by Dee Davis
Kim stood ramrod straight, his muscles bunched in protest. But he nodded and the soldiers complied, Avery and Drake picking up their discarded weapons as Nash kept his gun trained on the guards.
“Lock them in the anteroom,” Avery ordered, Nash moving to carry out his instructions. “And if anyone tries anything, your boss is dead.”
“They don’t work for me,” Kim said, shaking his head.
“Then I guess you’d better hope they’re loyal.” Drake shrugged, moving to take over with Kim. “And in the meantime, I’d say you’ve got a lot to answer for.”
“In many religions an eye for an eye is not considered a crime.”
“Yeah, well, we believe in the separation of church and state,” Avery said as they moved out into the far hallway.
“I assume you’ve got an escape route in mind?” Annie asked as Nash rejoined them, and they moved backward, guns trained on the anteroom and hallway.
“Got it covered,” he said with a smile.
“And your arm? It’s really all right?”
“I’m fine. I swear. How about you? All in one piece?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Just ready to get the hell out of here.”
“Your wish is my command,” Avery said as they moved into a room filled with furniture covered with drop cloths. In the far wall an arch-shaped hole gaped black against the flocked wallpaper. “Our door to freedom.”
“So how we going to handle this?” Nash asked, his gun trained on the door behind them.
“You and Annie take Kim. Hannah can walk you back through the tunnels. Drake and I will fix things here so that no one can follow us. We’ll be right behind you. I’ve got com-links for both of you,” Avery said, pulling the haul bag out from behind a sheet-swathed bureau.
Annie caught the earpiece Avery lobbed at her and fixed it into place. “Hannah, you there?”
“Glad to have you back in the fold, Annie,” Hannah said.
“What, you’re not happy to hear from me?” Drake asked, adjusting his earpiece, as he stepped through the opening.
“You know I love you, big guy, but there’s no time to tell you how much. You guys need to get a move on. Looks like the forces are gathering. Emmett’s on his way with reinforcements, but they’re not in place yet.”
“No worries, Hannah. We’re outta here,” Avery assured her. “Nash, you next,” he nodded at the opening, “with Kim. And then Annie.”
Nash prodded Kim with the barrel of his gun, the older man bending to step through the arch to Drake, waiting on the other side. Annie followed Nash through, blinking in the dim light.
“Okay,” Avery said, pulling a timer and wiring from the bag, “you two head on out with Kim. Drake and I are going to leave a little gift for anyone who follows. We’ll be right behind you.”
Annie moved out behind Nash, keeping her gun at the ready. The tunnel was carved straight from the rock, water dripping along the sides and from the ceiling. It smelled of mildew and limestone. “How far does it go?” she asked.
“The whole island is riddled with tunnels,” Hannah said, her voice crackling in Annie’s ear. “You’re in one of the main branches. It leads down to the bottom of the island and the main gate. Although I doubt there was a gate when the tunnels were built.”
“There are miles of them,” Kim said, unaware of Hannah’s input. “But Zechar told me they are dangerous.”
“I’ll second that.” Nash nodded. “We had to get past a couple of cave-ins just to get this far. The light ends about two-thirds of the way down. From there on, I’ll warn you it’s dark and pretty dismal. But I’ve got a flashlight.”
“Sounds comforting. Anyway, I’m not afraid of the dark.”
“Maybe you should be,” Kim said, his expression unreadable in the dim light.
“Listen, Kim,” Nash growled, tightening his hold on the little man, “if anyone should be afraid, it’s you. You almost killed my son.”
“Your son?” The old man nodded. “That explains much. Would that I had shown you the same loss that you showed me.”
Annie clenched her fists, anger rising as she thought about her son. If things has gone as Kim had planned, he’d be dead. She shook her head, clearing her mind, focusing her energy instead on staying alert. If they didn’t make it out of here, there was no chance at all of bringing Chin-Mae to justice. And at least in the meantime, they had his father.
