Out of Hiding

by Rachel Dylan

  “Yes.”

  “Can the two of you handle this yourselves? I would send additional resources, but it looks like I’ll be short-staffed after I finish showing my current employees what happens when they don’t follow orders. I won’t have my people working for the local drug lords. They must be loyal to me. And now they will pay. If you are successful, you will be more than adequately rewarded. I need answers, Ms. Lane. And I need them fast.”

  “Yes. We’re on it.”

  “I’ll send you the contact information for one of my friends in the Mexican police force. His name is Jorge Valez. He can be trusted. Beyond him, I can’t say. You’re on your own. I’d tell you to be careful. But I won’t second-guess your abilities.”

  She couldn’t believe this was happening. How was she actually working with this man? The man who had killed her family. She clenched her fists feeling her short nails push into her flesh as her hands shook. Then Megan’s face popped in her head—the picture of the girl who’d already had a rough life at sixteen. Now being held hostage by these monsters.

  “Ms. Lane?”

  “Yes, I’m here.”

  “You did the right thing by contacting me. Keep up the good work. Stay in touch. And remember to call me right away if you hear anything else about my brother. I want you to send me any evidence you find immediately.”

  “Will do.” She pressed the button to disconnect and let out a huge sigh of relief. She was still shaking.

  Kip reached over and grabbed her hand, instantly steadying her. “You handled him very well. Sounded to me like he was truly surprised. That would be some pretty amazing dramatics if he was acting.”

  “What have we gotten in the middle of?”

  “A turf war and who knows what else.” He let go of her hand and she realized how much she enjoyed his touch. Even though she didn’t want to.

  After driving back into the city, they pulled up into a hotel parking lot.

  “This hotel looks good,” he said. “If they have the option we’ll get two adjoining rooms. That okay with you?”

  “Yeah.” She looked up at the large hotel. It was definitely not the five-star Rhubarb Hotel, but it was nice and in the middle of the city. She could use a few hours of sleep, and she knew that Kip definitely could. He might act tough and macho, but he wasn’t invincible. They both needed to be on the top of their game to hunt down Megan.

  By the time they’d gotten to their rooms, exhaustion had taken over. The adrenaline rush was long gone.

  “I’ll be right next door if you need anything,” Kip said.

  “I’ll be fine.” But she had to admit she felt better knowing he was right next door. “How long are we sleeping?”

  “How much sleep do you need?”

  “No. You tell me. I’ll make it work.”

  “Set an alarm for nine a.m.”

  “Okay.” They had a full day of work ahead of them.

  He walked over and gave her a big hug. “You did great work today. I’m happy to have you as my partner.”

  That was the biggest compliment he could’ve paid her. She wanted him to see her as an equal, a true partner. Although, the feeling deep in her gut had her wanting even more from him. She quickly pushed that aside. There was no way they would work out as a couple.

  “I’ll close the adjoining door, but leave it unlocked.”

  She nodded. He turned and walked away, and she felt a sense of loneliness. She desperately needed sleep. Hopefully, she’d have a clearer head after that. Especially about Kip. She couldn’t engage in these foolish daydreams.

  Rummaging through her bag, she found some pajamas and put them on. She pulled back the fluffy comforter and fell into the soft bed. While the bed was super comfortable, her mind was racing. How could she enjoy all of these comforts when Megan was out there in danger? She felt sick just thinking about it. Logically, she knew she needed to get rest so she would be on top of her game, but she couldn’t fall asleep.

  And then there was Kip. She hadn’t quite figured him out. He definitely had issues—both with God and his time in the military and who knows what else. She couldn’t blame him for being haunted by the horrors of war. She hoped that even if it was only in a small way, that their discussions about faith could help him. If it wasn’t for her faith, she would’ve given up a long time ago. Her adoptive parents loved her so much. And what they gave to her in terms of leading by example was priceless. Her relationship with God was what it was today because of them.

  Igor’s face invaded her thoughts. This time it wasn’t Igor from the Rhubarb Hotel, but the young Igor that had shot her parents in cold blood.

  Could she truly trust Kip? He was an FBI agent, which of course made him suspect from the start, but she believed he had integrity instilled in him through his time in the service. Hopefully, the FBI hadn’t corrupted him. What would he do when he found out who she really was? And that she had a history with Igor? She couldn’t let that happen. That was another reason why she couldn’t get any silly ideas in her head about them starting a relationship. She’d not given him the whole story—far from it. If he had found out the truth, there was no way he would’ve teamed up with her. But so far, she was keeping it together. For the sake of Megan and the others girls, she had to. As much as she wanted personal revenge on Igor, that could wait. It had to wait. Because innocent lives were at stake.

  SIX

  Kip was in the all too familiar nightmare. And he knew there was no way out. Not yet. The hot desert sand whirled around him with the sun beating down against his roughened skin. The sounds of the Blackhawk helicopter pounded in his ears as he looked up and saw it descending into the desert. Fallujah was about the worst place on earth. And of course he was right in the middle of it.

