My Traitor

by Nicolette Pierce

  But that wasn’t what he was fighting against today. “Toma disappeared from the village about six months ago. He left to run an errand but never returned.”

  “But he did. He’s here now.”

  Natan shook his head. “His body is here, but his mind is gone. And it gets worse if his adrenaline spikes. It’s as if he’s becoming someone or something else. His strength is compounding. When he showed up at home two months ago, I was asked to come.”

  Natan finished wrapping Ava’s leg, the splints adding bulk. She would need a cast eventually, but for now it was set. If she was in pain, she wasn’t letting on.

  “Why not get him medical treatment instead?”

  “His family is very poor,” Natan explained. “And, I am a doctor. As soon as I saw him, I knew something had happened—something I couldn’t explain.”

  “How do you know Venom is involved? What has Toma relayed so far?”

  “When Toma came home, he was hallucinating. Injection marks ran up his arm. He was violent, lashing out. He thought we were going to hurt him. But it wasn’t us. He was the one hurting himself. There was a reason I stopped you from taking the cloth from his face.” Natan looked away, retaining a firm grip on his emotions. “The Toma I knew never took drugs. You probably wouldn’t guess to look at him, but Toma is a skilled artist. When he finally came down off the drugs, he spent hours at a time sketching and murmuring ‘Venom’ over and over again. But the effects of whatever he was injected with are still present. He can change. He can kill.”

  Ava’s brow creased.

  “What are you thinking?” Natan asked.

  “How did he survive?” Ava asked. “Venom wouldn’t allow him to just get up and leave.”

  “You’ve heard of the stories, then?”

  “Some. What were you planning on doing?”

  “I thought it’d be a simple matter to find Venom, but the more we search, the more . . .” Natan stopped. He was furious with himself. He was digging his family farther into a world they didn’t belong. They weren’t trained soldiers, and yet here they were, armed with old rifles in a hideout that could fall over with one gust of wind. But he couldn’t turn back either. Venom had to be stopped. The other victims were lucky to have died. He doubted Toma would survive for long. And even if he did, he’d never be the same; his soul was already blackened.

  Venom had to have an antidote. It was one of the reasons they continued. To save Toma and any others who might be out there. Natan had tried everything he knew, even spoke with several colleagues. But no one grasped the severity. The only thing he could do now was pump Toma with enough tranquilizers to take down an elephant. And still that was barely enough.

  “You said Toma sketched,” Ava said. “Do you have any of them here?”

  “Yes, I keep a few on me in case I run into someone who might know something.” He reached into the long pocket on his outer thigh and pulled out three worn pages.

  Ava reached for them. “These have seen some action,” she said, noting the dried blood on the edges.

  “We’ve been through a lot. More than I ever thought possible.”

  Ava looked thoughtfully at him. “We all get tested at one point or another.”

  While she was right, Natan just wanted to get back to his practice in London. But if this path took the rest of his life to walk, then he would, with no regrets.

  Ava cursed, drawing his attention. “What is it?” he asked. Her face paled as she clutched the paper. Natan peered down to see which one she was looking at. “I think that’s where Toma was held.”

  “I’ve seen this place before. I thought it was just a storage facility.”

  “Do you know where it is?” he asked. This was what he’d been waiting for. Finally, he was getting answers.

  “Near the border,” she said, shaking her head. “This can’t be right.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because then I would know who Venom is,” she said, shaking her head again. “It can’t be right. It must be a different place.”

  Natan took the papers from her and shuffled to the one Toma always drew. “That’s Venom,” he said, pointing. “Toma always repeated his name when he sketched him.”

  “Oh, God! I know who it is!”

  “Ishaia,” Natan called, his voice boomed through the building. “Load the boys up; we found Venom,” he ordered in Aramaic so that Ishaia would understand.

  Ishaia skidded to the door. “Are you sure?”

  “She knows him. She knows where he is.”

  “Can she be trusted?” Ishaia asked.

  “Yes,” Natan answered. But even if she couldn’t be trusted, he couldn’t overlook any lead. He glanced at Ava; the dread in her eyes told him everything he needed to know. She knew Venom.

  “We should leave her here,” Ishaia said.

  “No, she’ll come with us.”

  “But her leg.”

  “We have those old wooden crutches in the back. She can use those.”

  “But—”

  “We need her,” Natan stated, continuing to speak in Aramaic. “Even if she gave us directions, we’d need her. If Venom won’t listen to reason and won’t stand down to threats, then we’ll use her.” Even if they have to hold her hostage again. If she had a close relationship with Venom, he might cave.

  Somehow, though, Natan doubted it.

  * * *

  David and Boyer hopped off the helicopter at a point near the Turkey/Iraq border. David was beyond thankful for Boyer’s assistance. The man had more years in the service and more connections than he and Remy combined. Boyer was instrumental in planning their operation.

  They were to meet with a team who’d help them cross the border undetected and aid them in finding Venom. There were a few names on the team that David recognized. He felt confident that with their help they’d find Venom. David just prayed that they’d make it in time. He didn’t know how Remy had survived the first experiment; he couldn’t see how anyone could survive a second.

