Page 68 of Devlin

All eyes turned toward him. “What? What did she say?”

Farid swallowed. “She was talking to Charlie. She said that the inside of the truck wasn’t as deep as the outside made it look. He joked with her, and then it wasn’t too long after that truck left that Enock came by. Said a truck broke down, and he would look for it. He said she needed to go because the driver was worried about spoiled food. They left. It’s been over an hour, and she hasn’t called back.”

Devlin whirled around to Robert. “Find that truck driver.”

Robert leaned forward and tapped on his keyboard. “I… I don’t know… which one would it be?”

Todd stepped back into the room. “I have the security view. The truck Mia was looking at when talking to Charlie is this one.” He turned his phone to Robert, who nodded as he continued tapping on his keyboard.

“The driver is a former refugee who got a job with Nyanza Trucking. Ngelema Bwanga. That’s the driver’s name.”

“Congolese,” Moses barked, stepping closer. “That name… he is from the DRC.”

“We have many Congolese refugees here and are now working in Uganda,” Dr. München protested. “We can’t suspect a man based on his name.”

“No, but we can based on their actions,” Devlin growled, heading to the door. “Robert, pull up anything you can from his employer, then work with Farid to see if that truck and driverhas worked on the days you’ve noticed food missing. Moses, show Cole where the helicopter is kept.”

“I’m going, too,” Moses said. “If one of my men is in danger or in on what has happened, I want to know.”

“As long as you don’t get in my fucking way,” Devlin said, his eyes narrowing on the security officer. “No one gets in my way when it comes to Mia.”

Moses barked out the location as he and Cole hurried from the room. “We’ll meet you at the bird once Todd gets our people on the satellite and I get our equipment. Five minutes tops.”

Ravi and Elizabeth were standing just outside the doorway. As Devlin started past them, Ravi asked, “Has anyone seen Charlie today?”

Devlin whirled around. “Charlie?”

Elizabeth said, “We had a meeting this morning, but he never showed up. I’ve called around, but no one has seen him.”

Farid’s eyes were wide. “He left the warehouse area right after he and Mia talked this morning.”

“Fuck!” Devlin shouted as the web of people grew who might know something about Mia’s disappearance.

Dr. München’s conflicted expression left his face as he hastened over to Robert. “You’re right, Mr. Devlin. Go find her.” Looking down at Robert, he said, “I’ll help you and Farid.”

Devlin stormed out of the office with Todd, his pulse a drumbeat of fury and fear. Every step felt like he was moving through quicksand, his mind racing ahead to one singular goal—find Mia.

Todd was already on the radio with LSIMT, relaying information and coordinating their search plan. Cole, without hesitation, climbed into Moses’s Jeep and sped off down the dusty road toward the waiting helicopter. The urgency of the moment crackled in the air, electrifying every movement.

Devlin and Todd didn’t waste a second. They barreled into their guest quarters, where everything they needed was prepped and ready. Without a word, they pulled on their body armor. Weapons were loaded with precision, fueled by adrenaline and determination. Their tactical gear was donned, and after grabbing Cole’s equipment and gear, they headed back outside, where the heat was oppressive as the sun cast waves off the baked earth. The vehicle rumbled to life, and Devlin barely waited for Todd to get in before gunning the engine. Dust billowed behind them as they sped toward the helicopter’s location, urgency pulsating in every fiber of his being.

Mia was out there. And whoever was responsible was about to learn that there was no force more dangerous than a man willing to burn the world down to get her back.

28

Suffocating darkness pressed against Mia’s senses as she drifted into consciousness. The sound of a diesel engine vibrated beneath her, jolting her awareness back as she tried to figure out what had happened. Her shoulders throbbed, but as she tried to move her arms, she found them locked into place behind her.

She became aware of rope digging into her wrists, but the feel of someone else touching her fingers caused her to scream, although the sound was muffled by the canvas bag over her head. She stiffened and struggled to fight, but a voice came low and urgent near her ear.

“Mia. Don’t move. I’m trying to get these off.”

The bag over her head was yanked away, and she gasped, squinting against the dim light filtering through the slats of the moving truck. Charlie’s face hovered close, his expression tight with desperation. Relief surged for a split second before confusion took over.

“Charlie?” Her voice was raw. “They got you, too?”

He hesitated. His hands kept working at her restraints, but his eyes flicked away from hers, unable to meet her gaze directly. Finally, her hands were free, and she moved her arms, wincing at the prickling pain radiating from her fingers to her shoulders.

Mia’s breath came faster, her pulse hammering in her chest. She scrambled to her knees and looked around. They were alone in the back of the truck, crates stacked high against the metal walls, shifting slightly as the vehicle rumbled down an uneven road. But instead of seeing the full container, they were in a much smaller area. “Where are we?” she whispered, afraid of being heard.

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