CHAPTER EIGHT
As they quietly ate their dinner, Angus kept smiling at Bailey, noticing the way she chewed her food, a delicate, soft chew with her mouth closed.
Very lady-like. What he also noticed was that Cole was smiling at Hala, taking in every movement as well.
When they had a spare moment alone, Cole took his sister aside.
“He’s a lot older than you, Bailey. Not just a few years.”
“I know,” she said. “Hala is older than you by a few years. Does it matter?”
“No,” he smiled. “I guess it doesn’t. I’ve always just wanted you and Ambry to be happy. I mean, you were little when Angus left the company. You don’t really know anything about him.”
“And I am happy. Angus and I are getting to know one another, albeit in a foreign country running from bad guys. But that doesn’t matter. We’re all happy, Cole. Our sister, Ambry? She’s totally giddy with triplets.”
“Trip-triplets?” he stammered.
“You didn’t know? She’s pregnant with triplets, Cole. She’s going to have three,” she smiled.
“Oh. Wow,” he said with tears in his eyes. “Do you want that? I mean, the likelihood is there.”
“I don’t know,” she said letting out a long breath. “I’ve thought about it. I mean, I want a family but three at once is a lot. Angus just appeared, literally and I have to admit I was immediately smitten. I mean, I remember him from when we were kids but he’s different. Amazing. Strong.”
Cole held up his hand, shaking his head.
“Enough. I get it. I just want you happy, Bailey.”
“I am. I just want you safe and home. Will you have to report to Coronado?”
“Eventually but I’m sure Luke’s looking out for that. My injuries might prevent me from returning to the teams. If it does, then I’ll try to do something else. I don’t know what. The teams have been my life.”
“You’re smart, Cole. You always have been. You’ll figure this out.” He hugged his sister, hissing with pain as he moved.
“Maybe just a soft high-five,” she smirked.
“We need to find out how the hell we’re getting out of here,” he said looking out the window.
“Cole? Bailey? You both read?”
“We read Luke,” said Cole.
“You need to get the fuck out of there now. The Ranger team that was looking for the hostages is going to blow that nuke site. Someone saw the four of you and the woman’s grandfather is searching for you now.”
“Where do we go?” asked Bailey.
“Go north, toward Türkiye. Our team will meet you there. Do it now while it’s dark. The four of you stick together while we get some help to you.”
“Roger that,” said Cole.
“What are we roger-ing?” asked Angus.
“We have to leave now. They know who we are and someone saw the four of us together. The Ranger team is going to blow that nuke site and when they do, they’re going to be looking for someone to blame.”
“I should leave,” said Hala. “I’ll, I’ll tell my grandfather I was kidnapped. He’ll believe me.”
“He won’t believe you,” said Bailey, taking the other woman’s hand. “They’ve seen us together and you weren’t fighting us. He’ll know, Hala. You know he will. We have to stay together. Luke, our leader, said to head toward Türkiye.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” said Angus. “Come on, let’s pack up everything we have and get to our truck. Cole? Can you move?”
“Painfully. But, yes. I can move.” He hissed as he tried to pick up the backpack and Hala rushed toward him. He winked at her, smiling. “See. I need the good doctor by my side.”
“This isn’t funny, Cole. If we’re found, you have no idea what they’ll do to us. Especially the three of you.”
“We know exactly what they’ll do to us,” said Bailey. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”
With as much as they could carry on their backs, including the leftover food, they left their hotel rooms and headed toward the stairwells to avoid the elevators. When they reached street level, they opened the side door of the hotel and into an alleyway.
Angus looked up and down the street, seeing clusters of men wandering around.
That wasn’t unusual, except usually not this late at night.
They were looking for something or someone.
Angus stepped back, looking in the opposite direction of the alley and waved them forward.
The street behind the hotel was darker, with fewer vendors to light up the street.
