Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Landon
My head is pounding, my stomach is churning, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to heave. I’m in the back seat of Daniil and Courtney’s Escalade and Courtney’s beside me. She’s got water, my antibiotics, pain pills, nausea meds, and a whole bag of things I don’t care about.
I just need to find Allora.
We have to stop them before they leave the country.
Not that we can’t follow them to Albania or Bali or Antarctica. We will. I’ll go to the ends of the earth to find her and bring her back. I just don’t want her to suffer any longer than necessary.
It’s less than an hour to get to the airport at this time of day so I close my eyes, reserving my strength.
Every so often my stomach threatens to betray me but for now, I’m resting.
Courtney is watching me like a hawk, as if my skull might explode any minute, but I’m okay.
At least, as okay as someone who had brain surgery less than twenty-four hours ago can be.
I hear Daniil and Rage murmuring in the front.
“…Silver’s on a tear.”
“He should be. This is on him.”
It sure as fuck is.
I wish I’d listened to Allora’s warnings. Not because Silver could control Tex losing his ever-loving mind but because I know the members of his club are dangerous. That should have been the first place we looked—instead of the last.
That’s on me.
But it’s a mistake I’ll never make again.
If I can get her home in one piece.
If they’re raping her again—nope. Not going there. She’s strong. She’ll survive. We’ll survive. No matter how much therapy it takes, medication, whatever she needs. I refuse to let them break her in any way, shape, or form.
“Courtney.” Daniil’s voice is quiet but firm. “You’re not to get out of the car.”
Courtney snorts. “Yes, dear.”
“My love. You’re pregnant.”
“You think?” Her tone is sarcastic as she rests her hand on her belly.
“You have to think of the baby.”
“I am thinking of the baby—and the one we have at home. They need a father. I did not sign up for single motherhood.” There’s a moment of awkward silence as the three of us all do our best not to remind her that she didn’t tell Daniil about Micah until he was six months old. But that’s ancient history.
“Sweetheart.”
“I love you, Prince Overbearing. But if I think you’re in trouble, I’m not sitting in the car. Well, maybe I am, but I’ll run over all their asses.”
He chuckles. “All right. That’s fair.”
Compromise.
That’s how they do it.
My sister is a retired United States Marine.
A helicopter pilot. A combat pilot in her heyday.
She’s tough and smart and brave. He knows she won’t sit back safely in the car while her family is slaughtered.
It’s not who she is—and that’s not the woman he married.
It’s one of many things he loves about her.
He told me that once, that he would never try to change her because otherwise, he’s changing the woman he fell in love with into a stranger. What would be the point?
As I think back to the ongoing arguments between Allora and me, I realize I wanted her to be less brave, less vibrant, less of who she is because I was afraid of losing her. It wasn’t intentional—I genuinely want to keep her safe—but she needs to live.
I open my eyes as we get close to the airport.
Chaos, Eric, Mark, and Ron are in the vehicle behind us.
Silver, Nitro, and Thunder are in a van ahead of us, and Metal and Bones are on their motorcycles getting there via a completely different route.
In fact, they’re already there, parked just outside the private airfield, watching and waiting.
They’ve been giving Daniil updates and so far, there’s no movement.
“Okay, the plan is for us to wait until they’re boarding the plane. It’s going to be tricky because there’s no doubt in my mind Tex will use Allora as a shield.” Rage sounds determined but cautious.
“He doesn’t want her dead,” Daniil reminds us. “So, while I agree he may use her as a shield, I don’t think he’ll do it unless he’s backed into a corner. We need to take out his companions, whoever they may be, and disable whatever vehicle they arrive in. They can’t have a means of escape.”
“Landon.” Courtney touches my arm as they continue talking.
“I’m awake. Just conserving energy.”
“How’s your head?”
“No change. Promise.”
“Still hurts like a bitch?”
“Pretty much.”
“Once we get on the tarmac, I’m getting behind the wheel. Do you think you can shoot?”
I open one eye. “Seriously?”
She chuckles. “Dumb question.”
Rage reaches back with one of my own weapons. “I figured you’d want this back. I’ve reloaded it. Picked it up at the scene.”
