Chapter Twenty-one
Sally moaned and attempted to sit up, but even that small movement sent shards of pain rocketing to her nerve endings. She went still and held her breath, hoping the worst would subside. It didn’t, and eventually she had to breathe anyway.
Her arm throbbed. Turning her head to see what was wrong, she wished she hadn’t. There was blood everywhere. She couldn’t tell how big or deep the wound was…and it didn’t matter anyway because her hands were still bound behind her back and she couldn’t do anything about…anything.
Tossed in a corner of the barn beside two straw bales, Sally pushed herself up to lean against them. The action left her winded, and her harsh breathing was loud in the empty barn. Okay, so she’d apparently lost a fair amount of blood. Her new blue tank top was toast. At least the blond-haired freak wasn’t there. Where was everybody anyway? How much time had passed while she was out of it? The last she remembered, the position of the sun made it about midafternoon. Now it was that period between dusk and nightfall, with a good bit of moonlight coming through the open doorway. Why had they left her alone?
Her gaze darted to the post where Matt and Daniel had been tied. It was empty. Her heart soared at the possibility they’d gotten away. If only she knew for sure that Luke and the others had escaped as well. It was a good bet she wouldn’t still be alive if the terrorists had taken Luke. However, a nagging voice in her mind suggested he would never leave her…not in the hands of the enemy who’d killed Ian and tormented Luke. No, he was out there somewhere, in the fading light beyond the open barn door. Hadn’t he said he’d stick with her?
A scuffing noise brought her attention back to the barn door. A man’s figure slipped inside, hugging the wall as he peered out. Then, apparently satisfied with what he’d seen, he straightened and hurried toward her. His huge frame had given him away at first sight, but she’d never been so glad to see anyone’s smiling face in her life.
Matt dropped to one knee beside her. “How ya doin’, angel lady?” he whispered, already examining the cut on her arm.
“Not that great actually.” She winced in pain as she leaned back against one of the bales. “Where’s Daniel?”
“He took off toward the river after we cut ourselves loose. Said he kept a hunting rifle and a few knives in his boat.” Matt shrugged. “Everything else he owned is gone.”
Yeah. Sally had firsthand knowledge of how that felt, and her heart ached for Daniel and Ellen’s loss.
Matt pulled a familiar-looking knife from his back pocket. “Lean forward.”
Sally did as he said, and sweet relief poured into her limbs as he sliced through the zip tie binding her wrists. Her hands were numb—dead weight when she dragged them onto her lap. Dangerously close to dissolving into self-pity, she bit the inside of her lip in an effort to focus.
As Matt rubbed life back into her hands, she spotted a slash on his wrist that bled with his movements. He must have noticed her inspecting the cut and smiled ruefully. “Daniel’s a civilian. He accidentally nicked me when he cut my ropes.” Nodding toward the knife at his feet, he grinned. “Way to think on your feet. Getting that knife to us was genius.”
For the first time, Sally’s smile wasn’t forced. “Glad I could help. I warned Luke too. At least I think he heard me.”
Matt chuckled. “Everyone within a mile heard you.”
“They got away, then?” She learned forward, intent on his answer.
“Last I checked, they’d moved the Jeep and Travis’s car out of sight, but I wouldn’t count on him bein’ gone. That’s not how SEALs operate. We don’t give up and we don’t leave fallen comrades behind. It’s our way.”
Sally sighed. “I know—but you can’t blame a girl for hoping.” She smiled slightly. At least Jen, Bridgett and Ellen would be safe. Luke had made sure of that. “Where’s the blond guy and his horde?”
“One of them wasn’t paying close attention out front when I came in. He’s going to miss the end of the show. I hid his body the best I could on short notice. The others are having a discussion in the cabin next to where Daniel’s was.”
“What do we do now?”
Matt stood. “We’re going to get you out the back.” He strode toward the large front door and stopped to peer around the edge. Immediately, he whirled and jogged back. “I think they discovered my handiwork. Time to go.”
