Page 274 of Wild Mustang Security Firm

Croft chuckled. “That’s my Finn.”

Thom was chuckling too. Though he said nothing, he caressed her with his gaze before turning his face to the window and toward the rocky islands now coming into view.

Avery set down on a spit of land close enough to make a strike against Fariq. He’d chosen this location well. It was an easy jump away from land and yet removed enough from the main shipping lanes not to be seen. Too bad it wasn’t as secret anymore as he, hopefully, still thought it to be.

As night fell, the team readied themselves. The plan was for Avery to get them in close and Thom to jam their communications, allowing their small team of four to take their underwater gear, drop into the water, and silently make their way to the yacht.

Once onboard, John, Mac, Noah, and Croft would split up—Croft and Noah would get Finn; John and Mac would keep watch, and if necessary, provide distraction and cover while the other three made their run back into the water. At that point Mac and John would join them and then the five would make their way to the rendezvous point. If all went according to plan, they would snatch Finn and get back to Avery and Thom without a shot being fired.

Avery flew in close, keeping watch on the two patrol boats that should have been circling Fariq’s yacht.

“Looks like everyone’s either on a smoke break or just flat not doing their job. They haven’t moved, but we’ll keep an eye on them,” said Thom.

“Good luck,” Avery said as they disembarked.

The last to drop into the water, Noah flashed her a wink. “Luck ain’t got nothin’ to do with it.”

Avery moved to higher air so she was less likely to be spotted. And then they waited. She hated waiting. While Thom monitored the yacht for any hint that the team might have been discovered, she kept a sharp eye on the patrol boats, still making their lazy sweeps.

“I always have to remind myself that we are the best at what we do,” said Avery quietly.

Thom reached over and squeezed her hand. “That we are… all of us.”

“Accidents happen, though. Even to the best. Why is everything so dead down there? If your whole compound had just been attacked and destroyed, wouldn’t you be alert and on edge?”

“I would,” Thom agreed. “But then, I’m not an egomaniacal, self-declared super-genius with near Disney villain-esque faith in my own invincibility. So… there’s that.” Thom nodded to the yacht. “There they are.”

Noah, Croft, and Finn emerged onto the vessel’s deck. With Noah keeping watch, Croft got Finn ready and the two dropped into the water. Noah followed, with Mac and John right behind him, sliding as silently and with as little splash as possible under the ocean waves. It was only a bit of bad luck that brought one of the boat’s staff out on deck just as Mac lowered himself over the railing.

“Shit!” said Thom, a bare instant before all hell broke loose.

“It’s show time.” Wheeling the chopper around for action, Avery quickly flipped the switches, making the weapons ready. “I’m going to take out both patrol boats first. Do you think you can manage the winch to get them back on board?”

“You bet.” Unbuckling, he hopped out of his seat and jumped into the back.

They worked in tandem, just like they always had in the past and yet, to Avery, it felt as if they were more in sync than ever before. If the first patrol boat heard or saw them coming, they had no chance to react. Avery fired on them and then circled around so Thom could drop the inflatable into the water close to the assault team. The second of Fariq’s patrol boats’ only warning that the assault team had aerial backup was the first boat being blasted out of the water. That warning did them little good as they bore down on the assault team’s inflatable, while the latter paddled madly back to where they knew Avery would be waiting.

“Thom, heads up!” she shouted back over her shoulder. “Fariq is launching his own inflatables and I’d bet good money they have motors. We need to get our guys out of there. I’m moving to intercept the team. I’ll try to hold off their pursuers.”

Avery watched as Thom searched through the helicopter’s supplies until he spotted a long tethering line. Leaning out the open door, he tied off one end. “Get me over them. I’ll drop down and hook up the boat; then, you haul us the hell out of here until it’s safe to load up and head for home.”

Avery nodded. “They should be right below us.”

“They are, but I don’t think we have time to get them onboard.”

At the rate the pursuing inflatables were closing the distance, she was afraid he was right. “All right; I’ll wait for your signal. Be safe!”

“You too,” Thom said as he dropped over the side.

Avery watched as Noah and Mac dragged him in over the side of their raft, and Thom quickly tied off the other end of the line.

“Rubber Ducky to Mustang Sally… commence operation tag along!”

Smiling, she turned the helicopter and flew as low and fast as she dared, dragging the inflatable with her team aboard.She knew it wouldn’t be smooth sailing on their end, more like the legendary Nantucket Sleigh Ride—the name given to what happened when the New England whalers had harpooned a whale in the seventeen and eighteen hundreds. Her heart thumped just a little bit harder every time she heard the distant pop of gunshots fired both from and at her men, but she couldn’t afford to be distracted by worry. Instead she focused on getting as much speed and power out of the Sikorsky as she could.

The motors on Fariq’s boats were no match for that kind of speed, but they were stubborn. They gave chase far longer than Avery ever would have. The temptation to turn on them now while they were too far away from the yacht for any kind of backup was strong, but getting the guys back onboard the Sikorsky was her top priority. Preferably before Fariq launched his own small chopper and either flew in to join the fray or fled again.

If he ran, what were the odds they’d find him again before he could do even more damage? The man needed to be stopped. Now. While they still knew exactly where he was. Avery doubted any of them would ever be safe again as long as Fariq lived.

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