by Aliyah Burke
“Why, have a stick of gum?”
“No, sorry.”
Her almost silent chuckle warmed him. “You’re a fan of Mac?”
“The original, not the revamped.”
Richard Dean Anderson. Yes, he could see why she found him attractive. “Do I want to know why you carry a gun?”
“Scare animals.”
Okay, that made sense.
“Can you get it without giving us away?”
“Take me a bit, it’s down with our bags.” She shrugged.
“Go. Be careful.”
“Are you worried about me?”
More than he ever cared to admit.
She kissed his temple and left.
The moment he could no longer feel her presence, his worry jacked up. The group wasn’t going anywhere yet. There was no vehicle and it looked like some were wet as if they’d capsized earlier in the day.
Problem was, he didn’t feel that it was just those ten men. He’d learned that rarely did anyone show all their cards. Or assets.
Time crawled until a sound behind him preluded Sheri’s arrival.
She slithered up beside him. “Here you go.” She put the Berretta in his hand.
Loaded, he could infer this by the weight.
“And this.”
He closed his fingers around a phone. “I love you,” he whispered.
She stiffened briefly before saying lightly, “I know. All the boys do.”
Thing was, he had no compulsion to clarify that statement. He meant each word. “I need to place a call. Trouble is, they may have ears up to listen in on any comms. I’m moving away from you, in case they try to locate me.
“Are you sure that’s wise?”
“No, but this lucky break can’t be left without at least trying to do something. We don’t know how often they go through here. All those kids could be here now. I refuse to lose them. Even if those children from around here aren’t, there are a lot of scared children in there who need our help.”
“Go. We’re not letting those children be subjected to this shit any longer.”
He stared at her fierce expression. Yep, he loved her even harder now. Mat, fully attune to his surroundings, slipped away to place a call. The Omega Team may not be able to come in time personally, but he trusted Grey to notify the right people who could arrive in time.
He circled the group and placed his call. “I need help,” he stated instantly when the call was answered. As soon as he could, he explained the issue.
As he was on the phone, the kidnappers began to get jumpy. Terse moments went by as he finished up his call and made his way back to where he’d left Sheri.
His woman was gone.
αβ
Sheri made sure she didn’t struggle or put up any resistance to the man who had the gun at the small of her back. Had Mat been caught? Probably not. She should’ve known she would get caught, but she’d wanted to take a closer look at the kids, make sure they were okay.
Sure, in hindsight that was stupid move on her part. One second, she’d been creeping closer, the next—well, she found herself in her current predicament. At least now, I will have a better view of the children.
Four of the other men circled her as her captor nudged her into camp. She held their gazes as they went around her leering. I can’t imagine how those children feel with these assholes around them.
A man with a stained ball cap paused in front of her.
What it was stained with, she had no clue. Hopefully, it wasn’t blood. The lights cast a dull pallor over him. Wiry. Shift. Mean. Three words which popped directly into her head.
“Who are you? What are you doing out here?”
“I was walking, minding my own business when he crashed out of the bush, scaring the crap out of me, then he put a gun on me and brought me here.” Indignation overshadowed her fear, obvious in her tone.
“Why were you out here?”
“It’s not smart to tackle rapids at night, so I made camp. And I had gone away to pee.”
His eyes narrowed. “You are out here alone?”
“I’m a guide on these waters. Sheri Rysk. Many people know me. I run a business up the river a ways.”
“She’s telling the truth.”
That was a familiar voice and hearing it gave her two things. Fear and disgust. Okay, there was a bit of shock intermixed in there as well.
Carson Miller walked into view, wiping his hands off on his pants, as he shook his head. A sneer lifted his lips. “Not running to me for safety?”
“I’m not sure I’d be safe with you, Carson. Why are you hanging out with men who have guns?”
“You know her well?” Ballcap interrupted.
Cason glanced at the man and nodded. “We worked together before and I have no doubt she was just out. In fact, you will probably find her kayak at her camp. She does it a lot.”
He neared her and she longed to punch him in his smug, mocking face.
She fought the urge also to gaze about for Mat. Where was he? Had he placed his call? Was help on the way?
Carson draped an arm around her shoulders, squeezing when she tried to pull away. “Me or them,” he said.
Not much in the way of choices. Better the devil she knew. Or so…she hoped. He took her by the frightened children and pushed her to a chair under a tarp. Camouflage, she reckoned. “Let me go, Carson.”
He shook his head. “No way. You’ll go to the cops. Tell me. Do you have anyone with you?”
“No.” Perhaps she was losing it but he had for a second there, sounded hopeful when he asked.
“Don’t lie. It won’t go well for you, if you do.”
“Because I’m doing so well currently. What with being held prisoner and all,” she snarked at him.
He stiffened. “Remember things can always get worse.”
Now there was a threat that freaked her out. Never had she heard him sounding so malevolent before. “If I’m a prisoner then put me with the children.” She leveled as much disgust as she could in the word children. Fucker. And to think she’d actually dated the man. Slime. He didn’t deserve to be call a man. Or human. Real men, decent humans didn’t do such things to people, much less children.
