by Laura Acton
“All proceeds are going to an excellent cause, so I hope you make a substantial bid.” Blunt eyed Broderick, wondering how he was acquainted with Baron Wildingham. Then it clicked, Mr. Toke informed him Broderick was the son of General William Broderick, which meant Lady Yvonne Loving-Broderick was his mother. He dropped the matter as Claudette Baxter-Hayes approached.
“Claudette, I’m pleased you came tonight. Will your husband be joining you or do we have you all to ourselves tonight?”
As Blunt conversed with the mousey woman and Charles, Dan’s mind went back to the dagger. He recalled the cold steel laying against his neck. If not for the timely arrival of Emir Al Sattar he would’ve been dead. The emir controlled with an iron fist, though with the enemies he faced, it made sense, and he was an honorable, fair-minded man too. The lesson he learned from the Makhachkala mission is that one bad seed does not necessarily reflect the values and morals of the whole family.
A commotion in the middle of the room drew Dan’s eyes assessing for danger. He spotted Ray moving forward to deal with it but the raised voices carried and he remained vigilant should he need to shield Blunt.
Christopher Alfred Thruston Sr., CEO of the Thruston Group, yanked on his drunk son’s arm. “Can you behave properly once in your life, Junior?”
Slurring his words, Junior said, “I hate it when you call me junior. How self-indulgent to give me all your names and then stick a junior and the end. I should change my name.” He leered at the perky, young waitress. “Come with me, I’ll show you a good time. We’ll leave these blowhards, and you can blow me hard.” He reached to grab her arm.
Ray interceded keeping the drunk ne’er do well from grasping the shocked waitress. “Time for you to leave, sir.”
Embarrassed by the scene his son’s behavior caused, the senior Thruston turned to the officer. “I’ll take care of my son. No need to intervene.”
Ray nodded yet followed the two men to the exit to ensure no further disorder occurred. “Life of the idle privileged. He possesses the means to help others but chooses to be a wastrel.”
Loki chimed in, “Yeah, can’t believe he gets away with so much. I read an article that he crashed his car while drunk and daddy dearest got him off with only a week of community service. He retained his license too.”
“A little more focus and a lot less commentary,” Nick warned, but he wholeheartedly agreed with both Ray and Loki.
Grand Citadel Hotel – TRF Security Room – 6:30 p.m.
Loki stretched and shifted in his seat anticipating ending this long, boring shift in another hour. “I’ll be glad when this is over. I’m tired and starving.”
Over the comms, Jon said, “Quit complaining. You are sitting in a comfy seat while the rest of us have been on our feet the entire day.”
Glancing at Boss, seeing his agreement with Jon, Loki said, “Sorry.” His eyes concentrated on the monitor at the entrance, and his fist clenched as he ground out under his breath, “What the heck is he doing here?”
“Do we have a problem?” Jon asked recognizing rare anger in Loki’s tone.
Nick shifted his gaze to Loki’s screen and discovered the issue as he responded, “No, Jon. The newest arrival is Narciso Ricigliano.” He placed a hand on Loki’s shoulder. “Relax.”
Blowing out a breath, trying to comply, and not succeeding, Loki attempted to disguise his anger. None of them were aware of what he discovered about his ex-stepfather, things he couldn’t prove, but knew in his gut to be true. Loki wished he never started researching his real father’s life. He opened Pandora’s box. His knowledge would destroy lives but keeping quiet would allow his former stepfather to get away with murder. The Italian police ruled his pa’s death an accident with no evidence to controvert … not yet anyway.
Again, Loki pondered if he should talk to Dan about his can of worms. Of all the team, Dan would understand the feelings of betrayal … especially with what Major Plouffe put him through. He might also have contacts which could help him discover a shred of proof and bring Narciso to justice.
Lexa’s voice pulled him from his musings. “Loki, were you able to find any additional information on Berry?”
Flicking his eyes to the laptop, Loki replied, “Nothing more. Without him committing some sort of criminal act, I can’t obtain access to Berry’s military file. All I can tell you of his military history is the former corporal was honorably discharged and the recipient of a Sacrifice medal. He has lived at the same location since exiting the military last August and worked for the Grand Citadel for the past four months.”
