Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Love.
That’s what she saw when she stared into Ethan’s eyes. Love and trust and overwhelming confidence. No fear, no hesitation. Just that cocky smile as he checked his rifle. Got himself situated in Relic’s place.
His mate grumbled a bit—posturing that he was more than capable of manning the gun until it ran out of bullets.
Though, Olivia noticed the gray tint to his skin.
The way his mouth pinched tight when he shuffled over.
He was hurting. But she knew he wouldn’t quit.
Would have Ethan’s back if needed, just like Relic’d had a few minutes earlier.
He’d known there was a chance they’d get hit.
That she wouldn’t be able to avoid a missile, but he hadn’t blinked.
Had started shooting as soon as she’d swooped in low over the trees.
No discussion just his training kicking in.
As if he had a sixth sense about where the men had barricaded themselves.
And he’d been the reason they hadn’t been hit with an RPG. Sure, she’d done her best to avoid as much direct fire as possible, but he’d eliminated the stronghold—had bought them enough time to grab Ethan before he was blown into a thousand pieces.
She pushed that image out of her mind, focusing on the terrain.
It had started snowing, reducing the visibility to the point that even she thought she was crazy to keep going.
To attempt to fly this close to the trees when all she really had to rely on were her night vision goggles and the forward-looking infrared screen.
Not that she’d tell Ethan or Relic that.
The less they knew about how harsh the conditions were, the better.
Especially with Ethan riding that edge. While he looked more than at ease sitting in the back, she wasn’t going to chance setting him off by mentioning the risks she was taking.
Not when he was equally determined to keep her safe.
“Olivia.”
She jumped at the sound of his voice in her headset, glancing at him over her shoulder. She hadn’t realized he’d grabbed one of the spare sets in the back. “Yeah?”
He nodded at the landscape. “It’s getting pretty iffy out there. You still good?”
“What’s with you blokes and the constant worrying about the weather? You’re as bad as Miller, yeah?”
“Which means, it’s even worse than I thought.”
She snorted. The jerk was observant, she’d give him that much.
“It’s...challenging, especially with the door open.
The wind really buffets on that side, not to mention, it’s pretty cold in here.
But I’ve flown in worse. And, I’d like to take every possible opportunity to catch Parker, short of killing us. ”
He sighed into the mike. “I trust your judgment. And I want Parker, too, but...he’s not worth us dying over. Okay?”
Was her mouth gaping open? Had she gasped into the microphone?
Or had she finally lost her mind because, not only had he said he trusted her, but she was pretty sure Ethan Vale—the man who’d consciously looked for ways to sacrifice himself on every damn mission he’d ever been on—had just said he wanted to live. That they were worth a chance.
That’s what she’d heard in her head. That he did want a future with her. That he’d wanted to say more last night but had been equally as frightened as she was. That, maybe, he loved her, too.
“Sweetheart. You might want to breathe.”
She coughed, once again, glancing back at him. “Wanker.” That got her a smile. Like last night when she’d called him the same name. “And no dying. Got it, as long as the us means you’ll do the same.”
“Deal. Besides, I have big plans, though, it means we need to talk once this is over. No hopping a flight back to London, okay?”
“I can live with that. Not to mention, it sounded as if Cannon offered me a job. It’d be rude not to consider it.”
The smile that curved his lips was nothing short of magical. As if he’d finally let go of all that darkness inside him. Found a way to let in the light. “More than rude, really.” He cleared his throat. “How far to the airport?”
“Another thirty minutes. It’s slow going, but... Bloody hell. Are those snowmobiles out our starboard side?”
She banked over slightly to give him a better view. Though, it wasn’t hard to distinguish the bouncing beams of light amidst the trees. The swath of snow bathed in the eerie glow.
“Hell, yeah, that’s them. I can’t imagine it’s anyone else.
Not with one of the machines pulling a sled with the same containers.
The only question is...what’s our next move?
Normally, I’d be happy to open fire. See who was left standing after emptying what’s left in the fifty cal into their ranks. ”
“But?” Olivia was sure there was a reason he didn’t think that was a viable plan.
“But Gibson wanted the man alive. And since he’s our only link to Smyth...” Ethan shook his head. “The threat won’t be over until we get that bastard.”
