Saturday. PPM Informant Apartment Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Jackie paced the darkened apartment. Keeping active stretched her muscles and kept her occupied. The more she did, the less she wanted to scream oh my God and panic.

They’d broken into someone’s home, and now that someone was zip-tied to his bathroom pipes.

Lemine. That was what Felix had called him. Lemine refused to speak to anyone but Kyle, and the others were still God only knew where. How long would they hold the man against his will?

She paced across the apartment to Felix’s side.

“This doesn’t bother you?” She pitched her voice low, for his ears only.

“Which part?”

“I don’t know. All of it. We have a man handcuffed in the bathroom. The team isn’t here yet.”

“A lot of what we do is hurry up and wait.”

“And the handcuffing part?”

“He’d sell you out to people who would kill you, or worse. No, I don’t have a problem inconveniencing him a bit.”

Jackie could see Felix’s point, but they were the ones who’d committed the wrong right now. She could only take responsibility for her own actions.

“Shouldn’t we have heard something by now?” she asked.

“Not necessarily.”

“Why?”

“Because if they were followed, Kyle would want to lead them away from here. When he’s certain they’ve lost their tail, he’ll change vehicles. They might split into groups. Then they have to take indirect paths to our location. This hour, that probably means they’ve had to find clothing or something to help blend in.” He glanced away from the window and at her. “It’s going to be fine, Jackie.”

“Yeah, well, I think my definition of fine and yours don’t match up.” She hugged her arms around herself and wandered toward him. “What’s it look like out there?”

“Quiet.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“I don’t know. I’m guessing good, since people appear to be going on about their day. No one is paying the shop or apartment any attention. People seem relaxed, no one is looking over their shoulders. There’s not a lookout that I can spot.”

“So we’re good then?”

“I think so.”

She studied his profile, the unwavering way he stared through the tiny slit between the curtains. Nothing shook him. She was a bit jealous of that, but also grateful. Felix was direct and honest, which she appreciated, even if she didn’t always like what he told her. And maybe Val was a little right by labeling him her type.

“What would have happened if I wasn’t out there in the garage?” she asked.

“Kyle would have put Shane in charge, gotten you, and hauled you out to the van.”

“Why didn’t he come with us?”

“Hard to say, without being in his shoes. I follow orders.”

“You think the others are okay?”

Felix turned his head, those crisp, blue eyes of his locking onto her.

“We don’t leave people behind. If we have to split up, that’s one thing. We do our best to make sure everyone comes home safe, okay? Your friends will be here before you know it.” He slid his hand around her waist, rubbing her back. “We’re professionals. Give us a little credit?”

“I know, I’m just worried. They’re my responsibility, and I left. If anything happens to them...”

“Without you there, chances are they won’t be interested in the others.”

“Do you really think that? Or are you saying it so I’ll calm down and leave you alone?”

“If things went wrong, they’d have called it in or done something to notify us the op is off the rails. As is, we’ve just changed directions. No need to stress and get worked up over it yet.”

“Okay.” She swallowed. “I will try to stay out of your hair and stop stressing.”

“You’re fine. I’d rather have a few more assets like you.” His lips curled up in a smile and his arm tightened, bringing her up against his side in a gentle squeeze.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, taking comfort in the hug. It’d been ages since someone let her lean on them. Usually it was the other way around. Being on this side of things was strange, but she was grateful Felix was in her corner.

It wasn’t often that Jackie admitted she was human and needed others, but without Felix and his team she’d be up a creek. Maybe dead. Who knew?

“In case I haven’t said this yet, thank you.” She squeezed him back and sighed as he stroked her back.

“Hey, don’t get choked up on me. I’m not good with that stuff.” One side of his mouth hitched up higher than the other.

“Whatever.” She eased her hold around him, but he didn’t make a move to release her.

“What are you going to do when you get home?” He glanced back at the window, his hand still rubbing her back. He was doing a far cry better at easing her tense muscles than pacing was.

“Depends on what we’re calling home.” She gave in and leaned her head against his shoulder.

“Where do you live when you aren’t being Wonder Woman?”

“I’ve got a loft in Seattle, but I try to not be there much. I might opt to go back to Colombia with Val instead.”

“Is your family that bad?”

“You met them, didn’t you?” She glanced up at Felix, who stared down at her. He didn’t seem to mind that she’d plastered herself against him. She was too tired to fight the way her body swayed toward him as she paced. He had this gravitational pull about him.

