by Maya Banks
She immediately quickened her step, matching his stride the best she could. Lucky for her she wasn’t so heavy with child that it had reduced her walk to a waddle. Though she hadn’t gotten much exercise in the last several weeks. She’d spent her time locked in seclusion. She was already out of breath from the exertion of the fast walk.
After an interminable amount of time, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to keep up her current pace. She had a stitch in her side and her hip was cramping.
“How much farther?” she whispered. “I’m not trying to be a pain, I swear, but I can’t keep this up much longer.”
In response he merely stopped, swept her up into his arms and then set off at a rapid clip. The man was obviously in tip-top shape. Despite his warning that carrying her would slow them both down, he kept up an insane pace. She swore he was walking faster now that he wasn’t having to wait for her.
He made carrying her weight seem effortless. Who was this guy anyway? He worked for a guy like Tristan, but he did nice things for her and had sworn he wouldn’t let Tristan harm her or her child. And it looked as though he was keeping his word. He’d risked a lot to help her escape. Tristan would be furious when he discovered her gone, and once he discovered Armand gone as well, he’d rapidly put two and two together.
“He’ll kill you for this,” she whispered. “You know that, don’t you?”
She saw his smile in the dim moonlight streaming through the trees. It wasn’t a friendly smile. It had the look of a predator about to pounce on his prey. She shivered because the man looked decidedly dangerous. Somehow she thought he could hold his own against a man like Tristan Caldwell.
“You let me worry about Caldwell,” Armand said simply. “He won’t be happy, but I’ll take care of that.”
“You’re going back?” she asked in shock. “Are you crazy?”
“My job’s not finished,” he clipped out.
Another dozen questions burned on her tongue, but his grip tightened around her, a warning for her not to push further. Oh well, if he was crazy enough to go back to Tristan after helping her escape, that was his problem.
He must have sensed her thoughts. “Does the expression ‘don’t look a gift horse in the mouth’ mean anything to you?”
He had a solid point.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I don’t know why you did this, but I’m grateful. I was scared out of my mind.”
“I know,” he said simply. “And I had my reasons.”
He fell silent and she didn’t pursue the matter any further.
After what seemed like hours, he carried her into a small clearing, where a black helicopter was resting a short distance away. As soon as they came into view, the helicopter roared to life and the rotors began spinning, kicking up dust and leaves. She turned her face into Armand’s chest to shield her eyes from the debris.
A second later he deposited her inside the helicopter and hopped up beside her.
“Put your belt on,” he yelled over the noise. “Make sure it’s tight. Don’t want you falling out.”
Yeah, neither did she. She secured her seat belt, and for good measure she latched onto his arm. He didn’t pull away from her and instead transferred her hand to his thigh and then wrapped the arm she’d gripped around her shoulders, anchoring her tightly to his side.
A moment later, they lifted into the air and the ground spun dizzyingly below her. The helicopter swept over the treetops, nearly clipping the tops as they flew away.
A shiver overtook her and she was glad he’d told her to bring a jacket. Though the temps were plenty warm, the night air had a crisp chillness to it the higher they lifted into the air. With the sides open, the wind blew straight through the interior, turning her nose into a block of ice.
She clutched her free hand over her belly in an automatic protective measure.
Armand looked down at her, his gaze inquisitive. She shook her head to let him know she was fine. Scared and nervous as hell, but she was okay. She just wished she knew where they were going. If he was planning to go back to Tristan, then he evidently planned to dump her somewhere and leave. Which meant she’d be going it alone.
That filled her with utter panic. Her only option would be to find a U.S. embassy and hope they believed her crazy-ass story of being abducted. Or she could try to find a way to contact Sam so KGI could come get her. She imagined that by now, Sam rued the day he ever met her. She’d been a source of trouble, no matter that she’d provided medical services for his teams.
If she got out of this unscathed, she was seriously going to rethink her career path. She had a baby to think of now, and working in parts unknown in isolated, rural areas of the world was no longer something she could consider.
An hour later, the helicopter began to descend. As she looked out, she was surprised to see they were in the mountains, and it looked as though they were landing in a small valley between two jutting peaks. Her guess hadn’t been wrong about being close to the mountains.
As soon as the helicopter set down, Armand reached over to unfasten her seat belt and urged her out. He ducked low and urged her to do the same, shielding her with his body as he pulled her into the trees a short distance away.
When they were far enough away from the helicopter for him to be able to hear her, she asked in a trembling voice, “Where are we? What do I do now? If you’re going back, then how do I know where to go?”
He touched her shoulder and then squeezed reassuringly. “Don’t worry. You won’t be alone. Someone is coming for you.”
Relief made her unsteady and her knees nearly gave out on her.
“Thank you,” she choked out. “I don’t know why you risked doing this for me, but I’ll be forever grateful. If there’s ever anything I can do to repay you, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
He grinned that sardonic grin and his eyes flashed with amusement. “Oh, I’ll collect, Maren. Just not from you.”
With that cryptic statement, he urged her forward again.
“Can you make it or do I have to carry you again?”
“Depends on how far it is to wherever we’re going,” she muttered.
