Thursday. Nour Delivery Service, Damascus, Syria.

This was all wrong. It couldn’t be happening.

Vara was prepared for the Russians to go after her. She’d known she was at risk from both the Syrian government and rebel groups should anyone connect her to the CIA.

The last thing she’d expected was for her own people—other Americans—to turn on her.

She stared across the truck at Wyatt, who wouldn’t look at her. Because he knew he was a traitor? If not to his country then to her. The person who’d gone to bat for him, who’d given him a job who’d been on his side. What was that worth these days? Clearly nothing.

The truck came to a stop inside Rafat’s warehouse and both she and Alec were guided out to stand in the loading area at the very back of the building up against a wall. Rafat’s other men drew away from them, giving them a wide berth.

“What the hell?” Vara whispered, still staring at Wyatt.

Wyatt continued to look elsewhere. At Alec. At Rafat’s men. His gun. He finally glanced down the long hall that led toward Rafat’s ground floor office. The one nobody wanted to visit. Ever.

“Money talks,” Alec drawled.

“I trusted you.” She willed Wyatt to say something that would make her understand.

He’d been referred to her by people she trusted. People who vouched for him. They’d weathered raids, bombings, attacks and now they weren’t on the same side. The new guys she could understand. They didn’t know her. They didn’t understand the situation. But Wyatt? That was the real betrayal.

And why had they come after her?

Did they know about Jules?

Or was this because of the hacker?

Rafat worked with the government. He had to. It wouldn’t be a stretch to see him acting on their behalf on either matter.

Or was this something else? Had Vara stepped out of line? Did Rafat know something? Or was this a witch hunt?

At least Jules was safe in the house for now. The panic room would keep her hidden until Alec or Vara got free.

The door at the end of the hall creaked open.

Rafat’s office.

No one wanted to be called into this room. Vara had only seen it twice. Both times she’d been called on to give an eye witness account and identify thieves. The room was like a dungeon. Long, solid walls, no light, dark and dank.

This was all a head game.

It had to be.

Rafat wanted something from her, so what better way than to use her people against her?

She’d known their arrangement was in its final days. She couldn’t expect to continue working in a shrinking market. Rafat was a business man. This had to be about scaring her, swallowing up the competition. He couldn’t know about Jules or the hacker.

“Bring them,” Rafat called out.

Vara pushed her shoulders back. The bag containing the package Djinn had delivered to her still hung at her side, trapped by the restraints. No one had paid it any mind, probably because they only had one goal. Rafat would make his threat, she’d bite back, they’d dance around the negotiation until she caved. Death was bad for business. He’d let her go, and she’d retreat to lick her wounds. She could still get Alec and Jules out of the country by nightfall.

Her new recruit pushed her into the office, past Rafat’s ever present guards.

The two people waited inside the office.

Vara’s stomach dropped, and she tripped over her own feet, staggering into the room.

Rafat sat behind his desk.

Chained in the corner of the room like an animal was Jules. Someone had at least given her a padded leather chair.

Jules stared at Vara, face lined and lips screwed up.

“I’m sorry,” Jules said in a low voice.

“Shut up,” Rafat snapped.

No. This couldn’t be happening. This wasn’t right. He shouldn’t have known about Jules.

This situation was going was spinning out of hand.

Wyatt guided her and Alec to the middle of the room then backed off. She stood shoulder to shoulder with Alec while Rafat studied them.

She’d always had a healthy respect and fear of the man. Rafat was the kind of person who knew how to use what he had to accomplish something greater. What he’d managed to establish since the unrest began was unreal. But it also meant he knew the cost of getting to where he was at. She’d never doubted that the man had killed. She just hadn’t seen it for her own eyes.

They were in a lot more trouble than she’d realized.

“Wyatt.” Rafat’s gaze jumped over Vara’s shoulder. He continued in English, “Take your team and go.”

“Yes, sir,” Wyatt said. “Come on, guys.”

Vara didn’t glance over her shoulder. She’d made a promise to those men upon hiring them that she’d watch out for them. The promise she asked them to make was a verbal agreement. Too bad she hadn’t gotten it in writing.

