Chapter 12
Aman had Tani by the hair so she had no choice but to follow along behind him, looking back at Flynn the whole time. When she saw the man put a gun to his back she wanted to strike out at Aman and go to him, but Aman threw her onto a horse and jumped up behind her. Spurring the horse before she could react, and they went thundering through camp towards the tomb.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t find out what you were up to? It’s not that hard to find a man who’s willing to talk, that is if you give him the right motivation.” Aman said, giving her hair another hard tug.
Tani’s eyes watered from the pain, but she hardly noticed, her only thoughts of Flynn and what was happening to him. But Aman’s voice in her ear brought her back to her own predicament, “I’m going to show you what happens to someone who tries to steal from me, but first you and I are going to have a little fun.”
Aman grabbed her breast hard and squeezed until she began to squirm from the pain. She wanted to cry out, but refused to give him the satisfaction. “I can see we’re going to have to do this the hard way.” He said, grabbing the other breast, this time making her cry out.
“That’s better. I like to hear my women when I please them.” He said, laughing.
Tani braced herself for more, closing her eyes and clamping her lips shut, promising herself that she wouldn’t make a sound. But Aman grew tired of her for the moment; he tugged on her hair again and covered her mouth with his hand, “Now shut up, I don’t want you to make a sound. I want you to see this.”
Tani struggled for a moment, but found it was useless, Aman had her in an iron grip. As they neared the tomb Tani began to panic, the site was devoid of people, and she knew what that meant. Any moment the charge that was going to shut off the tomb was going to explode and they were much too close, the blast alone would throw them twenty feet or more. Worse, falling debris might crush them.
Aman cursed, “Looks like I have a spy in my ranks as well. Someone must have told your men we didn’t fall for that fire you all started.”
He’d finally let go of her so she tried to escape, thinking only of getting away from the blast that was to come. She managed to get off the horse and make it a few feet, before Aman was on her, grabbing her by the waist. “I was thinking we’d settle our little differences somewhere else, but here might be just fine. I like a woman who puts up a good fight.” Aman said, putting his arms around her in a grip she couldn’t break.
His mouth was just inches from hers, when the charge went off, throwing them ten feet through the air. Tani felt her head connect with a rock and then everything went black. When she awoke, she was thrown over the back of the horse and it was moving at a fast pace through the desert. The motion of the horse made her head pound and the world again faded to black again.
When she surfaced the next time, she was lying on a dirty mattress in a dark room, a smell she didn’t recognize permeating the air. She took several shallow breaths before risking a big one, then tried to sit up. The room spun and she fell back on the mattress, her head pounding, reaching up she felt a huge knot on her head and dried blood in her hair. Moving a bit more slowly, she managed to get to her feet and stumble to the door only to find it locked.
When her attempt to get out the door didn’t bring anyone running, she began to beat on the door hoping that it would give way, but all that did was exhaust her and make her head pound. Gingerly, she sat down on the filthy bed again and put her head in her hands until the pounding and nausea passed. She couldn’t stop thinking about seeing Flynn being led away with a gun pressed into his back, and she knew that he could already be dead.
She stifled the sob that threatened to escape, Flynn wouldn’t be beat that easily, he’d find a way to get away. Now she had to do the same thing. She had no idea where she was, but she knew who had brought her here. Focusing her mind on everything she knew about Aman didn’t help, if he thought she had double crossed him, he’d never be satisfied until she was dead. It was then that she decided that she’d have to resort to physical violence, nothing better had come to mind.
Getting to her feet, she began to search the room for a weapon, anything that she might use when his guard was down would work. Finally, she found what she’d been looking for in the bottom of an old cabinet pushed off into one corner. The knife wasn’t that sharp, but it was thin and long, it would be easy to conceal under the mattress or even in her clothes. Knife securely in her hand, she crept back to the bed and laid down, assuming that Aman would be back soon and she’d have her chance to escape.
Flynn opened his eyes to a room he didn’t recognize and tried to sit up, but the stabbing pain in his side stopped him. “Don’t try to sit up just yet Flynn.” A wizened voice said from the darkness. “You’ve lost a lot of blood and need to rest.”
It took Flynn a moment to remember what had happened, the man in the desert, Tani riding off with Aman and he tried to sit up again. This time a hand was placed on his chest, and the old man said, “Tani is fine for now. She and the Minister are riding for Cairo, I’ve got men following them.”
Flynn let the words sink in, “Who are you?” Flynn finally managed to ask.
The old man turned up the light and gestured to a woman who had been standing in a dark corner. She approached Flynn, placed her hand on his forehead then satisfied he wasn’t feverish, she began to unwind the bandage wrapped around his chest. He grimaced when the bandage came off to reveal a long gash in his ribcage, clearly the path the bullet had taken. To his relief the wound looked clean, but it burned like it was on fire, so he sucked in little breaths through his teeth.
The old man put a hand on his arm to distract him from the pain. “I’m an old friend of the family, when you were found they brought you here to me. I can help; I already have some of my men following Tani and another group ready to go after her with you.”
