by Cindy Dees
“What kind of subterfuge could they use?” Rebel asked quickly. She sensed Avi was thinking about something specific when he made that comment.
She listened in dismay as he relayed having followed a group of Iranian athletes late last night who’d acted like anything but athletes. Not only was that news alarming, but she was disappointed he hadn’t invited her to go along on his little surveillance outing.
Not that he owed her or Gunnar Torsten anything of the like. But still. They were supposed to be working together.
Or maybe she was overreacting and letting her hots for the sexy Israeli cloud her thinking.
Beau Lambert, a former Navy SEAL and due to marry Tessa Wilkes in a few months, commented from the far end of the room, where he lounged with a knee propped against the edge of the table, “No offense, Z, but why did you have to come all this way to give us this briefing in person? We all know what the tangos look like and what we have to do, which is spot the bastards and take them down.”
Torsten jumped in to answer, “I asked him to come here.”
Everyone, including Rebel, looked at her boss expectantly.
He continued grimly, “I have an idea, and I’m fairly sure Zane would’ve jumped on a plane the minute he heard about it, anyway.”
“Which is?” Piper—engaged to Zane—asked ominously.
Torsten looked the willowy blonde square in the eye. “I want to use you as bait to draw our terrorists out, Piper.”
“Hasn’t she been through enough?” Zane blurted.
Rebel knew that he, more than most, understood how traumatic being kidnapped last fall by Mahmoud Akhtar and his men had been for Piper. The other women of the Medusas had spent the past six months listening to her nightmares and watching her struggle to sleep at night. They might not know the gory details, and Zane had—according to Piper—prevented anything really bad from happening to her. But Rebel and the other women knew it hadn’t been a picnic for her to get over the experience.
Torsten ignored Zane’s outburst and instead stared steadily at Rebel’s friend and teammate. Piper stared back at him for a long time. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Torsten was silently asking Piper if she was up for the mission or not.
Finally, she nodded once. Tersely. “I’m down for being bait,” she said shortly.
“Piper—” Zane started.
“Not now,” she said with quiet conviction.
Yikes. Rebel smelled a knock-down-drag-out in Piper and Zane’s immediate future. Avi, blissfully unaware of the personal relationship between the pair asked eagerly, “Will Mahmoud come out of hiding to go after your operative, Gun?”
“Oh yeah,” Torsten said dryly. “Mahmoud’s got a gonzo hard-on to kill both Piper and Zane.”
“What kind of trap are you thinking?” Avi plowed on. “Public appearances with a loose net of our people surrounding them? Will Mahmoud or Yousef recognize anyone else in this room? I can probably add some warm bodies from my delegation to flesh out the detail if that would help.”
“Yes, I’m thinking of using a bull’s-eye configuration,” Torsten responded. “Piper and Zane in the middle with a team deployed around them in concentric rings. Better chance of spotting the bastards inbound instead of having to rely on nabbing them outbound. And no, Mahmoud won’t recognize anyone in this room besides Piper—well, and Zane. That’s why, if Zane would like to be bait, too, I’m good with that—”
“Hell yes, I’m doing it, too. No way is she doing this alone!” Zane burst out.
Torsten nodded as if fully expecting that response, and then continued, “The warm bodies from your working group would be appreciated, Avi. As you know, everyone here has other security duties to attend to, as well. We won’t be able to provide round-the-clock coverage by ourselves. Not to mention that from the moment we expose Piper and Zane, I want full drone overwatch plus boots on the ground around them at all times.”
Zane seemed slightly less in danger of an imminent stroke after that pronouncement, but the guy still looked none too happy at this whole bait development. Rebel felt for him. Zane had been superprotective of Piper ever since he’d pulled her out of Mahmoud’s clutches and the two of them had nearly died in the process.
Torsten was speaking again. “I’ll build a watch schedule and distribute it later today. As soon as all the necessary assets are in place and a good opportunity presents itself, I’ll pull the trigger.”
“How about tonight?” Rebel asked. “If we can get Zane credentials today, he can come out on the infield with the rest of the American security detail after Team USA has walked in the opening ceremony. We ought to be able to parade Zane and Piper right past the Iranian delegation.”
Avi chimed in, “If I’m right that some of the Iranian athletes are actually government agents, they should report back to Mahmoud.”
Piper added, “Particularly if pictures of Zane and me are posted on their ready room walls, too.”
Zane snorted. “I’m going to be damned offended if we’re not on their Most Wanted list.”
Everyone chuckled, a welcome break in the tension permeating the briefing.
“All right then,” Torsten bit out. “We’ll put you two in front of the Iranians tonight and then wait for them to make their move.”
“One more thing,” Avi asked, his voice dropping into a sober register. “Will you be green-lighting your team for a kill? My people will want to know.”
Torsten sighed. “I sincerely doubt the United States government will give us permission to kill foreign nationals on Aussie soil, especially during their Olympics. The diplomatic fallout would be effing ugly.”
