“What do you think our chances are of bringing her family back alive?” Ryan had an idea, but he wasn’t a numbers guy. He went where he was told and did the best job he could.

“Shit.” Ian shook his head and turned away.

The silence stretched on for another moment.

No one wanted to answer.

“I figure we’re at twenty-five percent,” Alec said.

“And that shrinks every hour they’re gone?” Ryan didn’t need to hear the answer. “What do we know so far? Where are we?”

“I’ve been putting a timeline together this morning with Owen’s help.” Alec tapped the remote, and the screen changed. “This morning at roughly eight you met with Detective Blew and Agent King, though Owen’s strictly off the record so he’s not represented on any of this. According to Blew, he got in his car and immediately made arrangements for protective custody of the four Adairs, plus one—being Ryan. That order was pushed through and then there’s a span of a few hours here while preparation is being made for the two o’clock pick up at the coffee stand.”

“How confident are we that Blew is shooting us straight? He hasn’t been our biggest fan since his run-in with Alpha Team.” Ryan glanced at Ian. It would be great if Zain were there with all his techno magic.

“He doesn’t like us, but that doesn’t really matter. It’s his case,” Ian replied.

Alec didn’t miss a beat picking up where he’d been interrupted. “After talking with Blew, our best guess is that the FBI made a one o’clock phone call to cancel all of this, but local PD was slow to respond. That would account for why no one told us, they were hoping to still make this happen.”

“Owen said there’s a good deal of tension between cops and feds after that Queen’s Nest raid,” Ian said.

“Looking at this shit show? I’d believe it.” Alec gestured to the end of his timeline. “One of the first units to be pulled was the protective detail on the Adair house. Based on the photos Ryan sent in, I’d be willing to bet the Adairs were taken shortly after the unit was pulled from their house.”

“Which means they were waiting.” Ryan didn’t like the sound of that. If this Kawa guy and his men traced Carson this fast, how soon until they were at Chloe’s door or here at the office? They’d made decisions with limited information on hand.

“You know this doesn’t look good?” Ian nodded at the timeline.

“Do we believe they’re focused on the money?” Ryan stared at the screen.

“That’s what Carson said they wanted.” Alec leaned back in his chair.

“Small time terrorist with a team of—what? Six? Maybe eight? What’s he up to?” Silas turned toward the pin board where an image of Kawa Dwek was posted. “What do we know about him?”

“Not much.” Ian scrubbed a hand over his face.

“Are Chloe, Taylor and the girls at home today?” Ryan asked.

“Yeah, but—”

“Tell them to go somewhere else.” He had a bad feeling about this.

“That’s what I’m thinkin’.” Ian pulled out his phone.

“Kawa, he’s from Syria, right?” Ryan strode across to the computer hooked up to the projector.

“Yeah. Why?” Alec rolled out of the way.

“Syrian terrorist. Does that sound wrong to anyone else?” Ryan glanced around at the others. “What’s this Kawa charged with? What’s the source?”

“It’s unofficial.” Alec set the remote down. “I looked at it with Ian, and we both agree, that’s some sketchy shit.”

“But where’s it from?” Ryan would not be deterred.

“This Russian report named him as some kind of lieutenant in a terrorist group.” Alec grimaced and crossed his arms over his chest. Russia was a supporter of the Syrian dictator. Anyone who spoke out against that supreme leadership would be branded an enemy of the state. They couldn’t trust a Russian report.

“What are the latest headlines out of Syria? Anyone?” Ryan couldn’t think too much about global politics without bringing back bad memories. He’d let the world move on while he kept his head down.

Silas flipped through a print out of current events. “Another bombing. More refugees. The biggest hit is all about part of the country breaking off and trying to become its own country called Akkadia after some ancient civilization.”

“It was the first ever empire,” Paxton said.

“How would you know?” Alec frowned at Paxton.

“Boy wonder here’s a nerd.” Silas slapped Paxton on the shoulder.

“Where’s Kawa from?” Ryan wouldn’t deny that money made people do terrible things, but it also might not be so simple.

“We don’t know. Other than the Russian report, there isn’t a thing about him out there.” Silas pinned the current events back to the board.

“Can Owen look into it?” If Ryan was going to get Carson’s family back and not lose her, he had to cover all his bases.

“Chloe and Taylor are packin’ up.” Ian closed the door behind him. “What about Owen?”

