Dangerously Entwined

by Sidney Bristol

  “She hasn’t picked up?” He braced his hand against the top of the phone, crowding her a bit.

  “No.” Melody bit her lip.

  She knew Merida kept normal hours. Someone in the office had to with Zain up around the clock sometimes.

  Did that mean Merida had turned her phone off?

  “Hello?” a sleep roughened, groggy voice said.

  “Merida?”

  A beat of silence.

  “Melody?”

  “Yes.” Melody looked up at Grant. Could their luck be changing?

  Merida’s voice was only groggy for a moment before she was in action mode, barking out demands. “Where are you? How are you? Are you okay? Oh my God. Why are you calling me? Start talking.”

  Melody wished she could answer all those questions, but there wasn’t time. “Look, we don’t have long. I’m assuming you’ve seen the news?”

  “Yes. Zain’s still at the office trying to—I don’t know. He’s staring at your trackers pulling his hair out.”

  “The trackers are still working?” Melody stared up at Grant, hope bubbling up inside of her.

  “Yeah. The new ones—”

  “I need to know where Brenden and Riley are, Merida. These men, they’re the same ones who had Ethan. We think they have Brenden and Riley. Vaughn is in bad shape. They’re watching the hospitals. We have to get off the island, but we don’t have any money or passports. We’re worried these guys can track our phones. That’s why I didn’t call Zain.”

  “Smart. Okay. I’ll three-way Zain’s wife. I think she’s up there with him tonight.”

  “Oh, thank God.” Melody said a silent prayer of thanks that Zain had the most patient, understanding woman for a wife.

  Grant tapped the top of the phone with his knuckles. “We need to keep this call under five minutes.”

  Melody nodded.

  The line rang again, a bit distorted this time.

  She held her breath and hoped Zain hadn’t given up on them.

  “Hello?” another woman’s voice said.

  “Hey, Andrea, are you still at the office with Zain?” Merida asked.

  Melody kept quiet.

  “Yeah, I’m here,” Andrea said slowly.

  “Can I speak to him? I know this is weird, just go with it, please?”

  “Okay,” Andrea said slowly.

  There was a bit of silence, then muffled voices.

  “Merida?” Zain’s voice was tired and tight, full of the same strain Melody was feeling.

  “Melody’s on the line. She called me and doesn’t have much time,” Merida said in a rush.

  “Hey, Grant’s here with me.” Melody glanced up at him. “I need to know where Riley and Brandon are. We were attacked by men we believe work for the Lebanese government. The ones who had Ethan. We are also worried they’ve targeted your phone, which is why we went through Andrea to get to you.”

  “Shit,” Zain muttered. “This is not what I wanted to hear. Brenden and Riley haven’t moved more than a dozen yards in the last twelve hours. You ready for the address?”

  “Yes.” Melody grabbed a Hard Rock Hotel pen that Grant held out for her and scrawled the address down for them on the back of a receipt.

  Zain followed the address up with more questions. “What do you need? What can we do for you?”

  Melody squinted at Grant. “We’re going to need to get out of the country fast. We don’t have passports anymore.”

  “I’ll handle it,” Zain said with certainty.

  “Vaughn is seriously injured. However we get out, a hospital will have to be our first stop.”

  “Understood. I’ll get a new phone and number. When you can, contact Merida again to update her and get that number, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “What’s your next move?” Zain asked. She heard the click of keys in the background.

  “Finding a place to set Vaughn up, then supplies and going after the others.”

  “I’m pulling up our resources on the island now. There’s a place. I know the guy who runs it. He’s not officially on our list of associates, but I can ask a favor. Orion Doukas. Special Forces. He opened up a high-end hostel for rich kids wanting to play pretend and party. They have security and it’s not the kind of place that can be easily targeted. Plus, knowing Orion, they have panic rooms. I wouldn’t put it past him to have a nurse or doctor he could bring in on the DL.”

