by Tanya Stowe
Vibora was in her face again. Fury radiated from him, and his hot breath fell against her skin like burning acid. She flinched and turned her head.
“Where are they?”
“I don’t know.”
He grasped her chin and forced her to look at him again. “Lie to me and I will make you pay.”
For the first time she met his gaze, but she was careful to erase any fear or anger from her features. She stared at him, wide-eyed.
“I...don’t...know. I don’t even remember my brother,” she lied. Was she too scared to make the lie convincing?
His dark gaze glared into hers, pinning her, holding her prisoner not only with his fingers but with those black eyes. Apparently she was successful. He released her.
“So it’s true you don’t know who I am.” He nodded once and then stepped behind her. His fingers grazed her neck as he slid her ponytail away and leaned in. His lips were so close to her ear that his whispered words made a shiver trip up her spine.
“Soon you will know exactly who I am. I will make you remember, and you will never forget me...for as long as you live.”
She caught her breath but had no time to respond. The man with the tattooed snake writhing on his neck picked her up and threw her bodily into the back, then slammed the hatch. The SUV sped off into the black night.
NINE
The storm finally cleared. But still the cloud cover brought darkness to this side of the mountain. Dylan had combed the area, looking for Patches and Goldie. He could travel faster with them, but he’d already wasted precious time searching. He couldn’t afford to look for much longer.
He slipped on a rock hidden by wet leaves and went down hard on one knee for the second time. The pain held him still for a moment and he sagged. Tired and thirsty, he took a deep breath.
Lord, help me. Don’t let Joss suffer for my mistakes. Help me.
In the silence he heard another sound. ATVs. More than one, coming up the hill from all directions. He gritted his teeth. The gang had returned to finish him off.
He checked his weapon. Only a few bullets left. Looking around, he spotted another clump of boulders. If he could hide there, maybe he could get close enough to unseat one of the riders and take the quad. He might not get far. They’d probably shoot him or overtake him, but he had to try. Had to get to Joss.
After climbing stiffly to his feet, he ducked behind some boulders. He found a deep crevice to hide in.
The ATVs came closer. Dylan tensed, praying he had enough cover. He cocked his gun. One of the machines sounded close, very close. He peeked out enough to see it was not more than twenty feet away. As he retreated, something clicked in his vision.
He’d seen the green-and-yellow patches of the border-patrol uniform. Did the ATVs belong to officers who were looking for him? Was it possible? Clicking the lock on his gun in place, he decided to take a chance.
Holding his hands high above his head, he stepped out from his hiding place. The ATV’s headlights bounced over him. The engine decelerated, making it easy to hear the crackle of a radio and a woman’s voice.
“I’ve found them. Agent Murphy is alive!”
“Jenny?”
“Yes, it’s me.” She stepped off the ATV and walked into the glare of the headlights. “Departments came out of the woodwork when word went out that the gang was headed your way. Good thing too. We would never have found you if a ranger hadn’t reported suspicious activity on the mountain.”
More headlights bounced through the forest as other vehicles headed their way. As the officers gathered around him, he realized it was a search party of border-patrol officers, as well as park rangers and local police, but none of his DEA agents. Where were they?
“They got Joss, Jenny. Vibora’s men took her.”
Another man drove up and dismounted. “Good to see you, Murphy.”
Dylan shook his outstretched hand. “Trust me, you’ll never know how relieved I am to see you. But they have Officer Walker. I’ve got to get on their trail before it grows cold.” He looked around. “Where’s Holmquist?”
Jenny paused. “We might know where they’re taking her. Holmquist and some of your unit are gearing up for a raid on the gang’s safe house now. That’s why he’s not here.”
“What? They know where they are taking Joss?”
“An informant called it in and gave us the exact location.”
“An informant? Who is that brave soul?”
“Jason Walker.”
“Joss’s brother?” He repeated the words as if he’d never heard them before. “That’s why they snatched her instead of just shooting us both and leaving us on the mountain. They know Walker is back. They’re going to use her to force him into the open. Thanks to him we’re a step ahead of them!”
Joss’s scripture came to him.
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
Not forsaken. God had not abandoned him, even though he deserved it. The good Lord was giving him a second chance through, of all people, the man who had left Joss to face Vibora alone.
If this second chance wasn’t proof of God’s mercy, Dylan didn’t know what was.
Mindless of the revelation rocking Dylan’s brain, Jenny continued speaking. He struggled to focus on her words.
“Jason’s been out of touch. He destroyed all of their phones and computers. Used cash to travel and hid Maria and her family in Colorado. Then he tried to contact Joss. When he couldn’t reach her, he headed back. As soon as he got into town, he called us.”
“Why did he wait until he got into town to call?”
The woman shrugged. “We think he has a plan. Holmquist believes he’s headed to the hideout. Walker said something about none of them being safe until Vibora is dead. Holmquist thinks Walker is going to try to take matters into his own hands.”
“Your boss is right. I understand Jason completely. He feels the need to atone for his mistake, and so do I.”
