by Desiree Holt
“I figured you weren’t just hanging in the sun, selling drinks and fishing. And good for you.”
A sober expression washed over Ed’s face. “It was hard finding a reason to get up every morning in the beginning. Then a little project came my way, I was talked into doing it and things began to look up.”
“And now you have other projects if you want them,” Rocket guessed.
“Let’s just say I can stay as busy or not as I want to. But that all means I can get to Santa Marita without causing a stir and get what info we need. But I have to do it in a way that escapes notice, so four o’clock works best.”
“We’re in a hurry here,” Rocket reminded him again. “Mallory could be discovered at any minute, but I want to make sure we’ve covered all our bases.”
“If Ed says they are, then they are.” Eagle jumped in.
“Take it easy.” Rocket looked at his friend. “Just checking, like I always do.”
“I can get it pulled together by then,” Ed assured him. “I’ll get on it the minute we hang up.” He grinned. “I have my secret resources.”
Rocket didn’t ask what they were. He figured it was better if he didn’t know.
“One more thing,” Ed added. “I know I don’t have to tell you, but I will anyway. If you haven’t already, download detailed maps of all of Santa Marita. Study them like it’s the key to success, because you have to know every nook and cranny to stay out of sight, especially after we grab Mallory. We’ll go over them tomorrow, but you should be very familiar with them first.”
“We already went over them once, but we’ll look for more detailed ones and memorize every inch of them.” Just as they used to do in the SEALs. “We’re plotting this just like a mission, and counting on the same level of success.”
They set a time to Skype the next day. When the call ended, Rocket leaned back in his chair and took a moment to settle his nerves.
“I have to say,” he told Eagle, “your friend seems to know what he’s talking about.”
Eagle nodded. “I’d trust him with my life. And yours. And anyone else’s.”
“That’s good, because that’s exactly what we’re doing. Thanks for reaching out to him.” He paused. “That must have been some mission you guys ended on.”
“It was bad. Okay, let’s go over what we know so we have our act together when we Skype with Ed tomorrow. Let’s make sure we have the best maps available, download them, print copies for everyone and get to it. Then we’ll look at the clips we’ve got covering Barrera’s rise to power.”
Once Eagle pointed out which ones were the best, they all grabbed the copies that rolled off Rocket’s large printer and spread them out on the table.
“Like Ed said.” Blaze ran his finger over the map. “It won’t hurt to get some upfront work done. Let’s memorize the layout and mark danger spots. Then see if we’re in line with what Ed will have for us.”
Rocket pushed back from the table.
“First I’m going to text Mallory and tell her we’re working on a plan.”
He just hoped Mallory had another day left to be safe.
Chapter Five
Rocket ripped off his jeans and T-shirt, tossed them in the laundry basket and crawled into bed in his boxer briefs. He was both mentally exhausted and emotionally psyched. The conversation with Mallory had been brief. He hadn’t wanted to risk the chance of a longer one. But he’d be able to tell how close to tears she was when he’d told her they were arranging her escape plan. And for Mallory—who, in the short time he’d known her he remembered as one of the strongest women he’d ever met—that was a clear indication of how desperate her situation was.
Then they’d spent more than an hour poring over the maps, tracing with blue pens what they thought were optimum routes. Memorizing details. Eagle also sent the files to all their phones, cell and satellite, so they’d have the information no matter what. For whichever routes Ed suggested, they’d use red. They also found the street where Inez lived and marked her address, memorizing the image. The houses were jammed so close together that in many cases, they touched. There were, however, alleys in the back, although they looked so narrow that he didn’t know if a person could actually fit in one. Getting Mallory off the roof and out of the house would be the first critical point. Hopefully Ed, who they had faith was familiar with all of this, would have some suggestions.
