by C. R. Hill
He kissed her cheek. “Good. Now let’s go look at fish.”
~***~
Jake watched through his binoculars as Sierra and Diaz walked onto the beach. They carried their masks, snorkels and fins. He’d known when Diaz had kissed her and his stomach had churned. Again, he berated himself for letting himself sleep with Sierra last night.
Being physically and emotionally involved clouded judgment.
His hands tightened around the plastic in his hands as she stopped and stripped off her shirt. The tiny triangles of her bikini didn’t cover much, not that she was large breasted, but she had enough even from this distance his mouth watered. He could just imagine Diaz’s reactions.
Next she wiggled out of her shorts, and Jake wanted to dive in the water, swim up there and make her cover back up. Ridiculous of course. But he was having a very difficult time looking at this as just another job. Her body was sculpted and fit, beautiful. And it was his, damn it! That thought flashed in his brain before he could stop it.
Just as he’d told her last night, he’d known she was trouble from the first time he’d laid eyes on her. His hard and fast rule about not getting involved with another agent had flown right out the window last night when she’d taunted him about putting the job first.
There had been a time that was true. When he and Katherine had worked together, that’s exactly what he’d done. The relationship they’d developed hadn’t changed that, he’d pushed for information. He’d caused what happened to her as surely as if he’d set that warehouse on fire himself.
Diaz held her arm as she slid into her flippers, then his hand moved up her bicep and caressed her shoulder. Jake clenched his teeth together.
He should have knocked Sierra over the head and tied her up somewhere and taken care of things the way he’d planned. He sure as hell shouldn’t have trusted that she might not do exactly what she did.
His plans may have had some holes in it. Like being out numbered eleven to one, But he was pretty sure he could get inside the house undetected. Though always calculated without another pair of eyes to keep track of the guards.
When he’d worked in Special Forces for the Marines, he’d always had back up.
After Katherine, he’d had back up from time to time, but he didn’t work with a partner. Hadn’t wanted to be responsible for someone else again.
Though, he was willing to admit that Sierra was probably one of the most well-trained, street savvy people he’d worked with male or female. Not that it alleviated his worry.
Sierra and Diaz were chest deep in the water now. Sierra dove under, her movements as graceful as a Mermaid. He settled on the padded bench seat against the rail.
This was going to be a long afternoon.
Chapter Nine
Luisa poured a glass of red wine and set it in front of Sierra. She waited until Diaz had his before lifting it to her lips. The afternoon had gone smoothly. After snorkeling, they’d ridden jet skis, and Sierra now knew how she’d get out of here tonight if all went according to plan. Diaz left the keys in the machines, content that his guards had things under control.
With Jake backing her up, she should be able to make it to one of the machines and get to his boat. Diaz’s boat was anchored out in the deeper water and by the time his men could get to it, minus one jet ski, of course, she and Jake would be gone.
She and Diaz were back out on the veranda. Goose bumps pricked her arms from the breeze blowing off the ocean. The temperature had dropped at least ten degrees since sundown.
This truly was a fabulous location. A shame that Diaz wouldn’t be enjoying it much longer.
“Well? What do you think of the wine?” Diaz reached across the table and covered her left hand with his.
Sierra wasn’t much of a wine connoisseur. The wine was good, but then it didn’t taste much different to her than a ten dollar bottle. “It’s very good. A girl could certainly get spoiled here.”
Diaz leaned closer, his hand stroking up her arm. After her shower, she’d slipped into a different dress than the one she’d worn earlier. This one was the same color as her fake eyes and while it had spaghetti straps, wasn’t as racy as her other attire. It had more of a loose island feel. She figured she better not get him too worked up.
“You are a woman I suspect a man could get used to spoiling.”
She chuckled and shook her head. “You always know exactly what to say, Dominic. Have you ever been married?”
He put a hand over his heart and leaned back in his chair. “Heavens no. I am a confirmed bachelor.”
