by Angi Morgan
Reval snapped his fingers and Sal grabbed a fist of her long hair, yanking her back. No one said anything as she slowly recovered.
“W... Wade?” Therese gasped.
“Reval, dammit, stop. I did what you asked. You want the money. I’ll get the money I’ll have it first thing in the morning. Just don’t do this to her any longer.”
The men allowed Therese to collapse on the floor. Wade watched her back rise and fall as they gave her a long break to recuperate.
Reval casually walked back and forth in front of the windows that looked out to an empty warehouse. He flipped his phone between two fingers, then tapped it against his chin.
“Here’s the deal, Hamilton. I don’t believe you, and Therese shouldn’t have, either. If she’s not a dirty undercover cop—which, looking back over the past three years, I think she is. Then, she’s just plain bad luck. Either way, I need to get rid of her.”
“His phone,” Therese whispered.
“What was that, my love?” Reval bent and grabbed her hair himself, yanking her head back to see her face.
“Every...thing on phone. Forget me.”
“Well, look at that. Seems she is a cop and willing to sacrifice herself for the better good. Are you Ranger Wade? Are you going to insist that you aren’t here undercover and you aren’t a part of the elite task force set up to stop my show?”
Therese was lifted and shoved under the water again. Once there, her face was jerked toward Wade. Eyes wide and scared, hair swirling around her face, she was upside down, holding whatever breath she could. Then Reval snapped his fingers and Sal grinned.
Sal pushed on her harder, lifting her feet off the soaking wet carpet. She was practically to the bottom of the tank when her air escaped in a large set of bubbles. Wade wouldn’t let her die. Not like that. Not because of him.
“All right! Let her up!”
“And what?”
“I’ll tell you what I know. But let her breathe.”
Reval waited another long second before nodding his head to bring her out of the water. Sal didn’t move fast enough. Wade jumped from the couch and shoved Reval’s men out of the way. He lifted Therese and laid her on the floor, immediately pushing against her belly.
“God, she’s not breathing.” He needed to push properly on her diaphragm and get the water out of her lungs.
Wade situated his hands, ready to begin CPR, when both men grabbed his arms. He struggled, pushing them away. He shoved on Therese’s chest once, twice. They grabbed him again.
“Enough!” Reval shouted. A weapon was fired into the ceiling, causing his men to freeze. Wade was finally unrestricted and forced pressure on Therese.
Therese coughed. Water spewed from her mouth. She turned on her side, still throwing up water. Wade gave a rough shake with his body when both men grabbed him again. They released him and he gently stroked the hair away from her face and tried to reassure Therese she would be okay.
He loved her so much he’d do anything to keep her alive. He had his answer. He chose her over everything.
“His...his phone,” she struggled to say.
Wade understood. The information they needed was on the phone Rushdan Reval had in his pocket. He helped Therese sit up, his eyes falling to the burner phone left in pieces. Damn, the men of Company B wouldn’t know.
Whatever happened, he and Therese were the only hope of stopping this man. Of stopping the terrorists who wanted the algorithm.
With her dying breath she’d been telling him what he needed. And with her dying breath, he’d discovered he’d tell Reval anything to keep it from being the last thing he heard her say.
“So, Ranger Wade, let’s hear all about this task force the government has brought together to stop my little show.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
They were waiting. At least half an hour. Maybe longer. Therese had no idea.
Rushdan’s men had taken their watches and phones, locking them in this fake office. At least they had a working toilet. With Wade’s help she’d even rinsed the fish and whiskey smell from her hair in the sink.
“What time was it when you arrived?”
“After ten at night.” His eyes were closed as he lounged in the corner of the couch.
“I don’t know how you can sleep.”
“I’m not. You’re doing a good job keeping me awake.”
“How can you relax like that?”
Wade sat up, blinked rapidly and pushed his fingers through his hair, making it stick straight into the air. It would have been cute under different circumstances.
“Okay, I’m sitting up so you’ll think I’m completely awake.”
Shoot, it was cute. She quit her pacing directly in front of him. “You need to fix your hair.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Smooth it down.”
He clasped her hand and tugged her to his lap. “Now you can fix it however you want.”
“This isn’t the time, Wade.”
“Of course it is. I’m not going to fight with you, Therese. You can be mad at me, but I’m not flinching.”
“I’m not mad at you. I’m...” She covered her bruised cheeks with her fingers, whispering underneath them, “Why aren’t we trying to get out of here?”
“I had a good look at this box from the outside. We’re covered by men with long guns and there’s nothing to hide behind if we do manage to knock down one of the walls.” He tugged her fingers from her face.
“Still...”
“You nearly died tonight, sweetheart. I wouldn’t have... I mean...” He cleared his throat a couple of times and pulled her into his arms closer.
“I didn’t die,” she whispered, dropping her head to his shoulder. “How long until your partners come bursting in that door?”
