“Easy. I’m here.” Gage entered in just his boxer briefs and boots, his gun held by his side.
She let out a relieved breath and turned to her back.
After placing the weapon on the chair and shaking out his wet hair, he closed the door and strode over to the cooker. “I added more wood about ten minutes ago, and I’m boiling water from the river. He pointed at the pot. We don’t have much firewood left. I couldn’t find food. Critters aren’t out in the storm.”
Moisture droplets glistened on his tanned skin, and Chantal admired his carved physique. His side looked raw and painful. “You remind me of a wet dog, coming in from a muddy walk.”
“Woof.” Gage shot her a saucy wink before turning and warming his back.
“You went out like that?” She gestured towards his wet gray briefs, trying not to linger on what lay beneath. He’d also r
Rajin didn’t like the news. The ambassador bitch and her daughter had escaped the ambush. Harris seemed confident in tracking down the women. His soldier was a loyal dog, trailing their scent. But Rajin couldn’t remain on Sri Lankan soil. He trusted his network, but one betrayal could lead to his arrest, and without that USB, he had little leverage over the president. He glanced at his Rolex before taking a seat on a leather sofa. A maid walked by. “How long must I wait? Are they done packing?” His loafer tapped against the coffee table impatiently. “I’ll check, sir.” She rushed towards the stairs and Rajin admired her shapely ass. He’d fucked her a few times—along with the rest of the female help. They all bore the marks. Rajin wasn’t a gentle lover. He’d tried with Pearl—his dedicated wife. But she’d never seen the monster below the surface—the man who got excited with thoughts of torture and death. That’s why he’d recorded his “interrogations.” Watching th
“Come quick! It’s Chantal.”Gage froze, and his heart paused at Alexis’s words. He’d been gone ten minutes, and he’d kept close to the women—within shouting distance.“What happened?” Breaking into a run, Gage rushed towards a frantic Alexis.“Something bit her. I think a snake. I thought she was joking. But when she collapsed and—”“Where?” Stumbling over a root, Gage spotted Chantal lying in the leaves. “Honey! Oh, God. No!”“It doesn’t make sense. Unless she’s dehydrated. She’s not waking up!”Alexis’s babbled words barely registered. His brain screamed, and Gage tried not to lose his shit.“I placed her in the recovery position. She’s not responding. Does she have a puls
Panting against the dizziness, Gage tried to push himself up. His heart hammered in terror when he thought of Chantal—in the fields—being chased by a fucking assassin. Alexis—Jona—was well-trained but had made one fatal mistake. She hadn’t given Gage the full dose of whatever drug she’d probably bought on the black market. And now, he’d hunt. Snapping Jona’s pretty neck would be a satisfying revenge—especially if she hurt his woman. The best he could do was get to his knees. Roaring in frustration, Gage crawled from cover and rolled down the hill. His damn legs wouldn’t work, and he couldn’t slow his descent. His head slammed against a rock, and blood poured from a sliced-up cheek. Another shot sounded as he rolled to his stomach. Had Jona found her? If he lost Chantal, his soul would crumble to dust. “Hold it together. She needs you.” ***
His chest felt like it would burst as he shoved to his feet and staggered after the women. Spotting Jona in the distance, Gage sped up and fell in his haste to save Chantal. The drug felt like syrup in his veins.Gage saw Jona raise the gun as he pounded through the field. Chantal knelt before the skilled slayer, and her shoulders straightened defiantly. Too far off, he was out of time. Gage felt it in his bones. Jona shifted her stance—straightened her elbow at the last second. Even as he flung himself across uneven ground, Gage knew he’d failed. With one last futile shout, he called out to his love and closed his eyes against the horror.The gunshot echoed across the valley, shattering his soul. Gage’s foot caught on a root, and he flew, landing and sliding to a final stop. Twenty feet away. Tea shrubbery blocked his view, and Gage rose to face a killer. Two pairs of eyes turned his way. Chantal still sat on he
Sri Lanka.Jaffna Peninsula.They’d walked for just over a mile from the chopper landing site, and Chantal stumbled to keep up. Approaching the thirty-five-hour mark—aside from half a protein bar—she hadn’t eaten. Desperately thirsty and exhausted from her two-day ordeal, Chantal’s weakening body felt uncooperative. All she cared about was Gage. Staring numbly ahead through eyes swollen from tears, she prayed he lived. He’d lain bleeding, beaten and surrounded the last time she’d seen him. He had to have found a way. Gage wouldn’t give up on fighting for his life or for her rescue. The alternative would destroy her heart—her soul.They’d flown north and had stopped once to refuel. Chantal guessed—from what she’d seen on the approach—that they were on the outskirts of a coastal town which looked familiar. The
Gage sagged against a pillar, an empty water bottle crushed in his fisted hand. His bruised body screamed as he waited for ibuprofen to kick in. Not that the meds would make much of a difference. Kohen had patched up Gage’s head and cheek, sealing the lacerations with glue and steri strips. Now, they stood outside the tea factory, surrounded by Sri Lankan Special Forces while awaiting exfil. Ignoring his exhaustion, magnified by worrying grief, Gage focused on his team and mentally cataloged their capability. With or without them, he’d be heading up the rescue operation.His MSD team would still be the first choice, but as a rule of thumb, the host nation would have to weigh in and give permission. They couldn’t allow American Federal Agents to run rogue in their country. How would the Sri Lankan President work around this shitstorm? Would he block rescue efforts? Was Rajin in touch with the president, and did he know about Chantal’s kidnapping and how
Chantal paused to examine her bleeding hands before switching from the window to her chain. She knew, if she slept anymore, she’d waste time. She began a fresh count to five hundred, and would switch tasks unless she made progress with either the bracelet around her ankle or the chain link.It took an agonizing moment to lower herself to the ground. Her body screamed with exhaustion and relentless pain. Was this how her mom felt every day?And Chantal had wanted a break—thought about walking away? What kind of daughter was she, to abandon her impaired mother, to run off and “find herself”?Except she’d found herself—with Gage. Each moment they’d spent together was etched in her shattered mind. For the hundredth time, she analyzed their last moments together. And Alexis… the way she’d looked before pulling the trigger and deliberately firing past Chanta
As they converged on the courtyard, a mercenary fired from the shadows and Gage aimed and took out the threat. The man fell just as Chantal’s scream alerted them to her location. Gage switched to berserker mode, abandoning his training as he rushed the door. “Chants!”Gannon wrestled him away. “I’ll use an explosive breach. Hang back!”“Fucking hurry! I’ll do it.”“We need steady hands.” Gannon knelt beside the door and pulled out the putty. He worked quickly and stepped back.“Clear!” Gannon yelled, and the door blew inwards. Gage followed, rushing into the small space. His heart paused as he took in the carnage. Blood pooled on the rough floor, and Harris lay across Chantal with a blade to her neck. Gage recognized the knife as his own and savage regret surfaced.“One more step, and I’ll kill her.”Gage gave direction. “Chants, don’t