Desert Rogues Part 2

by Susan Mallery

  Don’t give in to the fear, she told herself. She had to stay strong. She had to be prepared. The men who had taken her weren’t going to kill her. She was too valuable for that. They wanted money, and lots of it.

  Feeling her way along the inside of the compartment, she found a bench seat and lowered herself onto it. Her hands were tied behind her. Ropes cut into her wrists and as she struggled to loosen them, her shoulders began to ache.

  How long would it all take? She knew that however much Reyhan might want her gone, he wouldn’t ever just leave her like this. She knew he would rescue her. But when? And how could she hang on until then?

  Fadl shrank back in his chair. He looked far younger than his eighteen years. “I swear I didn’t know,” he said as tears filled his eyes.

  Reyhan didn’t care. “You are responsible. I should kill you now.”

  Will grabbed his arm. “Killing him won’t help. We have a situation.”

  He glared at his security chief. “They have taken my wife.”

  “I know. We’ll get her back.”

  Reyhan felt himself consumed by the fires of rage. He wanted to destroy with his bare hands. He wanted, at his feet, the broken and bleeding body of the man who had dared to take Emma, and then he wanted the opportunity to kill him a second time.

  Fear lurked inside him, as well. Fear for her and what she must be feeling. Fear that she wouldn’t believe he would move the rotation of the earth itself to get her back. He’d been so cold, had rejected her so many times. His efforts to convince her he didn’t care had been too successful by far. What if she thought he wouldn’t be bothered?

  He clenched his hands into fists and turned to Will. “Find out how much they want. This is all about money.” Will nodded and left.

  Reyhan glared at Fadl. “Your attempts to play at danger have cost me something precious. You will pay, as will your entire family. The cost will bleed down through a hundred generations of your people.”

  Fadl hung his head. “I’m sorry,” he whispered through his tears.

  Reyhan walked out of the room. He needed to move, to act, to do something. Instead he could only wait for information. In the main security center, a dozen men worked phones and computers. His security chief walked over to him.

  “Reinforcements will be here within the hour,” Will said. “Troops are coming in from El Bahar and the City of Thieves. I’ve got my best computer guy working on a special kind of Trojan horse. Basically it allows the ransom to show up in the offshore account, but it’s only good for ninety minutes. Then poof, the money isn’t there anymore.”

  “That doesn’t give us much time to get Emma back,” Reyhan said, knowing he would gladly pay any price for her safe return.

  “We set up the exchange so that we’re face-to-face when it happens. We see Emma, we send the money transfer. They get notification of the deposit and they release her. It should only take about five minutes. That gives us the rest of the time to get the hell away.”

  “Do it,” he said.

  Will nodded. “Just as soon as they tell us how much. We should—”

  A young man in uniform came running up. “Sir, we’ve heard. Sixty million in euros. I have the account number.”

  Will looked at Reyhan who nodded. “Agree to it.”

  The young man swallowed. “There’s something else, sir.” He glanced from Will to Reyhan and back. “A storm. It didn’t look like much an hour ago, but now…” His voice trailed off.

  Reyhan’s chest tightened. “Sandstorm?”

  The officer nodded. “It looks bad.”

  Reyhan stared at Will. “The helicopters won’t be able to fly.”

  Which meant the reinforcements wouldn’t arrive anytime soon and Reyhan couldn’t fly Emma to safety.

  “We could stall them,” the young man said. “Explain that it takes time to raise that kind of money and—”

  “No!” Reyhan’s gaze narrowed. “My wife is not to stay with them one second more than necessary. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir. Of course.” He scurried away.

  Will shook his head. “It’s more risky without the backup but we can still make it happen.”

  “We have no choice. If necessary, I will fight them all myself.”

  The tattooed-snake guy who turned out to be called Billy pulled Emma out of the truck.

  “Looks like this is your lucky day, too, sweetheart,” he said as he helped her to the ground. “Your old man is going to pay up. Sixty million euros. Not bad for an afternoon’s work.”