“Do you need me to get the go-ahead from my government, instead? If Israel were to take the lead in the operation, we’d be operating under my country’s rules.”
His implication being clear that Israel would not withhold permission to kill Mahmoud and his team if it came to a confrontation.
A slow grin spread across Torsten’s face. “You make an excellent point, my friend.”
Avi stood up. “Then I’m going to suggest we reconvene in the Israeli command center when your schedule is built, Gunnar, and we’ll launch this little fishing expedition as an Israeli-led operation.”
The meeting adjourned, everyone stood and side conversations broke out. Beneath the general chatter, Avi murmured to Rebel, “Are you still up for that run this morning?”
It took her a second to remember he’d offered to help her run off last night’s sumptuous feast. “I’ll have to change clothes, and then you’re on.”
He nodded slightly and then turned away from her as Zane approached to introduce himself and make nice with his foreign counterpart.
Rebel slipped out of the briefing room and headed for the elevator. Her room was on the fifth floor and she hurried down the hall to change, more eager than she ought to be at the prospect of having Avi to herself for a little while, even if she had a sinking feeling he was going to run her into the dust.
She had barely changed into the cutest running shorts and tank top she’d packed for this trip before a knock sounded on her door. She opened it to find Avi standing there dressed to run. “That was fast,” she commented.
“I could say the same of you. I’m accustomed to women taking forever on the serious business of choosing what to wear.”
Rebel shrugged. “It’s easy when you have a grand total of one suitcase full of clothes to choose from. Come in while I put my shoes on,” she said. Now why did she sound all breathless like that?
He stepped into her spartan room and a frown crinkled his brow. “Don’t you find these white walls...and linoleum floor...and white bedding a bit institutional?”
“I find them very institutional. But I didn’t come here for the decor. I came to do a job. This is merely where I sleep.”
“What do you do in y
our off time?”
“What off time?” she retorted.
He shook he head. “I like my downtime. I never pass it up when I can get some.”
She glanced around her room, her second shoe tied. “Doesn’t your room look about like this, too? I assumed all the rooms in the village were identical.”
“Ahh, but I’m not staying in the village.”
“You’re not? How did you arrange that?” She locked the door behind them and tucked the key in the pocket sewn inside her shorts.
He strode down the hallway, not answering until they reached the elevators. “I have pull within my government. I asked for an upgraded room in a hotel.”
“Wow. Must be nice,” she commented as the elevator door closed behind them. He turned to face her, bringing them chest to chest, fully as close as they’d been last night when waltzing.
“It’s very nice,” he murmured.
Was he talking about having pull or about...this? She blinked up at him, suddenly feeling like a baby owl hit by a blinding spotlight. She had no idea how to act around a man like him. No idea even how to feel. She was in way over her head with this guy.
Ahh, but what a nice way to drown.
Their run went about like she expected it would. He started out way slow, taking baby steps to match his longer stride to hers. She got impatient, sped up to her normal run speed, and he matched her with ease—and a little surprise.
As she tore along, loving the wind in her hair, he asked, not appreciably out of breath, “Why didn’t you tell me you’re this fast?”
“Would you have believed me if I had told you?”
“Possibly. I’m learning quickly not to underestimate you or your friends.”
“Smart man.”
“Thanks.”
She glanced up at him and was startled to see him looking back at her rather more warmly than he should if they were just casual friends out for a jog together. Startled, she yanked her gaze back to the paved trail winding around the perimeter of the Olympic Village.
“What?” she muttered without looking back at him.
“I find you utterly fascinating.”
“Why?”
“I’ve never met a woman remotely like you.”
“Hah. You said yourself that women have been serving in the Israeli Defense Forces since the 1940s.”
“I’m not talking about that,” he replied evenly.
“What then?” she asked nervously.
“You’re so tough and so vulnerable at the same time. How can the two exist simultaneously in the same person?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she retorted.
“Liar,” he replied mildly.
She opened her mouth. Closed it. He wasn’t wrong. Furthermore, she suspected the more vehemently she denied it, the more stubbornly he would insist that he was right. Instead, she sped up, pushing herself to bring home the last mile at top speed.
Of course, Avi kept up with her like it was all a stroll in the park. Which, honestly, was fine with her. She’d learned long ago that it wasn’t a competition between the Medusas and their male counterparts. They were all on the same team, pursuing the same goals—the safety of the civilian populace and order and stability in the world. As long as she was fast enough to do the job, she didn’t have to be faster than Avi or any other man.
When they arrived at her door, Avi grinned. “Well, that was invigorating. We should do it again.”
“I’m up for it if you are,” she replied, secretly delighted that she hadn’t been so slow that he’d found running with her to be tedious or boring.
“I would offer to feed you real food tonight, but I’m going to be tied up with opening games all evening.”
“Same,” she replied in real regret. “But you’re spoiling me. I’m actually starting to question the quality of my food choices.”
“Bit by bit, I’ll corrupt you, my pretty.”
