The Path to Freedom (Task Force 125)

by Pietsch, Lisa; Gerow, Tina

  Chris laughed. “You’ll never hear his ex-wife say that. Don’t tell him I told you, but every time that poor bastard gave her a gift, she’d return it within twenty-four hours for something bigger and flashier. I’ll let him know you like the pearls. It’ll be a pleasant change for him.”

  He opened the other two boxes to reveal three similar strands of pearls for her wrist and two perfect pearl stud earrings.

  While Sarah tried them all on and marveled at their beauty in the nearby mirror, Chris explained. “Each piece has a transmitter and the earrings have receivers as well.” He handed her a small, flesh colored ball, no larger than a pencil eraser. “Put this in your ear. The earrings will pick up my transmissions but this is what you’ll hear them through. I’ll monitor everything, so if you hear it, I’ll hear it.”

  “Whoa.” Sarah’s eyes opened wide. Knots tied and untied themselves in her stomach. “You’ll be listening to everything I do?”

  Chris eyed Sarah sternly. “Get over it. I’ve heard chicks fart and I’ve heard them in the sack. I’m a professional and so are you.”

  This job leaves no room for modesty.

  Chris helped Sarah with the clasp on the chocker as she tried it on. “Now if we need to get a message or instructions to you and we can’t do it in person, we’ll do it through the earrings. One word of warning though, when you want to talk, turn on some music or water just in case there are bugs in the room. Oh, and here’s a little something just to pass the time and help you mix with the rich and famous.” He pulled a small Rolex box out of his briefcase and handed her a sleek gold watch. The face was Mother of Pearl with diamonds where each hour should be. More diamonds encircled the entire face and trailed in two twinkling lines along the perimeter of the band.

  How exquisite. With jewelry like this, who needs time?

  The watch alone had to be worth more than the value of all her worldly possessions added together. “It’s beautiful, Chris.”

  “I know. I picked this one out. Glad you approve.” He closed his briefcase. “Okay, I shouldn’t have to tell you how important it is you wear at least one piece of jewelry at all times and always wear the earrings. You never know when you’re going to catch something good.” He stood. “You should probably start making a habit of wearing them all the time now so it becomes second nature by show time.”

  Sarah stood and stared at herself in the mirror.

  I am dripping with pearls!

  “That is not going to be a problem.” Sarah stared at the pearls at her ears and around her neck and stifled a giggle. The watch was spectacular in a very flashy sort of way, but the pearls were what really impressed Sarah.

  The watch says “I’ve arrived,” but the pearls say, “I’ve always been here.”

  Wait a minute…

  She turned toward Chris. “Are you the only one who will be monitoring these?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, it all comes through my receiver.” He tapped a tiny Bluetooth earpiece. “If you run into anything you can’t handle, you let me know and I’ll send the cavalry.” His blue eyes flashed and the corner of his mouth lifted in a crooked grin. “Well, us and the Sixth Fleet, but that ought to cover any trouble you could possibly get yourself into.”

  “Nice.” Sarah smiled as she realized who had her back. “So, how did you get on this team?” Sarah was anxious to know as much about all of her teammates as possible.

  “It’s a common story actually.” He shrugged. “I was a geek. I learned Spanish in grade school, Portuguese in high school, studied Russian in college and picked up Kyrgyz and Uzbek during spring and summer breaks. When I graduated with a degree in communications, the FBI offered me a job. That’s where I picked up Arabic and Farsi. When the bureau got overwhelmed with requests for linguistic assistance for Task Force 125, I was permanently assigned.”

  “You hardly strike me as a geek.” Sarah chuckled.

  He laughed. “Contact lenses, a personal trainer, a tan, haircut and a nice car can make for quite a metamorphosis.”

  “Yeah, I know what you mean.” Sarah thought about her own recent changes. “How long have you been working on this team?”

  “Oh, this is only our second assignment together. We’re a pretty new team. We had our first assignment together about six months ago.”

