Page 255 of Wild Mustang Security Firm

She had long ago schooled herself to sleep whenever she could when going into a mission. This was no different, but the twisting of her heart and gut told her she was wrong. It wasn’t just another mission. It was Thom’s life, and still all she could do at this point was close her eyes and will sleep to come. This was not going to be easy, but she would be ready for it.

Chapter

Eleven

Thom had to admit that considering he had been kidnapped and forced to work to unravel some kind of cypher, which would then be used to break a security code, he was being treated well. Even when Thom had decked Christian after they had taken Thom out of restraints, his captors hadn’t retaliated. Christian had simply picked himself up and repeated that Avery had been too tempting. It wasn’t that he didn’t agree; he found himself seeing her face whenever he closed his eyes, could hear her calling him Daddy and was so very proud of how brave she had been. Thom only hoped she would understand and heed his warning about how to proceed.

He couldn’t suppress the grin any more than he could the hardening of his cock. More than anything in this world, he wanted to get home to Avery, wanted to build their life together. He could easily imagine playing with their kids, teaching them to ride horses and motorcycles, and how to fly planes and choppers. He used planning a future with Avery as a way to slow his mind. He needed to be able to show his abductors that he was making progress but buying enough time for the recovery team to get here. Without the distraction of all he wanted toexperience with Avery, his mind would have locked on to the problem at hand.

Hopefully, Junior would be able to fly the mission. Avery was still the best pilot and the most capable woman he’d ever known, but the daddy in him wanted her as far away from this kind of action as possible.

Thom looked up as Christian entered the room.

“How’s the work coming?” asked Finn’s older brother.

“It’s coming as fast as it can. If it were an easy cypher, one of the three guys you had working on it before me would have had it done. By the way, what happened to those guys?”

“All were paid their agreed upon rate, plus given first class airfare to the city of their choice. Fariq and I aren’t murderers.”

Thom held his tongue, but his arched eyebrow said it all.

“Not of amateurs or innocents.”

“You put a hit out on Zara.”

“I didn’t,” explained Christian quietly. “And Fariq doesn’t consider her either an amateur or an innocent. He felt she was a threat.”

Thom stopped what he was doing and really looked at Christian. He looked like a man whose every nerve was on end but was doing an exceptional job of covering it. He also appeared to want Thom to believe him and not think ill of him. It was curious.

He shrugged. “Doesn’t really matter to me. As long as you let me walk away and we have assurances from both you and Fariq to leave all of us alone, you might live. Harm anyone associated with Wild Mustang, and I don’t think too much of your chances for surviving this mess.”

Christian chuckled. “Especially if it’s you that gets hurt. I do believe that your little girl could bring a world of hurt down on someone if she had a mind to.”

Thom nodded. “She could, but she’d also bring the firepower of everyone at Wild Mustang. We’re a tight-knit bunch.”

“I’ve noticed. You’re lucky to have each other. I’m glad Finn seems to have found a good man who can keep her safe.”

“Shame that the guy he’s the most concerned about is his future brother-in-law.” Thom’s zinger hit its intended bullseye.

Christian recoiled slightly. He frowned. “I’ll let you get back to it.” Retreating as far as the door, he paused long enough to warn, “Don’t screw with us, Thom. Fariq prefers money and intimidation to bloodshed, but he isn’t above the latter.”

“Neither are we,” Thom muttered under his breath, but by then Christian was already gone.

Avery’s plane touched down in Barcelona. Unlike most, the city’s main airplane hub had hallways that were filled with both natural and manmade light. Combined with the usual mild, sunny climate, it made flying into this part of Spain a real treat. For once, customs wasn’t a nightmare. As she trudged down the light-filled corridors, she spotted Zara waiting for her just outside the security gates. She smiled as the other woman waved, but happy as she was to see her friend, the smile still felt like a mask. She was exhausted, physically, emotionally, and mentally, but from this point on, she couldn’t afford to let herself rest.

She should have known Zara would see right through her. “You look like shit.”

Avery flashed another weak smile. “Good. I was afraid I might look as bad as I feel.”

“Come on. Ghazil feels badly about all that’s happened. He’s so thrilled about being included in the wedding and yet is soterrified of Noah. He not only got us a fully armed helicopter, plus a base in Tarifa where we can land and refuel, but he did it all no questions asked.”

“Do you think we can trust him?”

“I was serious when I said he’s terrified of Noah.” Zara snorted. “The first time we saw him after the whole fiasco last year, the big guy slammed Ghazil up against the wall and roared right in his face. Ghazil wants no part of being on the wrong side of the firm and most especially wants to make sure Noah never has reason to quarrel with him again. So”—Noah’s soon-to-be wife flashed a grin—“don’t tell the poor guy we’re doing this without permission. He’ll have kittens.”

Zara stopped at one of the pastry kiosks and paid for two coffees andxuxos, a traditional Spanish pastry that reminded Avery of a croissant only stuffed with cream, deep fried, and sprinkled with sugar.

“Eat, drink,” she commanded, shoving one of each into Avery’s hands. “You’re traveling light, which is good, but you’re no good to anyone like this. Thom is going to need you at your best.”

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