The noise of the rotor blade whirling above us is louder than I expected.
“You sure you know how to fly this thing?” I shout to Nero.
He looks over his shoulder at me from the pilot’s seat. “Pretty sure.”
Dom, in the copilot position, tightens his seat belt. “How about we don’t tell the wives this part?”
Nero grins. “Pussy.”
Dom gives his seat belt another tug. “Get Payton pregnant and then see how reasonable she is.”
I glance over at Hans and Cassie.
He refused to set her down until they were inside the chopper, and only when he realized he couldn’t get her buckled in if she was on his lap. So he’s got her tucked into the corner of the rear bench seat, with her feet propped up on a duffel bag full of cash that’s been strapped to the floor. And he’s plastered to her side. Never taking his hands off her.
I get it.
Memories of my woman at the fingertips of a madman are still too fresh.
They’ll always be too fresh.
I take a deep inhale, the helicopter’s open side door letting in the dry Arizona air.
The rest of the money we found in Gabriel’s house left with Karmine—it’s for a good cause, and I wasn’t about to argue with the terrifying woman. But we all agreed we should use some of the found money to pay off Cain for all the weaponry. Especially since most of it is staying behind to be torched.
“Hold on to your butts,” Nero calls out, then we start to lift from the ground.
We were the last people out of the compound. As we rise, I’m able to see the final group of SUVs as they drive away.
The properties out here are massive, and people this rich—people like us—tend to mind their own business. But there was a lot of gunfire, and I can already see the flickering lights of emergency response vehicles in the distance.
Meaning it’s time to light this bitch up.
“Go time,” I call to Hans.
He slides away from Cassandra to open the door on the opposite side of the cabin, the one in front of me still open from before takeoff.
“You sure this is a good idea?” Dom shouts over the wind.
I grin and repeat Nero’s response from a moment ago. “Pretty sure.”
Dom shakes his head, saying something about fucking assholes as he shakes out a fireproof blanket and tucks it between his seat and Nero’s, creating a flimsy excuse for a wall.
Hans already has his blanket pulled up over himself and Cassie, so there’s no more delaying.
I don’t have a blanket. But I don’t need one. Backblast isn’t a problem for the operator. And with both doors open, it shouldn’t be a problem at all. We’re just playing it safe.
Safe.
My laugh gets lost in the wind as I pick up the item that first caught my eye in the back of Cain’s van.
With a big stupid grin, I hoist the rocket launcher onto my shoulder.
“Fire in the hole!” I shout. Then I pull the trigger.
A burst of flames shoots out behind me, getting sucked out the open door before anything inside the cabin can catch fire.
In my periphery, I see Dom rip his blanket down so he can watch through the open door.
We’re moving. And I’m not exactly professionally trained to handle rocket launchers. But it’s a big fucking target.
And when it hits, it hits.
The first explosion is immediate. And then the entire structure vibrates as smaller explosions are ignited.
When the gas lines blow, they set off the pile of grenades that Hans left in the kitchen, and I have to close my eyes against the brightness.
But it doesn’t stop my smile.
