Page 54 of Hot Soldier's Rescue

Perhaps another ten minutes passed in silence, Drago texting sporadically with someone, and Lentano’s man scowling ever more darkly as the text conversation continued.

Finally, the lieutenant couldn’t stand it any longer and blurted, “Who are you communicating with?”

Drago answered lightly, “One of my big clients.”

Elise grinned. The implication was clear: the Army of Freedom was small potatoes in his world. Perhaps the lieutenant would have made a snarky remark in return, but just then the elevator door opened and a dozen men streamed into the lobby. Her breath caught. They were big, mean-looking and armed to the last man if the bulges under their jackets were any indication.

Drago studied the group for a moment and then unerringly stepped toward one of the men standing inconspicuously to one side. “Eduardo Lentano. Finally, we meet.”

The man frowned. “How did you know which one I was?”

“My business requires me to read people.” He added gently, “I’m very good at my job.”

“Good? You have no references. You have no reputation. You come into my territory and claim to be some big badass weapons broker. Why should I do business with you?”

Drago’s stance was relaxed…almost too relaxed. He looked ready to erupt into violence at the first provocation. “If you can find nothing on me, that means I’m very, very good at my job. Did you seriously expect me to blow into Colombia and show a high profile to the government? To make a target of myself in order to impress the likes of you? That’s not how real arms dealers do business, Mr. Lentano.”

The insurgent leader looked stung. Furious, even.

“Was your man Raoul speaking truthfully when he expressed an interest in purchasing surface-to-air missiles?”

Lentano’s eyes lit with unholy greed and Elise’s jaw dropped. Drago was going to sell this maniac missiles?

Drago continued. “Let me guess where you want them delivered. New York City. Washington, D.C. Los Angeles, maybe? And you need them big enough to take out an airliner, yes?”

“Can you do it?” Lentano snapped.

Mother of God. This guy was planning a terrorist attack on the United States. Drago was nodding slowly, more as if in satisfaction that he’d guessed right than as if giving an affirmative answer to Lentano.

“Before we talk money, Cantori, tell me something. Why do you run around with women and children like a one-man charity?”

Drago shrugged at the rebel leader’s question. “We already went over that. They were a cover. An excuse for my heading into this area.”

The Army of Freedom leader grinned broadly, as though Drago had just said exactly what the guy wanted him to say. Like Drago had just walked into a trap. The Colombian asked archly, “Then you won’t mind eliminating them?”

“Eliminating the women and children? Why bother?” Drago shrugged.

Well, that was good news, at least. He wasn’t leaping all over the idea of killing her and the kids.

The front door to the lobby opened, and a half dozen men strode into the open space. Elise gasped and had to throw a hand over her mouth at the sight of Mia, Emanuel, and Grandma, bleary-eyed and terrified in the middle of the cluster of armed insurgents.

“Kill them, Drago Cantori. Prove to me you’re who you say you are.”

“How does killing an old lady and a couple of kids prove that? I could be any psychopath running around in the jungle and do that.” Drago added scornfully, “I am a businessman, not a murderer.”

Lentano shrugged. “Fine. Then I will kill them.”

Elise’s horrified gaze locked on Drago. Do something! she shouted at him in her mind. But he merely pulled out his cell phone and sent yet another completely infuriating text message. He pocketed the phone unhurriedly.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he commented.

“Why not?”

“Much bigger fish in the sea than you are interested in those kids. Kill them, and you and your little Army of Freedom fighters will be wiped off the face of the earth.”

The insurgents froze, the vignette taking on a surreal quality. She could not believe he’d give up two innocent children like that! Hatred blossomed in her soul, but she shoved it down brutally. She had no time for that. Right now she had to figure out a way to save Mia and Emanuel. But how on earth was she supposed to take on twenty armed men by herself? She was one woman. Unarmed. Untrained for this sort of thing.

She was also the only hope Mia and Emanuel had left. At a complete and desperate loss, she squeezed her eyes shut and prayed for a miracle.

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