Dominant Force [Clandestine Affairs 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Zara Chase

  “You still haven’t told me why,” she said, acting ignorant about his woman and kids, a small part of her still hoping it wasn’t true. She didn’t care about the woman—she was welcome to Gary—but the children bit hurt like crazy.

  As if on cue, the door to the house opened and one of the most beautiful women Anais had ever seen walked through it, a toddler perched on her hip. Anais gasped, unable to look away. The woman had thick black hair that shone like a raven’s wing and hung halfway to her waist. She had lovely features, flashing brown eyes, and was still elegant and statuesque even with a belly swollen from pregnancy. The child had curly black hair and equally large eyes that were fastened in fascination upon Anais. Obviously, strangers were a rarity around these parts.

  “Does that answer your question?”

  “Who is this?” the woman asked at the same time.

  “Maria, meet Anais,” Gary said casually. “Anais, Maria.”

  “Your wife?” Maria’s already large eyes almost doubled in size. “Diablo! What is she doing here?”

  “It’s okay, baby. She came alone.”

  “No I didn’t.”

  “Go back inside, Maria. I’ve got it covered, but Serena doesn’t need to see it.”

  “Be careful. It might be a trap.”

  “It’s no trap. I’ll know if anyone else breaks the perimeter, just like I knew she was coming when she got halfway down the drive.”

  “Now perhaps you understand why,” Gary said smugly.

  “She’s very beautiful.” Anais gulped. “So is the baby, but I didn’t realize you were so dissatisfied with our marriage.”

  “We lost what we’d once had, darlin’, you know that as well as I do. It’s nobody’s fault, except perhaps the army’s. People change as they grow older, and want different things.”

  “Not so very different,” she replied, nodding towards Maria’s retreating figure.

  “Ah, that old refrain. When can we think about a baby, Gary? But there was no way I’d agree, because I knew we wouldn’t be together much longer, even before I met Maria. No way would I let my child be raised just by its mother. Kids need a man, discipline, in their lives. Then I met Maria, and my priorities changed. No offense.”

  “None taken.” Anais shrugged. “Why couldn’t you just have asked me for a divorce? I would have given you one.”

  “I doubt that very much. You were stifling me, Anais, but just couldn’t see it. You are so fucking naïve.”

  His tone chilled her, but she didn’t allow it to show, and responded with a secretive smile. “Not anymore.”

  “Yeah, you’ve had to grow up, I can see that, but this is about me, not you.” Oh really? “I had gotten too big for the army. Its restrictions were stifling me every bit as much as you were.” He turned his head to one side and spat on the boarded verandah, but the rifle didn’t waiver. “Way too many dumb rules. You can’t corral a man with my talents. Talents, I might add, that went unappreciated and unrecognized. I even got disciplined for using my initiative.” He rolled his eyes. “The army doesn’t value a man of experience who can think for himself and do a better job of it than the officers who are paid to do the thinking.”

  “That must have been so frustrating,” Anais said sarcastically.

  “You have no idea. Anyway, Maria ain’t the type of lady who can live on fresh air.”

  “I don’t want to hear this.”

  Anais realized now just how stupid she had been to come. Had she really expected Gary to do anything other than make half-ass excuses, blaming everyone except himself for what he’d done? And he couldn’t let her go again. In her anger and righteous indignation she hadn’t stopped to think it through properly, assuming even he wouldn’t do away with his own wife. She could see from the glacial set to his features that she had severely underestimated his determination to make a fresh start.

  “It don’t matter none that you know. After tonight we’ll be long gone. No one knows for sure I’m still alive.”

  “But what about me?”

  “What indeed?” He shook his head. “You really should have listened when I tried to warn you off.”

  * * * *

  Hunter and Lewis reached the perimeter of Gary’s land, where they were met by one of Dixon’s men who had been ordered to brief them.

  “You can get to within five hundred feet of the house,” they were told. “Then there are all sorts of traps that’ll warn Harrison you’ve come calling.”

