Bracing his elbows on the ground, Levi snugged the rifle against his shoulder, took careful aim at the nearest man, and squeezed the trigger.
He didn’t wait to see if his target went down—he hadn’t blown a shot in years. As soon as the bullet left the barrel, he slithered away to new spot.
Two of the other men must’ve seen the body fall. They ran to it and stood, side-by-side, staring down at it like idiots. Levi only had to shift his aim a fraction between one hit and the next to take them both out. Christ, didn’t these dumbasses know to duck and cover when their comrades started dropping?
He scooted to another position, several yards closer in. Raising his head, he scanned for targets. The last guard stood at the open front door, shouting at someone inside. Probably telling them there was trouble. Levi stopped the man’s tirade with a bullet to the head. Now let’s see what they do.
He didn’t have long to wait. Four men ran out the door, jumped over the guard’s body, and headed for the dock where a speedboat waited. Looking through his scope, Levi could see that Nick and Tony weren’t among them. So they must still be inside the house. Probably slipping out the back while he was busy at the front.
Still, what was another minute? The front three were already out of site around the corner of the boathouse, but the guy at the end of the line...Levi squeezed the trigger again. The body fell backward into the water as the boat sped away.
Giving the area another quick scan, Levi got to his feet and sprinted to the corner of the house. He heard Nick inside, shouting that he didn’t just want Tess to die, he wanted her to suffer, and he refused to leave without blowing up the house.
So she was here, too, waiting to be blown to pieces. Well, we’ll just see about that!
He pulled out his knife and cut the twine, letting the plants on his back fall to the ground. Propping his rifle against the wall, he took the pistol from his pocket, crouched down, and peered over a windowsill.
Nick, his cheeks scored and bloody, stood over Tony, waving a gun and screaming. Tony knelt by a detonator switch, connecting battery wires. He wore an expression of two parts rage, one part contempt. Levi couldn’t see anyone else, but a television blared from somewhere out of sight.
Crawling past the window, he got to his feet, stepped over the body of the terrorist, and slipped in through the front door. “Evening, boys.”
Nick spun around, bringing up his gun. “Levi?”
“Try it, Nick. Just give me a reason to shoot. I’d love nothing better than to put one right between your eyes.”
Nick dropped the gun, raised his hands, and stepped back.
“You, too, Tony,” Levi ordered. “Get ’em up and back away.”
Tony finished one more twist of the wire, shrugged, and complied.
“Who else is here?” Levi asked.
“No one,” Nick whined. “The chicken-shit bastards all ran. Took their drugs and split,” he added with a vicious glare at Tony.
“Maybe you should pick better playmates.” Levi gestured with his pistol at a pile of cord. “Grab some of that and tie Tony’s hands behind his back.”
Nick picked up a piece of rope and crossed to Tony.
Levi stepped closer. “Do a good job, or I’ll put a bullet somewhere you won’t like.”
When Nick finished and backed away, Levi checked the knots. Good enough. Keeping his eyes on Nick, he frisked Tony and shoved him down on the couch. He made Nick lie face down on the floor. Then he frisked him, bound his hands, and jerked him to his feet. Pushing him down on the couch beside Tony, he tied their ankles.
“Okay, let’s talk.”
“What are you doing here,” Nick demanded. “When my grandfather—”
“Jonas sent me to stop you. Told me if I had to kill you, he’d understand.” Levi watched the blood drain from Nick’s face. “You screwed up, pal. You shouldn’t have put a contract out on Tess.”
Nick groaned then turned on Tony. “This is all your fault,” he snarled. “You said Grandfather wouldn’t find out.”
“I said he probably wouldn’t find out,” Tony replied calmly. “And I wasn’t the one who shot the Vargas family in front of her. If you hadn’t involved her, you’d have gotten away with it.”
Levi gestured at Nick’s cheek with his pistol. “Speaking of Tess, did she do that to your face?” When Nick glared but didn’t answer, he chuckled. “Good for her. So, where is she?”
