Page 49 of A Soldier's Temptation
The building was huge, run-down, and had four entrances. Too many to easily do reconnaissance and not be seen. The SEALs had staked out each of the doorways while waiting for him to get there.
“I think we should go in and get them. I don’t like waiting. It’s not like she can give us a signal.”
“Disco just reported back that the building is wired with explosives. If we breach they could detonate the bombs and implode the building.”
“So what then? We stand out here and wait until we know they’re both dead? I don’t like this. We don’t have eyes or ears, just a little blinking light.”
“Don’t go into that building.”
“Or what? You’ll arrest me? Seriously, the plan was to go in as soon as she was with Shira. What changed?” John didn’t like the look on Colin’s face. He was up to something. Running two separate missions was not cool, especially if it put Ari in danger.
“I need to make sure that the guy behind this is inside. It’s the only way to stop it. There has to be a mole in the FBI and catching one of Chen’s contacts will be the only way to figure it out.”
“I don’t give a fuck. That’s my woman in there. You may think she’s collateral damage, but I don’t.”
They might have been friends fifteen years ago, but this was total bullshit. It’s why he hated working with the alphabet agencies, they always had an ulterior motive, and he’d hoped that Colin was better than this. But he could piss up a tree for all he cared right now.
Using his coms, he contacted his team. They were going in to save the women.
* * *
It was dark and smelled worse than any fart bomb Mr. Darcy let loose. Unable to see anything, she had no ideas where they’d taken her. As she tried to move, whatever they’d used to restrain her cut into her wrists. It was the same when she tried to move her legs.
It was so quiet she couldn’t tell if she was alone or not. Maybe Shira was there but couldn’t speak. She couldn’t even tell if they’d found her phone or if the tracker was still in her collar. Now she understood why John had tried so hard to come up with something where they could talk to each other. But Chase convinced him it was too risky. It sure would have been nice to hear a friendly voice right about then.
“Ari?” It was barely a breath of sound, but hearing it was a huge relief.
“Shira?”
“Shhh. Don’t move. They think you’re still unconscious. Move your finger if you understand.”
Ari moved the fingers of both hands; not sure which side Shira could see from her position. So grateful that her bestie was alive she had to restrain herself from firing off a bunch of questions.
“They took everything you were carrying, and then when they searched you they found your phone. They weren’t gentle when they did it either. One of the guys was pretty pissed for some reason.”
“Great.”
“Shh, what did I say?”
If things weren’t so dire, she’d probably laugh. It was typical Shira tossing out all kinds of comments and questions and not letting her answer. It sucked that they found her phone, but hopefully the tracker on her shirt was still working. She was ready to get the hell out of there, so she was fine with the SEAL team showing coming to their rescue.
“The bitch is awake.” Okay, so much for luck. Time for Plan B, only problem, she didn’t have a Plan B, at least not yet.
“Good.” That was the voice of doom from the phone conversations. She decided it couldn’t hurt to make a case for releasing them.
“I think you should let us go. You have my purse, which means you have the SD card you wanted. We are nothing to you. I’m blindfolded I can’t even identify you.” A sudden burst of bright light blinded her temporarily. So much for not being able to identify them. Slowly her vision returned as her eyes grew accustomed to the light. They were in a huge open loft that was still under construction.
Shira was restrained in a chair on Ari’s right side. She was horrified when she saw her bruised and swollen face with rivulets of blood down her cheeks. Ari’s eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry.”
“Shut up, you twat, did anyone tell you to speak?” Asshole. He needed to be kicked so hard in the balls they lodged in his throat. Just thinking about how satisfying it would be to do that, made her realize she wasn’t scared. What she was, was pissed off. They roped her into this and taken away her control, now she’d do her best to make them sorry. Hopefully, John and the ‘cavalry’ showed up before she ran out of ideas.
“What are you going to do, kill me?” Maybe that wasn’t the best question.
“It would be my pleasure, bitch.” Dirtbag number one punched her in her right cheek. Pain, stars, and lights out.
Ice water made for a rude awakening. This time when she opened her eyes, she was face-to-face with the dirtbag asshole who’d punched her. Too bad she couldn’t move her feet. It would have been nice to kick him in the balls so hard he’d have to get them surgically removed from his windpipe. It made her smile, and that wasn’t the best idea. The guy lifted his fist and she winced as she anticipated another punch, but the other man, who seemed to be in charge, stopped him.
