Page 73 of Gwen's Delta
The kidnapper tried to sound calm, but his sweat soaked into Gwen’s shirt. “Rashad wants all of you, and what he wants, he gets.”
“That’s not happening,” Arthur promised, his voice low and steady. “I will shoot you, and if I don’t kill you, my wife will. I’m sure you’ve heard already, she’s exceptional with her knives. Now, let our daughter go.”
None of this made sense. Her mother was experienced with knives? And who the hell was Rashad?
For a moment, Gwen thought he’d let her go, but then two men appeared behind her parents and pushed guns against their heads.
The kidnapper tightened his grip on her, then remarked, “I think you are the ones who need to listen. Now, drop your weapons, or I’ll slice her open and you can watch her die. Then I’ll take you to Rashad and he will make you suffer.”
“I’m sorry, Gwen,” Arthur mouthed.
Where was Luke? Then she realized Duff wasn’t at the table. What was going on? Wasn’t her pin working? Gwen shivered, and the movement made her dizzy. Maybe she should throw up all over him. Maybe it’d be enough to surprise him, and she could get away. The thought made her giggle. She had to be losing her mind.
“What are you laughing at, you stupid bitch?”
Gwen couldn’t help herself, it wasn’t funny, but she couldn’t stop, and after she glimpsed Luke as he pushed his way through the crowd and moved out of sight, she laughed louder. It was the perfect distraction, even if they all thought she’d lost her mind.
Duff and Woof took out the two men with the guns on her parents. One minute they were standing, and the next, they were lying on the ground. The bad guys didn’t even know what had hit them. If Gwen hadn’t seen it happen, she’d never have believed it possible.
Zip and Jangles must have taken out the extra guys in the kitchen. Then she was free. She shook with relief and took her first deep breath since the kidnapper had grabbed her.
“Are you okay?” Luke hugged her after pulling her away from her captor, now laid out on the floor. Then he checked the cuts on her neck. “I’m so sorry he hurt you. I’m sure it hurts like hell.”
“It’s not that bad.” Gwen held on to him like he was her lifeline.
“The cuts don’t look too deep, but we’ll get you patched up at the safe house. I’m so proud of you, princess. You were great.” He pressed a white cloth to her neck and kissed her.
“What took you so long?” Gwen asked.
“We needed your parents to show themselves. I’m so sorry.” Luke looked over at her parents. Gwen was close enough that she felt him stiffen, obviously angry. But then, so was she. As the rush of adrenaline receded, anger and hurt took its place. Her parents were spies? How was that even possible?
* * *
There were too many bodies not to cause a commotion in the café, and they needed to get out of there before the local police arrived. Merlin was worried about the amount of blood Gwen had lost. They needed to get her to the safe house and get her wounds assessed, too. But they also had to get the tangos to the interrogators.
The extended van with their CIA driver waited in the alley behind the café. Merlin gave the order to move, and the Deltas led everyone out of the restaurant. The tangos were secured to steel rings welded in the rear. Woof and Jangles dropped black hoods over their heads. It would be up to the CIA interrogators to pry the information from them about the impending attack out of their prisoners.
The Dedmonds and Woof took the back row, while Gwen, Merlin, and Jangles took the second row as they got in. Zip climbed in next to the driver. Once they were on their way, Merlin checked on Gwen. He couldn’t have been prouder of how she’d reacted. She’d played her part perfectly, even when her parents had shown up.
“How are you doing, princess?”
“My neck hurts, and I’m really pissed off, but I’m happy I didn’t die.” Gwen leaned her head on Merlin’s shoulder. Maybe she wasn’t angry with him.
“How do you know my daughter?” Arthur Dedmond asked.
Merlin had no intention of answering any of their questions, but he would make damn sure they answered his.
“Gwen, I’m sorry you got involved in all of this,” Stacey Dedmond said softly.
“I am still trying to wrap my brain around all of this. How could you let your family get involved in this mess? I don’t even know you.” Gwen finally answered.
“You need to let us explain,” Arthur pleaded with his daughter.
From the determined look on Gwen’s face, she wasn’t going to listen.
“Guinevere, we’re your parents…” Stacey reached over the seat and touched Gwen’s shoulder, but she pulled away.
“Maybe, but not now. I just can’t right now,” Gwen answered.
