by Cate Noble
“How long had you known?” he asked.
“I had suspected for a week or so before I was abducted, but I’d just done a test that morning.” She looked at him. “I would have told you, but you were traveling and I was going out of town.”
“All that matters right now is getting you home and healed.”
“You probably already told me this, but how did you find me? I was so afraid no one would come.” Tears ran down Maddy’s cheeks.
Travis gingerly reached forward and claimed a tear with the tip of his finger. God willing, he would spend the rest of his life making certain this woman knew, unequivocally, that he would always be there for her.
“All the credit for locating you goes to Luc Ski-hawtra. Once I knew that Minh Tran had you, I came to Thailand. But I certainly wasn’t able to uncover the clues Luc did.” Travis intended to keep Luc working for him. Luc’s street smarts and connections were invaluable.
“But Luc said you created a diversion in order to rescue me. Did you orchestrate the raid on Minh Tran’s warehouse?”
Travis shrugged, noncommittal. “Tran’s longtime enemy Jengho Vato has been trying to raid Tran’s businesses for two years, but Tran always stayed ahead of him. Vato got lucky this time; got a tip where the bulk of Tran’s inventory was stored.”
“A tip, huh?” Maddy swiped her cheeks with the backs of her hands. “I just realized how you cultivate all the ‘favors’ you’re so famous for. Does Vato even realize that he owes you for his ‘lucky’ break?”
“No, and I’ve taken great pains to ensure the tip was anonymous. For now,” Travis said. “We have an unconfirmed report that Minh Tran was killed during the raid. Vato supposedly got shot, too, but is expected to recover. Their respective networks are in chaos right now, so details are sketchy. But we’ve had reports of Minh Tran’s residences being looted by his own people.”
Maddy shuddered. “He was an evil man. If Vato is anything like him, then the world is probably better off without both of them. So where is Luc now? I didn’t get a chance to thank him.”
“He should be in Australia, taking a well-deserved vacation. And you did thank him, you just probably don’t remember.”
“Did I thank you?” she asked.
“Yes. And do you remember me thanking you?”
“For what?”
“For surviving. For loving me, Maddy. I never want us to be apart again.”
The door swung open just then as a nurse came in, followed by Riley. Riley paused and gave Travis a “mission accomplished” nod.
“How are you feeling?” Riley stood at the foot of the bed while the nurse checked Maddy’s IV.
“I feel grateful,” she said.
Travis motioned to the nurse when she finished her tasks. “Would you mind witnessing something?”
The nurse looked from Travis to Riley, then pointed to herself. “Me?”
“Yes.” Travis held out his hand to Riley, who passed him a red velvet ring box. Turning back to Maddy Travis opened it. “We’ll pick out another set when we’re home.”
Inside were a solitaire diamond engagement ring and two gold wedding bands.
Once again Maddy’s eyes filled with tears. The nurse scooted closer and looked at the rings. “Awwww.”
“I love you, Maddy.” Travis removed the diamond ring first. “And I never want to be separated from you again. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
“Yes.” Maddy nodded. “Oh yes.”
He slid the ring on her finger and kissed her.
“Awwww.” The nurse looked ready to cry, too.
“Ready, Riley?” Travis moved closer to the bed.
Riley pulled a folded paper from his pocket. “Will you repeat after me?”
“What?” Maddy rose up on her elbows and stared at Travis. “You mean marry you right now?”
“Right now. Technically it won’t be legal until we are home and get a license, but my vow to you won’t change. And we can still do the big wedding thing if you’d like. Anything you want, but I can’t wait any longer to pledge my heart to you.” Travis squeezed her hand. “The whole time you were gone, it was all I thought about. Marry me, Maddy. Right here, right now.”
Maddy smiled and relaxed. “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”
Riley cleared his throat. “Will you repeat after me?”
Maddy went first. Then Travis repeated his vows and kissed her. “I love you, Mrs. Franks.”
“Awwww!” The nurse pushed forward and hugged Maddy.