Nick and Tony just looked at him. Levi shrugged and put the muzzle of his gun against the outside of Tony’s thigh, away from any major blood vessels.
“We can do this the easy way, or the hard way, boys. Now, once more, where’s Tess?”
Nick looked outraged. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Levi just smiled and squeezed the trigger then transferred the gun to Nick’s thigh, while Tony screamed curses. A noise from behind had Levi spinning around. Glen ran into the room, half a sandwich clamped in his mouth, a pistol in his hand. He and Levi fired simultaneously. Glen’s bullet slammed into the couch cushions between Tony and Nick. Levi’s caught Glen center forehead. He crumpled to the floor.
“Bloody fool.” Shaking his head, Levi sighed. Except for evil bastards like terrorists, he hated killing anybody. Even in self-defense. Glen had been an idiot, but he shouldn’t have had to die from it. “Damn you, Nick. If you’d told me he was here when I asked, he’d still be alive.” Saddened and disgusted, Levi put the gun back on Nick’s thigh again. “Now, where were we?”
“Okay, okay,” Nick whimpered. “She’s tied up in that room over there with some guy.”
“Thanks.” Levi headed for the door.
***
The sound of someone at the door made Tess cringe and sidle closer to Max. “Now what do we do?” She looked around for something to use as a weapon. “Shit, I wish I had my coins.”
“Maybe I can jump him.” Max whispered as he hurried to stand behind the door. “Get over against the wall.”
She backed into the corner. As the door opened, she peered at the man silhouetted on the threshold, his face in shadow, a gun in his hand.
He reached out and switched on the light. “Tess, luv, you in here?”
“Levi?”
“Yeah. I came to make sure you were safe.”
“Max, it’s okay. It’s a friend,” she called as she launched herself into Levi’s arms. “God, I’m so glad to see you.”
“It’s all right, luv. It’s over.” He hugged her. Hard and close. She saw him glance over as Max stepped out from behind the door. “Max?” Surprise and warmth flared in his eyes. “What the bloody hell are you doing here?”
“Still chasing terrorists. Same old, same old.”
Tess extracted herself from Levi’s arms. “You two know each other?”
“Levi and I go way back.” Max shook Levi’s hand. “What happened out there?”
Levi’s smile faded. “I killed five terrorists outside and one dumb jerk inside. Nick and Tony are tied up in the living room, and Tony’s got a bullet hole in his leg.”
Max’s eyebrows rose. “You’ve been busy.”
“Couldn’t afford to waste time,” Levi said, wrapping an arm around Tess again. “I came to save her, and I didn’t know what Nick’s timetable was. Tony was just getting set to blow the house when I walked in.” He steered her out of the bedroom. “Nick said you were tied up in here.”
“Actually, she got us untied.” As he stepped into the living room, Max gave a heavy sigh and raked his hands through his hair. “I hope Almasi was one of the ones you killed.”
“Almasi? Damn, I thought one of those bastards looked familiar.” Levi shook his head. “Sorry, man, I didn’t get a shot off in time. He took off in a boat.”
“Figures. Survival’s one of his talents.” Reaching out, Max ran his hand down Tess’s arm. “I have to go after him.”
“Then go. What’s keeping you?” She jerked away from him. For a moment in the bedroom, when they’d shared a common enemy, she’d
almost forgotten his deception. Now, it all came flooding back.
Max studied her, his face bleak. “I’m sorry, Tess. I never meant to hurt you. I was only trying to protect you.”
“Sure you were.” She was in no mood to forgive him. For all she cared, he could go to hell. And take his incredible eyes and rakish grin with him. “Well, I guess you blew that one, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, I guess I did.” He exchanged a look with Levi and said something in Spanish. Levi nodded. Max turned back to Tess. “Levi will keep you safe.”
“Wait,” Levi called as Max headed for the door. “According to my information, whatever Almasi’s planning will happen on Easter Sunday. I was going to let Langley know, but since you’re here...”
