9 Ways to Fall in Love

by Caroline Clemmons

  “Ha,” Kate said, knuckles braced against her hips. “You go where I go.”

  “Now you’re talking like that damn Brody.”

  “I’m here because of you. And I’m not leaving you behind. If I do, what will Brody’s death mean?”

  “Nothing,” A.J. whispered.

  Kate had left two men behind on her last mission. She’d never do that again. She’d get A.J. out of here or die trying. Because to leave someone behind was worse than any death.

  Kate’s muscles protested with each step, but it didn’t matter. She had no intention of waiting around to see what Oscar had planned for her.

  She looked over and saw A.J. limp toward the bars in an effort to stay upright. Once he got his feet beneath him, he too started hobbling around his cell.

  “You never told me why Brody kidnapped you. What do you have to do with all this mess?”

  “Brody had it all wrong.”

  “How so?”

  “He thought Oscar Chavez and I were once lovers. I think Brody had it in his head Oscar still loved me and would jump at the chance to have me back.”

  “That’s not the way it was, huh?”

  “No, not even close.”

  “So Brody got the wrong information and acted on it.”

  “Several years ago I infiltrated this camp. Chavez and I grew close, but only so I could get the necessary information to put him away for life. I stayed here almost a year. Oscar trusted me completely in the end. When I’d gathered the Intel I needed, I left while Oscar was away on business.”

  “Just like that?”

  “Yes, except while in London, Oscar learned I worked for the CIA and that he was my assignment.”

  “Had you gotten away?”

  “I didn’t think I’d survive.” Kate looked at her dirty hands and remembered that black night when she’d made it to the extraction area. Oscar’s men were right behind her with orders to kill. “Then a Chinook helicopter hovered over-head and snatched me up. I managed to get inside despite a hail of bullets.”

  “How long ago?”

  “Two years.”

  “Brody dragged you right back to hell.”

  “Oh, Oscar has a new vendetta.”

  “What?”

  “I’m the agent who gave your team the details you needed to make the raid against Oscar two weeks ago. I had off shore account numbers, ship manifests, and contact numbers. And a complete layout of the compound. The Intel wasn’t used earlier because of rumors Oscar was amassing enough guns to stage a war.”

  “Damn.”

  Heavy footsteps trotted down the basement stairs. A man came into view. Kate had seen him earlier. He was the one who rode shotgun when Chavez brought her to La Hacienda. She didn’t know his name, but he hadn’t been at La Hacienda during her previous stay.

  The tall, handsome Latino stopped between the two of them. He pressed a thin cigar between his lips. He took a drag, blew out the blue smoke, and then flipped the ashes on the ground.

  Kate glanced at A.J., who shook his head.

  “You two are in one fucked-up mess,” he said with a slight Spanish accent. He looked at Kate. “Chavez plans to kill you before the night ends.”

  “Okay,” A.J. said. “He sent you down here to tell us that?”

  The stranger let out a cruel, sadistic chuckle. “No, I’m here to see two fucking jokers.” He laughed again and turned to Kate. “That stupid Falcon agent walked right into a trap.” He tugged on the lapels of his white jacket.

  “So, you set him up?” A.J. asked.

  “I made sure he heard exactly what I wanted him to hear. Only someone as good as him could manage to break into her house and pull off a kidnapping.” The stranger kissed his fingertips loudly then tossed his hand joyfully into the air. “He did it perfectly.”

  “It didn’t take long to figure out Brody had been betrayed,” Kate said. “And we’re not dead until we stop breathing. We might end up watching the closing act.”

  He turned to go. “I’m going to enjoy the show.”

  “Good,” A.J. said. “We hate a disappointed audience.”

  Angel Diaz opened the basement door and stepped into the white, pristine kitchen. Two men waited for his instructions. “Do it.”

  As they disappeared, Oscar Chavez came into the kitchen, his eyes trained on the closed basement door. “What were you doing in here?”

  Diaz’s heart sped up. “Nothing,” he said. “Just getting a drink of water.”

  Chavez pointed a commanding finger at him. “I don’t want anyone down there except the men I chose to take them food.” Chavez turned to walk out. He stopped and motioned Diaz to lead the way.

