Monday. Secondary Safe House, Beirut, Lebanon.CARLA SAT BACK on her heels and stared at the bathroom. She could easily imagine this being the height of fashion when it was built with the hand-painted tiles and desert colors. Over the years it hadn't aged well, but with a little scrubbing it at least seemed more inviting.Vaughn's deep voice resonated off the stone and tile. "You going to spend all day in here?"She yelped and twisted around, sitting down hard in a still damp puddle.He stood in the doorway, hands up and a chuckle curving his handsome lips into an inviting smile."It's not cool to sneak up on someone like that." She threw her rag at his boot."Sorry." He offered her a hand. "Any chance you're finished in here?"She took his offered hand and let him pull her to her feet. She turned to once more examine her handiwork."It's good enough, I suppose.""Does it only have those squatty potty things?" He stepped past her and groaned.It was Carla's turn
Tuesday. Secondary Safe House, Beirut, Lebanon.VAUGHN PEERED OUT the windows at the street, looking into the darkest shadows. The gear waiting for them at this location was bare bones. There weren't enough cameras to cover each street, entrance and blind spot. Which meant they had to rely on people watching things and everyone was running on fumes.The timer on his phone went off again, signaling another fifteen minutes had passed.He reached up and tapped the comm. "Hey, B. How's it looking?""All quiet," Brenden replied."You good? Need coffee or anything?""Nope.""Sorry you got dragged into the overnight shift.""It's all good."Vaughn ground his teeth together.It wasn't good, and they all knew it.They each had their demons. No one did what they did and slept easy at night. Dreams were full of friends they'd lost, decisions they should have made, moments they'd hesitated. But Brenden's demons were worse. Which was why they'd restructured their team so he
Vaughn remained where he was, watching the man come closer. And closer.The man did a sudden left turn down a narrow street and passed out of sight. Something about that coat still sat wrong with Vaughn.He returned to the salon with its view of the street along the front of the house and took up a post in the corner. From this position he could see where the narrow street met with the main thoroughfare.The minute dragged on and the man didn't come into view on any camera."Something's not right. Where'd that guy go?" Vaughn asked."Maybe he works in one of those shops?" Brenden replied.It was a logical thought, but something about the guy didn't sit right with Vaughn. Or maybe he was paranoid.He leaned left a bit to try to get a better view of the main road, but the same tree still blocked his line of sight.A light flashed out of the corner of his eye. He moved, reacting on instinct and threw himself back against the wall. The window shattered, right where he'd bee
Tuesday. Horsh Beirut Park, Beirut, Lebanon.CARLA STARED OUT the window at the green iron fence bordering the triangular park. She spied a concession area with red tables and chairs positioned just under the trees. Down the road a ways she spied dozens of people gathered doing yoga, greeting the morning sun.She clenched her thighs together, her hands sandwiched between them, to try to quell the tremors.In half an hour she was going to meet Jared and Ashton's kidnapper. By herself.Sure, Vaughn would be out of sight keeping an eye on her, but she wouldn't be able to hold his hand or anything. The idea of this swap was something out of her nightmares. She wouldn't even be able to speak the same language as these men.What if they had demands or wanted something more?Vaughn's hand closed around her knee and squeezed. "The plan from the top. Recite it to me?"She sighed though inwardly she appreciated his distraction. "Again?""Yes. The more you know it the less y
Tuesday. Beirut, Lebanon.VAUGHN GRIPPED THE wheel and tried to both watch the traffic and for any sign of Carla. With Nolan unable to use his right leg, it had fallen to Vaughn to take up the keys."Where is she?" he snarled."Quiet," Grant snapped."Is Zain tracking her? Do we know who that man is?" Vaughn had chased the bike out of the park and down a whole block on foot before traffic had opened up and allowed the motorcycle to get away."I understand," Grant said."What?" Vaughn wanted to reach over and take the phone. They needed answers.Nolan leaned forward between the seats and muttered, "Chill out."Grant lowered the phone and tapped the screen. "You're on speaker with Nolan, Vaughn and myself. Go.""Lepta Team?" The voice on the other end was Zain, but he sounded wrong. Not at all like the guy Vaughn had heard over the years telling them how to pull off what amounted to magic to get a job done. "You are to head to the US Embassy for your own safety. From
Tuesday. Unknown Location, Beirut, Lebanon.CARLA'S HEAD SWAM and everything spun. Her stomach clenched and for a moment she thought she was going to be sick. She swallowed and tasted bile. Or was that fear?The motorcycle slowed, and they passed out of the sunlight into darkness. Her eyes stopped throbbing, but that was only one ache in a long list since getting hauled onto the motorcycle.Should she try to throw herself off the bike again?The first time hadn't gone so well for her. But she'd tried, just like Melody had told her to. The difference was that whoever this guy was, nothing seemed to surprise him.Before her muddled brain could decide on a course of action, the bike came to an abrupt stop. She lurched forward, catching herself on the handlebars. Her captor spat a few words then roughly grabbed her by the hair."Ow! Hey, I'm cooperating." She grasped him by the wrist in an effort to ease the pain.He used the hold to drag her off the bike, nearly toppling
Carla's mouth dried up.He did not want her to...?He spoke more, gesturing at his shoulder with his free hand."Dude, I do not know what I'm doing," she said.He replied as he had, in words she didn't know then followed it up by straightening his arm and pointing the gun at her.She flinched. What were the chances he'd bleed out before she could finish? And could she use this as an opportunity to injure him further thereby allowing her to get away?"Okay." She swallowed and took the tweezers. "This is a really bad idea."He didn't speak, just pointed the gun at her."Great. Just what I wanted to do today." She clicked the ends of the tweezers together and braced herself.Up close the wound was worse. Much worse. Bits of flesh and muscle were churned up. She was fairly certain that bit of yellowish white was bone. And this guy was standing there as though it didn't hurt in the slightest."Fucking hell this is gross," she muttered.Carla braced her hand against his
Tuesday. Beirut, Lebanon."CARLA? CARLA!"Vaughn stared straight ahead, but he didn't see the side of the building or the curb he'd nearly jumped trying to get off the road to listen to the call once he realized who it was.He pulled the phone away from his face.The call was gone."What the hell? What did she say?" Jamie twisted in his seat to face Vaughn."We need to trace that call. I need..." Vaughn's mind came to a screeching halt.They couldn't call the home office. They shouldn't even reach out to an American number for fear of leading the authorities straight to him."I'm getting someone." Jamie had his burner out and pressed to his ear."Vaughn? Hey, Vaughn." Brenden leaned forward between the seats. "What'd she say?""She's alive. Oh, God. She's alive." Vaughn braced his hands on the steering wheel and held tight to that one fact."Yeah, hey Luke." Jamie turned away from them. "We need support over here. You know our situation?"Vaughn picked his he