Axel Wulf: A Romance Crime Action Thriller

Chapter 26

To run with wolves means to embrace the freedom that resides within.

Axel

“I love you.” Her soft, breathy whisper frees my soul.

Thinking I imagined the words, my gaze lifts to hers. When I see my feelings mirrored in her eyes, God help me, I fall deeper. “I love you, too.”

Slower and sweeter, we join again. Later, we dress, and a strange heat warms my heart. As we exit the restroom, her cheeks redden at the smirks on the guys’ faces. Wanting to protect her, I set her down in the first seat, buckle her up, and kiss the tip of her nose.

“Sleep, now. You need your shut-eye.” Chest puffed out, I walk back to the team and raise a finger. “Not a word.”

Lucky openly grins while the other five men swivel to the map projected on the white wall behind us.

“Happy you could join us, Wulf.” Our group leader, Slate, points his red laser dot at a private airstrip sixty-three miles north of Farid’s family home in Tehran.

“Our best weapon is the element of surprise. Thanks to the tracker in Abigail’s sneaker, we know exactly where she is. Extraction will be difficult. If the military catches wind, they will shoot to kill. Any hysterics will blow our timetable. Keeping the child quiet will be the mother’s only task. Keeping Dr. McGee calm is yours.”

“Understood.” My dog woofs under his breath as if also agreeing to the mission.

Gwen, listening intently from her chair, stands, walks down the center of the lounge area, and stops beside us. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

With my arm around her waist, Slate reviews the plan once more. Then, we change into local garb and relax. Too soon, a painful drop in air pressure wakes me. I open my mouth, my jawbone cracks, and my ears pop. Reaching across my sleeping beauty, I lift the shade. Mesmerized by the desert nothingness, our aircraft bumps to a stop on the uneven runway. When Gwen opens her beautiful eyes, I move a lock of silky hair and kiss her.

“We’re here.” She gives me a tenuous smile, and as she stretches, my cock hardens.

While I douse the fires of my lust, the jet door drops down, and we exit into the sunny, ninety-degree heat.

The mission is clear. We’re to bring her cute kid safely home to the States. My whole damn future depends on it.

“Those are ours.” Slate trots down the stairs and waves toward three desert-camouflaged SUVs.

Inside the first vehicle, with Bear at my feet, I grab her hand and squeeze. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, but I am worried.” She bites her lip, so I shoot her a reassuring smile.

“From what I’ve observed, Abbie is brave, like her mom.”

My chest tightens as her beautiful face lights up. “You should’ve seen her the first time I brought her to the ocean, she ran right in…”

Teary, her eyes flutter, and she gazes up at me, cupping my unshaven cheeks. “Thank you for being here.”

I bend down, kiss her willing lips, and promise. “Always.”

When our vehicle jerks to a stop, I reach inside my nylon jacket and hiss. “Pull your scarf around your face, lower your eyes, and don’t say a word.”

My dog growls and perks up his ears. As I give him the command to quiet, our native driver rolls down the window and hands over our paperwork.

While we all hold our breath, the armed guard’s gaze flicks from our passports to our faces. If we’re found out now, at best, the government will send us home. Worst case scenario? We”re beheaded.

Game face on, I reach for my weapon as the uniformed man fires off more questions. Bear watches everyone, his body sprung tight. Time freezes. Sweat drips down my sides. Finally, the dark-eyed man returns our IDs, grunts, and waves us forward. About a mile down the road, I let out my breath and pat my dog’s head.

Soon, we arrive at the hotel lobby. Dressed in a black hijab, eyes lowered, Gwen stands in line behind the team. After we check in, I drop our bag on the bed. A sudden knock on the door draws my attention. Gun out, I motion her to the bathroom and glance out the peephole.

“It’s only Slate.” While I return my pistol to my holster, the team leader motions us to his room.

There, we go over the plan one last time.