by Kishan Paul
“What did she do to earn her gift?”
“She was born.” Rafi ran a hand through his hair and grinned. “On the hospital forms she filled out when she delivered her son, she indicated three important things.” He raised a finger. “Her place of birth.” He added a second digit next to the first. “Her one living relative—a brother.” A third finger popped up alongside the other two. “And her maiden name. Thabit.”
“Wassim has a sister?” Eddie whispered. “How did we not know this?”
“You’re not as good as I am?” He chuckled at his own joke and continued. “Anyway, that’s the first way she earned her job. The second way: according to what she’s telling everyone, two years ago, her husband of ten years supposedly accepted a job in the UAE as a hotel manager, which is why he isn’t around. What she’s told me is Wassim hated the guy and had him killed. He threatened to take her son away if she said anything to anyone about it.”
“So instead she takes a job as a dean?”
“Wassim’s trafficking ring has connections in the university. It’s one of the main ways they lure their victims. He sends pimps to poverty-stricken villages across the country. Tell the families that Mumbai University has a scholarship fund designed specifically to help the poor. He convinces them their scholarships are aimed at educating smart girls who otherwise would have no way of going to college. They promise to get the girls nursing degrees and opportunities for jobs around the world. The university’s way of giving back to its mother land.”
“Is the university aware?”
Rafi scowled. “They pretend they don’t know. Aside from telling the families who come in search of their missing daughters that they are in no way associated with this scholarship fund and instructing them to go to the authorities, they’ve done nothing to help.”
“Sanaa helps him do this?”
“She hates him but is scared if anyone finds out the truth, something will happen to her or her son. His contacts are much higher in the university than hers. He hooked her up with a posh job. His way of taking care of his baby sister after murdering her husband. But she is a contact person for him, which is why I’ve been spending quality time with her.”
“And?”
“And…” He stared at the bathroom door and blew a breath. “No luck yet. Wassim’s a paranoid piece of shit. He uses zero technology, nothing traceable, and he doesn’t show his face much. Instead, he has other people do the work for him. People like Adil.”
Eddie leaned forward and planted his elbows on his knees. “What do you know about Adil?”
“Well, I happen to be one of his best friends at the moment.” He chuckled. “Adil seems to be the brains of Icom, while Wassim is more of the figurehead. Like the Queen is to England. And Adil’s itching to get his hands on his brothers. The brothers he believes you currently have.”
“So, tell me about this mole.” Eddie and Raz had spent the past few days trying to figure out who or where the leak was, and they’d come up with very little to work on. All they’d managed to do was rule a few people out and narrow it down to one of three.
He nodded. “I was hoping you’d know who it was by now. I don’t know who it is. Adil’s been bragging about how he’s keeping tabs on you. Said you and another member of your team were in the US talking to Sara and that she would be coming shortly.”
Eddie’s skin prickled but he said nothing.
“Whoever your leak is, they’re smart enough not to leave a trail. The guy’s not sharing everything, like where you’re stationed, who all are on the team, and it’s driving Adil nuts.”
The information didn’t make any sense. “He was tipped off we were following him but hasn’t been made aware of our location?”
“Exactly. I’m curious to know who it turns out to be. Speaking of which, Wassim’s requested a meeting with me. Seeing as how I’m besties with Adil and chummy with Wassim’s sister, the big boss wants to check me out and see if I’m good enough to join the team.”
“When’s the interview?”
“He’s supposed to show up in two days. Which is when your bait needs to show herself.”
Eddie eyed him. “Did they tell you about my condition if I’m getting involved?”
He laughed. “All of them. You being in my bathroom ticks off the face-to-face condition. And as far as the last one, that one intrigued me. You seem quite concerned about her safety.” He rested a hand on Eddie’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “My guess is I’m not the only one whose passions could be considered a handicap in this situation.”
Eddie’s face heated, and he stared at the man’s hand until Rafi removed it. “You don’t need to worry about my passions. I’m not the one sitting in this bathroom naked.”
“I think you’ve just diagnosed your own problem.”
His stupid grin widened as if Eddie had just shared a joke, and the sight of it only fueled his irritation. “My problem is in using civilians with zero training as bait.”
“If I’m not mistaken, this civilian has already shown herself to be highly capable in situations like these and, correct me if I’m wrong, she’s the one asking to be”—he put his fingers in the air making quotes—“bait.”
“If we can do this mission with her being nowhere near Wassim, I’ll consider working with you.”
“Discuss all that with my lead, Sin, and see what you can come up with. Now, I can’t promise you it will work. From what I’ve learned of Sara Irfani, she will volunteer her help with or without you and your team. For reasons one of us is in denial about, you will protect her when she does.”
Irritation rippled through Eddie, but he said nothing.
“Here is what I can promise. If Sara does have to be used as the bait, I consider her an extremely high value asset. I will do everything in my power to make sure she’s secure. I’m not the one you need to worry about. In the next few days, I suggest you find your mole, and my people will take care of your team and your woman.”