The door shut behind the traitorous scum, leaving Rafat, Jules, Alec, Vara and four armed guards in the cavernous space. It really did feel as though the weight of the world were pressing down on them.

“I didn’t suspect you at first,” Rafat said still in English. He had a pleasant way of speaking, clear, without too much of an accent. He’d worked at it, that was for sure.

Neither Vara nor Alec replied. From here out the key was to not say anything. They couldn’t risk that.

“I used to trust you, Price. When did that end?” Rafat paused as though he expected an answer. “There’s much I could have forgiven, but not this.”

What?

Jules?

Vara bit her lip to keep from asking.

“You’re going to have to be a lot more specific, man,” Alec said.

She wanted to kick him.

“Do I have to spell it out for you?” Rafat pushed up from his chair and gestured at Jules. “This woman belongs to me.”

“So you’re working with ISIS?” Alec asked.

“No. They’re bad for business. Dead people don’t need to buy anything.” Rafat spread his arms. “I wonder what the two of you will be worth? Hm?”

Rafat strolled toward the door, barking orders at his guards to keep an eye on them.

Vara turned and watched him go then glanced at the guards.

She knew them. She’d drank them under a table on a few occasions. Young guys with families to support. Not the brightest crayons, but they followed orders.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” she said.

“Yeah, any time I get the evil genius spiel that’s the same vibe I get. Any ideas? And what about your boys?”

“I can’t think about them right now. Rafat needs us out of the picture so he can take the credit for returning Jules to her family, I bet. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s working with the Syrian government, that son of a bitch.” Vara shook her head. Her focus had been elsewhere. She’d known things were going on under her nose here at Rafat’s, but she only had so many resources.

“We have to get out of here,” Alec said.

“No, really? I thought we’d stay a while.”

Alec turned and smiled at their guards. “Hey, guys. What’s up?”

Four pair of eyes stared back at him, totally blank.

“I’m so sorry. That little room, I couldn’t stay in there.” Jules’ eyes were full of fear and sorrow.

“None of this is your fault, Jules. You understand that?” Vara focused on the woman.

“Not one light bulb among you, huh? You have no fucking idea what I’m saying.” Alec rolled his shoulders.

“Be quiet. Tell him to be quiet,” the oldest of the bunch ordered in Arabic.

“Easy, Alec. Boys are getting restless,” she muttered. “You got a plan?”

“I’m working on it.”

ALEC WAS WILLING TO bet that not all of Vara’s latest recruits were honest about their training. Not a one had searched them or divested them of weapons, save for their guns. They hadn’t checked Vara’s bag or made more than a cursory search of their captives. If they were soldiers worth their salt, they’d know a trained man was far more dangerous than a bullet.

Rafat Nour’s people were even less careful.

The thing not on Alec’s side in the current confrontation were numbers.

Four on two weren’t good odds, but Alec was willing to bet that he and Vara were better trained than these kids for exactly this scenario. He didn’t know if he could rely on Jules to play along. After so many years in captivity, what did they really know about her? Would she cave from fear? Or did she want her freedom as bad as Alec and Vara?

Alec needed the four guys to divide their attention, and he needed his hands free.

He took a few steps away from Vara. He’d need room to work and the further apart they were the more their guards would have to concentrate on one or the other. He blew out a breath and faced Jules, the guards to his back.

She stared at him, those blue eyes of hers brimming with fear. And yet behind that was a spark. A light that hadn’t been snuffed out.

Would she understand what he needed her to do? Could she do it?

He turned his head and coughed, his gaze never leaving Jules. She was so still she hardly appeared to breathe.

Waiting for his lead?

He needed her to help distract and divide them.

He cleared his throat and bent his head, giving her a little nod.

Jule’s gaze lowered to the ground.

Was she ignoring him, or was she going to play along?

She blinked a few times then slid down farther in her chair as though this was all too much for her.

That’s it. Make them look at you, not me.

Jules coughed softly at first. She doubled over sputtering and gasping for air, hands pressed to her chest.

