Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

T hom had to admit that considering he had been kidnapped and forced to work to unravel some kind of cypher, which would then be used to break a security code, he was being treated well. Even when Thom had decked Christian after they had taken Thom out of restraints, his captors hadn’t retaliated. Christian had simply picked himself up and repeated that Avery had been too tempting. It wasn’t that he didn’t agree; he found himself seeing her face whenever he closed his eyes, could hear her calling him Daddy and was so very proud of how brave she had been. Thom only hoped she would understand and heed his warning about how to proceed.

He couldn’t suppress the grin any more than he could the hardening of his cock. More than anything in this world, he wanted to get home to Avery, wanted to build their life together. He could easily imagine playing with their kids, teaching them to ride horses and motorcycles, and how to fly planes and choppers. He used planning a future with Avery as a way to slow his mind. He needed to be able to show his abductors that he was making progress but buying enough time for the recovery team to get here. Without the distraction of all he wanted to experience with Avery, his mind would have locked on to the problem at hand.

Hopefully, Junior would be able to fly the mission. Avery was still the best pilot and the most capable woman he’d ever known, but the daddy in him wanted her as far away from this kind of action as possible.

Thom looked up as Christian entered the room.

“How’s the work coming?” asked Finn’s older brother.

“It’s coming as fast as it can. If it were an easy cypher, one of the three guys you had working on it before me would have had it done. By the way, what happened to those guys?”

“All were paid their agreed upon rate, plus given first class airfare to the city of their choice. Fariq and I aren’t murderers.”

Thom held his tongue, but his arched eyebrow said it all.

“Not of amateurs or innocents.”

“You put a hit out on Zara.”

“I didn’t,” explained Christian quietly. “And Fariq doesn’t consider her either an amateur or an innocent. He felt she was a threat.”

Thom stopped what he was doing and really looked at Christian. He looked like a man whose every nerve was on end but was doing an exceptional job of covering it. He also appeared to want Thom to believe him and not think ill of him. It was curious.

He shrugged. “Doesn’t really matter to me. As long as you let me walk away and we have assurances from both you and Fariq to leave all of us alone, you might live. Harm anyone associated with Wild Mustang, and I don’t think too much of your chances for surviving this mess.”

Christian chuckled. “Especially if it’s you that gets hurt. I do believe that your little girl could bring a world of hurt down on someone if she had a mind to.”

Thom nodded. “She could, but she’d also bring the firepower of everyone at Wild Mustang. We’re a tight-knit bunch.”

“I’ve noticed. You’re lucky to have each other. I’m glad Finn seems to have found a good man who can keep her safe.”

“Shame that the guy he’s the most concerned about is his future brother-in-law.” Thom’s zinger hit its intended bullseye.

Christian recoiled slightly. He frowned. “I’ll let you get back to it.” Retreating as far as the door, he paused long enough to warn, “Don’t screw with us, Thom. Fariq prefers money and intimidation to bloodshed, but he isn’t above the latter.”

“Neither are we,” Thom muttered under his breath, but by then Christian was already gone.

A very’s plane touched down in Barcelona. Unlike most, the city’s main airplane hub had hallways that were filled with both natural and manmade light. Combined with the usual mild, sunny climate, it made flying into this part of Spain a real treat. For once, customs wasn’t a nightmare. As she trudged down the light-filled corridors, she spotted Zara waiting for her just outside the security gates. She smiled as the other woman waved, but happy as she was to see her friend, the smile still felt like a mask. She was exhausted, physically, emotionally, and mentally, but from this point on, she couldn’t afford to let herself rest.

She should have known Zara would see right through her. “You look like shit.”

Avery flashed another weak smile. “Good. I was afraid I might look as bad as I feel.”

“Come on. Ghazil feels badly about all that’s happened. He’s so thrilled about being included in the wedding and yet is so terrified of Noah. He not only got us a fully armed helicopter, plus a base in Tarifa where we can land and refuel, but he did it all no questions asked.”

“Do you think we can trust him?”