He cradled her shoulders, and Sally leaned into his arm as he steadied her…just in time to double over and hurl the contents of her stomach at their feet. Her entire body went weak and sweaty. Her legs wouldn’t hold her any longer. Saliva pooling in the back of her throat faster than she could swallow and her stomach roiling, Sally stumbled to the closest straw bale.
Matt dropped down beside her. “It’s okay. You’re doin’ fine. This is common when regaining consciousness after a physical or emotional trauma. Does your noggin hurt?”
She shook her head, and the movement made her throw up again. Damn it. The voices of blondie’s henchmen reached her ears. “Go. You have to go, Matt.” Pushing on his massive chest was useless.
“No way am I leaving you, so you’re coming with me.” Matt stood and scooped her up.
“I’ll only slow you down.” She clenched her jaw tightly and focused on not throwing up on him.
“Naw. Stick with me, angel.” He moved quicker and quieter than Sally thought possible toward the back of the barn, where a stall door had been left open about twelve inches. Matt put his shoulder against it, sliding it open enough for them both to fit through.
Across the paddock, Sally could see the doorway that led out into the night. There was some moonlight mixed with the shadows that stretched across the hard-packed ground. She glanced over Matt’s shoulder. Why hadn’t blondie and his crew entered the barn yet?
Suddenly, their escape route was blocked by several dark figures. The one who pushed to the front had blond hair and a smug smile. “There you are. I’m afraid I can’t let you leave. I’ve got plans for sweet little Sally and they don’t involve you.” He stepped closer and leveled his gun at Matt’s head. “Put her down.”
For a moment, it seemed as though Matt would ignore the command, but finally he set her gently on her feet.
Blondie grabbed her wrist and jerked her toward the door. He barked some orders to his men as he pulled her between them and stepped outside.
“Wait.” Sally’s fear for Matt was so great, she didn’t care what he would do to her for speaking when not spoken to.
Surprisingly, he halted, sporting an arrogant smirk as he nodded at one of his men, who raised a gun to Matt’s temple. “Say good-bye to your friend, sweetheart.”
“No!” Sally’s cry was shrill in the eerie silence. She tried to break away, but Ahmed held her in a tight grip. What made it worse was, Matt refused to meet her gaze, staring, instead, at Ahmed.
Ahmed resumed walking again, dragging her along behind. “Come, Sally. I’m going to make you forget all about your friend…and Luke.”
She had no control over the tears that trickled down her face. Nor did she care any longer. Maybe she wasn’t so unlike her father after all. Given half a chance, she’d kill this piece of filth and not lose a moment’s sleep.
They were almost to the cabin that stood next to the ruins of Daniel’s home when a single gunshot broke the silence of the night.
* * * *
Luke, Coop and Travis disappeared beneath the water of the river filled with glacial runoff from nearby mountains. This would be a cold swim and a quick one if they hoped to avoid hypothermia. Luckily, under cover of darkness, they’d been able to sneak closer on foot than they’d originally planned. Now, they only had to swim three hundred yards or so, upstream, underwater, while holding their weapons above water, without a wet suit, and come out at the spot closest to the barn, all without being seen. Piece of cake.
Two and a half minutes later, they hauled themselves from the freezing-ass river and ducked into the tall grass along the bank. Luke wasn’t fazed by the cold water or the soaking-wet clothes that’d resulted from his swim. His hatred for Ahmed fueled a fire within him that kept him plenty warm. Without a word passing between them, they moved out, performing the next segment of their plan. Travis and Coop angled toward the long side of the barn, where several horse paddocks offered access. Luke’s job was to go in the front and find the hostages.
Hostages. That was the way he had to think of Sally. As though this were any other mission he’d ever been on. Otherwise he’d go stark raving mad.
