Laughing, we kiss, then metal snaps. The sides of the container clang to the ground and we jump. This is some James Bond shit, except it’s real.
“Jesus H. Christ. Are you guys seeing this?” My heart fucking stops as the missile launcher comes to life, and the damn thing aims at the sky.
Green bulbs pulse, some numbers light up on a panel, and when they start to count down, I almost piss myself.
Chapter 26
Sky
“Run!” Dean grabs my hand, I take Charlie’s, and we sprint down the empty road to a group of cruisers with their flashers on.
About halfway to the police cars, my hero lets go, and swivels on his heel. He races back to the damn truck, and shouts over his shoulder. “I’m going to stop this cluster-fuck.”
Pushing my client into the arms of a state trooper, I take off toward my idiot partner.
When I reach his side, he speaks into the cell glued to his ear. “Take your time, it’s not like I’m standing in front of an armed nuclear warhead or anything.”
While jets tear a white hole in the blue sky, the wanna-be martyr meets my gaze. “Jesus, no. Get out of here.”
On the display, the timer reads sixty seconds, fifty-nine…
“I love you and I’m not leaving you.” Shaking, I hold out my hand for his phone and after locking his eyes to mine, he nods.
“Sixteen digits and hit enter. Ready?” As some guy doles out the numbers, Dean puts in the code and…
Oh crap. The countdown didn’t stop.My jaw drops and my heart stops as electronics sizzle followed by a white puff of smoke.
Thirty, twenty-nine…
“Tell my brothers I love them.” Eyes bright, my lover holds me to his chest. “See you on the other side, butterfly.”
Dammit, I meet my perfect guy and now this?What the actual fuck?
“You stupid piece of shit!” Breaking away, I thrust kick my heel at the electronics and the screen goes black.
We both stare transfixed for a second, then Dean lifts the phone to his mouth. “Tell the planes to stand down. The timer stopped. I repeat, the missile is disarmed.”
My copsnaps a pic, hits send, and an eternity later, the sky clears. Soon, the helicopter lands, and officials race to our side. The whole time, I don’t dare breathe or even look at the disabled panel.
Chapter 27
Dean
Later, we sit in a diner, and the president of the United States of America calls us from the White House. “Thank you for your service. You two deserve a medal, but the public can never know what transpired here.”
“Yes, sir.” Responding in unison, Sky and I chat with him for a moment more and when we hang up, my brother in New York calls us from his man cave.
“The truth this time. How did you really stop the countdown?”
“Jeesh. Give me the phone.” Rolling her eyes, Sky puts her lips to my device. “I swear on the Holy Bible, I kicked the shit out of it.”
While the rest of my siblings sitting in our booth laugh, Colin leaves his FBI group and joins our celebration. “We found the Russian who took control of the truck.”
Unimpressed, Drac sniffs. “Who modified the trucks? Who changed the access codes? If we can’t locate those perps, it could happen again.”
“Thanks for the offer, oh wise one. My team will be reaching out later today.” Shaking his head, the Fed hands my phone back to me and once he sits, Sky catches his eye.
“Yo? Am I still a person of interest in Brownstone’s murder?” Her knees bounce and as she takes a sip of coffee, his blue eyes narrow.
