Page 36 of Deadly Ruck
"How do we know she hasn't left yet?" Storm demanded.
"Because I've been here for hours, and no planes have arrived or left." If Ice was irritated by his question, he gave no sign. Instead, he was all business. "According to my contact, we have approximately an hour. We have to wait here until the aircraft arrives. If they see us, they'll circle around and leave. Once they do that, we might not get another chance."
"There are cars outside," Daze pointed out.
"That's a risk we have to take." Ice didn't look happy about it. "When the time comes, we have to be ready to jump back into our vehicles and drive. If we move the cars further away, we risk not being close enough. I'm not going to watch the plane take off again with my sister in it."
Gianni put a hand on his shoulder. "We won't let that happen. Maybe we can park a couple of cars inside here, just to cut down the number of them. It'll only take a second or two more to drive back out."
"That's a good idea," Mina told him, her fondness for him showing in her blue eyes.
I'd rarely seen her show any kind of emotion. Seeing it now spoke volumes. She was easily one of the most contained, mysterious people I'd ever met. Anyone with any sense didn't turn their back on her. I didn't know why, exactly, but I knew she was dangerous.
"I have those from time to time." Gianni grinned. "I'll bring mine in here."
"So will I." Daze followed him out, keys jangling from her fingers.
"That's it?" Storm asked. "We just have to wait?"
"We can wait," Frost said. "This is Chelsea we're talking about. I'll wait for as long as it takes."
"I will too," I said. I didn't like it either, but if it wasn't for Ice, we wouldn't even have this lead. I wouldn't let myself think what would happen if this somehow slipped through our fingers. Jones could take her anywhere in the world and we may never find her again.
If that was the case, I'd never give up looking. I knew the others wouldn't either. Fuck football. We'd spend the rest of our lives searching if we had to.
"I mean, I'm not going anywhere," Storm conceded. Except to step out of the way when Gianni drove through the wide doorway and parked to one side of the hangar. Daze followed a few moments later. That left three cars parked outside. Suspicious, but less suspicious than five.
Once they turned off the engines, we were plunged into silence, apart from the sound of birds and the occasional scuff of feet on the floor.
My heart beat steadily through my body. I focused on that. Keep calm. Wait patiently. Be ready.
I wasn't sure who heard it first, but we all drew ourselves up a little straighter, faces turned towards the doorway. Bodies stiff and still.
I wasn't sure if I was hearing things, but then the sound became louder.
A plane engine.
"This is it," Ice whispered. "Wait for my go."
Chapter Sixteen
Chelsea
I held on to Dallas'arm, my gaze out the window at the approaching vehicles. Five of them, all dark. Three sedans and two SUVs. If I didn't know better, I'd think one of those SUVs was…
I couldn't let myself think it. If I did, I'd get my hopes up. I couldn't let that happen, in case they were dashed again. I couldn't, yet…
The vehicles were moving fast, headed directly towards us. There was no doubt in my mind they were here for us.
No doubt in anyone else's either, by the way Jones shouted.
"Get this bird off the ground!" He glared at the flight crew, who didn't jump fast enough to do as he said. He pulled a gun from his hip and aimed it at the closest of them. "Now."
"Yes, sir," the man squeaked, and hurried toward the door.
In the corner of my eye, I saw Nyla, her lips moving as she counted down slowly. When she reached three, she looked at me and nodded.
"Two. One."