He stepped closer and reached out, wrapping his hand around her ponytail. The hold allowed her no movement. Carson bent closer. “Be careful what you wish for. They will keep you but it won’t be fun. Older used women can withstand more than children.”
“You’re a fucking pig,” she spat.
He backhanded her and if he hadn’t been holding her, she would have hit the hard packed terrain.
“Get up.” He dropped his hand from her hair.
She blinked away tears and stumbled with him. They had to be working with others, there wasn’t any way they would drag it all with them. He shoved her into the enclosure and refastened the door behind her. Boys and girls were in here. No set race or ethnicity. The only thing in common with them all was the fear and uncertainty in their expressions.
A little girl toddled up to her and lifted her arms.
Without hesitation, Sheri scooped her up and held her cold body close, trying to warm her. The others—most—crept forward until they surrounded her. In the faint light, she spied lingering shards of hope in their gazes.
Hang in here guys. Help is coming. Sheri took a deep breath. I hope.
Chapter Six
“Come on, come on!” Mat muttered sharply, needing to get this going so he could get to Sheri. The children too, but he needed to know she was okay. Grey had promised help was coming. Mostly local, but partly The Omega Team. Kris Rowell, formerly known as Kris Gauthier, Nightstalker pilot, lived in Texas with her husband and still remained on call in emergency situations for The Omega Team. He knew of her skills and was thrilled she was inbound for assistance.
Night crept closer to dawn and the phone at his hip vibrated twice before going silent. It was the sign he’d been waiting for. He’d shed the wetsuit to move quieter
and inched closer to their makeshift camp.
He knew where he was going first. To the bastard who’d backhanded Sheri. Yes, he’d seen it and his blood still boiled.
The river roared below them as it sped along. They were at a calmer bit, still fast and extremely deep but no rapids. The kids were near the edge of this outcropping. The bastards had picked a good spot, you were up from the river, and if anyone wanted to come in to your area, you could see who it was first.
He flicked another glance to the edge where the cage was located. Heaven help them if the ground gave way. If he had his hunch—and he did—Kris would be flying in low, using the roar of the river as cover for the sound of her helo.
Unsure of how many locals were coming, he only counted on Omega. Not that he didn’t believe Grey was sending help, but he knew that The Omega Team refused to fail.
The first crack of light pierced the darkness when trucks rumbled up. The men went to the cage and ushered the children to the large straight truck that had been backed in. What he thought of as the dead man with the gun brought out Sheri and the child she held in her arms. They’d just cleared the makeshift cage when the black bird rose like a wraith from the darkness.
Chaos.
Figures in black simply appeared from the surrounding areas, like they’d bled in from being invisible. The helicopter hit a spotlight on the camp as children screamed and bullets began flying.
As he’d thought, more men from the camp came from the vehicles and from the tents.
Eyes locked on Sheri, he snarled low stretching out to run.
The man closest to her, yanked the crying toddler from her arms to his. Then fired wildly at the chopper who instantly took evasive action, gliding away out of danger.
Mat reached Sheri and yanked her to him, pissed and thrilled she was okay. “Woman,” he growled.
“Mat, oh my God, save her!”
“Working on it. Get behind me.”
She listened, hand winding in his shirt.
In his periphery, he saw the men on their knees, hands on the backs of their heads. A few of the team were putting zip strips cuffs on them.
“You’re the only one left,” Mat said. “Give up.”
“Come on Ray, there’s nowhere for you to go,” this statement came from the bastard who’d struck Sheri.
God, he wanted to shoot him. Question was, why was he acting this way? Why had no one put restraints on this asshole?
“You should be cuffed with everyone Carson. Why aren’t you?” Sheri snapped her question.
“Because I’m undercover for the FBI. Have been for years. This was the first time I was allowed on a shipment run. I’m sorry about hitting you, Sheri. I had to stay in character.”
She didn’t respond or move toward him. Small victory. When her grip loosened, however, Mat moved back, so they had more contact.
“You kill me and we both go over,” the man named Ray chortled.
He spoke the truth. Chances were if they shot Ray, the percentage the child could go in was far too high. A bit more forward by the gun toting ass and Mat would be willing to take the risk of the girl falling to the ground. But not so close to the edge.
“Let her go, Ray,” Carson begged. “Use me instead.”
“No. you’ll be okay if they shoot you. There will be hell to pay if the government kills a little girl in a raid. Public doesn’t like that much.”
“On your knees,” the shout came from the others there.
Mat held his focus on the man with the child. Dread filled him as he foresaw this ending in the worst sort of way.
Carson continued closer, hands out, showing they were empty.
Mat recognized the method of trying to have the perp calm down and not engage in any rash action. Unfortunately, due to the crazed look in this one’s eyes, Mat didn’t hold out much hope of it working.
Ray backed up further, the heels of his boots over the edge. The child screamed and cried as she struggled. Ray snapped at her but instead of cowering, she screamed louder and smacked him in the face. Then she leaned forward and bit his upper arm, near the shoulder.
He cried out and Mat’s whole world slammed into slow motion. The girl dropped and because of the way Ray had jerked after being bit, it wasn’t to the edge, it was over it.
“No!” Sheri screamed.