  “What sort of traps?” Hunter asked.

  “Oh, the usual survival shit. Pits, trip wires, saplings that’ll spring up and set bells ringing, literally.”

  “Okay, we can deal with that.” Hunter thanked the man. “You ready to go get our lady, buddy?”

  “You’d better believe it.”

  “We’ll stay back beyond the five-hundred-feet mark,” the MP said. “If you’re not out within fifteen minutes, we have orders to blow the operation and come get you.”

  “Don’t!” Hunter said sternly. “You could risk the woman’s life. Leave it to us.”

  “I can’t disobey a direct order.”

  “I don’t have time for this. Just leave it to us. We know what we’re doing. Keep in touch by text.”

  “Okay, that’ll work.”

  “Dixon must have had a fit of conscience since we left him,” Lewis said as they set off through the trees.

  “More like he doesn’t want to face the consequences if a civilian gets killed in the crossfire,” Hunter replied with a cynical snort. “Okay, we’re getting close. You know what to look for.”

  They found and bypassed several of Gary’s traps, but almost fell into a third. Hunter saw it at the eleventh hour and pulled Lewis back before he could walk into it.

  “Thanks,” Lewis said softly. “I got sloppy for a moment.”

  They could now see the house, and crouched behind a line of bushes.

  “Shit, they’re on the verandah and he’s got a gun on her.” Hunter’s heart lurched as he watched the woman he loved so recklessly risk her life. He was filled with rage against Gary, feeling impotent because there was absolutely nothing he could do without putting her in further danger. “What a slime ball.”

  “Can we get a clear shot at him from here?” Lewis asked.

  Hunter shook his head. “Not without risking hitting Anais. We don’t have rifles.”

  “Fuck!”

  “Hang on, something’s happening.”

  Hunter swore as he watched Gary Harrison bind his wife’s hands behind her back. He lifted a trapdoor in the verandah floor that presumably led to some sort of crawl space and pushed Anais hard so she fell into it. He said something to her and then slammed the heavy door closed.

  “At least he didn’t shoot her,” Lewis said.

  “Not yet, but he can’t afford any loose ends.”

  “Why not? If he’s planning to haul out tonight, what difference does it make?”

  “She presumably knows about the women and kids. Harrison won’t take any chances about them being found, or him. Look.”

  They watched as a pregnant woman and a child came out of the house. Harrison followed carrying a baby, then went back for a couple of bags. He loaded family and belongings into the truck Lewis had seen him in at the beach and looked ready to climb behind the wheel.

  “He’s moving out now,” Hunter said.

  “Probably worried this place has been compromised. He must think Anais didn’t find him on his own.”

  “What’s he doing now?” Lewis asked.

  Both men watched in growing concern. “Shit, he’s setting charges,” Hunter said, appalled. “The whole fucking place is gonna blow with Anais inside it.”

  * * * *

  Anais was petrified of confined spaces. This one was too small for her to be able to stand upright. It also smelt of damp, and was full of crawly things. She could feel something biting her legs, which freaked her out. But not nearly as badly as the dead look in Gary’s eyes when be pu
shed her down here, telling her to make her peace with her god. She told him the army knew about his hideout, but he just laughed and said it didn’t matter. There would soon be nothing left of it for them to find.

  Shit, she had been an impulsive fool! He had gleefully told her that the whole house would explode once it got dark, after he’d taken care of his business elsewhere and gotten well clear of the area. He seemed keen for her to know he had planned to do that all along. Couldn’t afford to leave any trace evidence if he wanted to make a new start, apparently. The idiot seemed to think she should sympathize about his differences of opinion with the army, and understand why he’d been forced to do what he was doing. But until he pushed her into the crawl space, she really didn’t think he would go so far as to kill her.

  Now she knew better.

  The man she had once loved had turned into a coldhearted killing machine, with no conscience, putting the blame on her for the situation she found herself in because she hadn’t stopped looking for answers. She thought that made him psychotic, a sociopath, or something like that. She didn’t know the correct term for his mental state, nor did it matter much. She had more immediate concerns.

