by Louise Dawn
He shoved Pearl towards the SUV while sheltering Aysha with his body. “Get in the back and keep down!”
Shouting commands for the team to cover their escape, Antonio scrambled into the front seat. Their attackers were brazen—in broad daylight—pouring in like ants. Having this many men on the ground so quickly wasn’t a good sign. Rajin not only had resources, but he also had an entire army of men at his disposal. This wasn’t one spec-ops-type team; there were multiple targets this time, and Everett’s men stood little chance.
As Antonio reversed and swung the vehicle around, he watched his protection drop like flies. Like a zombie apocalypse movie, he mowed down mercenaries who jumped in front of the car. A target tried to smash a window, and Antonio accelerated down the narrow drive. Rolling down his window, he fired his Glock at moving aggressors.
Two men fell under fire, immediately replaced by five more. Mounting desperation had him taking the narrow mountain curves too fast. Slowing slightly, he rounded a corner and slammed on the brakes. Two trucks blocked the path, and men lined the road. Bronco leaned against the driver’s door and waved as Antonio pulled to a stop. Two more vehicles blocked them from behind.
Wanting to bellow with rage, Antonio watched as the bastard headed up the dusty path. He’d failed, and no matter how hard he fought, they were outnumbered and outgunned. Antonio eyed the shotgun on the seat. Turning, he reached for Pearl’s hand. “I’m so goddamn sorry. I’m going to create a diversion when he gets to the car. Take off down the mountain and stick to the thick scrub. Don’t look back.”
With terror-filled eyes, she shook her head. “No. Aysha won’t be able to keep up and she’s too heavy to carry. They’ll catch us. Don’t sacrifice your life for nothing. Promise that you’ll stay by our side. That you’ll stay alive until reinforcements come. Everett won’t give up.”
“Neither will my family. I’ll find a way out of this. I love you.” His throat burned as a foreign feeling of complete helplessness took over.
“I love you too.” A tear fell as Pearl held Aysha’s head tightly to her chest.
“They won’t hurt Aysha, but I’m worried for you. Stay close to me.” Hating their palpable fear, Antonio reluctantly turned back to face his mortal enemy—a man he once thought of as human.
Bronco tapped on the glass, and Antonio gritted his teeth.
“Step out before I smash the window and scare the kid even more.”
Antonio did as asked, resisting the temptation to smash Bronco’s face into a bloody pulp.
“What? Nothing to say? You lost at Hide N Seek. Failed at Marco Polo. You could at least have some humility. On your knees.”
“You will die by my hands.”
“If you don’t kneel, someone else will die. That sweet woman hiding in the back seat.”
Antonio ran through escape scenarios one last time. He counted thirty men—all too close. All of them were armed. Not all looked as well trained as Bronco’s team, but still, one wild bullet could end a precious life.
Antonio sunk to his knees. Bronco kneed him in the face. Once. Twice. Collapsing to his hands, Antonio allowed the blood to drip from his split lip. His entire focus was on his precious cargo. He heard the door open, and Pearl was ordered to climb out. Praying she’d cooperate, Antonio straightened, keeping his hands raised in surrender.
“Pearl Bandara—the wildcat who tried to scratch up my pretty face. Look at my neck.”
Silence greeted Bronco’s statement.
“Where’s the USB drive?”
“The what?” Pearl sounded confused, and Antonio frowned at the request.
“Either you or your pretty friend in Sri Lanka is hiding the flash drive. Which is it?”
“I swear, I have no idea what you mean.”
“My men will search all your belongings. Perhaps a strip search is needed—I can handle that.”
“Don’t touch her!” Antonio surged to his feet, and a guard punched a rifle into his stomach before forcing him back in a kneeling position. Shaking with rage, Antonio focused on the ground before him.
“Are we killing him here?” One of the bastards asked.
“Tempting.” Bronco kicked sand in Antonio’s face, and he turned away. “But we have unfinished business. And he needs to pay for making our client’s life rather difficult.”
Relief at Bronco’s words was short-lived when a guard tried to rip Aysha from Pearl’s arms.
“Don’t!” Antonio tried to rise, ignoring hammering blows.