Ryan quickly caught Ian up on the tangent idea.

“That Walker guy doesn’t care too much for Owen now. He’s got to be careful askin’ questions. After this mornin’, I think Walker knows Owen’s friendly to us.”

“Owen’s partner?” Ryan was willing to grasp at whatever straw he needed to.

“Rusty might help us, but he could run into the same road block Owen is. Walker wants to use Carson as bait and he’s makin’ it damn hard for anyone to help her.”

“And Detective Blew isn’t willing to stick his neck out for us, is he?” Ryan hated all the road blocks they were running into. Every path seemed to lead to the same destination, putting Carson in danger. “We also need to look into Walker planting evidence on Carson’s little sister. That’s how all of this got started. They wanted to get at Carson, so they go for Frankie.”

“What kind of evidence?” Ian asked.

“Fake ID, some drugs. Carson didn’t say what, except she’d never believe that her sister would do that sort of thing.” He paced away from the others, blocking out their replies and conversation.

Carson had put her life on the line for her sister. What would she do if she knew how dire the situation was with her whole family?

She’d run in there, empty handed, and end up dead.

If he didn’t tell her and her family died she’d hate him for the rest of her life.

There had to be a solution that ended with the Adairs coming home alive.

Kawa’s group wanted money, or something else Ryan didn’t know about.

The FBI wanted to catch Kawa.

Both wanted to use Carson to achieve their own end.

“Guys?” Ryan turned toward the cluster. “We know we can’t unfreeze the money, but what if we get the money another way?”

“You have it sitting around?” Alec snorted.

“The cops or the FBI, they have to have seized fake bills we could use. They want these guys. If we give them a solution where they get Kawa and we get Carson’s family back—everyone wins, right?”

“Let me get this straight.” Alec leaned forward. “You want to ask the FBI assholes for a bunch of fake bills so we can do all the leg work to set up a sting op for them?”

“They’re going to follow us to it, anyway. We might as well use them.” Ryan shrugged.

“I don’t know that we can trust the FBI that much. If it were Owen, I’d say yes, but this Walker guy?” Ian shook his head.

“Then we go to the cops. We might not like Blew, but we know he wants the credit. Look at what happened with him and the Alpha Team.” Ryan was beginning to see the scene now. They could do this.

“I don’t know who I trust less, Walker or Blew?” Ian crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m just not sure.”

“Then you tell Carson her family is hours away from dying, because I can’t.” Ryan glared at his friend.

Ian glanced away almost immediately.

“That’s what I thought,” Ryan said.

“Either way we do this, we’re working with a snake.” Alec’s chair squeaked as he swung from side to side.

“At least we know it. So long as they can give us enough bills to convince these guys and be there to make the arrest, we can do the rest.” It was a lot more support than Ryan or anyone else had seen from the authorities in a lot of ops they’d pulled off.

“If we do this, it needs to be tonight,” Ian said.

“Think they’d believe she could make it happen that fast?” Alec asked.

“How would they know she couldn’t?” Ryan countered. “They think it’s possible to get money unfrozen. I don’t think we’re dealing with big dogs. There’s something else going on, some reason why they’d go after the broker the way they did.”

“You handle Blew. I’ll call Owen,” Ian said.

“Vito and I will look for a good spot to do the sting.” Alec spun toward the computer

“We need to know more about this Kawa guy. Pax, can you get on with Gavin? See if he can dig up anything else about him?” Ryan asked.

“On it.” Paxton nodded.

“Silas—”

“I’m going to make some calls to some friends.” The way Silas’ mouth twisted, Ryan questioned the word friend, but didn’t have time to ask questions.

“Good.” Ryan shoved his hand through his hair.

Things were moving. He didn’t know if he made the right or wrong call, but at least they weren’t at the mercy of people who wanted to use Carson.

CARSON COULDN’T HELP but feel like this whole scenario was to get her out of the main room so Ryan and the others could talk.

They weren’t telling her everything, for which she was grateful. She knew her limits, and that she was in over her head. Ryan was saving her, and all she’d done was hurt him.

She didn’t deserve this.

But she couldn’t help the frustration gnawing at her. Decisions were being made without her input.

“How about...this one?” Merida clicked another button.

Carson leaned forward and studied the man’s face. His cheeks were gaunt, his eyes lifeless.