“After they freak—because I’m not there to calm them down,” he answered softly into her ear. “They’ll find a way to discover what’s going on. Then they’ll wait because we’re all taking our orders from your boss.”
“And they’re after the programmer.”
“And none of them know we could get that information right now off his phone.”
“Right.” Reluctantly, Therese pushed back to look into Wade’s eyes again.
She had no clue what he thought. After being undercover for three lonely years, she still couldn’t get a read on this man. Even with time on their hands, she couldn’t broach the subject of their differences. Too risky.
“I should probably...” She began to move from his lap. “You know, if they come in... Oh wait, your hair.”
Wade used both hands to smooth it down.
The door opened with a grunt from Sal. “Time to go. Hands behind your backs.”
They were both handcuffed and walked out the back of the warehouse. Wade had filled her in on their location and his curiosity about it. When they walked outside, why they were there was explained with one word...helicopter.
“We’ll make an emergency landing at DFW. Flashing your badge around will get my men where they can have access to the systems they need. After we’re done, we’ll take off, leaving the two of you behind to do whatever you want.”
“That’s it? You think I can flash my badge and no one will call for confirmation?”
“If they try, it’ll be up to you to make sure they don’t.” Reval climbed inside next to the pilot. “Let’s speak plainly. If I don’t get what I want Hamilton, neither do you.”
“You’d kill her?”
“You know I will.”
Sal placed duct tape over both their mouths. They climbed up and were strapped tightly in.
It wouldn’t be a long flight to DFW. The control lights put off enough light for her to watch Wade’s eyes move around the small bubble they sat in. She was wedged between the guy with glasses and Wade. Sal
on his other side.
The helicopter bobbed up and down and around. She’d never been affected by things like this before, so it was probably the drug Rushdan had given her earlier. Her head spun and she wanted to be sick with the hopelessness consuming her.
Right up to the moment that Wade tapped on her bare foot to get her attention. Just looking in his eyes gave her strength. He gestured with his shoulder and eyes. Looking at his strap and then the pilot. This time she had no trouble discerning what he thought. He wanted to crash the helicopter.
Crash it. Stopping the potential attack. Probably killing everyone on board. She shook her head. No. They needed the programmer. Sure, one of their team members might find an extra phone on Rushdan. But the programmer would be gone as soon as he didn’t get his information tonight.
Wade bent his ear to her mouth.
“Too risky,” she said under the restrictive tape. “No.”
The sounds from the helicopter were extremely loud without a headset, which the others were wearing. But he understood the no. Or at least she hoped he did.
Therese stretched her mouth to loosen the tape around her bottom lip and chin. Then she pulled at it by scraping the corner against Wade’s shoulder. He copied her movements until they both had it free enough to talk. No one noticed the loose tape since it still connected on the top.
“Can you hear me okay?” she asked directly in his ear.
He nodded and then turned his mouth to her ear. “So we’re not going down in a blaze of glory?”
She shook her head. She’d been willing to die in that fish tank, but knowingly dropping out of the sky... Maybe the drugs had clouded her mind enough then, to where she’d given up hope. But now it was different with Wade next to her.
“We can find a way through this without killing ourselves.” She truly believed that.
Wade responded with a raised eyebrow and a look toward the pilot.
She used her chin to get his attention again. “I know what you’re thinking,” she said, continuing their dialogue directly into his ear. “But circumstances change.”
He drew his eyebrows together questioningly before leaning to her. “You didn’t do your mind-reading trick. I’m waiting.” Then put his ear back to her lips.
Explaining what had been in her mind during the time she’d been struggling to breathe would take longer than a helicopter ride. And maybe fewer restraints. She wanted to kiss him and tell him how glad she was to still be alive.
It didn’t make sense to go there. To tell him how she felt—especially about him. Or did it? Would she get another chance?
“Okay, I’m not a mind reader. But I need to tell you how grateful I am that I found you last night. Sorry to get you involved, but once you were, I’ve been truly grateful not to be alone.”
He nodded but didn’t turn to speak.
“You know we actually met a long time ago,” she continued.
The young man sitting next to her pulled a white Stetson from a gym bag at his feet.
“What the hell?” Wade shouted.
Apparently it was loud enough for everyone to hear. Rushdan’s man slapped his hand across the duct tape again—first hers, then Wade’s. It was the first time she’d looked at what the younger man with glasses wore. White dress shirt, slacks, Western boots and a silver star inside a circle. Wade’s Texas Ranger badge.
Add the Stetson and people would assume...
So why hadn’t they killed her and Wade back at the warehouse? Why did they still need them alive?
The helicopter changed directions. Fast. Then began a spiral. It was dark, but she could tell they were close to DFW. No one around her looked panicked. They were staging an emergency landing. They would be on the ground and all have their weapons inside the airport perimeter.
Staged or not, it felt real, like an out-of-control roller coaster stuck on the same loop.
The man next to her dropped his headset, placed the Stetson on his head and then loaded a round into the chamber of his handgun.
