Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
F ear tasted bad.
Maggie felt so horribly alone. She knew that Ace was back there, afraid and angry.
She kept her hands as steady as she could on the controls. The water was blue below, and off to her left was Alcatraz.
She turned down the calls from air traffic control.
“That’s it, Ms. Lopez,” Haye drawled.
In the backseat, Belinda smiled smugly. “This is a sexy helicopter.” She stroked the leather seats. “Once we get rid of her, and get away, baby, I want to fuck you in the back.”
What the hell was wrong with these people?
“I’m pregnant,” Maggie said.
She saw Haye frown, then he raised his gun again. “Keep flying, and shut up.”
“Yeah, we don’t care if you’re knocked up,” the woman said.
Maggie looked sideways at Haye. There was a slim chance she could talk them out of this. He was unhinged, but for her baby, she had to try.
“But Davis here is a father. He has babies with your sister.”
“Shut up about my sister!”
“Killing me won’t change anything. You should’ve got on that plane to Mexico.”
“It’ll make me feel better to kill you,” he bit out. “If not for you, I’d be in my office, my building project would be progressing, and—”
“Your marriage wouldn’t have fallen apart?” Maggie said.
“He hates that bitch I’m related to.” Belinda leaned forward. “He loves me . Tell her, baby.”
But Haye was silent, looking straight ahead out the cockpit window.
“I’m thinking you’re just revenge,” Maggie told the woman.
It seemed revenge was a bit of a thing for Davis Haye. Screwing his wife’s sister. Killing the building inspector. Coming after Maggie.
Belinda leaned between the seats. “Quiet, bitch.” She slapped at Maggie.
Maggie jerked the controls and the helicopter wobbled. She struggled to right it.
“Belinda!” Haye snapped. “Get back in your seat.”
With a sniff, the woman sat back.
“You made your choices, Haye,” Maggie said. “You murdered a man. You cut corners. You fucked up.”
“You want to be quiet now.” His icy tone made Maggie’s mouth dry.
“You’ve lost your grip on reality. I just happened, unluckily, to end up in your path.”
“Soon you’ll be dead, so you won’t need to worry.”
Screw that. Maggie’s hands clenched on the controls.
She glanced up and saw the small, silver chain dangling off the controls. It was her pretty dragonfly pendant from Ace. From the man who’d meant something to her right from the moment she first met him.
A man she knew would find a way to come for her.
A man who’d never let her down.
Suddenly, she pretended to check the gauges and grabbed the chain, slipping it into her palm. The end of the dragonfly was sharp. It wouldn’t do much damage, but it was better than nothing.
She pulled in a steadying breath, then lunged across the seat, swiping at Haye.
She managed to knock the gun out of his hand, and it hit the floor. He cursed, and she rammed the dragonfly into his eye.
His ear-piercing bellow made Maggie grimace.
“Fucking bitch. My eye!” He shoved her back into her seat. There was blood on her hand.
Haye had one palm pressed to one side of his face. Blood oozed between his fingers.
Belinda attacked from the back in a flurry of slaps and hits. Maggie shoved an elbow back, and caught the blonde in the head.
With a cry, Belinda fell back on her ass, dazed.
Maggie saw Haye scrambling to find the gun. She jerked the controls and the helicopter flew sharply to the left. Haye fell back in his seat, his elbow smacking the side window.
Maggie unclipped her belt, then reached over and punched him.
“Fuck,” he bit out. He swung out and his knuckles caught her mouth. She tasted blood. Damn, he’d split her lip.
She kept hitting him. She couldn’t let him get the gun.
He tried to grab her hair, then shoved her head forward. Her forehead slammed into the controls. Pain exploded behind her eyes, and stars danced in her vision.
“You will die today,” he said.
Breathing heavily, Maggie steadied the helicopter. “No, I have too much to fight for, too much to live for.”
She jabbed at him again. She hit his cheek and he yelled.
Suddenly, Belinda flew into the front from the back.
“Stop hurting him,” the woman screeched.
Dammit, the woman was half in Maggie’s lap, pinning Maggie to the seat. Belinda twisted and raged.
Maggie got an elbow to her chin. Ow . Belinda’s knuckles rammed into Maggie’s ribs. But she was more worried about what Haye was doing.
“You’re a shame to women everywhere,” Maggie said. “We help each other, not hurt each other for the sake of a man.”