The three of them walked in silence for the next twenty yards or so, passing a crumbling passageway off to the left and then another angling off to the right. Annie tightened her grip on her gun, intuition sounding a warning. Behind her, rocks shifted as somebody moved along the passage. She spun around as Nash stepped forward, holding Kim in front of him as a shield.
“Whoever’s out there,” Nash called, “I’ve got Kim Sun and I’ll kill him if you don’t show yourself.”
A guard stepped into the light, followed by Chin-Mae, both of them holding weapons.
“Drop your guns,” Annie said. “Or your father is dead.”
“So be it,” Chin-Mae said. “My father is a weak man. An embarrassment to our cause.” And then before she had time to realize his intent, he fired his gun, the bullet ripping into his father, who gasped and then slumped forward.
Annie tried to move as a second flash came from Chin-Mae’s gun, but before she could react, Nash shoved Kim Sun’s body in front of her. Annie heard the bullet tear into Kim’s dead flesh, while above her, Chin-Mae was aiming again, this time for Nash, who was shooting at the guard.
“No,” she screamed, buoyed by adrenaline and anger as she popped up from behind Kim and fired.
Chin-Mae’s eyes widened as he looked down at the bloom of blood spouting on his chest. He tried to lift the gun, but it fell from lifeless fingers as the man dropped to his knees. “Our secrets die with us,” he gasped as he fell forward onto his father.
“God willing,” she said, stumbling to her feet, swinging her gun around on the guard. The man was dead, eyes open as he stared upward into the dim wash of light. Exhaling, Annie lowered her gun.
“Nash?” she called, her voice shaking as she spun around. He groaned, slumped against the far wall. She covered the distance in seconds, dropping down beside him. “Are you hurt?” Blood covered the front of his shirt, seeping onto the ground beneath him. “Oh, God,” she whispered, ripping off her jacket to make a bandage. Something. Anything to stop the blood. “Can you hear me? Baby, can you hear me?”
His eyes were closed, but he moaned again and she pressed harder against the wound. “Don’t you dare leave me,” she whispered. “Damn it, Nash, not now. Not after everything we’ve been through. I need you. I love you.”
“You guys all right?” Drake called as he and Avery ran into the tunnel. “We heard gunfire.”
“It’s Nash,” Annie said, her voice strangled with her tears. “He’s hurt. Bad, I think. Chin-Mae shot him. I tried to stop him.” She stared up at Avery, tears filling her eyes. “But I was too late.”
“It’s going to be all right, Annie,” Avery said, dropping down beside her. “His pulse is still strong.”
“But there’s so much blood.”
“You know as well as I do that some of the most superficial wounds are bleeders,” Avery said, reaching up to take the pressure bandage Drake was offering.
“But this isn’t one of those,” she whispered.
“No.” He shook his head, replacing her makeshift bandage. “It’s not. Hannah? You there?”
“Yeah, I’m hearing every word. What can I do?”
“You need to get Emmett. We need evac now. What’s their ETA?”
“He’s here. At the mouth of the tunnel. I’ll apprise him of the situation. All the hostiles have been apprehended.”
“All right then.” Avery nodded at Drake. “Let’s get Nash out of here.”
Annie ran beside them, holding Drake’s flashlight, sending up desperate prayers. Not now. Not now. Please, God, not now.
It se
emed forever, but she knew it was only minutes, and they had him out of the tunnel, Emmett there, surrounded by men from the main island. Men here to help. Drake and Avery laid him on a stretcher, and together they all ran to the waiting helicopter, Annie still fervently praying for a miracle.
And then they were there, the big chopper’s blades swooping through the air as it waited, the undergrowth bending to the ground in its wake. Ducking down, she stayed with the stretcher and Nash. And then waited while they pulled him on board, a medic ready with an IV.
“I’m coming with you,” she said, already halfway on board. She settled in beside him and reached for his hand. “I’m here, Nash. I’m right here.”