“I think my team meets people under unusually stressful circumstances and we don’t always get to see our clients at their best.”

“Like when I was bitchy last night?”

“I wouldn’t call it bitchy.”

“I’m good at bitchy.”

“You seem like a very confident—”

“Yeah, but let’s be honest, I can be bitchy.”

“I’m trying to not stick my foot in my mouth here.” He chuckled.

“I value people who don’t let me push them around. It’s why Val and I get along so well. She will call me on my shit. Kyle’s trying too hard to be the likable leader of the group. I walk all over nice. I need you to tell me when I’m out of line, or I’ll fuck everything up. We made a deal, remember?”

“I do. You didn’t argue in the garage which I appreciate.”

“I did, kind of. The way you looked at me? I knew it was serious.” She blew out a breath. One of her greatest skills was getting shit done when she put her mind to it, the problem was ensuring she wasn’t making the wrong decision.

“Look. That group of four people there? See them?” Felix pointed out a rather odd-looking cluster of people. It was the way their headscarves were wrapped and the way they moved. It was just off.

“That’s Kyle, Adam...and if I had to guess, Val and that doctor with the name I can’t pronounce.”

“You think so?” She clutched a handful of his shirt, too scared to breathe.

“Build is about right.”

“Oh, thank God.”

“You stay here. Keep a lookout. I’m going downstairs.”

“Thank you.” She turned in his embrace, cupped his face in her hands and pressed her mouth to his.

He stared at her.

She stared at him.

It was just a peck.

She hadn’t thought about what she was doing, she’d simply acted.

“Sorry... I, um...”

“Stay here. I’ll be right back,” he said and let go of her.

Jackie stared over her shoulder, watching him disappear down the stairs. Last night she’d kissed him purposefully. Today she’d just—kissed him. It wasn’t like she thought it through or that it was a chemistry thing. She’d just...done it. And neither of them seemed fazed by it.

Felix was not the man she’d pegged him to be when they first met.

She swallowed and turned back to the window, searching for yet more figures.

Familiar voices filtered up from below, followed by the thump of feet.

At the same moment, another group of four reached the same corner, their behavior just as odd as the first. Now that Felix had pointed them out she could pick out the two Aegis guys versus her two male nurses.

“Jack? Oh, thank God.” Val reached the top of the stairs, sweat dampening her skin and her hair every which way.

“You okay?” Jackie crossed the loft and squeezed Val.

“Yeah—we were worried about you.” Val wrapped her arms around Jackie so tight her ribs hurt. “Isaac rounded us all up, and we hid in a hidden wine cellar. A wine cellar, Jack.”

“Really?” Jackie blinked at Val. Mauritania was predominantly an Islamic country. Alcohol was just about impossible to find outside of hotel bars. A wine cellar would have to be very well hidden.

“Anyway, we waited, and when they left, we went out the back on foot and four freaking hours later—here we are. What happened to you guys?”

“Nothing. We drove around for a while, then got here.” Jackie felt silly for thinking their truck ride had been harrowing at all.

“What is this place?” Val turned, scanning the loft. Her head snapped back around. “Jack—is there a man handcuffed in the bathroom?”

“They’re zip-ties, and yes.”

“Explain?”

Jackie shrugged. How did she explain this one? She still couldn’t fully wrap her head around it or come to terms with what they’d done.

“Lemine.” Kyle strode across the loft and into the bathroom.

Lemine whispered too low for her to make out, but he darted furious glares her way. Yeah, she deserved that.

Kyle cut the ties holding Lemine captive. They stood close together, talking softly. Lemine gestured, the vein at his temple growing more distinct. Kyle held up his hands, everything about his posture calming, but Lemine was having none of it.

Jackie edged closer until she could make out some of the Arabic the two were speaking.

“This was not part of the bargain,” Lemine said.

“I’m sorry we intruded.” Jackie clasped her hands in front of her.

Lemine glared at her and at Kyle.

“I did not agree to any of this. I got you pictures, nothing more,” Lemine said.

“I’m offering you a new deal, or we’ll just tell your friends thanks for helping us find Jackie here.” Kyle smiled.

Lemine rocked back on his heels.

“What do you mean? Who are his friends?” Jackie frowned.

Kyle switched to English. “Lemine works for PPM. We put out feelers asking for current pictures of the city based on some word-of-mouth intel about an American team. We got it from another source the PPM uses that they were looking for you, too. Lemine here thought he could earn some extra cash selling what he thought were aerial pictures of nothing.”

