Page 212 of Wrecked
She couldn’t throw it off the roof. The bombs would explode, potentially injuring or killing dozens. If she could heave it to the other side of the roof, would she be far enough way to save herself if it detonated?
“My brother, Aziz, was hours away from completing one of the most successful missions of our lives,” Liliana said, snapping Addison from her thoughts.
“He was going to assassinate world leaders, something our father would have been so proud of. But he blew himself and his base station up. Today, I will be reunited with him and our father, and we will rejoice in our triumph that you are dead.”
She thought of Hawk.We could have had the best life together.
Addison’s heart was broken. She didn’t want to die like this, but she wasn’t going to beg. And she would not cry. She, too, had been trained. Survivor training, imprisonment training. She would leave this life with dignity and grace.
Her dad’s familiar words comforted her.
“What happens when we let emotion take over?”
“We become vulnerable.”
She would rather die than show Liliana any fear.
* * *
In order to pull off this mission, Hawk needed the Venom, the larger, Marine helicopter with the open cargo area.
As he finished his scaled-down pre-flight check, he patted the side of the large bird. “Do right by us, baby.”
He hopped inside, fired it up, then glanced back at his brother.
“Strap in,” he said to Prescott through the headset.
Prescott’s phone rang. He answered, listened, and hung up.
“You’ve got to let ATC know you’re flying into the No-Fly Zone,” Prescott explained. “Cooper called them, but they need to hear from you.”
“Copy,” Hawk replied. “Here we go, babe.”
He lifted the helo off the ground.
“Tower, this is Bravo King Whiskey Alpha Alpha,” Hawk said. “Alpha Alpha requests permission to land on rooftop, 1100 First Street, Southeast DC.”
“Alpha Alpha, that’s in the NFZ—”
“I’m flying there whether you clear me or not,” Hawk replied, keeping his tone relaxed and even-keeled on purpose.
“You’re in violation—”
“This should have been cleared,” Hawk replied.
As he flew east, Hawk yanked out his phone and dialed.
Z answered. “Did you pop the question?”
“Addison is being held by a terrorist,” Hawk said. “I’m flying into DCs NFZ. If F-18s are deployed, then it needs to be for a fucking escort back to ALPHA.”
“Where is she?” Z asked.
He gave Z the address. “I can do this, and so can Addison. I just need to get to her without interference. Make it happen.” He hung up and pulled his headset back into place.
“If you violate the no-fly zone, military aircraft will be deployed,” said the air traffic controller.
Ignoring that, he refocused his full attention on his destination and increased his speed.