Riley shook Travis’s hand, and then he hugged Maddy. “I hate to marry you and run, but I’ve got a flight to catch. I’ll see you back in D.C.”
When they were alone, Maddy held out her hand and stared at her rings.
“I’m serious. We’ll pick out different ones together,” Travis said. “These will be our memory rings.”
“I don’t know. This will always be the ring I married you with.”
The door opened again as a technician pushed in a cart. “I need blood and urine.”
“So much for our honeymoon,” Maddy joked.
Travis’s phone rang just then. He checked the screen, saw it was Dante.
“You can step outside if you need to.” Understanding Travis’s need for privacy, Maddy glanced at the lab tech.
“Thanks. I’ll be right back.” Travis answered the call as he left the room. “Hello.”
“How’s Maddy?” Dante asked.
“Better. We had to stop in Singapore for some emergency surgery, but we plan to leave here in the morning. What’s up there? Did you get the reports I sent?”
“Yes and at first I thought it was a joke. Now? Well I’m having a lot of thoughts about Harry. Second thoughts.”
Me too, Travis thought. “Start pulling his old case reports and travel logs. See if any of it matches up to Abe Caldwell’s travels. Get phone records, too. Harry would have been too smart for that, but Caldwell might have slipped up.”
“I’m on it. I’ve got a situation you need to be aware of, too. Rey Salvador, a retired INTERPOL agent Rocco and I worked with years ago, just called me. He said Rocco contacted him yesterday looking for private security. Rey referred him to a trusted friend, Clay Watkins. But Watkins was found dead at his home. Looks like he was tortured. Nothing missing except his identification.”
“When did you last hear from Rocco?”
“Over twelve hours ago. He’s not answering his cell, which isn’t unexpected, but he’s never gone this long without calling in.”
“Damn it!” Travis moved farther down the hall. Were some of Minh Tran’s men still tracking Rocco and Gena? Even if Tran was dead, the contract on Rocco probably hadn’t been rescinded.
“Rey is checking on his end to see how info might have leaked about Watkins,” Dante said.
“Any idea who else knew Rocco was calling Rey?”
“As a matter of fact, Rocco asked Cat to get Rey’s contact information for him.”
“And where did she get it from?”
“The Agency database. Nothing secure, but Rocco gave her a password to use to get into his archive,” Dante said. “Look, Cat took precautions. If someone traced the call, it would have come back to a disposable cell phone registered in D.C.”
“What if someone inside is watching for Rocco’s log-in?”
Dante swore. “When I get my hands on whoever’s leaking info, I’m going to do more than plug holes.”
Travis rubbed his head. He needed to get back to D.C. “I just had an idea for a trap. Tell Catalina I’m going to need her to access Rocco’s account again.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Acapulco, Mexico
October 6, 6:30 P.M.
Rocco had imagined a hundred different ways to kill Clay Watkins, each one more painful than the last.
Where had that bastard taken Gena?
After Clay and his cohorts drove off, Rocco had run down the road searching for the mining office. He�
�d finally found it, but the place was deserted, didn’t look like anyone had been there for months. There were no phones, no vehicles to steal. Rocco had continued down the road, determined to walk to Acapulco if necessary.
A farmer had come by and given Rocco a lift to Acapulco after he promised a hefty payment. Rocco had lost his gun and cell phone, but at least he had his wallet. He had gotten a room at the first motel he’d found.
Clay had obviously planned to double-cross Rocco all along. The plane wreck had thrown a monkey wrench into Clay’s plan, but it was clear that Clay’s phone must have been working and had a satellite chip.
Rocco wanted to call Rey Salvador but hesitated, uncertain whether Rey had helped set him up. He took a quick shower and then called Dante. Without a passport or proper identification, Rocco would need help getting back to D.C.
He had no choice but to use the room phone. Dante obviously didn’t recognize the number and answered with a gruff, “Johnson.”
“It’s Rocco.”