His eyes slowly opened, the corners of his mouth lifting in a half smile. “Never thought you’d be anywhere else.” His hand tightened on hers, and she looked across at the medic.
“Is he going to be all right?”
“His vitals are good.” The man nodded. “And the bullet doesn’t appear to have hit any major organs. I’d say Mr. Brennon is a lucky man.”
She sucked in a breath, wondering how long she’d been holding it. “You hear that, Nash? You’re going to be all right.”
“That’s not what he said, angel,” Nash whispered, grimacing as the medic gave him a shot for pain. “He said I was a lucky man. And he’s right. I’ve got you and I’ve got Adam. So I can promise you, I’m not going anywhere.”
She nodded as the helicopter lurched into the air, Devil’s Horn growing smaller and smaller as they moved up into the sky.
The mission was over.
But life—with Nash—had only just begun.
EPILOGUE
Mom, can I have some more ice cream? Dad said to ask you.” Adam skidded to a stop in front of her, chocolate ice cream smeared across his face.
“Don’t you think maybe you’ve had enough for one day?” Annie asked, shooting a glance over at Nash, who was in the middle of an animated discussion with Jason and Avery.
Nash’s wound had proved to be less frightening than it had first appeared. He’d lost a lot of blood, but the medic had been right. No vital organs had been hit. And now, except for a rather angry scar, he was fully recovered.
Nash claimed he owed it all to Annie. Her shot throwing off Chin-Mae. But Annie wasn’t so sure. Maybe it had been her prayers. Or maybe it just hadn’t been his time. Either way they’d been given a second chance and she was determined not to waste it.
“You can never have enough ice cream,” Adam was saying, looking longingly over at the ice cream maker.
They were all gathered in Avery’s backyard. It was an all-American picnic. Burgers, hot dogs, chips and guacamole. Beer and margaritas for the adults. Cola and ice cream—lots of ice cream—for Adam.
“Just don’t make yourself sick,” she cautioned as he ran off to refill his bowl.
Drake dropped down into the chair next to hers. “He seems happy.”
It had been two months since the kidnapping, and all things considered Adam was doing all right. There were still nightmares. And he hated being parted from either of them. But Lara said that eventually it would all pass, fading into memory. Annie prayed that her new friend was right.
“He’s doing okay,” she said. “And I think a lot of that has to do with Nash. The two of them are inseparable.” She watched as Adam grabbed his now-overflowing bowl of ice cream and ran over to his father. Nash hoisted Adam into his lap and opened his mouth for a bite, then grinned over at Annie.
“I think you sell yourself short, Annie,” Drake said, his tone turning serious. “You raised a great kid. And you’ve made it easy for Nash to find his way with Adam. The three of you belong together.”
She looked down at the ring on her finger. “I still can’t get used to the idea. I’ve been on my own so long. And I never would have believed Nash and I’d have a second chance like this. It’s like a fairytale, and I don’t believe in that kind of stuff.”
“Me either.” Drake shook his head. “But watching you and Nash, well, a guy could change his mind.”
“Careful, Drake,” Tyler said as she handed him a beer, “a little more talk like that and I’ll think you’ve turned into a romantic.”
“Not a chance,” he said, pushing out of his chair. “Hey, Adam, you want to play catch?”
Adam jumped off his father’s lap and grabbed his glove, running out into the yard after Drake.
“I think he’s a lot more of a softie than he lets on,” Tyler said. “But don’t tell him I said so.” She smiled and wandered over to where Hannah and Emmett were trying to convince Lara to get into the pool.
Annie closed her eyes, letting the noise of the party drift around her. Her life had changed so much. And yet not at all. She’d left Nash to try to find a normal life, but it was only in finding him again that she’d accomplished her goal. And in doing so, she’d come full circle.
Avery and his higher-ups had worked to make sure her name was cleared of any wrongdoing. DNA evidence found on a cigarette butt at the scene had ultimately tied Dominico’s shooter to Chin-Mae. But in an effort at diplomacy, the Kims’ real part in the conspiracy had been covered up by Langley, the assassination of Dominico attributed to a radical student gone off the deep end.
