FIRE (Elite Forces #2)(3)
“The two men who helped us tonight, but you f*cking know we made a lot of noise and we’re not out of here yet. Who’s to say the whole f*cking Mexican Cartel doesn't know our allies by now. That's why we get in and get the f*ck out. No questions.” Kase looks at me as he talks. It's as if he’s willing me to agree to leave Mexico and Kaleb behind. I shake my head. No way. I refuse. I will never leave him in this country. Not without me.
I feel the helicopter begin to slow just slightly. I knew the ride would be short, the drive over in the truck was as well. Why does that seem so long ago? I can feel panic begin to flow through my veins. My body is shaking, and I look at Harris while he yanks his helmet off and analyzes me. I see so much stress in his eyes as I watch them adjust to the fact I’m barely hanging on. He starts to speak to me calmly and with strength behind his voice.
“It's your call. I'm with you on this.” He moves to me roughly and wobbly as the chopper works to land. I look down and try to comprehend what my mind is saying versus what my heart is screaming. “Elliott. I need you to f*cking promise you won't do one damn thing without me. Don't get any f*cking crazy ideas to run and try to save the f*cking world by yourself. Do you hear me? I'm with you on this. Just say the motherf*cking word.” Harris touches my arm as he talks, and I try to comprehend what it is I want to do. I don’t know what we're supposed to do. All I do know is, I have to go get him.
Kase pushes in next to Harris and starts to push his point even harder. “I have access to the best equipment in the f*cking world. Not to mention insiders who can help. You two gringos will stick out like goddamn tourists, and not a person in this hell will give you information. We will go get him. I swear to you on my f*cking life. But I refuse to tell him when I find him that I let his woman do some stupid bullshit, and now I can't even find her. Let me do what I do best. Then I f*cking promise I’ll let you help me blow these motherf*ckers into an oblivion when I do locate him.” He has no clue how much I want to believe what he’s saying.
Is it wrong of me to want to go back there and try to save him now? I refuse to believe it is. I’ve let a man in. I’ve fallen in love and I can’t give up on him this easily, no matter what it costs me.
“What if it's too late? What if he's dead? What if he's being tortured while we sit here and talk about what we can and can’t do? Bullet, I'm a doer. I don't talk about shit, I do it. If you think I'm going back to the States so we can get around some goddamn table and map shit out, you're the f*cking crazy one. Get on your shit here and figure this out. Find us a f*cking hole to hide in and work from here. Because if you think I'll let you fly me thousands of miles away before I kill your ass, you’d better think again. I'm not leaving him. He'd never leave me.” I point my finger at him. My eyes never once ceasing the deadly, truthful glare I give him. He stands fully once we hit solid ground, taking in my words. Harris stays lowered in front of me, and I look to him for what, I have no idea. For strength? For approval? For f*cking guidance? I have no clue.
“I knew your ass had to be stubborn to land Fire.” Jackson leans forward to get my attention.
“You nailed that shit on the head.” Harris turns to add his input, and I ignore them all as I work to move from this confined space. I’m torn and deflated, but I'm so close to begging them all to go back with me.
“Alright, let's move.” Steele turns his head around from the cockpit and yells at the team. I snap my head in the direction of Ace and Vice yanking Al-Quaren up by his restraints and pushing him to the doors. His slow energy pisses them off, and they start to walk him faster once their feet are on the ground. I’d like to shove my gun in his face and demand for him to talk, but I know damn well I can’t. My hands are tied in every possible way.
Kase starts talking to the old man who's always helping while Harris never leaves my side.
“Elliott. What's the plan?”
“To find Kaleb,” I say and continue to walk to god knows where.
“How do you plan to go about this?” He stops our progress by grasping a hold of my arm once we’re barely inside the hangar. Harris spins me toward him, and I watch out of the corner of my eye as another pilot takes off in the helicopter, and the loud sound of the blades starts to move out of earshot as I think of my answer.
“Harris, I don't f*cking know,” I scream, trying to jerk myself free.
“We need these guys. Please tell me you see that.” His eyes plead for a reality check from me. His grip is firm and yet somehow reassuring.
“I know.” My thoughts are interrupted before I can continue. The airplane begins to move just as I see Kase and Jackson running toward us. The plane slowly rolls out of the hangar and into the night air. They stayed.
“Thank you,” I whisper once they reach us. My hands haven’t stopped shaking. Harris’ hold on me is long gone, and Jackson nods while Kase ignores me. My temper drops, and now I can actually say my mind is aware of the actuality we are going to find him, so I listen.
“Alright, we need to get the f*ck out of here. Ricardo here is going to move us southeast a ways. He has a small house we can hide in until we get our shit together.” Kase won’t look at me. You know what? I don’t care. He damn well knows I’m right or he would have never stayed behind with us. And finally, I have a name to the man who we already owe so much to.