Lexa sighed. “His behavior is still a little erratic.”
“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Bram said as he spotted the man.
Nick viewed the screens and caught sight of a man near Blunt. He tracked the man for several minutes, as his concern rose. “Bram, leave the waiter. There is a young Arab male who appears to be stalking Blunt, staying behind Dan and out of sight. Dan, don’t turn around, appear as if you don’t know.”
“Copy.” Bram started for Blunt’s position spotting the slight man wearing traditional Arab clothing. “Boss, I can confirm, he is matching their movements. Do you want me to engage?”
“No, not yet. Stay close. Loki, who is that person?”
Loki began searching through all the guest photos he took and quickly located the match. “Anwar bin Ifran Al Sattar, the son of the Crown Prince of Oshar. He is a teen, attending the function with his uncle, Shareef bin Umar Al Sattar.”
Past and Present Collide
76
January 2
Grand Citadel Hotel – Blunt’s Reception Room – 6:40 p.m.
When Loki shared the name of the person behind him, Dan said, “Let me handle this. Bram, cover Blunt.”
“Why?” Jon questioned as he turned in the direction of Dan and Bram. On the other side of the room, he wished to be closer, so started moving.
“I can’t explain, but I know him.”
“Proceed with caution, Dan. He is a member of the royal family of Oshar.” Nick rose. “Keep watch, Loki. I’m joining them.”
When Bram appeared in his peripheral vision and assumed covering Blunt, Dan unhurriedly pivoted. His eyes landed on Anwar. He had grown significantly since their encounter with the false cobra. He wouldn’t have recognized him if not for the pale white birthmark in the shape of a heart on his right cheek.
Anwar’s face lit up with a broad smile. He lifted one arm, bending at the elbow and let his forearm sway back and forth slowly as he cupped his hand and made a hissing sound.
Dan studied the boy, concern mounting. Something isn’t right. “Anwar?”
Dropping his hand, Anwar reached out and clung to Dan.
Bram’s eyes widened, unsure what was going on.
Reeling inside, Dan patted the teen’s back then pulled away. “Anwar?”
Anwar’s smile faded at being pushed away.
Spotting Anwar, Shareef rushed forward. He lost track of his nephew while he used the facilities.
Tears welled in Anwar’s eyes, and he dropped to the floor and started crying. All eyes in the room turned to the young man rocking on the ground and blubbering loudly.
When Shareef appear, Dan asked, “What happened to him?”
Before Shareef answered, Anwar began shrieking. “Water, water.”
Reece Berry fought the images in his head the word water created, but his mind flashed back, and he was no longer in Toronto in a safe hotel. He was in the desert and surrounded by terrorists bent on slaughtering him and his unit. His CO was bleeding out, and the comms specialist was screaming into the radio for assistance.
The need to protect himself had him searching for a weapon, anything to use since he was out of ammunition. His eyes landed on a knife, and he grabbed it. With no help coming, he needed to save his men. David would die if they didn’t leave now. Reece yelled as he raced for the closest target, grabbing him around the neck.
Chaos erupted. On the other si
de of the room, Lexa seized hold of her charge and rushed Mrs. Blunt out, heading for the TRF room. On her way, she passed Boss who swam upstream in the throng pushing to leave.
Bram shoved Blunt behind him just as Jon and Ray converged on their position. “Ray, take Blunt to the safe room,” Jon instructed.
Relieved of the principle, Bram withdrew his weapon and along with Jon aimed at the waiter who now held a dagger to another Arab’s throat.
“Guys, the hostage is Shareef bin Umar Al Sattar,” Loki informed them as he gaped at the scene playing out before him on the monitors.
Dan’s eyes locked with Shareef’s. He witnessed fear and concern as Shareef spoke in Arabic, “Anwar, calm. I am here. You are not in water. You are safe. Calm now.”
“Shut up,” Reece shouted at the terrorist in his grasp as his mind wildly searched for how he would get his guys out of here alive.
Rusty with disuse, Dan comprehended most of what Shareef told Anwar, glad he followed through on his vow to learn the language after leaving Oshar alive. “Quiet,” Dan murmured using Arabic. He lifted his hands, palms out, focusing on the knife-wielding waiter as he edged closer to the crying boy.
