Black Ops Bodyguard

by Donna Young

  Jason caught the picture of Bach on the front of the boy’s T-shirt. Argus loved classical music. He enjoyed playing the piano whenever he could. Usually when his father wasn’t around.

  Cristo saw music as feminine, a threat to Argus’s masculinity and in essence a threat to his empire. An empire he was grooming his son to rule.

  Over Jason’s dead body.

  Argus Delgado shoved a woven bag through the bars. “Eat this. Quickly. I need to bring the bag back with me. It’s cheese and bread and bottled water.”

  “You’ll have to hand it to me, pal. I can’t maneuver the whole bag.” Jason lifted his injured shoulder slightly.

  “That reminds me,” Argus said. He reached in his jeans pocket and pulled out a bottle. “Aspirin from my mother’s bedroom. For the pain.”

  “Thanks.” Argus opened the bottle and shook a few of the capsules into Jason’s palm. Jason swallowed them dry. “Start with the water.”

  Argus handed Jason the bottle. Slowly, the agent drank, ignoring the pain that rifled through his sore jaw and throat. “You still need to go, Argus. I don’t want you discovered with me.”

  “I had to come and warn you, Jason,” Argus insisted in hushed tones. “Father told Jorgie you would be dealt with when he gets back. He also told him that I’m to watch and learn how to handle someone who interferes with our family business. It is my reward for doing well with my studies.”

  A ten-year-old being trained to torture. The nausea roiled through Jason, this time from more than a bruised stomach. “What is he planning?”

  “He is flying to Caracas to take care of a shipment of cocaine, but he has also gone to get your wife. She is here in Venezuela.”

  Jason froze. “Give me the details, Argus. Everything you know.”

  “That’s just it, I know nothing else.” Argus paused. “I didn’t know you had a wife, Jason.”

  “She’s my ex-wife.”

  The boy nodded, and took the bottle back. He slid the food through the bars. “She has something called MONGREL,” Argus remarked. “Papa calls it the Drug Hound.”

  “That’s what it is, essentially.” Jason leaned against the bars, but left the bag dangling between his fingers. How in the hell did Delgado find out about Julia?

  “What is the MONGREL, Jason?”

  “It’s a device that’s no bigger than a cell phone. It can detect your father’s drug shipments through the steel hull of any ship,” Jason explained. “A sort of ultrasound that can break down compounds to microscopic sizes.”

  “He said you stole it from your own country,” Argus continued. “Why?”

  “I had my reasons, pal,” Jason explained. “But I’m not planning on letting your father have it.”

  The boy frowned. “No wonder my father is angry.”

  “What else did you hear, Argus?”

  “My father met with a man this morning. Someone I have never seen before.” Argus frowned, thinking. “They mentioned Julia was here with a man called West. And we’re making plans to set a trap for both of them here at the villa.”

  “West? Calvin West?”

  “I believe so,” Argus stated, his voice picking up with excitement. “Is he a friend of yours?”

  “No,” Jason said, his mind already working through the details. “If Julia somehow makes contact with you, Argus, I need you to do whatever she says. Understand me? There’s a good possibility things are going to get really ugly around here, and she’ll keep you safe.”

  “And Calvin West?”

  “Don’t trust him. Only Julia.”

  “Can Julia help us protect Alejandra? She’ll be graduating soon from college. Father will insist she return here.”

  “I’ll help your sister, pal. But first I need to stop your father’s next shipment. Then stop your father.”

  “The shipment’s been delayed. Father instructed my mother to keep Captain Stravos entertained,” Argus said, his voice tight. “He hit her until she agreed…?.”

  Argus couldn’t finish.

  Jason understood. “I know it seems a little hopeless right now, Argus. But we’ll save your mom and your sister. And if we’re lucky, save ourselves in the process.”

  “And your wife, too?”

  “Ex-wife,” he corrected without thought. “Yes, her, too.”

  “What do you need me to do?”

  “It’s time to get the keys for my chains and the cell door. Do you think you can?”

  Argus frowned, concentrating. “Father keeps his set locked up in his office. With him gone, it should be fairly simple.”