“It’s not far. Half a mile or so.”
“I can make it.”
“Then let’s make tracks. I’m on a strict timeline here. I have to be back at the chopper in forty minutes, so I don’t have time to spare.”
Nodding, she quickened her step and fell in behind him so she could follow his lead.
Several long minutes later, her breaths coming rapid and short and puffing from her mouth in a visible cloud, they stopped. Or rather he came to an abrupt halt and she collided with his back.
He put his arm back to steady her and remained stock – still, his entire body rigid and wary, like he expected someone to jump out of the trees at them. With his free hand, he drew the gun from his shoulder harness and held it up and at the ready. Her heart jumped and began to beat double time.
“Stay still and remain absolutely silent,” he said in a low voice.
She went just as rigid as he was, locked against his broad back. He was big enough that she couldn’t see around him, and even better, it meant no one would be able to see her.
“We wait for your rescuer to show,” he said. “No matter what you hear, or what you may see, you do not move a muscle. Don’t say anything until I tell you to, no matter what happens, and do not react to anything that’s about to go on. We clear? Nod, but don’t speak.”
She nodded against his back and he relaxed, but he still had a tight grip on his gun as he scanned the area, staring intently into the darkness.
She wanted to ask him who the hell was coming for her, and if he trusted them to get her out of the country or where they were taking her for that matter, but he’d been very exacting in his requirements of her, and as he’d mentioned, she wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She’d sort out the details, hopefully when she was miles away from Kosovo and Tristan Caldwell.
&n
bsp; CHAPTER 22
STEELE gathered with his and Rio’s teams a quarter mile from the appointed rendezvous point. It still chapped Steele’s ass to let Rio go retrieve Maren alone. He didn’t trust this Hancock guy, especially when it was clear he had his own agenda and he’d do whatever necessary to achieve his goal.
Hancock had already proven in the past that nothing came between him and the successful completion of his mission. He wasn’t above using any means necessary and he didn’t care who got hurt in the process.
Which made it highly suspect that he was handing over Maren out of the goodness of his heart and because Tristan was close to making a move on Maren.
“Are you sure you can trust this guy?” Steele demanded.
Rio shook his head. “I don’t believe I’ve ever said I trust Hancock. I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. But I don’t see that we have a choice here. If we want Maren back, we have to play it by his rules. He’s very exacting and he’d absolutely back out and take Maren with him if I don’t do this his way.”
“I don’t like you going in alone,” Steele said stubbornly. “You have no idea what he has with him or if this is just a way to fuck with you and KGI. How the hell do we even know if he has Maren?”
Rio sighed. “Look, I don’t like it any better than you do. I’d much rather be at home in bed with my wife than out here in Bumfuck, Kosovo, on some wild-goose chase led by a former teammate who damn near got Grace killed the last time we crossed paths. But if he does have Maren and if he’s willing to hand her over, then I have no choice but to do what he said and come alone. You and my team will be close by. If things go south, you can be there quickly.”
Steele stood down. He didn’t like it. But he couldn’t risk Hancock backing out and Maren ending back up in Caldwell’s hands, or even worse, at Titan’s mercy. She wouldn’t survive a minute with Titan. They’d dispose of her because she’d be a hindrance to them and any objective they were trying to accomplish.
“Okay, but if you’re not back in twenty minutes, we’re coming in,” Steele said grudgingly. “Get in, get Maren and get the hell back out.”
“Watch your six,” Terrence said to his team leader.
“I will,” Rio said in a low voice.
Steele eyed P.J. and Cole. “Wouldn’t hurt for you to sneak in and hang back so you can line up Hancock in your sights. If things go south, cover Rio and Maren and make damn sure neither of them go down.”
“I’ll go with you,” Diego said grimly. “My sniper skills are a bit rusty, but I can still shoot a fly off a horse’s ass at three hundred yards.”
“Then let’s get into position,” P.J. said sharply. “It’s almost go time.”
Rio slung his rifle over his shoulder and then shoved a clip into his pistol. “I’m out. I’ll be back with Maren in twenty and then we need to load and go.”
Steele watched as the other team leader disappeared through the trees. It took everything he had not to fall in behind Rio and take his six whether he wanted it or not. Only the thought of the possible repercussions Maren would suffer held him back. Still, the next twenty minutes were going to be the longest of his goddamn life as he waited to see if she made it back with Rio.
If Hancock had fucked them over and led them on some damn goose chase, he was going to make it his personal mission to take Hancock and Titan down for good.
* * *
MAREN felt Armand stiffen, and he quickly drew his other weapon, holding both in front of him. Someone was coming. Every muscle in his body was coiled tight, ready to strike. She drew in her breath and tried to calm her respirations. Keeping her movements as slight as possible, she peeked around Armand’s massive body, straining to see through the cloak of night.
A moment later, a lone figure appeared and halted several yards from where Armand stood in front of her. Her gaze was glued on the man. Was this her rescuer? The person Armand was handing her off to? And if so, why was he holding him at gunpoint? For that matter, she now could see that the other man had his gun up and pointing in Armand’s direction as well.