“Jesus Christ, man! Where are you? We’ve been worried.”
“I’m in an Acapulco motel. And I’m on the room phone. Our plane went down in a storm last night.”
“Are you and Gena okay?”
“No. We weren’t injured real bad, but the man I hired to help protect Gena double-crossed me. He’s got her and wants the same formulas everyone else is after in exchange for her release. The man obviously has connections to Minh Tran.”
“Had connections. Tran is dead. I’ll save the details for later. The real man you hired, Clay Watkins, was found murdered. His ID was stolen. Rey Salvador called me when he couldn’t reach you.”
Rocco sank down on the bed next to the phone. “This could be another setup. How the hell did this imposter know I’d even contacted Rey?”
“Look, I can’t say much since you’re not on a secure line, but Travis says he has it figured out,” Dante said. “And speaking of Travis, he found Maddy. She’s free. They’re on their way back as we speak.”
“That’s some good news.”
“Not completely. Maddy miscarried. I don’t know anything more than that. Also, we found Taz. Erin is unharmed and back with Max, but Taz is in the hospital. It doesn’t look good for him.”
“Damn. Look, I need you to pull some strings to get me back in the states ASAP. I lost everything in the plane wreck except my wallet. I’ll need a passport.”
“You’ve got it. I’ll see if we can get you out tonight. Travis has called for a top-secret meeting in the morning.”
“Good. I need to see him first thing.” Rocco checked the time. “I’ve got less than thirty hours to get a message to the fake Clay.”
“We will get Gena back,” Dante said.
“I know it.” After disconnecting, Rocco called the front desk to hire someone to make a mall run for him. He scribbled a list of clothes and shoe sizes.
He had barely finished when a maid showed up. Her English was poor, but Rocco reviewed the list and gave her money, promising to tip her well if she hurried.
When he was alone, he again debated calling Rey Salvador but ultimately decided against it. Whoever had taken out the real Clay Watkins might have compromised Rey’s communications.
Once more his thoughts drifted to Gena. Sweet Jesus! They’d been through enough. He wasn’t going to lose her again.
Wherever she was, Rocco would find her.
Stay safe, sweetheart.
* * *
Uncertain Location
October 6, Uncertain Time
Gena’s hindsight was perfect. Picking a fight with Edguardo hadn’t been smart. He’d ended up punching her so hard, she’d blacked out. Clay had watched and hadn’t lifted a finger to help. But what had she expected from someone who had kidnapped her?
They had traveled for several hours in the van. Then Clay and Edguardo had moved her to another vehicle, a dark sedan. Her feet had been tied and she’d been gagged. Then they’d tossed her on the backseat, thrown a coarse blanket over her, and raced off.
Another nightmare had begun when they’d loaded her onto a small plane. She had panicked and they’d drugged her. When she came to she was in the back of this car.
It was night. Were they still in Mexico?
All day she’d wondered how Rocco was. And where he was. She replayed their conversation from the night before. The thought that Harry had lied to both of them and purposely broken them apart was beyond comprehension. Why? What had she ever done to Harry?
The car slowed and then stopped. Gena heard a sound like a garage door opening. The car eased forward slowly and then stopped again. This time the engine was cut off and the garage door lowered.
“Lucy, I’m home!” Clay called.
The phrase caught Gena in the stomach. That was the same thing Harry used to say when he’d come in the door. It had been her warning to run and hide. What a nasty quirk.
The car door opened and the blanket was snatched away. Clay helped her up and out of the car after slicing the rope from her feet. They were in a garage, but she saw nothing except the vehicle.
“This way.” Clay pushed her toward a door that opened into a large kitchen.
From there he shoved her toward the table. “Sit.”
Edguardo went to the refrigerator and pulled out two beers. He handed one to Clay, then leaned back against the counter and glared at her.
She didn’t think either man lived there. The place had a generic feel to it, like a vacation home that was rented out.
Clay loosened her gag. “Beer?” He held out the can.
