Unmasking the Mercenary

by Jennifer Morey

  Rem drove away from the villa compound, then made a turn that took him across United Nations Drive. Haley must have noticed the car, because she had her gun ready and she twisted around to watch it.

  On Randall Street, Rem found a side street and squealed tires making the turn. Two more turns and Rem lost the tail. He drove down Benson Street to United Nations Drive. Watching the rearview mirror, he pulled out his satellite phone and called Habib’s number.

  “You are late,” Habib said, when he answered. “You should have called yesterday.”

  “Something came up.” He glanced at Haley and saw her questioning expression. She didn’t know whom he was calling, or why, but she would. Soon.

  “Is it safe to meet?” Habib asked.

  “Yes. Meet me where we planned in thirty minutes.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  Rem dropped the phone onto the backseat and made a point not to look at Haley again. She was probably steaming mad right now. He’d planned to meet someone and hadn’t told her. He hadn’t told Cullen, either. She had to be wondering why. After a while, he couldn’t resist a quick look. Sure enough, her eyes fired invisible daggers at him. And it irked him to realize he liked that about her. Her fire.

  He turned toward the road again.

  “Who was that?” she asked. More like demanded. “Who are you going to meet?”

  “Habib,” he answered. No point in delaying anymore.

  “Habib.”

  He heard the fury in her tone. Mouth slightly parted, eyes beaming anger and disbelief, she was a stunning picture.

  “Don’t make me ask,” she warned.

  “What do you want to know?”

  “You planned this all along.”

  Carefully. Very carefully. But he didn’t tell her that. “Habib agreed to help me. I couldn’t say anything because that would have put him in too much danger. And I needed him.”

  “He knew you were going to run him off the road?”

  “No. He thought we were going to meet somewhere, but I didn’t want to risk that. I had to make it look real to Ammar. So that he wouldn’t suspect Habib.”

  He felt her staring at him. “I don’t understand. Why did Habib agree to help you?”

  “Ammar has been threatening him for years. He’s afraid for his family in Lebanon. It’s the only reason he’s done as Ammar has asked up until now.”

  “Until he meets you. A man who, what…promises to lift the burden of Ammar all by himself?”

  Rem looked at her. Didn’t she think he could? Or was there something else she was getting at? “He’s tired of living with Ammar constantly breathing down his neck. He wants to end it.”

  “He must want it to end if he’s willing to risk his life and the lives of his family…for you.”

  Yep, she was getting at something. She knew there was more that he wasn’t saying. He just kept driving.

  “How will giving you the diamonds help Habib?” she pressed.

  “It stops Ammar from using them to forward his cause.”

  “Yeah, but it also pisses him off.”

  “He wouldn’t harm Habib. He needs a diamond merchant, especially one he can control. Besides, for all Ammar knows, it was me who took the diamonds. He thinks Habib wouldn’t try anything like that.”

  “Why did you want the diamonds?” she asked.

  “You’d rather I let Ammar have them?”

  “Of course not.”

  “They’ll go a long way to funding my company,” he said. And just as he expected, she fell silent. The diamonds would fund his private military company, one that began its operations illegitimately. He could feel her struggle with that. Diamonds taken from the hands of terrorists now would benefit a bunch of lawless mercs.

  He grunted a laugh.

  “Something’s funny about that?” she asked, a bite in her tone.

  He shook his head. “You’re so predictable.”

  “I’m predictable.”

  The sass in her tone made a smile touch his mouth. “Don’t worry, I’m used to it.”

  “To what? People thinking the worst of you?”

  “Is that what you’re thinking? The worst?”

  She turned her head and stared out the side of the Jeep, saying nothing. Just as well. What she knew about him only scratched the surface. If she ever learned all of it, the worst of what she thought would take on a whole new dimension. No point in trying to convince her he was something he wasn’t.

  Driving into a run-down neighborhood, he parked in front of a small, metal-roofed concrete building that had once been painted white.

