Dangerous Pursuit (OSI Dark Ops #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“Nice aircraft.” Lucas took in the symmetrical flight deck of the sleek Gulfstream G700 as Mason went through his pre-flight checks. With its multiple touch-screen displays and state-of the-art instrumentation, it was a work of aviation art. “Max range is, what, seven, eight thousand nautical miles?”

“We’ve topped out at about seventy-five hundred, and she can long-range cruise at point eight five machs.” Mason reached up and swung down the heads-up display screen. “Speed like that reduces our response time dramatically.”

They’d first met, albeit briefly, when the team was in Colombia for an op. Their timeline had been tight, so there’d been no time for chitchat. That was also when he’d first encountered Calliope.

Lucas smiled at the memory.

Earlier, the team had gathered at the airport in Santa Marta and loaded their gear into the small cargo area of the jet for the flight back to the States. The plan was to drop Lucas off at a small airstrip not far from where Calliope’s dad and granddad lived, then they would continue on to Virginia.

Her dad’s surgery was yesterday, and according to Cole, everything went well. Lucas was disappointed she hadn’t called him, but he chalked it up to the huge misunderstanding between them.

He got it—she was protecting her heart. Hell, he knew what that was like. He’d spent the last three years doing the same damn thing.

Her dad was home from the hospital now, and Lucas wanted to be there with her. He was determined to clear up a few things between them. Specifically, that he loved her and wanted to explore a future with her .

Mason activated his headset. “Okay, folks, buckle up. We’re about to take off.”

He tapped one of the displays, wrapped his fingers over the throttle, pressed it forward, and began taxiing down the runway.

Once they were safely in the air and had reached cruising altitude, he let everyone know they could remove their safety belts and set the autopilot.

“So, where’d you learn to fly?” Lucas loosened his safety harness but kept it on.

They talked about their different aviation backgrounds.

Mason learned to fly from an old Vietnam vet who owned a small airstrip, then he’d gone on to fly a Black Hawk for the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team. While with the Night Stalkers, Lucas had flown the same helo, but his had been outfitted with advanced systems and weaponry.

“How did you and Emily meet?” Lucas had heard about his cousin getting engaged but had been dealing with his own shit. In other words, he’d been locked into his selfish asshole phase and didn’t bother to ask questions.

Emily was Beck, Jonathan, Caleb, Mathias, and Killian’s baby sister. She was the youngest of the six kids and the only girl. She was the deployment specialist for OSI and worked at the Pacific Northwest facility.

“I became friends with Caleb during our time with the HRT. One time, in between assignments, he invited me to one of his parents’ amazing barbecues.” He loosened his own harness. “That girl was standing on the other side of the yard, and when I saw her it was like, BAM , something hit me dead center in my chest.” He flattened his hand on his chest. “I figured she was off-limits because of my friendship with Caleb and because she was the ‘baby sister.’ I was also pretty dang sure I wasn’t good enough for her. So, I did my best to avoid her.” He smirked. “Until I couldn’t any longer.”

Mason told him about the psycho who killed two women connected to Emily and then kidnapped her best friend, Christina.

“Wait, are you talking about the Christina who works for OSI?” Lucas knew nothing about it because of the way he’d cut himself off from anything that wasn’t related to destroying Triano. “ That Christina?”

“Yep.” Mason’s hand fisted in his lap. “Son of a bitch took her to lure Emily to him. Fortunately, my beautiful fiancée is brilliant and didn’t fall for it. Sammy figured out where he was keeping Christina, and we went after them.” He shook his head. “Poor Christina, he’d drugged her and chained her up in the basement. She was in pretty bad shape, but she’s a fighter and one hell of a survivor. She’s also Cole’s sister.”

“Holy shit. Seriously?” Lucas had missed so much.

“Yep.” He leaned his elbow on the armrest. “After all that mess, I decided I was done avoiding the inevitable and told all of her brothers how I felt about Emily.”

“How did they take it?” Lucas was very aware of how protective the O’Halleran men were. Hell, the O’Halleran women didn’t mess around either.

“Actually, they weren’t surprised at all and were cool with it.” He added, “I was glad, but nothing was going to stop me from being with her.”

That was exactly how Lucas felt about Calliope. He had to make her see that they belonged together.

“So, you finally going to take Beck and Jonathan up on their offer?” Mason checked the screen, then looked over at him. “We could really use another pilot to support Dark Ops. ”

“I’ve got some things to take care of in Palomino, but, yeah, that’s the plan.” He’d already spoken to a buddy of his who was interested in purchasing the airfield and the business.

Lucas had loved Norah, and their life together had been unbelievably rich and full. He would always cherish the happy memories they created, but she was gone.

