Ransom

by Terri Reed

  “I need to get people in place over there,” he said, his voice sharp.

  “And I told you I’d do whatever is necessary to get my sister back,” she replied just as sharply. “So you’d better hurry.”

  She heard his frustrated growl but didn’t let it deter her. When she reached the barracks she skidded to a halt, scanning the few people wandering around. An older couple walked with arms linked, heads bent together. A group of school children and their chaperones gathered near a cannon on display while they listened to a fort employee no doubt explaining the use of cannon fire in the 1800s.

  No one seemed the least bit interested in her.

  A piece of paper flapping against the barracks door caught her attention. She moved swiftly to the door and read the note pinned there out loud.

  “Leave the necklace. Your sister will be at the hotel.”

  “Okay, I’ve got eyes on you,” Blake said. “Place the bag on the doorstep and head back to the entrance.”

  “You’ll take me back to the hotel?” she asked, still clutching the bag.

  He sighed. “I’ll send Nathanial.”

  Something in his tone stirred a riot of apprehension in her chest. Careful to conceal her mouth with one hand, she said, “You don’t believe she’ll be there, do you?”

  “Honestly, no,” Blake answered. “Our best course of action is to follow whoever retrieves the bag and pray they lead us to Santini. And your sister.”

  In other words, he didn’t believe Santini would honor his word or show up. The man was a ruthless criminal, so that opinion wasn’t surprising. That thought led to another. Did Blake also think that it was too late for Jillian?

  A sharp, knifelike pain slid through Liz’s midsection. She loathed being at anyone’s mercy. And right now she was at everyone’s mercy. Santini, who threatened to kill her sister and may have already done so. And Blake, who, while she appreciated his honesty, was still calling the shots.

  The stress of not knowing if her sister lived or had died gnawed away at her, making the breakfast she’d eaten turn in her stomach. Desperate, she did the only thing she could—trusted Blake to do his job.

  * * *

  From his perch on a corner bastion of the fort’s palisade, Blake watched Liz closely as she struggled to come to terms with his pronouncement. Her shoulders drooped and the distress so clearly etched on her pretty face made his insides clench.

  He wanted to go to her to ease the pain she was suffering.

  The need caught him by surprise.

  He wasn’t one for demonstrative feelings. Just like his father. Doug Fallon was a hard man, an even harder cop who’d admonished his son that only weaklings let their feelings show. Which was why Blake’s mom had bailed on him and his dad, taking Blake’s little sister with her. She’d wanted to feel loved. She hadn’t.

  Even knowing he needed to keep his emotions in check, he couldn’t help the protective urges coursing through his system. After their conversation last night, he’d realized how much Liz had given, had sacrificed, for her family. Respect and admiration filled him.

  She’d been so young to become caregiver and surrogate parent to her younger sister. That couldn’t have been easy. Teens in general were riddled with angst, but one who’d lost both parents must have been a handful. Well, from all accounts, Jillian was a handful. But she was Liz’s only family. It stood to reason why Liz was so determined to protect her.

  He hoped with everything in him that he could deliver on his promise to rescue Jillian.

  For Liz’s sake.

  For his own sake.

  Failure wasn’t an option.

  He’d failed to provide backup to his fellow ICE agent Liam at a critical moment that had cost the agent his life at the hands of Santini.

  Blake couldn’t let the attraction that sizzled between him and Liz complicate the situation.

  Though he had to admit to himself he found her unassuming beauty very alluring. She seemed to not even notice the effect she had on men. He’d watched every male on the fort grounds turn to watch her as she walked through the yard. But what he really found captivating was her tenacity and drive to save her sister. Few people defied him when he gave an order. And yet he hadn’t been able to stay mad at her for disregarding his instructions to sit tight.

  She’d made it clear that her first priority was her sister, as well it should be. And he would do everything he could to make sure they rescued her sister before anything bad happened to her. And at the same time take down Santini and gain justice for his friend.

