it's kill or be killed." Rafferty's gaze hardened. "Billings has had his men trying to take me out. And I can't let him win."