Page 33 of In The Trenches (Owens Protective Services)

I knew that was true, but still, this didn’t sit right with me. “Tell everyone to be on guard. If something goes wrong, it’s our asses on the line. I’m calling in Team Two. We need all the help we can get if something goes wrong.”

“Gotcha, boss.”

He ran off to let the others know as I called Thumper—Tate Parsons, the team leader for Team Two. As the phone rang, I discreetly watched Grady and the rest of his team. I knew he would be ready for takeoff at any moment. We didn’t have long to get another team here to have our backs.

“Go for Thumper,” Parsons said.

“Get your team together on the double. I need them at the private airfield on the edge of town ASAP.”

“Gotcha, boss. We’re out in five.”

My eyes narrowed as a man walked toward the plane carrying something. I couldn’t see what it was, but the way he quickly strode toward the plane set off alarms in my head. I moved closer to him, trying to see what was in his hand, but I was too far away.

“Boss,” Thumper said, like he was repeating himself.

Unease trickled down my spine as the man looked around quickly before lowering himself to the ground by the luggage compartment at the belly of the plane.

“Haul ass over here. We’ve got a situation.”

I hung up and pressed my hand to my ear. “Scottie, you copy?”

“Scottie Dog here, prepared for takeoff.”

“Do you have everyone on board and accounted for?”

“Roger that. I’m still willing to trade if anyone’s up for it.”

“Donotallow takeoff. Do you read me?”

“Affirmative. Anything I should know about, boss?”

“When I know, you’ll know.”

“Edu,” I barked through comms, moving closer, but keeping Grady in my sights. “We’ve got a target under the plane. Can you identify him?”

“Checking now…”

I waited, my eyes flicking back to Grady. This was wrong. I quickly made my way over to him. “Who’s the man by the plane?”

“Excuse me?” Grady said, his fingers flying faster over his keyboard.

I grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him to face me. “Who the fuck is that man by the plane? He didn’t come in with you, and my guys didn’t let him in.”

His eyes flicked up to the plane as sweat beaded on his brow. “He works for me.”

“Then how the fuck did he get in here?” I asked angrily.

His jaw clenched hard. “He’s installing a vital piece of equipment.”

“That plane isn’t leaving the ground, not until we’ve checked it out.”

“This is my project. I hired you!” he shouted as I walked away.

I started running from the edge of the hangar over to where the plane was parked. “Edu!”

He grabbed the guy by the collar, hauling him out from under the plane just as the man grabbed the metal container he was holding and swung it at Edu’s head. He flopped back on the ground, out cold as I pulled my gun and aimed at the man, but he disappeared to the other side of the plane where I couldn’t get a good angle.

Suddenly, the engine started, kicking up dirt and rocks right into my face. I ducked, trying to avoid the debris as I ran closer to get Edu out of the line of fire.

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