TUESDAY. HORSH BEIRUT Park, Beirut, Lebanon.
Carla stared out the window at the green iron fence bordering the triangular park. She spied a concession area with red tables and chairs positioned just under the trees. Down the road a ways she spied dozens of people gathered doing yoga, greeting the morning sun.
She clenched her thighs together, her hands sandwiched between them, to try to quell the tremors.
In half an hour she was going to meet Jared and Ashton’s kidnapper. By herself.
Sure, Vaughn would be out of sight keeping an eye on her, but she wouldn’t be able to hold his hand or anything.
The idea of this swap was something out of her nightmares. She wouldn’t even be able to speak the same language as these men.
What if they had demands or wanted something more?
Vaughn’s hand closed around her knee and squeezed. “The plan from the top. Recite it to me?”
She sighed though inwardly she appreciated his distraction. “Again?”
“Yes. The more you know it the less you’ll have to think about it if things go bad.”
Her insides warmed and her nerves eased. Because of Vaughn. She didn’t know what it was about him, but he got her better than even Ashton on some level.
“I’m meeting Hani alone by the fallen pillars. Vaughn and Brenden will be there, out of sight, with Farez. When I see Hani I’ll hit dial on the burner and put it on speaker so you can hear what he says or warn me. While I make the exchange, Grant, Jamie and Nolan will be looking for where Hani is holding Ashton and Jared in case they want to grab the money and run.”
“What do we want to happen?”
“Ideally Hani shows up with Ashton and Jared, I hand over the money and we go.”
“And if things go bad?”
“I run and hide.” She glanced up at Vaughn’s eyes.
She could practically hear him say, And I’ll find you.
But he didn’t. They were already walking a fine line.
She slid one hand over his and squeezed his palm.
All of this would be over soon. The mystery attacker would be left behind and the next bed she slept in would be her own.
“We’re here,” Nolan announced.
The SUV came to a stop. She twisted her head and saw the second car with the rest of the team behind them.
“You can do this.” Vaughn pulled his hand back then got out of the SUV.
Brenden joined Vaughn on the sidewalk and the two men strode into the park and under the trees, going ahead of her to check the area.
Grant twisted in his seat to stare back at her. “You know what to do.”
She nodded.
“You’ve done good work so far.” The words sounded forced from Grant’s throat. It probably went against his nature to admit he’d been wrong. “This is just the last task.”
“Is everything ready at the airport?”
“We’re cleared to leave in four hours. That’s enough time to make the swap, stop by a doc if we have to and still make it to the plane on time.”
She hoped they didn’t need a doctor, but given what they’d done to Jared she was willing to bet it would be a necessary stop.
Grant glanced at the clock on the dash. “It’s time. You good?”
“I guess I have to be.”
“Here.” He handed the case back to her.
She drew in a deep breath and opened the door, clutching the case tight in one hand.
It was shaping up to be a warm day with a bright blue sky and not a cloud in sight. The dusty path stretched before her, leading into the heart of the park.
From the map they’d looked at online, she’d just follow along the jogging trail until she got to the spot. And somewhere out there Vaughn was watching over her. Keeping her safe.
God, today was like a crazy action movie.
Her mind shied away from thinking about it too much. If she did, she’d break down and cry. And where would that get her? How many times had her mother smiled through the fear until things got better?
Carla could do that.
She pushed her shoulders back and picked up the pace.
A few joggers passed her, but for the most part there weren’t many people on the trails.
It wasn’t long before the trees thinned and grass spread out before her. Smooth columns lay in broken bits across the grass, like some giant toddlers abandoned toys.
Was this it?
She turned in a circle.
Some columns were on her right, scattered around. The ones to her left lined up neatly and were closer to the trees.
Vaughn would be there.
She angled toward the neat rows, studying the trees and the paths leading here. Two joggers trudged onward, keeping pace with each other. In the distance car horns honked.
What did she do now?
Carla blew out a breath and set the case on one of the columns. It came up to her mid-thigh and had rebar running through the middle. So not some great, historical ruins, but something more modern.
Leftovers from the civil war?
She’d have to ask Ashton. He’d know.
Her chest tightened at the rush of emotion even thinking his name stirred up.
Grant was right. Ashton had been kidnapped because of her, in a way. If they’d worked as a better team, talked to each other, things wouldn’t have turned out like this.
She pivoted and caught sight of five figures in the trees, cutting across the grass on the other side of the big, open area.
Carla shielded her eyes and watched their slow progress, holding her breath the whole time.
It seemed like hours passed.
Finally the first man stepped into the light.
At thirty or so yards it was hard to tell much about him except he had longer, dark hair and tanned skin. Still, she recognized him as the man she’d hit with the stun gun.
The next two men stumbled over the uneven terrain.
Carla’s heart leapt into her throat and tears clouded her vision. She covered her mouth with her hand and kept staring.
Ashton’s clothes were dirty and his sleeves rolled up. His jacket wasn’t anywhere to be seen. He had one arm around Jared, who appeared to be in worse shape, barely able to walk without assistance. Every step seemed to be a struggle for him.