  Haley got out and walked with him to the door. It opened before they reached it and Habib stepped aside to let them in.

  “Did anyone see you come here?” Rem asked.

  Habib shook his head and scanned the front of the shack before closing the door. “No one saw.” He turned and faced them. “What did you learn from Mr. Merchant?” he asked.

  “Nothing. He wouldn’t talk. And Ammar called before I could persuade him. Haley and I had to leave in a hurry.”

  That bit of news appeared to frighten Habib. “So now Ammar will come after you, and you are no closer to finding Farid than you were before.”

  Rem said nothing.

  “You promised,” Habib said.

  “You have nothing to worry about. He won’t hurt you,” Rem said, wanting to alleviate his fear. “He needs you too much.”

  “What am I to do now?” Habib asked anyway. “I risk much doing as Ammar asks. I worry for my family. I am a peaceful man who is content to run his market. What am I to do if he learns of my acquaintance with you?”

  “He won’t. I’ll see to that.”

  Rem caught Haley’s dubious glance and irritation brewed in him. Why did she doubt him? Or was it merely that she doubted he could do this on his own? Take on Ammar alone?

  Her attention returned to Habib. “How did you meet Rem?”

  He looked surprised by her question. “He came to me.”

  “And you trusted him?”

  Habib smiled almost apologetically with a brief glance at Rem. “I did not at first. But his knowledge of Ammar and his network of contacts soon became apparent to me. That and…well…his background.”

  Rem watched her eyes move to check his face for anything revealing. What did she want to find? Affirmation? Proof that her instinct about him was right? Which one? The one that painted him a good guy in disguise or the one everyone else saw?

  “He promised to rid me of Ammar in exchange for the diamonds,” Habib continued. “To me, it was a worthy trade.”

  “Yes,” she said without breaking their gazes. “I can see how you’d think so.”

  Rem cocked his head, wondering what she meant.

  She just smiled a little and returned her attention to Habib. “Where did Ammar get the money for the diamonds?”

  Would she never stop amazing him? Now where was she going with that question?

  “I do not know.”

  “Was Farid in on it?”

  “I would assume so, but I cannot be certain.”

  “Do you think he used a hawala broker? Do you know of any that Ammar has been in contact with? That he’s used on previous deals?”

  Rem folded his arms and waited. Clever girl. He knew she was smart but this was unexpected, even to him.

  Habib appeared reluctant to respond.

  “Answer the lady,” Rem said.

  “Yes,” Habib said reluctantly. “Who? Which hawaladar does Ammar use to get the money for his diamond purchases?”

  Habib glanced uncertainly from Rem to her. “I do not know. Hawala brokers are bankers who do not keep detailed records of financial transactions. They work on an honor system. If a man betrays one of his fellow contacts, the price is often death. It is a close-knit network and very difficult to penetrate. Farid may arrange transfers to Ammar from a hawaladar near him. That hawaladar may contact someone in another country, and that may lead to two or th
ree others, until the chain finally reaches Ammar, wherever he happens to be in the world. But their identities are closely guarded.”

  “What about couriers? Someone had to have met Ammar with the money for this last deal. Did Ammar use a courier to transfer the money from a hawaladar to him?”

  Rem could tell by Habib’s subtle blanch that he had. And that only made him more impressed by Haley’s well-placed questions. It was obvious that if Farid was hiding out of fear of detection from counterterrorist organizations and governments, he wouldn’t use overt channels to get the money to Ammar. But how had she known to ask about a courier? Her background in intel, yes. But she was more experienced than he realized.

  He’d have to watch that from here on out.

  When Habib didn’t answer, Rem turned to him. “What courier did Ammar use?”

  The diamond merchant shook his head. “What you ask is too much.”

  “If you want to rid yourself of Ammar and his men, then tell us where we can find the courier,” Haley coaxed. “It will lead us to the hawaladars who helped Farid get money to his son. And those hawaladars could lead us to Farid himself.”

