Operation: Thrustmaster (Rock Hardin: Agent of A.S.S. Book 1) by Alana Melos Read Free Book Online Page B

alright.”  
         “ I…” she said, but her hand began to lower, and he grabbed the gun. She covered her eyes with her hands, and looked up to him, “They have my sis--”  
          A gunshot rang out, and she fell forward. Without a second’s hesitation, Rock shot with Petite’s gun, shooting a thug who had come into the garage and seen the scene between them. The thug fell backwards against the wall as Rock caught Petite and lowered her to the ground. When the thug didn’t move, and no others came through the door, he turned to the woman in his arms. “Petite,” he said, voice urgent.  
          Her eyes fluttered open. A tiny hand reached up to stroke his face, “My family…”  
         “ You’ll see them again,” he promised. “I’ll get you to a hospital. Just hold on!”  
         “ No,” Petite whispered. “Jasmine Morgan… my sister. Save her.”  
         “ Hold on!” he said, shaking her. As her eyes closed, he felt her go limp in his arms. “God dammit,” he muttered under his breath. Gently, he kissed her sweet lips one last time, then laid her on the ground. He had no time for anything more.  
          The garage held a number of cars, but also a motorcycle. Lady Luck must have been shining on him for the keys were in the ignition. He pushed the bike out the open door, gave Petite one last look, then kick started the cycle. It roared into life, and down the road he flew. He had been unable to save one lady… but he could save the other.  
     
     

Chapter Four
     
          Rock caught up to them as they entered a private airfield… the very same one he’d arrived in. His jet was gone, but a few others were here. He angled the bike away from the road towards the low bushes and shrubs to give him some cover. Rock ditched the bike and snuck along the ditch, creeping as close as he could. He had no idea which plane they were taking, as the vehicle he’d seen on the road had been ditched at the side of the runway. The agent fished around in his jacket and came up with the shades Skip had sent with him. “Let’s hope these work,” he said.  
          As he put them on, his world changed, colored with blue, green, and orange blobs. The shades lost the edges of any objects or people, and colored the world in heat. With them, however, it was easy to see which of the jets were beginning to power up their engine. As he took off the shades and tucked them away again, a quick look told him no one was faced his direction, and he raced as low and fast as he could towards the jet, using as much of the terrain as he could to cloak himself.  
          The ramp was still down, but not for much longer. As a man began to close it, Rock lunged from underneath the belly of the plane. He grabbed the ramp and used his weight to lever it open. “What the--?!” the mook said, caught flat footed as Rock climbed the ramp. The jet began to move. The mook reached into his jacket for his gun, but the plane lurched, knocking him off balance. Agent Hardin grabbed him by his lapels and threw him off the ramp before thrusting himself inside the plane. He didn’t watch the thug bounce and roll on the runway, scanning the seats for Cindy instead.  
          She sat bound to the chair near the cockpit. LeMarchand wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Before he could move, a fist socked him in the jaw causing him to reel to the side. Ducking another punch, Rock turned to see another couple of thugs, one right in his face. He put up an arm to ward off the blows as the thug behind the first yelled, “Get out of the way, idiot! You’re in my line of fire!”  
          Instead of shrinking away from his attacker, Rock pushed forward, getting inside the thug’s punching range, moving him back. The second thug fired wildly as the two interlocked scrappers came lunging at him. The secret agent kept his head and used the first thug as a meat shield, though behind him Cindy