  “Follow me,” Boyer said.

  They headed down a trail that wound its way through rocky hills. It looked as if the path hadn’t been used for a while. While there was no forest or vegetation to reclaim it, it was dusted over as if strong winds blew through.

  “Where are we going?” David said.

  “There is a small base about a half mile south of us.”

  “Will the team already be assembled?”

  “Should be.”

  David hoped they would be. Any delay and . . . no, he never left a man behind. He certainly wasn’t going to start now, not with Remy.

  David continued to follow Boyer, his mind absorbed with the operation and echoes from the past. Several minutes later, they stepped into a clearing, hidden amongst the hills. A large shed took up most of the space.

  “Is this the meeting point?” David asked.

  “This is it.” Boyer walked over to the door, unlocking the padlock with a key. He stepped back to allow David to enter first.

  “Is there a light?” David asked as he walked in.

  “There’s no need,” Boyer said.

  David looked back at Boyer questioningly.

  “Inside,” Boyer ordered, a gun now in his hand, aimed at David.

  “What’s going on?” David asked, backing away. “Put the gun down.”

  Boyer pulled the trigger, piercing David’s arm with a dart. David yanked it out, but not in time. The effects of the tranquilizer were already coursing through his system.

  “Are you out of your fucking mind?” David shouted, the words sounding like they were bouncing through a deep cave.

  “No, but you will be.”

  David fell to his knees as Boyer closed in.

  Chapter 15

  “What side of the border are we on?” Remy asked, stopping to wipe the sweat from his brow. He would have thought they’d have reached a fence or resistance line, but they were in the middle of nowhere. He didn’t know how heavily the border was gu
arded.

  “Still in Iraq,” French muttered, forging ahead.

  Still in hell and feeling more that way every minute as they hiked through the scorching hills. The mountainous terrain jutted up like soldiers, each one standing in Remy’s way.

  Abandoning their jeep over an hour ago, Remy armed himself with weapons. Guns and knives were at the ready. Night vision goggles and provisions were in his pack.

  As they navigated the natural path that curved between the rock formations, Remy pressed his lips together to keep from swearing. He and French had volleyed back and forth about the sketches. How could Venom possibly be Jared Boyer? The man was solid Army, like these damn boulders.

  Neither French nor Remy could find an ulterior reason why Boyer’s likeness was in the notebook. The villager had wanted his son back. To what purpose would he fill a sketchpad on the off chance that the right people should come along?

  “If Venom is Boyer, then he’s responsible for the attack,” French said, incredulously. “After all of these years of searching, he’s been under my nose this entire time!”

  “It looks like there’s no ‘if,’” Remy said. “But I don’t think we’ll find him here. I saw him a few days ago at his house.”

  “You did?” French glanced at Remy, suspicion clouding over. “What for?”

  “Ava was on my tail. At the time, I still thought she was responsible. I reached out to Jared for information.”

  French gave a low whistle. “I bet he was surprised you’re alive.”

  “No, David had arrived an hour before I did. Told him the story.”

  “He probably shit his pants.”

  “If he did, he didn’t let on.”

  French shook his head. “No, if he’s killed so many people, seeing one ghost wouldn’t faze him. You’re lucky David was there. Boyer loves to hunt. I bet he’s never bagged a ghost before.”

  “I’m not that easy to take down.”

  “Obviously. You’re still here.”

  “Jared Boyer,” Remy muttered. “I’ll be apologizing to Ava until I’m ninety.”

  French didn’t respond, but he quickened his pace.

  Remy silently cursed. He needed French on his side and all he was doing was breaching the peace by bringing up Ava. The guy must be as lost as Remy when it came to her.

  They had to get Ava to safety. He just hoped she could defend herself until then. But if her jail experience was anything like his . . . no, don’t think about it. Don’t do this to yourself. Just find Ava and then bury the bloody bastards.

  Remy broke out into a nervous sweat. Fortunately, that fact was hidden thanks to the afternoon sun being blistering hot and him already sweating. He would find her. He would make everything right.

  His gaze lingered on French as they continued their journey. Remy would deal with him later. He wasn’t about to flip a coin for Ava. She belonged with him.

  Unless she decided otherwise.

  That thought didn’t sit well.

  A sound jarred him from his thoughts. He stopped and scanned the area. “French!” he hissed.

  Jeremy stilled, his hands already gripping the gun at his side.

  “Above us,” Remy whispered.

  They watched as a group of forty armed men passed overhead. Some were dressed in swat, others in both local and western clothes.

  Remy and French pressed back into the rock to hide.

  “Do you recognize the group?” Remy asked. They definitely stood out from some of the other militant groups and terrorists. Perhaps they were on their way to join up with one. It wasn’t unheard of.

  “No. I can identify most, but I’ve never seen these guys.”

  “They’re heading the same way we are,” Remy said. “Let’s follow them for a bit.”

  French nodded and resumed leading the way.

  * * *

  Ava was supported by Natan and Mikael, using them as crutches. They were much steadier than the rickety wooden ones she was originally given. But she still had to keep her injured leg bent and nearly blacked out on a few occasions from the pain. Thankfully, they didn’t have much farther to go. If her memory was correct, they’d reach the tucked-away building in less than an hour.

