Hidden Prey (Lawmen)

by Cheyenne McCray

  But far worse than the pain in her head and chest, and the bruises all over her body, was the fact that she’d been kidnapped and these men were taking her across the line, into Mexico.

  If they got her out of the U.S., there would be no hope for her. The U.S. government would do nothing—she’d just be one more person who’d been abducted into Mexico like so many others.

  Tears squeezed from her eyes. What if they sold her to human traffickers? Would she become a sex slave? It was a very real and frightening possibility that tightened her chest and made her feel ill, like she might throw up behind the duct tape. She’d drown in her own vomit.

  More tears rolled from her eyes. What could she do, bound and gagged and surrounded by determined men?

  All she could do was pray.

  She looked at the duct tape binding her wrists in front of her. The rain hadn’t washed away all of Special Agent Aguilar’s blood from her hands and it was still around her fingernails as well as having stained what was left of her shirt. She prayed, too, that the agent would survive. She had a lot to pray for, including Landon’s safety.

  Landon. Her heart squeezed. If her kidnappers got her across the line, she’d never see him again. She hadn’t known him for long, but she knew one thing. She’d fallen in love with him. She had truly fallen in love with a man for the first and only time in her life. Now that she knew what real love felt like, she knew that what she’d felt for Gregory had been infatuation while he’d treated her well. Before things had changed.

  Landon had killed her brother, but as hard as that was, she knew it had been in the line of duty. It was screwed up, but she loved Landon with everything she had.

  Her heart swelled with the emotion, but ached at the fact that how she felt wouldn’t matter if she ended up in the cartel’s compound.

  Yet somehow it did matter, even though she may have seen Landon for the last time. The saying was true…she would rather have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.

  Even though six men surrounded her, all of whom were likely hardened criminals and murderers, she still held out hope of escape before they crossed the line into Mexico.

  Somehow, some way, she would make it.

  CHAPTER 25

  The morning had dawned crisp and bright. Diego smiled, truly pleased for the first time since the woman had witnessed Alejandro murdering the federal agent. Yes, he’d thought she was dead in the explosion, and had been furious yesterday morning to find out she’d somehow escaped.

  But now that his men had her, and had crossed the line into Mexico last night, he was more than pleased. Any time now, when they arrived, he would see the woman for himself and he would determine what her destiny would be.

  The bugs that had been planted in various agents’ offices had worked perfectly. Alejandro had arranged for two members of the federal office’s cleaning staff to be blackmailed. If they didn’t plant the bugs, their families would die.

  Diego whistled as he walked through his exquisite home, morning sunshine pouring in through tall arched windows. He paused and looked outside at the preparations.

  An event planner and her staff, along with his own employees, were working tirelessly to prepare for his granddaughter’s Quinceañera later this evening. It would take place outside where a wide stone staircase swept down to the grounds below.

  A stage had been built for a live band, and two enormous tents had been erected on a portion of the expansive lawn. Workers had spread a dance floor beneath one tent. The other tent stretched over table after table with many chairs. White slipcovers with large pink bows decorated the chairs. Each table was covered with fine linen cloths with floral arrangements at the center of each round. The tables were set with lovely cut crystal glasses and china serving pieces, along with flatware of polished silver.

  Flowers in pots and vases were arranged in brilliant displays, and balloons in light pink, dark pink, and white, hung from every corner and the center of both tents.

  At the top of the stairs was an archway covered with balloons and ribbons. Angelina would walk through the archway and with her court she would be presented to the guests.

  The day was splendid as had been expected from weather reports. Yes, everything would be perfect, nothing to mar Angelina’s special day.

  As he entered the wing where Angelina’s suite of rooms was located, the now young woman of fifteen ran toward him like an excited child.

  “Grandfather!” Her smile was lovely. “Everything is beautiful!”

  He took his angel by the shoulders and kissed her forehead before stretching his arms out and looking at her. His throat closed off as pride swelled within him at the rare beauty she was.