  She was stunned. Sixty million euros? That was close to sixty million dollars. An insane amount of money. She couldn’t imagine there was that much wealth in the whole world. Reyhan couldn’t pay that. Just the thought of it made her sick to her stomach.

  “You look shocked,” Billy said. “Don’t be. These prince guys really have a thing about other men hanging around their women. Of course I thought he’d try to negotiate me down a little, but he didn’t. I’m not going to complain. That’s twenty million for each of us.”

  She glanced around the camp. The sky had darkened and the air seemed thick, but she could still make out nearly two dozen men. She looked at Billy.

  He nodded. “I know what you’re thinking. There’s more than three of us here. But see, these aren’t my guys. They’re those kids who hired us. The ones who chickened out. So I say screw ’em. Me and my boys will be long gone with the money while these stupid kids take the fall. Good plan, huh?”

  She nodded and wondered how she could get the information to Reyhan.

  “Hold on,” Billy said, and tugged at her gag. When it was removed, she sucked in a breath of air.

  “Better?” he asked.

  She nodded, her mouth too dry for her to speak.

  He glanced at the sky. “There’s a storm coming. Good for us, bad for them. They would have called in for help, but it ain’t coming in the middle of a sandstorm. Come on, Princess. Your ride is this way.”

  Emma followed the man. As she walked, she tried to figure out how long she’d been held in the truck. She would guess two or three hours at most. With clouds rolling in and covering the sun, there was no way for her to judge time that way. The air was so thick with sand that it was difficult to breathe.

  Should she try to escape? If Reyhan had made a deal, maybe it would be better to go along with the plan. But she wanted him to know that the young men they had captured had nothing to do with the trouble.

  “Be prepared,” Reyhan told Will. “If things go badly and we can’t get away in time, there could be a fight.”

  “Agreed.” Will patted the gun at his side. “My men are ready.”

  Reyhan was also armed and determined. He’d given firm instructions that no one was to do anything until Emma was back in his arms. Once she was safe, their side would walk away.

  “Is your team in place?” he asked Will.

  The other man nodded. “They’ll get behind the trucks and put on the tracking devices. Then when the storm lifts, we’ll send in an armed contingent to take them.” He grinned. “They won’t know what hit them.”

  “Good.”

  Reyhan’s first instinct was to punish the men immediately, but he had to think about Emma. Getting her to safety was his primary concern. The bastards who had taken her would be brought to justice. He would not rest until it was so.

  He checked his watch, then stepped into the open Jeep. The vehicle offered little protection against the growing storm.

  “It’s time,” he said against the wind.

  Will started the engine and they drove into the desert.

  Emma couldn’t see anything. The sand was thick and hot and her face felt as if it were being scraped by sandpaper. She squinted against the windshield.

  “How do you know where you’re going?” she asked Billy.

  He tapped the compass on the dashboard. “I’ll find the rendezvous. Don’t you worry, Princess.”

  She wasn’t worried. Not for hers
elf. Did Billy and his men have any idea about the danger they were in? Reyhan wasn’t simply going to pay them, and if Billy thought he was, the man was a fool.

  His two companions were in the truck behind them and the young nomad-rebels farther back.

  “When will you three head out?” she asked casually, wishing he would untie her wrists. Her shoulders ached and her skin was raw.

  “Don’t even think you can bat your eyes at me and get me to spill my plans, Princess. You’re pretty, but I’m not going to fall for it.”

  She shrugged as if it didn’t matter, then stared out of the windshield.

  Visibility had dropped to a few hundred yards. The road was covered with blowing sand and debris. She squinted as she thought she saw an outcrop of rocks in the distance.

  “Here’s the place,” Billy said, stopping the truck. He took the keys and tucked them into his shirt pocket. “I’m going to leave you here, Princess. Tell me you’re not stupid enough to try and escape into this mess.”

  “I’ll stay here,” she promised, knowing she would. Running now would be idiotic and suicidal.