  They were on a mission going building to building searching for the enemy. Unfortunately for him, the enemy was living among the innocent civilian population. One wrong shot and he could kill an innocent person. Or worse, a child. Rapid shots rang out through the hot air. Someone yelled to take cover. An explosion rocked the earth. His ears rang. So loud. He tasted blood. “No,” he screamed. He tried to run, but his legs were pinned under rubble. He screamed again. Someone was calling his name. A woman was calling his name. Was she hurt?

  “Kip,” the voice said. “Wake up. Kip.”

  He couldn’t break out of it. Not yet. He had to find the woman.

  “Kip.” The female’s voice was growing louder. As if she was right there, speaking into his ear. Then her hands. They were on his shoulders.

  He was free. His eyes opened, and then he saw her. Sadie. He’d been having a nightmare...again.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  He paused. “Yeah,” he said softly.

  “You were screaming. I thought at first someone had gotten in here and attacked you.”

  He looked over and noticed her gun sitting on his bed beside her.

  “I’m sorry. It was just a nightmare.”

  “Anything you want to talk about right now?”

  He was really embarrassed. This was another reason he didn’t want to have a wife. Couldn’t have a wife. She’d have to be subjected to his recurring nightmares. He shook his head and looked over at the clock. They’d only been asleep for about three hours. “No. Let’s just try to go back to sleep.”

  She frowned. He could tell she wanted to say something but was holding back. She relented and stood up from his bed. “See you in a few hours,” she said quietly. She shut the adjoining door behind her.

  He was a wreck. Maybe now that she’d seen what a mess he was, she’d put out of her mind any ideas of getting closer to him. He couldn’t miss that look in her eyes when he’d told her good night a few hours ago. It was a look he hadn’t seen in a very long time. She had some level of interest in him. After tonight that w
as surely squelched. And that was probably for the best.

  He knew himself well enough to know that there was most likely no more sleep after that nightmare. But he made himself stay in bed and close his eyes. Maybe he could will himself to sleep. As he lay there in the dark room, his thoughts went back to Iraq. To Brad. And of course, to his ex-fiancée. Brad had been at home rehabbing during Kip’s final deployment, and that’s when he had made his advances on Lacy. Lacy had all too willingly accepted them. She’d torn out his heart in the process. Robbed him of everything he valued. The person he loved, the job he was devoted to, and the ranger teammates he thought of as family, not to mention his relationship with God. Now look at him. Pathetic.

  A combination of pain and emptiness filled him. He closed his eyes. Would God hear him if he prayed? His faith had once been so strong. Strong enough to get him through too many nights in the desert. Strong enough to push through the grief when his brothers-in-arms died in combat. Strong enough to go into battle, knowing that day could be his last. He’d let Brad take that away from him. With all of Brad’s talk of team unity. He’d been the leader, but now Kip saw the truth. It was all a ruse.

  Lord...I don’t know how I got so lost. But I’m hoping You will show me the way back...

  Hours later, Kip opened one eye as light flooded in through the window. He was shocked that he had been able to go back to sleep. The last thing he remembered was starting to pray. He felt more rested than he had in months. Looking over at the clock, he saw that it was eight thirty. He wondered if Sadie was up yet. His stomach rumbled, reminding him of how hungry he was. What he wouldn’t give for a big cup of coffee. Was it his imagination or did he smell food? And coffee?

  After getting dressed, he pressed his ear to Sadie’s door. He heard what sounded like the TV. He knocked lightly. She answered the door with a smile. Aha! He knew he smelled something.

  On her small table, she had plates of food and a huge pot of coffee.

  “I heard you knocking around in there. I was about to come get you. Breakfast just arrived.” She smiled.

  “You have no idea how much I appreciate this.”

  “Help yourself. I might have gone a little overboard, but I was hungry.”

  “No. I feel like I could eat it all.” He laughed.

  They sat down at the little table, and he took a huge gulp of coffee—enjoying the warmth of it as it hit his tongue.

  “So,” she said, as she speared eggs onto her fork. “Why don’t we talk about last night?”

  “Let’s not.”

  “Kip, if something is bothering you so much that you have such painful deep nightmares, don’t you think it’s better to let it out? And don’t try to brush off last night as just a one-time thing.”

  He rubbed his chin, and his head started to ache. But when he looked into her eyes, a little peace settled over him.

  She reached over and grabbed his hand. “Kip, you said that you were glad I was your partner. You can trust me with this. If it makes you feel any better, we all have secrets. They just impact us in different ways. I won’t judge you.”

  “I need a little more time to wrap my head around my own issues,” he said honestly. “But I appreciate the offer. It’s nice to have someone who listens. Really listens.”

  “The offer stands. I’m ready to listen whenever you’re ready to talk.”

  “Thanks.” He also needed time to figure out his growing feelings for this woman. Did she ever say or do the wrong thing?

  “Ideas on our plan of action today?”

  He was about to answer when he heard something. All of his senses went into high alert. He lifted up his finger to his lips. There, there it was again. Someone was trying to get into Sadie’s hotel room door.