It became abundantly clear to Dan that Anwar’s behavior was childlike, though his body reflected a nearly grown man. He wondered what happened, but his goal was to move the boy to safety and let Bram and Jon deal with the situation since his negotiating skills still sucked.
Reece barked, “Let us leave, and he won’t die. David needs a hospital. He’s got a wife and child. You can have the damned water. You don’t have to kill us for the water. We were bringing it to you.”
As Nick directed the other security to clear the area, Jon lowered his weapon and engaged with Berry using his calm negotiator tone. “No one is going to harm you. My name is Jon, and I’m with the police tactical response force. Lower your knife, so no one is hurt.”
Through a haze, Reece’s eyes darted around. Surrounded. We’re surrounded. I gotta get David out of here. He needs to return home to Lizzy and Ryker. Sweat dripping down his face, Reece maintained his grip on his captive. “No. Tell them to back off, or I kill him.” His eyes flittered to David’s position. “Hang on, David. You don’t let go. I’m gonna get you home.”
Nick whispered, “Loki, any info you can find. Jon, I believe you are facing a man trapped in a flashback.”
“With a military record this might be a case of PTSD,” Lexa added as she took charge of both Blunts so Ray could assist Loki in digging for any information to help with this situation.
Under his breath, Jon uttered, “Yeah, figured that.”
Dan crouched next to Anwar and spoke in a soft tone in Arabic, “Anwar, come with me.” He sought to calm the teen, but his agitation increased as his cries grew louder when Dan attempted to move the youth away from Shareef. Quietly, Dan stated, “Boss, the boy won’t move.”
Not liking the option, but with no other choice, Nick directed, “Be forceful. We need the area clear. If this goes south, we don’t want him witnessing … either outcome.”
Standing, Dan endeavored to coax Anwar to rise, but his screaming increased, and he repeatedly yelled in English, “Water!” Perplexed by the use of English and the one word, Dan tried to reassure the child as he began to pull him away.
Reece fixated on the two seeking to flank him. His heart beat rapidly, and perspiration ran down his back as his anxiety increased. “Stop! Stay where you are. Why did you shoot us for water? We are only trying to be of assistance.”
Dan halted not wanting to escalate the subject.
Directing his words to those who wished to kill him, Reece hollered, “Why? We just wanted to help.”
Jon stepped closer, needing to redirect Berry’s attention to him and away from Dan and the distraught youth. “Berry, talk to me. What are you seeing? Where are you?”
Darting his eyes back to the other enemy, he spied help. Help finally arrived. “Sergeant, save David. I’ll hold them off. You can carry David.”
Nick said, “Bram, he is focusing on you. Switch up with Jon.”
As Bram lowered his weapon, Jon raised his. “Let’s go to David together. Let the man go, and we can help David.”
“I can’t let him go. The others will slaughter us. They want the water.” The screams of his buddies pounded in Reece’s ears. Ian dropped to the dusty ground and blood pooled under him. Next Archie fell as he ran to reach David. Vinnie’s shriek of ‘I’m hit,’ blared in his mind. Burning pain seared into his left leg as the bullet ripped through.
“Reece, Reece … hey, buddy,” Bram called out as it became clear to everyone Berry was not in the present.
“I have the solution,” Jon said in a soft voice as he maintained his aim, not wanting to shoot, but he would if the knife pressed any closer.
Dan released Anwar and moved in front of him. If he couldn’t remove him, he would protect him from the possibility of watching his uncle killed. He glanced at Shareef again noting the distress and alarm. Dan realized he was closer than any of them and recalled the training session Ripsaw drilled Blaze on after Dr. Pastore removed the stitches in his abdomen. They all benefited from the practice, and he recognized he was in a fortuitous position. “I can disarm him.”
“Hold,” Nick ordered.
“I can do this,” Dan insisted.
“Details are minimal, but Reece’s supervisor told me Reece was injured in Afghanistan as were many in his unit. His CO died,” Ray shared.
Bram decided to use military lingo hoping to break through. “Corporal Berry, stand down.”
Reece flicked his eyes to the massive Special Forces sergeant. “Sarge?”
Utilizing the connection, Bram commanded, “I gave you an order, corporal. The AO is in our control. Put down the weapon so we can aid David.”