“I was serious when I said he’s terrified of Noah.” Zara snorted. “The first time we saw him after the whole fiasco last year, the big guy slammed Ghazil up against the wall and roared right in his face. Ghazil wants no part of being on the wrong side of the firm and most especially wants to make sure Noah never has reason to quarrel with him again. So”—Noah’s soon-to-be wife flashed a grin—“don’t tell the poor guy we’re doing this without permission. He’ll have kittens.”

Zara stopped at one of the pastry kiosks and paid for two coffees and xuxos , a traditional Spanish pastry that reminded Avery of a croissant only stuffed with cream, deep fried, and sprinkled with sugar.

“Eat, drink,” she commanded, shoving one of each into Avery’s hands. “You’re traveling light, which is good, but you’re no good to anyone like this. Thom is going to need you at your best.”

“That’s what he’ll get,” Avery assured, although she wasn’t too proud to do it around a mouthful of sweet cream pastry. “No offense to Ghazil, but mostly what I want is to use his base. Unless his chopper has stealth capability, I’ll be taking a boat to Marshan and get Thom out that way. It’ll be quieter. However, if Ghazil did manage to get me a chopper with stealth onboard, I’m far more comfortable flying in than I am storming Marshan on foot. Either way, with a little bit of luck, we’ll be in and out before Fariq knows we’re there. I can assess Thom’s condition on the way back and either head back to Tarifa or detour straight to Italy, France, or Portugal. I want my options open. Once Thom and I are on relatively neutral ground, Finn will have the guys ready to send in and mop up any remaining mess. Today is the day Fariq finds out just what a bad idea it was to be on the wrong side of the firm.”

“If anyone can do it, it’s you,” Zara said confidently. “As for me, I think I’ll go hang out on the Costa Brava until everyone is safe, then go home and see if I can’t get the big guy to look the other way about my involvement.”

“At least neither you nor Finn will be in the direct line of fire…”

“No, but we helped put you there. Don’t worry about it. Finn and I are both with you in this. Noah may growl and beat my ass, but he loves me and afterwards the sex will be amazing.”

It was all Avery could do not to spit her coffee. “You really like to tell it like it is. I never thought I could respond to anyone like that.”

“They do seem to take fiendish delight in discovering just how deeply our well of sexual response runs. I don’t know about you, but a quick smack before the deep well plundering starts always gets me hotter.” Waggling her eyebrows, Zara paused and looked at her again. “Seriously, you really do look dreadful.”

“I’ll be fine. I want to get Tarifa. Then I’ll find what I need, get some rest, and be ready to try and slip in to get Thom.”

“What if Fariq has his own boats out? I guarantee you he’s sitting oceanside and I’m surprised he isn’t on a boat.”

“Then I’ll make sure the chopper is truly equipped for the job and launch an assault on his position. Either way, you and I part company when we get to the chopper.”

Zara nodded. “I don’t like it, but at that point I know I’d just be in the way.”

The two women finished up their coffee and xuxos and headed to the chopper Ghazil had procured for them. Avery was suitably impressed with what she saw. It was a prototype Sikorsky-type chopper, something she’d only ever heard talked about via the rumor mill. Small and maneuverable, it was capable of stealth, fully armed and fast. Although she had heard reports about it being in development, the company had steadfastly denied the rumors. No doubt they would deny this one’s existence.

Zara laughed. “I take it from the look on your face that Ghazil did good.”

“Good?” Avery coughed. “This thing isn’t even supposed to exist! Tell him if I live, I’ll square anything anyone thinks he owes us at the firm. Change of plans, I’m going in fully loaded early tomorrow morning. I’ll hit them right before dawn.”

“You think you can challenge Fariq’s compound with just one chopper?”

Avery turned, grinning. For the first time since this whole nightmare had started, she finally felt in control and as though the odds had switched to their favor. “Are you kidding? With this baby, I could take on Cheyenne Mountain. Seriously, Zara, you should head out. I’m going to puddle jump to a more secure location, make sure I’m ready to rock and roll and then get some shuteye.”

“You’re sure?”

Avery nodded. “I am. Thank you and thank Finn for me.”

“I will.” Giving in to an impetuous hug, Zara squeezed her tightly before turning to go. “You and Thom had better be there to dance at our weddings.”

“We will be… with bells on.”

