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Zurich, Switzerland
Monday, 25 January, 9:26 p.m.
––––––––
Aidan tossed me a Kevlar vest and holstered a SIG on either side of his thighs. I fastened the Kevlar and pulled a long-sleeved shirt over it, while Aidan assembled two HK416 A5 assault rifles. Seconds later he handed me one, and we both covered it with our long coats as we headed out of the hotel. Neither of us said a word until we got into the black Mercedes-Benz GLS, which had been waiting for us at Dübendorf Air Base.
I tossed our coats on the back seat and positioned both rifles between my legs. "Are they still in place?" I asked.
Aidan nodded. "I should've left you at the hotel." The engine roared, as did my hormones. As much as it infuriates me when he dons his protector cap, I love it.
"Commander Walker, may I remind you I've already saved your life once today. Let's try not to make it twice in the same day. I don't care what you say or what orders you give, there's nothing I won't do to keep you safe."
"Keeping you safe would've meant leaving you at the hotel. Ainsley needs one of us to return to her."
I let out a heavy sigh. "Ainsley needs both her parents. Us, hunting together, is the best way to ensure that. You and I both know, as much as your brothers love you, hell will not stand in my way if someone hurts my family. And, you know better than to not let me in on the action."
"If you didn't keep up your training with Eli, I would've. Are you ready?"
"Yes." I placed an earpiece in my right ear, and in Aidan's as he kept his focus on the road.
Rowan's voice filled my head. "They're leaving. Will pursue."
"We're two minutes out." Aidan dabbed at the onboard navigation system, and I realised this wasn't the version the vehicle had come out with. Four coloured dots appeared on the screen. "Rowan's blue, Liam's green, I'm red, and you're black."
"Well thank you for remembering my favourite colour. Don't start with it not being a true colour. I see it, I like it, I buy it, I wear it."
Aidan laughed. "I know, Mrs Walker."
"Silver Porsche Cayenne. The bigger of the two is driving. Janos didn't mention Ink-boy isn't small himself. Biggie is armed."
Ink-boy? I pursed my lips; my stomach did the laughing. "Biggie being the supposed bodyguard?"
"Yes. If this turns into a hand-to-hand combat situation, Finley, you better leave Biggie to me. Aidan, order her to stay away from him."
"If Fin gets the shot, she's going to take it." Aidan placed his hand on my thigh. "No going after him down a dark alley by yourself. Direct order. You better not defy me this time."
"Yes sir." Half of me meant it, the other too excited to be this close to the persons responsible for the deaths of twenty-five people.
"License plate comes back as a rental," Liam said. "Eli is running the credit card details now."
Aidan patted my thigh. "Climb on my lap."
In my ear Rowan and Liam both cleared their throats.
As I moved onto Aidan's lap, I glanced down at the speedometer. We were doing 80km/h in a 50km/h zone. If that wasn't reason enough to shoot something, then what is? "Why are you driving so slow, Grandpa?"
Aidan moved out from under me and settled in the passenger seat. We fastened our seatbelts at the same time. "We're already attracting attention. I can't afford an international incident on my watch. We have no jurisdiction, or protection here. You drive. I shoot." Aidan squeezed my thigh. "Urban area. Civilians. And you haven't been in a situation like this in years. When we get home we can run simulations, but right now, it is what it is."
"I get it." I did but didn't like it.
Aidan removed his phone. The light of the screen illuminated his face. "Ainsley is playing on the beach with Mom and Dad."
"We will both return to our daughter. That's a direct order from your wife."
"Yes, ma'am." Aidan pressed his lips to my neck.
On the screen, the dots merged. To my left, a black GLS, my brothers inside. I eased my foot off the accelerator. Adrenaline splashed inside me; goose bumps rippled over my skin. My palms itched. Two cars up ahead – the silver Porsche Cayenne. "What do you need me to do?"
"Stay alive. Rowan will run them off the road." Aidan lowered his window.
I pointed up. "Sunroof."
"Civilians. Not about to blow our cover." Aidan lifted the rifle. "Rowan, just like Baghdad. Finley, speed up."
"Where are they heading?" I asked.
"My guess? Zurich Airport. They killed. He got his ink. No point in sticking around," Rowan said.
"We take them out on the A51, it leads to the airport. Less traffic this time of night; minimal risk of civilian casualties." The authority in Aidan's voice made me even more excited.
"I don't need them alive," I told Aidan.
"Civilians. We can't take unnecessary risks."
As soon as we reached the A51, I pressed my foot down on the accelerator. My heartbeat violent, my breathing no longer controlled.
Aidan positioned the rifle on the dashboard and smiled. "Breathe, Fin."
"In position," Rowan said.
Too many cars on the road. I tried my best to stay focused and follow Aidan's orders.
"Speed up, go past them, and do a handbrake turn." Aidan shifted in his seat.
I didn't know if I could do it, it had been too long since I last had to. Aidan was right, we couldn't risk the lives of civilians and I didn't want their deaths on my conscience. The road slick from an earlier downpour which missed the hotel. "Get in the back. Shoot from there."
"The lady thinks on her feet." Liam's voice filled my right ear.
Aidan moved to the back seat. I pressed the button to lift the passenger side window. The icy wind made my eyes water.
Rapid gunfire didn't fill the silence in the GLS, or the quiet of the night. A rapid succession of popping sounds came from the back seat. I kept my eyes on the road and thanked whoever invented suppressors and silencers.
Aidan cursed. "Bullet-resistant everything. Rowan?"
"On it!"
I glanced in the rear-view mirror and slowed down. Cars honked, I ignored them. The Cayenne swerved and scraped the barrier. Biggie regained control, speeding up and headed straight for us. "Aidan, buckle up. Now!"
At the last second, I changed lanes without using the indicator. The Cayenne crashed into the GLS. The adrenaline pumping through me obliterated the pain shooting up my neck. Aidan fired again. The Cayenne reversed and sped away. My turn to curse as I pushed my foot down to the floorboard. Rowan and Liam raced past us.
"Not your average rental," Liam laughed, then cursed.
Why are we all swearing? Oh, yes, serial killers getting away.
"License plate is a fake," I said instead of the word I wanted to scream. The one starting with an f.
Sirens echoed in the distance.
"Give me your guns." Aidan held out his hand. "Slow down."
I did the best I could with one hand on the steering wheel. Blue lights flashed in the rear-view and side mirrors.
"Pull over. Let me do the talking." Aidan jumped out as soon as I brought the SUV to a stop. He waved his arms, and a police car pulled up behind us.
I remained in the driver's seat but glanced at the back seat. No sign of our SIGs or the HKs. A police officer tapped on the window and gestured for me to get out.
"Thank you, Officer. That vehicle ... came out of nowhere. Look at the back of my SUV." I lifted a trembling hand to my mouth and forced tears into my eyes. I had worn masks before, this time no different, I reminded myself.
Aidan translated, and the officer nodded before taking Aidan's statement. Aidan shook his head, then nodded before the officer returned to his vehicle. He asked me to get into the passenger seat and drove us back to the hotel.