“Shut up!” Belinda lurched again.
She smacked the side door by Maggie and it flung open.
Oh. Fuck .
The wind rushed at them. Belinda’s hair flew everywhere, getting in Maggie’s eyes. The wind ripped at Maggie’s clothes, and her eyes watered.
She was excruciatingly conscious that she didn’t have her belt on, and neither did Belinda.
“We’ll fall out, you crazy woman,” Maggie roared.
Belinda shifted again and bumped the controls. The helicopter dove forward.
Fucking hell . Maggie awkwardly reached around the woman’s body. “Hold still.” She frantically grabbed the controls, and pulled them out of the dive.
Belinda stopped fighting. Maggie grabbed the door and slammed it closed.
When she looked back, it was to stare straight into the gun aimed at her face.
Her heart did a hard thump-thump against her ribs.
“Now, I want you to climb in the back, Ms. Lopez,” Haye said. “Belinda, get in the pilot’s seat.”
Maggie stared at him, helplessness rising up to choke her.
She had no way out.
Oh, Ace .
Haye jerked the gun. “Now.”
Maggie climbed into the back.
Belinda gave her a dirty look, then settled into Maggie’s seat.
Maggie’s belly was a hard churn of so many emotions. “This won’t end here,” she said. “My man, my friends at Norcross Security, they will hunt you down. There will be no revenge. You’ll be hunted down like a dog.”
Haye paused, something moving through his gaze. Then he straightened and climbed into the back with Maggie.
He pressed the gun to her chest.
“I’m too smart to get caught. I’ll be long gone before they get close.”
Maggie laughed. “My man, the father of my baby, he’s former NSA Red Team. He’s a brilliant hacker and can make computers dance to his tune. And Vander…” She smiled. “You’ll never see him coming. Ace will find you, and Vander will take you down. That’s what my friends do.”
Haye’s face twisted. Then he reached over and slid open the side door. The rush of air and the beat of rotors filled her ears.
Fear carved out Maggie’s insides and she pressed a hand to her belly.
I’m sorry, sweet pea. Sorry I can’t give you a chance. I’m sorry, Ace.
Haye gestured to the door.
Oh. Shit . Her heartbeat was so loud it drowned out everything else and rivaled the thump of the rotors.
She gripped the edge of the door, and sensed Haye lifting the gun.
Maggie looked down at the water far below…
And jerked in shock. Ace was crouched on the skid, his hair loose and blowing around in the wind.
His face was set like stone. Then he surged up and into the helo.
Maggie threw herself to the side. She heard the gun go off, and Haye curse, followed by the thud of flesh on flesh.
She looked up to see Ace and Haye wrestling inside the helicopter.
* * *
His rage was icy hot as Ace fought Haye.
The fucker tried to kill Maggie, was trying again.
It ended today. Right here.
Ace punched the man in the head.
Haye roared and bucked. They rolled in the tight confines of the helicopter and something jammed into Ace’s back.
Haye got a decent hit in, snapping Ace’s head back.
“I’ll kill you, then her,” the man yelled. “She’ll die, nice and painfully.”
The guy was short a circuit or two. Ace rolled and got on top of the man, and grabbed his shirt. He hammered several blows into Haye’s face.
Blood dribbled from the man’s mouth, and he swung futilely.
“It ends here, Haye. I won’t let you hurt her. She’s mine to protect, mine to love.”
With a roar, Haye tried to sit up.
Maggie appeared and wrapped a forearm around the man’s neck from behind. She yanked him back.
Haye choked.
Ace smiled grimly and punched him hard.
With a groan, Haye sagged. His head dropped forward. He slumped to the floor, out cold.
Ace met Maggie’s gaze. He smiled and she smiled back.
“You came.” She shook her head. “You jumped onto a helicopter . You’re crazy.”
“About you.”
“Davis!” A wild screech from the cockpit.
Suddenly, Haye’s bitch dove into the back, kicking and clawing at Ace.
Oh, hell . As the helicopter lurched, Ace tried to grab the woman.
She slammed against him and they spun. They hit the side of the helo.
“Go,” he cried at Maggie.
He saw Maggie leap into the pilot’s seat. A second later, the helo leveled out. But she kept looking back, watching the fight.
Ace caught the blonde, trying not to hurt her. They rammed into the seats, and teetered to the side.
Too fucking close to the open door.
“Ace, look out!” Maggie yelled.
