Sunday. Empty Storefront, Beirut, Lebanon.CARLA TUGGED AT the sweater and shifted in her seat. When they'd agreed to this meeting, they hadn't considered where it would take place. Now she wished she'd done more than a momentary search.Most of the buildings they past were dark. The storefronts were covered in paper. Not many pedestrians came or went. The few cars they passed were older model and beaten up. Desperation hung in the air like a rancid odor. Of course these people hated Ashton what with the way the news reported his involvement in the oil deals.The hired care eased to a stop."Is this it?" she asked."I believe so." Ashton leaned forward and began speaking with the driver in Arabic.Carla pulled the scarf up over her head. Lebanon wasn't a restrictive country when it came to how women dressed. She could wear most anything she pleased and not cause a stir. However, the man she'd spoken to sounded older. It was a guess, but she was willing to assume that who
Sunday. Toy Town, Beirut, Lebanon.FAREZ FOCUSED ON keeping his face calm. He couldn't give anything away to these people. It was the proverbial give an inch, take a mile situation. But...How had he missed this stuff?He'd been researching and looking into the potential that oil might bring to their community, but he'd missed everything else.This report on fishing, if it was true, it would destroy his cousin's fishing business. That in turn would mean local restaurants that served sea food wouldn't have anything to cook. More businesses would close up. And then there were the reports, stories from other countries who were just as hungry for an influx of cash into their economy. People just like Farez who'd seen oil as their golden ticket, only to be skipped over.Oil was an answer, but maybe it wasn't the right one.Farez laid the tablet down and folded his hands together.This was a lot to process.How did he sell the others on Ashton's plans? How did he explain i
Sunday. Toy Town, Beirut, Lebanon.VAUGHN GUNNED THE motorcycle and leaned forward over the handlebars. He'd never carjacked anyone before, but he'd also never been this desperate to follow an errant client.Carla had no idea what she'd gotten herself into."The phone signal is close. You're almost there," Melody said through the comms.He'd been driving around aimlessly, working toward the area where the rest of the team was focused on, without luck. Moments ago Ashton called Melody directly. It was impossible to hear what was going on, but it gave him a destination."Turn right and you're there. Looks like the second building on your right. Jamie is three minutes away. The rest of the team is ten minutes out."Vaughn swerved around a familiar black town car waiting at the curb then whipped the bike around the turn, his back wheel skidding. He vaulted off the bike and let it crash to the pavement.He had a job to do.Cold fury coursed through his veins as he drew bo
Sunday. Safe House, Beirut, Lebanon.CARLA SQUEEZED THE straps of her purse tight to keep them from shaking. The elevator was far too cramped with the three hulking men surrounding her.No one had spoken since they'd left the toy shop.Not a word.It was safe to assume everyone had heard her admit to having sex with Vaughn.She knew how that must look to them. Ashton's girlfriend and their team mate. It was awkward for her, but what about Vaughn? What would happen to him?The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.The big, silent scary dude stepped off first then waved her to follow him.Brenden. That was Vaughn had called him.There was something about Brenden's eyes, a darkness that sucked up all the light. He'd seen things, likely done things, that haunted him.The men escorted her down the hall and into the condo.Melody stood inside waiting for them."I need someone on surveillance." Melody's gaze landed on Carla. "We need to talk.""Not right now."
Carla focused on keeping her breathing slow. Everything else would fall in line. She wouldn't let them rattle her.Grant was a hostile partner. She would not yield ground to him because that would only make him devalue her input. He wasn't reasonable."I think it would be best if we sat," Melody said and braced her hands on the table."Start when how and when you made contact with the kidnapper." Grant made no move toward the table."Thank you, Melody, but I'll stand." Carla never took her eyes off Grant. "I reached out to Farez last night when you refused to listen to my evaluation of the situation. Your brute force approach didn't work. It was time to try something else.""And you thought-what? You could do this job better than us?"Carla made herself take a deep breath. Grant was hostile. Thanks to Vaughn, she understood the tension. Grant wanted to do their job to the best of his ability, and he saw her as thwarting that. No one wanted to see anyone kidnapped out from u
Sunday. Sodeco Auto Repair, Beirut, Lebanon.HANI SHUDDERED. HE could still feel the hooks of the stun gun in his chest and every few minutes it felt as though he were being shocked all over again, albeit with a much lower voltage."Put them in the cage." He gestured at the chain-link fence at the back of the garage. On normal days they stowed things like bikes or expensive parts there, things that could be easily stolen.Tonight it was a cell.He lowered onto a rolling stool and watched the others secure the hostages. They'd done a lot of shit in their time working for the boss. Normally smaller stuff. Guys like Hani and his friends hadn't proven themselves to be trusted with the important jobs.They were going to prove themselves now.Not only were they going to follow through for the suits and hand-deliver the Americans to them, but they were going to manage to get paid, too.Someone would pay for the first hostage, the one the suits didn't care about. All Hani had
Monday. Safe House, Beirut, Lebanon.CARLA COULDN'T KEEP her eyes shut any longer. She'd resisted waking up because she knew she wouldn't like the reality she was living in.She was alone.Time to face the day.She drew in a deep breath and opened her eyes. The room was bathed in a soft light. She'd never shut the blackout curtain.That was Ashton's job.The muscles in her chest constricted, making it hard to breathe. She rolled onto her side and drew her knees up. The two anchors in her life were missing. For the longest time it had been just her and Ashton taking care of each other. Then there was Jared, and it was like he'd always belonged there. They fit.And now they were gone.Selfishly she wished Vaughn were there if for no other reason than to hold her. But she doubted he'd speak to her today. In fact, he'd be leaving very soon and chances were slim she'd ever see him again.Carla turned her face into the pillows and squeezed her eyes shut.Crying wouldn'
Monday. Beirut Terrace Garden Condos, Beirut, Lebanon.FAREZ HAD TO make things right. He had to do something.He stood on the sidewalk and stared up at the fancy condo building in the bustling downtown area. He'd seen the black SUVs and followed them this time back here. With any luck, Ashton and Carla were somewhere up there. It was their assistant Farez was worried about.Hani was a thug. A troublemaker. And Farez didn't trust him.What if Hani had them all?It was a situation Farez didn't want to think about too much.Someone bumped into him. Farez stumbled sideways into another large man before a hard object was thrust against his ribs."Don't move. Don't scream. Walk," the man he'd stumbled into said."What?" Farez glanced over his shoulder and met the gaze of a blonde haired green eyed American."Move," the blonde man barked.Farez let the two men guide him across the street toward the condo's entrance. "I need to speak with Ashton. Or Carla.""Like hell