Breaking Away (Delta Force Strong #3) - Elle James Page 0,37
an arm around her waist and drew her to her feet. “He’s alive, not dead.”
“I know,” she said. “I’m just so happy.”
Blade laughed. “That’s a funny way of showing it.”
Dash frowned. “We need to drive down the mountain into the open so the choppers can pick us up.”
Kylie didn’t have to be told twice. They piled into the SUV and raced back out of the hills in the opposite direction from the fire and the Taliban. When they came out into the flat lands, one of the helicopters had landed. The other hovered nearby.
Josh drove the SUV to within a few yards of the helicopter. Kylie leaped out of her seat and ran for the bird.
Mac climbed out and held his arms open for her.
She ran into them and hugged him so tightly, she didn’t think she would ever let go.
Finally, he kissed the top of her head and said, “We need to get in, or they’ll leave us.”
Blade and Dash helped Musa into the chopper. Rucker and Bull got Ahktar in and buckled him into a harness.
Soon they were flying through the air, away from the Taliban.
Kylie sat beside Mac, holding his hand, thanking God for saving the only man she’d ever loved.
Within forty minutes, they were landing at Bagram Airfield where they disembarked from the helicopters onto the tarmac.
Glad to see the safety of the base, Kylie was sad to know she’d be separated from Mac all too soon.
Rucker met them at the edge of the landing zone where a couple of SUVs were waiting. “We called ahead. They have a plane leaving in a less than an hour. We can get Kylie and Josh on it, if we hustle.”
The Military Police took charge of Ahktar and loaded him into one of the SUVs.
“They’d take him to the intelligence guys,” Rucker said. “The main thing is that he’s out of commission and no longer torturing our people.”
“What about Musa?” Kylie asked.
Rucker smiled. “We’re working on that. I’ve put him in touch with the state department. We’re trying to get him asylum to the US. In the meantime, they’ll keep him safe. Right now, you need to get to the terminal and get processed through.”
They hurried to the air transportation office to fill out the necessary paperwork to get them booked onto the next flight, leaving in less than an hour.
The Deltas stayed with Kylie and Josh. Rucker worked on getting transportation back to their forward operations base, while Mac helped Josh and Kylie wade through the documents they had to fill out and sign.
When Kylie had all the documentation completed, she waited for the loadmaster to wave her and Josh through. She waited with Mac, struggling to find the words that would make them right with each other. She couldn’t think of anything but the truth.
“I want to see you again,” she blurted out.
“Can I see you again?” Mac asked at the same time.
Kylie laughed and stepped into his arms. “Is it crazy to think we could have a second chance at this?”
“Define this,” he said.
“Us.”
He nodded and brushed a strand of her hair back from her forehead, tucking it behind her ear. “That would be a yes from me. What are you feeling?”
“One hundred percent relieved,” she said with a breathy laugh.
His brow wrinkled. “Not exactly the words I was looking for.”
“Relieved that you think we have a chance. Because I want it so badly.”
“Not half as bad as I do,” he said and nuzzled her neck. “I’ve dreamed of holding you just like this for so long, I think I might still be dreaming.”
“Same here,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You’re at Fort Hood, right?”
He nodded.
“Any idea when you’ll be back?” she asked.
“Whenever they’re done with us here,” he said. “How long that will be, I have no idea.”
“Is it possible for two people with careers like ours to make a relationship work?” she whispered. Please, say yes.
“If both parties are equally committed, I think so.” He tipped her chin up. “I’m that committed.”
“Miss Adams, Mr. Bolton, it’s time to board the plane,” a voice called out.
Kylie had so much more she wanted to say, but they were out of time. “I’m that committed, too,” she said, holding his gaze.
“Miss Adams, Mr. Bolton?” the voice called out again.
Josh started toward the exit, stopped and turned back. “Kylie, they’re waiting on us.”
“I have to go.” Kylie wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
Mac crushed her to him and held her tight.
She wished