  Billy disappeared into the storm. Emma waited, trying to be patient, knowing Reyhan was close and wanting to run to him. But she couldn’t be a distraction. He would have a plan and she didn’t want to get in the way of that.

  After what felt like a lifetime, but was probably only ten or fifteen minutes later, Billy opened the truck door.

  “Show time,” he said, and pulled out a knife.

  He slit the ropes holding her wrists together. When she tried to move her arms, pain shot through her. She forced herself to ignore it and flex her arms until she could move them freely.

  She saw Billy’s two companions just behind him. They were equally scary with their close-cropped hair and multiple weapons.

  “Climb on down,” Billy said, motioning for her to step out of the truck.

  When she stepped onto the ground she realized her escorts were the least of her problems. Sand attacked her like a giant angry beast. She couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe, could barely move. Grateful for the voluminous material covering her body, she pulled up her head covering and tugged the edges so she could protect her nose and mouth. Billy grabbed her arm and led her deeper into the storm. When they stopped, she looked up and saw Reyhan.

  “I’m here,” she called, trying to jerk free of Billy’s hold.

  The mercenary didn’t let go. “Transfer the money,” he yelled, then jerked his head toward his buddies. “Check the download.”

  The men pulled out small handheld devices. Emma strained to break free, never taking her eyes from Reyhan. He wore protective glasses and a heavy cloak, but she would swear he was staring right at her. She could almost hear his voice, willing her to be strong.

  “Here it comes,” Billy’s friend yelled.

  “What have you done?”

  The fierce question came from somewhere on the left. Billy turned toward the man racing toward them.

  “Shut up, kid. Stay out of this.”

  “No! You have kidnapped the wife of Prince Reyhan and now you ransom her?”

  “Welcome to the games the big boys play. You and your friends were too much like girls to go through with your plans, so I had to pick up a little expense money elsewhere.” Suddenly Billy was holding a gun in his other hand. “Stay out of this kid, or die. It’s your choice.”

  Emma was so stunned, she nearly stumbled. “Don’t hurt him,” she demanded, pulling at her arm and suddenly jerking free.

  Billy spun toward her. “Don’t screw this up, sweetheart. I’ll take you out if I have to.”

  “Emma.”

  She heard Reyhan’s voice over the storm, over her fear and over the rapid pounding of her heart.

  “Let her go,” the first man insisted. He charged Billy.

  Emma read the mercenary’s intent before he ever acted. Even as he raised the gun, she flung herself at his arm, shoving him down. The gun went off.

  The sound of the gunshot cut through the roar of the storm. Suddenly men where everywhere and bullets filled the air. Emma didn’t know where to run or hide, nor did it matter. All she could think was that she had to get to Reyhan. Then something large and heavy crashed into her and she was trapped on the ground.

  Panic flared. She couldn’t breathe. She struggled until a familiar voice spoke into her ear.

  “Be still. You are safe.”

  Reyhan. Fierce gladness swept through her and she wanted to roll over so she could cling to him.

  More bullets cut through the storm. There were cries of pain, curses and the howl of the wind. Suddenly Reyhan was off her and pulling her to her feet. They were running toward the truck.

  “Billy has the keys,” she yelled to Reyhan. “In his pocket.”

  Reyhan didn’t answer. Instead he circled around to the passenger side and shoved her inside.

  “Stay down,” he ordered. “Under the dash.”

  Then he was gone.

  Emma huddled on the floorboards and prayed as she had never prayed in her life. That Reyhan would be safe. That no one else would be hurt. That they would all get out of this alive.

  Time ticked by. Hours? Minutes? She wasn’t sure. At last there was only the sound of the storm and she risked looking out the passenger window.

  The three mercenaries were captured, sitting on the ground, their arms and legs bound. Several of the injured were being treated by men she thought must work for Reyhan. Relief coursed through her, making her weak and nauseated. They had survived.

  After a time, Reyhan returned to the truck. “Are you all right?” he asked as he climbed in beside her and put a key in the ignition.

