Chapter 17
M ASON’S GAZE SWEPT the perimeter of the camp in Syria through his night vision goggles, the scope of his weapon trained on the lone guard outside. The night air was still, save for the rest of his SEAL team members quietly moving into position.
“All right team, move in!” Hunter’s voice quietly commanded over the headset.
Mason jogged forward in the darkness alongside Hunter, fifty feet away from the compound. The guard jerked his head in surprise at the red dot on his chest, fumbling for his weapon, and then a muffled shot sounded.
The guard slumped over. “One guard down. The north end is clear,” Hunter said, his voice cool.
“Roger that. We’ve entered the south end of the compound,” Ryker said over their headsets. “No guards in sight. We scaled the wall and are moving toward the center.”
“Roger. See you fellas there,” Hunter said.
Mason and Hunter moved quietly forward, the rest of the camp sleeping.
They passed two supply buildings on the left, weapons and ammunition piled in the open doorway.
Whatever training occurred here was clearly a large-scale operation.
Mason wondered why only one guard was outside the front of the compound. Hopefully it wasn’t an ambush.
“Drone surveillance shows four men guarding the main building where the leader is located,” Noah said. “I’ve got eyes on it now and only see three.”
“The fourth guard is twenty feet away taking a leak,” Ryker said. “I’ve got him in sight.”
A quiet shot came over the headset, and Mason clenched his jaw, waiting for someone to hear it. For more insurgents to come running. The three guards at the center of the compound came into view. He could see slight movement in the distance where Ryker and Noah were quietly moving forward.
“There’s no one approaching from outside the camp,” Colton said. “I’ve been sweeping the entire area, and we’re in the clear. Jacob and I are ready to roll out after we secure the package.”
“Then let’s grab this mofo and get the hell out of Dodge,” Hunter said.
Shooting erupted as the three guards spotted them in the cover of night, and Ryker and Noah took them out from behind. Mason ran forward toward the door to the building, quick despite the heavy gear and Kevlar vest he wore.
The target appeared in the doorway, looking confused. Mason lunged for him, tackling him to the ground. Shouts erupted around them, and then Ryker and Noah deployed smoke bombs and flash bangs to confuse the insurgents.
Hunter hauled the terrorist to his feet, he and Mason each gripping one of the man’s arms as they dragged him, barefoot, back through the compound.
Their two Humvees rolled into sight, and then they were tossing him into the back, climbing in. Ryker and Noah came running behind them, hopping into the second vehicle. Smoke rose through the air in the background, looking hazy even through their night vision goggles.
Hunter spoke quietly into his headset. “Target is secured. ETA is fifteen minutes.”
They received a confirmation over their comm channel.
Mason huffed out a sigh of relief as they sped through the night.
Adrenaline surged through him, and he felt damn near ready to take on the entire world.
Worry had niggled at the back of his mind since they’d landed in Syria, and for the first time of his career, he found himself wishing he had a regular job.
The type of thing where he didn’t have to leave at a moment’s notice, worrying about the woman he’d left at home.
The type of job where he could call up his woman. Send her a text. Hear her voice.
He’d never heard back from Taylor after he’d texted her that he’d be gone, although he figured she was still sound asleep by the time they’d gone wheels up.
He wished like hell he’d gotten a chance to actually talk to her. The Delta team was incommunicado with the rest of the world while out on an op, and it killed him that he couldn’t check in on her. Make sure she was okay.
Tell her he’d be back soon.
The sooner they were in the air on a return flight across the Atlantic, the better he’d feel.
***
T AYLOR RAN TO THE CORNER of the parking lot of her apartment complex as she heard sirens in the distance. As soon as Amy had shown up to give her a ride, the women had rushed down the stairs.
Amy had called the police, but Taylor had been so scared she’d kept running, wanting to get as much distance as possible between the building and her.
“Taylor!” her friend shouted. “The police are on the way!”
Taylor saw Amy standing near her car, glancing at the stairwell.
Part of her expected Eric to come racing down any minute, but maybe he was still passed out drunk in her bed.
Although a part of her felt guilty for abandoning her friend, Amy could’ve run, too. She’d taken one look at Taylor’s frightened face and called the police immediately. Followed her down the stairs but paused at the bottom to talk to the 911 dispatcher.
Taylor huffed out a breath, scanning the lot.
Cars were pulling in as they arrived home from work, and it was crazy how it seemed so normal out here when she’d been trapped in her own apartment. When Eric had been waiting for her and refused to leave.
A rustle behind her in the trees had her turning, and then a man was beside her, holding a cloth over her face as she struggled. She tried to scream, but whatever chemical was on it was too strong.
She slumped over as the world faded to blackness.
***
T AYLOR AWOKE ON A HARD , concrete floor, the air inexplicably smelling of gasoline and oil. She was cold, scared, and nauseous, and she hesitantly pushed herself up to a sitting position, trying not to vomit. Her eyes slowly began to adjust to the darkness, and she heard a car engine outside.
Squinting, as if that would somehow help her see where she was in the darkness, she looked around.
Where had Eric taken her?
