“What’s on your mind, Rafe?”
Rafe ran his hand through his hair and leaned back farther into his seat. “This mission really troubled me.”
“I should’ve been here.”
Rafe shook his head. “I’m glad you weren’t. When we went into the camp, it reminded me of Moreira.”
“In what way?” David had been by Rafe’s side through most of Moreira. It hadn’t been good. Not for the women who lived there, and not for the volunteers who had gone to help educate the women and children.
“There was a woman there, one of the wives, and she looked just like . . . Phoebe.”
That explained a lot. Protocol meant they had their weapons drawn, safeties off, ready to take out anyone who resisted. Losing a sister had been the most painful things any of them had gone through. He couldn’t imagine what it had been like for Rafe, coming face to face with that woman.
None of them would ever admit they suffered from PTSD, nor would they address their survivor’s guilt. That didn’t make it any less real. That was why he had his cabin. Rafe used to have his house to himself, but now he had a family at home. There was no way he could let Rafe go home in the shape he was in. That would not be good for his wife or his children.
“Have I told you about this little place I have in the mountains?” Rafe shook his head, but David already knew he hadn’t shared that information with his brothers. It was a part of him he didn’t want to admit. Hell, we all need help sometimes. Turchettas suck at letting anyone know. “I think you would like it.”
“I don’t think the family’s interested in camping. Deanna is due anytime now.”
“I wasn’t suggesting you take your pregnant wife or your daughter. It’s not that kind of cabin. I’ll text you the coordinates. You’re welcome to use it anytime you want.”
David could tell Rafe understood what he meant this time. He wasn’t sure his brother would actually go, but David hoped he would. He also hoped Rafe would take some time off once the baby was born. They were all good at burying themselves in work so they didn’t need to deal with things that troubled them, but that needed to change once you had a family. None of us deserve to carry the type of baggage we do.
“And what are your plans when we get back to the States?” Rafe asked in a teasing tone.
David had been doing a lot of thinking about that. Even while lying on his stomach holding his rifle, he’d been thinking about Jada. This was his first time going on a mission with someone waiting for him back home. It put a new perspective on things. David was never a huge risk-taker, even though his job was high risk. But he’d been more cautious this round. It wasn’t that Josh’s team had taken a hit either. He knew Jada couldn’t handle losing another person in her life.
“Taking a little time off. Not long, just a few days. Unless there’s something pressing you need me for,” David said.
“Going to the cabin?”
“Not this time. Right now there is a different kind of therapy I need.” And her name is Jada Hope. And that’s what I need most. Hope.
“Sounds like someone’s has some follow-up to do from his last assignment.”
David shot Rafe a look then burst out laughing. Rafe wasn’t usually the one to make jokes, but right now it was damn good to see Rafe lighthearted. You’re going to be okay, bro. We all are.
“If you can arrange for Gabe to be busy elsewhere, I might even invite her to the family dinner next week.”
“You guys that serious?” Rafe asked.
David hadn’t told Jada what she meant to him; it sure as hell wasn’t going to be Rafe who heard it first. “No. It’s only Jada and her father. I thought it’d be nice to introduce her to—”
“Don’t bullshit me. Trust me. I was where you are just a year ago. And you’re not the ‘bring a girl home’ guy. Can I give you some advice?”
David nodded. It really didn’t matter if David said no because Rafe would give it anyway. The benefit of being the oldest sibling.
“Introduce Jada to Melissa first.”
“Why?”
“Do you think Deanna would be with me right now if it weren’t for Melissa? Hell, I was laid up after getting shot, and Melissa manipulated the situation to have Deanna come and nurse me back to health.”
David arched a brow and joked, “I hope you’re not about to shoot me? Because I might not be as good with the ladies as Josh is, but I sure as hell am better than you.”
Rafe had a look of surprise on his face and then for the second time during the flight he burst out laughing. “That still doesn’t say much for you. Call your sister.”
They may have just come off of a tense situation, but David couldn’t recall another time when he felt so relaxed and comfortable with his brother. Maybe it was because they’d spent so much time in the field under controlled situations that they’d lost touch with being family. Whatever it was, he liked this moment. And he hoped they would have more like it in the future. Please don’t get as bad as Gabe, or I might parachute off this damn jet.
Jada was filthy, sore, tired, and most of all scared to death. It had been at least three days since the abduction. It might have been more because there were no windows in her small private cell.
Jada had no idea where they had taken her, or how long she’d been out. The last thing she remembered was being in the stairwell, heading to her hotel room. When she woke, she found herself handcuffed and behind bars in what looked like a very old, rundown prison cell. She had screamed and called out for help, but the only people who came seemed to be two of the men who had kidnapped her in the first place. She wasn’t positive they were the same ones, but they were dressed in the same type of clothing she remembered, all black and black ski masks. Everything had happened so quickly, but their build appeared the same as well. Large and powerful. They brought her food and drinks, but neither of them ever spoke in front of her.
She tried to hold on to the hope that the scheduled clients would’ve called her manager, irate when she missed her appointments. And it wouldn’t take long for the media to realize she was MIA as well. The one positive of always being in the limelight is your absence is noticed quickly.