“Do you know what they’re planning, or just that it’ll happen on Easter?”
“Just when, not what.”
“Well, it’s more than I had before,” Max said. “Thanks.” Then he turned and left the house.
Tess watched him go, furious at the tears filling her eyes. She’d survive his betrayal, just as she had all the others. But a voice deep within her told her she was lying to herself. Max hadn’t just broken her heart. He’d trampled the pieces.
***
Max hurried out of the house, cursing himself for what he’d done to Tess. He just hadn’t seen any other way to keep her safe. But she hadn’t been safe, had she? No, he’d only made her situation worse.
Torturing himself with thoughts of her, he doubled checked the bodies of the men Levi’d killed. Almasi wasn’t among them.
Max had to go after him. He had to end this and correct his mistakes. And he had to get away from there before the pain of losing Tess overwhelmed him. Heading for the vehicles in the driveway, he chose a Jeep with its key in the ignition. He climbed in, started it up, and drove to the airport in La Paz.
Jesus, he’d miss her. Her warmth, humor, compassion. Her honesty. His instincts told him he hadn’t even begun to imagine how much this would hurt. To force his mind away from her, he tried to decide how best to track Almasi and the remaining terrorists.
They had a speedboat, so they’d probably cross the Sea of Cortez, head into mainland Mexico, and find some other way across the border now that Nick was out of the picture. Would they try to slip past the border crossing stations using fake IDs? Or would they use a “coyote” guide and sneak in with other illegals? The border stations would be iffy. The CIA had recent photos of Almasi, and he knew that. So the coyote was a better bet.
Max left the Jeep in the airport parking lot. He ran inside and bought a ticket to Mexico City on the last flight of the night, leaving in ten minutes.
Heading for the gate, he felt a rush of gratitude toward Tess. Because of her, he’d been able to afford the ticket—and a bribe to make up for his lack of ID. As soon as he got back to Mexico City, he’d get the cash to repay her the money she’d given him—whether she wanted him to or not.
His flight was boarding. He got in line, telling himself this whole mess was his fault. He’d screwed up everything: David, Tess, Almasi. Was there anything he touched he didn’t ruin? At least he could fix the Almasi situation and avenge David.
But he couldn’t do anything about Tess, and he didn’t know how he’d survive without her. Leaving her behind felt like tearing off a piece of his flesh. As the plane left the tarmac and took to the sky, he closed his eyes and forced his thoughts back to Almasi.
I have to find him. If he didn’t, there’d soon be a terrorist attack in the U.S. to rival Nine-Eleven. And if Levi’s right, I’m running out of time.
***
Tess heard a vehicle start up and drive away. Max was gone. She forced back her tears, refusing to let herself go to pieces over someone who didn’t deserve it.
“What do we do now?” she asked Levi.
Handing her his pistol, he gestured at Nick and Tony. “Cover these clowns,” he said, heading out of the room. He called back over his shoulder, “I won’t be long. I just have to find something to bandage Tony’s leg.”
Enjoying the fear and defeat on Nick’s ruined face, she aimed the gun at his head. Levi came back with a pillowcase. He tore it into strips and wrapped several pieces around Tony’s bloody thigh.
“You’re lucky Nick told me what I wanted to know,” he said to Tony. “This is just a flesh wound. It won’t even slow us down while I drag you back to Salt Lake City.” Finished with the first aid, he untied their ankles. “Okay, get up and let’s go.”
Tony and Nick stood up. Tess gestured with Levi’s gun toward the front door. As Nick started walking, she heard a thud and a grunt behind her. Before she could turn to assist Levi, he grabbed her arm. Seizing Nick’s elbow with his other hand, he thrust them both toward the front door.
“Run,” he ordered, propelling them across the room. Once outside, he didn’t let them slow down but forced them down the driveway as fast as they could go.
They’d made it halfway to the road when the house exploded behind them. The blast wave knocked them to the ground.
She forced herself up to her hands and knees then stared, dumbfounded, at the fire destroying what was left of the house. “What happened?”