  Diaz smiled gracefully and hooked his arm in the crook of Chavez’s elbow. If not for his money, Diaz would put a bullet between Chavez’s eyes and walk away. “Come, my friend. All this crazy business is making you weary.”

  Chavez’s gaze intensified and his frown deepened. Diaz couldn’t afford to give his boss any reason to suspect he had a plan of his own.

  “Hey. Let’s have a drink and take a dip in the pool.” Diaz stepped back and wiggled his hips. “Shake off that mood, man. It drags you down.”

  Chavez stood rooted to the fucking floor. “No.”

  “Ah, come on. Just because that girl shows up does not mean you have to get all grumpy on me, does it?”

  “She’s not some girl. She’s a CIA agent. She was here for a year. I trusted her with my life.”

  Diaz didn’t want Chavez to think of betrayal. Not now. He had to get Chavez out of the kitchen before Oscar grew too curious. “I know that. I know how she tricked you and hurt you. But you know I am your true and loyal friend.”

  The richest man in Mexico looked tired, older. Diaz had thought bringing the bitch, Kate Stone, back to La Hacienda so Chavez could choke the life out of her would cheer him up. Help him put the past to rest, at last.

  Instead, if Diaz didn’t know better he would think his old killing buddy had grown soft, melancholy.

  “I find it hard to trust anyone.”

  “Except the boy you grew up with, right hermano?” Diaz never let the smile slip from his face. “I knew your parents and your brothers. I am part of your family.”

  Chavez studied the toes of his shoes and let out a deep sigh. “Maybe a swim will do me good.”

  Diaz patted him on the shoulder. Good boy. “Of course it will. Let’s get some of the men and play water polo. You like that, don’t you?”

  “Yes, yes, of course.”

  “Good, I’ll change and meet you outside.”

  Chavez finally headed toward the master bedroom and Diaz let out a pent up breath.

  He’d come close to getting caught in the dungeon. If that had happened, Chavez would have killed him. And for what? To taunt a prisoner who had only hours to live? He couldn’t afford to make foolish mistakes like that again.

  With a last look at the closed basement door, Diaz turned and headed for his room to change into his swimsuit. It had taken months to gain Oscar Chavez’s trust. It was vital he stay vigilant. Too much depended on his surveillance and his information gathering.

  Hopefully tonight the girl would die, but they had other plans for the one named A.J.

  Chapter 9

  “Wake up,” the guard shouted. The same two men who’d delivered their food earlier came into view. “It is dinner time. When you finish your meal, the fireworks will begin.”

  Watching through narrowed eyes as Oscar’s men made their way toward the center of the basement, Kate remained still. The one with the water carried a lantern to guide their way.

  As the key turned on the cell door, A.J. said, “I think there’s something wrong with the senorita.”

  “What?”

  “She hasn’t moved in hours. I think she’s dead.”

  The panicked look on the guard’s face told Kate they didn’t want to be the ones delivering that news to Oscar.

  The taller guard quickly moved inside t
he cell and stared down at her. Reluctantly, the other sentry joined him. Kate waited. First he nudged her with the tip of his boot. Seconds later he leaned down and tapped her on the shoulder with his gun.

  Kate uncoiled, grabbed the gun from the unsuspecting guard then bounced onto the balls of her feet. The adrenalin flowing, she ignored the pain in her head and back.

  “Get down on your knees.” When they didn’t comply fast enough, she shouted. “On the floor, now.”

  They both dropped onto their bellies, nose to the dirt, and held their hands out. She quickly rid the other guard of his weapon and took the keys. Still holding the prisoners at gun point, Kate unlocked A.J.’s cell and gave him the extra weapon.

  “Keep the gun on them. If they move, shoot.”

  “Please do something stupid so I can put a hole in your head,” A.J. pleaded.

  She went back into the cell and demanded the men undress. They reluctantly removed their clothes and tossed their garments at her feet. Kate quickly slipped on one guard’s pants. They were a little snug, but better than just her panties. She quickly ripped up their dark green shirts to use for ties and gags.