“Jules!” Vara took two steps toward the woman.

The guards finally jumped into action.

One grabbed Vara and yanked her back, pushing her up against the far wall. Another crossed to Jules.

That’s it.

Vara’s voice echoed off the walls. He didn’t understand her words as much as her tone. She was a woman accustomed to giving orders.

The man at Jules’ side turned and said something to the other two. A second man joined him standing over Jules. Neither made a move to help her, they just watched. Assholes. But the move left only one guy watching Alec, and he wasn’t even doing that. The man’s attention was on Vara, her words flying fast and hot as she issued more demands.

Alec’s skin felt too tight and yet his insides were completely calm. There was no room for fear or second guessing right now. He had to be certain. He could not hesitate.

This might be their only chance.

Alec bent and pulled the long knife from his boot.

The office door opened and Rafat stepped inside.

Everyone froze.

Only chance.

Alec rose and threw the knife.

Rafat realized the threat too late. The blade sank into his chest.

Alec dove forward as the four guards sprang into action. He shoved the door shut and shoved Rafat to the ground. Hands grasped the back of Alec’s vest. He yanked the blade out of the bleeding man and whirled, slashing out with the knife.

The young man staggered back, clutching his arm, but not before Alec yanked the man’s firearm from his holster. He lifted it, aiming the weapon at the young man.

“I don’t want to shoot you,” he said.

Alec’s gaze was pulled toward Vara. He had to know she was okay.

She was better than okay.

Across from him, the man who’d put his hands on Vara was on the ground and groaning. His Vara had her boot on the guys’ chest and his gun aimed at his head, her hands still bound.

Damn she was something else.

A gurgle and a loud exhale drew the room’s attention to the ghastly sight at Alec’s feet.

Rafat Nour breathing his last.

“Easy. No one else has to die,” he said.

Vara spoke over him, he hoped translating his words or saying something better. She knew these boys, had worked with them. He prayed they listened to her.

Right about now Alec was sorely disappointed in himself. His understanding of Arabic was limited to the most basic phrases. But while he couldn’t understand the words, he did know body language.

The two guys standing in front of Jules were sweating. One looked green.

The man on the ground had rolled to his back and was watching Vara with a glare that said he wanted to kill her.

Leaving the fourth man who’d backed all the way across the room, still staring at Rafat.

These were kids, not soldiers.

“Alec, they’re going to go for their guns. They’re scared,” Vara said in a sweet tone that did not match her words. “Jules, get ready to hit the ground.”

“I was afraid of that.” He sighed, resigned to the fact that to save the women they’d have to take lives. “Tell them to handcuff themselves.”

Vara did as he instructed.

No one moved.

The taller of the two men spoke first, in a rush.

Vara lowered her weapon. Alec kept his aimed at the two men still in possession of firearms.

“What the fuck is he saying?” He was only able to understand every third of fifth word.

“They want to leave. When Rafat’s body is found they’re going to be blamed and they’re scared for their families.”

“Shit.” Alec blew out a breath. “Tell them to use the zip ties on their wrists. We’ll make this work.”

The two men shifted their weight from side to side before producing the bindings. They each secured the other’s wrists before Alec relaxed his stance.

“What are we going to do with them?” Vara cut the ties around Alec’s wrist then her own.

“We’ll sit them down and leave them a knife in reaching distance. It’ll take them a few minutes to cut themselves free, and by then we’ll be gone. They can slip out before anyone knows about this. Get Jules free.”

Vara translated for Alec and the four men traded a few words before gathering in a line.

They were doing this. And there was only one casualty. He couldn’t find anything wrong with that. In a way it was poetic justice that the death was that of the man who’d purchased the woman he was here to rescue.

Once the four men’s wrists were bound Alec gestured to the two men and directed them to sit in front of Rafat’s desk.

His toddler level Arabic was about to get a workout.

“Use this.” He pulled a smaller pocket knife out of his vest and laid it on the floor at their feet. “Get free. Go.”

Two of the men nodded. The other two remained silent.

Jules’ chains rattled then clanged to the floor.

