“Out! Out!” Tasha called as she yanked the rear door of the Lincoln open.

The car looked like hell, both the front and rear smashed beyond repair, but the beast was still running strong. The moment the Griffins were out of the car, she slammed the door and Dan roared away. She put her hands in Ed and Kelli’s back and pushed them rapidly into the hotel.

“Follow my lead,” she murmured as she passed. She stopped at the front desk, her head held high. “Two rooms, please,” she said, her tone brooking no argument.

“Certainly, madam,” the clerk said. “That will be three-hundred Marands a night for both. Any luggage?”

Tasha sniffed in annoyance. “Not since we were robbed.” She counted out money. “Took everything we had. A friend told me to carry my money inside my pants. Good thing she did, too, or we wouldn’t have anything. I don’t know why the police don’t arrest people like that. Imagine! Robbing my mom and dad, taking our purses, Dad’s wallet, all our luggage, even our car. Everything. Pushed me down. I thought they were going to rape me, and they left us walking on the side of the road in this heat. We’re never coming back here, I tell you that,” she said as she slammed the money on the desk. “As soon our flight leaves tomorrow, I say good riddance to this place!”

“I’m sorry for your troubles, madam.”

She snatched the keys from the counter. “Come on. Let’s get cleaned up.”

As soon as they were out of sight of the clerk, she sagged. She was exhausted.

“That was quite a performance,” Ed said with a grin.

“I’ll get you settled in, then I’ll go back out and get some clothes. Don’t order room service and don’t open the door for anybody but me or Dan,” she warned as she ushered them into their room.

After getting them settled, she got their sizes and returned to her room. She thought of Dan as she stepped into the shower. She’d understood before, but now it was no longer theoretical. After four days in the jungle, she would give anything for a shower, and she craved Dan’s touch. As luxurious as the shower was, she didn’t spend a lot of time under the water. She had work to do.

She had to redress in her nasty clothes, but there was nothing else to do. She strode out of the Vispin to the nearest clothing store. She picked shirts, pants, underwear, and shoes off the rack in the proper sizes, giving only passing regard to style. She paid and left with her purchases. It was a good thing they were leaving; their funds were becoming dangerously low.

“Ed? Kelli? It’s Tasha. I have your clothes.”

Ed opened the door a crack. He was freshly scrubbed, and it appeared that he might be naked. As she passed the clothes through the crack, she could hear the water running. She wasn’t the only one craving a shower.

“Thank you,” he said as he took the clothes.

“Stay in your room until one of us comes to get you.” She was going to remind him to lock the door then remembered the locks were all but useless, easily defeated with something as simple as a credit card, or even a hard shove on the door.

She returned to her room and took another quick shower to wash the dirt off from her clothes, then redressed in her clean clothes. Feeling normal for the first time in days, she returned to the lobby to wait for Dan.

She flipped through magazines and wandered about. Where was he? She was becoming frantic with worry when he finally entered. He was red in the face and bathed in sweat, but otherwise appeared no worse for wear than he’d been after they’d stolen the inflatable skiff and made a run for it. She wanted to fling herself into his arms, but he looked like he was about to drop. She took his hand and pulled him rapidly through the lobby and to their room.

“What happened?” she asked as soon as the door clicked shut.

“Nothing. I was ambushed again. Men with guns,” he began as she started unbuttoning his shirt. “I made it out of that by shoving the Range Rover into a pole. Then I ditched the car on the other side of town and walked back.”

“Why didn’t you catch a cab, or a bus?” she asked as she helped him get his shirt off, Dan grimacing in pain as he worked his arms carefully out of the shirt.

“You have all the money.”

She flushed with embarrassment. He was right, she did.

She tossed the filthy shirt away, hissing softly in sympathy at the cuts, scrapes, and bruises that covered his body. Nothing looked serious, but he had to be hurting.

“I think we’re safe for the moment,” he added as he began undoing his pants.