The jammed gun and the severed rope were still a mystery. The idea that someone in their own organization was working against them was a bitter pill to swallow. But Annie and Nash had learned the hard way that trust could be misplaced. So they’d been working with Avery to find the source. To figure out who would want to sabotage A-Tac. Every puzzle had a solution, and eventually, Annie knew, they’d figure it out.
And in the meantime, the world ticked on, the balance upheld—for now.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Nash said, bending down to kiss her neck. She shivered with delight and wondered if it would ever get old having him there with her all the time.
“I was just thinking how happy I am.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” he said, pulling her up into his arms. “I do aim to please, Mrs. Brennon.”
“And you’ll get no complaints from me, sir.” She smiled up at him.
“Any chance you’re going to put Avery out of his misery?” he asked, shooting a knowing look in his friend’s direction. Avery had been after her to join the team. He insisted they needed a sharpshooter.
“Not quite yet. You know I’d do anything for Avery. Which means helping out any time he needs me.”
“On a mission?”
“You talking about something in particular?”
“I might be.” He grinned. “But unless you’re part of the team I’m afraid the information’s classified. Let’s just say there’s a certain insurgent involved.”
“You’re playing dirty. But I don’t want to commit full-time. I’m still enjoying being your wife and Adam’s mother. Is that so bad?”
“No.” He shook his head, his eyes full of love. “I think it’s fabulous—for Adam and me. But I know you. And I think maybe it’s time you think about getting back in the game. You’re good. And the world’s full of people like Kim.”
“You know, his son was a piece of work, but I’m not sure Kim Sun was really all that bad.”
“Are you kidding?” Nash asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “He kidnapped our son.”
“Yes, but I don’t believe he really wanted to kill him. Just me. And that I can understand.” She looked out as Adam jumped for a ball, grinning as the ball hit his mitt. “At the end of the day, we’d do anything for our kids.”
“Maybe. But it doesn’t change the fact that what he did was wrong.”
“No. It doesn’t. But it does make you stop and remember that there are two sides to every story.” She looked up into his eyes, seeing the whole world.
“I love you, Annie Brennon,” he whispered. “With all my heart.”
And standing there, in the warm New York sun, content in her husband’s arms, Annie realized that she’d been wrong—there was suc
h a thing as happily ever after. And she’d found it. Here. Now. At Sunderland. With Adam and Nash.
Drake Flynn knows how to survive behind enemy lines. But he’s about to meet one adversary he can’t subdue… or resist.
Please turn this page for a preview of
DANGEROUS DESIRES
Available in mass market in July 2010.
CHAPTER 1
San Mateo Prison, Serrania Del Baudo, Colombia
Madeline Reynard squinted in the bright light. After three days of total darkness, the dappled sunlight hurt her eyes. She flinched as the guard shoved her forward, losing her balance and careening forward into the exercise yard.
“I’ve got you,” Andrés said, his voice raspy, his English heavily accented as he steadied her. “I’ve been worried.”
“They put me in solitary,” Madeline whispered.
Andrés shook his head in disgust. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” Madeline nodded. “It’s getting easier.” This was the third time she’d been relegated to the dank, windowless cell in the bowels of the prison. “I just try to think of somewhere else and let my mind carry me away. It doesn’t always work, but it helps to keep me calm. And besides, it’s not as if I haven’t had practice.” She’d spent a good portion of her childhood locked in a closet only slightly smaller than the solitary cell. Her father had clearly believed the adage “out of sight, out of mind.” But the experience had not been without value. If Madeline could survive living with Frank Reynard, she could survive anything. Even San Mateo.
A place for political prisoners, the prison lacked creature comforts. In actual point of fact, it lacked most everything. Which meant that days loomed long, the only bright spot the minutes spent here, under the canopy of trees.