“Why would the PPM want to know about me?” She spoke in English, but watched Lemine’s face.

The man glanced between them, his frown lines deepening.

He must not be able to follow what they were saying.

“We didn’t bother to find out why they wanted to know, just that we got the intel before they could act on it,” Kyle said.

That would explain why the PPM bus was so close on their heels and why the building they’d escaped through had been a target. But why? Who cared what she did?

“How does this affect our plans to get to the others?” She couldn’t forget her focus.

“Not sure yet. Get Adam. Tell him we’re going to intimidate some information out of Lemine.” Kyle gave the man a slow once over.

Jackie pivoted, her knees wobbling.

What did the PPM want with her?

Kyle couldn’t be serious about scaring the information out of Lemine, could he?

“My turn?”

“What?” Jackie glanced up at one of the Alpha Team. “Are you Adam?”

He nodded, but didn’t wait for her to answer.

She swallowed and watched Adam advance toward the bathroom door, blocking it with his bulk.

“They won’t hurt him, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Felix said quietly.

“What’re they doing then?”

“I don’t know. You and Kyle are the only ones who speak the language.”

Jackie didn’t want to know, but she needed to. This whole situation could very well be on her shoulders, and she didn’t shrink from responsibility.

Kyle and Lemine exited the bathroom, circling over to the kitchen nook.

The others were spread around the room, either resting or watching the street. None of them would know what was going on if she didn’t listen in.

“You have to leave,” Lemine said.

“That’s not happening.” Kyle crossed his arms over his chest.

“Don’t you understand what they’ll do to me if they find out I helped you find her first?” Lemine’s hair stuck up from where he’d raked his hand through it.

“No, I don’t. What’s PPM up to?”

Again Lemine glanced at her, his gaze hostile at best. What had she done?

“They’re doing this because of her, don’t you understand?” Lemine jerked his head in her direction but didn’t address her.

“Because of me?” Jackie glanced from the men to Kyle.

“What’s so special about one American girl?”

Lemine shook his head, muttering words so soft no one could hear.

“Her father? The gold mines?” He gestured at her.

“My dad’s company has had control over those mines for longer than I’ve been alive.” Jackie crossed her arms over her chest.

Lemine didn’t answer.

“You heard her. Don’t pretend you didn’t,” Kyle said.

“Two prospecting teams from the Davis company found gold in two new areas. They’ve been granted permission to build new mines.”

Jackie swallowed. Dad had a lot of interest in Mauritania, she just hadn’t realized there was a reason.

“PPM—what? Wants to kidnap her to blackmail her dad?” Kyle frowned.

“You Americans are so full of yourselves. You don’t even realize the rest of the world exists.” Lemine shook his head. “Samba Hamadi is the leader of PPM—and my boss. He’s always been infatuated with wealth and power, but there was nowhere for him to go. No one was going to elect or appoint him to anything.”

“And? What changed?” Kyle prompted when Lemine stopped talking.

“He got a backer. Someone with more money than he had.” He tipped his chin up, the light of anger behind Lemine’s eyes glowing like embers. “A woman.”

“Jackie?” Kyle didn’t take his eyes off her. “In English. What’s the big deal? What don’t I understand?”

“All I know about Hamadi is that he’s against equality and has had a few slaps on the wrist for slavery charges. He’s wealthy? He talks a big game, but doesn’t do a lot. People don’t take him seriously. That’s really all I know about him. If you give me some time I can find out more, but...” She shrugged.

“The woman bit?” Kyle asked.

“Oh. He’s completely against women’s rights. That’s one of the PPM principles. It’s why the party was on its way to being outlawed.”

“Lemine?” Kyle switched his focus back to the other man and continued in Arabic. “The woman. What’s so important about her?”

“She wants the mines,” Lemine said.

“Who is it?” Jackie couldn’t make those two things coexist. Having Hamadi in power meant eliminating all women’s rights in the country. This woman funding him would lose control of her money and work.

“Answer her,” Kyle prompted.

“Zeina Razqa.” Lemine spat the name.

“Oh shit...”

“You know her?” Kyle switched again to English.

“Yes. She focuses on jewelry design for Middle Eastern fashion. Very ornate, beautiful stuff. All in gold. I... How certain are we that we can trust what he’s saying?” Jackie didn’t want to think about the implications that someone like Razqa might support Hamadi to the point of starting a civil war. “Kyle, ask him why Razqa wants this war?”