  “But you all seem so close. Like you’d been together for years. Did you work with any of these guys before then?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “This team is really new. The reason we all seem so close is because we’re all we’ve got. None of us are married. A couple of the guys are divorced. Well, Vince’s divorce isn’t final yet but they haven’t been together for well over a year now. Long-term relationships don’t work out so well when you’re incommunicado for months on end. So, when we’re not working together, we’re usually hanging out together. You get to be really tight if your whole life revolves around the same four people, well, now five. It isn’t bad though. We’ve got a good crew here. You’ll see.”

  Sounds more like a family. All the more reason to get over this stupid infatuation with Vince.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Sarah lounged on the couch in the suite’s sitting room as she drank her morning coffee. It was an added bonus to be able to watch Vince as he worked with his back to her from the desk in the sitting room. She listened as he spoke on his cell phone.

  “Yeah, that’s right, two tons of AKs and five tons of 7.62. Deliver to my warehouse in Dubai. Always a pleasure, Nikolai.” Vince bent over his paperwork and wrote something.

  Did he just do what I think he did?

  Sarah knew what AKs and 7.62 were. “So, you’re really a gun runner, too?”

  Vince rolled his chair away from the desk and turned to face Sarah. He leaned back, laced his fingers together over his belt buckle and rested his right ankle on his left knee.

  He just bought two tons of AK-47s and five tons of ammunition for them, yet he looks so relaxed.

  Vince looked into Sarah’s eyes and half smiled. “You know what we do is on the edge, Sarah. We work in an industry where ends justify means, no matter what those means may be. Yeah, I’m an arms dealer. I’ve been doing it for about a year and a half now. It’s my cover, not who I am, just like your cover isn’t who you are.”

  Why do I always melt when he looks into my eyes?

  “Well, I don’t know,” Sarah protested. “Maybe I am this person we’ve created.”

  Vince stood and crossed to where Sarah sat. He lifted her chin and looked deep into her eyes. “You’re not a bimbo, Sarah. You’re an intelligent, strong and beautiful woman. Don’t ever forget that.”

  The rest of the world disappeared and Sarah allowed herself to get lost in Vince’s eyes. Her whole body warmed at his touch.

  The spell broke as Tony came into the suite beaming. “Hey, great, you’re both here. I just got a call from Hassan. Sarah and I have been invited to cruise the Greek Islands with him for a weekend.”

  “That’s good, Tony. You couldn’t get a week?” Vince strode back to the desk and placed his papers and laptop into his briefcase.

  Tony’s smile deflated. “Hardass as always, eh, Vince?” He turned to Sarah. “I get a weekend on a yacht with a terrorist and he wants to know why I couldn’t get a whole week?”

  Vince picked up his briefcase. “Well, if anyone can get an invitation from Hassan to stay longer, it’s Sarah.” He nodded at her and turned to open the door. “Between that and the arms deal I’m putting together with him, our mission will work. Text me the details. I’m on my way to the camp to brief Young and get the green light.” Vince walked out and closed the door without another word.

  It is almost scary how he can switch from caring and sensitive to all business. I could learn a few things from him.

  Tony sat next to Sarah and spoke as he started texting Vince. “He’s right, you know. You’ll do great.”

  Sarah placed her coffee cup on the silver tray on the table and stood. “Well, I guess I’
d better get ready.”

  “For what?” Tony gazed up at her.

  “I need to go work out, get a mani/pedi, micro-dermabrasion, deep condition the hair and tan. Beauty like this doesn’t just happen, you know.”

  Whatever we have to do to sweeten the pot, right? These guys are counting on me to charm the secrets out of Hassan and that is exactly what I intend to do.

  Sarah reclined in the comfortable chair as her hairdresser applied a deep conditioner and wrapped her head in a plastic turban. She couldn’t stop her mind from wandering to Vince and how it had felt to be touched by him.

  The jingle of her new cell phone interrupted her thoughts.

  She flipped the tiny phone open. “Yes?”

  “Sarah, its Vince.”

  The sound of his voice sent a jolt through her body like lightning.

  “Yes, I know the voice.”

  “We leave Wednesday.”