  She was an idiot, she told herself, pulling futilely at the rope binding her hands. It dug into her wrists, but didn’t budge. Gary was far too good at tying knots to allow her any wiggle room. What the hell was she supposed to do now? She would have been missed and Hunter and Lewis would come looking for her. But they would find the house empty, and never think to look down here. Even if they did, Gary had mentioned that touching the door would set off the charge and they would be killed, too.

  Damn, she loved them both like crazy, and would never get to tell them how she felt. It was so unfair. She wanted to scream with frustration—at herself, mostly, for being so stupid—but also because she would very likely get Hunter and Lewis killed. Gary had relieved her of her cell phone, but even if he hadn’t, she couldn’t have used it with her hands tied behind her. Anyway, she would never get a signal down here.

  Refusing to accept defeat when she had finally discovered the true meaning of love and had something to live for, she squirmed about on the damp earth. She ignored the various creepy things crawling over her exposed skin, and eventually managed to push her feet over her bonds so her hands finished up in front of her. They were still securely tied, but this small victory gave her fresh hope.

  “I’m not done yet, you cowardly bastard!” she shouted at the top of her lungs, just so she could hear her own voice.

  She crawled about on her hands and knees, looking for something, anything, to help her get her hands untied. If she could manage that, she would feel around for the hatch opening and try to pry it loose. She didn’t care if it exploded. Well, she did. Of course she did. But better she was blown to smithereens than Hunter and Lewis went with her.

  She found a sharply pointed rock and cried out in triumph. Grasping it awkwardly between her numb, bleeding fingers, she started the laborious business of sawing it through the rope.

  * * * *

  Hunter and Lewis waited for the truck to disappear, then swung into action. They called Dixon to update him, and he set his men in motion to follow Harrison’s truck in a series of different vehicles.

  “We have a pretty good idea where he’s headed. There are only two places locally where a small plane can land. He won’t get away.”

  “We don’t give a shit about him. Anais is in the crawl space and the whole place is set to blow. We need to get her out.”

  “Wait. I’ll call for bomb disposal.”

  “How long before they can get here?”

  “Hold on. I’ll find out.” Hunter heard orders being issued, then Dixon came back on the line. “They are two hours out.”

  “Can’t wait that long. This baby’s set to blow in just over an hour, according to this ticking clock here. We’ll have deal with it ourselves.”

  “Do you know what you’re doing?”

  Hunter’s jaw clenched, square and unmoving. “Only one way to find out.”

  Hunter cut the call and he and Lewis jogged over to the property, guns drawn. They didn’t think there was anyone else left there, apart from Anais, but they weren’t taking any chances. Once they ensured the place was clear Lewis, who knew more about explosives than Hunter did, crouched down on the verandah where they had seen Gary setting the charges.

  “It’s timed to go off later tonight, but it’s pretty damned crude. Any vibration could set it off before then.” Lewis emitted a mirthless chuckle. “We’ve found something Harrison isn’t proficient at.”

  “Can you disarm it?” Hunter asked.

  “I think so.”

  “I need to check on Anais.” Hunter went to lift the hatch.

  “Wait! It might be triggered to blow if lifted.”

  Several agonizing minutes went past while Lewis fiddled with the intricate workings of the homemade incendiary device. Hunter wanted to call out to Anais, but didn’t for fear she might try to open the hatch from her side.

  “Okay,” Lewis said, his voice terse. “I’m as sure as I can be that if I cut this wire…you might wanna stand back, buddy, just in case.”

  “Not a chance.” Hunter slapped Lewis’s shoulder. “I have complete faith in your abilities.”

  “Well, that makes one of us.” Lewis paused to wipe perspiration from his brow. “Right, here goes.”

  The two guys shared a protracted look, then Lewis cut the wire, and they both tensed, waiting for the place to blow.

  Nothing happened.