  She frowned and pulled her gun from her bag on the floor beside her.

  His weapon was in his room. This was no good. What a rookie mistake. Would she give him her gun?

  He mouthed to her asking for her gun. She hesitated, but then handed it to him. He motioned toward his room for her to take cover. He whispered the location of his gun to her—he’d placed it under the mattress. She quickly exited through the adjoining door. Quietly he moved toward the main door of her room and then crouched down behind the small couch. Waiting for the intruder to make his move. A clicking noise was followed by the door slowly opening. Two men dressed all in black with guns walked in. This was no good.

  At least Sadie was out of harm’s way for the moment. He had the element of surprise on his side, and he planned to take advantage.

  The two guys walked toward the couch, but they never saw him coming. Their guns were in their hands but down by their sides. So he used that to his benefit, put his gun in his waistband and relied on the one thing that was tried and true. Brute force.

  He lunged out at the first man taking him out at the legs and knocking him into the other. Their weapons hit the floor. But one of the men was quick to get to his feet and ready to fight.

  Kip punched him hard, connecting with his jaw sending the man tumbling back to the ground. The other man jumped on Kip’s back and tightly squeezed his arms around his neck. But Kip was strong enough to step back toward the wall and slam the man into it to loosen his grip. He hit the ground with a thud.

  Kip drew his weapon. “Don’t move, either of you.”

  * * *

  Sadie stepped into the room where Kip was standing with his gun drawn, holding the two men captive.

  She closed the door, and all eyes went to her. The taller man standing closer to her dove right at her. Knocking her down hard, she lost her grip on Kip’s gun. It slid across the floor out of her reach. The assailant must not have been expecting the momentum from the impact because he fell to the ground, too. He started to get up. But not wasting a second, she slammed her forearm into his throat knocking him back down.

  That gave her the moment she needed to grab the gun. “Stop, or I’ll shoot,” she yelled. She pointed the gun at the man.

  “Keep the gun on him,” Kip told her. He ripped a sheet off the bed and tied the first man up against a chair. As he approached the second man, the man tried to make a move, but Kip was far too quick, leveling a punch knocking him out cold. Kip grimaced as he shook out his hand from the punch.

  She was relieved she didn’t have to shoot the guy.

  Kip looked over at her. “We’ve got to move before they wake up. I’ll tie this one up and put on the do-not-disturb sign. Hopefully that will keep them occupied for a while.”

  “Who do you think sent them?”

  “I don’t know. But we’re not going to wait around for any of their friends to show up. Check to see if they have any ID. If they do, bring it with us. Gather up all your things.”

  She moved into high gear. She gave the first guy a little kick with her foot before she started checking his pockets. She searched his jacket and his pants. Nothing. Same for the second guy. She pulled out her camera and took pictures of their faces. Never knew when that could come in handy.

  “Good thinking,” he said, as he brushed by her.

  “No ID.”

  Kip tied them up with some rope he’d brought in his backpack full of supplies. They checked the room one more time for their belongings.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he said.

  He put his arm gently on her lower back and guided her out the door.

  “Keep your eyes open.”

  “They always are.” She surveyed the surroundings, but there was nothing out of the ordinary. “How could we already have made enemies?”

  “Maybe someone spotted us last night. Or at least the car. Then they traced the car here. That’s my best guess. They probably wanted to know what we were up to. They probably tagged us for DEA or some other U.S. government agency.”

  “That would make sense if
they were in the drug-running business. Are we going to need to get a new ride?”

  “Eventually.”

  She was grateful they’d both gotten sleep last night, for she feared a long day and night ahead of them. “Igor gave me the name of someone in the local police. Maybe we should start there. Get the lay of the land. I can’t help but feel like we’ve walked into something much bigger than we thought.”

  “And I don’t trust Igor one bit. At this point, I don’t trust anyone,” he said.

  “What about me?”

  He laughed. “Well, I’m stuck with you at the moment.”

  She looked out the window as they drove through the city. “I’m not big on trusting others either. I learned a long time ago that I need to be able to trust myself. Rely on myself. I knew I’d never be as strong as those I’m up against. And I’m already small to begin with. But I realized training would help level the playing field. Not only in weapons, but in self-defense and hand-to-hand combat.”

  “It shows.”

  She laughed. “Yeah, but if you wanted to take me down, it would take you all of five seconds. If that. But I’d give the best I’ve got. And in general, I feel like I can protect myself around most people. You’re obviously in a different category. Thankfully, most of the men I deal with are not army rangers.”

  “You’re a great shot.”

  “Thanks. I work on it a lot.”

  “Yes, your college buddy taught you, right?”

  “Yeah. A very good friend.”

  “What happened to him?”

  “He’s still around.”

  “Are you two serious?” he asked, looking over at her for a moment.

  “No, we aren’t romantically involved. Strictly platonic.”

  “Why?”

  “For starters, he’s about thirty years too old for me.”

  Kip laughed. “I thought you meant someone you went to school with.”

  “No. I met him in college. He was an instructor in my first self-defense class. A former marine and cop. He took me under his wing.”