  Habib had to know that simply getting rid of Ammar wouldn’t solve his problems. Farid had to go, too.

  “You assume these hawaladars will talk to you. They will not.”

  “They’ll talk,” Rem said, and didn’t miss Haley’s annoyed look.

  Eyes heavy with sober thought, the diamond merchant turned his back and wandered to the other side of the dilapidated room. He stopped at a window and stared through the dingy glass. “Habib—”

  Haley held her hand up to stop Rem from pressuring the merchant. He did as she wanted and let her walk to Habib’s side.

  “No one will know you told us about the courier,” she said. “Ammar will assume Rem found out on his own. He has no reason to suspect you.”

  “Few know of his courier.”

  “But Rem has been following Ammar. Isn’t it possible he could have seen him with the courier?”

  Habib turned his head to look at her.

  “You’ll have your life back, Habib. But you have to help us. If you know something, please, tell us.”

  Rubbing his hand down his face with another heavy sigh, Habib’s soft brown eyes spoke of the burden he carried. Haley didn’t push him, and already Rem could see the diamond merchant softening to her deft manipulation.

  “There is a man right here in Monrovia. His name is Charles Henry. That is how Ammar gets his money.”

  Haley thanked him and Rem took her hand and led her out of the building.

  Haley willed her annoyance down to a manageable level as Rem drove outside Monrovia on their way to where Charles lived. Dilapidated buildings painted a desolate picture as they passed. The structures thinned as they left the city. How could she trust him when he kept surprising her with his well-kept secrets? First the diamonds, now Habib.

  Cullen hadn’t been worried enough to force her to leave Monrovia with him. Why? Was it because he’d decided Rem was one of them? That he believed she was safe with him? It had to be.

  That gave her a sinking feeling. If Cullen believed Rem was that trustworthy, it confirmed her assessment of him from the moment they’d met. There was something heroic about him, a trait he didn’t appear to see. Still, there was an undeniable dangerous side to him. One that should scare her. Why didn’t he scare her?

  Well, he did scare her, but not the way she thought he should. Not from anything stemming from her experience in Iraq.

  If she fell for him, she didn’t think he had what it took to be with her long-term. His life seemed like such a struggle, like honor was always just out of reach. His actions were honorable, but could he ever get past his bad reputation? Could she? Maybe, if she could ever understand how a man like him had worked his way past her defenses. But she doubted she’d have the chance. Rem would compromise for no one, especially when it came to his reputation. If he didn’t think she’d accept him the way he perceived himself, he’d never open his heart to her.

  Strange how, prior to Iraq, all the men she’d dated and seen in relationships had absolutely no resemblance to Rem. They’d all been professionals working regular jobs. Fellow soldiers. Ordinary people. Back then, her biggest concern was deciding what she wanted out of the Army. What did she want to do with her life? What kind of man would she marry? All regular, ordinary life issues. Iraq had stripped that innocence from her. And now she was left grappling with a new identity. She didn’t know what she wanted from life anymore, much less what kind of man she needed. Did she even need one?

  Looking over at Rem, something tickled her insides. She didn’t want to feel this way, but a kind of warmth had taken harbor. She didn’t understand it and maybe she never would, but no matter what happened between now and when she arrived back home, she would have no regrets. The promise she’d made to herself after Iraq was twofold. She’d never be a victim again. And she’d never look back.

  Rem turned a corner and drove to a stop just down the dirt street from a concrete, palm-leaf-roofed shack. Haley was glad for the distraction from her thoughts. She was too tired for them anyway. Red dirt provided the only landscaping. Other small shacks surrounded this one, and thick jungle closed it all in. It was swampy here, so venturing into the trees would be a bad idea if a person didn’t know what they were doing.

  “We’ll wait here until we see him.”

  She nodded, then snuggled back against the seat and yawned. “Wake me up when you see him.” She shut her eyes, rolling her head toward the window so he couldn’t watch her sleep.

  “Why do you think Cullen left you with me?”

