Chapter Thirty-three
Bryon was glad when they pulled into the private airfield’s driveway and parked around back in the passenger drop-off area. His mate needed medical attention and he’d make sure she got it.
As they got out of the car, a plane sat on the tarmac not too far away with its engines running. An attendant was in the process of closing the plane’s door. He’d be on their own plane with his mate hopefully very soon. He was as tired as she was.
They went inside the small office building and heard a very angry person yelling at the man standing behind the counter. When the door closed behind their group of three, the screaming man turned to look at them. He snatched papers on the counter and marched out.
Sheldon shook hands with the man on the other side of the front desk. They seemed to know each other. That would make sense seeing that half of the closest military base had just flown in under Sheldon’s authority. Bryon looked around for his mate not by his side.
She stared out the window, watching the attendant roll away the mobile stair unit that was attached to the leaving plane’s door. In the driveway outside, a white van with a business logo drove past. Seeing she was safe, he turned back to the conversation between Sheldon and the company’s employee.
Suddenly, Kari spun around and pointed to the van waiting to pull onto the street. “Where are the people who were in that van?” she hollered. He and the other two men looked where she pointed.
The employee said, “The man who was yelling when you come in. We have problem with plane and delay a couple hours. He’s pissed we not give money back.”
“What about the people who were in the van?” she stammered. “Where are they?”
He nodded at the plane rolling away from the loading tarmac. “They all in plane. Mostly ladies. Two males.”
His mate ran toward him but she looked at Sheldon with panic and fear in her eyes. “Give me the car key.”
He fumbled around, shocked by her sudden demand. “What? Why?” Sheldon pulled the key from his pocket and she snatched it from his hand.
“I’ll explain later.”
He called after her as she ran for the door. “Be careful. It’s a rental.”
Bryon watched the door close then turned to Sheldon. “Is she getting the suitcases out?” He ran for the door. “She doesn’t need to do that. I will.”
Rushing through the entrance, the men were outside to see the rental car speeding away . . . after the plane. Bryon slid his hands into his pockets. “Did I mention she might be crazy?”
A couple employees came running out of the plane’s storage building and the office, staring at the car now cutting across the first landing strip. They were as speechless as he was. Bryon slapped his partner on the chest and headed for the employees. He yelled out if anyone had keys to the company truck sitting in the parking lot. One of the men hurried over, pulling a fob from his pocket, and pointed at a vehicle. They jumped in the truck and took off after his mate.
The man asked what was going on. He and Sheldon shrugged, though he had his suspicions. They watched as she rolled through the median between landing strips. A small ditch ran down the middle of the grassy area. Did she see it? The front end of the rental car dipped and slammed up the other side. The front bumper came off and spun to the side. That would be a “no, she didn’t see it.” Sheldon groaned.
The plane slowed on the back taxiway, making the turn onto the runway for takeoff.
The employee driving the truck wore a headset with voices screaming through the ear speakers. Bryon plucked them from the man’s head and slid them on his. The microphone extended around from the side to lock in place at his mouth.
“Listen up, boys. This is Agent Bryon Day with the United States government.” That shut up everyone on the line. “We have a situation we need your assistance with. There is an escaped crazy woman driving the car that just stopped in the middle of the back airstrip. She is armed and very dangerous. I suggest you do whatever she says.”
Sheldon slapped his arm and whispered, “What are you doing?” Bryon waved him off.
“We have the situation under control. Do not approach her. Stay far away from her. I repeat, stay far away from her. Do you copy, tower?” Bryon finished.
“Copy, Agent Day. We will inform the pilots as soon as they contact us that they are ready.” That was strange, they should’ve done that when leaving the tarmac.
“You mean the pilots haven’t confirmed already?” Bryon asked.
“That is correct, Agent. I’m sure they will respond any second now.” The controller’s voice didn’t sound too positive. More worried. He realized why when he glanced at the runway and plane. Kari had stopped the car sideways in the middle of the strip the jet stopped at. Why did she not want the plane taking off?
The plane rolled forward. Oh fuck. The pilots couldn’t be serious. They’d damage more than just the landing gear if they tried to run her over. His mate had her heart set on something. He knew Kari was strong of heart and will. She wasn’t moving an inch until the wrong she perceived was righted.
