Lone Rider

by Lauren Bach

  “I could have brought you Thomas!” Barry rasped.

  “No need. He’ll come. And she’s the insurance that he’ll come alone.”

  “Grey won’t fall for it.”

  “Sure he will. You did. Love makes monkeys of us all.”

  The man who shot Barry moved closer and yanked Tess to her feet, tugging her away.

  “No,” she resisted. “He needs a doctor!”

  Sanchez interrupted. “You’re a smart woman, Ms. Marsh. Don’t make us use force. Think of your child.”

  Her child. Tears blinded her as she was dragged forward.

  When they reached Sanchez, the gunman released her. From behind them, in the shadows, she heard Barry’s daughter weeping.

  Sanchez nodded to the gunman. “Finish up. Just remember he needs to live long enough to make a phone call.”

  Tess flinched when Sanchez ran his hand down her cheek. “You are a beautiful woman. And strong. This will be ...interesting.”

  Turning away Sanchez gave an order to one of the other men still waiting behind him. “Bring the Marsh woman.”

  The man nodded and stepped forward. “Hello, darlin’. Long time, no see.”

  Tess’ knees buckled as Snake stepped up and grabbed her.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Grey’s head felt like someone had tried to dynamite it off his shoulders. His heart hurt even worse.

  “If you won’t go to the hospital, at least let me take you back to Chapel Hill, where Elise can check you.” Kevin Barnes, Elise’s husband, squatted in front of Grey. “I’m no doctor, but I’m sure you have a concussion--”

  “Tell me again what Barry said.”

  Kevin sighed. “Sanchez has Tess and Barry’s daughter. He claims he’ll release both women in exchange for you. Unarmed and alone.”

  “When and where?”

  “Tonight. 9 p.m.. Off the coast. The GPS coordinates Sanchez gave Barry are about twelve miles offshore from Wrightsville Beach.”

  “In international waters.” Grey grimaced, attempting to stand. “Then I better get moving. That’s twelve hours from now. And I’ve got to procure a boat.”

  Kevin straightened, reaching out to help his friend. “You’re not really going through with this, are you? Sanchez will double-cross you, like he did Barry. Let the Bureau handle it.”

  “I can’t risk Tess and the baby. I know Sanchez plans to kill me. But if I can just live long enough to get close to her, I have a chance at helping her,” Grey said.

  “You can help her more going through proper channels.”

  “I can’t.”

  “You have to.”

  “I doubt Barry is the only inside contact Sanchez has. If word of a rescue is leaked--” Grey cut the thought short. “I thought you of all people would understand.”

  “Damn it! I do understand. And right now I’m thinking more clearly than you.”

  Grey hated that his friend was right. The thought of Tess in Sanchez’s hands made him crazy. Knowing Snake and Bogen were with Sanchez was worse. “I have to go, Kevin. I’m her only hope. It’s my fault they’ve got her to begin with.”

  Grey had committed the unpardonable sin of heading to familiar ground. That was the first place cops checked. It made Barry’s job of finding them that much easier. Grey had failed Tess and their child once. He wouldn’t fail them again.

  “I’m going with you. We’ll figure out some way to hide me,” Kevin said.

  While Grey knew that Kevin was sincere in his offer, he also knew Kevin felt guilty. Kevin had disclosed the cabin’s location to Barry after Barry told him the fictitious story about Snake and Bogen begin recaptured.

  Grey didn’t blame Kevin in the least. Barry’s defection stunned them all.

  Barry had been able to reach Kevin by phone again, explaining the situation and delivering Sanchez’s message before lapsing into unconsciousness. Besides suffering a gunshot, Barry had been badly beaten and was currently undergoing surgery. From what Kevin said his chances at recovery weren’t all that great.

  “Sanchez will have spies posted all over Wrightsville Beach,” Grey said. “He’ll know if I arrive in town with someone.”

  “Who says you gotta go out of Wrightsville? Your only stipulation is to be at the GPS coordinates at nine.”

  “Alone.”

  Kevin ignored the word. “We can go farther south, to Long Beach. I know a guy who owns a marina near there.”