It was time for him to move forward—with Calliope.

“That’s great, man.” Mason reached out his hand. “Welcome.”

“Thanks.” Lucas shook his hand. “I’m selling two of my three helicopters and keeping the Airbus H160.”

Mason whistled low between his teeth. “That’s a hell of a bird.”

“Yeah, it’ll definitely come in handy.” The fast, efficient aircraft was his favorite, and he’d busted his ass to acquire it. No way was he leaving it behind. It could hold up to twelve passengers and easily be retrofitted to suit OSI’s operational needs. “A few mods and it’ll be mission-ready in no time.”

The two other helicopters he used for his business were part of the deal he’d made for the airfield. His buddy had also been a Night Stalker, so they would be in good hands.

Lucas understood it was a risk to upend his life and commit to working for OSI before solidifying things with Calliope. But it was a risk worth taking .

There was a light tap on the cockpit door before it swung open.

“Hey.” Jonathan had his hand on the doorknob. “I just got an update on Triano.”

“Did they find him?” Lucas asked.

“No, there’s been no sign of him,” he said. “They found his boat abandoned in some thick mangroves close to the marina. There was a nickel-plated Colt revolver with a cracked pearl handle wedged beneath one of the seats.”

“That’s what Triano was using.” Lucas would never shake the memory of it pointed directly at Calliope.

“The buyers are in custody, as are their lawyers. Triano’s daughter is also being held.” Jonathan rubbed his hand down the side of his beard. “The jail said he hasn’t tried contacting her either.”

“What was her involvement in all of this?” Lucas asked.

“According to Sammy’s research, less than three months ago, Paloma Triano was a college student pulling down average grades in the US. Ever since her mother died, she rarely ever came back to Colombia.” Jonathan leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb and crossed his arms. “She told investigators she’d never done anything with her dad’s business.”

“Except reap the financial benefits of his murderous criminal enterprise for years,” Lucas muttered.

“Except that,” Jonathan agreed. “She claims all she did was serve drinks, pass out hors d’oeuvres, and make small talk ‘with a bunch of boring old guys.’ Her words, not mine.”

“Knowing Triano as I do, I’m guessing he forced her to pick a side,” Lucas said. Why else would she leave the cushy life of a college co-ed?

“Unfortunately for her, she picked a really bad time to join the family business,” Jonathan said.

“Especially considering the new police commissioner in that district is a real hardliner who’s vowed to clean up the criminal element.” Lucas hadn’t seen much proof of that yet. “I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he makes a public example of her by putting her away for a long time.”

As the saying goes, “If you lie down with dogs, you get fleas.”

“Lucas, the medical examiner said Marroquin was killed by a bullet to the chest.” Jonathan straightened. “Good shootin’.”

“Thanks.” Too bad it hadn’t been Triano instead.

“Good riddance.” Mason shifted to face front and swiped his finger across one of the displays. “The piece of shit got what he deserved.”

“You’ll get no argument from me on that.” Lucas glanced over at the display and tightened his harness.

“We’ll be landing soon.” Mason tightened his restraints, too. “Want to let the others know?”

“You bet.” Jonathan pushed off the doorjamb and pulled the door quietly shut .

“You know what you’re going to say?” Mason touched a few icons on the screen and gave him a quick glance. “To Calliope, I mean.”

“I’m going to tell her the truth,” Lucas said.

Triano grabbed his large suitcase, hurried across the broiling tarmac, and ran up the steps to the small plane he’d hired.

“I’ll stow that for you, sir.” The pilot reached for Triano’s suitcase.

He pulled it away. “I would prefer to keep it on board with me.”

Everything he had to his name was contained in that one case.

Fake passports, New Taiwan Dollars—the official currency of Taiwan—and the access information to his hidden offshore trust accounts. He’s also retrieved a semiautomatic pistol and box of bullets from a locker that Marroquin, the imbecile, kept at the bus station. He’d packed a minimal amount of clothing, knowing he could get more once he reached his final destination.

Taiwan was one of the most prolific countries when it came human trafficking. Triano planned to lie low there for a while, then find a partner locally to build his business back up again.

“I’m sorry, sir, but regulations require we stow it below,” the pilot said. “I assure you, it will be very secure.”

Triano handed over the large case, and his gut clenched as he watched the pilot step off the plane. He hurried over to the doorway and leaned out enough to watch the bag being stowed and the hatch being closed and secured. Only then was he comfortable enough to head back to the bar. He perused his options and settled on two fingers of tequila, then slid back the cuff of his dress shirt to check his watch.

He had to put as much space between himself and Colombia as soon as possible.

But first, he had one stop to make.

There were individuals to be punished and loose ends to be tied up before he would truly be free.