Gena shook her head. “I don’t drink.”
He laughed. “Sorry. I forgot.”
She looked at him. He forgot?
Edguardo’s phone rang and he stepped out to the garage to answer.
Clay moved to get her a bottle of water. Then he removed the handcuffs. “Drink up. I’ll get you some food shortly.”
When Edguardo came back in, he motioned to Clay. The two men whispered in the far corner. A few minutes later Edguardo left. She heard the muffled sounds of the car starting and the garage door opening.
“He’ll be back in a few,” Clay said. “While he’s gone, you can take a shower. I’ve got a robe you can use until we can get you some clothes.”
“No thanks.”
“Suit yourself. I know I won’t mind seeing you walk around naked and I’m certain Edguardo won’t. In fact, I think he’d kind of like it. Especially if you started mouthing off to him again.”
Gena shook her head. “Fine. Where’s the robe?”
Clay swept his arm toward the hall. “This way. You and I are staying in the master suite.”
“I am not staying in the same room with you.”
“You’d prefer sleeping with Edguardo?” Clay smiled at her head shake. “Didn’t think so.”
He caught her elbow and steered her up the stairs into a spacious bedroom with a king-size bed. The bathroom was adjacent.
“Shower is here.” Clay turned on the faucets and adjusted the water. Then he turned to her. “Strip.”
“Please—” She already knew his reply if she refused.
“Shut up and do it!”
Gena turned away and peeled off her clothes. She’d caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror when they’d first walked in. She was filthy and who knew what kind of vermin had been in the jungle. But compared to the vermin who had kidnapped her—
Her skin flushed red as she stepped beneath the spray and washed herself as quickly as she could. After she rinsed her hair, she looked over her shoulder and saw that Clay continued to watch her.
There was something chilling about the look on his face. She’d expected lust, had worried about sexual assault. But he seemed cold. As if she repulsed him.
It was the way Harry used to look at her.
“Where’s my robe?” she asked.
“In the closet.” He backed away and picked up a towel but didn’t move closer. “We’ll get it after you’
re dry.”
Gena bit her lip against the urge to cry. She shut off the water and walked naked to Clay. He unfolded the towel and slowly moved behind her before draping the towel over her shoulders.
“You look upset, Gena,” he drawled. “Does it bother you to be naked in front of a stranger?”
“Of course it does,” she snapped.
“Tsk, tsk.” He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his mouth to her ear. “Good thing I’m not a stranger.”
Gena felt nauseated as the tone of Clay’s voice suddenly changed. Now he sounded like Harry. She locked her knees against the urge to faint.
“That’s right.” He laughed. “I’ve seen you naked before, Gena. And honestly, you left me just as cold as my wife as you do now.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Washington, D.C.
October 7, 8:00 A.M.
Rocco’s flight had landed at Dulles at six that morning.
As promised, Dante had a driver and a new cell phone waiting at the airport. Rocco had instructed the driver to take him straight to his town house.
On the way, Rocco talked with Rey Salvador but was no closer to getting answers about how Gena’s abductors had connected Rey to Rocco. Rey had also promised to expedite evidence handling from the real Clay Watkins’s murder scene. If they could get a lead on the man who had assumed Clay’s identity, perhaps they could figure out where the man was holding Gena.
At his town house, Rocco had quickly showered and changed then got online and placed the personal ad in the Washington Post so Gena’s abductor could reach him. Keep the faith, Gena. I’m coming for you. The irony that he and Gena had just started to unravel their past only added to his fury. Rocco would get her back. And the men who had abducted her would deeply regret it.
Rocco reached his office ten minutes before his eight o’clock meeting with Travis and Dante. Once inside the building, he arranged to have some evidence processed. He still had one of the magazine clips with bullets, even though he’d lost the gun. It was a long shot, but if Clay had loaded them, perhaps a fingerprint could be lifted. Or maybe the bullets could be traced to a specific dealer, though that was even less likely.