Hawk inched along the skid to get a better view of the three remaining passengers. Evana Bahar appeared upset, yelling at the pilots. A few seconds later, she fired a shot at the windshield.
This woman is insane.
He eased back along the skid, out of her line of sight.
A few moments later, he listened as she started calling out for the passenger Hawk had flung into the water.
“Amir, what can you see on your side?” Bahar asked.
No answer.
“Amir?” she asked.
At eye level with the floor, Hawk watched as Bahar craned her neck in search of Amir.
“Turn around,” Bahar said to the pilot.
“What for? We need to get out of here.”
“Turn around now,” Bahar said. “Amir must have fallen out of the helicopter while you were trying to get rid of the American.”
“We need to get out of here as soon as possible. The senator chartered a plane for us in the Florida Keys that will leave us if we aren’t there on time.”
“I’m not going back without Amir. We at least owe it to him to search the water.”
The pilot banked hard to the right, turning around and heading back toward the Bay of Cárdenas. He descended until he was only about twenty meters above the water.
Hawk shimmied along the skid and scanned the cargo section of the chopper. Fastened to the back wall with a net were several large boxes. However, the carrying case for the Silencer 2K was easily identifiable with the Colton Industries logo emblazoned on the side.
The helicopter was getting close enough to the bay that the blades were whipping the salt water up into the air. With the mist hampering Hawk’s grip and vision, he realized he didn’t have much of a choice but to get onboard and attempt to seize control of the aircraft. He hoisted himself up and scrambled inside, surprising Bahar.
Her eyes widened as soon as she recognized Hawk. A shrill scream startled the pilots, who both turned around to see what was happening. Bahar fumbled for her gun, but Hawk was one step ahead of her. He lunged toward her, swatting the weapon out of her hands. Steadying herself by grabbing onto a handle near the doorway, she kicked Hawk in the chest. He staggered back against the far wall.
As Hawk got up, he reached inside the net and snatched the case handle for the Silencer 2K.
“No,” Bahar said, scrambling around the seat to get to him.
Hawk swung the case toward her. She leaned back to avoid suffering a blow before going on the offensive. Rushing toward Hawk, she dove low in an effort to knock him off balance. But Hawk was ready for her, darting out of her path and allowing her to careen into the cargo hold.
Wasting no time, Hawk flung the case into the water.
“You bastard,” Bahar screamed. “You’re going to die now.”
The helicopter began to pitch and yaw, sending Hawk in search of something to maintain his balance. He grabbed onto the back of the co-pilot’s seat in an effort to keep from falling out of the aircraft.
Out of the corner of Hawk’s eye, he noticed the pilot brandishing a gun. Hawk glanced outside and saw they were still close to the water, near enough for him to survive a leap. Once he figured it was safe enough, he didn’t hesitate and dove out of the chopper.
He hit the water hard but maintained his consciousness. After regaining his bearings, he started treading water. He looked up to see the helicopter circling around him. Lit by the chopper’s external lights, Bahar was kneeling down, clutching a bar near the doorway as she stared at him. He half expected her to shoot, but she didn’t, instead gesturing and saying something before the helicopter peeled off and turned north.
Hawk took a deep breath and began his long swim to shore.
CHAPTER 30
HAWK STAGGERED OUT of the water and then collapsed onto the beach. Every muscle in his body was aching from the swim that he estimated to be at least two miles. His workout regimen often included swimming, but never two miles. He was certain he could feel muscles he never even knew existed.
The water rushed over him in both directions as high tide had come and gone. The pale moon overhead provided just enough light for Hawk to tell where he was—and that he was alone. He wanted to get up, but he couldn’t convince his body to comply. Exhausted, he decided to close his eyes for just a moment so he could regain his strength.
He didn’t know how long he’d been out when he felt a solid object hit him hard in the back. Hawk spun around to look up and see who had caught him, hoping he wasn’t about to see Evana Bahar’s face.
“So, the legends aren’t true—Brady Hawk is human after all,” a woman said.
Hawk blinked several times, his eyes attempting to adjust to the dim light. But he recognized the voice first.
“Alex,” he said. “Can you help me to my feet?”
“Sure, cowboy. If you wanted to take a nap on the beach this badly, you didn’t have to jump out of a helicopter to do it.”
“Did you see what happened?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I watched the helicopter fluttering over the bay like something was wrong. And then I saw you hanging from the skids like a moron. But then I had my own problems.”
“I guess they aren’t your problems any more since I don’t see any flashing lights in the distance.”
“Yeah, they’re gone for now, but for how long is the question I don’t want to know the answer to. Let’s get the hell outta here.”
“Roger that,” Hawk said.
Alex opened the door for him and helped him inside. She eased into the driver’s side seat and turned the key, igniting the engine.
