“That’s going to be fun on my feet.”
“You’re the one who ran.”
She pulled back. He turned to face her. “I’m going to hate you for the rest of my life.”
Brody hefted the backpack onto his shoulder. “This isn’t the Bachelorette and I’m not one of those sappy contestants. I didn’t bring you here to fall in love. You’re here because that mean son of a bitch has my friend and partner. We get him out, and I don’t care what happens after that.”
“Oh, you’re going to care. Trust me. If I survive this, I’m going to make you care.”
“Good luck,” he said.
He looked down at her, and a twinge of self-disgust pulled his heart. The plan didn’t involve bringing her here in a T-shirt and lacy bikini panties. Besides being a distraction, her wardrobe probably embarrassed the hell out of her, and for good reason. There wasn’t a whole lot to imagine.
He stole a look at her beautiful legs. Heat scorched his cheeks and he scolded himself for looking. Angry that the circumstances had compelled him to be so thoughtless, he started walking.
“The village is about two klicks down this road. When we get there we’ll find you something to wear.” He looked at her bare feet. “I’ll carry you.”
And he could. Years of training carved out a man’s abilities and accented his short-comings. For Brody, that had always been his impulsiveness, never his physical strength or his ability to get out of tight situations.
“I’d rather crawl, if you don’t mind.”
He didn’t blame her. He’d say the same thing. No man wanted to be indebted to someone he didn’t like. She had no way of knowing he would cut his own throat to keep her safe.
“I do.”
“I refuse to be carried by you or any man.”
“Sit down,” he said. “Let me see how bad your feet are.”
She plopped in the middle of the dusty road and waited. He took the bottle of water she’d grabbed on her way out of the plane, unscrewed the cap, and slowly poured a small portion over her feet. Then, while the skin was wet, he gently rubbed his palm along her soles. She pulled back. He looked at her and grinned. “Ticklish?”
Blue eyes flashed fire. “Absolutely not.”
“I won’t think less of you. I’m ticklish myself. Just in other places,” he teased.
Her glare conveyed her lack of appreciation for his sense of humor.
With his hand around her ankle, he pulled her foot closer. No glass or deep cuts. Thank God. Using his night-goggles and fingers, he was able to determine her left foot was fine. He repeated the process on her other foot with the same results.
When he finished, she was fighting back a giggle. Then it popped, and she laughed aloud. For some reason her silliness made her more appealing than an ice cold Coors.
“It might be hard to walk, but if we take it easy, I think you can make it.”
She clamped her jaw and winced as she shoved her butt off the road. “I can walk.”
He admired her sheer determination. “Good.” He handed her the half-empty bottle of water. “Finish this, and stay close.”
She could walk, but slowly. Brody had to meet his contact at 1230 hours and it was 1215 hours now. With her only inches behind him, he kept a pace she could match. Occasionally he checked their rear. He didn’t want anyone coming up behind them.
His dry throat made it hard to swallow or cough. He continued to search the perimeter and saw a few shrubs, dead trees, and cacti. They walked a road that was nothing more than a dry creek bed. The heat drained his body dry as the landscape around them, but he would survive.
Ten minutes later a village rose from the desert. The sweltering heat had his body drenched with sweat. He pulled his soaked shirt away from his chest and let out a hot breath.
The water he’d given Stone earlier would taste good right now, but he didn’t regret his action. She came first. No doubt they’d find water at the village. As soon as he quenched his thirst, he’d leave to find his friend.
From behind him he heard, “I need a rest.”
Brody halted and looked to find her standing with her head down, arms limp at her sides. Sweat soaked her clothing.
Brody put his arm around her. They moved to the side of the road. He searched the ground for snakes and scorpions before he sat down, taking her with him.
She dropped into his lap and rested her head on his shoulder. “Catch your breath. We have a few minutes.” He wiped the sweat from her face and wished for a cool cloth. If she had a heatstroke, they’d be screwed.
“Are you meeting someone?”