His bet was that plane was loaded with females who had been purchased at the sale in the back of the warehouse. How she knew that, he’d ask later.
The plane continued forward. He was relieved she was safely inside the car at least. The jet would have to go through the car to get to her. The car door opened. What the hell was she doing now? Hopefully getting away.
To his unbelieving eyes, she got out of the car then stepped on the back bumper and hoisted herself onto the trunk. Said bumper now sagged on one side. Sheldon moaned again. From the back part of the car, she climbed onto the roof and put her hands on her hips. She stuck out her one arm, turning the palm toward the plane. Dear god, if she thought that would stop them taking off . . . Sheldon groaned again.
The plane wasn’t slowing; she wasn’t budging. This would not turn out good for one of the parties. He urged the truck’s driver faster. As soon as they were in reach her, he’d yank her gorgeous ass off the roof and spank her. Naughty visions flashed in his head. Oh, the fun they would have when they got home. Wanting to focus on his mate surviving, Bryon closed down the images.
Still not moving fast enough, Bryon moved his leg to the side and stepped on the driver’s foot on the gas pedal. The vehicle jerked forward. Their driver’s eyes grew huge and his hands wrapped tightly around the steering wheel while he yelled at Bryon. Some of those words Bryon had never heard before.
They had to reach Kari before the plane did. Just in case the pilots were stupid enough to plow into her. The thought of losing her sent his wolf into a panic. It jumped forward wanting to break free and run to her. Bryon reminded it the truck would be there by the time they shifted and got out. It didn’t like that answer, but would abide by it for now.
The jet kept coming. What the fuck were they thinking? Their vehicle nosed into the ditch and popped up on the other side. Almost there. No one was backing down. Goddammit, Kari. She was getting it from him for scaring the shit out of him. What “it” was he’d decide later.
They raced the jet toward the car parked on the strip. He prayed one of them would bail. Now would be better than later. The jet’s speed had reached the point where it couldn’t slow in time. Shit! How would he save her?
The company truck hit the concrete the same time the pilot slammed on the brakes. Loud peals of screeching filled the air as smoke from the jet’s and truck’s tires floated close to the ground from their skids. Long black marks marred the pale strip.
The plane stopped within a foot of Kari’s outstretched hand. He’d be damned, she pulled it off. She had freaking superpowers. She was in so much trouble.
He jumped out of the truck with Sheldon. Through the headset, he heard the tower trying to reach the pilots, but they were not responding still. Running toward his mate, he glanced at the cockpit. A man stood between the pilots, pistol in his hand. That would be the reason the pilots weren’t responding to the tower’s requests. The gunman looked familiar. Bryon thought he might’ve seen him in the cave earlier.
The three in the cockpit seemed to be arguing, the guy with the gun waving it around. One of the pilots gesturing out the windshield at Kari on the car’s hood. He must have been the reason the plane hadn’t stopped; not his mate’s superpowers. Thank god for small miracles.
They reached the car together and Bryon reached for Kari. Sheldon held his arms out to his side, eyes scanning the damaged vehicle his mate stood on. “The car is a wreck. The boss won’t be happy.”
“What?” Kari said. “It’s a rental. You got the insurance, right? Never mind. I need your gun.”
“What? No way—” Sheldon stepped back from her reaching hand.
“Sheldon,” she yelled over the jet’s slowing engines, “there are twenty women and children on this plane who will be sold into slavery and and the sex trade if this jet leaves this airport. I’m not allowing that to happen. Now give me your gun.”
Without further argument, Sheldon lifted his gun to her hand. She turned toward the pilots, weapon aimed at them. She fired four shots, breaching the windshields, making the plane too dangerous to fly. It wasn’t taking off any time soon. When the pilots peeped over the dashboard, she pointed to the loading area and building. They had no options. They had to go back. The guy with the weapon was gone.
Pride soared through Bryon at what his mate had done. She had put her own life in danger to save complete strangers from a horrible existence. Her heart was as big as any he’d ever seen. And she belonged to him.