Now he wanted nothing more than to catch some sleep so he’d be alert for the Skype call tomorrow. He lay back on the pillow, hoping he was mentally drained enough to fall asleep and not dream. Since Alicia Kane had contacted him, it seemed he could not get erotic images of Mallory out of his head. Even after five years, he was haunted by the picture of her lying naked on his cammies on the floor of that cave. The desperation of the escape, the sense of the danger still surrounding them, the heat and dust that had filled the environment, had all faded as he’d let his gaze roam over her body.
He could still taste her on his tongue, still feel the slick wetness of her sex as he’d fucked her with his fingers. The hot bud of her clit that was like an ignition switch to her body. And when he’d slid his cock inside her tight, wet heat, it had taken every bit of self-control he could dig up to go slow and make sure she enjoyed every minute of it.
As happened so often to him—too often—the image of a naked Mallory burst into his brain.
This time the scene wasn’t the cave, but a bedroom, and they were stretched out on silky sheets. God! She was so mouthwatering. Her toned body also boasted luscious curves, like the roundness of her breasts with their tempting nipples. His cock hardened just at the sight of them, not that it wasn’t already swollen with need. When he pinched those little buds, she gasped and the pulse at the hollow of her throat accelerated. He sucked first one nipple then the other into his mouth, lightly scraping them with his teeth, eliciting a guttural moan from deep in her throat.
Make it good for her, he told himself. If this is the one and only time, make it one she’ll never forget.
Sucking her sweet nipples until they turned a deep rose, he gave each breast a last squeeze before trailing his lips down between them until he reached her navel. He traced the curled flesh with the tip of his tongue, then licked a path down to the auburn thatch of curls between her thighs that beckoned to the entrance of her sex. He inhaled her rich scent before moving down so he could push her thighs apart.
Sweet Jesus!
He was no stranger to the sight of a woman’s sex, but this one? Damn, it rocked him back. He gently spread the lips apart, the pink flesh a sexy contrast with the auburn hair. And wet! So wet. Damn! He treated himself to a slow lick on either side of her clit, up and down, gathering her moisture with the tip of his tongue.
If his cock had been hard before, it was swollen almost to the point of pain by this time. He wanted to drive into her right to the hilt and fuck her brains out until they both screamed from the pleasure. Instead, he gritted his teeth and made himself hold back. Mallory Kane was ten cuts above the women he usually grabbed to have a hot night with and he was going to treat her accordingly.
He nipped her clit, teasing it, before running his tongue over every inch of her tender skin. She moaned and shifted beneath him, thrusting herself up to him. When he peeled the pink lips open again and thrust his tongue inside, she wrapped her legs around his neck and pulled herself to him more tightly. The more he worked his tongue inside her, the harder she rode it. He licked and sucked until she tightened around his tongue, her body going rigid. When he curled it to drag the tip against her hot spot, she exploded, screaming with the pleasure, convulsing, digging her heels into him as she locked herself to his mouth.
Then it slowed and subsided, her legs falling away, her body slack. He took one last lick, capturing her essence on his tongue before shifting positions so he could look directly into her eyes.
“You taste so good.” He smiled. “Just incredible.”
“I want to taste you, too,” she insisted,
even as she struggled to even out her breathing.
“And I want to be inside you.” His lips curved in a sly grin. “But ladies’ choice.”
She moved so suddenly that she startled him, shifting her position and shoving him over onto his back. Before he could protest or move, she was straddling him, her mound pressing against his balls, the fingers of one hand curled around his very hard cock.
“Watch it,” he warned. “I’m pretty close to the edge here.”
One corner of her mouth ticked up in a hint of a smile. “So you’re saying I should be quick?”
He barely managed a tiny chuckle. “Well, not too quick.”
Even as they were talking, she began moving her hand slowly up and down the length of his dick. Every two or three strokes, she bent down and licked the head, teasing at the tiny opening. With each taste of him she took, the orgasm building in him grew stronger and more fierce. He wanted to be inside her, to feel her wet heat clutching at him while he spilled into her, but fucking damn! Her mouth was the stuff dreams were made of.