“Maybe?” She’d said that about three other potential men, but she couldn’t be sure. “I only saw them for a second. Are you sure there weren’t security cameras or anything?”

“The cameras in the garage are at the entrance and exit.”

“I thought I was safe there.” Carson shuddered.

“Safe is a relative word. For the average person who wants to be able to sleep and feel safe against home invasion or burglary? It is. This is just a different level.”

How had this happen to her?

What had Carson done to be assigned Ben? What kind of karma was this?

“Carson? Hey.” Merida placed her hand on Carson’s arm. “I’m sorry. I’m not very good at this.”

“No, you’re great. It’s me.” She pushed to her feet and paced across the room, then back again.

“Let’s take a break.” Merida pushed the keyboard and mouse away from her.

“That won’t help me find my family.” Carson turned and strode to the far wall, pacing the longest part of the room.

“If you’re upset you aren’t thinking clearly. To find them, we need a clear head. Taking a break isn’t a bad thing.”

“How did you get into this?” Carson could understand how Ryan and the others shifted into this field, but Merida? What was her story?

“I was an admin in the navy. My career had mostly run its course when Zain approached me to come here.”

“Shit. Does everyone have some kind of army history?”

“I was Navy, but close enough. Having that history makes this job easier, but not everyone was enlisted. Vito wasn’t.” Merida leaned back in the tall, leather chair.

“What did I do wrong?” Carson stopped and prayed Merida had an answer for her.

“You haven’t done anything wrong,” she replied.

“But I did. Somewhere. Should I have gone to the police? A lawyer?”

“Ask yourself this, if you’d done something different, would it have led you to this same place only without friends? Carson, there’s a time and place to evaluate our mistakes, but when you’re in the trenches? That’s not the time. You’re distracted and getting worked up about things you can’t change.”

That sounded right.

Carson nodded and continued to pace.

“How’d you meet Ryan?” Merida asked.

That question.

Her cheeks heated.

“You don’t know?” She dropped into one of the chairs across the desk from Merida.

“No.”

“We met at a bar, we flirted, then my best friend slept with him.”

“Oh.” Merida blinked a few times.

Carson was going to owe her crimes.

“I told him he slept with me, I was pregnant and thought I’d just be there a few days. Now...look where we are?” She gestured at the computer.

“Well...that’s life.” Merida shrugged. “Messy, complicated and rarely predictable.”

“I don’t know why you’re all helping me. I don’t deserve it.”

“If the world ran on who deserved what, it would be a much different place. There are a lot of good things that have happened for bad people. In this instance? Right place right time.” Merida smiled, her brown eyes warming. “You know why I took Zain up on this offer?”

“Why?”

“Because Aegis Group is different. There are a lot of firms out there that focus on security, body guards or anything that could be lumped under the heading of mercenary work—not all of which is bad, mind you. What set this place and these people apart for me was that they always try to do the right thing even if it costs a little extra. And we always take care of our own.”

Carson nodded. She didn’t really understand, her world was too small for this kind of logic, but she got the gist.

“A year and a half ago one of our teams was doing a standard rescue op. Kidnappers, ransom, the whole thing. They didn’t expect a woman to be there, but they rescued her, too. Next summer she and one of our men are getting married in South Africa. Just about the whole company is going. There are a lot of firms like ours who would have left her. Our guys might not be perfect, but they’re good.”

Carson sighed. That story? That made sense to her. The girl left behind, that could have been her as a kid when CPS had to make the decision, did they listen to Carson or her mother? Some unknown, kind soul had helped her out of her hellish existence and on to a better life.

“There you are,” an unfamiliar male voice said.

Carson twisted to look over her shoulder.

“Elias, this is Carson.”

The man’s wide smile captured her attention more than the wheel chair. He had one of those larger than life, taking up the whole room, personalities.

“Carson, hi. Elias Wood. Nice to meet you.” He maneuvered the chair to her side and presented his hand to her.

“Hi.”

“Elias is our head of sales and marketing,” Merida said.

“I’m paid to spend money. Not a bad gig, am I right?” He leaned toward Carson, but his gaze was on Merida.

“Don’t even try.” Merida glared across the desk at him. “She’s taken.”

“The pretty ones always are.” Elias winked at Merida then glanced at Carson. “Well, now that I know who all the hush-hush is about, I’ll take myself back to my office. Merida, I’ll be out most of the afternoon if you need me.”