The blonde got a hard slap in, rocking him back on his feet. He tried to kick her, but she danced out of the way.
Her smile was ugly and mean. She charged Ace, trying to push him out the door.
Ace swiveled to the side at the last second.
The woman over-balanced, and fell out the open door.
He lunged for her. Her scream was high-pitched.
But he was too late.
He gripped the door frame as he watched her fall.
“Fuck,” Ace yelled against the wind.
Maggie bit her lip. “I’m trying to feel sorry for her.” Maggie wrinkled her nose. “Nope. Got nothing more than a tiny dribble.”
Ace didn’t blame her. The woman had made her own selfish choices.
“You okay?” Maggie called out.
“Yes, gatinha —”
Suddenly, Haye lunged up off the floor.
Shit .
Ace threw his arms up. Maggie jerked the controls, and the helo tilted. He tried to brace himself to stop from losing his balance.
“Don’t move!” Haye had found his gun, and now aimed it at Ace.
Ace froze, watching the man steadily. Then Haye shifted and pressed the barrel into the back of Maggie’s skull.
Oh, fuck.
“It’s over, Haye,” Ace said.
“Not if I’m holding the gun.”
“If you kill her, the only helicopter pilot, we all die.”
Haye moved and fired. Maggie choked on a scream.
Ace’s heart tried to burst out of his chest
The bullet hit the window on the other side of the cockpit. The glass was now a web of cracks.
Haye rammed the barrel back into the back of Maggie’s neck and she winced.
“I’m so over you and your drama,” Maggie yelled. “Blaming everyone else for your mistakes. Just grow some balls.”
“Maggie,” Ace warned.
It looked like she was over caring. Over being worried and scared.
“Just man up, Haye!” she yelled.
Ace sensed the man coiling…
Ace launched himself at Haye. There was another gunshot.
They crashed to the floor again, wrestling near the open door.
Maggie turned the helicopter again, tilting them away from the door. Ace leaped up, and Haye rammed a fist into his gut. They gripped each other and staggered.
Maggie leveled the helicopter and Ace kicked Haye’s hand. The gun flew out of the door, and Haye launched himself at Ace.
They slammed through the gap in the seats to the cockpit, and hit the controls.
The helicopter jerked wildly. Maggie cursed.
As they struggled, Ace yanked the man into the back. He had a quick glimpse of Maggie gritting her teeth, struggling to get control of the helo back.
“Maggie, you can do it,” Ace cried out.
He slammed another punch at Haye, then blocked the man’s returning cross.
The helo steadied.
Suddenly, Haye roared and charged Ace like an NFL defender. The man crashed into him, and they flew toward the open door.
“Ace!” Maggie yelled.
At the last second, he gripped the edge, catching himself. But some of his body was outside the helicopter, feet dangling, the wind tearing at him. Haye hammered at Ace’s fingers, and kicked him.
“Stop!” Maggie screamed.
But Ace’s fingers loosened and he slipped.
Fuck .
He grabbed the bottom edge of the door frame, his legs dangling completely outside.
All of a sudden, there was another thump-thump-thump , a sound out of sync with Hetty’s rotors.
Ace looked up, and saw Haye lifting his foot to kick Ace in the face.
Then a flash of movement off to the left. An old, battered Huey flew up beside them.
Gus sat in the pilot’s seat, while Vander stood in the open side doorway. The wind tugged at his suit pants, white shirt, and his dark hair. He held a rifle in his arms, aimed toward them.
Crack .
Haye made a sound and staggered. Blood bloomed on the man’s shirt. He fell backward and crashed into the seats.
Ace quickly pulled himself into the helicopter and yanked the door shut.
“Ace! My God,” Maggie yelled.
“I’m okay.” He reached out and touched the back of her neck fleetingly, then he crouched over Haye.
He punched the man once, and then again. He followed that with a kick, and another punch.
Haye groaned and Ace flipped him over, yanked out the man’s shoelaces, and tied his hands behind his back.
“Is it over?” Maggie’s voice was a little shaky.
Ace rose and moved over to her. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “It’s over.”
“Are you all right?”
“I am now. You?”
“Yes.”
He ran a hand over her hair. “How about we land this bird?”
She nodded rapidly.
As they aimed toward the San Francisco skyline, the Huey moved in close beside them. Gus saluted, and Vander nodded.
Then both helicopters flew back toward the city.