How had he gotten downstairs in her apartment building to come after her? Hadn’t he still been passed out on her bed? She should’ve seen him in the stairwell. Crossing the parking lot. Coming toward her.
It made no sense.
A light suddenly flicking on overhead had her shielding her eyes. Heavy footsteps treaded across the room, and she looked up.
Eric’s friend Jake stood towering over her, his arms crossed, a smirk across his face.
“Where’s Eric?” she croaked.
“Arrested, probably. I watched the police come into your bedroom. They dragged him out of bed and took him away in handcuffs.”
“You were...watching?” Confusion washed over her. Worry churned through her. Had Jake been in there, too?
“It was quite a show. As soon as I saw you sneaking out of your bedroom while Eric was passed out, I knew I had to come get you for myself.”
Awareness suddenly blossomed within her.
The cameras Eric had set up in her room.
The videos.
If Jake had seen the police come in and arrest Eric, then had he seen her all the other times, too? Eric hadn’t just secretly recorded her, he’d set up a live feed. Let his friend and who knows who else watch her in her bedroom.
She turned and vomited on the concrete floor, listening to him cross the room. The strong smell of gasoline in the air was making her nausea even worse. Jake handed her a paper towel and bottle of water, and she took them with shaking hands, wiping her mouth.
Staring at the full bottle of water.
“Eric set up a feed,” he confirmed. She looked back up at him.
“He owes me money. A hell of a lot, actually. He can’t hold down a job to save his life, so I’ve been helping him out.
When he still hadn’t paid me back after you guys broke up, he said that I could watch you, too.
I saw you walking around naked and with that boyfriend of yours.
Watched him screw you in your bed. The thing is, I’m ready for the real thing. ”
Scrambling to her feet, she backed away from Jake.
The concrete was cold beneath her feet. She shivered as he stalked closer.
“Since I haven’t heard from that Navy SEALs of yours about your car, I’m guessing he’s not around. He wasn’t there earlier to stop Eric from coming in. Lucky me.”
Her gaze swept around the room, taking in the inside of the body shop. The cars and tools lying around. The oil stains on the ground. The windows. The door, which felt like it might as well be a million miles away.
How long had it been since she’d run from Eric? How long had she been here?
“You kidnapped me!” she accused him. “You’re just as bad as Eric. Worse even.”
“Maybe I just brought you here to get your car back,” he said with a sneer. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”
“By knocking me out and taking me against my will? You’re crazy! Give me the keys to my car, and I’m leaving,” she said, hating the stutter in her voice.
Jake’s gaze slid over her, and he scrubbed a hand across his stubble.
“Where’s that tough guy boyfriend of yours now? The one who wanted to make me leave when I picked up Eric’s sorry ass from your apartment building?”
Taylor cleared her throat, ignoring his question. “Give me the keys.”
Jake aggressively moved closer to her, and Taylor took a step back, icy cold dread snaking through her. “What was that?” she asked as she heard a car door shut.
“Just one of my guys leaving. The shop is closing up for the night. No matter. We haven’t exactly discussed payment yet.”
“Eric didn’t tell me how much I owed you, so just let me know, and I’ll head out. I’ll send you the money for the car.”
“He didn’t tell you the new arrangement? You’re the payment, sweetheart.” His voice was low. Quiet. Like he was trying not to spook her. He was the predator and she was the prey.
“What?” she asked, her heart beating rapidly.
“You’re my payment,” he repeated, stepping closer. Trapping her. One large hand wrapped around her hip, holding her in place as his other slid up her ribcage. Gripping her tightly. He pressed against her, his erection nudging against her stomach, and she screamed.
“Shhh,” he whispered, covering her mouth with one hand. Squeezing so she couldn’t move her head from his grip. “We’re closed for the weekend. No one is around to hear you.”
She trembled as he ducked down, his teeth grazing her neck. “I won’t hurt you. I’ll go nice and slow,” he said, taking his hand from her mouth.
“No,” she said, hating the way her voice shook with that one word.
“We have all night,” he said. “I’ll take you slow, up against the wall, and then maybe bend you over one of the cars and have you from behind. Maybe I’ll call one of my guys to join us. You can suck me off later to finish.”
His hands edged under her shirt, and she screamed, pushing against him and kicking him in the shin.
One large hand covered her mouth again as he shoved her back against the wall, and then suddenly the door burst open, Mason standing there, eyes blazing.
“Get the fuck off of her,” he demanded, his voice low and deadly.
“Hey now, man,” Jake said, easing slightly off of her. “We were just having a little fun.”
“Wrong fucking answer,” Mason said, moving toward him.
Jake backed away from her in haste now, realizing his error.
She gasped in surprise as she saw two other men moving quietly into the room. They didn’t look like the guys Mason was usually with at Anchors, and she wondered if they were from a different group of SEALs on base.
Before she could utter a word, the biggest man with ice blue eyes was tackling Jake from behind, taking him to the ground.
Mason moved toward her, pulling her into his arms. The other man called 911, but Taylor shook and cried in Mason’s arms, letting the soothing sound of his voice drown out everything else around her.
“I’m here, now, sweetheart. Shh. You’re safe now.”