He thrust the fingers of one hand into her hair, using the grip to guide her head, eyes closed as sensations flooded his body. He wanted her to slow down. No, he wanted her to go faster. Shit, he didn’t know what he wanted, because his body was doing its own choosing and it wanted to come right now.
“More,” he growled. “Faster.”
Even though he wanted it to last forever, he was right at the edge and Mallory seemed to know it. Her sweet, talented tongue and lips were working their magic as her slim fingers stroked him up and down.
Then he was there. Exploding over her hand, body convulsing with each spasm, over and over again.
“Don’t let go,” he whispered as the release subsided and his body relaxed. He opened his eyes to look at her and…
And like a slap of cold water realized he was in his own bed, alone, and it was his hand wrapped around his dick. Well, fucking damn shit. He let his head fall back to the pillow, eyes closed while he tried to recapture the dream, but it was gone. In its place, though, was an image of Mallory, her eyes wide with fear as he’d first seen them on the day of her rescue.
“I’m coming, Mallory,” he whispered. “Please just hang on a little while longer.”
The night was anything but restful for him. He was plagued by alternate images of Mallory naked beneath him and Mallory held captive by thugs masquerading as soldiers. There seemed to be no rest for him, no matter how much he tossed and turned. At six in the morning, he realized sleep wasn’t in the cards for him, threw on shorts and a T-shirt and went for a run. His house was located on a street that ended at Bayshore Boulevard. Rocket liked to run along the water, especially early in the morning. Usually by the time he finished, his brain would be unkinked and he’d be ready to start the day.
Not today, however. The image of Mallory didn’t seem to want to leave his brain. Finally, he gave up the ghost and headed home to shower and dress. His partners would be arriving before long to discuss what they’d discovered about General Felix Barrera.
When they all had their laptops open and mugs filled with coffee beside them, Blaze cleared his throat.
“Let me go first,” he suggested. “I spent most of the night researching this clown.” Blaze had his laptop open in front him, as did the others. “He’s a thug, plain and simple. He spent a long time as a sicario—those who did the violent work like assassinations, kidnappings, brutal murder. Well, you get the idea. But he got tired of being on the third rung of power, even as he could satisfy his thirst for spilling blood.”
“I thought that was common to all of them,” Viper interjected. “No matter where in the world they are.”
Blaze nodded. “And you can bet others follow this pattern. But Barrera is in a unique position. He was within spitting distance of a peaceful island country with a thriving tourist business and a good economy. Barrera and his men could overwhelm them, kill any objectors and move right in. Once they did, they began recruiting all the lowlifes they could find in the country, and they were off and running.”
“Just like in the Third World countries we saw in Africa,” Viper put in. “Right? We’ve seen how it works. The people don’t have a chance.”
“Right,” Blaze agreed. “They’re too afraid. The cartel sees they have just enough to get by on and they kill people who don’t like it.”
He went on to detail everything he’d found, which wasn’t any different from anything else they knew about the operation of other cartels.
“I also read a lot about the Sinaloa cartel,” Blaze continued, “and how they grew. Barrera has an advantage because the country is small, easy to control and they can distribute from there at will. Not only are they delivering their own product, but because they control both air and water traffic and use their own guerrilla cops to guard it, they’ve begun handling shipments from other cartels.”
“Right.” Blaze nodded. “This is what gives them the control they have of it. They’re in charge of all entries and exits into the country. They can send shipments anywhere in the world and take a healthy percentage of the profits.”
Rocket raked his fingers through his hair in a gesture of frustration. “The more I hear, the more impossible this project seems.”
“Then it’s right up our alley,” Eagle told him. “Wouldn’t you say?”
Viper’s lips twisted in a semblance of a grin. “Isn’t that why we tell people we’re their last resort?”
Rocket nodded. “I guess this is our best chance so far to prove we’re right.”