Two more men Carla recognized from the toy shop brought up the rear.
So much for it being just her and Hani.
Pull it together.
This was go time.
Carla slid the phone into the barely there pocket of the yoga pants and grabbed the case.
“Carla? You hear me?” Grant asked.
“Loud and clear. Guess we aren’t all playing by the same rules?”
“Let them come to you. We’ve got you covered. Muting now.”
Standing there while the two people that made up her only family hobbled closer was one of the more difficult things she’d done in life.
At long last the group reached the other side of the stone bordered jogging path. Carla didn’t look at Ashton or Jared. She couldn’t if she wanted to hold herself together. Instead, she stared at the man she assumed was Hani. He looked like the pictures Grant had shown her.
“You still don’t understand a word I’m saying, do you, twat-waffle?” Her anguish gave way to anger. These people had hurt her family.
Hani frowned and glanced over his shoulder.
“Nothing, twinkle bitch? Well that’s great.”
“Seriously, Carla?” Ashton’s chuckle was dry and pained.
Her gaze jumped from Hani to Ashton and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep her composure.
Hani said something too quiet for Carla to hear, not that she’d understand. Ashton began to reply, but the man behind him shoved his shoulder and spoke over him.
What was more interesting than becoming millionaires right now?
“We going to do this or what?” she said, pitching her voice over them.
The second man gr
abbed Ashton’s shirt and leaned in close.
Ashton winced and squinted at her. “They want to know where the bodyguards are.”
“What?” she snapped. “He told me this was a solo dance. Now I’m supposed to have partners? What the hell?”
“I don’t know.” Ashton held up his free hand and glared out the corner of his eye at the man holding onto him. “But they’re awfully concerned about where the team is. Probably because they expect to get jumped for the cash.”
“Fucking really?” She reached down and dug into her pocket, pulling out the phone. “Come on out, guys. It’s a party.”
No reply.
Her stomach knotted up. With all the surprises they’d had thrown at them, what was one more?
“Guys?” She wanted so badly to glance over her shoulder. Now wasn’t the time. She met Ashton’s gaze and willed him to understand that their situation could be so much worse. “They’re nowhere near the park. Just like I told them.”
“Carla—”
“Tell them that, Ash.”
He sighed then relayed the message.
Hani whirled toward her and snarled his words.
“He doesn’t believe you. He thinks you’re setting him up,” Ashton said.
“Take the God damn money you tiny dick monster and leave.” Carla grabbed the case and hurled it on the ground. “Take it. Ash, Jared, walk to me. Now.”
“I don’t—”
She held Hani’s gaze. “Now.”
Jared staggered forward, forcing Ashton to move with him. The man holding Ashton moved with him, at least until Ashton yanked free.
Carla continued staring at Hani.
Sweat dripped down the man’s brow and dampened his hair.
It wasn’t that hot.
His gaze jumped over her shoulder, darting this way and that.
Something wasn’t right. All of this was wrong.
Carla reached out and grabbed Jared’s other arm. “Come on. We have to go. We have to go right now.”
“What’s going on?” Jared said, his voice pained.
“I don’t know, but something’s not right.”
They made it a dozen or so paces before the sudden sound of a whining motorcycle engine ripped through the calm morning. She glanced to her right, in the direction of the sound, and saw the flash of muzzle fire followed by the blast of sound.
“Down,” she yelled and shoved the two men into the dirt.
Hani and the other two men skidded to a stop in the grass and changed directions.
“We have to get somewhere.” She tugged on Jared’s hand.
More bullets flew, but this time they found their mark. Hani and his two friends went down, screaming. Those sounds seemed to give Jared strength. They scrambled around to the other side of the row of downed columns and crouched in the grass as the engine revved.
“Keep going,” she said.
“Where?” Ashton demanded.
The trees were fifteen yards away and spaced out enough that there was nowhere to hide.
Where was the team? Had they abandoned them with the other ten mil Ashton brought with them?
“He’s going to kill us.” Her heart raced, and she pressed lower to the ground as if she could merge with the earth and become one.
After throwing a bleach bomb at the guy she didn’t like her chances for survival.
Ashton crawled to Jared, covering the man with his body. “Where is the team? What the hell did we pay them for?”
“I don’t know.”
The motorcycle had to be right on them.
Carla turned her head and listened to the engine chug, idling along.
Where was Vaughn? Had he left her? After everything?
Boots churned the gravel path.
Carla picked up a rock. It was all she had.
Gunfire erupted from the tree line. She yelped and covered her head as bullets whizzed past her. Men yelled and rushed forward, going to Ashton and Jared.
They were safe.
The team was there.
Carla twisted around, crouching on her hands and knees.
A hand dug into her hair and yanked her to her feet. She stared into the light brown eyes of the man who’d already attacked twice. And now there was nothing between them.
He pressed a gun to her ribs and walked backward, his gaze over her shoulder.
No more bullets.
Why?
Oh right, she was in the way.
The man wore black fabric wound around his head and lower face, but she still knew it was him. The body armor was the same. Only now, up close, she could see where bullets had punched holes in it and blood leaked out.