Kyle repeated the question in Arabic.

“Because Hamadi will give her the Davis mines.” Lemine rolled his eyes as if it were obvious. “That’s all I know. You must leave. Now.”

Jackie turned and stumbled away from the trio of men.

It all went back to money—and her father.

“Hey—what’s wrong? Jack?” Val grasped her by the shoulders.

Jackie glanced around, but Felix wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

“It’s my fault,” she said.

“What? What’s your fault?”

“Those guys who kidnapped us? They were going to sell me to the PPM. Someone is funding this civil war to seize control of Dad’s mines.”

“Jackie. No. Stop. That’s ridiculous. If someone was going to start a war, they wouldn’t do it because you were here. All of this was beginning when we decided to come here.”

No, but Jackie knew she was a bargaining chip. A tool to use. Dad had used her to divorce Mom and not have to support her, and now a rogue political party wanted to use her to enslave thousands of women and minorities in a country already struggling. Knowing the people she came to help would likely be some of the first victims only made it worse.

Felix tightened down the strap holding the crates in the truck bed one more time. They couldn’t be too careful when it came to the amount of equipment they’d brought with them. He grabbed the end and jostled the case. Or tried to. It didn’t budge.

Good.

He’d been worried, bouncing around this morning on the roads, that he’d lose one out the back. The locks would only deter someone for an hour or two if that. He didn’t want to imagine what might be done with the munitions and equipment they’d brought with them.

“You almost done?” Isaac called out.

“Just about.” Felix double checked the cab of the truck, eyeballing the contents. He had no idea if anything was missing because he hadn’t driven it, except for this morning.

“You seem to have hit it off well with Jackie.” Isaac ambled toward him.

“Nice dress.”

“Thanks.” Isaac glanced down at himself. The white, billowing garment bulged instead of draping smoothly over his body, betraying the gear underneath. “So—Jackie?”

“No.” Felix knew where Isaac was headed, and after the kiss last night he didn’t want to answer any questions. Isaac was too perceptive when it came to this stuff to not infer the truth from any answer Felix might give.

“No—what?” Isaac blinked, his feigned innocence a joke. The look was ruined by his Cheshire cat grin.

“Don’t even go there, man.” Felix side-stepped the other man.

Isaac moved with him and braced one hand on the wall, the other on the hood of the truck, blocking Felix’s path to the stairs. Felix could try to go through him. He had a good twenty pounds of muscle over the other guy, but Isaac was a dirty fighter.

“Oh, come on, newbie. She likes you. I don’t understand why she would. You’ve kind of become a grumpy son of a bitch lately, but whatever.” Isaac shrugged.

“Talked to your girlfriend lately?” Felix stared right back at Isaac. Before the other man had set up his happy home with his new, live-in girlfriend he’d had more than a little reputation for sleeping with the clients. There was one on every team that gelled with the ladies, slipping in and out of beds every gig they were sent on.

“Tanya’s doing wonderful, thanks for asking.”

“Good. I’ve got work to do. Move.”

“Listen to me for a moment.” Isaac dropped the cheerful act and stared at him with an unusually serious grin. “You can judge me all you want, but there’s a reason Kyle, Zain, Crawford—anyone in upper management—hasn’t busted my ass.”

Okay, now Felix was curious. He’d wondered why things like flirting and sleeping with clients wasn’t one of the Do Not Do rules of the job. To him it seemed like it could create a problem rather than be a solution.

“There’s something to be said for getting close to our VIPs. Getting them to trust you more than anyone else. Some of us are better with people than others, and if we can get inside our VIPs head, gain their confidence, then they’re going to be more likely to do what we need them to do when it comes down to the tough calls.”

“And you have to sleep with them for that to happen?”

“No, that was just a perk. I can’t do that anymore.”

“Tanya would kill you.”

“You are probably right, and she’s almost in good enough condition that she could. Which is why you need to make getting on Jackie’s good side a priority.”

“Kyle said this?”

“Not yet, but he’s going to, given the opportunity. She seems like the type to argue. I just thought I’d speed things along given my...history. I’m pretty good at feeling out who I can sweet talk into compliance and who I’m not. Jackie has picked you, for whatever reason, as the person she’ll talk to. Use that. This isn’t our average get in, get the girl, and get out. This is dangerous, and if she drags her heels—”

“She won’t.”