If she were being held for ransom, someone would eventually come. She highly doubted it would be her manager Christof, because there was no way that man would cough up any cash. If anything he’d find a way to turn a profit over her disappearance and utilize it for some free media exposure. Damn, I can’t stand that man. He had no idea how lucky he was that she had been kidnapped, because his butt was about to get fired.
Jada had been thinking of making some changes in her life even before David. It was the fact that she had no idea what those changes were going to be. Even now, with all this time on her hands to do nothing but think, she still couldn’t visualize her future clearly. All Jada knew was she was tired of Christof telling her where to be, what to do. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. Somehow Christof had forgotten that he worked for her, not the other way around. She knew part of that was her fault. Jada had given him too much freedom, and Christof took advantage of it. That was going to end. If. . .when she got out of this, Jada was taking back control of her life.
Since her captors weren’t asking questions, she assumed they were negotiating for money. Jada’s father had access to her money. Even if he didn’t, she knew he’d do whatever he had to in order to get it. He’d never sit back and do nothing. She also knew he would not come alone. Jada was positive he would reach out to David like he had before. David will come for me. She let out a heavy sigh. He will come for me.
That’s what kept her going. She had faith she was going to be missed, and she had people who loved her and would do anything to get her back. Jada didn’t know how long that would take, though.
The cell looked like something from Alcatraz. The walls were large cinderblocks, and a bare bulb in a socket hung from the ceiling. She had an old-fashioned spring bed with a thick sleeping bag on top of that. All those things wer
e in horrible condition, but even worse, she had no privacy at all. She had a toilet attached to the wall and a small sink near it. Each time she had to use the toilet, Jada was forced to hold the sleeping bag in front of her to provide some sort of barrier in case her captors decided to pay a visit. It was a challenge. Her hands were handcuffed in front of her. She asked for the cuffs to be removed a few times. But they weren’t obliging any of her requests. They hadn’t provided her with any toiletries to clean herself. They meant to humiliate her. When she got out of there, she’d make sure they paid for treating her in such a manner. They might hold her captive, but they didn’t control her spirit.
Wherever she was, there was no running water. They brought large buckets of water for her to fill the sink and to pour into the toilet to flush. It was one step above having to go behind a tree. Something told Jada this wasn’t just about money. If so they could’ve brought her someplace not so. . .run down. Was all this being done to break her? Punish her? If so for what? She didn’t recall doing anything to anyone to receive such treatment, but she knew there were people who may consider her success enough of a reason to hate her. They have no idea there is nothing to be jealous of. It’s all make-believe. Nothing is real. How she wished these last few days weren’t real either.
The light in the cell flickered. It did it several times a day, and each time she thought it would go out permanently. When it didn’t, she figured it was being run off a generator somewhere powered by gas. That meant they would probably need to leave to obtain more gas. It was the only luxury she’d been given and feared it going out and being left to endure her captivity in the dark. That just might be what breaks me.
No one knew that she had an irrational fear of bugs. They didn’t bother her if she could see them. But if Jada felt something that even possibly could be a creepy crawly on her in the dark, she’d screamed until something was killed, spider, fly or mosquito, it didn’t matter. Maybe if they thought I lost my mind and screamed loud enough, they’d let me go. She knew it wasn’t rational thinking, but who the hell could think clearly at a time like this?
Jada wanted to know who was responsible. The only name that made any sense was Dennis Peckham. But David said he was in jail and could never hurt her. Was it possible they had let him out on bail? For as many times as he had shown up on her locations, it would make sense that he would have found her in Las Vegas as well. Dennis had to have access to my schedule. There were only a few people who knew every place she would be. My father, Christof and his secretary. I know only one I can trust.
David never mentioned Dennis working with anyone else. And she knew there had been at least three men in that stairwell, and she was positive there were only two men here with her now. Did I imagine the third one? Although Jada didn’t want to think back to the moments before it all went black, she needed to know for sure. Was she missing one of them? It played back as though a horrible dream, but there definitely had been three. Could the third man be Dennis? Was David wrong? If so where was Dennis now?
Jada could try asking her kidnappers who they were, what they wanted, but each time she asked anything, their only response was grumbling and growling. It was pointless, and Jada feared that if she irritated them, she’d feel the effects in a very negative way.
That didn’t mean Jada was giving up. Jada learned something through this ordeal. She was mentally and emotionally stronger than she’d given herself credit for. David, you’d be proud of me. I listened to what you said, and I’m not giving up. I’m going to survive this.
Jada had received so many threats over the years that she’d become complacent and brushed each new one off as though it was nothing more than a childish prank. David had tried telling her to take them seriously, and she had briefly, after learning about Dennis Peckham’s history. But once David left, she foolishly had gone right back to her old ways. And look where it got me. Right now she wished David was here to tell her “I told you so”. I won’t even care if you yell at me. Just hurry up and find me.