  “I’m fine. Is there…” She glanced out the window. “Are there a lot of injuries? My bodyguards?”

  “A few. One of the mercenaries took a bullet to the arm. A couple of the rebels were shot, as were three of Will’s men. None are fatal.”

  “Good.” She swallowed. “Was anyone killed?”

  “One of the rebels. I knew him and his father. He was just seventeen.” Reyhan looked weary and distressed.

  Emma’s stomach lurched. “Oh, God. It was my fault.”

  “No.” He turned on her. “Not your fault. These boys who wanted to play at being dangerous men brought this upon themselves. No one took them seriously, not even me. I knew their game and thought they would outgrow it. We were all wrong.”

  He started the truck. “It’s time to get you to safety.”

  She was still stunned by the news that there had been a death. “I’m a nurse. I could help.”

  “They’ll be fine. Will’s men are all trained in combat first-aid. He’s very thorough. That’s why I hired him.”

  He started driving. She stared out the windshield and tried to come to terms with all that had happened in the past few hours.

  “I’m sorry I was captured,” she said. “I wasn’t trying to make trouble.”

  “The fault is mine. I shouldn’t have allowed you to come here. I should have ignored my father.”

  “Hard to do when he’s the king.”

  Reyhan clutched the steering wheel more tightly. “He presumes too much and plays games with us all. This one could have cost you your life. I will never forgive him for that.”

  The force of his words stunned her. “Reyhan, he didn’t know. None of us knew.”

  “Agreed. But it was a possibility.”

  He was acting as if he cared. This from the man who couldn’t wait to divorce her. Thoughts swirled in her head. She felt exhausted.

  He read her mind. “Close your eyes,” he told her. “Rest.”

  “No. I want to stay awake and keep you company on the drive.” The storm still swirled around them and made visibility nearly impossible.

  “I know my way.”

  She supposed he would. This was his land, his desert. She leaned against the side of door and let her eyes drift closed. Maybe she would relax for a couple of minutes. What could it hurt
?

  Emma drifted off to sleep. She didn’t know how long she’d been out, but she was awakened by a horrible crashing as the truck roared into what looked like the side of a mountain.

  For a second, she was disoriented. Not sure where she was or why, she frantically glanced around. When she saw Reyhan slumped over the steering wheel, her memory returned and with it, panic.

  Had they run off the road? Why had he driven into the rocks? She unfastened her seat belt and scrambled across the bench seat, then eased Reyhan into a sitting position.

  His face was unscathed. She checked for bumps and bruises, but there weren’t any. He hadn’t hit his head.

  “Reyhan,” she called frantically. “Can you hear me?”

  He didn’t answer.

  Why was he unconscious? She began to check for other injuries. First his shoulders, then his arms. She slid her hand down his side and drew them back when she felt wetness. Blood covered her right hand.

  “No!” she whispered, horrified and afraid. The thick stickiness told her he’d been bleeding for some time. Reality crashed in on her.

  “You were shot,” she breathed. “Oh, God. It can’t be.” Hadn’t he known?

  She glanced around frantically. She had to get him somewhere that she could examine him. Maybe the back of the truck. But without a first-aid kit, what could she do? She didn’t even know where they were.

  He stirred and groaned.

  “Reyhan? Can you hear me? You’ve been shot.”

  He opened his eyes. “It’s nothing.”

  “You’re bleeding and you passed out.”

  He blinked at her, then stared out the front of the truck. “We’re at the caves,” he said.

  “At them? We’re practically in them.” She looked at the crumpled front of the truck. “I’m not sure it’s going to still run. Are we close to the security camp?”

  He shook his head, then groaned. “We’re at the Desert Palace. My aunt’s house. Through the caves. We need to go through the caves.”

  Emma wasn’t sure if he was delirious or not. But if there was a house nearby, maybe she could get some help.

  She stepped out onto the ground. The storm had lessened to the point where she could see the landscape around them. They were in some kind of small canyon with the front of the truck mashed up against a sheer rock wall. To the right was an opening to a cave.