  Melody wasn’t sure who she could or couldn’t trust right now beyond her people. She was relying on Zain to lead them straight. “If you think it’s a good idea, we’re open to it.”

  “Sure thing. Ready for the address?”

  “Ready.”

  Zain rattled off the other address and she jotted it down.

  Grant tapped his watch, his lips set in a grim line.

  The skin between her shoulder blades was beginning to itch. She wanted out of there, too. The longer they were out in the open, the greater their risk of being seen or caught.

  Zain blew out a breath. “We’re watching you and working on a way to get you out of there. I’ve got people working on resources, equipment, exit strategies, everything.”

  “Good to know we aren’t exactly alone.” Melody swallowed. “And Zain?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Wherever Ethan is, make sure he’s safe? I don’t know how, but he’s involved.”

  “On it.”

  “We need to go,” Grant said.

  Melody nodded. He took the receiver from her and hung up. Her hands only shook a little. Grant didn’t even seem to notice.

  He took her by the elbow and guided her down a side street, pushing her to walk as fast as she could without jogging. “Now, about getting us a car?”

  THURSDAY. LUXE IBIZA Hostel, Ibiza.

  Grant eyed the four story building behind the tall fence. The early evening light threw long shadows stretching away from them and painted the sky a vibrant riot of color .

  This was where Zain was sending them?

  Whoever had designed the exterior had included lights that threw a rainbow of colors across the pale structure making it look more like a club. Several uniformed men were stationed at regular intervals around the perimeter indicated this really wasn’t a hostel at all.

  This wasn’t a hostel. It was a hotel for kids who wanted to pretend they were roughing it.

  Grant hung back and let Melody led their group past the main entrance and down a side lane. It was likely for the best that she do the talking here. He just didn’t have the patience to make nice with people right now. Plus, someone had to watch their tail.

  Vaughn was looking better and even walking steadier since getting antibiotics and fluids in him, but he wasn’t ready for duty yet. They were essentially a two-man team. If that.

  Ahead of him Melody stopped at a gate speaking to someone he couldn’t see.

  Grant gave the road one last look before joining the group. They’d been lucky since leaving the hospital and losing their tail, but he didn’t anticipate their luck holding out.

  As he approached, Melody turned to gesture to him. “This is Grant, my fellow Team Leader.”

  The man standing in the gate fit Zain’s description of Orion Doukas.

  Grant disliked him on sight.

  Orion looked like his name sounded, like a bad joke. He was as Grant would expect from someone who’d been part of Special Forces. Tall, buff, aware of his surroundings. But that was where the soldier ended. Doukas had clearly left his military days behind him as was evident by the tattoos curling down his arms, the long hair pulled back and his ridiculous all-white clothing. Whatever soldier had been under all that was gone, and in its place was the beach bum.

  Orion regarded Grant with disinterest, focusing mostly on Melody. “Let’s get you settled. Follow me?”

  “Thanks for doing this,” was the last thing Grant heard her say before they stepped past the fence.

  Vaughn braced a hand on the gate and bend his head.

>   Nolan edged closer. “You going to make it?”

  “Yeah, let’s just get this over with.” Vaughn glanced back at Grant. “Don’t cut me from the team yet, okay?”

  “Wasn’t thinking of it.”

  Vaughn straightened and headed after Melody and Orion, who had their heads together in conversation, completely oblivious to the rest of them. Grant grit his teeth and followed, nodding at the silent man waiting to close the gate.

  Orion led their team down a path shielded by shrubs that blocked the ongoing pool party from view. The evening festivities were in full swing judging by the shrieking women, the water splashing, music and the scent of grilling meats.

  The path led them to a small bungalow set off to one side of the property overlooking the rocks and sand below the small bluff. A wide, wooden walkway led to what appeared to be a private beach. The bungalow was somehow tucked away from everything else. It was, in a word, ideal.

  Yeah, this was no hostel, just another rich kid’s paradise.