She nodded in agreement. “I think so too. So long as we stay put until the plane arrives, we should be okay. The plane should be well on the way by now. Why don’t you get a shower? It’ll help you feel better.” He looked at her with haunted eyes and she smiled, her heart going out to him. “I’ll stand guard.”

He watched her a moment, then he seemed to make a decision. “I’d rather you help me wash my back.”

She smiled in return. “Okay, if you’ll wash mine.”

They stepped into the shower together. He washed her back first, then she returned the favor, washing the dirt and sweat off him. He stood under the water, his head down as she scrubbed, his cock at full attention. She wanted him so badly she felt squirmy, but after being off the pill for four days, there was too much risk. But there were other ways.

She scoured him head to toe three times, paying special attention to his member the third time. He grunted and twitched but made no move to escalate the situation. After he rinsed, she lowered herself to her knees to please him with her mouth, but he took her arms and pulled her strongly up.

“No,” he murmured before he pulled her to him and held her tight.

She melted into him, her head resting on his shoulder and his cheek against her head as the warm water poured over them. She said nothing because no words were needed, his warm, loving, embrace telling her everything she needed to know.

“Did you mean what you said?” he asked.

“What?”

“In the boat, you said I was crazy, but you loved me anyway, and before, when you said you thought you were falling in love. Did you mean it, or was it the danger and excitement?”

She felt her heart pounding in her chest. Did she mean it? “Yes,” she said finally. “I meant it. I think I’m falling in love with you.”

He pushed her gently back and gazed into her eyes, a smile flickering on his lips. “There is no thinking,” he said softly as he brought his lips to hers. “I am falling in love with you,” he murmured as he took her into the gentlest, most loving kiss she’d ever had.

She sighed out of the kiss and looked at him. Before, a kiss was merely an appetizer for things to come. But his slow, loving kiss hadn’t felt like that. It stood alone, without needing anything to make it compete. If that was a taste of things to come, she couldn’t wait to get back on the pill. She wanted to fuck—no, not fuck, make love—so she could experience making love for the first time. As good as their fucking was, their lovemaking should be epic!

He pulled her back to him and held her tight. She desperately wanted to ask if he could forgive her for pointing her weapon at him, but she didn’t bring it up. She didn’t want to whip a dead horse. If she believed his words that he loved her, and she did, then she would force herself to believe his words when he said he understood and had forgiven her for her action.

After a long time, he released her and turned the water off. He caressed her lips with his as that smile played over his lips. She felt almost weak at the knees, she wanted him so badly. He stepped out of the shower and patted her dry, making her squirm with desire as his hands touched every part of her body gently. She dried him, being careful around the tender spots on his body. He took the towel and tossed it aside, then took her hand and pulled her to the bed.

She shouldn’t. She knew she shouldn’t, but as he pushed her gently to the bed and lay down beside her, she decided after only four days, she was probably still safe. Dan would have to pull out before he came. He settled behind her and pulled her into a comfortable spoon, his hard cock pressing deliciously against her ass. He kissed her on the shoulder, his big, strong hands cupping her breasts, his fingers caressing the points. She began to squirm her ass, enjoying the feel of his cock against her. He gripped her hip with one hand and pulled her hard into him and held her there.

“No,” he whispered, then slowly relaxed his pull. “I just want to hold you.”

He kissed her shoulder again as his hand returned to her breast.

She smiled. She was willing to throw caution to the wind, but even now, Dan was protecting her. He had such iron will. He was a man she could trust. She wanted him. She wanted him desperately, but she could wait. She smiled. She would wait for him forever.

Her phone jerked her from sleep. She was still in Dan’s arms but now it was dark outside. They’d slept for hours. She swatted at the phone and pulled it to her. The battery was nearly exhausted, and she had no charger. She pushed the button to accept the call.

“Lancaster.”

