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prepare.”
    Sam looked at Mac then walked back down the stairs. “I’ll be right back.”
    Emily watched with dread as he practically ran toward the customs office, cell phone pressed to his ear.
    “I think he knows you’re not legitimate. He’s probably calling the police.”
    “Don’t worry. We’re okay.”
    “How can you say that?”
    Mac shrugged. “Take it easy, Frank and the CEO of Stromberg are close. Do you don’t think I would have been sent to you if Frank didn’t have everything planned out?”
    The pilot returned and instructed Mac and her to make themselves comfortable.
    Stunned, Emily could only stare. “W hat just happened?” she turned and asked Mac.
    “My guess is he called his boss.”
    Emily shook her head. “So everything must have been in order.”
    “I told you. ”
    Inside the plane Mac flung his bag in the captain’s chair in front of him then dropped into the large two-seater in the middle aisle.
    Emily reached up and took several pillows from the overhead bin and handed two to Mac before taking her seat. It would just be the three of them. Sam would fly them to Heathrow, and they’d catch a commercial flight from there.
    After they were in the air, she’d make arrangements to get them home. Also, Brenda needed to know where she was, as well as her office staff, and her sister, of course.
    For now, Emily couldn’t keep her eyes off Mac. Before today, the last time she’d seen him he had been knock down gorgeous-decked out in a sharp gray pin-striped suit with a red power tie and a crisp white shirt, Rolex and all. By all outward appearances he’d looked every bit the well-tailored businessman. Certainly not a man accused of punching Mexico’s ambassador and holding him at gunpoint until he secured a team member’s release.
    No, not Mac.
    Of course, she knew Mac didn’t wear a suit and tie every day. Not in his line of work. She guessed camouflage, black tee shirts and combat boots.
    The things these elite warriors managed to accomplish would astound the American public. But again, they kept the country safe and constantly battled evil forces.
    Sam came to see that they were secure. “I talked to Stromberg and everything is fine. We’ll be leaving any minute. We’re waiting for the okay from the control tower.”
    Emily looked out the window at the wet tarmac and wondered what had happened bac k at the hotel, and why. Who wanted to kill Mac? And why put all those innocent people in harm’s way?
    Needing a drink, Emily stood and went to the fridge in the galley. She brought back two bottle s of water and handed one to Mac. He took several gulps before looking at her with a smile on his lips.
    The luxurious interior of the plane was top of the line. Oversized, beige leather recliners, an eating area, a lounge, a fridge full of food and cupboards stocked with liquor. There was even a nice warming oven for hot towels.
    No galley, but there was a great sound system, and pillows. Lights everywhere, but you could darken the cabin for sleep with the touch of a button.
    A mixture of clean vanilla and expansive leather drew her into a comfort zone she badly needed.
    All the comforts of home, but she was wet and dirty.
    The radioed voice from the cockpit announced they were to prepare to taxi to runway number two. It had seemed they waited an eternity. The plane crept backwards from the terminal and Sam lined them up perfectly for takeoff. Soon they’d be on their way home.
    “What the hell?” Sam shouted.
    Emily released her seatbelt and moved to the cockpit. Two vehicles raced toward them from the right. Sirens blared, red lights flashed. In the lead car a man hung out the window with a huge weapon pointed at them.
    Sam hit the brakes as a loud boom shook the aircraft. Unable to tear her gaze away, Emily watched as a large projectile with a fiery tail streaked toward them.

 
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Outside the window of the Cessna Mac spotted two cars speed ing across the