She spotted the space up ahead where they planned to stash the truck, as close as they could get to the landing zone. Slowing, she pulled over to the side and drove the truck out of sight behind a copse of trees.
“We gotta go!” Colt shouted, hauling Timmy to his feet, then slamming open the back door of the truck and stepping outside. “They’ll be on top of us any minute.”
Lissa jumped down from the driver’s side and ran to the back of the truck to join them. Colt flashed her a look she couldn’t read, then they were running, moving as fast as they could through the trees and the thick green foliage.
The clearing loomed ahead. No sign of the helicopter.
“We’re almost there,” Colt said.
“Where’s the chopper?” Timmy asked worriedly, speaking Lissa’s thoughts aloud.
“He’ll be here,” Colt said firmly. “Just keep going.”
The sound of vehicle motors coming down the road made Lissa’s pulse pound. The taste of fear filled her mouth.
“Keep going!” Colt shouted as they burst into the clearing where the helicopter should have been.
“Where is it?” Timmy asked again, his eyes wide with fear.
Lissa scanned the clear blue sky. In minutes it would be too late.
“There! There it is!” Timmy shouted, pointing at a dark shape in the sky that was growing larger as it drew near.
“Run!” Colt’s voice rang with authority, the tone of a man used to being in command. “We need to get over that rise!”
They ran up the hill as if the hounds of hell were on their tails—which they were—and dropped over the ridge out of sight just as Alex settled the helo on the ground a few yards away. The bay doors were open.
Colt lifted Timmy up and he scrambled inside, Lissa climbed in beside him, then Colt jumped in, and the helo lifted away. Lissa strapped Timmy into the middle seat and settled in beside him, while Colt wedged himself into the copilot’s chair. They all put on their headsets.
Through the plastic bubble, Lissa could see men running into the clearing below. She knew they were firing, but it was too noisy in the chopper to hear the gunshots. They were almost out of range when a second group appeared, a sea of armored vehicles, men and equipment, pouring into the clearing, surrounding the first group of soldiers.
“Looks like the cavalry has arrived,” Colt said and she could hear the smile in his voice. The task force brutally outnumbered the cartel men. A few would resist and pay the ultimate price. The rest would be taken into custody, including Ray Spearman. Timmy would be safe.
“Sorry I was late.” Alex’s voice came through the headset. “Had a little run-in with some of our friends from the task force. Fortunately, they were called away at the last minute, something to do with El Puñal. I have a hunch Benito Cortez had a hand in it.”
Colt laughed. “Perfect timing. Cortez is a handy man to know.” They were grateful for everything he had done for them. Colt turned in his seat to look at Timmy. “You okay?”
He nodded. “Thanks for coming to get me.”
“You didn’t think I would?”
Timmy smiled. “I was hoping you would. I didn’t think you’d bring Lissa, but I’m really glad you did.”
“Me, too,” Colt said and there was a gruff note in his voice that made Lissa’s heart contract.
She tried not to think what would happen when they got to Laredo, only a little over an hour from now. But there was no way Colt would be returning to Dallas and no way she would be going to Denver.
It was over.
They had both known from the start it was only a fling. She needed to accept that, deal with it. Lissa leaned back in the seat, trying to think of a way to say goodbye.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THEYWEREONthe ground in Laredo. Lissa and Timmy were heading back to Dallas, back to Julie, who had sobbed into the phone when Colt had called with the news her son was safe and on his way home.
Colt wasn’t going with them. He needed to get to Denver, check on his grandmother. He was long overdue and he knew how much she missed him. He had duties, responsibilities. He planned to build a life there.
Why was it that now building a life that didn’t include Lissa was the last thing he wanted to do?