Avery watched her go for only a moment, and then she got to work on her first preflight check. All business now, she engaged the chopper’s engines as soon as she was done, lifted off almost silently and flew to a spot, hidden behind a bluff that had a straight line to Fariq’s compound.

With her position secured, Avery settled back with the automatic pistol supplied by Ghazil in easy reach. She remembered the microdot she’d repositioned on her body. Getting out her magnifier, hoping to find information on the compound she was planning to attack, she began to decipher the information encoded on the dot.

It contained information about the ancient fortress where Fariq had set up shop including a small blind spot in their radar detection system. Avery was impressed; she was beginning to believe there was something more than met the eye with Christian Reid. And then she found it, a cryptic message directing her to a secure website on the dark web, along with its password. Avery followed the instructions and logged on. There was an enormous, encrypted data file as well as a cry for help.

A very,

If you’re reading this, you’re getting ready to assault the compound. This disk contains information to help you do that as well as critical data that you need to get to NATO Intelligence as soon as possible. Fariq is funding a massive terrorist organization that is planning a coordinated attack around the International Summer Games. The key to his being able to access funds and arms is at the heart of the data he wants Thom Lyndon to acquire.

I believe I may have been compromised but getting this information into the right hands could save thousands, if not tens of thousands, of lives. This operation has been classified at the highest levels and is completely off the grid. Outside of myself and my handler, I have no idea who might be a party to this op. My handler was Dewey Robinson. Finn will remember him; he was a college roommate and recruited me into NATO. Dewey was found floating in the Seine last week, the day before we were supposed to meet so he could bring me and the information in.

I don’t know who I can trust within my own agency, but I do know the people that Finn calls family can almost certainly be trusted. Do whatever you have to in order to get this info to General Markoff at NATO headquarters. Do not place this information into anyone’s hands but his.

Christian

A very was stunned. In that instant, all the pieces began to fall into place. She was determined. Regardless of what happened in the next few hours, to her or to Christian, she would make sure Finn knew her brother was neither a murderer nor a traitor. That alone was worth incurring Thom’s wrath.

She hoped.

Her plan firmly in place, Avery settled down to nap. Her last conscious thoughts were of Thom. In her mind’s eye she recalled in vivid detail what it had felt like to be face down over his knee, feeling the sting from the impact of his hand as it landed repeatedly all across her derriere. She remembered the feel of his cock, throbbing beneath her in harmonized rhythm to the pulsing of her pussy and the repeated blows to her backside. It had hurt not only at the moment of impact, but long after. Each time he had mounted her, thrusting deep into her from behind, his hips had connected with her punished backside in the most deliciously painful way. Somehow each surge had made the discomfort morph, sparking both her adrenaline and desire, until once more he’d fanned her lust and need into raging wildfires.

She wasn’t ready to let him go. The few nights they’d shared thus far just weren’t enough. She needed more. More time and more memories to share.

She meant to see they had a lifetime’s worth.

Her watch alarm went off at three a.m., startling her awake. Feeling as if she’d barely slept, she readied herself and quickly ran through her preflight list again. She ensured that having been outside, covered only in an old camouflage tarp, all of the munitions were in good working order, and all the while, in her head she had only one thought. This needed to be precise. She needed to hit Fariq hard and fast, in order to get Thom and hopefully Christian out before those bastards ever knew what hit them.

Climbing into the pitch-black cockpit, she turned over both engines. As the chopper lifted off the ground, Avery engaged the stealth capability. She giggled; something about using stealth technology always made her think of Wonder Woman in her invisible airplane.

Staying close to the ground, Avery snaked toward Marshan. If she’d calculated correctly, she would be over water and out of sight while it was still dark, then hit the compound moments before sunrise… the darkest hours before dawn.

The helicopter skimmed along the barren landscape, dropping to only a hair’s breadth above the undulating waves of the warm sea. The chopper was, so far, living up to the whispers about its abilities. It was fast, catty as all get out, and she felt practically invincible. Hopefully by this time tomorrow, she would be lying on her belly in bed next to Thom, Unable to sit, sure, but unmistakably safe once more in her loving daddy’s reassuring embrace.

T hom jolted awake when a hand clamped over his mouth. It took his eyes seconds to adjust to the near nonexistent light, but gradually a man’s shape separated from the shadows enough for him to tell it was Christian who stood over him.