  “Shit, you did it, bud.” Hunter exhaled with relief and shared a high five with Lewis. “Way to go!”

  “No need to sound so surprised.”

  Hunter laughed as he turned the heavy handle and lifted the hatch to the crawl space. “You down there, babe?”

  “No! Get clear.” Anais sounded frantic. “It’s going to explode.”

  “No, it’s not. Lewis defused it.” Hunter reached a hand down and took both of hers, tied with a frayed rope, in his. He pulled her up and into his arms. “You okay?”

  “I am now that you’re here.” She was covered in dirt and sobbing. “I’m so sorry. I was stupid, and I spooked Gary into running.”

  “Dixon’s on him,” Lewis said, taking his turn for a hug.

  “Look at your poor wrists,” Hunter said, tutting as he unfastened the rope and saw they were dripping with blood.

  “I was trying to get my hands free so I could open the hatch.”

  “And kill yourself?” the guys asked together.

  “Better than you getting killed trying to rescue me,” she replied, fresh tears cutting a path through the dirt on her face.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Hunter swept her into his arms and carried her into the house. Lewis found a bowl, which he filled with warm water. He bathed her wrists and tenderly bandaged them while Hunter cleaned the rest of the dirt from her as best he could. Then he called Dixon to update him on the situation.

  “We’re invited to watch your husband being arrested when the drug deal goes down,” he said to Anais. “Wanna be there?”

  “Bet your life I do,” she said, showing a return of her old spirit.

  Hunter laughed, conveyed Anais’s wishes to Dixon, and ushered her out to the truck. “We’re to leave Dixon’s vehicle. One of his men will pick it up. We’re to rendezvous with Dixon outside of town.”

  “Glad to see you in one piece, Mrs. Harrison,” Dixon said when they arrived. “Maria and the children are in a motel about a mile away. They will be picked up after we have Gary and his accomplice.”

  “How long do we have to wait?” Lewis asked.

  “Shouldn’t be much longer now,” Dixon replied as darkness fell. “We’ll get a call when we know where they’re at, and move in on them.”

  Hunter wondered if the drop would be aborted. Gary must wonder if the operation had been compromised because he would know Anais hadn’t found him without help.

&n
bsp; “We’re on,” Dixon said tersely a short time later when he received a call.

  “Greed won out over common sense,” Hunter muttered.

  “Harrison is heading along a dirt track to a small isolated airfield. So is another vehicle.”

  “Do you know who’s in it?” Hunter asked before heading for his truck.

  “Not yet. This place is very isolated. I already have people posted out of sight around it, ready to close in. We will have to stop short and hike in. Any vehicles will be seen, and there’s little tree cover. You need to stay in the truck, ma’am.”

  “Of course,” Anais said sweetly.

  Hunter bit back a laugh. There was about as much chance of her doing that as there was of Hunter winning the lottery—and he didn’t play it. But she’d wised up since her impulsive headlong flight into her husband’s murderous path and presumably understood Dixon would stop her from tagging along if she didn’t agree to his terms.

  “They chose this place well,” Lewis said, glancing through night vision goggles supplied by Dixon at the isolated dirt strip. They’ll see us immediately if we get any closer. Anais was with them. Dixon had either forgotten about her staying in the truck, or had decided it was pointless trying to force her.

  “Don’t worry,” Dixon replied, pointing to a couple of quad bikes that had been pushed by MPs up to their position. “There are more of these with the guys surrounding the place. They won’t get away.”

  Hunter laughed. All the high-tech equipment available to the modern army and these guys would be taken down by MPs on quad bikes. Go figure. They watched as temporary landing lights were set out on the dirt strip. The tension was palpable when the sound of a light aircraft’s engine reached their ears.

  “Stand by,” Dixon said tersely into his radio.

  Without its lights on, the aircraft made a rocky landing and rolled to a halt. Harrison and his buddy sprang forward. The pilot climbed from the cockpit, stood on the wing, and started throwing packages to Harrison.