  “So soon?” Sarah’s nerves suddenly kicked into overdrive.

  Vince’s voice softened. “Take it easy.”

  The sound of his voice calmed her nerves but every inch of her skin begged to feel his touch again.

  How does he know just how to talk to me?

  “We fly out Wednesday and then we’ll spend a week cruising the Med. I’ve got some business to attend to out there and Chris will need to set up his toys.”

  Sarah gave in to her urge to be flirtatious. “Oh, so we have to bring him, too?”

  Vince paused at the other end of the line.

  Sarah rolled her eyes and smacked her forehead with her fist for acting so impulsively.

  “Yeah, we have to bring all the boys, but next time it’ll be just the two of us.”

  Ooh, I like your tone.

  Sarah inhaled deeply as she envisioned it. “I’ll hold you to that.”

  “Do.”

  Sarah’s heartbeat raced and her fingers trembled as she closed her phone. The thought of being anywhere alone with Vince made her hot. She grabbed a tissue and patted the sweat on her forehead.

  Early Wednesday morning, Sarah packed her Louis Vuitton luggage into her Jeep and drove the dusty road to the camp. She chuckled to herself as she pulled out of the garage at Caesar’s Palace. It might have been more in keeping with her cover to have a driver and a Town Car but blindfolding a driver never goes over well. There were more important things to worry about anywaylike surviving her first mission as a secret agent. She pulled into hangar one, where she was told departing teams always parked their personal vehicles, and saw Vince and Will standing by Will’s Range Rover drinking coffee.

  She stepped out of the Jeep and opened the back door. “Morning, guys.”

  Will raised his cup. “Mornin’, pork chop.”

  “Here, have some coffee.” Vince’s voice behind her sent a charge up her spine and she smiled automatically as she turned to see him. He stood with one cup of coffee to his lips and another in his outstretched hand.

  Sarah took the cup and drank. “Thank you.”

  Gorgeous, smart, considerate and completely off limits. This would be easier if you were an asshole.

  The hanger filled with the roar of engines as three black Suburbans, being driven by Brian, Jason and Chris, rolled into the hangar.

  Vince was back to business. “Okay, Sarah, Brian and I are in number one. Will and Jason, load your gear in number two, Chris you take number three.”

  Sarah loaded her luggage into the first Suburban and scanned the hangar. “Where’s Tony?”

  Vince kept loading gear into the truck. “He had some prior engagements. He’ll join us in a week.”

  Sarah climbed into the back seat of the Suburban to finish her coffee. Within moments, everyone was loaded up and they were on the road to the airport.

  Man, this is the life. VIP convoy to the airport.

  Sarah pulled a book out of her bag and lost track of time as they drove.

  “This is it,” Vince said from the front seat. “Last chance to back out, Sarah.”

  “Not a chance.” Sarah stuffed her book back in her bag and realized they were at Henderson Executive Airport. “Vince, how are we going to get all that stuff through customs?”

  “We aren’t.” Vince pointed to a gate. “That one, Brian. We’re taking a private jet. We’ll stop over briefly in New York for fuel then overnight to London where MI-5 will put us up for a night and then we’ll continue to Souda Air Base in Crete. From there we convoy to the dock.”

  A sliver of sunlight peeked up over the horizon. They drove toward a shiny, white jet that was well lit and had two men moving around it. Six portholes glowed with golden light. Sarah’s stomach flip-flopped with excitement.

  “Holy shit.” The whispered words escaped Sarah’s mouth before she realized it. “Oh my God, is that our plane?”

  Brian parked the Suburban and opened his door before turning to grin at Sarah. “Nothing but the best, darlin’.”

  After Sarah finally calmed her flip-flopping stomach and adjusted to the luxury and comfort of the jet’s main cabin, she visually assessed the men with whom she now worked. At first glance, they appeared to be your average American guys. It would have been so easy to underestimate them. Lucky for Sarah, she’d had the opportunity to get to know each one of them as she prepared for this assignment.