Rafi rose from his seat and opened the cabinet next to the sink and rummaged through it. He pulled out a cell, handing it to Eddie. “It’s a secure channel. Once we have identified the location of his ring and set the hook for Wassim, I will be in touch with further details. Unless you want me and your woman dead, do not call me.”
Eddie took the device and shoved it in his pocket. “And I’m supposed to do what in the meantime?”
Rafi crossed his arms. “Get your team and woman ready.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
TRAINS
Ally situated herself in the private train compartment and surveyed the activities outside her window. Passengers converged along the platform of the station waiting for their trains, several of whom stared back at her. The locomotive groaned and hissed as it began its slow crawl away from the New Delhi railway station. A flight to Mumbai would have been faster, but Eddie’s words of caution from the day before made it clear airports were out of the question. Instead, she bought a ticket for a first-class air-conditioned room on the Terminus Express from Delhi to Mumbai.
The size of a small walk-in closet, her private quarters consisted of two short red futons secured to opposing walls with a narrow loft bed situated above each of them. Rooms much like hers occupied the length of the car she resided in, and a few yards down the hall was a shared bathroom and an even smaller shower stall. She stretched her legs, resting the back of her heels on the futon across from her and watched the city race past. Any other time, she would have considered the fifteen-plus-hour ride a luxury.
The problem was her trip wasn’t a vacation, and the extra time on the locomotive would put her back an additional day. The last-minute flight to Seattle from Philadelphia to retrieve extra sets of passports had already cost her a chunk of time, and the train ride would make her arrival to the final destination three days later than anticipated.
Irritation billowed through her when her mind drifted to the individual who’d forced the detour. It wasn’t just the act of s
tealing her property. It was the distraction he’d used and the effect it had on her. Her response to his action had caught her off guard, and she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about it. Not because she wanted more, but because she wanted to rewrite the scene. In her new version, her body wouldn’t have reciprocated; instead, she’d have shoved him away. After all, it was Eddie. She wasn’t supposed to react in that way to him.
“Chai! Snacks!” The calls of the busboy grew louder as he maneuvered down the hall. A red curtain hung in front of her door, blocking her view. She didn’t need to peek around the thick red fabric to know the man pushed his food-laden cart room by room, hoping hungry travelers would purchase from him.
His knock on her door made her jump. “Chai? Snacks?”
She didn’t reply. Instead, she settled back, tucked her feet beneath her, and waited for him to continue on his way, only relaxing when he did. His voice grew distant the farther he moved until there was silence.
The rhythmic trudge of the train lulled her to sleep. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been out when the handle to her room jiggled. The distinct sound of someone working the lock had her slipping her feet off the sofa and leaning forward. The hair on her neck rose while her pulse thudded against her ears as the person on the other side continued their attempt to enter. She reached in her back pocket for the knife she’d purchased from a local street vendor. A shudder ripped through her at the sound of the deadbolt sliding open. Her gaze fixed on the red privacy curtain blocking her view. She pressed the button on the handle of her knife, and the steel blade unsheathed.
She rose to her feet and faced the crimson fabric as the door slid open. Her breath hitched, and adrenaline surged through her at the sight of fingers gripping the curtain. When the thick fabric slid aside, she faced her trespasser.
“Nice weather for a train ride, isn’t it?” The smirk on his face made Ally contemplate stabbing him.
She knew he’d find her. Just really wasn’t expecting it to be this soon. Ally sheathed the blade and slid the knife in her pocket. She returned to her futon, positioning herself in the middle of her seat to ensure he didn’t sit beside her. “How’d you find me?”
“Did you really think I wouldn’t?” A leather travel bag hung from Eddie’s shoulder, and he gripped a metal thermos in his hand. He locked the door behind him, slid the curtain shut, and surveyed her tiny compartment. The cramped quarters shrank with him occupying it. He pressed down on the mattress of the overhead bunk across from her. “I guess this will have to do.”
She slipped off her sandals and rested her heels on the edge of her seat. “I figured you would show up. But it is getting a little disturbing how you continue to break through my safeguards.”
“I know, right?” Eddie sunk his muscular frame onto the futon across from her. He slipped his passenger bag on the floor and rested the thermos beside him. “I’m kinda like that eighties’ singer. Every breath you take…”
She rested her chin on her knees and groaned while he belted out the chorus to the ballad. The words he sang rang true, but it wasn’t the only reason her irritation swelled. He always did this. Tried to distract and make light of heavy situations. He continued his serenade, and when her impatience got the best of her, she interrupted him mid-song. “I don’t belong to you, Eddie.”
Her statement did nothing to stop his recitation of the lyrics, but she talked over him. “And if your goal is to stop me from going to Mumbai, don’t bother.”
After a slight shrug of his shoulders, he stretched his legs out on the cushion beside her and leaned his back against the metal wall of the cabin. “You don’t belong to anyone and never will.” He reached inside the bag and pulled out items while he made his case. “I know better than to talk you out of going.”
“Then why are you here?” She watched with suspicion as he rubbed the exterior of the little black object the size of a credit card against his jeans.
“Just figured I’d keep you company.” He nudged the thermos with his elbow. “And if that didn’t work, I brought coffee.”