“And she’s fine?” Flynn couldn’t help but interrupt.
“As far as we know. She and the Minister were at the tomb when the charge went off, they were thrown several feet. We think Tani might have hit her head. She appeared to be unconscious when Aman put her on the horse.”
“We have to go get her. He’ll kill her.” Flynn said, trying to get up again.
“Soon.” The old man said, pushing him back down on the bed. “My men are following them; I don’t think Aman will do anything right away. He’ll be more concerned with his standing in the government. He was already in poor favor with the President, this will probably destroy him.”
“How do you know all this and why are helping?” Flynn was sure he’d never met the man.
“As I said I’m an old friend of the family, Tani would remember me, I’m the one who got her to the American Embassy all those years ago.” The old man said, then nodded at the woman who began to rub a thick smelly salve on his wound. “I’ve been quietly watching, waiting for you to need help.”
“I don’t understand. How could you know so much from watching?” Flynn was getting tired of the entire conversation, he just wanted to go after Tani.
“Cooper Montgomery wanted it that way.”
“You know Cooper?” Flynn was beginning to see the connection.
“I’ve been in touch with him since Tani went to live at the ranch. I was waiting until she was better to approach her, but this came up and we both decided that by keeping my distance I might just be more useful, and now that’s become true.”
Flynn felt the burning in his side begin to abate and tried to sit up again, this time the old man reached out and helped him. “You should begin to feel better in a few minutes.”
“I don’t have a few minutes; I need to go after Tani. Can you give me a horse?” Flynn said, getting to his feet, then swaying a bit as he got his equilibrium.
The old man got to his feet and steadied Flynn, “I knew that you would want to go after her so I’ve got some of my men waiting for you as well as a fast horse.” The old man said, leading him out the door. When they got outside, he handed Flynn a saddle bag, “Inside you will find food, water, and tea, you need to eat and drink to help your body. My men will lead the way to Cairo, from there you’re on your own.”
“I don’t know how to thank you.” Flynn said, getting painfully onto the horse that had been waiting for him.
“Just bring her back alive.” The old man said, then seemed to remember something, “I almost forgot Cooper sent this to me before you and Tani came to Egypt.” He handed Flynn a plastic black case just big enough to hold a satellite phone.
Flynn cracked open the case and wanted to shout with joy. This was going to be the thing that saved Tani’s life, of that he was sure. Bowing to the old man, he nodded to the men who had joined him and they rode off into the desert. Flynn was already on the phone to Cooper before they’d gone a mile, thankful that Cooper had been smart enough to keep the old man a secret in case of an emergency, now he might just have a chance to save Tani.
By the time they reached Cairo, the sun was just beginning to come up, his side ached but nothing like it should have and he was once again thankful for the old man’s help. Cooper had arranged for a group of American soldiers to meet him on the outskirts of town hoping that by then they’d know where Aman had taken Tani. Flynn didn’t question how he’d made these things happen, simply done what Cooper had told him.
“Once you have Tani, you need to take her to a safe house. I don’t trust anyone. Once the video has been broadcast, we’ll take her out of Egypt where she’ll be safe.” Cooper had instructed, “I’ll send you the address and directions, someone will help you get there.”
As he waited in the early light of dawn, a group of Egyptian men approached and Flynn was instantly on guard, but as they got closer he realized that they were not Egyptian at all. When the leader spoke, Flynn relaxed, these were the men that Cooper had sent, finally he’d be able to go after Tani.
“She’s being held in a small house on the other side of town. We’ll have to go forward from here on foot, do what we do and don’t say a word.” He ordered Flynn who fell into step next to him.
As they navigated their way through Cairo, Flynn’s anxiety turned to determination, his only thought of Tani. When they finally reached the house where she was being held, it looked deserted, but then a small stream of smoke began to drift up the chimney and they knew that someone was in the house. Flynn wanted to run straight inside, but the leader cautioned him to wait for his men to get into position.
Tani heard the front door slam and instinctively crawled back further on the mattress, the knife still firmly in her hand. She could hear Aman banging around in the other room, clearly furious. “Idiotic woman… destroyed my career… going to have to flee my own home…. stupid husband not even dead.”
She couldn’t hear every word he said, but she got enough to understand that she was now dealing with a very desperate man who would want to make her pay for his predicament. Her heart had soared when she’d heard the part about Flynn not being dead and immediately felt her strength begin to return. If she could just survive this, they might see each other again. But then she remembered what Aman had promised and her blood went cold, all that flirting and being coy was coming back to haunt her in the worst way.
Her only hope was that Flynn would rescue her, she’d never be able to hold Aman off with only a dull knife. She had to stall him, find a way to give Flynn long enough to find her. Taking a deep breath, she focused all her energy on finding a way to hold Aman off when he finally came to take his revenge. But it wasn’t long before he came stomping through the door, the look on his face telling her all she needed to know.
He crossed the room in three strides and grabbed her by the hair and drug her from the room, “I’m not taking you on that filthy mattress, I think the table will do just fine.”