  Once everyone settled in and the jet took off, Vince tapped Sarah’s shoe with his and then tipped his chin motioning for her to join him at the back of the plane. Sarah followed as Vince led the way through the back door of the main cabin that led into a luxurious bedroom.

  Oh, howdy.

  “What’s up?” She tried to stay calm while her pulse raced.

  “Listen, we need to talk about something.” Vince closed the door behind them. “Have a seat.”

  Sarah was acutely aware that they were alone in a bedroom together.

  Does he know? Oh yeah, you’re going to make a great spy, Stevens! You can’t even hide an infatuation, you loser.

  Sarah sat on the edge of the bed awaiting the inevitable while Vince leaned against the door and crossed his arms over his massive chest.

  After a long tense silence, Sarah couldn’t stand it anymore. “Okay, what’s going on?”

  “Look, this mission isn’t like anything you’ve ever done as a Security Specialist. That was flat out defensive and impersonal stuff. What we’re about to do is strictly covert, offensive and very personal. Although you’ve been trained well in tactics and fighting techniques, there is no training for what you’re about to do. You either can or you can’t.”

  Phew! Maybe he doesn’t know?

  “Look, Vince, I understand your concerns but a roll in the hay to work over a terrorist is nothing compared to the soldiers giving their lives every day in this war. Besides, I’ve been with bastards before, so what’s one more?”

  Working over a jerk is just what I need after all those jerks who have worked me over in one way or another all my life. Hell, it might even be fun.

  “Only a strong woman can do what you’re about to, and we need to know now if you can handle it or not.”

  Sarah stared up into Vince’s eyes and tried to reassure him. “I wouldn’t have come this far if I couldn’t. I can do this, Vince.”

  “When you were in the Security Police, it was all black and white. You’re deep in the gray area now and the success of this mission depends on how convincing you can be.”

  Sarah fixed her eyes on his. “Vince…I can do it.”

  Vince uncrossed his arms and slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “We’re all getting our hands dirty in this war. Nobody on this team is going to judge you, but no matter what, at the end of the day, you have to be able to live with yourself. We can’t put you in there and then have you melt down over a moral dilemma.”

  How am I going to convince this guy I can handle this? Once I convince him, the rest of the team will be onboard.

  There’s only one way…

  Sarah smiled a thoughtful smil
e.

  Sarah locked her gaze onto Vince’s and stood. She took a deep breath and exhaled with a soft sigh. “Oh, Vince.” She couldn’t believe the seductive purr of her own voice as she ran her hands slowly over her hips and down the length of her mini-skirt to straighten the creases that had formed from sitting. Still maintaining eye contact, she took two slow steps toward Vince until she stood about six inches away from him.

  “Did I ever thank you for the pearls?” She raised her right hand to her neck, gently caressing the pearl choker from left to right.

  “They’re so beautiful,” she whispered as she trailed her fingertips slowly down the edge of the v-neck blouse she wore until they rested on her ample cleavage.

  His gaze dropped from hers to follow the path of her fingers to her full breasts as she breathed slowly and deeply, but she continued to stare directly at him. With her left hand, she gently touched his right shoulder and trailed her hand seductively down his muscular arm. Liberated by the charade of playing a part, she drank in his scent, the texture of his skin, the form of his muscular arms.

  “Mmm…so strong.”

  When she reached his hand, she gently placed it on her left hip, holding it there with her left hand. Her body burned for him and she thrilled at his touch.

  His gaze dropped to where she had placed his hand, and he took a deep breath before pulling her close and looking into her eyes once again.

  The heat between them was unmistakable to Sarah. She could have him now or make her point. What she wanted to do and what she needed to do would lead to two distinctly different paths in life. The importance of her new job was far greater than the momentary satisfaction a roll in the hay might bring.

  She caressed his neck just below his left ear. Her fingertips told her his heartbeat was fast and strong. She skimmed her fingertips along the line of his jaw and down his neck to his shoulder where she rested her hand. Then she whispered, “So hard.”

  She pressed against him, closing the space between them. Her body was full against his and she could feel his interest rising, a hard length against her stomach.