87. Hendricks
HENDRICKS
Luke pulls the vehicle behind the hangar that garages Ashford’s plane. He pulls to a remarkably quiet stop and we all get out.
Harper’s voice comes through the comm. “I can’t stall his plane any longer. You need to intercept fast.”
I follow Jake around the hangar.
The plane is already running.
Its engines tear through the night as we come over the rise. Runway lights cut two bright lines through the darkness. Two SUVs are parked beside it.
Ashford is halfway to the plane, flanked by two guards.
“Move,” Jake says.
We split.
Mason takes the hangar.
Jake and Luke go for the men near the vehicles.
I go for Ashford with Mandy beside me.
Ashford sees us and stops. For one second, genuine disbelief crosses his face. Then his gaze catches on the bruises and he smiles.
His guards react immediately, drawing on us as they turn. I raise my gun and drop one as Mandy handles the other.
Ashford reaches inside his jacket.
My sights snap to him.
Mandy’s do too. “I’ve got this, babe.”
Ashford swings his gun to her.
Wrong fucking choice. I aim.
Ashford looks between us. His eyes flick toward the plane.
Mandy laughs. “You’re not getting on it.”
Ashford scoffs. “You think killing me changes anything?”
“No.” Her smile looks slightly insane with her swollen eye and swollen lip. “But it’ll make me feel better.”
His hand moves fast.
Not fast enough—Mandy fires.
The sound of the shot rolls across the airstrip. Ashford jerks backward. His gun hits the pavement as he drops.
As Mandy lowers her weapon, I walk past her.
Ashford is still breathing. Barely.
I look down at him—at the man who put a price on Mandy. Who had her hunted. Who had his men put their hands on her.
I raise my gun and fire once.
His body goes still.
Behind me, Mandy says, “Seriously?”
I turn.
She’s standing with her hands on her hips, the gun pointing down. “He was already dead.”
I holster my weapon. “It made me feel better.”
She tips her head and studies me. “It did?”
I consider it. “Marginally.”
Her mouth twitches. Then she winces. “Stop making me smile. It hurts.”
I walk back to her. This time when I touch her face, I’m careful. Very fucking careful. “You need Lily.”
She closes her eyes. “I need tequila.”
“You need Lily.”
“Both things can be true.”
Jake comes toward us. “Clear.”
It should be. Ashford is dead. Mandy is alive.
And somehow, I know this isn’t over.
But for tonight, I take her hand, and I don’t let go.