Page 76 of Healing Love

While Blaise drove, Bart and Chad suited up in the back seat, handing Cam his weapons when he was finished with the intel call.

Pulling off the main road, Blaise turned off his headlights as he followed the bumpy drive toward the hangar. “What is this place?”

“Luke said it was a private hangar, normally used for keeping a crop-dusting plane. Local gang must now use it for drops and pickups.”

Close enough now to see a single vehicle next to the hangar, Blaise parked, and the men quickly exited. Just as they began to move stealthily toward the hangar, a piercing scream met their ears. Breaking into a run, Cam prayed his legs would hold him up knowing the agonizing sound came from Miriam.If she screamed, then she’s still alive and still here!

As the Saints rounded the front of the building, a small plane taxied out. The men fired quickly at the tires, but the aircraft leapt forward as the pilot increased the speed. Blaise ran back to their SUV, determined to chase the aircraft down the runway while Bart, Chad, and Cam continued to fire at the tires.

Cam saw Miriam’s pale face looking out of the window staring straight at him.

Miriam heard shots fired and, glancing out of the plane’s window, saw Cam and some of the others illuminated by the hangar’s lights.He’s here! He found me.

A renewed determination coursed through her veins as she turned back to see what she could do. Rearing back in the seat, she brought her taped ankles up and kicked the control panel as hard as she could.

“Stop it,perra,” Manual cursed, using his right hand to hit Miriam in the face.

Her head jerked to the side from the force of hispunch, but she refused to succumb to the pain. Nothing but the determination to not be taken again coursed through her blood. Twisting slightly, she kicked the steering wheel causing the plane to move quickly left. Before he could hit her again, she kicked once more as hard as she could, this time kicking his arm at the same time.

Howling in pain, he let go of the wheel, trying to subdue the wildcat in the cockpit, but she was not to be deterred. Kicking repeatedly on the control panel, she was finally causing damage to the planes controls and Manuel found that he could not maneuver the plane down the small, makeshift runway. They continued to taxi to the side, the aircraft jumping off the asphalt onto the dirt.

He twisted and hit her once more, dodging her feet. Reaching for his gun, he opened the window and pointed the gun in the direction of the men running toward him.

Cam? No!Her shoulder felt wrenched out of its socket, but she forced her body around even further than it had been and kicked Manuel in the back, propelling his body forward just as a zing sounded through the window. Blood splattered over Miriam as he screamed out, dropping the gun and grabbing his shoulder.

As the plane lurched to a stop, she tried to lift herself up from the awkward position but found herself pinned down in the seat. Manuel’s face, contorted in pain, turned toward her, his eyes burning in fury.

“Puta!” he screamed. “I’ve lost everything because ofyou!” Letting go of his bloody shoulder, he reached over with his hand, grasping her around the throat, squeezing with what was left of his strength.

“Let her go!” came the order from Cam’s lips as he threw open the door of the plane, his pistol aimed at Manuel.

Bart landed on the other wing and jerked open the pilot’s door, yelling the same order.

His fingers still squeezing, he looked back at Cam. “Not going to prison over this piece ofchochos! You’re going to have to kill me, big man.”

“No problem, asshole,” Cam growled but, before he could fire, Bart grabbed Manuel from behind at the same time that Miriam kicked upward one more time, landing her foot on his injured shoulder.

Manuel howled in pain, screaming obscenities, as Blaise and Bart maneuvered him out of the cockpit. Chad ran up with the FBI in tow, calling for an ambulance and radioing Jack. “Got Miriam and Manuel. Uncertain of injuries,” he reported rapidly.

Cam shifted his large frame between the two seats, his knife slicing through the seat belt trapping Miriam. “Babe, tell me what hurts?” he begged, slicing the tape at her feet, horrified at the blood on her. He could see her split lip and swollen eye, bruises already forming on her throat, but was unsure if anything was broken.

“My shoulder,” she croaked, tears streaming down her face.

Trying not to move her, he slipped the knife underneath her body, slicing the bonds at her wrists as well, his shaking hands showing his fear.

“Blaise!” Cam called, needing his friend’s medical assistance.

“Right here, bro. You need to move away, Cam, so I can get to her.”

Cam found his body unable to let go of Miriam’s hand as Blaise attempted to ascertain her injuries in the tiny space.

“Bart!” Blaise called. “You’re needed!”

Bart came up behind Cam and pulled his shoulders back.

Cam twisted his head around in anger. “What the fuck?”

“Let’s get her out of the plane, man. Then you can hold her while Blaise checks her out.”

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