“Everyone relax.” Bronco held up a hand. “We’ll deal with them later. Let’s get to the bird.”
They shoved Antonio into a separate vehicle, and he never took his eyes off the front car, which contained Pearl and Aysha. They drove into the valley, passing luxurious cabins scattered amongst the trees. Thanks to his intel on the area, that Everett had shared, Antonio knew where they were heading. To a lake—which probably meant they’d board a seaplane.
That meant a maximum of eight or nine passengers and crew. Antonio weighed up the odds, knowing Bronco would be the biggest threat. Could Antonio take him out quickly? Knowing that any move could risk the lives of Pearl and Aysha, Antonio knew he’d hesitate. Unless a clear opportunity presented itself, he wouldn’t fight armed men.
They approached the vast stretch of water via a paved road. Scanning the area for local residents proved futile. The only sign of life was a boat docked on the far side, near a forest of trees—too far off to spot their predicament. And two seaplanes greeted their convoy. So, only Bronco’s team would board the planes. Less men to deal with, but they were lethal fuckers.
Antonio swore beneath his breath. He knew they’d keep them separated, and his prediction was accurate. Bronco directed Pearl and Aysha to a separate plane. Knowing they might never see each other again Antonio eyed the two burly guards that flanked him on the dock. He’d go for the smaller man’s weapon.
“Don’t even think about it.” Bronco pointed a pistol at Pearl’s head, and Aysha began to cry. “I know what you’re thinking, thanks to years in the field together. If you fight my men, there will be blood spilled, and it won’t be yours.”
“You won’t separate us.” Antonio sneered.
“Relax, Snax. We’re all heading in the same direction. You’ll see them when we land. Now get in the fucking plane.”
After exchanging a long look with Pearl, Antonio allowed the men to pull him away from his little family. And they were family. If he found a way to save them and survive, he’d rush Pearl down the nearest aisle and make her his wife. They were his to protect, and he wouldn’t fail.
Chapter Twenty
Everett swiped at the sweat and rose. His soul felt like it had aged by decades in the past hour. Law enforcement swarmed the cabin, and his men either lay dead in the heat or recovering at the nearest hospitals. Five killed and seven injured. Aside from financial contributions, how do you comfort bereaved families—individuals he knew well. He’d sat at their dinner tables and shared meals.
“I guess you can’t cover this shitty mess up with cash, right?”
Everett turned at the cold words, which matched an unfamiliar agent’s frosty smile. Unlike the FBI agents on scene, he wore an unmarked black tactical vest over a suit. Definitely from a different agency.
“What are you looking at?” the agent asked with a sneer.
“A bullet casing. I haven’t touched it.”
“Let’s go for a walk.”
“I don’t have time for a stroll. I have injured men to care for and a missing family.” Everett turned his back and headed towards the cabin.
A firm hand gripped his shoulder. “Missing family, huh? Like my brother? Don’t walk away, asshole.”
“Brother?” Everett turned and reassessed the angry man. He was taller than Antonio, with almost perfect features and unsettling eyes. His golden-brown hair and complexion were also lighter in comparison to his sibling.
“If anything happens to Antonio, I’ll slit your p
retty neck.”
“Well, you can toss threats my way, but that’s not gonna help save his ass. If you want access to my resources, then let’s work together to find the ones we love.”
“I don’t need to work with you. I have my own team.”
“CIA, right?”
Leo raised his brows, and Everett folded his arms. “I’ve dealt with enough spooks to recognize one from a mile away. Are you now officially involved, or just the FBI? Because I tell ya, I’m relieved that a federal agency is finally getting involved on the ground in the search for Rajin Bandara.”
“You’re comfortable with the FBI digging into your operations?” Leo shook his head with a smirk.
“I have nothing to hide. And I had a legitimate security team in place to protect my family. My men are heroes that were taken down while doing courageous work. Where were you when your brother was on the run?”
“Screw you.” A glimmer of emotion lit up the agent’s icy eyes. “I was locating the threat—the cockroach who started this collapse.”
“Then, where is he?”
Leo rubbed a hand over his face and stared out into the valley. “From what I can gather, Rajin Bandara is in the States.”