Tani still had the knife gripped firmly in her hand so she didn’t struggle, instead she let him lead her by the hair over to a table pushed against one wall. “I’d really hoped you fight a bit more.” He said, pushing his face into hers, “I might have to do something to bring that fight out.”
He shoved her onto the table and pushed her down on her back. “Just so you know, that husband of yours is dead, shot out in the desert. They won’t even find his body.” He said, unbuckling his pants.
Tani was trembling with fear, both of what Aman might do to her and what it might feel like to kill a man again. She had no doubt that given the chance she would kill him and that knowledge gave her strength. “You’re a vile man and if you touch me you’ll be sorry.” She spat at him.
“Oh good, there’s that fight I wanted.” Aman said, shoving her legs open and pushing his hips against hers.
Tani screamed, a scream so piercing even she was shocked by its strength. It tore through the night and straight to Flynn’s ears. “That’s Tani, we have to go now.” He said, pushing off the leader’s attempt to stop him.
Aman heard the front door come crashing down and turned to look, giving Tani the opening she needed. Using all her strength she plunged the knife into his heart, then screamed as his body fell on her, his eyes open in shock. His blood rushed over her, warm and sticky, and she continued to scream until she had no breath left in her lungs and just lay there panting. It had all happened in a matter of minutes but it felt like hours to Tani, then finally Aman’s body was lifted off of her and she could breathe again.
She closed her eyes, not caring who was there, only relieved that someone had found her. When she heard Flynn’s voice, her eyes flew open and she started to sob. “Oh my god. Are you hurt?” Flynn asked, his hands fluttering over her body, her clothes soaked in blood.
“I’m okay, but I think I killed Aman.” She said, laughing now because she just couldn’t cry anymore.
“It’s okay Tani, you did what you had to.” Flynn said, scooping her up in his arms, still worried that she was hurt.
Tani’s laughter finally died away replaced by a feeling of numbness, her brain too flooded with emotion to function. “Take me out of here Flynn.” Was all she could say, as she began to tremble.
Flynn pulled the robe he’d been wearing off over his head, “Let’s get you out of those clothes first.” He said, helping her remove her blood-soaked pants and shirt.
He slipped the robe on over her head, it hung clear to the floor but she didn’t mind because it smelled like Flynn. Then he scooped her up in his arms and walked out of the horrible little house. “Get us out of here.” Flynn ordered. In only a few seconds, a car came speeding down the street and pulled up, the leader gestured to the car, Flynn loaded her in the back and they sped off.
“Do you know where we’re going?” She heard Flynn ask as she buried her face in his chest, breathing in his familiar scent.
Tani kept her head down the entire ride, afraid that if she opened her eyes the terrible images of what she’d just done would come. Before long, safely wrapped in Flynn’s arms, she fell asleep, her brain and body too tired to let her stay conscious now that the danger was over. She felt the car stop and Flynn lift her out, but she was too exhausted to open her eyes and see where they were, wherever it was she was sure that they were safe.
When she opened her eyes the next time, it was to find Flynn sitting next to her in a room that looked much like the one she’d had as a child. He was dozing in a chair that he’d pulled up next to the bed, but when she stirred, he opened his eyes and smiled at her, one of those smiles that always stopped her heart. But this time it made tears come to her eyes and she was powerless to stop them.
Flynn got into the bed with her, and pulled her into his arms. “Do you want to tell me what happened?” He asked, rubbing her back. “It might help to talk about it.”
“I’m not crying about Aman. I’m crying because I thought I lost you.” She said, pulling back in his arms to cup his face, “When I saw that gun I was so afraid.”
Flynn could remember all too clearly what it had felt like to watch Aman drag Tani away, “I thought I lost you too.” Flynn said but his emotions were just too big to control so he blurted out. “I love you and I couldn’t live without you.”
“Oh, Flynn I’ve been waiting to hear you say that. I love you too.” Tani said, her tears now of joy and not fear.
“I think I’ve loved you since the day you sprayed me with snow and ice up on the mountain.” He said, covering her face with kisses.
“I didn’t know it then, but you’re the man I’m destined to be with. When I thought you were dead, I didn’t want to go on.” Tani said, sobbing as he kissed her face.
Flynn grabbed her face, “But we’re both okay. Look at me Tani.” He said. Tani looked into Flynn’s eyes, the love she saw there mirroring her own. “We made it. The tomb is closed off, the video will air tomorrow morning and don’t even think of asking me for an annulment. I married you because I love you and I’m never letting you go.”
Tani stifled a sob and began to laugh, “I wasn’t going to give you an annulment anyway.” She said, the laughter making it hard to talk. “Flynn, I want to go home, home to Colorado. I’ve had enough of Egypt.” She finally said when she’d stopped laughing, knowing that Egypt wasn’t completely behind her, but that they’d deal with the aftermath of what she’d done together.
“Yes, I think it’s time that I took my Egyptian treasure home.” He said, his mouth finding hers in a kiss that felt both familiar and new to Tani, a kiss that was full of the promise of the happiness to come.
The end