“Ian, Vinnie, and Archie too?” Reece’s voice came out thready.
“Yes.” Bram took a step closer.
Visions of the desert began to fade as Reece stared at the sergeant. The gigantic man with a scared face saved him, he could trust him. He started to lower the dagger, but someone yelled water. He slipped back into the heat of battle as jihadists ambushed the water truck. Bullets flew. They scrambled for cover. David Wilder, his best friend, shouted orders in an attempt to save their unit until he was hit multiple times and went down.
It all occurred in seconds. Bram recognized he lost Reece to his delusions as the man’s eyes glazed over and the blade moved to press on Shareef’s throat. He continued to call out Reece’s name hoping against hope to reconnect before it was too late.
Jon witnessed the same, his finger moving to the trigger, sadly aware they couldn’t save everyone and knowing he could not allow the subject to kill the hostage. A blur of movement right before he squeezed off a shot seized Jon’s heart.
Dan moved lighting fast as he comprehended two things, the former soldier remained locked in his memory and Jon would neutralize Reece as the double-edged dagger started towards Shareef’s neck again. He gripped Berry’s wrist and spun. The khanjar went flying as Dan snapped Reece’s wrist. Shareef fell to the left as he and Reece went right.
Silence reigned for two seconds, which felt more like hours to Jon, Bram, and Nick as they witnessed Dan fall to the ground with the other two.
The odor of gunpowder assaulted Jon as his gut seized. Did I shoot Dan? Concern roared to life as anger. Jon rushed forward to secure Berry as he bellowed, “Dammit, Dan!”
Bram moved just as swiftly but to the hostage. Finding him unharmed he assisted the man up.
In the safe room, Loki, Ray, Lexa, and the Blunts all stared at the monitors waiting to find out Dan’s status.
Nick and Jon reached Dan and Reece at the same time as Dan rolled Berry to his stomach, still holding the right wrist, and put a knee on his back to restrain Reece, who now lay docile on the floor lost in his own world.
“He needs EMS. I broke his wrist,” Dan said as Jon approached. The scowls on the faces of his tac
tical lead and sergeant told him he would be in for a rough debriefing.
Composing himself while in public, storing up all he had to say to the rookie for debriefing, Jon nodded and knelt to secure the subject with handcuffs per protocol, though he was gentle with the injured wrist.
Bram bent to pick up the weapon. He examined the razor-sharp edges of the curved blade and the gilded handle. Something so beautiful yet so deadly. A shudder coursed down his spine as he turned to face Dan. Jon is going to ream him in debrief. Rightfully so.
Still dazed by Daniel’s speed, Shareef recalled Donald’s words in response to Ifran’s declaration he had never seen anyone move so fast when Blain disarmed Savelievich. You have not seen my son. Thanks to Jaasir they all knew Blain viewed Broderick as a son. His assessment is correct. Daniel is faster.
Shareef shoved aside those thoughts as he went to Anwar. Crouching, he ensconced his nephew in his arms as he spoke in soft, lilting words meant to soothe. When Anwar’s cries ebbed, he glanced up at Daniel who stood nearby. Speaking English, Shareef said, “Thank you for protecting him again.”
Noticing the questions in the sapphire eyes, Shareef explained, “He will always be a child. The summer following your visit, Anwar was kidnapped and suffered head trauma when the boat they kept him on exploded during the rescue. Ever since then water terrifies him, and it is the only word he says. The doctors cannot tell us why he only speaks the word in English.”
Bewildered and saddened, Dan nodded.
Standing and bringing Anwar up with him, Shareef glanced at the man now in custody sitting on the floor. Having matured and learned to control his emotions in the years since Fakhir’s death, Shareef felt only sympathy toward his attacker. Caring for Anwar, a duty he willingly accepted, revealed sides of himself he never knew existed. “What will happen to him?”
Dan said, “That will be up to the judge.”
“Prison will not help him. He needs treatment. I do not wish to press charges.” Shareef stroked Anwar’s back as the boy clung to him.
Nick turned his attention to the Arab man. He noted the compassion in his features. “A statement from you would go a long way in helping ensure he ends up in a treatment facility.”