As soon as he entered the barn, he heard voices and followed them to their place of origin. MacGyver towered a head taller than all four of Ahmed’s cronies, who stood around him inside one of the stalls. They appeared to be taunting him and none too happy that MacGyver wasn’t taking the bait. One of the men stepped up and slammed the butt of his handgun into MacGyver’s head, knocking him down. Oh hell. That is going to be one pissed-off Navy SEAL when he gets up.
Nervous laughter went through the onlookers. The man who’d hit him pressed his gun to MacGyver’s forehead.
“Fuck this,” MacGyver growled.
Luke rushed forward and braced his handgun on the half wall of the stall. “Down on the ground!” His Arabic was limited, but at least he’d gotten their attention. “Drop your weapons!” Then again, maybe his grasp of the language was worse than he thought—no one moved. The four black-robed men simply stared
MacGyver let out a roar, bent his knee and brought it toward his chest, then slammed his foot into the leg of the man who’d knocked him down. A sickening crunch made Luke grimace as the poor guy let out a shriek and fell to the ground, clasping his shattered knee with both hands. MacGyver ripped his gun from slack fingers and quieted his screams with a punch to the jaw that nearly broke the guy’s neck. Yep—pissed-off SEAL.
The other three raised their weapons and tried to back out into the paddock. They evidently didn’t know their escape route was already blocked. Coop and Travis appeared, one from each side of the doorway, and their KA-BARs flashed briefly in the moonlight. The standard-issue knives wielded by his friends permanently silenced the two targets closest to the door. The third man started talking excitedly, his voice rising steadily. Finally, he lunged toward the door, and Travis jabbed with his knife. The man staggered back but drew his long knife as he righted himself and started forward again.
Luke pulled the trigger. A SEAL’s every shot was a kill shot, and Luke watched him fall with no emotion whatsoever…because he had to. Because this time it was for Sally. He’d learned to compartmentalize death for the sake of the battle. No fucking wonder he had nightmares every time he closed his eyes. That shit had to come out somehow. But he’d use what the Navy had taught him one more time…until the woman he loved was safe and everyone who threatened her was dead. If that made him a monster, so be it.
“MacGyver, you okay?” Luke lowered his gun and pushed through the slider into the stall.
“Right as rain,” MacGyver said. “Thanks for showing up when you did.”
Luke glanced around at the four dead or wounded men. “There were five men and Ahmed. We’re one short.”
“No, we’re not. The other one got in my way earlier. He won’t be bothering us.”
Luke extended a hand and helped the big man up. “Daniel?”
“He’s around here someplace. Tell you the truth, I kinda lost track of him, but I bet he’s not far from the blond-haired bastard who killed his brother.”
“Sally?”
“He took her out of here minutes before you arrived.”
“Is she okay?” Luke held his breath.
“She’s got a few cuts and bruises. Nothing too serious. Your angel lady turned out to be one hell of a fighter.” MacGyver shook his head. “This riffraff spent most of the day in one of the cabins with their boss. If I was a betting man, I’d say that’s where he took her.”
“Let’s go.” Luke pushed through the paddock door and his friends fell in behind him.
It wasn’t hard figuring out which cabin Ahmed had taken over. Every light in the place was on. Almost like he was advertising his presence. Luke sidled up to Coop. “What do you think?”
Travis and MacGyver joined their impromptu meeting. “Well, he’s not trying to hide. My instincts tell me he’s probably set a few booby traps. Maybe even rigged the place to blow.”
“Fuck.” Luke received no satisfaction from the fact he’d come to the same conclusion. The image of Sally inside with Ahmed made his blood boil. The idea that their attempt to rescue her might be the catalyst to her death left him numb.
“Check the doors and windows for wires. We need a way in.” As the others hurried away, Luke stopped Coop. “Once we’re in, check the attic.” That’s where the fire started in Sally’s house, so that might be Ahmed’s go-to spot. Maybe he’ll repeat himself.
A minute later, Travis returned. “The door and the windows on this side are clear. They open into a separate bedroom and bathroom. Lights are all on. Might be where he’s holding Sally.”