“Yes, and don’t deliberately make me late. That wouldn’t end well for anyone.”
“I’m not, I’m just tired,” she said breathlessly.
“Keep leaning on me.”
“I’d rather shave my head.”
She stayed put, and he chuckled at her determination.
Brody didn’t like being this close to a woman he planned to use shamelessly, but with the way things were, he had little choice. Had he left her alone, she’d be home sleeping safely in her bed. Hopefully that would still happen tomorrow night.
Brody scanned the emptiness before him and thought of A.J. What if they were too late? Could he already be dead? Tortured and hung out to die alone.
Frank hadn’t heard a word since the raid. Those thoughts sent a surge of anger exploding through his mind. He’d once lived the horror A.J. was experiencing, and the nightmares still woke him in the middle of the night screaming in terror.
Four Falcon agents had been sent to Mexico with orders to get Oscar Chavez. Instructions were to bust up his drug cartel and destroy his weapons arsenal. There had been a leak, and they were ambushed immediately. They engaged in one hell of a fight. Right after touchdown, A.J. took a bullet in the side. Before he could be extracted, Chavez’s men took him captive.
That made it impossible for them to blow the place. Frank got word from Washington to clear out of the area. Once back in Dallas, Frank tried to make arrangements to get A.J. released, but the DEA, ATF and Border Patrol were crawling all over Falcon demanding answers.
Chavez claimed he didn’t have a prisoner. There was no raid, and he didn’t know what Frank was talking about. Last week Chavez complained to his government that he was being harassed by the United States.
Falcon Securities had to back off or else risk embarrassing the president. Something his boss would never do, because Frank and Colin Davis had been friends for years.
Determined to get A.J., Brody pushed as far as he could for approval to go in after the captured agent, but the situation was too hot, too political and too hopeless.
So Brody did the only thing he could. On his own, he found a way to infiltrate the compound. While there, he planned to bring A.J. home or they would both die.
In spite of her earlier protests, Stone stood on shaky legs. “I’m ready if you are.”
Brody picked up his bag. “Let’s get this over with.”
“I can’t help but think you’re making a big mistake.”
“I’ve done that before.”
“You like risking innocent lives?” she asked wearily. Alarm set in when Brody realized she was closer to dehydration than he’d thought.
“No, but I’m getting my friend out.”
“Just how do you plan to do that? The minute Oscar Chavez sees me there’s a good chance he’ll shoot me. And you too while he’s at it.”
“I told you-you’re not going to be hurt.”
“I know that man. I know what he’s capable of. Your plan is too risky and unrealistic. If you’d spent more time learning about Chavez instead of me, maybe you’d be better prepared.”
Brody’s lips drew tight. Women. They could be so fucking logical. He braced his hands on his hips. “You finished? Are you done with all the negativity crap? Cause I came to get a buddy out of this hellhole, and he’s leaving with me, no matter what.”
“What good are you to your frien
d if you’re dead?”
“At least then it won’t haunt me at night.”
They moved toward several stucco huts. A dog barked, and a child cried out. Maybe twelve buildings made up the whole village. Two old beaters were parked outside the shack to their left. Faded light spilled from the grimy windows.
To his right was a corral with horses and mules. Next to the fence sat a small wooden shed with closed doors. In the center of the village a bricked well served as the residents’ only water source.
Except for the one hut, darkness enveloped the landscape. A lone coyote’s howl sent chills over his body. He didn’t like the feel of the place. They had nowhere to hide should anything happen.
Quietly he signaled to cross the road. With her against his back, they moved to the shed. Brody opened the doors and looked inside. Finding it empty, he went around to the side. The barnyard animals showed little interest as they made their way to the back of the building.
From his bag, Brody removed a .357 Magnum. He handed it to her. “Take this.”
Kate glanced at him. A frown drew her brows together as she tilted her head, but she took the weapon. “Who should I shoot? You?”
