“We will.” Ghost’s dark eyes met hers. “We’ll do both of those things and make sure Henry Radcliff pays for what he’s done.”
Truck’s voice was deep as he added, “And anyone else who’s been helping him cover up his crimes.”
Once again, Ellena met each of the men’s gazes. With a nod and a slight smile, she whispered a sincere, “Thank you.”
She shouldn’t be surprised at how these men had all come together the way they had. Though she’d only just met them, Ghost, Truck, Hollywood, and the others put off the same good guy-warrior vibe she’d gotten from Gabe the first time they’d met.
Men like the ones surrounding her now were all made from the same cloth. Good. Honest. Fierce. And when it came to righting the wrongs this crazy world sometimes doled out on innocent souls, they were the first to step up. Ready and willing to lay it all on the line in the name of God, country, and the ones they loved.
A sense of dread began building in the pit of her stomach, and she said a silent prayer asking God to watch over them all. Including Adrian Walker.
* * *
“So that’s it.” Adrian looked back at the others. “Any questions?”
They’d gone over the plan ad nauseum, and he was chomping at the bit to get back to Jenna. He fucking hated leaving her in that house with Hall—the guy was such a prick—but like everything else in his mess of a life, he hadn’t had much choice.
“I have a question.” Zade spoke up.
Of course, you do.Speaking in his best, most well-mannered teacher’s voice, Adrian smiled a little too wide at the other man. “Yes, Zade?”
“I’m cool with the plan as it sits, except for one part.”
“Which part is confusing to you?”
“The part where you leave us here to go get Jenna. Alone.”
“Oh, that’s easy.” Adrian gave the pissed off R.I.S.C. operative a smirk. “You see, I’m going to walk out the door that isn’t really a door anymore, get into my CIA issued, non-descript vehicle, and then I’m going to…are you paying attention, because this part is tricky…drive that vehicle to the location where Jenna is being held.”
A muscle in Zade’s jaw twitched as he turned his glare onto Ryker’s. “You seriously expect us to trust this asshole to do what he says he’s going to? I mean”—he ran a hand over his short hair—“he could be sending us all into a fucking trap.”
The phone call Adrian had made earlier was to Price. He’d convinced the prick he’d found and made contact with Ellena and convinced her to trade herself for her friend. Adrian then talked Price into flying his ass from D.C. to a small airstrip not far from where they were now to make the trade.
The airstrip in question was located on a piece of land owned by the federal government. Government officials, federal agents, and politicians often used it—and the hundreds just like it spread around the country—to avoid being mauled by the press when they landed.
What Price didn’t know was that Bravo Team, along with the Delta team Ryker had brought in, would already be on location and in position. The plan was to take the asshole down the first chance they got. After that, it would be up to Ryker to get Price to turn on Radcliff, effectively taking both men down in one, fell swoop.
“King does bring up a good point,” the guy they all called Truck rumbled his opinion. “We’ve all tangled with Walker a time or two. What’s to say there won’t be a shitload of guys waiting to take us all out as soon as we get there?”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me with this shit.” Adrian threw his hands in the air. “Hellooo. Look around, gentlemen. You’re closer to each other right now than you will be at the trade sight. It’d be a helluva lot easier to take your asses out here as opposed to when you’ll be spread out along the airstrip like a bunch of fucking cockroaches.”
“Nah, Truck’s right,” Zade pressed on. “You went outside earlier to make that phone call. Alone. How do we know you weren’t setting us up, then?”
“You don’t.” Walker stared back at him. “Guess you’ll just have to trust me.”
“Trust the man who put a fucking hole in my shoulder?” Zade scoffed. “Don’t think so.”
“Dude, you really need to play like Elsa and let that shit go. Besides…” Adrian stared down at the makeshift sling Matt had concocted for him before giving the other man a wink. “We’re twinsies now. Hey, maybe when this is all over, we can take a selfie together. Use one of those cute little filters and show off our matching scars. What do ya say?”
Zade went for him, then, but several arms reached out all at once to stop him. While the other man growled and struggled to get loose, Adrian casually glanced down at his watch.
“And on that note, I’m going to go pick up the hot little nurse and that dipshit Hall. As soon as Price has landed, I’ll head to the hanger. The guy’s already a suspicious bastard as it is. If I’m late, it’ll only cause more problems. And speaking of problems”—he shot Gabe a look—“I suggest you get your man King, there, under control. I’d hate for this thing to go sideways because he’s still butthurt over something that went down months ago.”
“Fuck you, Walker!” Spittle flew from Zade’s angry lips as he continued fighting to free himself.
Ignoring him and the others, Adrian offered them a smile and a two-finger salute as he turned to leave the barn. Anxious to see Ellena’s friend again, it was all he could do not to haul ass to his car.
He was fully aware that he shouldn’t even bethinkingabout the feisty redhead beyond using her to get the job done. Shouldn’t care about the fear he’d seen in her eyes when he’d gotten the jump on her in her apartment’s parking lot. Or how soft and tender Jenna looked after the injection he’d given her had knocked her out cold.