  Grant had stayed in hostels. Not many, just a few, and it had been ages ago. He’d taken six weeks to traipse around Europe with his younger brother. The one thing he recalled was how hostels always seemed to smell the same no matter what country they were in.

  Orion held the door to the bungalow, looking each of them over as they entered.

  Grant paused and offered the man his hand. He might not care for the guy, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t appreciative of what he was doing. “Thanks for putting us up.”

  Orion grinned and took his hand. “It’s nice to be owed a favor.”

  Owed.

  Three men’s lives were hanging in the balance and this guy was crowing about debts?

  Yeah, Grant didn’t like this guy one bit.

  He swallowed his thoughts and followed the others inside.

  The bungalow was comfortable, with a small living space and kitchen that opened up to a patio through a set of double glass doors. Like much of the island, it was decorated in light, airy colors and splashes of blue. All of which seemed inspired by the general island life vibe.

  “Bedrooms and toilets are down that way.” Orion gestured to a hallway. “Do you still want medical?”

  “Are they going to do anything besides slap a Band-Aid on?” Nolan asked.

  Orion grimaced. “At this hour? Not likely.”

  “Then don’t bother. The fewer people that know we’re here, the better.” Nolan nodded at Vaughn. “Come on, let’s get started.”

  Grant, Melody and Orion watched the two men disappear down the hall.

  “How bad is it?” Orion asked softly.

  As if he cared.

  The guy was probably more concerned about the clean-up.

  “Bad,” Melody replied.

  Orion turned toward her. He reached out and brushed his knuckles down her arm, as if they weren’t strangers.

  “We’ll get you all home,” he said.

  Grant grit his teeth and crossed his arms over his chest.

  Who was this guy to promise Melody something like that?

  “How are we doing that?” Grant asked with maybe a bit too much edge in his voice.

  Orion turned toward him, brows lifted. “Zain’s handling it.”

  “I see, so we aren’t doing it. Zain is?”

  He shrugged. “It’s a team effort.”

  Grant and Orion studied each other. Orion was one of those guys, the self-assured ones who always thought it would work out, the bad stuff never happened to them. He didn’t live in reality. Grant did.

  Melody broke the moment by stepping between them. “Thanks so much, Orion. I think my team and I need to discuss our next steps, and it is best if you aren’t involved.”

  Orion held Grant’s gaze a moment longer before smiling at Melody. “Of course. I’ll be by in a bit with dinner. Unless you’d like to join me in the main house instead?”

  Grant balled his hands into fists. That didn’t sound like a group invitation to him.

  Melody returned the smile, but it was cool and professional. The same one Grant had watched her give plenty of other men. “Thanks, but the fewer people who see us, the better.”

  “Alright then.” Orion headed for the door. “I’ll see you later.”

  Neither Grant nor Melody moved a muscle until the bungalow door shut. Even then Melody crossed to the door and drew the curtain across the glass without uttering a word. She turned and leveled a glare at him, still not speaking.

  Nolan emerged from the hallway. His steps were heavier and he swayed on his feet. The backpack was gone and so were the sacks of supplies. He had dark circles under his eyes and the visible bruises were beginning to turn spectacular colors.

  “Vaughn’s getting the last IV bag, then we’ll try for a transfusion,” he announced.

  “Is that really a good idea?” Melody’s face creased in concern.

  Nolan leveled a flat stare at her. “You saw how tired he is. I don’t think there’s enough in him to keep him going. He loses much more and he’s done for.”

  Melody held up her hands. “Okay. You know what you’re doing better than I do. I just want to make sure we’re making the best decision possible.”

  “What’s our plan?” Nolan glanced between them.

  “That’s what we have to decide.” Grant gestured at the sofas. The other two followed his lead, taking a seat. “Zain said during that last call that he’s got a guy who will have us passports by tomorrow. They won’t be good. Likely just get us on a plane here. The problem will be getting home. We can tackle that problem later. It’s not what I’m worried about.”