His hand clasped her arm. “This is hard for me to say, but I’m sorry, Kate. I should’ve never dragged you into this. I realize I may be walking into a trap, but with a little luck, I might survive. You won’t.”
He removed the night-vision goggles and slipped the apparatus onto her face. Bravely she held out the gun. “I can back you up,” she said.
“No. I want you to go. Stay hidden until Jake comes tomorrow night. Then get on that plane and go back to your life.” Brody pulled her against his chest and squeezed. His chin rested on her head, and he inhaled. After all they’d been through, she still smelled of flowers and sunlight. The curves of her small frame surprised him. “I had no right to take you.”
He bent down and captured her mouth. She tasted so sweet he thought he was in a candy store. On its own accord, his tongue slipped into her mouth and he deepened the kiss. With no resistance from Kate, she leaned against his chest and he struggled to breathe. She whimpered and his insides went up in flames. For the first time in his life he wanted a woman so badly he’d almost be willing to die for an hour alone with the CIA agent.
Brody broke the kiss.
“You’re right, but now I’m here.” She touched his chest with her delicate hand. “Maybe together...”
He shoved her long blond hair behind her ears and cupped her cheek. “I’ll risk my life, but not yours.”
He released her and motioned her back the way they’d come.
She hesitated. “Why are you doing this, Brody?”
He looked away, unable to face her. “Five years ago I was a prisoner in Iraq. For sixty-one days I was tortured, beaten, humiliated and starved. But that wasn’t the worst of it. The worst part was having no hope. Knowing that no one with half a brain would come into the middle of an Al Qaeda camp and get me.” He glanced at her. “A.J. came.”
“Brody...”
He inwardly smiled at the big goggles and the bad- ass gun in her hand. She looked more like Tweety Bird going after Sylvester than an experienced CIA agent. Especially decked out in a T-shirt and bikini panties.
“Brody.”
“Have a nice life, Kate. And I’m sorry for all I’ve put you through.”
He left her and trotted across the road. He took the Glock out of his waistband, and pushed aside a thin curtain used as a door. Dim light sliced the darkness like a slit in a tent.
Two men sat at a scarred wooden table. Between them sat a bottle of cheap tequila and a burning lantern. In the darkened corner of the room, a woman stood holding a young child.
“You Manuel?” He asked the guy closest to the door.
The man looked up, his eyes wide, his fingers trembling on table. “Sí, I am Manuel.” He stood, knocking the chair backwards. “Do you have the money?”
Brody reached in his back pocket and threw an envelope on the table. Several hundred-dollar bills slid across the table. “Half now, the rest when I get what I came for.”
The man practically drooled on the money. Impoverished didn’t begin to describe the small village. Brody guessed the man had never seen so much cash at one time. His shaking hand slowly moved toward the package but stopped.
Manuel looked at the man whose face remained hidden by the brim of his hat. “You bring the girl?” Manuel asked Brody.
“She had a date. Couldn’t make it.”
Manuel snatched up the money and walked toward the door. Brody put his hand on the man’s chest, stopping him. “Where is Chavez?”
He replied by motioning with his eyes. Brody’s gaze moved to the stranger seated at the table. He hadn’t moved since Brody’s arrival. Nor had he looked up.
Brody walked closer and saw the man had a small caliber gun in his lap. He guessed this guy was here to make sure nothing stupid happened to his fellow villagers.
Or did he have another agenda?
“Who’s that?” Brody asked.
Sweat poured off Manuel in long unbroken lines. His eyes searched wildly, looking for a place to run. Where could he go?
That imaginary spider tip-toed up his spine and Brody knew something wasn’t right. All hell was about to break loose.
Kate Stone stumbled inside and steadied herself before saying, “Hello, Oscar.
Chapter 6
Kate almost fainted at the sight of the man she hated more than anyone in the world. He’d robbed her of a normal life. Nothing had been the same since she’d escaped from his hold.