  “Just be careful. Don’t risk getting caught. I’ll find another way out.”

  “I’m to spend the next few days at the mission with Padre Dominic, but I can manage to return earlier,” Argus explained.

  “How?”

  Argus shrugged. “There is a way but you’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning.”

  Jason studied the boy and couldn’t help the pride that shifted through him. “Tomorrow it is then.”

  “Even if I help you escape your cell, the guards have been doubled on the grounds. It will be very hard for you to sneak past them injured.”

  “Leave that to me, pal.” He shoved the food back through the bars toward Argus. “Time for you to go.”

  “Okay.” But when the boy started to leave, Jason stopped him.

  “Argus, did you happen to catch the name of the man who met with your father this morning?”

  “Yes. His name was Renalto.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Julia followed the voices, but lost them in the maze of hallways. She’d heard enough to know that one was a man’s, the other a boy’s.

  Jason? Her heart thumped hard against her chest, making it difficult to catch her breath.

  She stumbled down the nearest passage, praying she wouldn’t run into a guard.

  Suddenly, the stone steps appeared at the end of the narrow corridor. Below lay another passageway.

  Pushing away her fear, Julia took a step through the small entrance underneath the stairs.

  The ceiling hung low, forcing her to duck her head. After a few feet, a doorway gave way to a wide open room with several prison cells lined across one side.

  Chains rattled softly, permeating the fetid air.

  Quietly, she made her way toward the sound and stench.

  In the corner of the farthest cell, she saw him. Her breath caught at the back of her throat.

  He sat in the corner with no shirt. His head rested back against the wall, his eyes closed in the semidarkness. Only a pair of tattered slacks covered his legs and no shoes.

  Her chest constricted. She was too late; he was already dead. “Jason?” Her voice barely carried across the cell.

  Suddenly, a stream of expletives hit the air. On their heel, chains rattled. Jason struggled to his feet.

  “Oh, my God,” she whispered.

  His face was mangled almost beyond recognition. Both eyes were nearly swollen shut, his shoulder misshapen. Black bruises peppered his chest, arms and stomach. A large sickle-shaped cut slashed his cheek from his left eye, down to his jaw.

  Julia remembered the knife Jorgie was cleaning his nails with, sure the wound was his handiwork.

  “What the hell are you doing here, Julia?”

  “What?” The anger hit her like a tidal wave. So much for grateful. “The hell if I know,” she snapped out. “I thought I’d bring my camera, maybe catch a few moments of you being tortured and then head on my happy way.”

  “You know what I mean,” Jason argued. “You promised to get Argus out of here. Not me. You should be at the mission.”

  “I found you first.” She looked at the lock on the cell door. You would think you’d be grateful—”

  “There is no way in hell you can get me out of here. Trust me, if it was possible I would be long gone. You’re jeopardizing the plans. What if Cristo finds you? Or worse, Jorgie?” Jason asked. He looked past her shoulder toward the tunne
l. “Where is West?”

  “Not here,” she bit out. “Consuelo and I drugged her husband, Miguel, and Calvin. We left them sleeping back at Miguel’s.”

  “You what?” Jason swore. “Look, the directions were simple. Get Cal to bring you here. Make sure he leaves you at the mission when he comes to rescue me. If you drugged him, he’s not going to trust you. You need that trust. Or he won’t leave you at the mission by yourself.”

  “Damn it, Jason. I’m trying to do what I promised. But it’s not as simple as you are making it out to be—”

  “What do you mean—” Jason stopped and stared at Julia. “Have you slept with him?”

  “That’s none of your business,” she snapped.

  “The hell it’s not!” Jason answered. “I don’t need West getting territorial over you right now.”

  “You don’t need…” Julia stepped up to the cell. “You are just as bad as he is. Giving out orders, using me to get what you want.”

  “There’s a difference, Julia. I’m using you to save my son,” Jason replied quietly. His tone reminded her of the man she used to know before this. Before their marriage.

  Her heart softened. “Then trust me to do it, Jason.”

  “I’m trying,” he muttered.