  “We need to do surveillance on where they’re keeping Brenden and Riley,” Melody said, proving that she was on the same track he was.

  “Yeah.” Grant grimaced.

  Nolan nodded. “Okay, so let’s do this. After we do the transfusion, you and I will go scout.”

  “Not so fast.” Melody held up a hand. “You’ll have just lost blood. Besides, of the three of us you’re the one with the most medical knowhow. You have to stay with Vaughn. That’s not up for discussion.”

  That was the line of logic Grant didn’t like.

  Where was she going with this?

  Nolan looked at Grant.

  Melody kept talking. “Besides, I’m not certain we should go near this address until we’re ready to move. Let’s look up pictures online. I bet there’s something.”

  Grant resisted the urge to dismiss her suggestion and instead spent a moment mulling it over. These days everything was on-line.

  “That’s not a bad idea,” he muttered.

  Melody narrowed her eyes at him. “Of course it isn’t.”

  “There’s also timing to consider.” He so did not want to have this conversation. “We can’t get off the island until three tomorrow. Do we run the risk of having nowhere to go? Or do we plan this so we get the guys and go? Get out of here?”

  “Wait.” Nolan held up a hand. “So what we’re saying is that we’re leaving Riley and Brenden with these people, and sometime tomorrow you and Melody are going to go bust them out?”

  Yeah, Grant didn’t like saying it, but they were working with limited options.

  “I think that’s our best plan,” she said slowly, meeting his gaze.

  Nolan opened and closed his mouth a few times.

  Grant stared back at her. Moments like these, having a co-leader to stand with meant everything. He didn’t have to second guess if he was making the right call because she’d be there to question him. Or, like now, back him up.

  “This isn’t right,” Nolan finally said.

  “We have no resources, no backup, no quick exit strategy.” Grant turned his head to look at Nolan. “We have to work with what we have. I don’t like it either.”

  “Isn’t there something we can do?” Nolan asked.

  “We’re doing it,” Grant said.

  Nolan slid a hand back over his head.

  Melody pulled out one of the
fancier burner phones they had used strictly for web surfing, helping them navigate the island. Grant watched her tap at the screen. How she managed to stay so serene was beyond him. He wished she could teach him that skill.

  “Found it,” she announced and set the phone on the coffee table.

  Grant and Nolan bent over the screen, peering at pictures from a dozen different angles, all featuring the house at the coordinates where Riley and Brenden currently were. They showed everything from the landscaping and four-foot fence around the house to views of the interior.

  There were a lot of windows and French doors. Plenty of ways to slid in without being observed.

  “Fuck, that’s creepy,” Nolan muttered.

  “Looks like some kind of rental,” Melody said.

  “With pictures this thorough we don’t even need to do surveillance.” Nolan shook his head.

  “We still don’t know how many of them there are,” Grant said.

  “More than us.” Melody folded her hands in her lap. “Do we really need to go count them?”

  “No.”

  They already knew they were out-manned, out-gunned, out-everything. Tomorrow they were going to rely on luck, determination and opportunity.

  Grant and Melody would have a better time of it if they got some rest and took care of the guys they had.

  “I don’t like this plan,” Nolan announced.

  “You don’t have to like it.” Grant leveled a stare at him. “You aren’t the Team Leader. This isn’t your call to make. It’s mine.” And if they lost two of the best men Grant had ever served with, that would be on him, too.

  Nolan shoved to his feet and stalked from the room.

  Melody sighed and lowered into Nolan’s spot. “Was that necessary?”

  “Yes. We can’t lead by committee, Mel. Not during a time like this.”

  They looked at each other for several moments before she nodded and sighed.

  She was in cotton shorts and a far too large black T-shirt now. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun that was so not her. Even relaxed she was put together, not this. Despite the long day, stress and running for their lives, she was still as beautiful as she’d been the first time he’d laid eyes on her. He just liked her a whole lot better now than he had back then.