Jada fought back tears. They weren’t going to help her. If anything, her captors knew she was close to breaking, and it would only give them more power over her. “Never let them see your fear.” David’s words echoed in her mind. It made no sense when he’d told her, and never did Jada believe she’d need it.
Although she knew the bars would not budge, Jada got off the sleeping bag and grabbed the bars with her hands still handcuffed. As she did several times a day when it seemed no one was in earshot, she tugged each one with all her might. For a place that was rundown and falling apart, with bars covered in rust, they didn’t rattle. Never give up. Never give in. Those were more words David had told her were important in any battle or conflict. She continued to remind herself of them, but as time moved on, they became less effective.
Jada walked over to the bucket of water, scooped some up in her hand, and put it on her face before lying on her makeshift bed. She rolled over and put her face to the wall so her captors would not see the tears that streamed down her face if they came to check on her.
She didn’t want to die there. Jada had finally found someone to share her life with, and she wanted the opportunity to be able to tell him she loved him. She wasn’t sure she’d get a chance, and it ripped her heart to pieces. She was filled with more regrets than she ever had in her life. She regretted not calling her dad. I should’ve woken him. He wouldn’t have minded. The tears burned on her face.
Then she thought of David. He held himself so strong, confident, and in control all the time. But when he held her, made love to her, the walls he kept up had disappeared. If anything happened to her, she knew David would blame himself. But none of this was his fault. She knew the man he was, though. He’d never forgive himself for leaving her, not even for work.
She silently cried until there were no more tears. If she ever got out of this cell, things would never be the same. All her reasons for wanting to be home had nothing to do with work. Her career was the last thing she wanted to return to. Jada’s life needed to change. I just want a normal life. I want a family, a husband, and children. Exhaustion overtook her, and sleep was inevitable. But there was no way to know how long she slept, and that meant losing even more track of time.
She fought to remain conscious but she couldn’t. Jada was emotionally and physically weak. Her captives were winning. If David didn’t find her soon, it might be too late.
Please, David, find me. I need you . . . I love you. Please . . .
Chapter Twelve
‡
David had only one thing on his mind. He knew where Jada was working from the last list Gabe provided before he’d taken off on the last mission. David planned it perfectly, and when he got off the plane, the chopper ready and waiting to take him to Atlanta, Georgia. It was out of character for him, but David stopped at a florist shop specializing in exotic flowers. Jada was rare so he wouldn’t take her something ordinary. It wasn’t as easy as he’d thought but eventually he found something that reminded him of Jada: a Tigridia pavonia from Chili, rare like her and gorgeous when it bloomed. There wasn’t anything better than spontaneity when asking a woman to dinner or a movie. But he wouldn’t leave anything to chance for what he needed to tell Jada. Talking from the heart didn’t come easy for him. If anything, it was nearly impossible. Jada deserved to hear it from him at least once. He’d rehearsed exactly what he would say to her. I just have no idea how she’ll receive my little speech though.
David knew it was wrong to think about this as a mission. But it was the only way he could function, and it was how he anticipated results. That didn’t mean it was the correct approach with a woman. What the hell am I thinking? I have no idea how to make this happen. Not with someone like Jada. She’s . . . perfect. What would she want with me?
David knew things had changed in Jada’s life. Anyone who learned what she had about Peckham and his ill intentions would need time away to deal with it. Everyone dealt with things differently, but to mis
s a scheduled event? To not return any calls or messages? He wasn’t convinced it was because of the way he left things. Making love to her and saying goodbye in a note. David knew he wasn’t the best person for her; she could have any man she wanted. There was no reason to settle for a stubborn jackass like him. Maybe she agrees. Perhaps it was his years of training and expecting trouble that caused his unease. They needed to talk and if Jada wanted nothing to do with him, he’d honor her request. He refused to leave things as they were. To do that, he needed to find her first, and her next event wasn’t for another two days.
David reached out to Paul to see if he had a clue where his lovely daughter was hiding. He was surprised Paul answered on the first ring.
“David, you disappointed me, young man,” Paul said, sounding gruff.
I’m known for that. “Sorry about that, sir.” So, Jada had told him about their little get together in Las Vegas and how he’d abruptly left. I’m ready. Let me have it. I deserve it.
“You struck me as a man of his word. But I shouldn’t blame you. I know my daughter.”
He hadn’t promised Jada anything except to protect her. “This isn’t Jada’s fault.”
“Of course it is. She knows my number. I understand young love is magical, but that doesn’t mean she should forget her old man either. She usually calls me to wish me good night. Guess that’s gonna change.”
This gruff tone wasn’t about David sleeping with Jada. It was about David coming between him and his daughter.
“Are you saying you haven’t heard from her?” David wished his voice had shown a bit more respect and less bark as he spoke.
“You sound like you don’t know. Why is that?”
David moved past worried. If he hadn’t been so concerned he might have taken a moment to appreciate how observant Paul was. Right then he decided what and how he was going to tell Paul. David didn’t want to divulge too much information without having any facts yet. But Paul was the best person to help him locate Jada. He would know her little hideaways. So he let him know what had happened, without providing any personal details.
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