  He could only hope they both succeeded. And that Liz’s independent streak didn’t put her or anyone else in harm’s way. Because ultimately it was his responsibility to keep her safe. He could only do that if she cooperated.

  “Set the bag down, then head to the entrance. I’ll meet you there,” he told her as she straightened her spine, visibly collecting herself. He admired her gumption.

  She gave a small nod and then bent to set the bag on the ground. Before she’d released her hold on the bag, the wooden door behind her swung open and a man dragged her inside the dark interior of the barracks.

  A panic-fueled surge of adrenaline pumped through Blake’s veins.

  Liz’s scream echoed in his head.

  “I’m coming!” he told her through the communication link that kept them connected.

  He could only pray he wasn’t too late.

  FOUR

  Liz struggled against the hands dragging her into the barracks. The bag holding the necklace flew from her grip to land several feet away. Panic beat a desperate drum inside her chest and she let out a howl, and then another, but the wooden walls absorbed her screams. She jabbed and kicked at her assailant.

  In her ear she could hear Blake’s assurances he was coming to rescue her. But would he arrive in time? Would her attacker kill her and make off with the jewels before Blake could reach her?

  Breath-stealing panic rose like a choking tide. She didn’t want to die. What would happen to Jillian? Who would fight for her life if Liz were dead?

  A line of scripture flashed through her mind—“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

  Please, Lord, give me strength.

  With renewed determination, she used the heel of her boot to stomp hard on her captor’s instep.

  A deep male voice swore and shoved her toward the back wall. She stumbled, catching herself on the edge of a wooden-frame cot. Light from the many windows revealed a long room with a row of similar cots lining one wall and a bench table where a man dressed in period garb was seated hunched over a plate of food. Not a man, but a mannequin, she realized. The barracks were festooned to look like they would have in the 1800s. A fireplace that had once burned with flame was dark and cold. Leaning against the side of the fireplace was a black fire iron. She raced to pick it up to use as a weapon and whirled around to face her attacker.

  Recognition made her jaw drop. “Travis?”

  He looked disheveled in wrinkled corduroy pants and a dress shirt beneath a wool coat. Several days growth of stubble shadowed his jaw. His bloodshot gaze watched her warily. “It’s me. I’m sorry I scared you. Put that down.”

  “No way.” She hadn’t trusted him before this debacle; she certainly didn’t trust him now. Her attention zeroed in on the bag containing her mother’s box and the necklace where it had landed in the far corner behind Travis before her gaze skittered back to her brother-in-law. “Where’s Jillian? Is she at the hotel like Santini promised?”

  Travis shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. I don’t know where she is. He separated us.” His voice quivered. “I was told to come here, retrieve the necklace and then he’d contact me.”

  “Figures.” Blake was right that Santini would lie. She was so naive to think a cri
minal would keep his word.

  “But I wanted you to know I’m doing everything I can to rescue her,” Travis assured her. “You have to trust me.”

  Again, another man telling her she had to trust him without giving her any reason to. Unbelievable.

  The door to the barracks burst open, and Blake barreled inside with his gun drawn, his gaze sweeping over them. He slammed the door closed behind him. Liz didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the distraction. She leaped over the next cot and grabbed the bag with the diamond necklace from the floor.

  Though Blake kept his gun trained on Travis, he darted an anxious look toward her. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes.” She clutched the bag to her chest. “This is Travis, my no-good, rotten brother-in-law.”

  Travis’s wide eyes swung from Blake to her. “You called the police?” He groaned, a lamenting sound that pummeled Liz. “If Santini finds out—” Travis bent forward, putting his hands on his knees. His breathing turned ragged “—she’s as good as dead.”

  Liz gritted her teeth against the slicing pain of his words. She’d placed her trust in Blake and his team. She needed to hold on to the hope that there was still a chance of rescuing Jillian before it was too late.

  Blake stalked forward. “Where’s Santini?”