Sierra pointed a finger at him and took another swallow of wine. “Be careful. That line always gets a man in trouble.”
He laughed. Luisa chose that moment to bring them food. Diaz had told her what kind of fish it was, but Sierra couldn’t remember. It smelled delicious, but she was already getting keyed up for tonight. She’d be lucky to force any of it down her throat.
She glanced toward the water, knowing Jake could see and hear her. Maybe after they got through this mission, he’d change his mind about working with a partner. Maybe he’d change his mind about working with her.
Diaz said something and she realized she’d missed it. She looked at him sheepishly when he got her attention. “I’m so sorry. I was caught up in the beautiful scenery. Please forgive me.”
“Of course, querido. I take it today hasn’t been a hardship.”
Quickly, she shook her head. “No.”
He chuckled. “Good. Then you will stay longer?”
Sierra licked her bottom lip. Now was the time to set the tone for the evening. She just prayed that he would still be interested in playing the game.
“I…I don’t know, Dominic.” She kept her head tilted down and looked at him through her lashes. “Today was wonderful. But…I’m not sure I’m ready to sleep with you yet,” she said in a rush, being as coy as she knew how to be.
She looked up into his eyes, trying to read the effect her words had on him. He took a sip of wine, then set his glass on the table. “I can be patient, querido. So you will stay here with me, perhaps for the extent of your visit to the island?”
Sierra smiled. “It has been a while since I’ve met an actual gentleman.”
His left eyebrow rose. “American men have no finesse. They miss the fine art of courting.”
She had to fight not to laugh. She had a feeling he did very little courting. But he did have some very nice lines, she had to give him credit for that. “I would love to be your guest,” she lied through her teeth.
He nodded. “You won’t regret it.”
But you will.
Now secure he wouldn’t push her for more tonight, she was able to relax a bit and think about her mission later tonight.
~***~
Sierra lay, listening to the quiet house. After she and Diaz had eaten, he’d suggested they walk on the beach. Every caress grated on her nerves. She was impatient to get things started.
Not a good trait, but it felt like things had been dragging out for months. Ever since she’d rescued Jake in South America.
She slid out of bed, and walked to her bag. Retrieving the communication equipment, she put the small device in her ear. “You still awake, Harding?”
“Just watching the stars. Glad you managed to avoid sharing a bed with Diaz.”
A touch of jealousy tinged his voice. There might be hope for him yet. “Told you I could handle myself. I’m in the room beside his. You got those fancy thermal goggles ready?”
“Looking at your hot bod right now,” he said.
Sierra chuckled. “You sweep a girl off her feet. So, can you tell if Diaz’s room is occupied?”
“He’s prone on the bed, has been for two hours.”
“Perfect.” Sierra reached in her bag and quickly grabbed her clothes.
“You should be all clear inside right now. There’s one guard in the back and one in the kitchen. The other’s are in their rooms.”
She slipped
on a pair of black pants, a black tee shirt, and a pair of sneakers. After yanking a black stocking cap over her blonde hair, she clutched the small bag with the safe cracking equipment in it, added a pen flashlight, her wallet that held a passport, credit cards and cash and slung it over her shoulder.
“I’m heading out.” Cracking her door, she peered into the hall.
Empty.
Her trek down the stairs was uneventful. Sierra’s heart beat fast, but steady, a familiar rush of adrenaline flowing through her blood.
A noise at the foot of the stairs made her pause. Then she realized it was the low sound of a television coming from one of the rooms on the back hallway. Good. Hopefully, the guards were preoccupied with that for the moment.
A shaft of moonlight shining through the high windows, hit the floor square in the middle of the room. It provided enough illumination for her to see without the flashlight.
“Everything still clear?” she asked Jake as she neared the other hallway.
“All clear.”
Sierra skirted the corner and stopped in front of the portrait. Carefully, she removed it from the wall and set it on the floor. Then she placed her bag at her feet and retrieved the flashlight and the equipment Jake had provided.