“Why do I find that hard to believe? Here.” She grabbed her passport and tossed it in his lap. “No need to make small talk or try to kiss me. Just go ahead and take it. I’m prepared this time.”
“I’m sorry I did that.” He slipped her offering under the black itemy and put them both beside him.
She crossed her arms and leaned back against the wall, copying his posture. “Sorry you did what?”
His chest rose with the breath he inhaled and fixed his gaze on her. “For taking your passport and leaving you behind in Philly. ”
She rolled her eyes. “But not sorry for lying to me and not sorry enough to never do it again though?”
He shrugged. “I don’t want to make a promise I might break, but I really am sorry.”
Ally stared out the window as the city fled past them.
“But what I don’t regret is the kissing part.”
Her cheeks burned at his admission. “In other words, you’re not sorry for taking advantage of me, and from what you’re saying, will probably do it again.”
“I will do what I need to do to ensure my people stay alive.”
“If being an asshole and lying is part of how you treat your people, I’d rather not be on your ‘my people’ list.”
His laugh pulled her focus from the world outside the cabin to him, but there was no smile on his face. “It’s not that easy to be removed from my list. And I don’t like lying to you.”
She leaned forward, staring him down. “Then stop.”
“I don’t have a choice.”
She planted her hand on his knee and gave him a squeeze. “You always have a choice, Eddie. You have a heart. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be here.”
He didn’t reply. Instead, he gazed at their connection as if lost in thought.
Ally removed her palm and leaned back while he continued his staring match with his knee. “You want honesty?” he asked.
“Please.” She braced herself for a lecture about how she didn’t listen to him, about how she put him in situations where he felt he had to lie to protect her. She’d heard the arguments in her head and was ready for them.
“I enjoyed the kiss, more than I realized I would.” His focus returned to her. “And I enjoyed the way you reacted to it.”
She slammed her eyes shut, not trusting anything he said. Eddie manipulated truths to his benefit. The problem wasn’t so much the kiss, but the intent behind it. He used her. “It can’t happen again.”
Discussing their kiss had not been what Eddie intended. He had an entire lecture prepared about how she needed to understand that in his line of work, he had to lie. How lives depended on him, and sometimes to protect those lives, a level of deception was warranted. In her case, she made it an absolute necessity. Her purpose in life appeared to be to oppose him, no matter how much he commanded or begged otherwise. Great words. All of which he believed one-hundred percent.
Instead, her hand pressed against his knee, his pre-planned words evaporated, and something entirely different fell from his lips. The kiss impacted him, and it terrified the hell out of him. Granted, she was right, finishing what they started in that hotel room was not an option. So, he wasn’t sure why hearing her announcement didn’t sit well with him. There were a lot of things not sitting well with him, and all of them had to do with the woman in front of him and his reaction to her. He’d anticipated her anger and came prepared for it. Actually, he counted on it to keep his other emotions at bay, but he had been wrong. The moment he stood outside her cabin, his pulse rose, and by the time he’d gotten the door open, his palms were sweaty, and he caught himself wondering how he looked.
Stay on mission. The mantra he screamed in his brain, but now, seated so close to her, his body screamed an entirely different tune. Eyes closed, her lashes pressed against her cheeks. Her mouth pursed the way it did when upset, and from what he remembered, the way it did when she kissed. He lean
ed forward, his attention landing on those lips, hungering for another taste, and when she let out the breath she held and it warmed his skin, he savored the taste of peppermint.
When she opened her eyes, her gaze locked with his. His body heated, willing for her to move closer, so they could finish what they’d started. She stiffened. The fear swirling through those deep brown eyes chilled his desire…
“Give me a little space, Eddie.”
As if he needed any further evidence of his piece-of-shit status, her whispered plea slammed the point home. He leaned back on the futon, giving them both space. She came off as strong, making it easy to forget the hell she’d gone through. To forget a monster once locked her away and tormented her, forever changing the way she looked at the world and the men in it.
She grabbed the pillow from the bed over her head and hugged it to herself as she slid as far from him as she could. “I’m not going to argue with you about how I did and didn’t feel about the kiss. It doesn’t matter.”
He repeated the words she uttered earlier. “Because it won’t happen again.”
“Right.” The pillow she held compressed to half its size under her grip. “If I can’t trust you, then I definitely don’t need to be kissing you. You’ve always lied to me, and as much as it bothered me, I knew you had your reasons and looked the other way. But the kiss made me realize how far you would go to get what you wanted, and you’ll do it again. It’s a matter of respect, and you don’t respect me.”
Eddie rubbed his jaw to ease the blow of her indictment. “There’s no one I respect more than you, but I understand why you believe the way you do.” His actions proved her right a dozen times over and solidified why they could never be anything more than whatever they were. She deserved someone he wasn’t.
“And since nothing I say will change your opinion of me, I’m hoping what he says can.” He picked up the black device at his side and laid it on her lap. “Here.”
She scrutinized it without touching it. He sucked in a breath when her eyes shifted from narrowed to wide, and her fingers brushed against the tiny screen and the image frozen on it.