“Come on, let’s go,” Vara said.

Alec backed away from the men. He was leaving them with two weapons. They could change their mind about wanting to get out of here.

Vara ushered Jules toward the door. “I’ve got a truck parked on the street. I saw it when they brought us in. We can use that, get across town using the fast lanes. Rafat’s going to know where we’re going, but with any luck we’ll be gone before he can stop us from taking off.”

Alec got to the door first and cracked it open.

The long hall was empty.

“Stay behind me.” He glanced over Vara’s head to the young men. Like everyone else they were just doing what it took to survive in hard times. Alec got that. “Good luck. God speed.”

He stepped out of the office first.

“This way,” Vara whispered and ducked to the left down a short hall.

“Does this lead to another of your tunnels?” he asked.

“No. It’s a fire exit.” She stopped with her hand on the door. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be. Go.”

They shoved the door open.

An alarm did not sound.

Alec stepped out first, the hustle and bustle of the street normal in any city. The people totally unaware of what was going on inside the walls of Nour’s Delivery Service.

He spotted the familiar logo a dozen yards away.

They rushed toward the truck, Alec going for the driver’s seat. A hand reached out and flicked a cigarette.

Their chariot was occupied.

Alec slowed, thinking about their options.

Vara didn’t. She darted in front of him, yanked the door open and shoved her gun against the driver.

“Move,” she growled.

This was not the day to piss that woman off. He pitied that man.

“In the back,” he said to Jules before closing in on the man climbing out. “We taking him or leaving him?”

“Handcuff him. We’ll roll him out along the way. I can use his phone to call my other team, tell them we’re busted,” she said.

“You pissed off the wrong woman, pal.”

Alec tossed the man’s cigarette down then made quick work of binding his wrists and confiscating his weapons. In a matter of moments he was sitting in the back of the truck with Jules and their captive as they joined traffic. Before they rounded the corner he saw four familiar figures limp out onto the street. He hoped those boys made better choices going forward. Not everyone was loathe to kill again.

“Have anything you want to say?” Alec asked the man.

“Not to you,” he replied.

“Have it your way.” Alec shrugged and blew out a breath.

They’d made it. Just a little bit further to go and maybe—just maybe—they’d be free.

VARA GRIPPED THE WHEEL, grateful for these moments alone. She’d always known an end was coming. She wasn’t going to live in Syria. This wasn’t her home. But she hadn’t been prepared to leave. There were people who depended on her routes for medicine and goods at a fair price.

Where would they get what they needed from now on?

What about the women Vara helped? The ones she got to safety? Who would help them?

Wyatt’s betrayal hurt, but not as bad as she’d expected it might. Deep down she’d always known she could never fully trust the men she employed. Today only proved that her gut was right.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she muttered under her breath.

Her men.

She needed to call her other team still in Lebanon.

Vara pulled out the phone she’d slipped from their captive before Alec had booted him out the truck. She dialed the number by memory and pressed it to her ear.

It rang several times.

“Hello?” a man answered.

“It’s Vara.” Her voice was cold. She had to be.

“Hey, boss lady.” The man’s voice brightened.

“We’re blown. Drop cargo, whatever you have to do, and get somewhere safe. Trash your phones, gear, anything and just go. Understand?”

“What happened? Are you okay?”

“Do you understand?” she said over the man.

“Yeah.”

“God speed,” was the last thing she said before she pitched the phone out the window.

She banged her skull against the headrest and grit her teeth.

This was all falling apart so fast. She was failing her people.

Except getting Djinn’s intel out was the most important thing she could do. Wyatt and the others had made their choice. She’d warned the team still in Lebanon.

Vara hoped whatever Djinn was working on was worth burning everything she’d built, because there was no salvaging this. She couldn’t patch up the situation and slide back here to carry on. Rafat might be dead, but someone else would pick up the torch. His second in command would be after her. She would no longer have the Syrian military’s favor, especially if Rafat was working for them.

No, she was well and truly done here.

