“There’s more.” He rushed his attempt to sweeten the plan. “Big ship like that, there’s bound to be at least one or two women on the excursion that will fit our customers’ tastes. We keep those women separated from the other hostages until our ransom demands are met. Then we add them to our inventory.”
Second after endless second passed. For Sal, the silence that followed his suggestion felt as if it stretched on for days.
The force with which his heart pounded against his ribs was proof of his unprecedented despair. But he refused to let the other men see it.
On his knees, Sal’s breath remained frozen in his lungs as he awaited his fate.
Just when he was certain Emilio would disregard his plan and move forward with his execution, the powerful man surprised him with a slow forming smile.
“This is your last chance, Salvador,” Emilio warned. “Rest assured, there will not be another.”
Tears of the unexpected solace pricked at the corners of Sal’s eyes. “Thank you, Emilio.” His voice was thick. “You won’t regret this.”
Turning away, the powerful man stopped at the bottom of the steps for a final, parting glance. His cold eyes reached deep inside, laying claim to what was left of Sal’s soul.
“Make sure that I don’t.”
Chapter 1
“Sonofabitch!”
Garrett Morgan ducked his head, rolling onto his back as a bullet whizzed past. Warmth from the projectile’s heat kissed his cheek a fraction of a second before he found himself lying safely behind a large boulder.
His heart pumped a massive shot of adrenaline into his veins.
“You good, Falcon?”
Beckett “Bones” Stone’s southern drawl hit Garrett’s ear through the state-of-the-art coms provided to each of the Tac-Ops teams.
“Yeah,” Garrett huffed out a quick response to let the former Marine know he hadn’t taken a hit. From his hidden position, Garrett—Falcon to his teammates—closed his eyes and took a moment to regroup.
The back of his shirt stuck to him like some sort of grotesque second skin. Dust and grime filled his nostrils, and the night’s hot, humid air continued to draw sweat from every pore in his body.
God, I hate it here.
That same thought had been rolling through his mind since he’d stepped off the plane a few hours ago. Not surprising, given the fact that his previous times in Syria held very few good memories, and those he did have stemmed from his time on base with his former unit.
Before leaving the military, Garrett been a special operations sniper for the 75thRegiment—more specifically the Army’s 3rd Ranger Battalion. During that time, he’d grown as close to his fellow soldiers as he was his own family.
In the years since leaving the Army behind, Garrett had found a new extended family. One he cared for and trusted as much as his last.
Though he’d only been employed by Tactical Operations for three years, he’d formed the same type of unbreakable bond with the team he was on now. Bones, Apollo, Digger…they were all former military and tough SOBs. And he trusted each and every one of them with his life.
Speaking of…
From both sides where Garrett lay, his team fired back at the enemy. Clearing the way for him to do his thing.
Waiting for the signal telling him it was safe to move, Garrett silently cursed his still-racing heart. And though it was impossible, the heat from that damn bullet still seemed to warm his cheek.
Fuck me.He’d had close calls before, but none like that one. Still, he needed to get his head on straight and concentrate on the task at hand, or he’d be useless to the men fighting beside him.
Eyes still shut, he focused on the job he was here to do. Using techniques he’d learned back in his Army days, Garrett slowed his breathing. Working to get his racing heartrate back to a normal pace.
Soon his pulse became steady, and his body slowly lowered its elevated adrenaline levels. The physical reaction he’d experienced was more than a little intense. And confusing as hell.
This wasn’t the first time he’d come close to being hit. Hehadbeen hit before. Both in the Army and since taking the job with Tac-Ops.
What the fuck, Morgan? You should be used to this shit by now.