“Maybe once or twice a year, but that’d get boring fast.”
Hawk chuckled. “Speaking of fast, we’re going to have to make this switch quickly for you to have a chance. We’re coming up on the beach.”
A few hundred meters ahead, Hawk watched the helicopter touch down on the sand, swirling it around. His headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the scene. The mystery woman handed a suitcase to one of the guards and hustled toward the chopper. They pulled her aboard as the military-style aircraft didn’t have doors.
Hawk got as close as he could and slammed on the brakes. “It’s all you now,” he said. “Drive like hell. Good luck.”
“You, too,” Alex said.
Hawk bolted out of the car and sprinted toward the helicopter. As he neared the aircraft, he shielded his eyes from the sand whipping through the air. The helicopter’s engine whined as the rotor speed increased, signaling the pilot was preparing to take off.
Hawk put his head down and kept moving. Just as he got within a few meters, the helicopter lifted off the ground. Hawk took a couple more steps before leaping and grabbing hold of one of the skids. Locking his arms around it, he swung back and forth, and the chopper pitched and yawed as it gained elevation.
He looked below and saw Alex speeding away with two police cars following her.
What have we gotten ourselves into?
CHAPTER 27
Miami, Florida
SENATOR THURMAN PACED around the luxury condominium atop the Four Seasons Hotel he had rented for the week. With constituents to visit in Florida, he couldn’t resist booking a few days at the building that towered over Miami. He also thought it would be a great location to base his operations out of once the missile struck Hard Rock Stadium. It’d be his opportunity to be on the ground, posing for photos while helping with the recovery effort.
With the rally being televised live on several local channels, Thurman tuned in to watch the event unfold. But he was disappointed when nothing of consequence happened. No missiles. No explosions. No mass panic in the streets as people ran for their lives. Just President Young waving to people as he strolled off the stage.
Thurman picked up his burner phone and dialed a number belonging to his contact in Cuba, Evana Bahar.
“What the hell just happened down there? I thought all systems were go.”
“Apparently your assassin didn’t do his job,” Bahar said. “I can’t be expected to thwart off one of the most deadly assassins in the world while trying to launch missiles into the middle of a political rally. Do you know how stressful that is?”
“Do you know what lengths I went to in order to make sure that the missile strike was a success?”
“Obviously, you didn’t go far enough.”
“Where are you now?”
“I’m on a helicopter, and Brady Hawk is trying to get on board.”
“You’ll never have a better chance to kill him than right now. I recommend you shoot him immediately.”
“I would if I could, but our pilot is trying to shake him loose.”
Thurman seethed as he paced around the apartment during the call. “If he climbs aboard, he’ll kill you all.”
Bahar chuckled. “Just be honest and tell me you don’t care about us. You only care about your precious Silencer 2K. You realize this device is what’s going to get you killed, don’t you? They’re going to be able to track everything back to you if you have it. Trust me—you don’t really want this thing.”
“At this point, I don’t care what you do with it. Just make sure Brady Hawk is dead.”
“Will you pay us in full if we do?”
“I’ll pay you double if I get evidence of his dead body.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Great,” Thurman said. “I’ll look forward to your call.”
He hung up and then slid his phone across the table. Collapsing into the couch, Thurman rolled up his sleeves before exhaling a long breath in frustration.
All he could do now was wait for Bahar’s call.
* * *
ELANA BAHAR TIGHTENED her harness and checked her gun to make sure it was loaded. Flying above the Bay of Cárdenas, the helicopter swayed back and forth in an attempt to shake Hawk. Bahar decided she’d had enough, recognizing that such perpetual motion increased the difficulty of delivering a kill shot on Hawk, even if she was only a few meters away.
“Keep it steady,” Bahar said into her headset’s mic.
“We can’t let him get aboard.”
“And I’m not going to let him, but I need you to keep it steady so I can get him off the skids.”
“I can’t do that,” he said, continuing to fling Hawk around with a constant dose of pitching and yawing.
“If you don’t, the first bullet from my gun will be for you. Now increase the altitude and steady the chopper.”
The pilot ignored her commands.
Bahar fired a shot into the cockpit, putting a hole in the front glass between the pilot and co-pilot. Both men slowly turned and glared at her.
“You were lucky that time,” she said. “The next two shots I take will be into the back of your necks—and I’ll take over. Have I made myself clear?”
“Understood,” the pilot said. However, he failed to comply.
Despite her ability to fly a helicopter, she resisted the urge to shoot, recognizing that it would be nearly impossible to both pilot and fend off Hawk. She decided to take a different tact and appeal to their greed.
“Our client has agreed to double our fee if we can confirm the death of this man. Whatever you’re doing isn’t working as he’s still clinging to the skids. Now take this chopper up before I take you out.”
The pilot finally pulled back on the stick. The helicopter began to ascend, evening its keel as it rose.
She sighed, thankful that she didn’t have to apply more pressure.
At least I know these two men are only in this for the money.
Bahar checked her harness one final time. Satisfied that she was ready to
