Page 266 of Wild Mustang Security Firm

“Everything is fine. We’re going to have to get a jet and head to Wales to get Noah and Zara and then get home to Arizona. Fariq has declared war on Wild Mustang, and Mac wants everyone close to home. More important to me at the moment is, how are you?”

Avery leaned up on her elbow, reaching up to draw his head down. “I’m fine. My butt hurts and I’m a bit tender in some other parts, but nothing bad.” She sighed deeply as he kissed her. “In fact, I’m not sure that I don’t like how Daddy makes use of his kitten.”

“Do tell. You did warn me you had a bit of an alley cat streak.”

“Meow,” she murmured against his lips.

He chuckled. “I’m glad to hear that because with the exception of having to blister your bottom for disobeying me, it was the most incredible experience I’ve ever had.”

“Should I apologize for you having to do that?”

“No, baby. I’m not one who thinks I’m being put upon when I have to discipline my little girl. Being a daddy is a choice and part of that is accepting that sometimes, when you fall in love with a courageous little girl, you might just have to smack her bottom when she misbehaves.”

“I still think I should have caught a break for saving you.”

“You did.”

She laughed. “Really? Have you seen the state of my butt?”

Thom rubbed her red bottom lovingly as he nodded. “It doesn’t have stripes laid across it. And if you ever do something that reckless again, Daddy won’t be so lenient.”

Their eyes locked until Avery dropped her gaze. “Yes, Sir.”

He kissed the top of her head. “That’s my good girl. We’re going to need a jet. What do you want?”

“The smaller and faster, the better. The runway in Wales is short and bumpy and if Fariq is gunning for us, I’m going to want to stay under the radar as much as possible…”

Thom looked down at her when she seemed to falter. “What is it, baby?”

“I don’t know how to do this…”

“Same way you always have. Just because we’re together, you’re naked and you answer to me, that doesn’t mean I know how to do what you do or don’t respect and appreciate you as a member of the team. I’m pretty sure the rest of the guys will feel the same way.”

“But Mac…”

“Was letting go of worrying about you, that’s all. You’ve done reckless stuff in the past and had Mac or John chew your ass for it. The only thing that’s changed is they won’t do that anymore.”

“No, they’ll just let you beat my ass instead,” she quipped.

“See? Beautiful, sexy, fearless,andsmart. I’m one lucky daddy.”

Grinning, she threw her arms around him. “I love you.”

“Good, since you’re stuck with me. Do you want to file a flight plan?”

“Yes, but not the one we’re going to take. I’ll file that we’re flying northwest in a straight shot overland. What we’re going to do is jet west over the Key of Biscayne and circle back to Wales, staying over the water for most of the flight.”

“Okay. Looking to get educated, why?”

“Because I can stay under the radar. The small leg we’ll be overland, I can stay close enough to the terrain to make us virtually invisible. Can I make a suggestion about the jet?”

“Absolutely. Baby, you’ve forgotten more about jets than I’ll ever know.”

“I think we take the chopper to Sardinia and get a jet there.”

“Sardinia? Don’t they have the largest sheep population in the world?”

“Yes, but they also have… well, let’s just say some folks who wouldn’t mind seeing Fariq crippled permanently.”

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