Stolen Moments (A World Beyond Book 8)

by Michelle Howard

  Shaya bit her bottom lip, hands knotted at her side. Her body vibrated with the need to act, to do something to stop this madness.

  Jordan held up his communicator and activated the vid option. He pointed at the female who’d been forced to her knees in front of him. “Can you see her, Prime Minister Revin?”

  The Prime Minister’s voice was clear and crisp as he cautiously answered, “Yes.”

  Jordan nodded. Without another word, the one with his hand clamped around the female’s throat, used his other hand to slam the butt of his laser down on her head twice. Blood burst in a startling pattern at her temple as she cried out. Another slam and she fell forward on her hands while the intruder followed her forward and beat her several more times until she lay whimpering on the floor.

  Jordan angled the comm in his direction to face the Prime Minister. “Do you understand me now? Every delay will mean your approval to hurt the citizens here. I will not be denied!”

  “You have made your point. I will contact the authorities and find where Arid Samba is at this time.”

  “And arrange for his release!” Jordan snapped. The knuckles of his hand holding the comm turned white as he gripped it. “You have ten minutes to contact me at this comm and confirm that Arid is free and ready to go with us. No tricks or I will shoot to kill.”

  Those around her gasped and choked back cries. After that pronouncement, Jordan threw the comm on the floor. It was sheer luck it didn’t crack as he raked a hand through his hair and began pacing. Two of the guards watched him with neutral expressions while the third who had been tasked with the abuse, pushed the sniveling female back toward them then placed his boot on her back for good measure and kicked. Several Enotians rushed forward and pulled her into their midst.

  Unbelievable. Shaya nibbled at her thumbnail and tried to review best case scenarios in her head. Marlin always said there was an alternative for every action. One just had to think and the answer would be there.

  Right now Shaya wasn’t sure of anything except the need to survive and to make sure each and everyone of these men paid for the terror they instilled this day.

  Chapter 4

  The band on Shaya’s left wrist buzzed. Checking first to make sure no one noticed, she glanced down at her portable comm. It was Marlin’s code. She silenced the vibrating option, wishing with all her heart she could answer her Chosen. With fear radiating from everyone and the air in the room growing stale and stiff, she didn’t dare attempt a hushed message to him.

  Leaning back against the wall from her seated position on the floor, she confirmed the two minutes left on Jordan’s threat. Around her, everyone had also dropped to the floor in wilted slumps against the wall or stretched all out on the floor.

  Sweat glistened many brows, her own shirt damp beneath her arms and at the center of her back. The outfit she’d selected for the day was attractive but not meant for a sustained period in a closed environment with failed temperature controls.

  “Why is it so hot in here? Where are Wes and Carden? The Prime Minister has one minute left!”

  Jordan’s comments grew louder as he walked back and forth in front of them with his hands clenched at his sides. He’d reclaimed his comm from the floor and had it tucked in a front pocket of his pants.

  Shaya discretely wiped at the sweat on her face. The room had grown progressively hotter. She could only assume it was an action taken by the officials in an attempt to unnerve or discomfit Jordan and the intruders.

  One of the three men cornered Jordan and Shaya could hear each word from her position. Others probably could as well.

  “Wes and Craven haven’t answered comms since we came in. Should I go and look for them?”

  Jordan stopped, spun around and scanned the crowd. Shaya jolted when his gaze met hers. “You! Get over here.”

  Straightening her shoulders and refusing to be intimidated, Shaya made her way toward him. “Yes?”

  “Are there Jutaks in the building?”

  Shaya froze, not expecting the question. Obviously, there was a Jutak warrior team in the building since one of the exhibitions today had featured them. Was Jordan not aware? Perhaps he assumed that this celebration didn’t involve one of Enotia’s top military talent.

  Blood thundered through her veins. A dose of adrenaline surged as well to make it a high inducing cocktail. Clearing her throat, Shaya took a steadying breath then looked him directly in the eyes and lied. “No.”

  Jordan stared, his green eyes piercing her with intensity for an uncomfortably long time. More sweat beaded along her arms, leaving her skin sticky.