He pivoted the chair and was gone.

“I should also have mentioned that we only hire good and crazy.” Merida shook her head.

Carson chuckled.

Ryan had to be more than a little out of his mind to jump in like this and help her. She still didn’t understand how he could have feelings for her or even look at her. But here he was.

“You okay?” Merida asked.

“Yeah. Or I will be.” Carson swallowed the lump lodged in her throat.

He’d told her he loved her last night. This whole situation had her overwhelmed. She couldn’t sort her own emotions like he could, but she also wasn’t accustomed to situations like this. But for him, this was his life, and he knew himself better than she did. Everything she’d learned about Ryan made her believe that he was the good kind of guy, probably the very best. She felt things for him, things that might even be called love, but she wanted to be positive before she opened her mouth. She’d already taken back one admission, she didn’t want to do it again.

“You like him, don’t you?” Merida asked.

“Yes.” Carson stared at the wall.

A door down the hall opened and the sound of voices drifted toward them.

“That’s the SCIF room.”

“The what?”

“Secure room.”

“Carson?” Ryan called out.

Her heart responded, beating against her ribs.

“She’s in here,” Merida answered.

Carson listened to the thump of his feet on the floor. She felt his presence like a magnet, pulling her closer.

“Hey.” Ryan stepped into the doorway, his gaze locking with hers.

Carson shivered.

“What is it?”

“I think we figured out a way to get your family back and give the FBI their guys.” Ryan turned the other chair to face her then sat on the edge, leaning toward her. “We’re working on the FBI, but if they fall through, I think we’ve got a reasonable chance that the Seattle PD will loan us enough fake bills to carry through with the exchange. We make the swap and as soon as you’re clear the FBI can have them.”

“They’re expecting a wire transfer though...”

“Are they? What did they tell you they wanted?”

“Their money...”

“We’re going to give them money, it’s just very good counterfeit.”

“I don’t know...”

Was Carson willing to gamble with her family’s life like this?

“What other option can you think of? We’ve got our best guys looking for a digital footprint, some kind of trail, but these guys are virtually unknown to every source we have. Even the intel we have on them is suspect. All we know is that they have your family and they’re not exactly new to this, which tells me their threat is very real.”

“I—I don’t know.” Carson glanced at Merida whose expression was just as grim as Ryan’s.

“It’s your family, your call.” Ryan reached out and took her hand.

“What are our other options?”

“Pray for a miracle?”

Did she trust Ryan to steer her right?

Yes, she did. More than she trusted herself.

THE SOUND OF A phone ringing echoed down the metal halls of the nearly empty freight ship.

Kawa turned his head toward the sound.

That couldn’t be his, could it?

He got up from the bunk and crossed the hall into the room they’d set up as their general gathering area. The others were still scoping out the ship and making nice with their hosts.

Kawa stared at the Unknown Number.

The phone was encrypted and supposedly untraceable.

He pressed the answer button and held it to his ear, not saying a word.

Someone breathed into the line.

The silence stretched on.

“Hello? Is anyone there? Kawa?” The woman’s voice was strained, fearful.

“I am here,” he said.

“I wasn’t able to make the wire transfer happen.”

“Then your family is—”

“I have cash.”

Physical money would be more difficult to move, not to mention turn into something he could transport back to Syria to pay for the op. But money was money. Someone would take it. And he was running out of time. If the senator didn’t get his sister back Akkadia’s part in the Aerospace investigation would come out and then no one at the United Nations would back their bid for independence.

It was a gamble Kawa had to take.

“I’ll meet you at my parent’s house,” she said.

“No.” He might be new at these international deals but he had plenty of experience dealing with hostile people.

“Where then? I’m not walking into some dark building.”

“Your family’s lives mean that little to you?”

“What? No.”

“Money can be replaced. Family cannot.”

“Where do you want to meet?”

There it was, the sound of a desperate woman.

“I’ll send you an address. I need to think this deal over first.”

He ended the call and stared out of a window onto the water as the sun began to set. He wasn’t dealing with just any woman. She was part of Ben Grewing’s business. She’d helped him broker deals for all kinds of people. She was not innocent, and she was not without friends.

Kawa could not underestimate this woman. If he did, it would be both of their lives.