“Lancaster, this is Deputy-Director Sorkan. The Israeli C-130 is thirty minutes out. They will land at the Talish airport, unload, then leave. The Israelis don’t want to get sucked into our shit, so you have ninety minutes to get there and get on the plane. They won’t wait for you. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Deputy-Director.”

“Good luck, Lancaster.”

Dan rolled over and sat up. Goddammit, he was still rock-hard, and she had to tear her eyes away from what she wanted so badly.

“The cavalry is here,” she said as she tumbled to her feet. “They’ll be here in thirty, and wheels up to return to Israel in ninety, whether we’re on the plane or not.”

He nodded as he began to tug on his clothes. “Understood. I’ll get the Griffins ready to travel. Call a cab.”

Five minutes later, Dan and Tasha herded their charges out of the hotel and into the cab. The airport was only fifteen or twenty minutes from the hotel, so they had plenty of time. They rode through town without incident, Dan in front, beside the driver, Tasha, Ed, and Kelli squeezed into the back.

“Stop here,” Dan ordered.

“Why?” their driver asked.

Dan looked into the back seat. “The police are checking cars.”

Tasha felt a chill. “That’s a problem.”

“No, no problem,” the driver said.

“Yes, a big problem,” Dan corrected. “Is there another entrance?”

The driver looked at them with big eyes. “Are you criminals?”

“No. But let’s say I’d rather avoid entanglement with the police. Find another way in.”

The man nodded and turned down a side road. They circled the entire airport, but every entrance was blocked with the police waving through cars.

“There’s the plane,” Tasha said, looking at the squat, grey cargo plane with the Israeli star prominently displayed on the side. “Maybe we can get out here and make a run for it?”

Dan shook his head. “No. We’ll never make it.”

“We need the Lincoln,” Ed muttered.

“Yeah,” Dan muttered as he stared across the airfield. “Or something similar. Take us to the nearest bus station.”

“What are you thinking?” Tasha asked.

“I think we need to take a bus to the airport.”

The driver looked at them, clearly confused. Dan reached back and snapped his fingers. “Money.”

She placed all she had left, about five-thousand Marands, in his hands. He held the cash up so the driver could see. “Bus station, and make it fast.”

His eyes widened. “Right away, sir!”

Ten minutes later, the wheezing Mercedes taxi screeched into the parking lot of the bus station.

“Stop here,” Dan murmured. “Over there,” he said pointing at a bus that was unloading. “Stop by that bus.”

The driver did as he was told, and Dan pressed the cash into the man’s hand. “Now go.”

Tasha started to protest but realized this was their final play. Either way, they wouldn’t need any more cash. They waited until the last passenger stepped off.

“Get aboard,” Dan order, following the other three into the bus.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we’re not boarding yet.”

“Get off,” Dan growled.

“What?”

“I said, get off!” Dan grabbed the driver by the shirt and hauled him out of the seat and tossed him down the steps before shutting the door. The driver got up and beat on the door as Dan sat in the driver’s position. “Sit down and hold on,” he said as he stepped on the throttle.

The engine revved, and the bus strained but didn’t move. The driver turned and ran, probably for help. Tasha watched as Dan looked over the controls, then slapped a button. She heard the pop and hiss of air. He stepped on the throttle again and the big bus pulled smoothly away.

She smiled as they weaved through the town toward the airport. Dan wasn’t the greatest bus driver, the bus rocking, thumping, and swaying as he ran over curbs, and he almost took out more than one car, but he would get them there.

“We have ten minutes,” Tasha said as the airport lights came into view.

He nodded but said nothing. She saw the flashing lights of the police car ahead as the bus accelerated.

“Hold on!”

The bus charged the line of cars blocking the entrance. She braced for impact, but at the last moment, Dan dodged, the bus roaring past the line of cars to plow into the side of a police cruiser. The windshield shattered as the bus shouldered the Toyota aside and began to accelerate again. Side windows shattered as the police opened fire on them.