Levi sat up. “I guess Tony didn’t want to come with us. He threw himself on the detonator.” He rubbed his face with his hands. “Switch must’ve had a time delay. Wish I’d known that. I could’ve stopped him.” Getting to his feet, he helped Tess to hers then jerked Nick to his. “Let’s get out of here.”
Blinking repeatedly, Nick shook his head. “Where’s Tony?” he asked in a subdued voice.
“Either he died in the explosion, or he got out of the house and ran the other direction,” Levi said. “I don’t really give a shit.”
Nick snorted. “If Tony’s still alive, she’s dead.” He sneered at Tess. “He’ll never let you live.”
“Shut up, asshole,” Levi ordered, slipping his arms around her.
She heard Nick’s muttered oath but didn’t care. His jealousy wasn’t her problem. With a quiet whimper, she buried her face in Levi’s shirt. She’d never be able to hide the pain from him. He knew her too well. If only she had gone to him in the first place, the last nine months wouldn’t have happened. She’d never have met Max, and there wouldn’t be this gaping hole in her chest where her heart should be.
Levi tightened his embrace. “I know it hurts. Luv,” he whispered. “But hang in there.”
She managed a weak smile. “I’m okay.”
“That’s my girl.” He kissed her temple. “Where’s your ID? Do you have any luggage we need to take with us?”
“My ID’s in my backpack. It was in Tanner’s car.” She glanced around then pointed. “Tanner must have tossed it over there, along with my duffel bag. I guess they were far enough away, the blast didn’t hurt them. Much,” she added, seeing the small gash in her duffel.
Levi took back his gun then led her and Nick over to one of the Jeeps in the driveway. Its tires were still inflated, but all the windows were gone. He forced Nick into the back then brushed the glass off the passenger seat for Tess. While she climbed in, he grabbed her bags and stuffed them in beside Nick.
Wiping off his own seat, Levi climbed in and shook his head at the key hanging from the ignition. “Idiots. But hey, now I don’t have to hotwire it.” He started the Jeep, drove across the desert at a harrowing clip, and slammed on the brakes near a thicket of desert shrubbery close to the beach. He hustled them out of the Jeep and over to a dinghy hidden in the brush. “I want to get out of here before the Federales show up. Sooner or later someone’s going to see that fire, and I want to be long gone when that happens.”
Once on board Nick’s Folly, Tess helped him lock Nick in one of the staterooms. Then she followed him topside and sank onto a bench on the deck while he got under way.
“Where are we going?”
“The La Paz Marina. I left a rental car there. We’ll drive to the airport and take my plane home.” He set the autopilot and s
at down beside her. Putting his arms around her, he pressed her head down on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, luv.”
She tried, really tried, not to compare his embrace to Max’s. When that didn’t work, she struggled not to let the difference hurt, but the pain was incapacitating. It eclipsed everything, even her pride. Max was lost to her. What good was pride?
Bone tired, her body bruised and aching, her heart writhing in agony, she buried her face in Levi’s shirt and sobbed. Nick was no longer a threat, but it wasn’t over. The FBI would pounce the minute she got home. And Nick’s right. If Tony’s alive, I’m still in danger.
CHAPTER 16
Saturday, February 16th, 10:13 a.m., the U.S. Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico:
“Jesus, Tom, Baja was a five-alarm FUBAR.” Max slumped in a chair in the office of the CIA Chief of Station, Tom Davis. “Almasi and two of his group got away. And the witness we were supposed to bring in got handed over to the people trying to kill her.”
Jim Bradshaw cleared his throat. “I’m sorry about that, Max. I had no idea Tanner’s dirty.”
“None of this is your fault, Jim.” Max looked back at Davis. “Is there any chance Tanner’s our leak to Almasi?”
“I’d say there’s a good possibility,” Davis agreed. “He contacted Langley several times for updates on our investigation of Almasi’s group.”
Max jolted upright in his chair. “How the hell did that happen?”
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