“She seems pretty hard-headed.”

“We have an agreement in place.”

“She’s already agreed to listen to you as the voice of reason?” Isaac’s obnoxious grin was back. “I think you need to go spend some quality time with our asset then.”

“Go fuck yourself.” Felix shooed Isaac out of his path.

“Hey, there’s no reason not to have a little fun if you can. These jobs suck sometimes.”

Felix’s headset beeped, signaling that someone had activated their mic. Isaac stopped laughing, Felix’s stomach clenched, and neither spoke. They’d been comms-light to stay on the safe side of things. They weren’t dealing with pirates or a rogue group of people, the military was out there, and they wouldn’t appreciate their team’s perceived interference.

“Alpha Team, assemble upstairs in five,” Kyle said.

Isaac turned and led the way up the stairs. They passed Adam stationed at the rear exit to the building. He finished securing the door to the street and brought up the rear of their little trio. This whole job was ten times more complicated than they’d expected it to be. What else was happening?

Jackie, Val and the rest of the medical team sat in what he assumed was the living room, lounging section of the loft. The bathroom was shut and Lemine was nowhere to be seen. Kyle and Shane had their heads together in the kitchen, the walled off bathroom between them and the others granting some level of privacy.

Their team circled an island that completed the tiny kitchen.

Kyle’s mouth twisted up in a grimace and his brow furrowed. Whatever they were about to discuss or decide, he wasn’t happy about it.

“We can’t stay here,” Kyle said in a low voice. “I don’t trust Lemine, and I had no idea how closely tied in he was to the PPM leadership. To be able to get his hands on all the surveillance he handed us—he has connections. When he doesn’t show up for work today, there’ll be questions. We’ve got a couple hurtles. First, our asset isn’t going to agree to leave without the rest of her people. Second, we have to keep her hidden. If we can believe what Lemine is saying, the PPM leadership wants to use her to force her father’s company into backing off their support of the president—whose convoy was just attacked. It’s all over the news, and they have no idea where the president is. Things are heating up in a bad way.”

“You know there’s an easy way to get our asset to comply?” Felix pitched his voice low.

“We aren’t going there.”

“Okay. I’ll do what I can to handle Jackie,” Felix said. He could feel Isaac grinning at him. The urge to punch the other man was strong.

“You think she’ll listen to you?”

“We came to an understanding.”

“Okay. That’s one thing off the list.” Kyle blew out a breath and laid his tablet on the island in front of them. “I’ve got good news. There’s a group that works for the African Court close by. The guy in charge used to take Aegis contracts from time to time and a lot of his guys are still an active resource for us though we haven’t worked together in a long time. The guy in charge is named Duku, but we always called him Duke. We found Lemine through them. Now, they’ve moved into the slums here.  It’s a small force, maybe two dozen guys. Officially they’re supposed to be evaluating what’s going on and checking into human rights violation claims.”

“That’s close to where we picked up the asset,” Shane said.

“Exactly.” Kyle tapped the map in two places, dropping virtual pins. “This is where we picked up Jackie. Duke is sending a small group to check out the location while the rest of them are doing something else. They have their own objectives for being in the area, but I convinced them to meet us here. It’s downtown, but it’s the most secure hotel.”

“Why wouldn’t we go to the American embassy?” Isaac asked.

Felix could see the value in that point. Even if they weren’t all Americans, he was pretty sure they could get protection there.

“Lots of glass, no fences, and they’re constantly understaffed.” Kyle’s grimace deepened.

“No embassy. Got it.” Isaac nodded.

“I’d like to move us soon. Duke has reserved a suite for us under his real name. They will join us tomorrow in the morning after they achieve whatever objective they’re after. We need to figure out how to disguise everyone and the gear.”

“I’ll get Jackie to help with the disguises and let her know we’ll be moving soon.” Felix grimaced.

“What are we hoping to accomplish with these other people? Duke’s bunch?” Shane asked.

“We need backup. We need someone who can assist getting the rest of Jackie’s people out of here. She’s made it clear she won’t leave unless they’re taken care of, and I think we’re all in agreement we’d like to help them. The airport isn’t able to get many flights in and out. Anyone who isn’t from here or has money is getting out of town.”

“What about the roads north?” Felix reached out and shrank the map so it showed more than just the city.

“What? You mean the Egypt house? That’s a four-thousand-mile drive, man. We would be better served heading to the closest airport or port out of the country.” Kyle shook his head.

