a metal door and no sign of a lock. “Roadkill? Hashtag, you seeing this?”
“Affirmative. Roadkill, blow the door.”
“Isn’t that more your skill set?” Roadkill asked with a grin before reaching into his bag and pulling out a pale brown putty-like substance. He pressed a thin thread of it around the rim of the door, then set a fuse. “Okay, stand back.”
Rael protected Dellan with his body, Horvan doing the same, both of them jolted by the explosion. Through the gaping hole, he heard the chopper, and his heart sang. We made it.
“We’re not there yet,” Horvan told him. “Let’s get airborne. Then we can relax a little.” He led them out onto the roof, where a dark olive-green helicopter was touching down, its door slid back. From the front next to Crank, Hashtag was waving them on energetically.
Heads down, they sprinted across the landing pad, Dellan in the midst of them. Roadkill clambered aboard, followed by Horvan. Dellan appeared reluctant, backing away.
Please, Dellan. You have to get on, Rael pleaded with him.
When that didn’t work, Horvan gave the tiger a hard stare. Now, Dellan. Get your furry ass up here.
Dellan leaped into the seating area, Rael behind him. Rael and Horvan strapped themselves in. “What about Dellan?” Rael shouted.
“We hold on to him, okay? I’ll take the butt end, you take the head.”
Rael did as instructed, leaning forward, his arms around Dellan’s neck. He had no idea if Dellan had flown before in human form, let alone as a tiger. Judging by his agitation and the low growls that escaped him, Dellan wasn’t happy. Thank God it was a short flight. Rael did his best to soothe him, stroking him and keeping up a litany of calming thoughts.
“Get us out of here, Crank,” Horvan shouted.
“You got it.” Seconds later, the chopper lurched into the air. “Flight time is gonna be under thirty minutes. I’ll radio ahead to Pickle.”
Horvan got on his phone. “Jase? We’re up. You and Finn get out of there—once you’ve shared the good news, of course.” He disconnected, then ran his hand along Dellan’s flank. You’re safe, Dellan. Safe.
“Jesus! You should hear what I’m hearing,” Crank yelled above the noise of the chopper. “Sounds like the end of a Beyoncé concert, all the cheering and clapping going on down there. Mind you, with the flashing lights, it looks like one too.”
“When we land, send the signal to the others to post on social media,” Roadkill hollered to Hashtag, who gave him the thumbs-up.
Rael wasn’t even looking at the world beneath them. His only concern was Dellan. He held on tight, aware of Horvan doing his best to keep Dellan calm.
He must be so confused. First one mate, now two.
Horvan stroked Dellan’s back. “He’s coping better than I thought he would.”
Roadkill leaned forward. “Can I touch him?”
Rael brought his mouth to Dellan’s round ear. “Not food, remember?” When Dellan chuffed, Rael sighed inwardly with relief. At least he seems to have a sense of humor.
Roadkill blinked. “Gee. I’m glad you reminded him of that.” Tentatively, he stretched out his hand and stroked Dellan’s side. His eyes widened and his lips parted, but he said nothing.
It didn’t seem long before the chopper touched down in the middle of a field. Rael spied the motor home and car awaiting them. Are you hungry? We have food for you. Dellan gave him a long lick, and Rael laughed. “That tickles.”
“Everybody out,” Crank yelled. “This is a quick stop. We don’t want to attract attention, remember?”
They were off the chopper and sprinting toward the vehicles in a matter of minutes, the blades still turning. A short guy dressed in black greeted Crank with a firm handshake.
“You got your heading?” Crank shouted.
The guy nodded. “Now get outta here.” His jaw dropped at the sight of Dellan. “Holy fuck.”
“You saw nothing, all right?”
The guy held up both hands. “Hey, I wasn’t even here.” He climbed aboard the chopper.
Roadkill was speaking with another man beside the car, who then ran to join the chopper pilot. Roadkill got into the car after dumping his bag in the trunk. “First stop is half an hour from here, guys. You know the route. Let’s haul ass.”
Crank climbed into the driver’s side of the motor home, and Horvan, Rael, and Hashtag got on board, once Dellan had stepped almost delicately inside. Rael led him through to the rear, where there was a queen-size bed. He covered it with a heap of blankets. Dellan jumped up, pawed at the covers