She laughed up at him. “Is that a promise or a threat?”
“Which would you prefer?” he asked, suddenly serious.
“Depends on what you mean by corruption, I suppose.”
“Hmm. I’ll have to think about that and get back to you on it. Until later, then.” He dropped quick kisses on both of her cheeks, startling her again with the whole kissing thing.
He whirled and took off running toward the Israeli headquarters. He had a beautiful stride, long and strong, like the man himself.
Sheesh. How besotted did a girl have to be to enjoy watching a guy run?
She turned as well, jogging into the American security headquarters to grab a quick shower before she had to report to the Olympic Stadium to help with a massive, last-minute security sweep before the public was allowed to enter the venue. Immediately after that concluded, she was assigned to guard the American athletes as they waited to enter the stadium for the parade of athletes. Once the American team was inside the stadium, she was to shift over to watching Piper and Zane, who were slated to roam around the infield at the edges of the American team and try to get spotted by the Iranian delegation.
Torsten wasn’t worried the Iranians would try to pull anything during or immediately after the opening ceremonies because everyone had to go through metal detectors and thorough personal security checks.
The real hunt would be on once the athletes were delivered back to the village after the ceremonies.
Avi didn’t think the Iranians would try to take out Piper and Zane for a few days—he guessed it would take them that long at a minimum to get their act together and figure out how to respond to Piper’s and Zane’s presence. She hoped he was wrong. She hoped they never got their act together and tried anything violent against her friends.
Assuming the pair was actually here. And assuming the Iranians were up to no good.
The IOC had blown off her theory that the pair had been responsible for the chlorine in the swimming pool and was sticking with its explanation that the pool had accidentally been shocked.
Which was crap.
She knew what she’d seen—Mahmoud Akhtar and Yousef Kamali were here.
If she’d spotted them once, she could do so again. Then she would call in the Israeli commando team on standby and they would take out the bastards with help from the Medusas. Game over.
And then they would all believe her.
Chapter 6
Avi was assigned to escort the Israeli team in the infield of the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony, but he would rather have been with Rebel and her teammates as they formed a dragnet around Piper and Zane. Frankly, he would just rather be with Rebel.
Her combination of humor, spunk and confidence fascinated him. He’d been around plenty of women in law enforcement and even in the military, but he was still working to wrap his head around the idea of an entire team of women commandos. He had to give it to Gun, it wasn’t a concept he would have thought up on his own.
The opening ceremony itself, as seen from the infield, was a riot of color, sound and fireworks, but the choreography meant for a television audience was mostly lost on the mob of athletes crowding the infield of the stadium. Still, it was a fun party.
Israel’s team was separated from the sixty-five Iranian athletes only by Iraq, Iceland, and Ireland. Given his height, Avi was able to glance over at the Iranians from time to time as the Parade of Nations dragged on. He made a point, though, of being in front of the Israeli team as the Americans marched past.
Piper and Zane walked side by side, flanking the US team on the side that would pass right by where the Iranians stood. Fully a dozen of the Iranian athletes appeared to notice Piper and Zane specifically and watched the pair with laser intensity as they strolled past.
He changed radio frequencies from the Israeli security channel to the Medusas’ private channel and muttered into the t
iny microphone beside his mouth, “The lovebirds have been spotted.”
Tessa Wilkes responded, “I concur. The target has been acquired.”
Now, to wait for the Iranians to make their move. He would enjoy nabbing two of the biggest thorns in Israel’s side over the past decade. Mahmoud Akhtar and Yousef Kamali had trained Palestinian terrorists, delivered arms to Syria, sabotaged infrastructure inside Israel, and were suspected of kidnapping and killing several Israeli businessmen in Europe.
Oh yes. He was going to enjoy taking those two down.
The lighting of the Olympic torch was moving, and then the athletes streamed out of the stadium in a mob as the party spilled outside. Coaches and security teams attempted and for the most part failed to corral their athletes to walk them back to the village together by country. The best the IOC was able to manage was keeping the athletes on the opposite side of a crowd barricade from the public, also streaming out of the stadium to continue its own parties elsewhere.
What a zoo. Total security nightmare.
Once the last Israeli athlete was finally checked back into the Olympic Village nearly two hours later, Avi was released from duty. He hurried over to the American security building where the Medusas had set up their surveillance on Piper and Zane. Hidden cameras were planted in the room the pair was sharing, as well as in the hallway and around the building.
The makeshift surveillance headquarters, where all the camera feeds were displayed on a bank of monitors, was two doors down from Piper and Zane’s room.
Avi knocked on the door and when it opened, Rebel smiled warmly at him. My, my. The all-work queen of no play was thawing out nicely.
He slipped inside and was delighted to see she was alone in the room. She sat back down in front of the monitors and he leaned over her shoulder, bracing a hand on the desk beside her elbow.
Lord, she smelled good. Like a fresh spring day, all sunshine and flowers.
“How’s it going?” he murmured.