“Dakar?” Shane gestured to the Senegal capital right on the coast.

“No, there’s an airport in St. Louis just across the river.”

“St. Louis? They have one here?” Isaac snorted.

“These used to be French territories,” Felix said.

“Okay, we get into trouble, head south. We’ll meet up in St. Louis and charter a plane somewhere to get us home. Got it?”

The team made noises of agreement. Kyle handed out jobs to everyone except Felix, who already had an assignment. Isaac gave him a thumb-up and grin.

Giving the other guy a black eye wasn’t going to help their team at all.

Felix ducked around the bathroom to where Jackie and Val had their heads together. They glanced up at him, expressions grim.

“Something on your mind?” He knelt next to the floor cushions that made up what might be called a sofa.

“Have you seen the news?” Val gestured at the TV.

“The PPM attacked the president’s convoy.” Jackie kept staring at the screen, her lips moving.

“It’s not sure it was the PPM.” Val glanced at Jackie.

“Okay, someone did it, but let’s be honest, PPM is who would benefit.”

“All the more reason to get you out of the country.” He glanced at Val and the traditional garb she wore over her clothes. “Think you could help us kit out everyone so we blend in better?”

“We just need clothes for the two of us, right?” Jackie glanced from Val to him.

“Yeah, but let’s be honest, what we’re wearing looks like it came off the wash line we stole it from.” Val held up the well-worn hems. “We left money behind, if that’s what you’re about to ask.”

“The plan is to take everyone to a hotel downtown that’s more secure and wait for backup there. We need to look the part. The goal is to slip in under a false name so no one will know you’re even there.” Felix grimaced. “You and Kyle are the only ones fluent in the language. He’s got to stay here to organize our movements, which means we need you to outfit us.”

“What about the rest of our people?” Jackie was nothing if not persistent.

“Kyle’s got some contacts with the African Court. Their people are going to try to evacuate them.”

“Seriously? That’s perfect,” Val said.

“That’s amazing. Okay, let’s see about us.” Jackie nodded and glanced at her friend. “I need cash and—Val, mind giving me the shirt off your back?”

“Gladly.” Val shimmied out of the dress and dug the accompanying scarf out from between the cushions.

“I’m guessing you’re going with me?” Jackie asked him.

“You’ll need someone to hold your shopping bags.” And make sure she wasn’t snatched off the street. He wanted to take another guy with them, but they were already going to stick out as is. They couldn’t risk drawing more attention.

“You need to put something on over those greens. You look military.” Jackie stood and shimmied into the long, flowing garment. It was a touch too long, but that meant all of her was covered.

Shane thrust his gown at Felix along with some sort of wrapped head thing. Jackie took the last bit from him while he got into the dress.

“What’s this thing called?” he asked.

“Men wear a daraa, women wear melahfa. Bend down.”

“You have a lot of practice wearing this stuff.”

“My dad has owned rights to the mines here since the 2008 military coup granted him access as a thank you for his support. He worked with the people who owned them before, sort of subletting the mines.”

“This wouldn’t be the first time the gold trade instigated a war then?”

“Except in that situation they approached him, cutting out the middle man, not the other way around. My dad might not be a shining example of humanity, but he has a strict don’t get involved policy. That’s not to say he’s not financially invested in the success of the current president and political system, but he wouldn’t start a war. People don’t buy jewelry when they’re busy killing each other. There you go.”

Felix felt the material wound round his head. Nothing about this get up was good for tactical purposes. Jackie wrapped her head in a matter of moments. With part of her face obscured behind the material, he could almost see her as a native.

“How much will your accent stick out?” he asked.

“As soon as I open my mouth. We’ll want to do all the buying in one spot, so we may pass up a few vendors before we get to one where I think I can knock it all out at once, okay?”

“Copy that. Let me get the spending money.”

Felix got the cash from Kyle, who gave him a protect-her-with-your-life speech before they left the over shop apartment. They couldn’t spare another man to go with them while they prepped the others. By the time they got back, Felix hoped they had a plan for getting to the hotel without too much trouble.

The street still boasted a fair amount of traffic, but people traveled in clusters. There was a decidedly more nervous air to things than there’d been an hour ago. Was this because of the attack on the president? Was the PPM threat to social order being felt in the inner rings of the city finally?

All the more reason to get Jackie out of here so she couldn’t be used to further the agenda of either side.