Vara turned the truck onto the lane leading off the highway toward the regional airstrip. She parked behind the main office to keep the truck out of view then helped Alec get Jules out of the back, moving on autopilot. When they were in the air, she could fall apart or mourn her losses. For now she had to remain focused on Jules and the package. The old woman wasn’t doing well. She moved slowly, and it was clear she was in pain, but she never once complained.

“We have a ride out of here?” Alec asked.

“That’s what I’m about to find out.” She glanced at the two-engine plane on the airstrip. “He hasn’t left yet, so good news? Wait here.”

Vara pushed the back door to the main office open. The woman working gave her a look, but didn’t scold her.

“Imad here?” Vara asked in Arabic.

“Here,” a man called out.

Vara breathed a sigh of relief and ducked into the only enclosed office then stopped.

Sitting in the guest chair was none other than Djinn.

“Vara Price. What do you have for me today, hm?” Imad asked between bites of food.

Vara tore her eyes off the woman she knew as Djinn and looked at Imad.

“Passage for three. Tonight. Now if possible,” Vara said.

“Are all the rats leaving town?” Imad glanced between Vara and Djinn. “What do you know that I don’t?”

“Nothing.” Vara shrugged.

“We leave after I eat,” Imad said. “Usual price.”

“Same bank?”

“The same.”

Vara spared Djinn one more glance before heading back to the office to beg use of a computer to wire the funds to Imad. By the time she’s ensured delivery of payment both Imad and Djinn had left the building.

Of all the ways out of the country, what were the chances they were both hitching a ride on the same plane?

Alec and Jules waited for Vara in the shade of the truck.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as soon as she was close.

“Djinn is flying with us.”

“The hacker? That guy?”

“No, the woman.”

“Your Syrian hacker is a woman?” Alec blinked.

“Yes, she is. People ignore women. Women are background, scenery. People like Djinn can fly under the radar because no one suspects them.”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to offend.” Alec held his hands up.

“Let’s load up before Imad leaves without us, okay?” Vara gestured at the plane.

They hobbled toward the aircraft. Both Alec and Vara spared a few glances over their shoulders at the lane. They didn’t have to spot the bad guys to know they were out there. Rafat’s people would be hunting them.

Alec handed Jules into the front passenger seat. It was the most comfortable option they could offer her. With any luck she’d be home by tomorrow, back with family and receiving the best medical care she could get.

Vara climbed into the plane and discovered she was not alone. Djinn had opted to sit in the back and wasn’t meeting Vara’s gaze. They’d worked together for over a year and now were playing the I-don’t-see-you-I-don’t-know-you game?

“Do you know where you’ll go?” Vara whispered, not looking at Djinn.

“I’m not telling you.” Djinn’s tone was frosty to say the least.

“If you need somewhere to go, a recommendation, just say the word. I’ll help.”

“I don’t need your help. I never have.”

“Okay.” Vara blew out a breath.

Alec caught her gaze and lifted his brow. She patted the seat next to her, ready to have this next leg over with. He climbed in and took her hand in his, giving it a squeeze.

Last time he’d held her hand she’d kissed him.

“What are you smiling at?” Alec asked.

“Nothing.” Just glad to think about something other than death.

“Buckle up, everyone,” Imad announced as he secured the door.

“Just a few bumpy hours and we’ll be free.” Vara wasn’t sure what she’d do with freedom.

“Don’t jinx us,” Alec said quickly.

Vara chuckled, another very turbulent flight coming to mind. She’d held his hand then, too.

“You thinking about that flight from Osaka to Bangkok?”

“Are you reading my mind?” She narrowed her gaze and frowned at him.

“Sugar, I wish I could. I’m good, but I’m not that good.” His gaze lowered to her mouth.

Vara’s memory supplied a number of other things he’d been very good at. At least to a younger her.

Would he still be that good now?

She was inclined to think he would be. Alec had always given his all to a task, be that his mission, a job or driving her crazy.

Imad handed the headsets back. From here until Lebanon they wouldn’t be talking much. Vara couldn’t decide if she was comfortable being left alone with her thoughts and the memories Alec’s touch inspired. Too bad she wasn’t getting an option.