Eli swung hard to the left and the SUV leaped forward, the tires gaining traction on an asphalt road. Brent scanned ahead. Nothing, not even the taillights of the vehicle carrying Rowan away from him. “Lead time?”
“Too much,” Jon said, his voice grim.
Eli glanced in the rearview mirror. “Brent, we have company. A pickup truck is coming up on our six, moving in fast.”
Brent turned, bit back a groan as his ribs protested the movement. Two headlights shone through the back window. Full-sized truck. Movement on the left side caught his attention. One of Phillips’ cronies leaned out the window, weapon in hand. “Jon, do you have your sniper rifle?”
“Black case in the hatchback.”
He grabbed the case. “Jake, open the hatch.”
The medic pressed the button to raise the hatchback, then drew his own weapon.
“Keep them busy.” While Jake fired shots to discourage the militia man from firing into their SUV, Brent readied Jon’s sniper rifle, adjusting the scope for his own preferences. “Eli, hold it steady.”
He focused on his target through the scope, drew in a breath, partially let it out, held, then gently pulled the trigger. The windshield of the truck following them shattered and the driver slumped to the side. Despite the passenger’s efforts to wrest control of the steering wheel, the vehicle swerved off the road and slammed into a guardrail, throwing the would-be shooter across the hood. He skidded across the asphalt and lay still.
“Good shot,” Eli said as he maneuvered the SUV through a hairpin curve. “Haven’t lost your touch, boss.”
“Can’t let Jon or our other snipers show me up on a mission.” He returned the rifle to Jon’s case and the cargo area.
“Here.” Jake handed him three caplets. “Over-the-counter pain meds. No whining. Just take them.”
Brent frowned. “I don’t need them.”
“You will when the adrenaline wears off. If you take the meds, pain won’t be as much of an issue in your reaction time and that’s better for Rowan and Alexa.”
Couldn’t argue with that. With a grimace, he swallowed the meds dry.
“Take the next left, Eli,” Jon said. “The airfield is three miles ahead on the right.” He shifted the screen on his computer to full satellite image.
Brent scoured the image. Activity escalated on the ground. As he watched, an SUV raced across the airfield and headed for the plane waiting on the strip. “Floor it, Eli.”
As soon as the SEAL navigated the left turn, he pressed the accelerator to the floor. Trees passed in a blur of motion.
The SUV on the strip slowed to a stop. The driver exited the vehicle as well as a passenger in the back, both male. The driver hurried to the plane while the other motioned with his weapon for someone else in the vehicle to get out.
Brent’s breath caught. Rowan. He leaned forward as Jon magnified the image. She was carrying a child. “Has to be Alexa,” he murmured, noting the way Rowan kept her body between the child and the captor.
Rowan and her niece looked unharmed, but how long would that last? Phillips had to know by now his compound was under attack.
The kidnapper prodded Rowan in the back with his weapon. She walked faster to the plane. The picture on the screen became grainy. Brent growled.
“Satellite’s moving out of position,” Jon murmured. A moment later, he switched the screen to the tracking signal.
“Three minutes, Brent,” Eli said.
Not fast enough. Three minutes was an eternity when the plane crew was ready to roll as soon as the passengers were on board. Rowan and Alexa were only a minute or so from the plane.
Lights glowed in the distance. The seconds dragged until the airfield came into view. Eli skidded onto the airstrip and raced toward the plane. Too far.
Brent’s heart dropped as the plane moved faster and faster down the runway and lifted into the air.
He grabbed his cell phone and contacted Zane as Eli slowed to a stop. “Phillips just took off in his plane with Rowan and Alexa. Track the signal.”
“I won’t lose her, Brent.”
“We’re returning to Phillips’ compound to talk to his henchmen. One of them knows where their leader is headed.”
“I’ll pass the word to the unit leader that you’re en route. Further orders, boss?”
“Send one of the jets to Knoxville to pick up Durango. I want someone at Coffee House to relieve Walker. Send Walker to the airfield. Tell him to pack heavy. Make sure the jet is loaded and ready to roll as soon as we arrive.”
“Yes, sir.”
Brent ended the call. “Let’s go, Eli. I want to talk to Phillips’ associates.” The less time he was separated from Rowan, the better her chances for survival.
He glanced out the window as Eli headed back the way they’d come. Hang on, baby. I swear I will find you no matter where Phillips takes you and Alexa. Just hold on for me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The whine of the engines ramping up filtered into the plane’s cabin. Rowan stroked Alexa’s dark hair, her touch light. They were pressed against the seat by the quick acceleration and liftoff.
The girl shivered in her arms. “We’ll be fine,” she whispered into Alexa’s ear. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Lex.”
“I’m scared, Aunt Ro.”
“I know, sweetheart. Me, too.”
“I want to go home.”
Rowan’s heart squeezed. “Soon.” If they were rescued. No. When they were rescued by Brent and his operatives, home still wouldn’t be the same for Alexa. Her mother and father were dead, killed by the man who was flying them to an unknown location.
Her gaze skimmed over the watch again. Would the tracker still work in an airplane? She prayed Brent’s safety measure worked and a rescue operation was underway because she didn’t know how much patience Keith Phillips had. When the plane landed, would his forbearance come to an end?
Once the plane leveled, Phillips stood. “There’s a bedroom