“Carla? Carla, stay calm,” Vaughn called out.
He was there.
He hadn’t left her.
Her relief was short lived.
Her captor’s gaze slid to hers and she stared into his soul-less eyes. A chill went through her. This was the embodiment of evil. This man. Whoever he was, he wasn’t human.
The man let go of her hair and wrapped his arm around her waist, lifting her as though she weighed nothing, and slung her across the motorcycle. A moment later the ground whizzed past, everyone she loved left in the dust.
16.
Tuesday. Beirut, Lebanon.
Vaughn gripped the wheel and tried to both watch the traffic and for any sign of Carla. With Nolan unable to use his right leg, it had fallen to Vaughn to take up the keys.
“Where is she?” he snarled.
“Quiet,” Grant snapped.
“Is Zain tracking her? Do we know who that man is?” Vaughn had chased the bike out of the park and down a whole block on foot before traffic had opened up and allowed the motorcycle to get away.
“I understand,” Grant said.
“What?” Vaughn wanted to reach over and take the phone. They needed answers.
Nolan leaned forward between the seats and muttered, “Chill out.”
Grant lowered the phone and tapped the screen. “You’re on speaker with Nolan, Vaughn and myself. Go.”
“Lepta Team?” The voice on the other end was Zain, but he sounded wrong. Not at all like the guy Vaughn had heard over the years telling them how to pull off what amounted to magic to get a job done. “You are to head to the US Embassy for your own safety. From there you will be escorted to the airport where you will depart Lebanon by order of the Lebanese government—”
“No.” Vaughn jerked the wheel sideways, careening toward the curb. The SUV came to an abrupt halt. “Hell no.”
“It’s not up for debate.” Zain spoke like a robot. Like he wasn’t even himself.
Vaughn reached over and snatched the phone. “You mean to tell me you’re ordering us to leave an asset behind?”
A bit of emotion crept back in and Zain sounded more like the man Vaughn had come to respect. “Either we lose one, or we lose you all, Vaughn. I don’t like this. I don’t like any part of it, but this was the risk we took when we accepted this job.”
Vaughn needed air. He couldn’t breathe in this confined space. He shoved the door open and got out.
“Vaughn. What the hell?” Nolan climbed out slower.
Vaughn stalked back to the sedan driven by Jamie. They’d also pulled over, no doubt wondering what was going on. Vaughn pulled the back door open and thrust the phone at Ashton. The other man stared up at him with new eyes. Eyes that had seen an uglier world and lived.
“Tell Ashton. Do it,” Vaughn snarled.
“Carla?” Ashton said.
“What’s going on?” Jamie twisted in the driver’s seat.
“Vaughn...” Zain’s voice trailed off.
“We’ve been ordered to evacuate the country without Carla. That’s what he doesn’t have the balls to tell you.” Vaughn fisted his hands and wished for something to punch.
“No,” Ashton snapped. “No, we can’t do that.”
“It’s out of our hands,” Zain said.
Grant approached slowly as thoug
h he knew he was going to be the most likely target for Vaughn’s rage. “None of us like this. I hate it. This isn’t who we are, but the cards are stacked against us. If we stay and they catch us, what kind of hell is that going to be? Carla is an American citizen. The State Department can do something. There are other channels we can work through to get her back.”
“If she lives.” Vaughn gestured at the road behind them. “How many of us has that guy already shot? You think he’s going to keep her alive so someone can negotiate getting her back? We don’t even know what he wants beyond putting a bullet in all our heads.”
Ashton stood, rising to his full height. “I won’t pay you a fucking cent if she’s not on that plane with us.”
Grant spread his hands. “Orders are orders.”
“These orders suck,” Jamie said.
“What if I paid you directly? More? Will that work?” Ashton braced his hand on the car. The man wasn’t in good shape.
Silence from both Zain and Grant.
“Ash?” Jared swung his legs out of the car.
Ashton glared at each of them. “Fine. You all go. I’m staying.”
Jared took Ashton’s hand and used it to pull himself to his feet. Jared wasn’t in bad shape, but he’d had one hell of a week. The two men embraced, holding each other tight. So much emotion played out in a simple hug. Vaughn had to look away. He couldn’t handle the idea that they were all alive and free while Carla was with some monster.
What would she do?
She’d look at things sideways and see another way. But Vaughn was a soldier. And this was a problem he’d solved before. He knew her odds weren’t good.
If he was going to save her, he’d have to do something stupid.
He turned his head in time to see Jared lay a chaste kiss on Ashton’s cheek. It wasn’t the kiss that telegraphed the nature of their relationship, it was the way they looked at each other. Love was a universal language.
No one else spoke. The rest of the team seemed to each find great interest in some point on the ground or sky. Vaughn, on the other hand, saw what Carla deserved. Someone who’d risk it all for her.
“Ash, Jared, you two go with the team.” Vaughn knew what he was going to do. “This isn’t the place for you and if you stay, you’re a liability. The best thing for Carla is if you two are safe so you can’t be used against her. I’m staying. I’ll find her.”
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