Crossing to the other side, they walked up five blocks, then cut back across the street toward their truck. Unfortunately when they were just a short distance away, they realized the truck wasn’t an option any longer.
“They’re searching the vehicle,” he whispered. “We’ve got to find another one.”
“Where?” whispered Hala.
“I can hotwire a car,” he smirked. “How about you Cole?”
“Normally, yes. Right now, I’m not so sure.”
“Let’s go.”
Angus allowed Cole to lean against his body, closer to his size and height. When they reached the end of the road, there were four flatbed trucks sitting in front of a construction site. One had enough space for them all to sit in the front.
Angus went to work while the others watched for anyone who might approach. When he crossed the wires and the engine roared, they all felt a sense of relief.
“Let’s go. We’re not out of danger just yet.”
Angus drove with Bailey beside him, then Cole, and then Hala near the passenger window. She held firm to him, preventing the bumps from becoming too painful.
Bailey laid her palm on the top of Angus’ thigh and he jumped slightly.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “Did that hurt?”
“Not like you think,” he smirked.
“How close are we to the Turkish border?” she asked.
“Not nearly close enough. An hour at least, because of the roads, and if those Rangers blow that site, they’re going to swarm to find anyone on the roads.”
“Don’t worry, sis, we’re about an hour away if everything stays…” His voice was drowned out by the massive explosion behind them. The Rangers had done their job. Which meant they would be running, and now they had to run as well.
Angus sped up but when he reached the top of a ridge, he stopped, looking down at the group of men walking toward them.
“Those men are in my grandfather’s army,” whispered Hala. “They’ll never let me pass. Or you.”
“We can’t be more than thirty minutes from the border now,” said Cole. “AJ? Hiro? We could use some direction.”
“You’re about twenty-five minutes from the border but you won’t be able to drive and pass those soldiers. Ditch the truck. Literally. Send it over the ridge and the explosion will distract them. You’ll need to walk the rest of the way.”
“Are you fucking with me, Hiro?” said Cole.
“Never. Just do it and do it fast.”
They got out of the truck and Angus maneuvered it to face the edge of the ridge. Finding a heavy rock, he set it on the accelerator and then put the truck in drive.
Stepping into the shadows, they waited until the truck hit the bottom and exploded in a ball of fire.
“We have to move,” said Angus putting an arm around Cole’s waist. “Lean on me and just keep your feet moving.”
Hala watched the group of her grandfather’s men go down the ridge to see what had happened. Her insides were churning at the thought of being found now. It would never end for her. She’d always be on the run.
“Hey, it will be okay,” said Bailey taking her hand. “I promise where we’re going will be safe and no one can get to you. No one.”
“I hope you’re right, Bailey.” She smiled, squeezing Hala’s hand.
“So. You like my brother?” smirked Bailey. Hala laughed, shaking her head in embarrassment.
“Is it that obvious? He’s very handsome and he was extremely brave while down in that well. Other men might have gone mad.”
“Well, you’ll find that the men in our family don’t back down from much. Maybe only their wives,” smiled Bailey.
“What will I do? Where will I live? How will I live?”
“You have to trust me, Hala. You can finish taking your boards and then work at our family’s hospital and clinic.”
“Your family owns a hospital?” she asked in surprise.
“That and many other things. Listen, you’ve found the right group of people to help you and to trust. Cole would never, ever break that trust and he will do anything to help you.”
“What about you and Angus?” smiled Hala.
“Oh, well, it’s obviously new. I mean, I knew Angus when I was a very little girl but he left us and I hadn’t seen him until a few days ago. He was a part of a group of hostages that I was trying to negotiate their freedom. Turns out, Angus negotiated it via escape.”
“He’s a very nice man,” smiled Hala.
Up ahead Cole and Angus stopped, allowing Cole to take a seat and catch his breath for a few minutes.
“Where are we?” asked Bailey. Angus pointed toward the lights in the distance.
“So close that we can smell the kabobs and Turkish delight. Drink some water and then we start out again.”