Within one block it was obvious to Felix he was going to stick out regardless of what he did. Most men only wore a little cap if they wore anything at all on their heads. The turban type thing Jackie had fashioned for him was noticeably different. But if he took it off, his blond hair and braid would be a beacon that they weren’t locals, much less from this hemisphere.

If the PPM forces were advancing from the slums into the rest of the city, they would have very real problems. Soon. It wasn’t like their former hideout was all that far from where they were now. It was simply a matter of time until the military line failed unless reinforcements came to the rescue.

Jackie snatched his hand and pulled him into a stall of nothing but spices. It was packed with other people calling out for help, prices and what he could only assume was haggling.

“What?” Felix glanced over his shoulder.

“PPM jacket across the street,” Jackie whispered.

Fuck. How had he missed that?

Felix ducked his head, trying to appear as small and normal as possible. A woman standing nearby squinted at him.

“Come on.” Jackie tugged him through to the back of the stall.

The man at the rear of the shop yelled something at them that Jackie didn’t need to translate. She ducked through a doorway and out an entry similar to the loft entrance at the back of the shop into an alley between the buildings.

“What was that about?” Felix asked.

“PPM jackets, PPM patrol, PPM looking for us. Me.” Her voice was strained and her hands clenched as she swung them in time to her steps. He didn’t need to see her face to picture the grim set of her mouth and the kick-ass glare. “Let’s cut through here and buy what we can. There’s no time to make sure it’s all right.”

“You lead, I watch your back.”

Jackie picked her way through the alley and they joined another bustling shopping street one over from where they’d been. She tugged on his arm and turned to the right.

A stall sported several mannequins, dressed in the flowing garments he was beginning to hate.

While Jackie began dealing with the shop owner Felix turned, surveying the street, searching for more people in the distinctive black and red jackets of the PPM. If they really were patrolling this area, they were closer than he wanted to believe.

If it came down to it, they could split the team. Two people traveling light could make it south to St. Louis faster than their whole group. He was pretty confident that Jackie would leave. She understood that her presence meant risking everyone’s safety, and if there was one thing she placed value on, it was human life. He’d feel a little guilty manipulating her like that, but not enough to lose any sleep over.

“Okay. Here. Help me carry this?” Jackie thrust a pile of cloth at him. The colors were muted, the sort of thing that would ideally fade into a crowd. She had a good eye.

A bit of black in the crowd caught his attention.

“Shit. Back through the alley.” He grabbed pushed Jackie with his arms full of fabric toward where they’d cut through between the shops.

To her credit, she ducked her head and quick-stepped into the alley the way they came. He couldn’t be certain they weren’t spotted, but they’d at least broken the line of sight.

“Let me go first,” he said.

If the PPM forces were patrolling either street, it stood to reason they could be checking out the narrow alley between the buildings as well.

Felix peered around the corner first one way then the other.

Except for a few people sitting on their stoop sipping tea, the coast was clear.

“Come on.” He jerked his head.

This was about the worst scenario. He had his hands full to the point he couldn’t get his hands on his weapon under the damn dress.

Jackie picked up the pace until they were jogging. Her breathing was ragged, but she didn’t once utter a complaint.

Isaac opened the back door, his rifle tucked barely out of sight. By the grim set of his face, they weren’t the only ones who’d seen the PPM patrolling the streets.

“Everyone’s ready,” Isaac said as they passed.

Shane took the stack of clothes from Jackie and led the way up the stairs, leaving Isaac to watch the door.

“You made it.” Kyle leaned over the opening looking down on them. “We need to get out of here, and quick. You, Jackie and Lemine will take the truck. The rest of us will break into pairs and follow on foot, got it? Everyone know who your walking buddy is? Good. Get dressed, Jackie will double check your clothes, and then we leave.”

“Do we know about the team headed to the rest of our people?” Jackie asked.

“Not yet. We need to focus on getting us safe,” Kyle said.

“I’d really like an update.”

“Jackie.” Felix nudged her. Now was not the time for pushing the point.

“Sorry,” she muttered and turned.

Jackie strode to Adam and began adjusting his man dress thing. Felix couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread about the moment they’d inform her about her mother, he knew that was going to come back to bite him. He’d promised to be honest with her, and he wasn’t.

“Help me with this guy.” Kyle nodded at Lemine.

“We’re kidnapping a member of the PPM?” Felix asked, pitching his voice for only Kyle.

“He knows our faces, what our plans are, and he’s not telling us everything.”

“Understood.”