Page 103 of Arrogant Bastard

My gaze drops to the dot. “Where is that?”

“According to the address, it’s an abandoned group of buildings that used to be attached to an old municipal airport south of the Santa Ynez Mountains. And…”

“What?” I snarl.

“It still has a functioning airstrip.”

My stomach turns liquid. But I still stomp my foot harder on the gas. The vehicle shoots forward. Linc grips the bar above his head with one hand and dials Mitch’s number with the other.

Through the roar in my ears, I hear him relay the address to Mitch and tell him we’ll be there in nineteen minutes. I shave three minutes off the time, and we roll through the barbed wire gates just before midday. I slow the vehicle to a crawl as we scan the area.

All the buildings and equipment are covered in years’ old decay. Except for the small airplane sitting at the end of the tarmac.

It hasn’t taken off yet, and the green dot is within touching distance. Twin streams of relief well through me. Only to drain away when I see the Jeep racing toward the plane.

I abandon all attempts at stealth and step on the gas. There are two large hangars and half a mile between us and the Jeep. Too far. God, she’s too far away.

In a small plane like that, Galveston could take off within seconds.

“Shit.” Linc draws his weapon but keeps it on his lap.

“If you shoot her by accident, I’ll kill you.”

He nods. “I’m aware of that, sir. This is going to be tricky though.”

I clench my jaw and milk every last ounce of horsepower from the SUV. It’s still not enough as I watch Galveston leap from the Jeep and drag Faith after him toward the plane.

Three men jump from the back and aim assault rifles at us.

“Sir,” Linc mutters.

I keep my foot on the gas.

“Sir, you need to stop.”

“They won’t shoot me. If they do, Galveston doesn’t get his money.”

“I understand. But—”

I engage the brakes at the last possible moment and screech to a halt a couple of feet from the Jeep’s bumper. Rifles cock when I throw open my door and step out.

Galveston turns with one arm across Faith’s shoulder and a gun aimed at her head.

God.

“I knew I couldn’t trust you,” he sneers.

I ignore him. My gaze rakes over Faith, the chill inside me flooding me in waves. “Baby, are you okay?”

She nods, but I see the pain in her eyes. I look closer and see the deep bruise on her temple. My fists clench at my sides.

“You’re not leaving with her, Galveston. Not today. Not ever.”

He laughs. “How the fuck are you going to stop me? You’re outnumbered, and outgunned. Transfer the money to me right now, and you can have her back. Or I put a bullet in her head.”

I hear Linc speaking softly into his phone but I keep my gaze trained forward. A minute later, he steps out too.

I take another step toward Galveston and his men. “You hurt her, and you die today. Let her go and I just might let you get on that plane and take off. Those are the only guarantees I’ll offer you.”

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