CHAPTER 90
Laney sped across the field, trailing behind Gideon and losing ground fast. She pushed the accelerator to the floor, trying to coax out a little more speed, but there was nothing. Stupid farm truck. I should have looked for something faster.
“We’re not going to catch him in this,” Jake said. “We need to figure out a way to slow him down. Don’t suppose we actually got that back-up plan up and running?”
Reaching into his pocket, Henry pulled out his cell phone. He hit two numbers and then barked into the phone. “We’re about three clicks northwest of the enclosure following a black Mercedes.”
“Understood,” the caller said and disconnected the call.
Laney glanced over at Henry, but he didn’t offer any explanation.
A few seconds later, she heard the unmistakable sound of a helicopter and checked the sky. A white chopper was heading straight for them. As it approached, the door to the chopper opened, revealing a man with a surface to air missile.
“Please tell me they’re on our side,” Laney groaned.
Henry just smiled.
The helicopter flew past them and released the missile. It struck just behind the Mercedes, somersaulting it across the field. Shards of metal littered the ground behind it, like a trail of breadcrumbs.
Jake looked over at Henry. “Guess you did get that little surprise up and running.”
Henry gave him a brief smile. Ahead, the Mercedes crashed onto its back and stopped moving. Laney slammed to a stop a few feet away.
Henry and Jake jumped out of the truck with their guns extended. Laney slid out the other side, taking the same precautions.
They advanced in unison on Gideon’s vehicle. It was a mass of twisted metal, the roof caved in, a trail of metal shards and broken glass leading to it.
The driver’s door flew open and Gideon fell from the car. Laney stared, amazed that even Gideon could survive that wreck. She moved to the left, Henry and Jake spanning to the right to keep him completely covered.
“Aim for the heart,” she murmured to herself, gripping the Beretta tightly and lining up the sights.
Gideon struggled to stand. He glanced at Laney and Jake, disregarding them. His focus was on Henry. “A missile? Really, Henry?”
“Well, Azazyel, you seemed to be getting away,” Henry replied.
“I prefer Gideon these days,” he replied heatedly.
“I don’t really care what you prefer these days,” Henry replied coldly, raising his gun.
“What, you’re just going to shoot me in cold blood? What about you?” Gideon turned to her. “How can you condone this?”
Laney’s gaze didn’t flinch. “I can live with it. I’ll ask my uncle to absolve him of sin afterwards.”
Gideon wiped the blood from his eyes and laughed as he saw it on his hand. He glanced back at Henry. “Besides Henry, don’t you want a shot at the title? Haven’t you always wanted to know?”
Laney looked from Henry to Gideon and back, knowing there was an undercurrent here that she wasn’t privy to. She glanced at Jake and noted the confusion there. He didn’t know what was going on, either.
“Henry?” Jake asked.
Henry looked at Gideon for a long moment. “Laney, Jake, do you have him?”
Laney steadied her arm. “Yes.”
Jake did the same. “I’ve got him.”
Henry turned and walked towards Jake, careful not to block his view of Gideon. He tucked his gun into Jake’s belt. “I think I do want a shot at the title.”