  Grey’s head throbbed. “I don’t like it. I need to go by myself.”

  Kevin shrugged. “You’re walking into a trap.”

  “That doesn’t change a thing.”

  “Then at least let me help. You’re in no shape to drive right now. And you need someone on the outside to know what’s going on -– in case you don’t return.”

  Both men knew he really meant when you don’t return.

  Grey closed his eyes. Kevin did have one valid point. Grey couldn’t drive right now. He had double vision, a sure sign of a concussion.

  “Then let’s get going. We don’t have much time, and I want to make a few stops on the way.”

  * * *

  The skiff ride to Sanchez’s yacht was blessedly short. Tess tried to comfort Barry’s daughter, Nancy, which helped keep her own mind off the fact they were on water.

  Several times she caught Hector Sanchez staring, which unnerved her. Was he sizing her up for punishment? Or the auction block? With increasing dread, she remembered that Sanchez had personally raped every woman he’d taken captive. Had Nancy already been victimized?

  Once they reached the larger craft Nancy was taken below deck by one of the men on board. A pair of greyhounds danced excitedly at Sanchez’s feet. She counted seven men including Snake and Bogen, who both glared at her.

  The men gathered close, forming a semicircle around Tess. Snake stepped forward, flashing a knife. She backed away, but another man shoved her forward, back toward Snake.

  Snake clearly relished her fear. “Gotta strip-search you, darlin’. Same shit they did to me in jail.” One of the other men laughed. “Drop your jeans.”

  Tess shook her head, unable to speak, more afraid then she’d ever been in her life. They had patted her down before leaving the dock, finding and confiscating the cell phone. This would be far worse.

  “Fine. I’ll do it myself.” Snake took a step forward.

  Sobbing, Tess held out her still-cuffed hands. “No!” With shaking fingers she unbuttoned her jeans, shoving them down as best she could before kicking free of them. The baby. She thought of Grey’s child, knew she was willing to suffer anything to keep it safe.

  Cold air stung her bare legs.

  “Watch this.” With that Snake moved up, grabbing the end of her T-shirt. She pulled back, inadvertently assisting him as he ripped her shirt open clear to the neck.

  Flashing his knife yet again, Snake easily slit the shoulder seams. The shredded cotton fell to her feet, leaving her standing in nothing but her bra and panties. She was shaking violently. From cold. From fear.

  Snake yanked her bra up, exposing her, before cruelly twisting one of her nipples. She cried out in pain and swung her arms out.

  Snake roared, lunging for her.

  “Enough!” Hector Sanchez broke through the crowd and stood in front of her. “We’ve got work to do.”

  As the men sauntered off, Sanchez turned and slowly rearranged her bra. Tess turned her face, recoiling in revulsion at the feel of his hands on her. While she was grateful for his intervention, she harbored no illusions that Sanchez had a soft spot. She knew by the look on his face that he was merely saving her for himself.

  Sanchez caught her chin, forced her gaze back to his. “It will be good. You’ll see.”

  He crooned something in Spanish, his tone low, his hands brushing down her sides. She cringed.

  Sanchez laughed. “I find your fear arousing. Take her below,” he ordered.

  To Tess’ relief, she was taken to the same room as Barry’s daughter.
Nancy had also been stripped down to her underwear. She sat huddled on the floor, crying softly. The guard unfastened her handcuffs, then chained Tess to the leg of a table and left.

  “Did they hurt you?” Tess asked.

  Nancy shook her head. “This is all my fault. My dad’s probably dead, and it’s all because of me.”

  “You can’t blame yourself for what these men are doing.”

  “Oh, but I can!” Nancy’s voice broke. “Sanchez and I go way back.”

  Through fits and starts, Tess pieced together the story. When Nancy’s mother died six years ago, Nancy started using drugs to deal with her loss. She’d turned to prostitution to support her habit.

  She was living in a cartel compound in Mexico when her father finally located her. But she didn’t want to leave or give up her drug habit. Her father formed a brief alliance with Hector Sanchez, which allowed Barry to come in and snatch his daughter and return to the States. Nancy spent a year in a private clinic overcoming her problems.