He’d hurt her, and then he’d stripped her sensibilities naked and rendered her a melted glob of torn and ragged emotions. The time she’d spent with him had ripped out her soul, and left her uncertain about her career as a CIA agent.
While Kate feared few men, and fewer situations, Oscar Chavez was deadly and dangerous.
For years she prayed every day that she’d never see him again. That a miracle would happen and the earth would be rid of his poison. That he could no longer hurt people and destroy lives.
With Oscar, it wasn’t about killing...it was about demoralizing and corrupting everything and everyone. For him there were no innocents, no boundaries, and not a hint of honor. He only knew how to corrupt.
Yet here he sat, dangerous as ever.
He stood and knocked the weapon from Brody’s hand as easily as he would a stolen lollipop from a four-year-old.
They didn’t stand a chance.
Before the Falcon agent could get his bearing, ten men walked into the small circle of light, each one armed with an automatic weapon.
“I’m glad you saved me the trouble of coming to you. Did you bring the agent you’ve been holding?” Brody asked.
Familiar laughter scratched over her skin like steel wool, and she shivered. Just the memory of what Oscar was capable of closed off her mind and sent her brain to a safe place where she couldn’t feel pain.
“You are quite the fool.” Oscar was a few inches shorter than the agent, but Oscar was stockier. Brody had a swimmer’s body. Long, corded, and fast. Maybe Brody didn’t have Oscar’s strength, but certainly he would have greater speed and agility.
While Oscar had on a white suit, Brody wore a black tee, camouflage cargo pants, and heavy boots. Her enemy was dark and treacherous with his black hair and smoldering eyes. Brody was almost blond, with hazel eyes surrounded by lashes that any woman would envy. Those pretty eyes were also smart, cunning. Falcon agents had a hard-earned reputation. But would it be enough?
Oscar wore his hair slicked back, straight to his shoulders. Brody’s had a little curl to it, and one strand hung across his forehead, to shave years off his age.
Chavez sneered at Brody. “You bring me what I want and you think I will surrender the trespasser and walk away?”
“You will if you’re smart.”
“I’m a very intelligent man. I can assure you of that. A man does not
get to where I am by being a fool.”
Brody looked away and spat. He met Oscar’s gaze boldly. “Anyone without a soul can get where you’re at Chavez, and only a fool thinks otherwise.”
Quick as a rattlesnake, Oscar backhanded Brody. Kate jumped forward to help only to learn a man held a gun to her back.
Even as hard as Chavez slapped him, Brody remained on his feet. Blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth, and he wiped it away. Then he struck out and slammed Oscar in the face with a punch so powerful it dropped the shorter man to the floor.
The gunmen stepped forward, waiting for the order to shoot. Instead, the man behind Brody slammed the butt of his weapon against the agent’s head. He dropped to the packed-dirt floor.
“Look,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’ll go with you if you let this man go.”
Oscar rose and looked at her with a well-fed hatred. “You’ll come with me regardless.”
“I know you’re bitter, but give the guy what he came for. He brought me here. That’s something you couldn’t accomplish.”
Oscar stood over Brody, a gun pointed at the downed agent. Kate waited. “You kill him, and you might have more trouble than you can defend against.”
“I have an agent in custody, and no one can take him from me.”
“Yet.” She reminded him. “You’ve heard how powerful Falcon is, or the agent you’re holding would be dead. Even you know not to taunt a giant.”
“I will not kill him, but you go.”
“What about the agent he came for?”
“No.”
Kate pointed to Brody’s unconscious body. “Look at this man, Oscar. Look hard. Without his friend he won’t go away. One of you will die.”
“Yes, that is true. It will be him.”
As she recoiled, he grabbed her by the hair and pulled her hard against his body. The wet kisses on her neck were like scorpions crawling on her skin. His tongue lathed the side of her face, and Kate curled her lips. She inwardly fought the compulsion to run. Instead she prayed she wouldn’t vomit.
“You and I have a lot of time to make up for.”
9 Ways to Fall in Love Page 52
