Gillian closed her eyes and rested her forehead on her knees. She hurt. All over. She was exhausted and terrified. And she was apparently vain enough to want Walker to like her…when they were in a middle of a freaking hostage situation. She was certifiably insane. “Nothing.”
“You want to know what I saw when I climbed that ladder?” Walker asked softly.
Gillian shook her head, but said, “Maybe.”
He chuckled softly—then blew her mind. “I saw a woman who was at the end of her rope, but who was still holding on. Not only that, but I saw a leader. Someone who everyone on that plane probably looks up to. Someone who might be scared, but was doing her best to power through it for the good of the rest of the team. I saw a woman who I admired, and who I vowed right then and there wouldn’t become a statistic or a quick blurb on a news story.” And then, after a beat, “I saw a woman I wanted to get to know better.”
His words felt good. Damn good. Taking a deep breath, she asked, “You want to know what I saw when I looked at you?”
“Sure, Di, tell me.”
“Hope.”
They were both silent for a moment. “I like that way more than I should. Hang on just a little longer, Gillian. Stay alert, and be as calm as you can. All right?”
“Yeah.” Something occurred to her then. Something she should’ve thought about before. “Walker? You said you’re recording when I call you?”
“Yes.”
“What if I give them the phone back and pretend to hang up, but don’t?”
“No.”
“But—”
“No. If they realize what you did, they’ll hurt you.”
“They’re going to hurt me anyway. They’ve already hurt me. So far they’ve just been toying with me, but I know the second they have the chance, Luis or one of the others will take great pleasure in making me suffer. But if you can hear their conversations, then you might be able to catch them if they fly away.”
“You’re more important.”
Gillian knew she’d replay those three words over and over in her head for the rest of her life…however short it might turn out to be.
She’d had her share of boyfriends, but for the most part, she’d never felt as if they’d put her first. She’d dated a musician who’d moved to LA to pursue his career. She would’ve gone with him…if he’d asked. He didn’t. Then there was the accountant who she hadn’t seen for three months around tax time. Also, the guy who loved sports so much he never asked her over when his favorite team was playing because she would distract him.
Walker didn’t even know her, and he was putting her above capturing six ruthless terrorist hijackers.
“I’m doing it,” she told him. “I hope to be able to officially meet you soon, Walker Nelson. Be careful.” Then, without waiting for his response—because she had a feeling he’d be able to talk her out of it—she clicked out of the phone app and turned off the screen. As it faded to black, she prayed her plan would actually work and the assholes who were keeping them hostage would actually say something incriminating, and that Walker and his friends would hear them.
She held the phone face up and waited for Henry to realize that he’d left her alone with his cell. Surprisingly, it took another few minutes. When he did, he raced back up the aisle and snatched his phone from her hand. He shoved it in his back pocket and smacked her across the face. “What’d you tell him?” he barked.
“Nothing!” Gillian protested. “I hung up when you left.”
“You’d better not be lying,” he hissed as he stood over her threateningly.
“I’m not! I swear!”
Kicking her once more, Henry then turned and left. Gillian caught Andrea’s eye and tried to smile reassuringly. She wanted to tell her and the others that help was coming. That hopefully this would all be a bad memory soon, but she didn’t dare.
She hoped Walker was being honest with her, and that the hijackers’ friend would be released. Maybe then they could all get out of here with their lives.
Chapter Four
Trigger stood on the edge of the tarmac. Every muscle in his body was tense. He’d heard Gillian get smacked around and hated hearing the fear in her voice. But he couldn’t deny what she’d done would be helpful. Maybe not right now, but later, once this was over, the officials could listen to the hijackers talking and learn what their plan had been. From what he could tell, the hijacker who’d taken the phone hadn’t realized it was still on, and he prayed the recordings would be audible.
For now, however, they had a plane to storm and hostages to rescue. That was their main objective. Why they were there in the first place.
And they were out of time. It was oh-four-hundred and the deadline the hijackers had given was quickly approaching. Hugo Lamas had been freed, but the second the vehicle had left the prison grounds, it had been hit with a rocket-propelled grenade. Hugo, and everyone else in the vehicle, had been blown to bits.
No one knew who was behind the hit. Was it the Cartel of the Suns taking care of one of their own so he wouldn’t talk? Was it someone in the military or government who didn’t want him released? A rival drug gang? No one had any answers, and that made Trigger and his team antsy. Whoever was behind the assassination either had inside information about his release or had been watching and waiting. Either way, if Luis and the other hijackers got wind of the fact their friend had been killed, who knew what they might do in retaliation.
There was no more time to stall. The men on the plane were expecting their friend to appear, and when he didn’t, they were going to start killing innocent civilians. It was the Deltas’ job to prevent that.
“Everyone know their roles?” Trigger asked through their hands-free radios strapped around their necks. When they spoke, it triggered the connection to open.
“Ten-four.”
“Yes.”
“Gotcha.”
The answers were immediate and confident. Trigger’s adrenaline was coursing through his veins. They were ready to storm the plane. He and Lefty would go in from the same door the food was delivered through. Grover, Brain, and Oz would breech through the back hatch, Doc would take out the emergency exit door on one side at the wings and Lucky would take the other side. They were hoping the simultaneous breech would cause mass confusion with the hijackers and they’d be able to take enough of them out before they could retaliate by shooting the hostages.
It was risky as hell, but with no other good way onto the plane, it was the best plan of action, and something they’d practiced in training over and over. They were ready. Trigger just hoped Gillian and the others were.
“The refueling truck is about ready to go,” Doc said. “Everyone stand by. We’ll use it as cover and once we’re at the plane, we’ll spread out. One, two— Fuck! What the hell?”
Trigger looked toward where the refueling truck sat idling—and saw a twin-engine Beechcraft Queen Air come racing around the corner of the terminal. The propellers were running, and it was clear it wasn’t simply a clueless pilot oblivious to the situation. It could hold up to twelve people—and it was headed straight for the hijacked plane with no signs of slowing.