  “No?” Jordan repeated with an arched flame-colored brow.

  “No,” Shaya stated firmly. She would do nothing to jeopardize the team which could be attempting to rescue them at this very moment.

  Jordan continued to glare and Shaya breathed evenly, meeting him stare for stare. If having children had taught her nothing else, she was excellent at unrelenting eye contact.

  Without looking away from her face, Jordan held up his hand, signaling the attention of one of his men. “Maris, check on Wes and Craven. And find out why the ventilation system is suddenly not working.”

  “Right away.”

  Maris, the dark-haired one, darted out of the room and the door clicked shut behind him.

  Jordan’s upper lip curled and Shaya prepared herself for a physical attack or verbal assault. Doubt flickered in his gaze the longer he focused his attention on her. Relief arrived in the form of the ding from the comm in his hand. Jordan glanced away, breaking the contact and Shaya exhaled in relief though she kept her expression neutral.

  “Prime Minister Revin, have you decided to agree to my request?” he asked in a dark tone.

  Breath suspended, Shaya waited. Laughter exploded from Jordan as he walked away from her. He slid his free hand into his pocket and tapped his foot in an uneven beat. “Good. I was sure you would see things my way. Have Arid waiting at the station. No guards or others with him. He will be leaving on a shuttle arriving shortly.”

  Jordan ended the call and the remaining two males with him whistled loudly. They joined Jordan to clap him on the back, sneering about the authorities and Enotia in general. The cheerful circle lasted a bit until Jordan’s head snapped up. His gaze narrowed on Shaya. Then he spun toward the door.

  “Why isn’t Maris back?”

  His compatriots frowned, hands holding their lasers tightly as they all waited for the door to open. Jordan spoke into his comm. “Maris, check in.”

  Silence.

  Rumbles grew and fanned out behind her, but Shaya didn’t dare turn to take in everyone’s reactions. Her heart sped up and it took every bit of nerve she possessed to maintain her composure. Deep inside she hoped her Chosen was doing whatever possible to see to their children.

  “Maris!” Jordan barked into the comm a second time. Then a third. “Maris, check in!”

  “Should I look for him, Jordan?” The blond male on the left asked, his face pale as he awkwardly shuffled on his feet.

  “Yes. You and Keet.” Jordan tagged the male on his right. As he waited for them to reach the door, Jordan added, “Shoot anyone who dares to get in your way.”

  He flicked a glance at Shaya. “I will do the same if you are involved in this.”

  Shaya swallowed. “I have been in here the entire time. I am not at fault for anything that may or may not have happened.”

  Before she could move, Jordan strode toward her and struck. The smack resounded as the flat of his hand connected with her cheek. Several gasps filled the air. Shaya staggered back on one foot then surged forward. Her fist swung of its own accord and she punched him right in the face. Instinctively, she’d planted her weight behind the blow as Marlin had taught her. Jordan dropped to a knee and cursed as he spit blood onto the polished flooring.

  Pain lit Shaya’s knuckles after the fact. She cradled her sore fist close to her chest and waited.

  Head bowed, Jordan chuck
led roughly. He smoothed back his hair with a glide of his palm and stood. Shaya retreated back a few steps in self-preservation.

  “What is your name?”

  While his tone was reasonable, the look in his eyes was not. The green orbs burned with fury. A violent flush stained his cheeks a deep red. Her gaze was drawn to the single drop of blood formed on his top lip where she must have cut him.

  “Your name!” he roared when she failed to answer.

  “Shaya.” It was all she dared say on the off chance he was aware of Marlin and his affiliation with the government.

  Jordan closed the distance between them and cupped the back of Shaya’s head with one hand and the laser hit her hip as he planted his other hand at her waist. Heart pounding out a rapid beat, Shaya stilled in the odd embrace. Jordan lowered his head and whispered directly in her ear. “If my men do not return, you will be the first I kill.”

  She flinched, then jerked from his hold and snarled, “Good luck.”