A puzzled frown filtered over Jenny’s features, but she didn’t waste time with questions. “We are mobilizing quickly.”
“Where is this house?”
“In Nogales.”
“How fast can you get me there?”
Jenny turned to a park ranger, who had shut off his engine and joined them.
“The fastest way is over the mountaintop,” the man said. “I’ll contact my men and they’ll have a car waiting for you at the station.”
Dylan nodded. “Thank you. I have two horses running loose here, in the forest. Can you track them down and take care of them for me?”
“We’ll find them.”
Dylan tipped his head again, then slid onto the ATV.
Determination filled him. He wasn’t wasting a minute of this second chance.
“Let’s go.” Jenny gunned the engine and they sped out, kicking gravel up behind them.
* * *
Joss twisted and pulled on the zip ties around her wrist. Pain shot through her arms, with the warm wash of blood. Sighing, she eased her head onto the floor. Fighting was getting her nowhere. She needed to conserve strength for when they reached wherever they were taking her. That’s when the real fight would begin. She needed to be alert, strong and ready.
Closing her eyes, she willed her tight shoulders to relax. She worked her jaw back and forth, forcing herself to release the taut tension. Then she closed her eyes and concentrated on her next steps.
City lights appeared. The vehicle stopped at a stoplight. Joss raised herself just enough to peek out the window. The Nogales Border Patrol Station was less than one hundred yards away. She didn’t make the mistake of trying to get attention again. She eased down and waited.
They must have a safe house someplace in the city of Nogales, right near the border. Maybe once they arrived she could get free, cause a ruckus and catch
the authorities’ attention some other way. But the SUV drove a long way from the station, and her hopes sank. Nogales wasn’t a large town. The safe house must be on the outskirts, far from any help.
The car stopped. The hatch opened, and Snake Man pulled her out again. He stood her on wobbly legs, and she stared at the house in front of them. The dirt yard looked like something between a used car lot and a wrecking yard. From beat-up and rusted clunkers to luxury sedans, vehicles faced every which direction. Lights blazed from all of the windows, without the slightest hint of movement behind them. Was anyone inside?
“Where’s Antonio?”
“He must be in the hole. Go inside and check on him.”
The hole? An underground storage or another tunnel? If they took her through to the other side of the border, her chances of getting free would decrease.
Other cars pulled up behind them. The large man shoved her forward. She tripped on the steps of the porch and he shoved her upright. Inside, she ducked her head from the bright lights. Someone set a chair in the middle of the room, and her guard pushed her onto it. At least seven gang members milled about inside the house. Who knew how many were pulling up in the cars outside?
Through the large front window, she could see a wiry form crossing the porch. Her stomach clenched. Vibora. He stalked into the room and headed straight for her. The wavering light made the tattoos of coiling serpents covering both his arms appear like they were slithering up and down.
“I’ll give you one more chance. Where is your brother?”
Fear pooled in her belly like cold steel. “I don’t know.”
He pulled out a knife and placed the sharp blade against her cheek. “Maybe if I cut your pretty face, you’ll remember.”
“I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”
Even if she had known Jason’s location, no way would she reveal it to this monster. She would give her life to protect her brother and Maria Martinez. Defiance filled her.
She glared at the man in front of her. “Besides, you’re going to kill me anyway.”
He stepped back and clicked the knife into itself. “Too bad for you. Maybe if you knew, I might make your death a little easier. Now I’ll make sure it’s slow and painful. Lots of pain. Lots of blood.” He ran his finger down her arm on a slow path, clearly savoring the feel of her skin. “Then when you’re dead, I will post pictures of your beautiful body, cut and bleeding, all over the internet, for your big brother to see what he has done to you. He’ll pay for taking my sisters from me.”
She might have resisted him, might have held out against his threats and the pain. But to think of Jason seeing her that way, feeling responsible...her eyes stung and then burned, and tears began to trickle.
“So, you remember your brother...the traitor?” He leaned in close again; his breath was so full of hot viciousness, she cringed and turned her head away. He grasped her chin and forced her to look. Brandishing the knife inches from her eyes, he clicked it open again. “He will pay for taking my family. I’ll cut you. Then I’ll make him watch while I cut my treacherous sister. My mother and my sister will never betray me again.”
The thought of his mother watching her daughter die punctured Joss’s heart. And Vibora’s little sister...she was only ten. The idea of that child watching such a horrific act overcame Joss. A sob broke through her iron control and Vibora smiled. He didn’t just use fear to gain control and power over his drug kingdom. He enjoyed the torture, thrilled at the aspect of people suffering. The man was out of his mind. Crazy enough to frighten and control the brutal men surrounding him.
How would she get through what he had planned for her? A terrified plea went through her.
Please, Lord.
The silent prayer comforted her. She knew she had not been abandoned. Come what may, He would be with her.
You will be with me. You will give me strength. I know it.
She closed her eyes. Warmth swept through, calming her trembling fingers. Vibora laid the knife against her cheek again, placed its sharp edge close to her eye. Just a little more pressure and he would have his first cut.
