Wednesday. Kool Cafe, Ibiza Town, Ibiza.MELODY RETREATED TO A small table at the back of the café while Grant got them drinks. Neither of them had been able to reach Riley, Nolan, Vaughn or Brenden. She knew Grant had tried to reach their boss, but hadn't gotten through either. Her battery was just about dead so she'd turned her phone off to conserve battery.She dumped the contents of the side pocket of her bag out on the table and stared at the collection of random stuff they'd taken from the men who'd attacked them.A couple phones.Bottles of unmarked pills.Bits of paper.Some local currency.And a wad of bills with the words BANQUE DU LIBAN printed across the top."Shit," she muttered."What?" Grant sank down across from her and set two bottles of water and two wrapped sandwiches down.She picked up the wad of cash, Lebanese pounds, and handed looked at Grant.For several moments he stared at the money. His brows drew down and his lips parted."They we
Wednesday. Hard Rock Hotel, Ibiza Town, Ibiza.THE DAY STRETCHED ON; the hours seeming to last days as the party raged outside. The news hadn't told them anything new since the first newscast except the names of the victims were bystanders who'd gotten caught in the crossfire. Wherever his team was, Grant had to believe that they'd gotten away and they'd all connect in the morning.It was going to be a long damn night.Grant glanced at Melody sitting at the table bent over a book of some sort she'd found in a drawer. They hadn't spoken much, not since she'd recovered from the initial shock of it all.Melody's strength, her resilience, was something Grant admired about her. She was cool under pressure. He hated that it had taken him almost a year to realize how valuable she was not only to the team, but him. He'd been an ass in those early months, but he'd said his apologies. He'd believed they were past that.So where had they gone wrong?He studied the back of her head,
Grant reminded himself. This was a litmus test. Nothing more.His dick twitched in protest.Her hips shifted, grinding their sexes together. He groaned his appreciation but forced his hand to still against her skin.This was just a kiss.Melody pulled back just enough for their lips to break contact. She was breathing heavily. This close he could see just how dilated her eyes were.She wanted him. He knew it. He was right.This was the proof he needed. One way or another, he was going to win her back. So long as she wanted him, there was hope.Melody fisted his shirt, dragging it up his chest.He held his arms up and let her strip the T-shirt off him. Her gaze left his face, she looked down at him, running her fingertips along the tattoo just under his collar bone. Out of their whole team, she was the only one who'd seen it. They were words he didn't share with anyone but her.She flattened her hands on his chest, smoothing them down to his ribs while her hips did thi
Wednesday. Private Yacht, Ibiza.LIMAN STARED DOWN AT the two men bound and gagged, secured to a bulkhead."Where are the other four?" he asked Khaled.The man fidgeted. It appeared even he was feeling the pressure. Good. "The men are still looking, sir."Liman grimaced. This plan only worked if he had all of them. He needed bodies to barter with, to prove his point.He kneeled next to the big one, the one who'd nearly taken out four men.Liman switched to English. "Where are your friends?"The man just stared at Liman."This will go easier for you if you cooperate."They both knew the prisoner wasn't going to speak.Liman patted the man's cheek then straightened. It was time to handle this personally."Move them to the shore. I want a report ready by the time we land.""Yes, sir."Khaled scurried off to relay the order, leaving Liman alone.He took the stairs back up to the deck and stared out at the ocean. A few years ago when he'd been approached about
Thursday. Private Residence, Ibiza Town, Ibiza.GRANT GLANCED UP AND down the well-kept suburban street. It was late morning, almost early afternoon, and there wasn't a soul to be seen other than him and Melody in this part of town. Not awake and coherent at least. He had counted at least four people sleeping on lawns and a few signs advertising rooms for rent.How had Nolan and Vaughn wound up all the way out here? Had Melody read the note right?The address the internet comment had led them to was clear on the other side of the city from where they'd been attacked."This is it." Melody gestured at a large, square white house.Unlike some of its neighbors, this house appeared recently renovated. The exterior was pristine, almost spotless. A few palm trees swayed in the breeze. Wooden pergolas created exterior living spaces, one of which appeared to be a bedroom for people who didn't mind sleeping on lawn chairs. A collection of beer bottles circled them like some kind of
They tip-toed through the first-floor rooms finding nothing but passed out partiers. Their missing team members were nowhere to be seen."Upstairs?" Melody whispered.Grant ground his molars together. He wasn't keen on being boxed in, but if that was where their people were, that was where they were going.He palmed the gun in the waistband of his shorts and wished once more for the comfort of his jeans and boots.Together they climbed to the second floor. A toilet flushed. The faint sounds of music came from one of the rooms along with a few hushed voices.The house wasn't going to be quiet for long.They needed to find the guys and get out. There was an itch developing between Grant's shoulder blades. Nothing good ever came from that kind of funny feeling. He couldn't put his finger on what it was bothering him, he just knew he didn't want to be on this stairwell with Melody as a target.He pulled his weapon from his shorts and rounded the landing to the second floor.