  It was a bold thing to say. Shaya knew it, but she also didn’t plan to let him terrorize her.

  ***

  When the sound of steps neared the door, Marlin backed up and kept his knife down by his thigh. The door opened and a lone figure exited. Marlin was on him in an instant, an arm going about his opponent’s throat as he forced him to the floor then straddled him.

  The male below him thrashed and opened his mouth. Marlin slapped a palm over his mouth and pressed the blade to the sensitive curve of his neck and whispered, “Do not.”

  The criminal stilled. Marlin leaned lower. “How many are with you?”

  He eased his hand away slightly for a response. The male gritted out, “It will do you no good. Any attempt will result in loss of life. Are you willing to risk that?”

  Marlin growled and dragged him to his feet, hand clamped around the other male’s mouth. Behind him the whisper of fabric on air had Marlin tensing. When he turned, Taig strode toward him along with another of his team. Both had their faces covered but years of friendship would always enable Marlin to recognize Taig’s body language.

  Without exchanging a word, Taig removed a pair of flexi-cuffs from the loop at his waist and slid them on the intruder and jammed a gag in his mouth before shoving him toward his teammate roughly.

  “What have you got, Alonson?”

  Marlon rolled his eyes though his lips twitched. “I was just about to question him further.”

  As if realizing their whispers might carry, Taig tipped his head back in the direction he’d come. They hustled down the hall and back to the closet of earlier. Taig tapped his ear comm. “Ballroom, first floor. Need eyes, now!”

  All of them gazed at the restrained, and surprisingly docile male.

  “How many are with you?” Taig asked.

  He shrugged, a slight smirk curling his lips.

  Marlin had to resist the urge to put his hands on him. With every budding second, he was more and more certain Shaya was in there with a volatile criminal. After leaving the cleansing room, her first stop would have been the auditorium, seeking him and their children when the attack started.

  Marlin kicked at the lower shelving, causing the items to rattle. Taig glared. Marlin didn’t care. He got in the face of the cuffed prisoner and snatched the gag from his mouth. “Do not think my peaceful ways make me opposed to hurting you. Who are you with? What are you doing with the Enotians inside?”

  Fear skittered across the male’s features. “Jordan wants Arid Samba freed.”

  Marlin froze. Not because the name Jordan meant anything to him. It was the Arid Samba connection that had the blood draining from his face. Arid had been picked up earlier this morning by authorities for transport to a prison planet. Marlin had witnessed and signed the communication when it crossed his desk late the evening before.

  “Knock him out,” Taig directed at his man.

  The other Jutak warrior crouched behind the prisoner and pressed a small cylinder to his throat. He slumped over on a weak cry.

  “I have the Prime Minister on a private comm channel and the Jutak Commander. Arid Samba is not here. There is no way they can meet this Jordan’s demands, Marlin,” Taig rattled off.

  “What does that mean exactly?”

  Taig shook his head, spoke a few words to those on the other end of the comm then met Marlin’s gaze. “There were six attackers. Including this one we have three in custody. We were also able to shut down the temp controls. But none of that will help since my team has been instructed to stand down until another Jutak team can arrive to assist.”

  And have Shaya wait longer? Risk his Chosen on a whim?

  “That is not an option, Taig,” Marlin said simply.

  Taig ripped the black knit mask from his face. A muscle ticked in his prominent jaw. “You don’t think I’m worried about Shaya too, Marlin?!”

  It took effort, but Marlin remained calm. “Then you know we can’t wait. Think of what you know of Shaya, Taig. How long do you think she will last before she attempts to help by stopping this Jordan herself?”

  The Jutak warrior with them snickered. “I am envious. She sounds like a worthy female.”

  “She is,” Taig and Marlin both answered.

  Ignoring the evidence that his friend had still not gotten over his infatuation with Shaya, Marlin snarled and slammed his fist into the wall behind him. “I am not waiting, Taig.”

  They all tensed at the slight cracking sound. One beat, two. No shouts or alarms rang out.

  “There may be something.” Taig paused and stared at the floor as he focused. “Opening the line for the spare comm so Alonson can hear.”

