Page 89 of Paco
“They’re five miles ahead of us and just took Exit 281,” Chains said. “Wait. Bull Dog’s saying that the exit is where some abandoned warehouses are. There’s also an old quasi-airport in the area that was used for agriculture and small planes.”
“The fuckers have a plane waiting.” He pressed down on the accelerator.I have to get there in time.
“Bull Dog’s coming in on the side. He’s gonna park behind one of the warehouses. He said we should come in from the west.”
Paco nodded. “Army, start taking the guns out, and a couple of grenades.” From the rearview mirror, Paco saw Army bending over the seat and bringing guns over it.
“Once we get there, we’ll kill the engine and walk in. We’ll come in strong. Since they’re only in one car, I don’t think there are too many of them. Chains, get Jacko on the phone. Ask him topersuadethe traitors to tell him where Chelsea is and who took her.”
Chains called Jacko and after a minute, he laughed loudly. “The fuckin’ pussies gave everything up. It’s Victor who’s got her. Him and two guys. They put her in a metal box in the back of their SUV. Bustos’s taking her to Pueblo on a private plane.”
Veering to the west, Paco parked behind an abandoned barn, killed the motor, and jumped out of the car. He took several deep breaths to calm down and focus, pushing all emotions far away and replacing them with ice cold detachment. He slung a semiautomatic rifle over his shoulder and carried a Mag sniper rifle while Chains and Army carried assault rifles. As much as he wanted to capture Victor and torture him, Steel had told him to do away with him and Bobby in a fast and efficient way. The brothers weren’t in their territory, and they didn’t want to mess with the badges or have too much scrutiny on them and the Twisted Warriors.
They came in from the back, giving the thumbs-up to Bull Dog, Dime Bag, and Blue. Victor stood behind two large men dressed in black suits, a small aircraft about three hundred yards away. He watched as Victor opened the back and motioned for the two men to come over. They took out a large square metal box. Paco’s heart splintered, but he pushed away the image of a terrified Chelsea folded inside.
“I have a perfect view of the fucker,” Army said in a low voice.
“I don’t want them to shoot Chelsea. Let’s wait until they start toward the plane.” He turned to Chains. “Tell Bull Dog that when the fuckers clear the vehicle and start toward the plane, I’ll give the signal and we’ll kill them. Tell them not to shoot at the box.” With the precision of their weapons, they could pinpoint exactly where the bullets would go. The guns they’d bought from Liam were Army issued and had cost a fortune on the black market.
As if sensing something, Victor turned and looked around the area. He stood staring for several minutes, then slowly turned away, bending down and unlocking the box before dragging a tied Chelsea out. When Paco saw the sack over her head, he wanted to kill the fucker right then and there. Victor placed her in front of him and slowly walked backward.
“He senses us,” Paco said. “I’m going to go around closer to the plane. He’s using Chelsea as a shield.”
“I’ll go with you,” Army said.
The two men went behind the buildings and dropped to their bellies, slithering across the ground as they had done numerous times overseas in Afghanistan. As Victor dragged Chelsea, she started screaming and struggling to break away from him. He punched her several times in the head and stomach, but she kept pushing away from him. He took out his gun and put it to her head. His mouth was moving, but Paco couldn’t hear what he was saying.
Stay cool, babe. I’m here. Feel me. I’m here.
Chelsea stopped and moved her head around as if trying to see if he were there. At that moment, he felt her. He couldn’t explain it, but a connection as strong as a current of electricity passed from her to him. The way she stiffened and turned her body in his direction told him that she’d felt it too. It was something he’d never experienced in his life.
Victor shoved her forward, and she stumbled and fell on the ground. Paco beamed. “That’s my girl,” he said under his breath. By falling, she’d opened Victor up like a bull’s-eye at the shooting range. Paco lifted his weapon, looked through the scope, and aimed at Victor’s head.
“I hate like fuck that the sonofabitch’s death’s gonna be quick,” he whispered to Army.
“I hear you. When you fire the shot, the others know to take out the other two goons and the pilot.” The pilot was a casualty that couldn’t be helped. In the outlaw world, they never left any witnesses.
Paco pulled the trigger. The bullet flew out of the rifle and into the air, piercing the asshole’s skin, and he jerked back. Another bullet. Then another. Victor’s eyes bulged and he looked shocked, like he hadn’t expected to end his life that way on that day. Then he fell on the ground with a thump. More bullets whizzed through the air, and Paco slithered over to where Chelsea was on the ground. Her whimpering touched him deeply, and he reached out and yanked her to him, dragging her behind him to safety.
He pulled off the sack and her wild eyes searched his face; then recognition settled in, and she leaned against his chest and sobbed. He took out a knife from his boot and cut the zip ties. Her arms flopped down by her side and he embraced her tight, rubbing her back and whispering in her ear over and over again, “It’s all over. You’re safe. I’m here.”
Chains came up to him. “They’re all down. We’re gonna get rid of them. Bull Dog says they can take the plane to sell the parts. He says Blue’s a pilot and he’s gonna fly it to a nearby strip a friend of his has. Why don’t you go back to the SUV and take care of her. Army and I will take care of everything.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.” Chains gripped his shoulder, then took off.
Paco carried Chelsea back to the SUV and slipped into the back seat with her. He took out the first aid kit and cleaned the blood and dirt from her wrists and face, then kissed her gently and pressed her close to him. “I’m so sorry this shit happened to you. It killed me when the alert signal came through. One of the guys dropped the fucking ball.”
“All that matters is you came. I knew you would. I felt you out there. Is that crazy?”
“It is, but I felt a charge pass between us. You did too. That’s why you fell down, isn’t it?”
She nodded. “I never felt something so strong in all my life.” She looked up at him through her lashes. “Aunt Sandy and Uncle Dave were the ones who sold me all those years ago. They arranged the whole thing, and Mr. Tarleton was the delivery person. They sold me to pay off drug debts they owed to Erik and Bobby. And they told Victor I was home. I can’t believe they did that to me. How could they? What’s wrong with people that makes them do that? I loved her.” She clung tighter to him.
“They’re fucked in the head. They don’t have a soul. To betray someone who loves you is the worst.”
“You have experience with that. First your dad killing your mom, and then Cassie leaving you for someone else.”