Whoever it was, it was readily apparent that Armand didn’t trust him and the other guy didn’t trust Armand. Great. Just what she needed was to be rescued by an unreliable savior.
“Hancock, I’m here. Where’s Maren?”
She knew that voice. Her eyes widened. Oh my God, it was Rio! Elation swept through her. Her knees sagged and she grabbed on to Armand to keep from dropping to the ground. She was so ecstatic that tears flooded her eyes. KGI had come for her. She’d known Armand knew of her connection to KGI, but never had she dreamed that he’d actually contact them or that he would arrange for them to come for her. But however he’d gotten it done, she was so grateful she could kiss him! Was it possible that Armand was one of the good guys after all?
“She’s here,” Armand replied.
Wait. Rio had called him Hancock. Like he knew him. What was going on? But then she didn’t care who Armand/Hancock really was as long as she was leaving with Rio.
She was giddy with relief and excitement. She wanted to jump out and throw herself at Rio, but she remembered Armand’s terse order that she wasn’t to make a sound or move. But it was hard when freedom was just a few short yards away.
“Where?” Rio asked tersely.
“Behind me.”
“I want to see her. And do it slowly and keep your hands where I can see them.”
“One would think given the favor I’m doing you that you’d be a little less demanding,” Armand drawled.
He sounded arrogant and utterly confident. He’d gone from somewhat quiet and reassuring to a methodical, cold-blooded-killer-sounding dude. She just wanted away from Armand/Hancock, Tristan Caldwell and Kosovo just as soon as possible.
“Maren, step from behind me and show Rio where you are,” Hancock ordered. “Keep to my side and don’t move any farther.”
Maren hastily stepped out, positioning herself beside Hancock as he’d told her. She glanced eagerly in Rio’s direction but saw he was still completely focused on Hancock. Probably a good idea since Hancock had two guns pointed at Rio.
“Maren, are you all right, sweetheart?” Rio called.
She glanced up at Hancock, remembering his order for her to remain silent.
“Tell him,” Hancock said shortly.
“I’m fine, Rio,” she called back softly, her voice wavering.
“How’s this going down, Hancock?” Rio asked, still holding his own guns on Hancock.
“She’s yours,” Hancock stated. “I’m checking out. Stay out of my way and forget about Tristan Caldwell. He’s mine.”
“That’s fine by us,” Rio said flatly. “Maren, come here. Walk slow and get behind me. Understand?”
Instead of answering, she took off at a rapid clip, measuring each step as she went. When she reached Rio, she nearly wilted on the spot, but she got behind him just as he’d told her. The two men continued their staredown, never once lowering their guns.
“After Farnsworth, we were even,” Hancock said. “Now you owe me and don’t think I won’t collect.”
“I wouldn’t ever think otherwise,” Rio said dryly.
“Stay out of trouble, Maren,” Hancock said, and then he turned and melted back into the trees, leaving Rio and Maren alone.
“Oh God,” she whispered, her knees trembling as reaction set in.
Rio turned and grasped her arm, looking closely at her. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m fine. Really. Can we just get out of here?”
“Steele is waiting with his team and the rest of mine,” Rio said. “Let’s go. The sooner we get the hell out of here, the better.”
Her pulse sped up again at the mention of Steele. Shit, but this wasn’t the way she intended him to find out about her pregnancy. She’d rather give him this kind of news in private. Preferably after the furor of her rescue had died down and she could collect her thoughts.
“Do you need help?” Rio asked.
“No, I can make it. How far is it?”
“Just a quarter mile.”
She blew out her breath in relief and started forward at a fast clip. She wouldn’t rest easy until she was well away from Hancock and Tristan Caldwell.
Rio took her hand and squeezed reassuringly. Grateful for the contact, she squeezed back.
“Thank you for coming for me,” she whispered.
“Anytime, sweetheart. Are you sure you’re okay? That bastard didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“N-no. I’m good. Really. I’ll be even better when we get home.”
“We’ll get you there,” Rio said in a resolute tone.
* * *
STEELE paced in agitation, checking his watch. Rio had been gone only a few minutes, but it seemed like an eternity. He’d heard no rifle fire. All was quiet. The rest of Rio’s team stood facing the direction Rio had gone, tense and prepared to go in. Dolphin, Renshaw and Baker stood with Steele, tense and ill at ease. It chafed them every bit as much as it did Steele to be sidelined. Especially on a goddamn mission that was his.
Maren was his.
He didn’t know when the hell he’d started thinking that way, but in the last weeks of exhausting every possible avenue to find her, he’d began to think of her as his. They’d had sex. Really good sex, and sex didn’t equal possession, but they’d forged something between them that far surpassed just a physical relationship. No way in hell he was letting her out of his sight again.
A sound alerted them all. They straightened and went rigid, their guns brought up and trained in the direction of the sound. A few moments later, Rio burst into the clearing, Maren’s hand held tightly in his.
All the breath left Steele in a rush that momentarily weakened him. She was there. Safe and alive.
Her gaze rapidly scanned the area and when her gaze lighted on him, her entire face radiated relief. To his surprise, she launched herself at him, running straight into his arms. He caught her against him, holding her tightly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life.