Tasha grabbed Kelli and pulled her down low as glass flew. Dan turned, the bus lunging and bucking as he drove it over curbs, the diesel engine roaring as it shoved the bus along.

Tasha looked up and glanced behind them. Three police cars were pursuing them. They had a good head start, but the cars were much faster. She heard the occasional pop and tink of a bullet hitting the bus, but Dan never slowed.

They charged across the field, the police cars harrying the bus like wolves snapping at a buffalo. Dan was weaving and juking, keeping the police off them, but what they were going to do when they got to the plane she didn’t know.

The plane was in sight, its engines already spinning. There was another line of police coming from the other direction, all converging on their ride. Suddenly, the police chasing them broke off and scattered. Four of the five approaching police cars flashed past in pursuit of the cars, but one stopped in front of the bus. Dan only dodged enough to clip the corner of the car, sending it spinning away. He stood on the brakes, the bus howling to a stop in a cloud of tire smoke.

“Get them aboard and take off!” he screamed as he flung the door open and charged out.

“I’m not leaving you!”

“Go!” he roared as he charged the police car.

The side hatch opened. A man reached a hand out as the Griffins ran for the plane. Tasha hesitated, turning toward Dan, the four turboprop engines causing her hair to fly. Dan ducked under a swing of the officer’s baton, then drove a hard left into the man’s midsection. As the man doubled over, Dan grabbed the man by the head and drove it into the hood of the police car. The officer dropped to the concrete like a sack of potatoes.

She sprinted for the Hercules. “He’s coming. Tell the pilots to go,” she shouted as she climbed aboard. The bird began to move as Dan arrived, throwing himself into the plane. He scrambled to his feet.

“Tech-Sergeant Daniel Thames, U.S. Air Force Pararescue. I need to talk to the pilots.”

“Go,” the man shouted and spoke into his mic.

Tasha ran after Dan as he charged to the cockpit.

“What the hell is going on, Sergeant?” the pilot demanded.

“No time to explain, but don’t stop. This is some honest-to-God holocaust type shit going down. You have to get these two doctors out of here.”

The pilot and co-pilot looked at each other as the pilot shoved the throttles forward and began arguing with someone on the radio. “They won’t give clearance for takeoff.”

“Do it anyway. I can’t allow your passengers to fall into enemy hands. I’ll have to kill them first.”

Again, the pilot and co-pilot looked at each other. “Fuck it,” the pilot said as he advanced the throttles a little more. They turned for the runway. “This will be tight,” the pilot said as he shoved the throttles to their stops. “Shit, they’re shooting at us!”

Tasha felt her chest squeeze. They weren’t even on the runway but the narrow taxiway that paralleled it, and they were about halfway down. The co-pilot called out airspeed as the plane sprinted down the narrow track, its four engines roaring loudly as they raced for safety. They flashed past the police cars blocking the runway, and still they accelerated.

“Rotating,” the pilot called, hauling back on the controls moments after the plane shuddered as it ran off the concrete taxiway and into the grass.

The giant plane struggled for the sky as the nose lifted, the craft vibrating like it was trying to shake itself apart. The takeoff felt wrong, like the plane didn’t want to fly, almost like it had stopped and was simply hanging there in the air.

Stall! Stall! Stall! a mechanical female’s voice called from somewhere. She didn’t know what that meant, but it didn’t sound good.

She glanced at Dan. He stared at the instruments, his eyes hard and his jaw clenched tight, as if willing the plane into the air. Then, suddenly, she felt the plane gain speed smoothly again, and the tension in the cockpit dropped by half.

The pilot reached over his shoulder. “Welcome aboard, Sergeant Thames. I’m Lt. Colonel Pensak, your co-pilot today is Major Waldfogel.”

Dan shook the men’s hands. “That was a hell of a piece of flying, gentlemen.”

“What the hell was going on back there?”

“Sorry, classified, but you can tell your grandkids you just helped save the world.”