  What kind of price had Sanchez demanded of Barry over the years in exchange for that favor?

  Tess closed her eyes, thinking of Grey. Was he okay? Had someone found him yet? Looking back, she realized Barry never intended to let her call for help. He’d merely held out that hope to force her cooperation.

  And while she knew Sanchez had left instructions for Grey with Barry, there was no guarantee that Barry had indeed conveyed the message. Barry had not only been shot, but was being beaten when they’d been escorted off the dock.

  The penalty for being a cop, Snake said. Tess knew the penalty for being a cop who sold them out would be even worse. Sanchez wanted personal revenge on Grey for infiltrating his operation.

  Nancy was crying again, and Tess wished she could hold the girl. “You’ve got to think positive,” Tess whispered. “That your father’s alive and that help will come.”

  That was the only thing keeping Tess from losing it.

  That Grey was alive and could somehow free them.

  * * *

  Kevin and Grey reached Long Beach without problem. Since Kevin knew the marina’s owner, he was able to procure a fast, late-model powerboat without question. The price for doing so was Grey’s promise that Kevin would accompany him.

  “I won’t let you go alone,” Kevin said.

  Night was falling. They were sitting in Kevin’s car, studying nautical charts by flashlight. “I wouldn’t worry too much about these. The boat’s got a state-of-the-art autopilot. Once we’re out of the intercoastal waterway we can plug in the GPS coordinates and let it do the hard work.”

  Grey checked his vision. An ice pack had helped ease the swelling on the back of his head, and, in turn, the double vision and nausea had subsided. At least for now.

  Looking at his watch, Grey started rolling up the charts. “You’ve got the guns? Ammo?”

  Kevin nodded. Between the two of them they were carrying four handguns. Plus they had a small arsenal hidden on the boat. Both would likely be searched. Hiding Kevin was the trickiest part. They had finally agreed Kevin would go over the side in a heavy wet-suit with dive equipment.

  Or so Kevin believed.

  Grey picked up the metal handcuffs lying on the seat between them. Moving swiftly he snapped one cuff on Kevin’s wrist, simultaneously snapping the other to the steering wheel.

  Kevin started swearing. “Don’t be an ass, Grey! Unlock these! This is a suicide mission.”

  Grey shook his head and climbed out of the car. “I hope you’re wrong. But if you’re not, you’ve got four kids with two more on the way. They need you. So does Elise.”

  Kevin tugged uselessly on the cuff. “As soon as I’m free, I’m calling it in, Grey. The Coast Guard will stop you before you even make it to international waters.”

  “No you won’t.” Grey met his friend’s eyes. “You’ve got to give me a chance to save Tess. And if the worst happens, you’ll see that somebody goes after her.”

  * * *

  Grey reached the designated spot thirty minutes early and shut off his engine. The ocean was calm even though he could see nothing in the dark. Stars twinkled overhead, reminding him of another starry night, when he’d first met Tess.

  God, let her and the baby be safe.

  For the millionth time he wondered how she fared. Who knew what they’d done to her. Or what they had planned.

  He checked his watch, then began double-checking his cache of firearms. There was a strong possibility Tess and Nancy wouldn’t even be on the boat meeting him. But if they were, their safety was paramount in Grey’s mind.

  Damn, he wished he had a plan. But until he knew where she was and how many people he was up against, he couldn’t even hypothesize.

  Waves lapped gently against the hull as he listened for an approaching boat. But the night remained quiet.

  At nine-fifteen he started pacing. In all likelihood Sanchez was toying with him. But what if Barry, in his injured state, had gotten the coordinates wrong?

  * * *

  It was nearly midnight when Grey heard a motor. On the water it was difficult to tell which direction it came from.

  Moving swiftly, he turned on his running lights. The noise grew steadier until Grey finally saw lights off the port side. When the craft got close enough he studied it through night-vision binoculars. His concern that it might be another boat other than Sanchez’s evaporated instantly.

  As befitted the cartel, the boat was a sixty-foot cabin cruiser. Armed men stood on either end of the boat, machine guns drawn and ready. Grey spotted Sanchez, Snake, and Bogen on the deck, along with at least two other men. So far he’d counted eight people including the pilot. Bad odds.

