Doc laughed. “Burns’ cavalry. My father doesn’t mess around.”
Dutch counted four vehicles in the driveway and then looked beyond the gate to the street.
“They’re with us too,” said Doc, motioning to the two other SUVs that Dutch had spotted.
Instead of thinking it was overkill, Dutch wished there were a couple more escorting them to the airfield.
“Burns has requested a meeting,” Doc murmured to Malin and then looked at his phone. “That was quick,” he muttered.
“What now?” Dutch asked, not really wanting to.
“McTiernan responded to my request for a meeting,” Doc told them.
Malin’s grip on Dutch’s hand tightened.
“If I find out he had anything to do with the attempted murder of two K19 partners along with two other men contracted with our firm, I’ll rip both of the little weasel’s arms off,” the firm’s founding partner added.
Dutch put his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s go,” he murmured, kissing her temple and thanking God that Doc Butler was on their side.
13
Onyx flew north along the coastline from Santa Barbara past Morro Rock and then turned inland.
“It’s breathtaking,” said Malin through the mic on the headset.
Dutch nodded. He’d always loved the Central Coast with its rocky shores along the Pacific Ocean combined with the Redwoods and Monterey Pines that Big Sur, only a couple of hours north, was so well known for. Moments after the helicopter went east, rows and rows of vineyard after vineyard covered the land beneath them.
If he were to compare it to Cokabow Island off South Carolina’s coast, though, its beauty wouldn’t measure up. Whenever he closed his eyes and imagined the shoreline, he saw the one thing that made it utterly unique—Malin’s naked body resting on his as they lay on the sand.
The pretend life they’d lived there, even for only a handful of days, had become his ideal. When this was all over, when Malin was safe, he’d make her the offer of buying the island for
the second time, knowing even now that the only way he would do it is if she would agree to live there with him.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked through the mic.
“Cokabow,” he responded, smiling at her.
Malin squeezed his hand. “Me too.”
How different this was from their first helicopter flight when she’d refused to look at or speak to him unless it was combatively. Dutch brought their woven hands to his mouth and kissed the back of hers. The smile she gave him in return made his heart swell.
* * *
Onyx landed the helicopter, and they waited for the blades to stop their rotation. By the time they climbed out, Burns and Sorcha were standing outside of the helipad’s circle, waiting for them.
After introductions were made, Sorcha asked if anyone was hungry. Dutch was, like always, but when no one else said they were, he kept quiet. Malin tugged his arm, which made him smile.
“How about a tour for the ladies?” suggested Sorcha.
As many times as Dutch had been here, there were still new things he hadn’t noticed before about the ranch and the vineyards.
“Have you been in the caves?” Sorcha asked him.
“I haven’t.”
“You’re in for a treat,” said Burns, unlocking the gate and leading them inside.
The temperature outside was in the low sixties. Once they got a few feet inside the cave’s entrance, it dropped at least twenty degrees.