Attaching the small black box to the safe beneath the combination lock, she switched it on and began rotating the knob slowly. The digital numbers whizzed around, then flashed when she hit the right number. The process was a bit tedious. Perspiration gathered on her neck as she found the last number.
The safe clicked open. “I’m in,” she whispered.
She shined the light inside. “Holy crap, he’s got enough money in here to buy an island.” Sierra started pulling out bundles of bills. Some of them American dollars and some Pesos.
“He basically owns this one. At least the authorities in Santo Domingo.”
After she moved most of the money out of the way, she pointed the flashlight beam into the dark interior. “I’ve got a cell phone.”
“Bring it. It’s probably a secured line to some of his contacts.”
Sierra shoved it in the black bag. Two large envelopes lay beneath the cell phone. She pulled the first one out. It was the kind that had metal clasps holding it shut. Flipping it open, she pulled the papers out. The air left her lungs.
“What’s wrong?” Jake asked.
Hastily, she flipped through the papers. “He has pictures of all of us,” she whispered. “They’re very grainy, taken as we came and left headquarters. And our names are written on each one.”
“Son of a bitch,” Jake muttered.
The anger almost choked her. Only a select few even knew where their headquarters was located. Sliding the pictures back in the envelope, she stuffed it in her bag, then reached inside the safe for the other one.
“The guard in the kitchen’s on the move. Get out of there,” Jake said harshly into her ear.
Sierra leaned down and scooped up the stacks of money, shoving them into the safe. She closed it.
“Sierra, move.”
“I don’t have the picture back up.”
“You’ll have to hope he doesn’t notice it in the dark. Just get out of sight.”
Pushing the picture flush against the wall, she turned and went for Diaz’s office door. It was locked. Shit! She went for the next door. The knob turned. She got inside and gently pushed the door closed.
“I think he’s running a patrol. He’s heading down the back hallway, but if he follows routine, he’ll circle the entire area.”
“Ten-four.” Sierra opened the door, and rushed back into the hallway. After she hung Diaz’s picture over the safe and straightened it, she stepped back into the unlocked room.
She rotated to look around her. The beam of her flashlight cut across stacks of rectangular crates. The crates looked familiar. “Where’s my guard, Jake?”
“Just entering the front room.”
Sierra pried the top off one of the crates. “Holy mother of Mary,” she whispered, and stared at a dozen or more machine guns. “Forget buying the island. Diaz has enough firepower in this room to take it over.”
She moved to another one.
“What do you mean?” Jake asked.
“There has to be four dozen crates in here. The first one I looked in is full of machine guns.” She removed the lid off the next crate. “Grenade launchers in this one.”
“The guard is turning toward Diaz’s office.”
Sierra pushed the lid back on the crates and moved to a position behind the door, just in case the guard got really thorough.
“He’s still moving. He’s right outside your position.”
All she could hear was the steady beat of her heart as she stood perfectly still waiting for the all clear from Jake.
“He’s heading back to the kitchen. Did you find anything else in the safe?”
“Yes, another envelope. I’m opening it now.” She pulled the clasp free and turned it over. A sheaf of papers slid out along with a jump drive. Shining her flashlight beam on the papers, she scanned them. “This one looks like names and addresses of people. Maybe buyers for the children. There’s a stack of them. And a jump drive that could contain anything.”
“My bet is the jump drive contains info on his transactions.”
Sierra didn’t like to leave things to chance. She wanted answers.
“Shit! Diaz is on the move. He’s heading toward your room. Time to get the hell out of there. I’m going to provide a distraction.”
Slimy son of a bitch was probably going to try to climb in bed with her. Stuffing the envelope into her bag, she slung it over her shoulder and chest. Diaz needed a nice parting gift. With the help of her flashlight, she located a crate of grenades.