  “Now what?” A.J. asked, leaning against the sod wall. “How do we get past everyone upstairs?”

  “Follow me,” she replied. “I know this place like the back of my hand.”

  After locking the guards in her cell, she threw their remaining clothes on the ground. She and A.J. softly treaded up the wooden staircase.

  At the top, Kate cracked open the door leading to the kitchen. She checked the room before nodding for A.J. to follow. No one occupied the large room.

  Loud voices and the sound of splashing water come from the pool area. No other sounds were heard from the rest of the house. The clean scent of lemon and lime smelled wonderful.

  A.J. set the lantern on the top steps and followed her. Taking the chance no one would see or hear them, Kate darted across the small hall and into the pantry.

  When A.J. entered the tiny space, Kate closed the door. In the dark, the smells of cinnamon and cloves surrounded her and stirred memories of her mother’s kitchen.

  Kate’s mouth watered. She’d hardly had anything to eat in the last twenty-four hours besides the prison food.

  Stretching, she reached the top shelf with her fingertips. Tracing along the ledge, she touched the metal latch. One slip and the pantry wall cracked open.

  “There is a passage behind this wall, but I’ll need some help moving everything aside.”

  A.J. stuffed the gun in his pocket, and together they pushed. After a moment, the wall slowly turned, exposing a dugout.

  “Go,” Kate said, after they reclosed the opening. “Put your hands out and follow the path until you come to the exit. It’s only wide enough for one person at a time. I’m right behind you.”

  Kate and A.J. plunged into the ominous darkness. Kate hoped Oscar hadn’t sealed off the exit, or blown it up. It was their only hope.

  “How long is this tunnel?” A.J. asked.

  “A good fifty yards. And if they find the guards, this is the first place Oscar will look.”

  “I’m moving as fast as I can.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll make it.”

  Getting out might not be the only problem they had. While the shaft took them outside the wall of the La Hacienda, they would be open targets to the guards overhead.

  The smell of damp earth hung in the air. She fought against the claustrophobia that squeezed her chest and mind like a sinister monster. Kate inhaled a big gulp of air and kept her eyes focused on the tiny light in the distance.

  Soon another scent filled the tunnel. It wasn’t foul. The odor smelled more like an industrial chemical. Kate tried to identify the odor, but couldn’t.

  “Up ahead the tunnel narrows. So we’ll have to turn sideways to fit. Later, near the end, we’ll be crawling because it goes up and there’s no room to stand.”

  “Anything beats being locked up in that damn cell,” A.J. said. “I’ll gladly crawl the whole distance if I can breathe some free air.”

  “Lucky you,” she replied.

  “If you’re claustrophobic, don’t be. These walls can’t hurt you, and there’s plenty of oxygen.”

  “Keep talking. I’m already tempted to run back and surrender.”

  A.J. stopped, and she plowed into his chest. In the pitch black he took her arms. “Listen, Kate, we’re safer here than we were in those cells. And it sounds like Chavez has something special lined up for you. I’m betting it’s not a good thing, so just stay focused on the outcome and don’t worry about how we get there.”

  “You’re right. Thanks, A.J.”

  They moved rapidly through the passageway. It surprised her how A.J. managed to control his pain while making his way along the dark path. At times they moved to a slow but steady trot. Those instances were rare.

  Soon they were on their hands and knees with twenty more yards before the exit. Kate hoped they’d reach the exit, but she worried about what would happen to them once they cleared the tunnel.

  Just as the shaft narrowed, a hiss vibrated through the tunnel. Kate halted and looked back. Seconds later the smell of smoke slapped her in the face. Again, she tried to identify the odor. With a deep sniff, she recognized the acrid stench as some kind of fire accelerant. They were going to either burn alive or die from smoke inhalation.

  “A.J., the floor is covered with some kind of fuel.”

  “I knew that the minute we stepped inside, but I didn’t want to scare you. Cover your nose and let’s make a run for it.”

  Kate did as A.J. said. The heat from the fire made a fast approach. As sweat dotted her skin, Kate wanted to scream. She fought against the fear of being burned alive.