“Okay, I’m going in. Coop will back me up and look for bombs once we’re inside. You two cover the front and back. If we get in trouble, you’ll probably be able to tell right away. That’s your cue to come in with everything you’ve got.” Not that they had much. Three of them had handguns, and they’d lifted four more plus an AK-47 off the fallen men in the barn. It would have to be enough.
Luke and Coop approached the side of the house. Carefully, Luke peered through the bedroom window. The doors to the main part of the cabin and the bathroom were closed. Clothing was draped over the quilted comforter. Luke pushed the window open about eighteen inches, then pulled himself up to stick his head inside and double-check for hidden wires. Finding none, he shoved himself through the opening, rolling as he hit the floor. Five seconds later, Coop was beside him and closed the window behind them.
The next instant, the two heard the bathroom doorknob rattle and barely had time to flatten against the wall. Coop held a knife as they waited. Slowly, the knob turned and the door opened. Luke caught a glimpse of her in the mirror just inside the bathroom. His carefully controlled rage almost got away from him. Sally’s face and arms were bruised, cut and swollen. Clearly, she’d tried to clean some of the blood off, but one whole side of her tank top was stained red, and an angry-looking wound on her arm still bled. He forced his gaze from her image and focused on what he had to do.
Luke waited until she was halfway through the opening before he slid his arm around her, pressed his hand to her mouth and pulled her back against him. She struggled in his arms with far more strength than he’d expected. “It’s me, sunshine. Don’t be afraid. It’s me and Coop. We’re going to get you out of here.” As soon as he whispered the words next to her ear, she went still.
He released her, and she whirled, throwing her arms around him. Her head came to rest on his chest as a sob escaped. “Damn it. He was right. Matt said you wouldn’t go. We’re going to have a talk about that later, sailor.” A sob that was half laugh bubbled from her throat.
Luke tugged her closer and kissed her neck, weak with relief. “We can talk about whatever you want, babe.” He motioned for Coop to slide the window open. “You go first and catch her.”
Coop nodded, opened the window and let himself down feet first.
Luke bent to scoop Sally into his arms and hand her out the window to Coop, when the bedroom door burst open. Ahmed filled the opening, an Uzi submachine gun pointed at them.
“Well, well. If it isn’t Navy SEAL Luke Harding.” Ahmed’s emphasis on SEAL caught Luke’s attention.
He set Sally on her feet and pushed her behind him. “Ahmed, you lousy maggot. I thought you were dead. I’m disappointed you’re not. This is between you and me. Let’s take it outside.”
“You and I can settle our differences right here.” Ahmed worked the lever on the top of the Uzi, chambering a round. He pulled the trigger, and a short burst of automatic gunfire strafed the wall beneath the window where Luke had seen Coop last.
Sally grasped Luke’s shoulders and pressed closer to his back, her body trembling. He placed his hand on her hip directly behind him to reassure her.
“That should keep your friends away for a while.” As Ahmed turned back toward Luke, he smiled. Eerie, detached, crazy—the light that shone from the man’s eyes chilled every fiber of Luke’s being. He had to keep Ahmed talking until Coop and the others could regroup. It was Sally’s only chance.
“You had it in for us the whole time because Ian and I were Americans. Why? It was your choice to turn your back on your country. You let them fill you with hate for your own people.”
As though he hadn’t heard, Ahmed stared at Luke. “You and your Navy SEALs always thought you were stronger…faster…better than me, didn’t you? Even after I proved your friend Ian was weak, you still didn’t get it.”
Again, the almost unnoticeable emphasis on the words Navy SEALs interested Luke. “Didn’t get what?”
“I was like you—proudly American—until…” His words faded, and he glanced around as though he feared someone else might have heard his confession. When his gaze returned to Luke’s, anger burned there again. “The American military—the SEALs you value so highly—discharged me after my brother and I had successfully completed most of our training.”