“What the hell are you doing, Sierra? Diaz is heading down the stairs.”
“Just saying good-bye.” She pulled the top off the crate and extracted three grenades. She tried to raise the window in the room, but it held fast. She went back to the crate of grenade launchers and pulled one out. That should do the trick.
“You can provide that distraction now, Jake. I’m coming through the window.”
Staccato gunfire sounded outside. Jake was shooting at the front lawn. Hefting the grenade launcher up, she ran and shoved it through the window. The sound of guards shouting filled the night air through the broken glass. She heard the heavy sound of footsteps in the hall. The door to the room flew open and one of Diaz’s men stood there, gun drawn. Sierra pulled the pin from one of the grenades and dropped it on the floor. He was too far away to get to it.
He uttered several swear words in Spanish, then backpedaled like the hounds of hell were on his heels. Sierra pulled the pin on the other two simultaneously, throwing one into the hall and the last she tossed in the middle of the crates. She dove out the window. She tucked and rolled as the room exploded. Glass flew everywhere, some catching her in the back.
Pain seared her nerve endings, but she got up and ran.
“Are you okay?”
“Dandy, just keep shooting. I’m heading for the jet skis.” Gunfire erupted again on the front lawn. Then dirt kicked up around her ankles. She looked over her shoulder to see the guard on the roof firing at her.
He went down. “Good shot, Harding.”
More gunfire behind her and shouts. She hit the beach at full speed.
A huge explosion made her glance back over her shoulder. Ammunition and more grenades must have exploded in the fire. Perfect. There could be no good use for all the weapons Diaz had stockpiled.
Sierra sprinted for the jet-skis. She wished she had time to take the keys out of the extra ones. She grabbed the first one she got to and started pushing her ride out to deeper water. She got it cranked and hopped on.
Shame she couldn’t have killed Diaz, but they had to make sure they had the info they needed before they took him out. Otherwise, they might lose the chance to find the leak.
White hot pain speared her side. Even befor
e she looked down, she knew what she’d see. She could feel the blood pumping out of her. “Jake, I’m hit,” she whispered and gripped the handle bars of the jet-ski tighter. She had to get to Jake’s boat.
“How bad?”
“Not sure, but I’m already feeling a bit woozy,” she said as a wave of dizziness and pain swamped her. She fought it and gunned the engine. “Where are you?”
A small light came on and went off to her left. She turned that direction.
“Sierra, talk to me.”
“I’m heading toward you.” Another wave of dizziness assailed her. Her side was on fire.
Gunfire echoed over the water. Jake was firing again. Some of the guards must be giving chase. The light in front of her flashed again quickly. She almost missed it.
Her vision blurred. She shook it off and kept heading toward the location she’d seen the light. If nothing else, she had to get the evidence she’d taken to Jake. She wouldn’t pass out and lose it in the water.
“Sierra, you’re almost here. I’m still keeping traffic off your six. Just keep heading straight.”
Jake’s voice helped her. She hung onto his words and kept her finger on the throttle. She hit a wave that sent her airborne. She landed with a jolt, which didn’t help the pain in her side or the dizziness.
Jake’s boat appeared in front of her. Letting off the throttle, she turned the machine and her momentum pushed her up against the side. Jake’s hands wrapped around her arms and she was hauled up and over the side. She landed on a padded bench with a thump.
Knowing she was at her destination, she finally gave in to the darkness encroaching on her vision.
Chapter Ten
Jake pulled up anchor and hit the throttle. He didn’t have time to even check on Sierra. Since she hadn’t said a word, not even a smart remark, he suspected she’d passed out. Worry tugged at his gut, but he needed to get them away from here before Diaz’s men caught up with them.
The little boat bounded across the water. He already had a safe house for them, he just had to get them there.
Sierra moaned as the boat bounced hard over a wave. That tiny sound eased his concern slightly. Satisfied none of Diaz’s men were on his tail, he slowed.