  Travis jerked upright and backed up. “I don’t know. He took Jillian and told me to come here for the necklace.”

  “And then what are you supposed to do?” Blake pressed.

  Travis hesitated.

  Obviously, he didn’t want to help the police. Anger swept through Liz, heating her chilled skin. Her fingers tightened around the bag. “If you love Jillian then you’ll help us.”

  Travis’s gaze darted between her and Blake. Indecision warred in his eyes. Finally, he nodded. “I want immunity.”

  Blake scoffed. “It doesn’t work like that. I don’t have the authority to agree to immunity. But I will say your helping us will go a long way to making a better deal for yourself. Less prison time.”

  Travis licked his lips as he contemplated Blake’s words. Liz held her breath, praying he’d make the right choice. The only choice that would help her sister.

  Finally Travis said, “I’m to wait at a diner in town. He’ll contact me there with further instructions.”

  Liz breathed out a small measure of relief. Okay, they were one step closer to finding her sister. Still, she wasn’t about to let Travis off the hook. “How could you let this happen? You’re supposed to protect her!”

  Travis swiped a hand through his brown hair. “It wasn’t supposed to go down like this. I do love Jillian. I only wanted to give her something tangible, something I thought she’d find interesting. I didn’t think Santini would miss the necklace. There were so many others, better ones, in the shipment. I thought it was just rocks strung together with some gold wire until he showed up in our hotel room. How was I supposed to know it was uncut diamonds? I’d never seen them before. If I’d known I never would have taken it. Especially if I’d thought for a second that Santini would come after Jillian for it. You have to believe me, I never meant to hurt Jillian.”

  “Hurt? He hurt her?” she squeaked the words out. Oh, no. Please, Lord, no.

  Travis grimaced. “You know Jillian. She doesn’t take well to being told what to do.”

  Oh, Jillian. Liz did know. Her little sister had spent too many years getting her way as both Liz and their father tried to make up for the loss of their mother. It made Jillian unbearable at times. Tears pricked the backs of Liz’s eyes. “Please tell me she’s alive.”

  “Yes, she is, but if I don’t bring that necklace back to Santini he’ll kill her.” Travis’s face twisted. “And then me.”

  Of course he was concerned about his own skin. Bitterness clogged Liz’s throat. “This is all your fault. If you weren’t working for a criminal, if you weren’t a thief, my sister would be safe at home with me.”

  “I know, I know.” He spread his hands wide. “I want to make this right.”

  “The only way this will ever be right is when Jillian is set free,” she said. “But you and Santini both belong in jail.”

  Something hard flashed in Travis’s brown eyes before his shoulders slumped. “You’re right. I don’t deserve Jillian. She’s the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love her. I have to get her away from Santini.” He stepped toward Liz, holding out his hand. “Please, give me the necklace.”

  She stepped back. “You take me to my sister.”

  “I would if I could,” Travis said.

  “Which mine did the necklace come from?” Blake asked, drawing their attention. He’d been quiet during her and Travis’s exchange, possibly taking Travis’s measure, or perhaps her own. What went on behind the implacable mask he wore?

  Turning his focus to Blake, Travis shrugged. “Hey, I don’t work the mines. I’ve never even seen one. All I do is transport the stuff I’m handed once I’m in the country.”

  He made it sound so easy and civil. She’d read and seen the news reports about blood diamonds in developing nations. It sickened her to know that so much immorality existed in the world. Liz’s lip curled. “Do you have any idea of the working conditions of the men, women and children who work in the mines in Venezuela or Sierra Leone or the Congo? Don’t you have a conscience?”

  “It’s not personal, it’s business,” Travis said in a tone that suggested she was the one in the wrong.

  Disgusted by him, she turned to Blake. “So now what?”

  “Now our plan has changed,” Blake said. “He’ll wear the wire and meet with Santini.” He turned his dark-eyed gaze on Travis, who visibly blanched.