  Between coughing and panting, A.J. moved faster. The narrow passage allowed them only so much maneuvering. With the end closed, the smoke and fire had nowhere to go.

  Kate realized they were covered with the flame igniter. Even if they managed to reach the end, they’d be burned alive.

  Desperately, she crawled as fast as she could. Her knees and palms screamed from the scrapes and the burn of the accelerant. “Hurry, A.J., the fire is right behind me.”

  A.J. coughed. “I know. The smoke is blinding me. Good thing I don’t need my eyes right now.”

  “Whatever you do, don’t rub them since we don’t know what chemical’s on the ground.”

  Kate looked behind her and saw the red and blue flames rushing toward her. The fire licked the bottoms of her feet. She pushed against A.J.

  “Hurry!”

  A.J. bumped against something solid. “Have they sealed the exit?”

  “Oh Christ. Only a thin piece of plywood covered it before. Try to kick it out.”

  A.J. did. He kicked furiously yet nothing budged.

  Smoke and fire filled the burrow as they frantically tried to escape. The tunnel grew hotter, and Kate couldn’t breathe. The fire moved so close she knew they only had moments left.

  “Keep close to the ground.” A.J. coughed and Kate feared he’d never stop. Even her breathing grew harsh and difficult. They didn’t have long.

  Kate managed to crawl over A.J. Sitting with her hands braced on the floor she kicked both feet against the metal gate. Pain from the impact shot up her legs and vibrated through her body. Only tiny streams of light filtered into the dark, deadly tomb.

  Again she struck the door with her flip-flop covered feet. It refused to budge. Kate feared they wouldn’t get out alive. Oscar knew she had memorized the layout of the house. He knew she had knowledge about the secret tunnel.

  He had gambled, and it paid off. She and A.J. would die here in a dark tomb. The sound of A.J. coughing brought tears to her eyes. She looked back and saw A.J.’s shirt had caught on fire.

  She rose as high as she could and beat his back with her hands until they were blistered, but she extinguished the fire.

  Suddenly a loud sound echoed through the tunnel and Kate felt a freight tra
in race overhead. The roar muffled everything. She closed her eyes and hugged A.J.

  Light streamed in. A pair of strong hands grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her from the tunnel. The next thing she knew, she was outside breathing fresh air.

  Then Brody walked toward her, helping a coughing A.J.

  His smile sent her heart skyward. She laughed as she jumped up, hugged his neck and pressed her lips against his for a quick kiss. Once A.J. could breathe normally, they all embraced.

  Brody stepped back and said to A.J., “I told you I’d be back.”

  “You’re a damn, hot-headed fool.”

  “Maybe,” Brody replied. “Let’s argue the point later. Right now we have to get to the tree line.”

  She darted across the empty space for fear bullets would be chasing them. Brody stayed behind and helped A.J.

  Soon they were all huddled beneath scrub trees. Kate breathed deeply, thinking she’d never realized how wonderful clean air could feel. Brody looked so handsome. Her body tingled and her lips curled into a natural smile. He was battered and bloody, too, but she thought no man had ever looked so attractive.

  A.J. appeared pale in the dimming light, but the relief on his face showed how happy and proud he felt to have a friend of Brody’s caliber.

  She took the canteen Brody offered her. After a couple of sips, she passed it to A.J.

  “First” she said. “How did you know we were in there?”

  “I didn’t,” Brody admitted, brushing dirt off her cheek. “I was on the other side of the compound wiring a load of C4 to blow up the south wall. I thought that would distract them enough for me to get inside. But when I crawled back for my gear, I heard a noise.”

  “A noise, huh?” A.J. asked.

  “I had no idea it was you two until I heard you hacking and coughing. Then I rigged the door to blast outward and I synced it to explode at the same time as the south wall.”

  “You cut it a little close, didn’t you?”

  “I knew what I was doing. Remember, Mac taught me everything I know about explosives.”

  Kate shook her head. “How did you get here from the village? It’s a good ten or fifteen miles.”

  Brody pointed back, deeper into the woods. There, hidden behind heavy brush, stood a horse. Kate nearly fainted, and then she laughed. “You stole a horse?”