  “So much like your mother, my angel.” He hugged her as she wrapped her arms around him.

  “Thank you, Grandfather.” She drew back and beamed at him. “This will be the best Quinceañera that has ever been held in all of Mexico.”

  “No one deserves it more than you.” He rested his arm around her shoulders and gave her a loving squeeze. “Only the best for my angel.”

  “Maria said I must bathe this afternoon in an herbal bath she is preparing.” Angelina spoke in an excited tone. “Then she will fix my hair and help me dress and she will put makeup on me.”

  Diego frowned. “You need nothing to add to your beauty.”

  “Grandfather, please.” She placed her hand on his arm. “It is only a little. I am a woman now.”

  He studied her. “Only a little or I will make you wash your face of it.”

  Angelina’s smile faltered. “I will tell Maria that you will allow the barest amount. Does that please you?”

  His frown turned into a smile. My God, but he loved this girl, this young woman. “That pleases me.”

  “Thank you.” She gave him a quick kiss before hurrying to her bedroom suite.

  Diego watched after her, pride making his chest expand once again.

  When he turned to leave the wing, Jaime appeared at the entrance.

  “What is it?” Diego held back a scowl. He did not wish for anything to disturb this day in any way.

  “Alejandro is here.” Jaime stood with his hands behind his back. “With the girl.”

  “Good.” Diego relaxed and gave a single nod, pleased his son had arrived safely. He lowered his voice to ensure no one would overhear. “They are in the rooms below?”

  “Sí.” As usual, Jaime’s expression betrayed no emotion. “They brought the girl in through the tunnel.”

  “Excellent.” Diego began walking toward the wing reserved for business activities, Jaime at his side.

  When they reached what Diego considered to be his “War Room”, he strode toward a map-covered wall as Jaime closed the door behind them. The room was filled with the newest and best high-tech computers and screens money could buy.

  Diego pressed what looked like a large map pin, and a hidden door swung open. He looked at Jaime. “I will return shortly for the last of the preparations for Angelina’s Quinceañera.”

  “Yes, El Demonio.” Jaime gave a slight bow at his shoulders.

  Diego walked into a corridor, pressed a red button on the wall, and the hidden door swung shut behind him. He walked down the tunnel, lights automatically coming to life as he walked, illuminating his way.

  A door was to his left and he opened it and took the stairs to the cells below. The sound of his shoes against stone echoed against the rough-hewn walls as he walked down. He heard male voices ahead, at the bottom of the stairs. They quieted, no doubt hearing his footsteps.

  When he entered the cellblock, he saw Alejandro with two other men, waiting.

  A young woman was on her knees, her wrists bound with duct tape behind her back. Her head hung forward, her hair obscuring her face. Her blue shirt was bloodstained and in tatters, and her jeans were filthy. Bruises spotted her arms.

  “Hello, Father.” Alejandro gave Diego a deferential nod.

  The other two men said nothing but droppe
d their gazes.

  “Let me see her face.” Diego watched as Alejandro grabbed the woman’s hair and jerked her head back.

  Duct tape covered her mouth and tear tracks streaked her dirty and bruised face. She met his gaze, but she showed neither fear nor anger, not even resignation. He could read nothing from her eyes, and that concerned him.

  He stepped closer and realized when he saw her dilated pupils that she’d been drugged.

  “I gave no orders to drug the woman.” Diego narrowed his eyes at his son. “I want her lucid for what I have planned for her.”

  Alejandro kept his gaze even with his father’s. “My apologies, Father. She proved to be difficult and I felt she needed to be calmed down considerably.”

  Diego looked at the woman again. She had dark hair and fine features. She swayed and looked as if she was about to collapse. Diego motioned to one of the cells. “Remove the tape and lock her up.”

