Talon (Uncompromising #1)(98)

I set Siren back in her seat with a kiss to her temple. “You got her picture?”

She pulled the photo of her daughter out of her jeans pocket. Staring at it, she went dead still and her features shut down. When I’d first met her, I never would’ve guessed the secret she was hiding. Her emotionless response to everything hadn’t been her personality, it was her coping mechanism. I was praying we weren’t wrong about her daughter’s location. “Thanks darlin’.” I glanced at the photo and tried not to stare. Even in the black-and-white shot, I could tell this little girl had her momma’s giant blue eyes. “Give me a few minutes?”

Siren nodded, handed over the picture, then sat back in her seat.

For the next twenty minutes, André, Neil and I strategized. The property was at the end of a cul-de-sac, which was both good and bad. There was an open, partially wooded area behind it. It was a lot of land to cover if you were chasing someone but gunfire wouldn’t be heard by a hundred neighbors.

We finally settled on a plan. Neil was point, André was going to cover the back and I would go after the kid. André rummaged through one the duffels and pulled out vests. He handed me one and offered the other to Neil.

Neil muttered in Danish and ignored André.

André looked at me. “What’d he say?”

“Paraphrasin’ here, but he said you’re a pussy and I’m worse.” I stood and ducked my head to pull the vest over.

“We’ll see who’s a pussy when the first shitty diaper needs changing.” André grinned and we fist bumped.

Unable to stand to my full height in the cabin of the plane, I strapped on the vest and Siren came up next to me.

“You’re putting on protective gear,” she said nervously.

I still had the bruises on my chest from the last time I was shot at to remind me of the alternative. “Beats a bullet hole any day of the week, darlin’.”

Her fingers feathered along my bicep right below the graze wound. “This will leave a scar.”

“Not the first and not the last. It’s all good.” I picked up a gun and checked the clip. Fully loaded.

She sucked in a nervous breath. “I’m worried.”

I holstered the gun and turned to her. “Nothin’s gonna happen. We’re gonna be in and out.”

“What if Stone has her guarded?”

“We’ll handle it.”

She stared at the wound on my arm. “You already got shot.”

I smiled to reassure her. “That ain’t being shot. That’s a scratch.” I grasped her chin and got serious. “We know what we’re doin’. The only variable I can’t control is Maddie’s location. If she’s not there, I’ll keep lookin’ till I find her. I promise.” I hoped like hell André’s instincts were right about this.

Her face drawn, she barely nodded.

“All I want you to do is keep a seat warm on this plane for me. Can you do that?” I couldn’t begin to imagine what she was going through right now. A lesser person would break.

She nodded again.

“I need to hear that sexy voice, Siren.”

“Yes,” she said wearily.

“Good girl.” I kissed her forehead. “Now take a seat and buckle up, we’re about to land.” I waited till she sat then I turned toward the cockpit.

“Where are you going?”

“Just to check in with Roark.” I threw her a smile. “Back in a sec.” I headed to the cabin, angled into the copilot’s seat and put on headphones. “How’s it goin’?”

“We’re going to have weather coming home.” He checked our approach. “How old’s the kid?”

“Just shy of two years.”

“You’ll need a bottle for her when we take off and land to equalize her ears.”

Shit. I hadn’t thought of that. “What do we got onboard?”

“Not much. Soda, water. You didn’t give me a whole lot of notice. We were lucky we got a plane big enough.”

I rubbed a hand over my face. “Thanks for that.”

He tipped his chin in response then announced our approach to the airport. When he was done, he glanced at me. “You’re worried,” he stated.

I looked out at the dark horizon line. “I don’t know shit about kids.”

“This an extraction or an adoption?”

Christ. “Extraction,” I muttered.

“The mother will handle the kid.”

“And I’ll handle the mother.” I chuckled but I was nervous as hell. “Speakin’ of which, I’m goin’ to check on her. Unless you want me to land this bad boy?”