Derek blew out a breath and rubbed the muscles on the back of his neck. “Plus, pulling off something as big as taking down a man like McQueen would most likely deter other organizations from going against Khaled or Karim in the future.”
The room was quiet before Coop turned and looked directly at Trace. His expression was hard. Emotionless.
“I never should’ve trusted you. I should’ve kept Emma with me.”
“You’re wrong.” Trace shook his head.
Is he, though? You were supposed to protect her with your life. Now, you’re here and she’s...
“Am I wrong?” Emma’s brother took a step closer. “Because the way I see it, you don’t know her. You don’t care about her like the rest of us do. To you, my sister’s just another mark.”
“The fuck she is.” Trace stormed forward.
“Really?” Coop’s question oozed with sarcasm. “Do you love her? Because I do. So do my sister and parents.” His chin trembled with a cracked voice. “What the fuck am I supposed to tell my parents?”
“You tell them we’re getting her back.”
Coop’s angry, heartsick eyes burned into his. “You willing to bet her life on that promise?”
“No.” Trace gave his head a single shake. “I’m willing to bet mine.”
****
Emma sat huddled inthe corner of the dark, damp room. No, not a room...a cell.
She’d woken up as the plane was taking off. When it landed, they’d brough her here. Except no one would tell her where here was, no matter how many times she asked.
Just before the plane landed, her head was covered with a black, cotton hood. It was thin, so she could make out light and shadows, but that was it.
The man who’d broken into the bathroom had sat across from her on the plane. He’d tried calling someone several times before the plane took off. From the frustrated sound in his Spanish-speaking voice, it was clear to her that he’d been expecting someone else to show up.
Someone like maybe the person Trace had gone after when he’d left her hiding out in the bathroom.
At least, that’s what Emma had been telling herself since she’d regained consciousness. Because the only other option—that this man was the only one at the cabin, and he’d gotten to her because he’d done something to Trace first—was one she refused to accept.
I’d die for you.
The word Trace had spoken haunted her, but she pushed them away as far as she could.
If she believed Trace was dead, that he wasn’t out there somewhere with her brother and the rest of Alpha Team...that they weren’t searching for her...she’d lose all hope.
And right now, hope was all she had to go on.
So far, they hadn’t touched her other than to lead her down a dark hallway and throw her into this crude cell. That and tied her hands in front of her with thick, rough ropes.
Tears pricked the corners of Emma’s eyes, but like all the other times since coming here, she refused to let them fall. Crying would do her no good, though it was damn hard not to completely break down.
She thought about Coop, and what he must be going through. They’d always been close, and he’d be devastated to think of her being in the hands of these monsters.
Her uninvited tears welled even more when thoughts of her sister and her parents would sneak past, but when she thought about Trace...that’s when the battle became almost impossible to win.
These last few days with him were nothing short of magical. And they hadn’t been nearly enough.
But now, given her precarious situation, Emma couldn’t help but wonder whether she’d ever see him—seeanyof them—again.
The metal door clanged open, sending a shockwave of fear through her veins. The bruises on Emma’s face, along with the cut in her lip, throbbed to the beat of her pounding heart as a dark, shadowy figure rushed toward her.
Rough hands grabbed her arms and forced her to her feet.