Finn’s jaw locked tight enough to ache, as if to hold back the fire roaring up his throat.
Not yet.
He’d waited this long.
He could wait one more minute.
They’d wait for the pilot.Then he’d drag Drew off that jet and choke him with the same polished rope the mongrel once calleda pardon.
‘I look better than you lot.’Clancy, the big guy, trotted down the stairs to unclip one of the jet’s cargo hatches.‘Where’s the stash?’
‘In the back of the truck,’ said Bob.
‘Give us a hand.Red, you can’t get on board bleeding like that, mate.Drew’ll spit at the cleaning bill.’
‘Don’t give a shit.’Red pushed off the truck and started limping.‘While I’m at it, I’ll give that mongrel a mouthful.’
‘They’re loading…’ Finn itched to move, anger driving him now.
‘We wait for the pilot.’Taryn gripped his wrist.‘You said it’s Stone’s call.He’ll know when it’s time.’
She was close.Too close.The press of her shoulder against his, the heat of her breath in the still air that filled with the enticing scent he’d missed.She was the only thing keeping him steady, preventing his rage from ripping through everything.
But then in the meekest, softest voice he’d ever heard her use, she whispered, ‘I’m sorry.I’m such a chicken, but in case this goes sideways… you should know—’ She swallowed.‘I’m pregnant.’
It didn’t hit like a bomb.It hit like silence.
A deafening slap right across his jawbone.
Finn spun to face her, to see if she was joking.
She wasn’t.
Pregnant?!
The word echoed through him like bootsteps stomping down an empty hallway.
And all he could do was stare at her.
Then Stone’s voice sliced through the comms: ‘Engines down…Pilot’s out.Go!’
Taryn sprinted.Fast.Handgun up, badge glinting.Breaking cover first—without him!
It only took a moment before Finn chased after her.Snapping back into the mission.And away from the thing he suddenly couldn’t stop thinking about.Pregnant?
Craig peeled down the passenger side of the truck, rifle up.
Amara swept left, flanking the truck.‘Federal Police!’ she shouted with her handgun perfectly poised.‘Hands where I can see them!’
Red groaned.Bleeding, his shirt soaked in sweat, he dropped to his knees.
Bob dropped his bag and bolted straight for the jet.
‘Bob’s heading for the plane!’Romy’s voice snapped through comms as the helicopter roared overhead.
Bob reached the stairs.Hand out on the rail to climb for the plane.
When Porter’s warning cracked like thunder, as he pressed the gun’s barrel into the back of Bob’s head.‘One more step and you’ll be eating through a tube for the rest of your life, if you’re lucky.’