  The two men with Alejandro cut the tape from her wrists and pulled off the strip across her mouth. She started to slump to the side, but one of the men caught her. He dragged her into a cell, and he left her on the floor before leaving and slamming the cell door shut with a loud clang. She curled onto her side and closed her eyes, a soft moan of pain escaping her lips.

  Diego nodded with approval. “Tomorrow I will deal with the woman. Tonight is for celebrating.” He slapped Alejandro on the upper arm. “Clean up and enjoy breakfast.” They walked side-by side to the stone staircase. “Angelina will be pleased her favorite uncle is here for her Quinceañera, her big party tonight.”

  “I am her only uncle.” Amusement was in Alejandro’s voice.

  “That is why you are her favorite.” Diego chuckled. “It is good you are here. She will only turn fifteen once.”

  As he walked away from the cell, the other two men followed.

  Diego didn’t look back at the cell. The woman was of no concern to him tonight and he would forget about her until tomorrow, once he’d rested from a night of festivities.

  Yes, all was as it should be now and there was no longer anything to be concerned about. Life was good. Very good.

  CHAPTER 26

  “Fuck.” Head bent, arms rigid, Landon braced his hands on the desk in his home office. Every muscle in his body tensed and he ground his teeth so hard his head ached. His injured shoulder throbbed and his knuckles were white from clenching his hands into fists. His gut churned. “How the fuck did the bastard get Tori across the border?”

  “We’ll get her back.” Dylan’s voice held conviction. “No way in hell is Jimenez going to get away with this.”

  “That sonofabitch is going to pay.” Landon raised his head, his gaze meeting Dylan’s. “I’ll make sure of it.”

  “When did Jimenez go from wanting Tori dead to kidnapping her?” Dylan frowned as he spoke.

  Landon turned Dylan’s question over in his mind. “It’s become personal.”

  “I think you’re right.” Dylan nodded. “Maybe her surviving everything he’s thrown at her has gotten under his skin.”

  “Something like that.” Landon was pretty sure Diego Jimenez wasn’t used to being thwarted. “We need to get to her before he does anything to hurt her.” More than he already has, Landon thought to himself, and his body grew impossibly more tense.

  According to Carl, Landon’s most reliable informant, the cartel had bugged the DHS’s ICE office, and the whole attack had been a two-for-one. Kill the two men in the holding cells who had been present when Alejandro Jimenez murdered Miguel, and also grab Tori.

  “Shit.” Landon scratched the scruff of a beard on his face. “How the hell did they get those bugs into the office?”

  “Could have been the janitorial team that comes in at night.” Dylan frowned. “The cartel could have bought off any one of them. Or the cartel could have blackmailed a member of the administrative staff, threatening his or her family.”

  “My thoughts, too.” Landon dragged his hand down his face. “Jesus.”

  Dylan pulled his cell phone out of its holster, looked at the display screen, and read a text message. “Joe’s team is making preparations now, and the chopper will be ready to take off around five. It’s two now.”

  Joe Black’s spec ops team, Black Sky International, specialized in locating and retrieving missing persons. BSI contracted with the government as well as took on select cases for hire from civilians.

  “Good.” Landon tried to relax his body and calm his thoughts, but it wasn’t happening. “The sooner we leave, the better.”

  “Joe doesn’t usually let anyone not on his team join the party—” Dylan started to say.

  “That’s not happening this time.” Landon’s words sliced the air as he cut in, his expression dark.

  Dylan smiled, but it held no humor. “That’s what I told him. He’s agreed to take you. And me.”

  “Hell, no.” Landon narrowed his eyes. “You’re not coming.”

  “Yeah, I am.” Dylan gave Landon a hard look. “Don’t argue because it’s not going to get you anywhere, friend. Especially injured like you are.”

  With a shake of his head, Landon let out his breath. He’d known before he even opened his mouth that he couldn’t change Dylan’s mind, so Landon didn’t know why he even bothered to try. “What’s the plan?”