The statement jolted Luke to his core. What is he saying? He signed on to be a SEAL?
Ahmed paced one way and then the other, always keeping the Uzi trained on Luke. “Do you know why? Not because I wasn’t good enough or strong enough. Not because I wasn’t the best sniper—I was. Even better than my own brother. No. They seized upon my only imperfection. Can you guess what it was?”
“Your humility?” Luke regretted his flip remark as soon as he’d said it, but it was too late.
Again, Ahmed seemed not to hear. “A fucking broken bone in my wrist when I was a boy. It healed and never bothered me again. But it wasn’t perfect, and that break decreased my range of motion by three fucking percent…which made me not good enough for the almighty SEALs. That I could perform any exercise quicker and better than the rest didn’t matter.”
“So, you took a medical discharge rather than stay in the regular Navy? Hell, I’d have done the same thing. But that doesn’t explain why you became a terrorist. That’s a pretty big leap.” Luke kept his gaze on the man’s trigger finger. He and Sally would have only milliseconds to react when Ahmed tired of talking.
“Eight months later, my brother was killed in a training exercise. A Humvee he was driving, with four other trainees onboard, overturned. The others were thrown out, but my brother was trapped behind the steering wheel. The Humvee went over an embankment and burst into flames. If I’d been there, I could have saved him.”
Luke shook his head, a vague memory of the incident on the news niggling at his brain. “What makes you think you could have done more than the men who were there?”
“Obviously, they didn’t try hard enough. Every one of you is going to pay for that.” Ahmed’s voice held the rage that clearly seethed beneath the surface, and he tightened his grip on the gun.
“So, that’s it, huh? That’s why you became a traitor, became a terrorist and killed Ian? To make the SEALs—any SEAL—pay for the accidental death of your brother?” Didn’t sound like the actions of a rational man. It was just a hunch, but he’d bet Ahmed had lost touch with reality when his brother died. Why else would the traitor come thousands of miles to hunt Luke down again? That made his first guess right—Ahmed was crazy. And Luke had learned to trust his hunches.
“You’ve oversimplified it, but yes. And now it’s your turn. Then I’ll take care of your friends outside. I knew Sally would bring you close enough to spring the trap. I had every intention of trading her for you…but now, I can’t bear to part with her either—for totally different reasons, of course. But I’m not a monster. I’ll give you a moment to say good-bye.” Ahmed relaxed his grip on the Uzi and glanced toward the door behind him.
Yep. Crazy and overconfident. The latter will be his downfall.
Luke understood all too well that if Ahmed pulled that trigger, there’d be enough lead flying in this room to kill everything in sight. Not acceptable. He leaned toward Sally, who’d turned a ghostly shade of pale since Ahmed walked in. “Out the window, now.”
He didn’t wait to see if she followed his instruction. Clawing for traction, he burst into a full run. Getting to Ahmed before he fired was the only thing that would save them.
A malicious grin broke over Ahmed’s face as he braced his feet and tracked Luke’s progress with the barrel of the gun. Behind the madman, a shadow caught Luke’s eye. A man with a rifle stood in the doorway.
Luke leaped sideways out of the way, rolling as he landed, and slid up against the wall, praying Sally had done what he said. A high-caliber rifle shot echoed in the room. Ahmed jerked as though a puppeteer controlled his movements. A burst of submachine gunfire riddled the ceiling with bullet holes. Ahmed couldn’t hold on to the weapon any longer. He dropped it and crumpled to the floor, blood pooling under him from the rifle fire that entered his back and blew out through his chest. Ahmed was still breathing, gasping for air.
A glance toward the window told Luke what he desperately needed to know—Sally was out of harm’s way.
Three more shadows materialized, flanking Daniel, weapons in hand. Daniel stepped all the way into the room and strode toward Ahmed until he looked in to his face. “My brother was a good man. The best. You and your scum killed him. Now, you die.” He placed the barrel of the rifle against Ahmed’s forehead and pulled the trigger.