  “No way, man,” Travis said. “He finds a wire on me, I’m done for.”

  Blake’s gaze narrowed. “He won’t find it. All you have to do is get Santini to incriminate himself. Get him to admit to funding the mines in Venezuela, to smuggling the unregistered diamonds and to kidnapping Jillian. Then we’ll move in and take him down.” He turned to Liz. “And free your sister.”

  That sounded good to Liz. But her frayed nerves wouldn’t be soothed until she was reunited with her sister. And then she and Jillian would leave this place of snow and ice and head back to the peace and quiet of Hilton Head. At least when a storm blew in there she was prepared. This storm she’d found herself in right here right now was like nothing she’d experienced before and there’d been no way to prepare.

  But the crisis wasn’t over yet. And she had no idea what to expect next. Or whether or not Jillian would live or die.

  * * *

  “I’ll call for a taxi to take you back to the safe house,” Blake said, anxious to get moving. They were close to bringing down Santini and rescuing Liz’s sister. He could feel it in his bones. But he had to get Liz somewhere safe. Her presence was too distracting for him. When she was close, she was all he could concentrate on. Not good at all.

  They were standing in a secluded spot in an alley behind a strip mall where there were no prying eyes. Drew and Sami waited in an SUV nearby with Travis in the backseat. They’d transferred the wire from Liz to Travis with little fuss. The plan was to drop Travis off a few blocks from the café and then stake out the diner.

  When Santini showed, they’d swoop in. Or if Travis was instructed to go to another rendezvous spot, they would follow. There would come a moment when Santini would come out from under whatever rock he’d crawled beneath, and Blake would be ready.

  “No way, I’m coming with you. My sister’s trusting me to help.” Liz stared down her nose at Blake. He almost laughed at her attempt to intimidate him. Her honey-colored braid was coming loose, and her cheeks were pink from the cold. She stomped her feet to keep warm. “And if you try to leave me behind, I’ll just follow you.”

  Blake clenched his back teeth. He wanted her to coop
erate and go back to the condo and let his team do what they did best. But from the stubborn jut of her chin and the determination in the depths of her sea-colored gaze he knew that wasn’t going to happen.

  He understood and even appreciated her commitment to rescuing her sister. But she was a distraction he didn’t need. After fearing he’d failed her back at Fort George, then the surge of relief and...something else that he refused to acknowledge when he’d entered the barracks to find her holding off her brother-in-law with an iron poker, he knew having her around wasn’t in anyone’s best interest. Certainly not his.

  He didn’t do emotions. He wouldn’t let any weakness stop him from doing his job. Especially on a mission. Getting tangled up inside over a woman could lead to disaster. If he started putting her welfare ahead of the mission’s goal, then failure was guaranteed. And that he couldn’t abide.

  But the guilt riding on his back told him he should never have let her get that close to danger. He should put her on the next plane back to her island home where she would be safe and out of his hair. For both their sakes.

  Yet, he admitted to himself, he’d do just about anything to bring down Santini, including saddling himself with this headstrong, attractive, maddening woman. He owed Liam that. The sting of remorse was never far from the surface, reminding Blake of the debt he must pay.

  “Fine,” he ground out. “But no matter what, you aren’t leaving the car.”

  “Okay, I won’t get in the way.” She turned on her heel to march to his sedan and slid into the passenger seat.

  Shaking his head and holding on to his patience, Blake climbed behind the steering wheel. With the heater on full blast, he followed the Kellys’ SUV, stopping a few cars back as they let Travis out. Blake kept an eye on the man in case he tried to run with the necklace as they slowly trailed him.

  Liz had handed over the paper bag easily enough, much to Blake’s surprise. He had figured she’d want to keep control of the necklace. He hoped it was a sign that she trusted him. Trust meant she’d act when he told her to, which could be the difference between life and death. That she’d understood that he was the professional and allowed him to do what he needed to in order to get the job done.