  He swept the approaching boat one last time, searching for a sign of Tess or Nancy, finding none. He’d already accepted the possibility that he’d be killed without ever seeing her again. Without ever telling her he loved her.

  The yacht slowed as it drew near. Grey was temporarily blinded as the yacht turned on its searchlights and swept his boat before spotlighting him.

  The beam was so powerful Grey could feel its heat. He held up his hands, indicating falsely that he was unarmed.

  When the yacht pulled up a mooring line was tossed over. “Tie it off and step back,” the man in front yelled.

  Grey did as he was told. The man then jumped from the larger boat onto Grey’s. A second man followed.

  “Hands on your head,” the man shouted.

  When Grey complied the man stepped forward and patted Grey down. They found his knife and three guns. After they finished their search, the guard slammed Grey in the jaw with the butt of his rifle. Grey fell backward, pain radiating through his whole body.

  While one man held him at gunpoint the other searched the boat, tossing weapons to the deck as he found them. “All clear,” the man finally shouted.

  “Greetings, amigo.” Sanchez ambled over to the railing and looked down. “Long time, no squeal.”

  No sooner had Grey pushed to his feet then the guard delivered a second blow, in the stomach this time, causing Grey to drop to his knees. He fought the spinning dizziness that made him want to vomit, knowing he had to be strong for Tess’ sake. And the worse was yet to come. Sanchez was merely fucking with him right now. Cat and mouse.

  The real pain would come later. The cartel dealt harshly with traitors. And Grey’s defection would merit the fiercest of punishments. He would die at their hands. Eventually.

  But first he had to get word to Tess, let her know that others would be searching for her. That no matter what happened, she had to go on -- for him. For their child.

  “Where is she?” Grey yelled. “I want to see her.”

  Sanchez and the others began laughing. “That’s what I liked best about you. Your colossal arrogance. Even now you think you can give orders.”

  Snake stepped up beside Sanchez. “It’s gonna be fun watching you beg us to kill you. We’re taking bets on how long you live once we start. The minimum is thre
e days. Winner gets a wallet made from your hide.”

  Grey knew Snake was serious. The cartel was capable of the most inhumane of tortures. But he couldn’t let himself think of that right now.

  “I can still be of use to you, Sanchez,” Grey shouted. “I’ve got a lot of top secret info I’d be willing to share. You need me.” It would all be lies, but it might buy him time.

  “The only thing I need you for is this.” Sanchez nodded, and Grey received another resounding blow with a rifle stock. This time on his knee, shattering bone. Blinding spots of color shot across Grey’s field of vision as he fought to control the pain.

  “Now pay attention,” Sanchez said. “You wanted to see your girlfriend. Here she is.”

  Grey watched as a guard brought Tess up to the rail. His heart lurched at the sight of her. She was wearing nothing more than her bra and panties, her hands cuffed behind her. She dragged her feet, pulling away.

  Then she spied him. “Grey!” she sobbed.

  His adrenaline spiked at seeing her. As best he could tell she was unharmed.

  “You’re okay?” he called.

  She nodded.

  “No matter what, remember I love you always,” Grey shouted. “The baby, too.”

  Sanchez made as if to wipe a tear from his cheek. “So touching. I’m sure your words will comfort her after you’re gone.” He moved up to Tess, trailing a hand across her stomach. “And after the baby is gone as well.”

  “No!” Tess struggled uselessly as the guard pressed her forward against the rail.

  “I’m sorry my dear,” Sanchez lamented. “But your body is a commodity. Having a child will lower its value.” His hand drifted upward, reaching into her bra and fondling one breast. “Let’s give your lover one last look.”

  “You’re dead, Sanchez!” Grey lunged forward just as all hell broke loose.

  Shots rang out from either end of the boats. Two of the guards on Sanchez’s boat fell. The man beside Grey screamed, then dropped.

  Moving quickly, Grey swung round, catching the other guard’s gun and shoving it hard into the man’s chest. The man lost balance and fell. Grey dived for the gun just as a dark clad figure sprung over the end of the boat.