“So, killing them isn’t an option. Got any others?”
“If you can hold this chopper steady, I can try to cripple the machines. My gut’s telling me Parker is on the one pulling those cases. That there’s no way he’d trust that to anyone else. I can start with the others and go from there.”
“How close do you need me?”
That cocky smile, again. “This will do, as long as I can see them through the snow. Thermal sighting’s a bitch with this much falling.”
For others, maybe, but she had a feeling it wouldn’t slow Ethan down. That he’d rise to the occasion if that’s what was needed. Just like he’d been doing all along. Pushing at his limits until he’d surpassed them, over and over.
Of course, holding it steady wasn’t going to be easy.
Between the snow and the winds, it was taking everything she had just to keep the machine upright and moving forward.
Evade any possible obstacles as the landscape rose and fell along the ridges.
But, if she went any higher, she’d lose the effectiveness of her screens and goggles.
The snowfall already lowered the ambient temperatures of the surroundings, graying out the background—the same thing that made it hard for Ethan to sight the machines.
Losing all reference would be a death sentence.
She’d just have to do her best. Hope it was enough. That Ethan could bugger the machines without killing the men, just in case Parker was on one of the other sleds.
Seeing one of the signals stop on the screen meant he’d managed to hit one of the engines—grind the snowmobile to a halt.
There was a second echoed whoosh through the headset, followed by a curse.
The sound of Ethan chambering another round then firing, again.
This time a second snowmobile veered to the right, disappearing off her screen.
“The snow’s thick. I missed the engine and hit the driver on that one.” Ethan mumbled something when a sudden gust had her fighting to adjust and keep the chopper level.
“The wind’s gusting stronger. If it increases much more, we’ll have to settle for making a race for the airport. I won’t be able to keep it steady enough for you to get off any kind of accurate shot.”
“Understood. Let’s see if I can...shit, incoming.”
Olivia saw a flash of red on the screen, but she was already banking over. Hard. Yanking up on the collective so she didn’t fly them into the trees, as she peeled off to the left, dropping into a clearing on the other side of the ridge.
There was a flash of light. A streak of a green tracer following the path of the missile, then the thing exploding mid-air. Where she would have been if she’d continued along her route.
At least, they didn’t seem to have heat-seeking rounds. Had to rely on manually sighting her the same way Ethan was targeting them. Otherwise, the helicopter would have been hit. Nothing but a pile of smoldering debris strewn across the mountainside.
She steadied the machine, glancing back at the two men. “Everyone okay?”
Ethan picked himself up off the floor, laughing as he reclaimed his position. “Damn, I’ve missed that. Forgot how amazing you are behind the controls. Nice save. Though, Relic’s looking a bit green.”
The man punched Phoenix hard in the shoulder. “Cold day in Hell I get sick in a chopper. You, on the other hand...” Relic thumbed his hand at Ethan. “Has he told you about our flight into Somalia?”
Ethan flipped the man off. “I had food poisoning, and I still kept your ass alive, as I recall.” He shook his head. “If I actually managed to disable those sleds, we’re down to two, but god knows how many more RPGs they have. Betting they’re armed with AKs, as well.”
Olivia glanced at the maps, moving them forward to judge how the terrain changed. “I can follow this ridge for a bit, then pop out in front of them. Maybe you can get off a shot before they do. After that... I’m not sure how you want to get Parker without chancing you might hit him.”
“Don’t worry. Got it all planned out. You just get ahead of them, and don’t get hit. I’ll do the rest.”
Damn, she was beautiful. Beautiful and smart and, fuck, so talented it made his chest hurt. Right in the center where she’d resurrected his heart. The piece of hers she’d given him in Afghanistan. The one he’d lose if anything happened to her.
He’d been serious when he’d told her that catching Parker—finally getting to Smyth—wasn’t worth their lives.
That their future together meant more to him than completing his mission, even if it meant they’d be at risk.
That they’d be hunted. He could deal with any hitmen Smyth sent their way.
But not even Brady could raise the dead.
Which meant he needed to make this plan work. Get off a quick shot to cripple the last man guarding Parker’s ass, then get to Parker. Both before he could retaliate. Take out the helicopter. Olivia had beaten the odds a few times, already. Phoenix wasn’t sure how many saves she had left.