  A click and Marlin’s earbud opened mid-conversation. It was the rest of Taig’s Jutak warrior teammates located somewhere in the building. “We have apprehended two more of the intruders. According to their statements only the leader and another resides in the ballroom. Two weapons between them and roughly fifty hostages from today’s event.”

  Pleasure creased Taig’s face. “Perfect. Make sure they are secure and meet back in the position from earlier.”

  The closet was about to get a lot more crowded.

  Taig faced Marlin. “While we wait, do you have any way to contact Shaya?”

  Marlin didn’t have to strain his memory. He distinctly remembered her wearing it on her left wrist after they’d sex shared in the shower. “Her comm. She usually keeps it on vibrate.”

  Taig’s smile widened. “This is turning out better than we could have hoped. Comm Shaya.”

  Marlin pulled out his handheld communication device and signaled Shaya’s comm. He raised the volume so they could all listen in. It clicked several times, but no answer. Disappointment swelled. “She didn’t answer earlier either.”

  Taig shook his head. “No worries. It would have been too easy to think she could answer safely. Does she have messaging capability?”

  Marlin was already tapping out a brief message to Shaya when a single line scrolled over the tiny screen. ‘I love you and Torkel and Lissi very much.’

  Cramps seized his stomach and pure adrenaline rushed through Marlin’s veins. HE showed his friend. “We need to act now.”

  Taig stared. Without asking Marlin any question, he pointed at the Jutak warrior with them. “Stay here and watch him.”

  Then he flicked his fingers at Marlin and the door. “Go.”

  Marlin snatched the door open and came face to face with the remaining three Jutak warriors from Taig’s team. Between them were two bound males, faces flushed and hair in disarray.

  Taig took charge. “Asaan, Rordan with me. Adin stay and help cover the prisoners.”

  Marlin’s heart tripped, but he followed Taig and the other two. For large males, their steps were light and if not for Marlin would have gone unheard. Fortunately, the main hall was empty when they arrived. With his back to the wall, Taig scanned the hall once more before pointing toward his teammates then the ceiling. “Go up. Try the vent system and see if you can get us a
view into that room.”

  Brisk nods and then they disappeared around the corner.

  “What are you thinking?” Marlin asked when it was just the two of them.

  “I need to know the positioning of this Jordan. Asaan and Rordan are sniper level. If possible, they can end this standoff with a single shot and everyone walks away alive today.”

  Marlin fervently hoped that was true. The comm in his ear activated.

  “Slight problem, Team Leader.”

  “Go,” Taig said.

  “The target has a female too close to risk the shot.”

  It had to be his Chosen. A sinking sensation swirled in his belly as he whispered, “Shaya.”

  Chapter 5

  The glint from one of the grates in the ceiling caught Shaya’s attention. Without moving her head, she risked a quick glance up. Her position was too precarious for anything more.

  “Answer me! Anyone!”

  Jordan kept a tight grasp about Shaya’s neck, his eyes on his comm as he waited for a response from his people. The silence was thick enough to coat Shaya’s tongue in terror. Fury drew the skin over his cheeks taut, making the bones of his face stand out in stark relief.

  He lowered his comm to his side and tightened the fingers of his free hand around Shaya’s throat. Her pulse leaped and tapped a desperate beat against her skin. Jordan turned slowly to face her. Shaya gathered her courage, prepared to do whatever necessary to stop Jordan.

  “Looks like you have an appointment with destiny today,” he growled.

  A shiver rolled down her spine. Working her throat, she took a moment to speak due to the pressure from his hand. “You have one too.”

  His brow crinkled as he tried to puzzle her remark. Shaya jerked hard at his hold and brought her hands up to slam her palms on the sides of his head. In the same motion, she brought up her knee and slammed it as hard as she could at the region of his crotch.

  He roared and released her as he bent over. Shaya rolled as soon as she was free and pushed herself backward as far as she could. The grate above fell to the floor with a clatter and the zip zip of a laser sounded. Jordan dropped beside the grate on a scream.