“How long after they left did you get there?” I ask.
“Probably three or four minutes. I’m sorry, man. We tried.”
“Not your fault. This is on Silver.”
“Let’s leave that alone until after we get Allora back,” Daniil says.
We’re quiet the rest of the way. Ironically, I’m eerily calm. It’s probably all the drugs still coursing through my system from the hospital but I’m awake and alert. My body may not be in top shape but my brain is fully operational.
“I just heard from Metal,” Daniil says. “He spotted a white cargo van pulling into the airfield.”
The private airfield for charter jets and other non-commercial planes is just to the south of the main airport. I’ve escorted celebrities here multiple times, so I know the area well. Security is a lot more lax but it’s not non-existent.
“We’re going to have to be cautious,” I say. “Security is intermittent. It’s still early so there may not be anyone on duty but if the flight is supposed to leave at six, they’ll start showing soon.”
“It’s almost five,” Daniil says, “and this is one of the perks of having a prince for a boss. The hope is that once I show my diplomatic credentials, they’ll back off.”
He pulls onto the side of the road behind Silver’s van.
“Metal says they’re circling the airport.”
“They know they’re early,” I say. “And they’re making sure no one followed them. We need to stay out of sight.”
“Agreed.”
“Yeah, but we need someone inside to make sure there wasn’t a change of plans where they take off at five thirty.” Rage unbuckles his seat belt. “I’m going in. They won’t spot me, but I’ll be close enough to see if they look like they’re ready to board.”
Daniil nods. “Keep us updated.”
Rage gets out of the car, sprints across the street, over a fence, and disappears.
“He’s really good at that,” Courtney murmurs.
I chuckle. “He is. But I’m better.”
She laughs. “Okay, big guy.”
“No, I am. He’s huge—it’s hard for him to fade into the background.”
“You’re not exactly small,” Daniil points out.
“Yeah, but he’s extra-large.”
There’s nothing to say after that, so we sit and wait.
“Sweetheart, why don’t you get behind the wheel,” Daniil suggests. “That way you can drop me off whenever and wherever I’m needed.”
“All right.” She gets out and settles into the driver’s seat while Daniil jogs around to the passenger side. Then he looks back at me.
“Landon.”
Oh, boy. He’s using my given name.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to my sister,” I say before he can continue. “I’ll put myself in front of a bullet before I let anything happen to her.”
Daniil nods solemnly. “I know that. I’m just telling you that rescuing Allora is the mission, but if I have to choose between my wife and—”
I hold up a hand. “I know. I would expect nothing less. You don’t have to say it. The woman you love is your priority. The woman I love is mine. That’s why I had to be here.”
His eyes meet mine, and we exchange a look of understanding. Respect. Brotherly love. He’s my brother now and I would do almost anything for him.
Daniil starts, obviously listening to a conversation I can’t hear, and now I’m annoyed that I don’t have an earpiece.
“Okay, there’s movement. It looks like the pilot is there and a handful of ground crew.” He listens for a moment. “We need to move. Courtney, follow Silver.”
Silver’s just made a U-turn and is heading back toward the entrance. Courtney expertly maneuvers the Escalade behind him, and I sit up straight.
This is it.
I won’t be going home without her.
I don’t care what any of them say.
“I know you’re chomping at the bit,” Daniil says without turning around.
“But you’re no good to her dead. I mean it, Grim.
You had surgery on your brain. You’ve still got anesthesia in your system.
Pain killers. You’re a mess. And if you die during the rescue, she’ll never forgive herself, no matter what you’ve discussed. Think about that.”
Jesus.
I lean back. “I know. Okay? I’m back-up in case something goes wrong. Plus, Courtney needs me. She’s good but that baby belly will slow her down. Don’t worry about us.”
He chuckles. “You’re so full of shit.”
Maybe, maybe not.
Silver drives right through the gate. No guards, no one even gives us a second glance. That’s one thing we don’t have to worry about, but it’s a big wide-open space and nowhere to hide.
Which means we’re going in guns blazing.
And I send up a silent prayer that Allora doesn’t get caught in the middle.