Malinov helped Antonia to her feet and made sure he did it in a way that she stood up into the enclosure of his arms. He didn’t want her to see the bloody remnants of Laraib and Kareef or anyone else. Gabriel had barely known Kareef but the man’s courage had been immense and it made him despair to see the young man sacrifice his life to save others.
Antonia whispered Laraib’s name and tried to look over Malinov’s shoulder but he had already anticipated her move. He caught hold of the back of her head and directed it down towards his chest. She was shaking. He tightened his arm around her back to make her feel safe and kissed the top of her damp hair.
“Shhh. I don’t want you to see. There is nothing you could have done.”
Antonia clung to him, sobbing.
“I let everyone down. It’s my fault they are dead.”
“No. That isn’t true. I need to get you out of here.”
One of police officers who had originally escorted them into the airport was making his way towards them over the debris and through the crowd of walking wounded. He motioned for them to follow him.
Malinov slipped his arm around Antonia’s waist to turn her around and guide her forward.
“Let’s get out of here. There is nothing more we can do. I need you on that plane. I just hope the Italian police force will allow it to take off.”
They were joined by two armed officers and led through the airport weaving between the frightened, weeping, injured people and emergency crews until they emerged outside on the tarmac. Malinov’s neatly groomed dark hair was so wet now it was falling in front of his face blocking his view. He ran his hand through it and flattened it back on his head before taking out his Glock again. There was every chance of an attack outside.
The armed guards walked backwards aiming their guns in case of assault as they made their way towards the UGD Defence G6 jet with its engines already powered up. The jet was being protected by the United Global Defence military branch. The soldiers were all from different nations around the world joined together to combat the threat of international crime and terrorist organizations, set up after the Paris terror attacks in November 2015.
It could deploy military troops and agents to take over any member country’s investigation into terrorism and organized crime. Made up of military personnel and spies it was an effective counter terrorism unit that could be utilised by any country.
Malinov was surprised they hadn’t been attacked yet but he wasn’t to be disappointed. Two gunmen who had been posing as airport ground crew staff opened fired on them with Kalashnikov’s. The police shot back and were assisted by the team around the luxury jet. Three more men appeared. Gabriel placed Antonia behind him and encouraged her to run as fast as she was able towards the plane. One of the guards ran towards her and took her arm allowing Gabriel to shoot at the men when another two appeared. The guard led Antonia to the steps and covered her as she ran up them. Malinov followed close behind and left the erupting gun battle.
The moment they were in the jet, an agent shut the door and the jet started to move away. Gabriel sat a trembling pale-faced Antonia down in one of the cream leather chairs and fastened her seatbelt. He sat down next to her. Bastien Berger sat down across from them behind a table after he had secured the door and directed the stewardess to sit down.
The older man looked nervous as he fastened his seatbelt. They could still hear sporadic gunfire as the jet began to taxi.
“Thank God, the pilots have combat experience,” he said in his thick Parisian accent. “Once we are airborne I will feel safe enough to let you know what Paris has found out and our next step in the hunt for the rest of the bombers and Aalam El Hashem.”
Gabriel turned his swivel chair to face Antonia who was sitting next to the window. She was ashen faced and lost in her thoughts, obviously replaying the scene with Laraib over and over in her mind. No doubt she was trying to work out what she could have done differently. There was nothing she could have done. He had been determined in the end and did not want to listen to her pleas. As soon as they were alone Gabriel was determined to make her understand.
“Antonia,” he said her name softly but she couldn’t seem to hear him.
The journalist kept tapping her index finger on the arm of the seat. Gabriel reached over and closed his hand over hers to still her agitation. He held her hand and squeezed it ignoring Bastien’s surprised look. It prompted a reaction. Her eyes blinked back the water brimming in them. She looked at him expectantly.
“You look lost.”
“I don’t like flying,” she said suddenly, clearly attempting to deflect him talking about what had just occurred in the airport.
“But you fly all the time for your job,” he said with surprise playing the game in an effort to relax her.
“Only when I have to. I hate flying. It was a good job I was unconscious when you brought me here to Venice.”
Bastien grimaced.
“Me too. And this should prove an interesting take-off amidst all this chaos. There is a fear IS may have got their hands on some high-tech rocket launchers. We have been cleared for take-off but at our own risk.”
Gabriel and Antonia exchanged a look as the jet started to race down the runway.
“They have. They used them on us at the island,” Gabriel said.
Antonia’s eyes widened.
“We