  “Try a little harder,” she argued. “I’m going to tell Calvin about Argus. And where I hid the MONGREL.”

  “No.” Jason gripped the bars with his good hand and leaned in until their faces were mere inches apart. “You will not tell him about my son. Or the device. Understood?”

  “Calvin isn’t going to harm Argus, Jason. If you can’t trust him, trust me.”

  “Cal will hand Argus over to that bastard Cain to use as a weapon against me or Delgado.”

  Julia shook her head. “You’re wrong.”

  “No, I’m not,” Jason insisted. “Padre Dominic will get you safely out of the country with Argus. Calvin isn’t part of the equation. The only reason we used him to get you here, was the fact that Padre Dominic couldn’t take the risk of picking you up at the airport and bringing you here himself.”

  “I know. And he was right,” Julia answered. Quickly, she told Jason about her arrival and Cal’s confrontation with Jorgie, Cal’s meeting with Esteban and the airport gun battle.

  “And you still think Cal will protect Argus?”

  “Calvin thinks that a mole in Washington gave Cristo your plans.”

  “Did you say Renalto met you at the airport?” Jason’s head snapped up. Julia heard his grunt of pain.

  “Yes,” Julia affirmed. “Why?”

  “Does Renalto know you’re headed to the mission?”

  “I don’t think so. Originally he was supposed to help Cal breach the villa and rescue you. But after we escaped the attack at the airstrip, Cal decided to bring me here.” Jason swore.

  “Jason,” Julia said urgently. “What’s going on?”

  “Renalto’s dirty. He’s working with Delgado. He’s being paid to help capture you and West.” Jason paused. “If I’m right, Renalto informed Cristo you were coming with the MONGREL.”

  Jason gripped the bar. “Do they know that you have the device?”

  “No,” Julia answered slowly, considering her next statement. “But I don’t exactly have it anymore, either.”

  “What do you mean, you don’t have it?”

  “I won’t let it end up in the hands of the bad guys, Jason,” Julia explained. “So I left it with a friend.”

  Jason placed his forehead against the bar, disgusted. “That was my collateral, Julia. My get-out-of-jail-free card.”

  “Cal will get you out of here,” Julia argued. “I know he will. That’s why Cain sent him here, and that’s what he’s determined to do.”

  “You’re wrong. Cain didn’t send Calvin here to save me.” Jason laughed, his tone brittle and dry. “He sent Calvin here to kill me. Because that’s what Calvin West does. And he’s the best in the world at what he does.”

  “I don’t believe you.” Julia bit back the scream of denial, but something deep inside stopped her. Cal, an assassin?

  “His code name says it all, Julia.” But this time she saw the pity in her ex-husband’s eyes. “It’s Thanatos. The Greek God of Death.”

  SIRENS PIERCED THE AIR, ECHOING through the dark halls beneath the villa.

  “Get out of here, Julia. Take a left out from beneath the stairs, the first right and another left. You’ll find the stairs to the courtyard,” Jason ordered. “Get my son and get the hell out of Colombia. I’ll take care of Calvin.”

  “You’re wrong.” She took one last look at him, turned on her heel and raced out of the room.

  A few moments later, she sighed with relief when she found the stairs. Quickly, she raced to the courtyard, then deliberately slowed her pace when she hit the outside air.

  The sirens ceased, but the vibrations remained, setting the birds in flight and the air humming with electricity.

  The tip of the sun crested the treetops but the sky grew more gray, then black. Big drops of rain spat at the ground, beat a rhythm of warning on the tree leaves—with each minute Mother Nature picked up the storm’s tempo.

  Still, the compound grew active. Women lined up at the gate, getting checked before they were allowed to leave.

  Julia spotted Consuelo toward the rear of the line, lagging behind; her eyes darted over the courtyard until they rested on Julia.

  Julia lifted her hand to wave but her friend’s gaze slid past Julia’s shoulder. Consuelo’s features twisted in fear.

  CAL SCANNED THE CROWD THROUGH his rifle scope. “Bloody hell.”