  Dylan folded his arms across his chest. “We’ll cross the border and get to the Jimenez compound just after dark. Apparently Jimenez’s granddaughter’s fifteenth birthday is today.”

  Landon’s mind turned over the information. “I take it that the girl’s Quinceañera is tonight?”

  Dylan nodded. “Yep.”

  Landon sat in his desk chair, leaned his head back, and looked at the ceiling. “It’s perfect.”

  Tori groaned, her mind spinning with pain and confusion. She felt dizzy and unable to form a coherent thought.

  Her whole body ached and stung, and it hurt to breathe. She tried to raise her head but pain lanced her skull and she clasped her head with her hands.

  Whatever she was lying on was hard and cold, the chill seeping through her body. She shivered and her eyes watered as yet another stabbing pain went through her chest.

  She opened her eyelids and blinked until her eyes adjusted to the dimness. She saw that she was on a concrete floor and bars were directly in front of her. Another shiver went through her as she saw that she was in a cell.

  Tears threatened at the backs of her eyes. She wanted to cry from fear, from anger, from pain…and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. But tears wouldn’t do her any good at this moment. Tears would only make her head hurt more, and cause her eyes to ache and grow puffy.

  It surprised her at how rational her thoughts were. Or maybe she was too numb to be emotional.

  She tried to think. Where was she? She remembered being taken by gunpoint, thrown into a van, and bound. Once she was secured she’d been hit and kicked by men who spoke in Spanish and talked about transporting her to Mexico.

  To Diego Jimenez, the head of the Jimenez Cartel.

  Her throat ached and she thought she would cry despite her resolution not to. Was she in Mexico now? She must be. She vaguely remembered someone sliding a needle into her vein and then nothing in the world had seemed to matter anymore. They’d drugged her.

  Faint memories came back to her of men standing over her and talking, but she couldn’t remember what they’d said. Had she even heard them?

  The concrete floor seemed to grow harder and colder as she lay there. She needed to get up and figure out what to do next. If there was anything she could do.

  One thing she did know was that she wasn’t going to just give up without trying.

  She clenched her teeth as she tried to push herself to a sitting position. Immediately, she cried out and her eyes watered from the sharp pain that shot through her chest. Her arms went weak but she managed not to collapse back onto the floor.

  Tears trickled down her cheeks after all, only these tears were from pa
in and not hopelessness. She pushed through the pain to struggle to sit up.

  She finally made it to a sitting position, although her head spun for a moment. She held her head in her palms, trying to slow the spinning. She remembered how she’d torn her shirt to use the cloth to help Agent Aguilar. How was the agent? Tori remembered all the blood and prayed someone had found Aguilar in time.

  The spinning subsided and Tori slowly raised her head to look around the cell. A toilet was in one corner and that was it. No cot or sink that one would expect to see behind bars.

  It wasn’t a cell. It was a cage.

  Gradually, sensations returned to her mostly numb body. She felt filthy and sticky with sweat, and she realized her bladder was full. She looked at the toilet. It seemed so far away from where she sat, huddled on the floor. Somehow she managed to get to her feet and stagger to the far corner. Her legs almost gave out on her, but she made it to the old commode with its wide streak of rust along the back of the bowl.

  When Tori had finished and was back on her feet, she stumbled toward the cell door. She grabbed onto the bars and leaned against them, trying to regain strength and keep from falling. She closed her eyes and rested her head against the metal, and clenched the bars until her fingers ached.

  She blew out her breath and opened her eyes, which had become well accustomed to the dimness. She looked through the bars at the large room. To her left was a bank of small monitors that glowed in the dim interior, but she couldn’t see what was on them. Her cell was along one of the walls of the room and other cells were to her right and across the room. As far as she could tell, the other cells were all empty.

  If the others had only a toilet like this one did, these cells were not meant for long term. Anyone who was put into them probably wasn’t expected to be there for any length of time.