Nurturing Britney (Surrender Book 7) by Becca Jameson (best books to read fiction .TXT) 📗

Blade yet, but I know he’s nearby somewhere. I don’t have time to look around. My focus is singular.

I half-listen as Shepherd tells someone he’s meeting a guy for flying lessons. The guy argues, but Shepherd is persuasive. Says there must be a misunderstanding. He knows it’s today. He can’t help it’s not on the flight schedule. Yada-yada. The guy leaves to make some calls.

“I’m on foot,” Blade informs me. “Gordon is now too. Six people are headed for the runway. That plane won’t be able to take off no matter what.”

I wish I could say that was comforting, but it isn’t. These men have guns. Britney could get caught in the crossfire.

Suddenly, Lazinski returns to the SUV, reaches inside, and yanks Britney out by the arm.

My sweet girl struggles. She’s still gagged. Her wrists are still tied together in front of her. Her hair is escaping a ponytail. The atrocious red dress barely covers her body. She’s got on red heels too. She looks like a hooker.

My heart is racing, and I want to kill about a dozen people. I’ve been in more situations like this than I can count but never once has the victim meant something to me. She’s never been mine.

I force myself to take deep breaths and remain calm, waiting for money to change hands. A man finally descends from the plane. He’s about sixty. Middle Eastern. Wearing a three-piece suit. He moves like he owns the planet.

When he reaches the ground, he cups Britney’s face and turns it from side to side. I can’t imagine her fear.

I’m right here, sweet girl. I’m right here. You’re going to be okay.

I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince myself or silently trying to console her.

The man reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out a large envelope. He hands it to Lazinski who opens it. Before he has a chance to start counting, we are all on the move.

I’m not in on the plan, but I’m not surprised when I hear two fast pops and watch both camo guys hit the ground.

The man in the suit grabs Britney by the arm and rushes toward the plane.

“Oh, no you fucking don’t, asshole. Not today.” I’m on the run, closing in on them. The last thing I want to do is hit Britney. I force myself to disassociate and think of this as any other job. Take out the bad guy. Make sure the civilian is unharmed.

I’m closest, so after I round the last few impediments, I rise up from behind the SUV, line up a shot, wait for Britney to be shoved into the plane, and then fire. I hit the buyer in the back of the head. He doesn’t even have time to react. His brain matter splatters around the sides of the plane as he tumbles backward and falls down the stairs.

Several more shots ring out and people are shouting all around me, but I’m running full-speed toward the plane. I take the stairs two at a time, gun still drawn, heedless of what I might find inside. If there are ten more guards ready to shoot me, then I’m as good as dead. I’m gambling that it’s unlikely, but I still have to be concerned with the cockpit.

My gaze goes to the right first, to see Britney hunched on the floor, eyes wide, struggling with the rope around her wrists.

I glance into the cockpit and hold my weapon up, aiming it at the man who has both hands in the air as he stands. “Don’t shoot. I’m not armed,” he says in a heavy accent.

I reach for his shirt, drag him forward, and shove him out of the plane. One of my guys on the ground will take care of him. I turn back around, still aiming my gun toward the back of the plane. I don’t see another soul so I rush toward Britney.

“Stop struggling, sweetie. Let me untie you. You’re going to hurt yourself.” I hurry to release her wrists and then pull the gag out of her mouth.

She lets out a huge sob and jumps into my arms. “You’re here.”

“Of course, I’m here.” I hold her tight, my hand cupping the back of her head. As I stand with her against my body, I clasp her face and find her eyes. “Are you hurt?”

She shakes her head. “Just scared.” She reaches back to tug the dress down over her bottom. “And half-naked.”

I spin around, pull open an overhead compartment with one hand, and grab a blanket. After wrapping it around her, I lift her into my arms and carry her out of this hell.

Chapter 33

Britney

I spend the next several hours sitting in the back of a squad car while dozens of cops swarm the area. The door is open and I’m facing the unfolding scene. It’s just a place to sit, really. A place that gives me some privacy and protection.

It’s surreal watching my boss get arrested. I’m glad the three bodies on the ground are covered by a tarp because I don’t want to have to look at them.

I’ve answered a thousand questions over and over before someone finally pulls up next to me in Davis’s SUV. I don’t know him, but he introduces himself as Dagger and hands me the keys to the SUV.

I’ve been separated from Davis most of this time. I hate it, and I know he does too, but he killed the man who bought me, so he has a lot to deal with. I try to be grateful that my role in all this is the victim. No matter how many questions I’ve answered, I can tell Davis has answered twice as many.

He looks over at me every few seconds, his brow furrowed, and I fear he might actually tell everyone to go fuck themselves soon.

I’m wrapped in the airplane blanket, which I keep tugging around me. I feel irrationally chilled. Exposed. It’s odd, since I spent a year stripping almost naked for strangers