  “They’re not in line?” Miguel focused his own binoculars. “The guards check off everyone. If they aren’t there, Jorgie and his men will go looking for them. We can’t let that happen, my friend.”

  “It won’t. Even if I have to go in and drag her out by her hair,” Cal vowed. But the fear slithered through his gut, snaked up his spine.

  A woman appeared from the far side of the villa, her steps graceful but swift as she hurried across the courtyard. Her head covered with a shawl, protecting her from the rain.

  “It’s Julia,” Miguel announced, the relief evident in his voice. “She’s headed for Consuelo and the gate.”

  Suddenly, Jorgie strolled out his office and snapped an order to one of the guards. Within moments, another guard grabbed Julia’s arm and held her.

  “Damn it.” Cal didn’t hesitate. He dropped the binoculars and grabbed Miguel’s machine gun. “Once Jorgie has her in the building, we won’t be able to get her out.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Cause a diversion,” Cal said. “You get as close as you can to the gate and be ready. When the women start running, you snag ours, then head back to your house.”

  “And you?”

  “I’ll follow soon enough,” Cal promised, his voice hard. “Just make sure you all get back safe.”

  “AREN’T YOU GOING IN THE WRONG direction, señorita?” Jorgie jabbed a finger toward the barracks. “I asked you to report to me after your shift.”

  “Please,” Julia reasoned, and pushed the fear back deep into her stomach. The guard tightened his grip, prodding her to answer Jorgie. “My family will worry if I do not come back with my cousin.”

  Jorgie laughed and stepped closer. His finger trailed slowly down her jawline.

  Without warning, he backhanded her. Pain exploded through her jaw. Razor-sharp stars jabbed behind her eyes. The guard tightened his grip to keep Julia on her feet. She wiped her hand across her mouth, tasted the metallic bite of blood against her tongue.

  “You seem to think I am asking your permission, señorita,” Jorgie said, his tone harsh. “I am not. You will only be here a few hours and if you please me, I will pay you overtime.” He pinched her chin, raised her face up to his until they looked eye to eye. “Give them the money or keep it, I don’t care. Understand?”

  “I can’t—”

  Gunfire explo
ded behind them. The guard let Julia go with such force, she stumbled to the ground.

  Jorgie yelled orders and his men dropped to their knees, raised their machine guns and opened fire on the surrounding jungle.

  Women screamed and scattered.

  Julia staggered to her feet, her face throbbed. Ignoring the pain, she ran toward Consuelo, who held the gate open.

  “The hills!” her friend screamed. “We must run into the trees!”

  THE SHADOWS GREW UNTIL THEY swallowed what little daylight remained.

  “Come on, Julia. Hurry.” Consuelo grabbed her under the elbow and helped her through the dense foliage. Suddenly, Miguel appeared.

  Relief swept through Julia, making her weak. Consuelo embraced her husband. Gave him a quick kiss, then whispered in his ear. Miguel looked at Julia’s face. He swore.

  But Julia had no concern for bruises or Miguel’s reaction. Instead, she scanned the trees. “Where’s Calvin?”

  As if to answer, a burst of gunfire exploded behind them. Far enough away for Julia to understand Cal was still near the villa.

  “He’s keeping Delgado’s men pinned so we can get away,” Miguel explained. “Let’s not waste his efforts.”

  Julia tried to struggle but realized her strength had left her. “We must help him, Miguel. Please.”

  “He doesn’t need our help. He needs not to worry about you being in harm’s way. If he is distracted by you, he’ll get himself killed.”

  “But—”

  “He’s already seen you beaten, Julia. It put him in a rage. He must believe I will do as he asked and get you to safety with my wife. He will meet with us back at my home. I promise.”

  Julia tried to nod, but the darkness overpowered her. The last thing she heard was more gunfire.

  CAL COULDN’T PUT THE IMAGE OF JORGIE striking Julia out of his mind.

  Damn it, he cursed himself. She was breathing, running. The hit in the face wasn’t lethal. Still, the frustration, the fear slithered through him, threatening to break his concentration. Cal inhaled slow and deep, working through the emotion, concentrating on the sounds of the jungle.