  The suddenness of Rem’s question made her open her eyes and lift her head to look at him. “What?”

  “He left you. If anything, I would have thought he’d at least stay with us.”

  “Did you want him to?”

  He sent her a “yeah, right” look.

  “Maybe he knew I’d be safe with you.”

  “Is that what you think? That you’re safe with me?”

  “No,” she said, and it was the truth. “I probably would be safer with Cullen.”

  A harsh breath blew through his nose. “You’d be dead as soon as he left you with someone less competent. And that would be pretty much anybody.” Anger nipped his tone.

  She ignored it. His ego was showing and she wanted to see where it led. “Except you?”

  “I’ve had lots of practice.”

  “So has Cullen.”

  “I wasn’t comparing.”

  She let that go.

  “Is he right?” Rem asked. “About what?”

  “The real reason he left you with me. It isn’t to gather intel, either.”

  Because Cullen believed she needed this to overcome Iraq. That was what he meant. She had to push back her rising defenses.

  “Don’t do that.” She didn’t want him to start digging up unwanted memories.

  “He sees it as a way to help you heal.”

  “I don’t throw myself into dangerous situations to get over Iraq.”

  “Then why did you come with me?” His gruff tone exposed his vulnerability to the subject.

  And that was why he’d started asking questions. This was what he really wanted to know. Haley could have gone with Cullen. Rem wouldn’t have forced her to stay. Not with Cullen in the room. But she had stayed. And now he wanted to know why. Yes, she wanted to uncover his secrets. Yes, she needed to heal from Iraq. But none of that mattered. He wanted to know if she’d come with him for any other reason.

  That warmed her core and sent a responding sensation pulsing to the rest of her body. But she couldn’t let him think she was starting to have feelings for him. She had to protect her heart.

  “To fight terrorism. And win.” Unlike she was able to do in Iraq. The thought came against her will.

  “You don’t have to risk your life to do that.”

  Was she mistaking the brief look in hi
s eyes before he turned back to the road as disappointment?

  “You can fight with your mind, Haley,” he said.

  “I won’t argue that’s part of it.”

  “How did you know to ask Habib about the hawala brokers?”

  “I know how terrorists think. I know how they operate. It’s my job.”

  “Yes. Intelligence is your job. Not ops. So why put yourself in those situations?”

  “I don’t go out of my way to do it.”

  “That’s not what I heard Cullen say.”

  She didn’t deny it.

  “If he had his way, you’d never leave U.S. soil. You can do intel from there just as well as you can in the field.”

  “What’s your point?” she snapped.

  “You were afraid when we reached Locke’s compound.”

  “Who wouldn’t be afraid?”

  “Why do ops when it’s clear that you’re not cut out for it?”

  It was the fear she wanted to overcome, but she couldn’t bring herself to admit that to him.

  “You should have never come to Monrovia in the first place.”

  “Oh, and you’re here because you want to make a difference in the world.” Her sarcasm stemmed from the emotion he’d roiled to life. She couldn’t help it.

  But he didn’t even flinch. He accepted who he was—who he thought he was, anyway—and he didn’t care what anyone else thought.

  “I’m here to kill Ammar and his father,” he said, a deadly undertone leaving no doubt of his passion on the matter. “No other reason. And nothing. Nobody. Not a single living thing is going to get in my way.”

  “I understood that from the moment I met you.” It was what had fascinated her about him. She knew that now. His energy fascinated her. The vengeful mercenary who denied his hero’s heart.

  They stared each other down. Haley felt her pulse hammering and saw his pumping in the vein of his neck.

  A movement caught her eye. She looked with Rem toward the building. A man rode a motorcycle to a stop in front of the building and climbed off. He strode into the shack.

  Rem got out of the Jeep. Haley did, too, and followed him across the street.

  Charles glanced back just before he shut the door and paused. His eyes flared wide in recognition before he recovered and started to slam the door shut. Rem reached the door and slapped a hand to stop him.