Thursday. Hospital Can Misses, Ibiza.MELODY PAID THE DRIVER using some of the cash they'd lifted off the bodies. It was the only disposable money they had.She could feel Grant's displeasure rolling off him. What with the attacks yesterday he was in hyper cautionary mode. That did not work well with Vaughn's delicate health situation. Things in the cab had gotten very tense when they'd clashed over where to be dropped off.Melody had won that argument. There was no way Vaughn was going to walk a block to the hospital just so they could have the distance to observe people loitering around the doors. Melody had overruled him on the grounds that Vaughn was getting worse by the minute. Plus, if there were people stationed outside the emergency department looking for them there wasn't a thing they could do about it. This way they had the best chance at getting inside the hospital where people and security officers might offer a little protection.The main hospital on the island
GRANT PACED THE WAITING room. He had different points to hit. If he walked over to the fountains, he could see the shop across the street. There still wasn't any sign of Melody or Nolan, but they had a lot of shopping to do. If he paced to the vending machines, he had a clear line of sight into the parking lot. When he walked back to the entrance, he could peer down the halls, deeper in the hospital. All of this without ever losing sight of Vaughn.Not that he was going anywhere.The man had barely moved a muscle since sitting down. His head was tipped back, hands pressed to his stomach. Grant was pretty certain he'd never heard so much silence from Vaughn, even when he was sleeping. The guy was always running his mouth.How many times had Grant prayed for a little peace and quiet?He'd listen to all of Vaughn's bullshit right now if it meant he was well.This was a disaster.What was taking Melody so long?He wheeled around and peered toward the shop. He should have neve
Three Months Later. Aegis Group Offices, Seattle, Washington.MELODY PLACED HER SERVICE weapon in the case and clicked the lid shut. This was the real moment for her when she got to switch off from a job. Used to it was when they turned a newly rescued asset over to whoever had paid to have them rescued, be that family, coworkers or other loved ones. However, after Ibiza everything had changed.She smiled at the newly hired munitions clerk and slid the case over. Unlike the guys she didn't feel the need to keep her weapons at home."I'm done with this. Thanks," she said."There's the sharp shooter," Vaughn said coming into the small room, Nolan and Riley bringing up the rear.Melody flushed and inwardly preened. That had been a rather exceptional shot there at the end."It was just a shot." She rolled her eyes and leaned an elbow on the counter as the guys all requested their own secure cases. "What are you three doing?""Carla's birthday," Vaughn said as if that expla
Tuesday. Forgery Front, Chicago, Illinois.MELODY WANTED NOTHING MORE than to let Grant take over. He was good at that. It was kind of his thing. But she knew he wasn't on Ethan's side. No one was. They didn't understand him. Not that she did either, but after spending a few days around him she had some insight to the man, he'd become.But first...She took Grant's face in her hands and pulled him down for a quick, hard kiss."I missed you," she whispered."You're safe." He squeezed her.She nodded then let go of him and turned her attention on Ethan.The man had taken two central mass bullets. He needed a damn doctor.She grabbed Grant's hand. No matter what came next, she wanted him by her side. She marched across the small space to where Ethan leaned on the only still-standing desk. Nolan had his gun trained on Ethan while a man she didn't recognize spoke to him."Who are you?" She stepped between Ethan and the newcomer. "Why aren't you getting him a doctor?"