Bullets rang out and Ray along with Carson fell. Ray also went over. It happened in the blink of an eye. Seconds later, Sheri rushed by him and jumped off into the rushing water below. He couldn’t even catch her she’d vaulted by so fast. Mat reached the edge in time to see her head go under the liquid as she was swept downstream.
The helicopter spun and went after them.
αβ
Kick. Kick. Fight. Swim. Live!
The cold water disappeared and she realized warmth surrounded her as opposed to the sharp ice that had pierced her skin. She cracked her eyes open and found two men standing to the other side of the room, speaking in hushed tones to one another.
One man she didn’t recognize. Mat she did and her heart thudded harder with him in view. The man with Mat was a bit shorter, yet in no way did this detract from his aura of capability. With his short cropped dark hair and the set of his jaw, she wondered if this was the man Mat had spoken of who’d given him a job.
The man put his steely gaze on her then made a simple gesture with his chin in her direction.
Mat turned to glance at her. His green gaze so hot and passionate that she nearly cried. Their conversation continued for a few more moments before the unknown male flowed out of the room. Something like a coiled predator. At least, that was her impression.
Mat didn’t sit on the chair beside her, but he claimed a spot on the narrow hospital bed, his hip pressing against hers. “I’m going to ask you this as calmly as I can, Sheri. Why the fuck did you jump in?”
“Because it looked like fun?” she snipped. “To save the girl.” Fear rose. “Did she make it?”
He nodded as he threaded a hand through her red hair. “She’s in recovery.”
“And the rest of the kids?”
“Their parents have been arriving to get them. The ones that had been smuggled in from Mexico will be heading back to their parents within a few days. Carson made it and Ray did not.” His eyes held satisfaction at the last bit of news.
His touch muddled her mind but there was no denying her relief they would all be okay. Her eyes fluttered closed, partially from exhaustion yet mostly from his touch.
When she woke later, Liz was in the room with the doctor. She went through a barrage of tests only to fall back asleep.
The next time she woke, she found herself alone. She moved slowly from the bed. Small measured steps took her to the nurse’s station where she leaned heavily on the counter. Damn, I feel like I’m just getting my legs under me.
“You should be in bed, Ms. Rysk.” The nurse tucked a pencil behind her ear and into her blonde hair.
“The children who were brought in with me. The little girl. Where’s her room?”
“I’ll tell you as long as you use a wheelchair to go see her.”
“Deal,” Sheri agreed. Hell, she was unsure how much longer her legs would support her anyway.
Within a few moments, she rolled into the elevator with directions in mind. She knocked softly on the door before opening it slightly.
A female couple sat curled together near the bed. The dark haired one looked at her and stood. “Can I help you?” There was no denying the protective tone.
Sheri didn’t blame her at all. “I’m sorry for bothering you. I just wanted to see for myself how she was doing.”
The blonde brushed some free-falling strands from her face. “Be nice, Jo.” She got to her feet. “Are you the one who jumped off the edge to save our daughter?”
She nodded. “I am.”
Jo’s expression morphed from suspicious to grateful in the time it took her to take a breath. “You saved our baby.” The women surrounded her, en
folding her in a warm embrace that smelled like sugared vanilla and citrus. “Thank you.”
Not why she’d come up but the hugs were nice. “I’m glad she’s safe now and back with you, where she belongs. I should go.”
The women fussed until Liz walked up and wheeled her out.
“Thank you,” she said to her cousin. “How did you find me?”
“I’m a law enforcement officer. I asked. Plus, I know you. Where else would you go?”
Sheri didn’t answer the question, it had been a rhetorical one.
Liz wheeled her back to her room and helped her back to bed. “I will be by tomorrow to take you home.”
She burrowed in the bed with a nod. “Okay.” Where was Mat?
The fact he didn’t come back that day nor been in prior to her being checked out brought back the anger once more. He’d done it again, tossed her life into upheaval, then vanished without a care as to how it may affect her life.
Liz left her alone to rest the next few days. In the afternoons, Sherri shuffled her way out to her hammock where she climbed in and closed her eyes, enjoying the sun. This became her routine for a while.
A week later, in the hammock, she opted for a nap after reading a mystery. When her warm sun was blocked by a large shadow, she grunted and waved a hand, hoping it was enough to get the sun to come back. It wasn’t.
With a frustrated groan, she opened her eyes. The man’s features may have been blotted out to her by the sun behind him, but her body had no issues knowing or recognizing the person. Mat. “Go away.”
“No. We need to talk.”
“So, come back in ten years. You’re great at that.” Tears of frustration welled up. “Just go.”
“No.” He shifted his body.
Sheri furiously blinked as she now stared at the sun. By the time her eyes stopped blurring and watering, he’d joined her in the hammock. Rolling toward him, she gasped at the renewed contact with him. “I’m tired, Mat.”
Okay, not true. She was going stir-crazy.
“I want to be with you, Sheri. I love you. Have since we first tangled all those years ago. I know you’re mad I left.”
“No,” she broke in, trying to resist the pull of his magnetic gaze. “People leave, it happens. I’m pissed because you left without talking to me, again.”