“Bullshit. He couldn’t be that stupid.”
“He could if he has multiple aliases and powerful backing. From drug lords to dirty politicians, the man has certainly cultivated a wealthy friends list. The last place he was rumored to be seen—two days ago—was in Venezuela.”
“We underestimated his determination to find his daughter.” Hands on hips, Everett paced in a tight circle. “Instead of chasing a ghost, let’s find his sponsor—the financial mogul who’s providing resources.”
“I’m already on it. I have a contact in Caracas who’s trailing the money—payments made to the cartel.”
Leo grabbed Everett’s shirt collar and got into his face. “If you withhold intel, I’ll beat your rich ass. My brother’s life is on the line, and I’ll rip you apart if you go dark and launch a separate rescue mission.”
“Same goes for you. But if you’re working in an official capacity and waiting for orders from the top, I won’t comply. If I see an opportunity to save my family, I’ll take it.”
With a nod, Leo released his hold. “Trust me, I’m a lone wolf on this mission. Raijin Bandara just fucked with the wrong family.”
Pearl immediately recognized the unmistakable landscape. She’d never spent time in Utah but knew the red rock scattered amongst towering pines from past road trips cutting through southern Utah. She guessed that they were somewhere between St. George and the Dixie National Forest. The blazing heat had sweat crawling down her back, but her entire focus was on her quiet child sheltered by her side.
“Get out of the car.”
Pearl complied as mercenaries did the same.
“Wait here. Don’t move.”
Wanting to spit in Bronco’s face, Pearl looked away. The firefight trauma had left Aysha in a whimpering state, and the fury that Pearl felt towards the rough men who surrounded them was palpable. She wanted to rip their eyes from the sockets.
Antonio felt the same, and Pearl could see his simmering rage whenever Bronco stepped near her. Any moment, Antonio could implode, and that would get him killed. Knowing that she couldn’t fuel his fury, Pearl remained compliant and followed instructions.
Now they stood in a fenced clearing in some kind of sprawling facility. A concrete monstrosity took up space beneath jagged red cliffs. The industrial building looked like it was striving for a “preppy military” vibe. Which sat in sharp contrast to the shabby town she’d caught a glimpse of when they’d driven through the massive gates to the property.
They were waiting for someone or something, and armed thugs stood in a watchful circle. They kept her separated from Antonio, and secured his hands behind his back with zip ties. Antonio still looked lethal. With caged energy, he never took his eyes off Pearl and Aysha.
Unlike Aysha, Pearl and Antonio were disposable. Their lives held no value, and this may well be their last moments on earth. Facing brutality in a kaleidoscopic landscape—like a Mad Max movie.
Kneeling, she cupped Aysha’s shoulders. “Are you okay, Bug?”
“I wanna go home. I’m scared, and I need to go potty.” Her chin wobbled, and Pearl pulled Aysha to her front. “Take me home, Mommy.”
Chest burning, Pearl clung to her shaking child. “How about, after Mommy talks with these naughty men, we’ll go home. And we’ll stop for ice cream. Two scoops of chocolate ice cream with lots of sprinkles.”
“And fudge sauce?”
With a watery chuckle, Pearl agreed. “Drowning in fudge sauce.”
“And strawberry ice cream for Neo?”
Pearl’s tears leaked into her daughter’s hair. “And for me. I also love strawberries. But not as much as I love you. Because you are my everything. My sun, my moon, my stars. My shiny ladybug who lights up my world.”
“Mommy, don’t cry.” Aysha tried to step back. The panic in her voice had Pearl pulling in a ragged breath.
Raising her lips into a smile, Pearl lied. “Mommy is fine. I have such a big girl by my side.”
“I won’t let those bad men hurt you,” Aysha promised, and her words tore at her mother’s heart.
“My brave Bug.” With trembling fingers, Pearl tucked her daughter’s wild tendrils behind tiny ears. “I didn’t even get a chance to brush your beautiful hair this morning.”
“And I didn’t brush my teeth.” Aysha looked worried over the fact.
“That’s okay. You still have the prettiest smile I’ve ever seen.” A distant noise had Pearl looking up.