Suddenly one of the guards behind them made a sound. “What the...?”
Vibora lowered the knife and walked around in front of her. His body blocked her view. She strained her neck to see around him as the guard lowered his gun and backed from the doorway.
Her brother stepped into the room.
“Jason.” His name slipped from her lips in a whisper.
His bloodshot eyes and mussed hair bore witness to trials of his own. He wore beige cargo pants and a gray T-shirt...and duct-taped over the shirt were small, gray packets of explosives.
“Cut her once, Vibora, and we all die.”
Joss moaned, unprepared for the wave of relief brought on by the sound of her beloved brother’s voice. Vibora cursed and moved toward him.
Jason held up his hand. “Don’t come any closer.” He gestured to his arm. “The detonator is beneath my arm. If it lowers even a quarter of an inch, these packets will ignite. This is all that’s left of your supply, and you know there’s enough here to make sure everyone in this house dies.”
Vibora halted. His body stiffened, then he slowly shook his head. “You won’t kill your little sister, the one you spoke about so often with such pride.”
Jason’s fist clenched. “I’ll do whatever it takes to end your insane rampage of fear and murder.”
Vibora loosened his grip on the knife in his hand. Then he shook his head and gestured over his shoulder to Joss. “Does she know about you? Does she know you broke the law, built our tunnels and betrayed her?”
Jason’s jaw tightened and his fist clenched, but he never took his eyes off Vibora. “She knows I’ll do anything to protect the ones I love. Anything. I broke the law for Maria and I’ll die to keep her safe from you. I’ll never let you get close to her again.”
“You!” Vibora lunged at him.
Jason shouted, “Lucan! Stop him! You know I mean what I say.”
Caulder grabbed Vibora’s shoulder. “He’ll do it. Don’t let your anger get us killed. Listen to what he has to say.”
When Vibora didn’t loosen his stance, Caulder shook his shoulder. “Live for another day.”
Vibora jerked his shoulder loose from the other man’s grip. A taut silence followed while he shifted his body, as if trying to gain control. All the while Vibora’s piercing dark gaze, the one that had held Joss prisoner before, never moved off Jason.
At last Vibora spat, “What do you want?”
Jason pointed to Joss. “My sister and I are going to walk out of here. It’s as simple as that. You let us go and you live. If not, we all die.”
Vibora shook his head, but Caulder stepped closer. “Let him go.” He dropped his voice. “We found him once. We’ll find him again.”
Those words gave Vibora pause and sent a sinking feeling through Joss because they were true. She and Jason might walk out of here now, but they would never be free. They would always be living in the shadows, wondering when Vibora would find them. Until he was dead or behind bars, they’d never be safe.
Vibora nodded slowly. “All right. You go free.”
Joss could almost hear him thinking the words this time.
Jason pointed to Joss. “Cut her loose.”
Caulder sliced the zip ties around her wrists with Vibora’s knife. Blood rushed into her hands, crippling them with a burning pain. She gripped them, shaking and squeezing as Jason gestured Vibora and Caulder away from her.
“Don’t forget. A quarter-of-an-inch drop in my arm sets these off.”
Vibora’s jaw clenched in frustration, but he backed away.
Jason hurried to her side and helped her stand on legs that trembled. She gripped his arm. He clasped her hand but kept her well away from the explosives strapped to his chest. He w
alked backward to the door, pushing Joss ahead of him, never turning from the men in the room and the guns trained on them. Jason opened the front door and paused. Reaching his free hand into his pocket, he pulled out a set of keys.
“There’s a gray car parked in front of a house down the road. Go get it. I can’t go too far away where the explosives can’t reach them.” He nudged his chin to the men in the room. “As soon as you get the car, drive up here and pick me up. We’ll leave together.”
And then they’ll start shooting at us! We’ll never get away fast enough! They’ll blast us to pieces before we’re out of this driveway.
Joss started to protest. Surely there was another way. But she couldn’t think, couldn’t see a way clear. They were trapped and this was their only chance at escape. She took the keys and gripped Jason’s hand. He squeezed hers but never looked away from their captors. Tears filled her eyes as she ran into the dark night.
* * *
Armed with more bullets, Dylan shimmied up the side of a hill, almost on all fours. He lay next to Holmquist, who glanced over.
“Good to see you alive.”
“Good to be alive.” Joss’s supervisor asked no questions about why Dylan had been so far out of cell-phone reach and did not mention the major blunder of letting the gang capture Joss. For that Dylan was grateful. An accounting of his mistakes would have to happen, but this was not the time. Now he had to concentrate on getting Joss to safety.
Three hills surrounded a small clearing below. The house sat to the back of the property. Cars were parked out front. To Dylan’s left, lights blazed from every window in a second house.
Holmquist gestured to the structure. “We evacuated that place about an hour ago. The local police came in unmarked cars, established a perimeter around the house and evacuated the family. They’ll be at the police station until this is over. We wanted to keep them under watch in case they have connections to the gang.”
“Do they?”
“Nothing so far. In fact the father seems to be happy we’re finally doing something about his neighbors.”