  “How are you holding up?” Natan asked.

  “Fine,” she said through a clenched jaw.

  “I can carry you the rest of the way,” he said.

  “No, you’ll only wear yourself out. Save your energy for Boyer.”

  “Tell me about him,” Natan said, his shoulders tensing underneath Ava’s arms.

  Ava let out a jagged laugh. “I don’t know anything about him. I only know lies.”

  “Then tell me the lies.”

  “I thought of him as my Army dad. He kept an eye on us, always making sure we were okay. I thought we were close, but now I understand. We were nothing but eyes and ears for him.”

  “How did you know about this place? Did he take you?”

  “No. Communications were down, but I had to get in touch with him. I tracked him to the building and found him as he was leaving; he said it was a terrorist storage facility that he was going to level. I never questioned him.”

  A warm sensation that had nothing to do with the oppressive heat rippled through her body. She stilled.

  “What is it?” Natan asked.

  Ava scanned the hills. “We’re being followed,” she said, wondering if her senses were accurate. Was Remy out there? Was he following them? She felt as if he was standing next to her. But, he was taken by Venom . . . by Jared Boyer. Oh God. The puzzle pieces were starting to fit together, but not all of them. There were so many open holes that drilled her brain with possible scenarios.

  Natan gave an order, and the men surrounded Ava, guns aimed in all directions as their narrow gaze scoured the craggy hills.

  “Tell them not to shoot,” Ava said. “Not yet.”

  “We don’t shoot unless they shoot first.”

  That didn’t reassure Ava since Boyer wouldn’t hold back. If he had Remy with him, they’d both be targets for Natan’s unskilled family.

  “Let me look,” Ava said, nudging her way through but being continuously blocked by well-meaning protectors.

  Natan shouted, and the men shuffled into position, taking Ava along for the ride. She braced herself between Natan and Mikael, whose sunglasses were propped fashionably on the top of his head instead of where they were designed to be worn to cut the glare and make his aim ten times better.

  “Mikael, give me your rifle,” Ava said.

  “I’m using it.”

  “I want to look through the scope.”

  Mikael handed Ava the rifle and took a step behind her. “Did you just hide behind an injured woman?” she asked dryly, spying through the scope.

  “You’re not a normal injured woman,” he said.

  With the scope, she swept along the ridges and dips where she thought the sound had originated from.

  There.

  She glanced up from the eyepiece, her heart racing. “It’s Remy. I don’t see Boyer. Hold your fire.” Did Remy escape from the Venom ship?

  Natan looked through his scope. “I only see an arm.”

  “It’s Remy. I know it’s him.”

  “I’m not risking it,” Natan said. “The men will keep in position. Who is this Remy person, anyway?”

  Ava faltered. “A friend,” she finally said. “Let me call out to him, otherwise . . .”

  “Otherwise, what?”

  “Well, he’s the one who trained me. Just think about a bigger, scary version of me.”

  Did Mikael just shudder? That wasn’t flattering, especially since she was over exaggerating. Remy was like a giant pussycat. You just needed to know how to handle him.

  “Call him,” Natan said. “I don’t want unnecessary bloodshed, but I make no promises. My family comes first.”

  * * *

  Remy and French pressed back against the rock wall. Remy knew his arm was exposed, but he couldn’t squeez
e into the small nook without evicting French. Hopefully it wasn’t too noticeable. Only a trained eye should be able to pick him out against the gravelly hill.

  He regulated his breathing to help keep him calm against the rising adrenaline. Remy knew their presence was known, but he doubted the armed men knew anything else. He had seen them shuffling about, wondering where the enemy lay.

  “Remy!”

  French and Remy locked confused gazes.

  “That sounded like Ava,” Remy said.

  French nodded his agreement.

  “Remy! It’s clear. They won’t shoot!” Ava called.

  “Is she saying that under duress?” French asked.

  “You tell me,” Remy said. “The Ava I know wouldn’t.”

  “No, it’s probably clear, like she said.”

  Remy peeked out. “What’s my middle name?” he called.

  “What’s that supposed to prove?” French asked. “We know it’s her.”

  “She’ll lie if she’s under threat.”

  “I wouldn’t know,” Ava called. “You keep changing your identity.”

  French laughed. “I think she’s okay.”

  “Yes, but who is she with? Is this the group that held her hostage?”

  “If it is, they wanted Venom,” French said. “Would it be a coincidence that we’re all here?”

  “I guess there’s only one way to find out.” Remy scrubbed his hand over his face. Life was always complicated when Ava was involved. He’d missed that.

  French walked into the open, hands in the air. “Don’t shoot,” he called.

  Remy waited a few beats before following. Guns were still pointed, but Ava and another man were out in front. He didn’t like the way the man was holding her. The jerk better remove his arms or Remy would rip them off for him.

  As Remy drew closer, he realized the man was actually supporting Ava. She had a thick bandage around her lower leg, oddly shaped as if splints were added.

  Christ, her leg was broken and she was out hiking.