16. Hope
16
HOPE
T hat afternoon, the team gathered inside one of the ranch’s large hangars, finalizing their preparations for the mission in a buzz of activity.
Out on the apron, a forklift loaded the last pallets of supplies and equipment into a huge gray plane. It looked like something the military might use, but on the tail, a red maple leaf contained the white letters CFC .
“Care Flight Canada,” said Sage as she approached. “We travel international a lot, so it’s easiest if we disguise ourselves as an NGO.”
I raised a brow. “Why Canada?”
“Some of the countries we find ourselves in can get edgy if they see aircraft of United States origin.” She shrugged. “Everyone loves Canadians, though. How are you holding up?”
I pressed my lips together. “Nervous.”
My gaze shifted to the cockpit of the plane, where Vaughn ran through last-minute details with the pilots who’d be flying to free him up for the mission. He’d been busy all day, so to keep myself occupied and out of my overthinking head, I’d tagged along with Sage, helping her carry out chores around the farm. We’d fed animals, tended to a few who were unwell, and mucked out stables. All tasks I was familiar with from back home, which made me feel like less of a burden.
A tall, tattooed guy with a dirty–blond man bun approached. I recognized him as one of the hotties from the team photo Vaughn had shown me last night, but I didn’t know his name.
“Hey, girl.” He smiled brightly at Sage and gave her a hug. Then he turned his kind blue eyes to me and extended one hand. “You must be Hope. I’m Kane.” His big palm swallowed mine as we shook.
“He’s our hotshot sniper,” added Sage.
Kane looked a little embarrassed at Sage’s description but didn’t correct her. “Sorry if this upsets you, but if I get a clean shot at your dad, I’m taking it. I already killed him three times, but they were all decoys.”
I curled my hair behind my ears. “There’s no need to be sensitive around me. Carlos has made my life hell and continues to do so. I don’t care how many bullets you put in him.”
Good luck beating me to it.
Sage bumped her hip against Kane’s. “How’s Freya?”
“She’s great.” He broke out in a goofy grin. “She’s loving school. Even took a part-time job tutoring freshmen. Did I tell you she wants to get her motorcycle license?”
“And how do we feel about that?” Sage asked cautiously.
“I’m fucking terrified. I mean, I’ll teach her, but she’s not riding anywhere unless I’m with her and she’s wearing a suit made of Kevlar bubble wrap.” Kane’s eyes met mine. “My girl has this bucket list of things she missed out on growing up and keeps adding crazy shit to it every day. Next week, we’re starting tango lessons. Fucking ballroom dancing. Can you believe it? The guys are gonna give me so much crap. ”
Sage only laughed and clapped him on his huge shoulder. “I knew Freya was going to be good for you.”
Kane glanced behind me. “There’s someone else you should meet.” Then he beckoned over another huge man. I was starting to feel like a midget around these guys. “Shep. Come meet the woman who’s tamed Vaughn.”
I wrinkled my nose. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think taming Vaughn is possible.”
“Shame.” Kane’s lips twitched. “I was hoping you could give us some tips on how to make him less of a dick.”
When Shep reached us, he nodded in greeting and adjusted the brim of his ball cap. So this was the guy who’d helped Vaughn build his cabin and furniture. In faded blue jeans, a lumberjack shirt, and hiking boots, he looked like the practical sort, if a little standoffish. Something about his emotionless expression made me think he didn’t want to be here.
“Hope, this is Shep.” Kane gestured to his teammate. “He doesn’t talk much, but he’s good in a firefight.”
Shep eyed me in an assessing way. “Never thought Decker would go for someone like you.”
I tried not to let his harsh words bother me. These guys had known Vaughn for far longer than me, and apparently, I wasn’t his type. “What were you expecting? Taller? Blonde? Less mutilated?”
Shep shoved his hands into his pockets, his cold glare never leaving me. “Not talking about the way you look. I’m talking about your DNA.”
Kane pinched the bridge of his nose. “Jesus Christ.”
Sage shook her head. “Shep, don’t.”
“She’s Espinoza’s spawn.” Shep’s frown deepened as he gestured toward me. “Don’t tell me you haven’t considered that she might be leading us into a trap.”
Sage went to say something else, but I held up my palm. “It’s okay. Shep, I understand your apprehension. It must feel like you have an enemy among the ranks. But I can promise you no one wants this operation to succeed more than me.” Despite my senses telling me this man was as dangerous as they came, I stepped toward Shep and held his intimidating stare. “And I hate to bring this to your attention, but we’re only getting this shot at Carlos because of me. The last thing I want is to be anywhere near my father—Vaughn will tell you I’ve spent the last three years hiding from him—but I’m doing what’s necessary so we can end the PCC.”
It was hard to get a read on Shep, but I thought his crabby demeanor had relaxed to something like reluctant acceptance.
“What’s going on?” asked a familiar deep voice, sounding unimpressed. Vaughn’s arm wrapped around my waist like a steel band and hauled me back against his chest.
I covered his tattooed hands with my smaller, ink-free ones and smiled despite my heart still beating swiftly at having to defend myself. “Just meeting your teammates.”
Vaughn’s possessive grip tightened, and he nuzzled my neck. “Gatita, why does it look like you’re about to brawl with the most lethal hit man in the country?”
Hit man? Shep had seemed terrifying before I’d heard that piece of information.
“You might’ve mentioned that fact earlier,” I said under my breath while leaning into his warmth a little more.
“ Ex –hit man,” Shep clarified.
“Wonderful.” I plastered on a fake smile. “That makes me feel so much better.”
“Trust me. You want that big bastard on our side.” Then Vaughn nodded toward Kane. “Thor’s stunt double over there is an ex-SEAL, which makes him pretty useful in and out of the water. And that”—he jerked his chin toward the hangar’s open door, where a dark-haired guy with broad shoulders entered wearing a plaid shirt and jeans and carrying a backpack—“is Owen. My pain-in-the-ass kid brother. ”
Owen walked toward us, but his steps faltered when he spotted his brother holding me close. He grinned, and it was the same proud expression Sage had worn when she’d first seen us together. I liked Vaughn’s brother already.
With a few long strides, Owen made up the rest of the distance and held out his knuckles to bump fists with his brother. “Now I know why you’ve been spending so much time in Mexico. Hi.” He beamed at me. “I’m Owen.”
We shook hands. “Hope. Nice to meet you.”
Owen still wore a shit-eating grin when his gaze returned to his brother. “Mom’s not going to believe this. She’s gonna cry and claim a miracle; you know that, right?”
“Mom’s not going to know shit until this op is over. Got it? I don’t want you jinxing the whole damn thing.”
“Lighten up, Bro. Everything’ll go fine. Brandon ran me through the plan, and it’s solid.”
Judging by the tense arm around my waist, Owen’s reassurances did little to ease his older brother’s anxiety over this mission.
A loud whistle caught our attention.
“Wheels up in thirty mikes,” Brandon called out from the doorway of a small office.
I’d thought I was ready for this moment, but my galloping pulse suggested otherwise.
It was finally time to confront my father.