Movement from the industrial building had her focusing on two men emerging from a side door. Armed guards flanked the trio, and Pearl stood and glanced Antonio’s way. Her hair stood on end, and she could see that he felt the same by his readying posture. A slice on his temple still bled, and a darkening bruise marred his cheek. He licked his swollen lip, and she knew he’d continue to fight till the end. The thought terrified her.
“I love you.” He mouthed.
She loved him too and knowing that she could be the reason for his demise had her shuddering with dread.
“Don’t die. I love you too.”
His eyes glistened with unshed tears, and the sight heightened her searing panic. She wasn’t wrong in thinking that this may be her last moment with the ones she loved. Wanting to howl out her pain, Pearl rounded on the approaching men. Her heart dropped, and her lungs seized.
“My sweet baby!”
“Daddy!” Aysha tried to let go of Pearl’s stiff fingers to run to her father.
Instead, Pearl picked up her child and backed up as far as she could go—against the door of the SUV.
“Mommy! Daddy is here. He’ll save us.”
Rajin’s handsome face creased into a smile as he paused in front of Pearl. He wore an expensive, cream-colored suit and slipped his hands into deep pockets.
“My two gorgeous girls. I’ve missed you both.”
Pearl flinched at his words. Aysha tried to reach out, and Pearl pressed her close.
“These bad men tried to hurt us.”
“Did they? Daddy is here to make it all better. And guess what? I bought you lots of toys.”
“Do you have Shreddy? I left him behind.”
Rajin gritted his teeth. “No, princess. But I have a giant, stuffed unicorn.”
“A rhino?” Aysha squealed in excitement.
Rajin looked confused. “No, a pink unicorn with sparkly wings.”
“I don’t like pink.” Aysha screwed up her lips. “It’s supposed to be gray with a big butt. Real unicorns don’t fly, and they don’t have sparkles.”
“I see that you’ve lost your manners. Daddy will help you find them again.” Rajin switched his attention to Pearl. “Hand her over.”
“Never.”
The second man who flanked Rajin snorted. An older man dressed in hunting gear
and holding a shotgun. He gnawed on gum, making smacking noises with his greasy lips.
“That’s not a request. I’d hate for anything to happen to you—in front of our daughter.”
“I’ll never let her go.” Pearl edged away, looking for an escape.
“Leave them alone.” Antonio’s booming voice echoed through the valley. A guard pressed the barrel of his gun to Antonio’s stomach, but that never stopped him from shoving closer.
“Easy, friend. I don’t want to have to kill you in front of the kid.” Bronco cleaned a fingernail with a pocketknife as he leaned against the hood of an SUV. “I might not get my full pay if the client has a traumatized kid.”
“I’m not your damn friend.” Antonio spat. “Your fatal mistake is working for these bastards because you’re dead.”
Bronco grinned and pocketed the knife. “Mr. Bandara, let me help you with the kid. If anyone acts out, a pretty lady will pay for their actions.” He waved a finger at Pearl before sauntering over.
Rajin stretched out his hands. “Aysha, come to your papa. Do you remember what we sang together?” She ignored him, and he switched to Sinhala, humming out a nursery rhyme.
“I want to stay with Mommy.” Aysha buried her head in Pearl’s neck. “And with Neo.”
“Listen to your father.” Rajin grabbed Aysha’s arm, and Pearl tried to twist away. With hands on her shoulders, Bronco held Pearl in place as Rajin, and another guard, pried Pearl’s arms away.
She kicked out at a shin and bit at a hand as Aysha began to wail. And then her child was gone.
Antonio’s shouts indicated that he fought to get to her. Men fell as the agent kicked and bucked. Rajin held Aysha easily as she fought, crying for Pearl. Instead of heading back to the concrete compound, he walked to the second SUV and climbed in, along with an entourage of mercenaries.
Pearl dropped to her knees. Through her tears, she watched the vehicle drive away. It moved in the opposite direction to the gate and seemed to be heading deeper into the fenced-off area.
“Ex-wives are always a damn headache. I prefer them buried—six feet in the ground.” Rajin’s friend—the one drowning in camo, grinned as he slid his hands into cargo pants pockets.