Tuesday. Forgery Front, Chicago, Illinois.MELODY STOOD FROZEN TO the spot, the visual of the crackling electricity up lighting the faces of Ethan and Liman burned into her mind. It was like something out of an action movie.Ethan hauled back and rammed the bathroom door with his shoulder. He roared his rage.Liman was trapped. There was no way out of that bathroom. Eventually Ethan would get in or Liman would have to come out. Either way, it was going to be an explosive conflict.This was her chance to get out of here. The back door was unlocked. She could slip out and be gone. Call the cops, Grant, anyone more capable to deal with this. And yet she remained rooted to the spot, unable and maybe a little unwilling to move.They'd already left Ethan once and look where that got him.Ethan planted his back against the wall and kicked. She heard the pop of hinges. Another kick and the door clattered to the floor. Her stomach clenched. Ethan shoved off the wall, only to be h
Tuesday. Aegis Group Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois.GRANT PUSHED UP OFF the cot. Some thoughtful person had brought four of them into the ops room at some point. He'd actually managed half an hour of sleep. It was better than he'd gotten trying to crash back in his room. Something about being near the constant buzz of activity helped ease his mind.He stretched, paying attention to the twinges of muscle protesting. The soreness was worse now post-crash.How was Melody feeling? Did she have any injuries?Watching the video, the ambulance had more or less driven off the road and tipped over. With any luck she wasn't badly injured.Grant gave Marco and Luke a wide berth. Both men had chewed his ass out for potentially risking Hannah and running into a situation by himself. Grant wasn't keen on rehashing that. Instead headed for the computer in the corner where Ghost had set himself up. Most people avoided him, which was fine for Grant. He didn't have to like the guy to use
Tuesday. Hotel, Chicago, Illinois.LIMAN LAID OUT EVERYTHING he'd spent the last thirty-six hours gathering. When he'd left their safe house he'd wanted to take supplies with him, but didn't dare beyond some cash. All he'd had was what he was wearing, some jewelry and a couple things he knew he could hawk at the pawn shop around the corner.It had taken some work hustling the goods he had, turning them into more profitable items, but he had a couple thousand in US dollars, three new to him guns and a small collection of ammunition, and if all went as planned, in another day he'd have a passport that would grant him an escape from this dammed country.He knew he couldn't go home. That bridge was burned. As soon as his government learned about the utter disaster, they'd want to bring him in for questioning. It wouldn't end in a simple debrief. There were no answers he could give his superiors that they'd accept. The only true end would be Liman's death.He had no intention of
Tuesday. Unknown.MELODY'S TOES HURT.That was her first coherent thought as her mind rose from the groggy sleep of the dead. She remained exactly where she was, as if even her subconscious was aware that there was a predator nearby.The handcuff secured to her left wrist bit into her skin and her fingers were numb, no doubt from the way she'd been laying.She strained to listen harder. There was no sound of traffic or horns. She couldn't even hear someone walking around, the whish of fabric or the soft sounds of someone breathing.If she didn't know better, she'd think she was alone.What did she smell?The air was musty and she recalled a vague memory from last night that included a sneezing fit."I know you're awake," a man said slowly.He was so close his voice seemed to rumble across her skin.Melody sucked in a breath and her eyes popped open.Ethan sat next to the bed, his clasped hands resting on the edge of the mattress. He was watching her."Jesus."
Monday. Aegis Group Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois.GRANT KEPT STARING AT the map, as if it would suddenly reveal where Melody was. He knew it wouldn't, but as the hours ticked by his hope was beginning to wane. Eventually they'd get a lead. They always did. But would it be too late for Melody?"I know who he is," Gavin announced.Grant straightened and stared at the younger man holding his tablet up like a beacon."And?" Marco prompted.Gavin referenced the tablet screen. "Liman Fahed. Intelligence officer for the General Directorate of General Security.""And that tells us, what?" Grant asked."A name is a start," Ghost said.Grant ground his teeth together and focused on the map.A name was just a name, especially when they didn't know how to find the man.He'd hoped that with Ghost's arrival, they might make some sort of forward movement on locating Melody, but they were still stuck in a holding pattern.They needed a lead."So I guess it's not useful to
Monday. Unknown, Chicago, Illinois.MELODY KNEW SHE WAS dozing. She hadn't actually fallen asleep, even if the odd, twilight state between sleep and wakefulness made her question that knowledge. Exhaustion had won out, more or less. But she couldn't relax enough to become totally unaware.A soft jangle of metal lured her consciousness back into the land of the living. It wasn't a suspicious noise. More like she'd moved and maybe disrupted the coil of chain. Or Ethan had finally decided to stop playing at being a statue.Thinking the man's name caused Melody to shiver. She opened her eyes, blinking into the relative darkness. The light filtering in around the door from the next room over provided enough light for her to make out shapes.Ethan was no longer sitting.He stood. Judging by the way his shoulders hunched, his back was to her, his attention on the handcuff securing him to the wall.The chain jangled again. He grunted.The hair on the back of her neck stood up.
Sunday. Aegis Group Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois.GRANT STARED AT HIS new phone. Zain had a bundle of them delivered via a courier about an hour ago. Since Aegis Group hadn't contacted Lepta Team's family beyond a few of the guy's girlfriends, it was imperative they have a means of communicating.The gut-punch had been opening up his photo gallery to see pictures of Melody. They'd gone to a nice dinner last week before leaving on the job. She'd looked beautiful in a goldish-pink dress that had shimmered. She'd rolled her eyes when he took a picture of her with the city lights behind her.Zain was nothing if not thorough. Of course their new phones would be updated with all their information and preferences, right down to the custom sound Grant had picked for Melody's texts.He tipped his head back and stared at the ceiling.Following the outburst earlier Grant had opted to wait in the hall where he wouldn't be tempted to stick his nose in things and slow people down.