Page 60 of Celtic Dragon
Once we get off that back road and back onto the main highway, it appears that we are home free. We hear a lot of sirens around us, but they aren’t looking for a van, they’re looking for an HM Food Service truck.In all the chaos that’s going on at the prison, I wonder if they’ve figured out that the O’Byrnes have escaped.
Everyone is silent during the entire trip to the airfield. My aunt and uncle don’t ask questions and Doc and Ryder don’t talk about what happened at the prison. Doc keeps a close watch on Rebel and periodically reports to me that he’s still stable.
All I can think about now is keeping Rebel alive and getting back to my girl.
At 11:45 my GPS shows that we’re ten minutes away from the airfield. I know the flight leaves promptly at midnight and I’m hoping that the girls are already there waiting. I call Emma. She answers on the first ring.
“Caden, where are you?” she says frantically.
“Ten minutes away, babe. Can you ask the pilot to wait if we don’t make it in time?”
“I already did and he said that he’s on a tight schedule. He says the plane doors have to be closed promptly at midnight.”
“Fuck. Hang tight. We’re doing the best we can to get there.”
“Are you driving?”
“No, Liam is. We ran into some difficulties, but all in all, we’re all good. Rebel’s been shot, but Doc thinks he’s gonna be ok. You might want to prepare Ari.”
“Oh God, Caden! You sure he’s gonna be alright?”
“Yeah, Doc thinks that the bullet missed any vital organs. He’s lost some blood, but we’ve been keeping the bleeding at bay. We just need to get him home and to a real doctor.”
“Ok. Did you get your aunt and uncle?”
I look in the back seat, making eye contact with them, and say into the phone, “Yeah, we got ‘em.”
“Oh, I’m so glad.”
“Ok babe, I gotta go. See you soon.”
“Ok. Soon.”
I disconnect the line.We’ve got to get to that airfield on time!I look at my watch again: 11:55 pm. I say, “Liam, I know you are doing your best, man, but can’t you go any faster?”
He makes a quick turn off an exit ramp and speeds to the light. Turning right, he says, “Look to your right. We’re here.”
He speeds down the airfield road to the main entrance, weaving his way through to get to the plane. As he turns the last corner, I can see the plane sitting on the airfield. The girls are just starting to board the plane. Liam pulls right up to the stairway and slams on the brakes. The girls look over at the screeching van with relief on the faces.
I jump out of the van and open up the back. Ryder and Doc come around back and the three of us maneuver Rebel from the van and proceed to carry him up to the plane as the girls run ahead to get out of our way. The O’Byrnes follow us onto the plane.
When I get to the top of the stairs, one of the pilots greets me.
“You must be Ice.”
“Yeah, that’s me. Where can I put him?”
“Over here.” He points to a seat in the first section on the left side of the plane. He then waits for my aunt and uncle to get on the plane and closes the door. “We’ll be taking off in a few minutes. You all might want to find a seat and strap in.”
I nod as we carry Rebel over to the seat and get him situated. He moans a little and his eyes open.
“Hey, brother,” I say.
Looking a little dazed and confused, he takes in his surroundings. “What the fuck happened?” he asks, his breathing labored. I’m not sure if he remembers anything from the last hour.
“You stupid fuck, you got yourself shot.”
“Really? Well, fuck me,” he says and tries to laugh, which causes him to cough and wince.