“If I’m right, and I’m generally very good at reading people, your girl is about to come in guns a-blazing to rescue you,” Christian very softly said. “Now, she’s going to want to get me out, but I’m expendable and you need to make sure she understands that. It’s imperative that you get the information now in her possession to General Markoff.”

General Markoff?

Prying his hand away, Thom sat up. “You’re working for who? NATO? CIA? British Intelligence? Interpol?”

“NATO, but my handler was murdered last week in Paris. The operation was completely covert and the only person I trust is Markoff. If something has happened to him, it’ll be up to your firm to get this info to the right people, though I’ll be damned if I know who that is anymore. Fariq is planning a major operation against the International Summer Games.”

“How the hell does Avery know any of this?”

“When I copped a feel, I planted a microdot on her with the coordinates of this place and instructions about how to retrieve the data.”

“Oh, my God,” Thom groaned, shoving out of bed. He grabbed for his shoes, dismay already giving way to anger. “I don’t know who to spank first, her or you!”

The sun had yet to make an appearance and there was still no light, but the inky blackness was becoming less oppressive. At least until the first missile hit. Part of the thousand-year-old fortress exploded, shaking all the stone floor beneath their feet and nearly knocking both men down.

Cristian looked at Thom. “I believe that would be your rescue party of one.”

“I am definitely starting with you!” Thom spat back.

“No time.” Hurrying to the door to make sure the coast was still clear, Christian said, “Head straight down the hall. There’s a set of doors leading out on the balcony. She should be waiting for you. Tell Finn I’m sorry.”

“Tell her yourself. Come with me. We’ll get your information to Markoff together.”

Shaking his head, Christian took a step back from the door. “I can’t. Not yet.”

Something was holding him here. Thom could see it in the look of determination filtering through his eyes. His instinct was to argue, but the other man was right about one thing. There was no time.

“We’ll come back for you,” he promised, but it was easy to see the other man didn’t for a second believe he would live to see that day. Whatever was still holding him here, Thom hoped it was worth it.

Left with no other choice and before Christian could see it coming, Thom threw a vicious roundhouse punch, knocking the other man out cold. He barely managed to catch Christian as he fell, lowering him gently to the floor. Stealing Christian’s gun, he checked to make sure he hadn’t broken the guy’s jaw before whispering, “That was for fondling my girl. Hopefully, it’ll help convince them that I escaped without your help.”

He had to hurry.

Peeking out into the hall and seeing no one, Thom hurried to follow Christian’s directions. He found the doors at the end of the hall and, flinging them open, burst out onto the balcony. Movement both above and behind him caught his eye. The gun was cocked in his hand before he realized it was Avery, turning the chopper to face the balcony as she rose up over the balustrade to fire into the group of men converging on his position. Having neutralized the immediate threat, she spun the chopper so that the lower rung of the landing gear was level with the top of the railing and the door to the cockpit opened.

“Hey, Daddy! Wanna come for a ride in my new toy?” she said, trying to keep a light and airy, neutral tone.

He didn’t need to be asked twice. Heaving himself up onto the landing gear, he swung into the chopper and slammed the door behind him. Dropping into the passenger seat, he pulled on a helmet on and glanced back once, just to make sure they really were alone.

“Don’t you hey, Daddy, me,” he told her hotly. “You, little girl, are in more trouble than you’re going to know what to do with.”

Firing another missile into the compound, Avery spun the chopper to bring her guns to bear on another group of defenders. Even amidst his fear for her safety and the adrenaline surging through his system, he couldn’t help but admire her skill with the helicopter.

“I figured I was in trouble and we were alone, so Sir or Daddy was the appropriate term.”

Understanding she could use some reassurance from him, not so much about their relationship, but about his faith in her abilities, he replied, “That may be the grossest understatement ever made in aerial warfare. Get us someplace safe so I can take my belt to your ass before I fuck it.”

She grinned. “Yes, Sir!”

Opening fire one last time, she launched her last missile and, amid the smoke and flying debris, turned the chopper back toward the sea. She dropped well below the cliff on which the fortress sat, making a beeline for open water and flying just above the shimmering waves, following what looked like a pathway to forever provided by the sun.