It seemed like forever but actually only took a few seconds before they landed with a hard thud. Rushdan was out first and opened the door closest to Wade. The man dressed like a Texas Ranger ripped the tape from their mouths and unbuckled her. He tugged until she was sprawled face first on the pavement. Sal did the same with Wade.
The sound of the helicopter winding down was accompanied by the smell of smoke. Nothing was wrong mechanically. They’d just covered their tracks.
“Either of you say a word and we shoot your partner,” Rushdan said.
“I would have remembered meeting you, Therese. So what are you talking about?”
She wanted to laugh at what Wade had chosen to whisper next to her. But the boot in her back kept her quiet. That and knowing Rushdan would kill Wade.
“Howdy,” the fake Wade greeted the emergency crews. “Sorry for the bit of excitement.”
Wade tapped his boot against her leg. “I’ve never said howdy in my entire life.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Wade had been pulled to his knees. If he’d wanted to tell someone what was going on, he couldn’t have. There was no one to tell. Since the helicopter hadn’t been on fire, the airport first responders left. Two cop cars were between him and any law enforcement officers.
Reval’s plan to get into DFW Airport had worked. The pilot stayed with the helicopter. The computer guy impersonating him—something he’d make sure charges were brought about—stood guard with a handgun and a long gun. They’d done a good job separating him from Therese, who now sat in the locked back seat cage of a black-and-white.
“I’m sorry but our transport can’t get here for another fifteen,” Reval explained. “I wish we could get out of your way.”
“No problem, Deputy,” an officer said.
Cargo planes passing by on the local runway drowned out the rest. Reval shook hands and rejoined the computer nerd.
“When are they leaving?” the nerd asked. “Our window is closing.”
Reval took the long gun from him, propping it on his hip. “The car with Therese is staying. Make your move after the other one departs.”
“Got it.”
Wade pulled at the cuffs. Whoever gave the movies the idea that it was easy to dislocate your thumb to slip handcuffs off had to have been crazy. He tried and didn’t succeed.
The second unit pulled away and computer nerd removed his handgun, shifting it, ready to bring it up to take aim. He’d obviously had some type of training, and looked military calm. Wade moved slowly, trying not to be seen, shifting one foot from back to front, ready to stand.
The remaining police officer turned to face the computer nerd, who raised his weapon.
“Take cover!” Wade yelled too late.
The officer went down as Wade threw himself into the computer nerd, trying to stop him. The nerd moved but was able to recover before Wade took him to the ground.
Wade ended on his back with a gun barrel under his chin.
“Andrew, put that away and get him up,” Reval said, jabbing the long gun and forcing Wade’s neck to stretch.
Andrew the nerd guy pulled Wade to his feet and immediately punched him in the kidney. “You can’t save anyone, Hamilton.”
“Now, Andrew, you know he might be able to save Therese if he does as he’s told,” Reval said, pointing the gun at the police car.
Getting their attention back on himself, Wade said, “Why do you need me? Not that I’m in a hurry to leave this world, but Andrew thinks he looks pretty good in that hat.”
“Make sure Andrew gets what he needs and there’s a chance I’ll let you both go.”
“You really think I believe that?”
“I think she does. I don’t understand how you turned her after last year. She was so loyal.”
He’d let Reval think t
hat was what happened. It would just get bloody sooner if the criminal knew Therese had been undercover this entire time.
“Let her go now and I’ll give you my word.”
“Your word means nothing to me. And I don’t want to let her go.” Reval stuck the long gun under his arm and used the nail on his little finger to pick something from between his teeth. “You can earn her freedom or she comes with me. Think about that while you help Andrew.”
“At least let me say goodbye.”
“No way. We need to get this over with. We’ve wasted too much time talking,” Sal said from behind them.
“I think you might really care about our Therese.” Reval used his hands once again and made a sweeping sign toward the police car. “Make it quick.”
With a vocal protest heard under the engine of a freight airliner, Andrew unlocked the back door. Therese got out, but the kid kept a hand on her shoulder.
“So this is goodbye?” she asked.
“I still think you’re pulling my leg about our first meeting.”
“Really? That’s all you have to say?” She laughed a little even as Andrew pushed her back inside the car.
“You go first,” he encouraged.
“All right... I love you. Keep yourself alive.”
“You owe me an explanation,” he shouted as the door slammed.
He could have said he loved her, too. The words were in his heart and on the tip of his tongue. But not like this. Maybe he should, since her admission gave him courage he didn’t realize he’d been missing.
Therese placed her forehead against the window. Her long dark hair fell to either side, hiding most of her face. If she looked up...made eye contact with him... But she turned, dropping her head to the back of the seat.
* * *
THERESE’S BLOOD PUMPED through her veins, making her lightheaded. She’d said it. Admitted that she loved him in the least romantic setting ever. Captured.
She blinked rapidly to keep away the tears. Yeah, she wasn’t a girl who cried. Even when the love crush of her life didn’t say he loved her back. Blink. Blink. Blink.