Lissa jumped down from the driver’s side and ran to the back of the truck to join them. Colt flashed her a look she couldn’t read, then they were running, moving as fast as they could through the trees and the thick green foliage.
The clearing loomed ahead. No sign of the helicopter.
“We’re almost there,” Colt said.
“Where’s the chopper?” Timmy asked worriedly, speaking Lissa’s thoughts aloud.
“He’ll be here,” Colt said firmly. “Just keep going.”
The sound of vehicle motors coming down the road made Lissa’s pulse pound. The taste of fear filled her mouth.
“Keep going!” Colt shouted as they burst into the clearing where the helicopter should have been.
“Where is it?” Timmy asked again, his eyes wide with fear.
Lissa scanned the clear blue sky. In minutes it would be too late.
“There! There it is!” Timmy shouted, pointing at a dark shape in the sky that was growing larger as it drew near.
“Run!” Colt’s voice rang with authority, the tone of a man used to being in command. “We need to get over that rise!”
They ran up the hill as if the hounds of hell were on their tails—which they were—and dropped over the ridge out of sight just as Alex settled the helo on the ground a few yards away. The bay doors were open.
Colt lifted Timmy up and he scrambled inside, Lissa climbed in beside him, then Colt jumped in, and the helo lifted away. Lissa strapped Timmy into the middle seat and settled in beside him, while Colt wedged himself into the copilot’s chair. They all put on their headsets.
Through the plastic bubble, Lissa could see men running into the clearing below. She knew they were firing, but it was too noisy in the chopper to hear the gunshots. They were almost out of range when a second group appeared, a sea of armored vehicles, men and equipment, pouring into the clearing, surrounding the first group of soldiers.
“Looks like the cavalry has arrived,” Colt said and she could hear the smile in his voice. The task force brutally outnumbered the cartel men. A few would resist and pay the ultimate price. The rest would be taken into custody, including Ray Spearman. Timmy would be safe.
“Sorry I was late.” Alex’s voice came through the headset. “Had a little run-in with some of our friends from the task force. Fortunately, they were called away at the last minute, something to do with El Puñal. I have a hunch Benito Cortez had a hand in it.”
Colt laughed. “Perfect timing. Cortez is a handy man to know.” They were grateful for everything he had done for them. Colt turned in his seat to look at Timmy. “You okay?”
He nodded. “Thanks for coming to get me.”
“You didn’t think I would?”
Timmy smiled. “I was hoping you would. I didn’t think you’d bring Lissa, but I’m really glad you did.”
“Me, too,” Colt said and there was a gruff note in his voice that made Lissa’s heart contract.
She tried not to think what would happen when they got to Laredo, only a little over an hour from now. But there was no way Colt would be returning to Dallas and no way she would be going to Denver.
It was over.
They had both known from the start it was only a fling. She needed to accept that, deal with it. Lissa leaned back in the seat, trying to think of a way to say goodbye.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THEY WERE ON the ground in Laredo. Lissa and Timmy were heading back to Dallas, back to Julie, who had sobbed into the phone when Colt had called with the news her son was safe and on his way home.
Colt wasn’t going with them. He needed to get to Denver, check on his grandmother. He was long overdue and he knew how much she missed him. He had duties, responsibilities. He planned to build a life there.
Why was it that now building a life that didn’t include Lissa was the last thing he wanted to do?
They were getting ready to leave Alex’s small private airport. Chase Garrett, Lissa’s boss at Maximum Security, had gotten word of what had happened to Timmy and was sending the Garrett company jet to pick him up. Tim and Lissa would be flying home in style, but Colt wouldn’t be joining them.
His chest felt tight. The jet would be arriving at Laredo International Airport any minute. He was dropping them off then heading on to Denver. At the moment, Timmy was with Alex, getting a last-minute helo-flying lesson. The boy was recovering from his ordeal far better than Colt had expected. He was a strong kid. No matter what happened to his father, Tim was going to be all right.
It was time to for them to leave, but first he wanted to speak to Lissa, hadn’t had a moment alone with her since they had climbed aboard the helo.
He glanced away from the chopper, spotted her, and started walking. There were things he needed to say, things he had never said to a woman before. Lissa saw him coming and met him halfway across the tarmac, in the shade of a building out of the sun.
This was it. They wouldn’t be alone again once they left for the airport.
Lissa stood right in front of him, looked up at him with her beautiful dark brown eyes. “I came to say good-bye.”
He nodded. His throat felt tight. “Me too.”
“I wanted you to know that the time we spent together meant something to me. I’ll never forget you, Colt.”
He glanced away. He’d never forget her, either. He looked back at her, memorizing her face. “You were great out there. I’ve never worked with a better partner.”
She smiled but her bottom lip trembled. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I mean it. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
She looked down then back into his face. “Maybe our paths will cross again someday.”
His chest ached. Unless something changed, it would probably never happen. After today, he might never see her again. The thought sent