Their habit was always to talk an op to death, suggesting the myriad ways something could go wrong then figuring out what to do to combat them. They all projected possibilities and dissected them, continuing even through lunch after it was delivered.
At four on the dot, Eagle’s laptop signaled an incoming Skype call. He accepted it, motioning for the others to move around him so they could see, too.
“You guys do your homework?” Ed asked as soon as the call was connected.
“More than,” Eagle told him. “What have you got for us?”
“Everything we’ll need.”
Rocket leaned closer to the screen. “How did you manage that?”
“Trade secrets. But it worked out that I could go over to the island without raising suspicions or showing up on their radar as trouble.”
“Why do you say that?”
“One of Barrera’s men called this morning and said the general wanted to talk to me about a couple of fishing trips. He’s got some customers coming to visit him and he wants to give them a good time.”
Rocket frowned. “I can’t believe people actually come to Santa Marita and pick up their product.”
“They don’t,” Ed told them. “But he likes to wine and dine and show off for new customers so they believe they’re buying product from a powerful man who can deliver with no problem. And, by the way, who can offer sanctuary to anyone who needs it. No one’s going to set foot in Santa Marita without his permission.”
“So what’s the best way for us to do it?” Rocket wanted to know.
“First, we go fishing, so if anyone sees me with you guys, they’ll remember I had you out on a charter. I mentioned to one of Barrera’s lieutenants that I might be taking out some hotel guests so when they scope out the boat, they won’t think it’s anything out of the ordinary.”
“But we’re not going onto the island itself?” Blaze asked.
“No. I thought about it, but Barrera’s more uptight these days than usual. Scuttlebutt has it that he’s pissed because Mallory has disappeared and he can’t find her. That means every new face gets extra scrutiny, and we don’t want that.”
“That’s the truth,” Rocket agreed.
“However, I’m going to take a trip over there before you all get here. One of Barrera’s lieutenants wants some special stuff they can’t get on the island and I said I’d pick it up. It’s good cover to get a handle on things.”
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br /> “We’ll leave it up to you.”
“Good, because I’m not sure how long the Albados have before Barrera gets tired of waiting for Mallory to show her face and raids the house, tearing it apart. Or scoops up the family to wring it out of them. Now here’s what we’ll do.”
They listened carefully as Ed outlined his plan. The trickiest part, of course, was getting Mallory out of the house, but he’d managed to come up with a way to do that which Rocket thought was brilliant. He’d run it past Ed the moment they sat down together.
“And remember,” Ed told them. “We have two options, one of which I hope we don’t have to use.”
“And they are?” Rocket prompted.
“First is get her to the place I’m thinking of using to land you guys. Get a Zodiac close enough to haul ass out of there. Option two, which is dicier, is to hike through the jungle to the water. But if you recall when we were planning this, on the map it shows the jungle ending close to the water. But…” Ed thought for a mment. “One, the ground there is very rocky and two, there’s a steep drop to the water and no real place for a Zodiac to pick us up. If it was just us, I’d say we can rappel down, but I don’t want to put Mallory at risk that way.”
“A helo pick up would be much better,” Rocket suggested.
Ed nodded. “I can arrange for that.”
“Saint will be with us,” Eagle told him. “Our pilot. He’s flying us down. Tell me the best place to rent a chopper and we’ll have him on standby.”
“Tell him when you get to Manzanillo to contact Vacation Rides, ask for Don and use my name.”
Eagle burst out laughing. “Same old Ed. You never really left the game at all, did you?”
“Ssh. Don’t tell anyone.”
“We’ll fly down tomorrow,” Eagle told him when Ed had finished. “We’ve got a Gulfstream 550, so we don’t need to bother with commercial schedules. We checked and Manzanillo has a good-sized airport, so we won’t be conspicuous. At least under normal circumstances. Does Barrera monitor airports in the area outside of Santa Marita?”
