Chapter 11 #2
“What is your husband’s name?” Delgado demanded of Alana.
“I’m not married,” she replied.
Delgado tightened his hold on her neck. “Tell me his name, or I’ll kill you now.”
Alana’s cheeks turned red, then purple.
Chase nearly climbed over the edge of the wall and dropped down onto Delgado. His body burned with the heat of his anger.
“Joe Smith,” Alana choked out. “His name is Joe Smith.”
Delgado loosened his hold enough that she could breathe again. “You are lying. But you better hope he comes.” Then he turned toward the gate. “Chase Flannigan,” he called out. “Come forward now, or I’ll kill your pretty wife.”
“He’s not here,” Alana said. “And he’s not my husband, I tell you.
He won’t come for me. He has no reason to.
” Her voice was gravelly and shook with each word.
Still, she stuck to her story and refused to confirm Chase’s name.
Hell, she had no reason to believe he would come for her.
She likely thought he didn’t have any way to find her.
His heart squeezed hard in his chest. The woman stood bravely in the face of a murderer. His estimation of her grew even more. He’d known she was feisty by her reaction when she’d woken up after their crazy night. She’d been bound and determined to set things right.
Now surrounded by men who could easily rape or kill her, she dared to defy them. Chase wished he could spare her this nightmare. He was the one Delgado wanted. Yet, Alana was the one bearing the brunt of the cartel leader’s anger.
As much as Chase wanted to go down and challenge Delgado face-to-face, he was in the right position to take him out. All he needed was an opportunity. If only Alana could lean her head forward or slide downward.
Delgado raised the barrel of his pistol and fired a round into the air. “The next one goes into her, unless you come forward.”
A hand on Chase’s arm made him jump.
“Go,” Trevor whispered. “I’ll take the shot. Try to get her to duck.”
Knowing Trevor was even a better shot than he was, Chase relinquished his position and backed away from the edge. Afraid Delgado would make good on his promise to kill Alana, Chase ran down the stairs and out through the front entrance of the house.
“Don’t shoot,” Chase called out. He held up the rifle he’d brought with him and raised his other hand in surrender. “Please, don’t shoot her. Let her go and take me. It’s me you want anyway.”
Delgado’s men shifted their aim to dead-center on Chase’s chest. But Delgado didn’t lower the barrel of his pistol from Alana’s temple. “You have dishonored me in front of my men. For this, you will pay.”
“Then let me pay. Let the woman go free.” Chase met Alana’s gaze and held it.
Alana gave him a sad smile. “You shouldn’t have come. He’ll kill me anyway.”
“Not if I can help it. I wouldn’t have you hurt, no matter if you ducked out on me,” he said, praying she’d get the hint from the emphasis on one word.
Alana frowned. “I didn’t duck out on you. Delgado’s driver took off with me.”
“Delgado is an animal,” Chase said, widening his eyes as he willed her to understand his coded messages. “A duck who quacks too much.”
“Enough of your words,” Delgado demanded. “Throw down your weapon now.”
“You made a pass at my wife in that bar and refused to back down. I did what any husband would do and defended my wife.” Chase lifted his chin and glared at Delgado. “As far as I’m concerned, you got what you deserved.”
“This is my country.” Delgado tightened his hold on Alana’s neck. “I do as I please.” The cartel leader drew the gun away from Alana’s temple and pointed it at Chase. “And it pleases me to kill you.”
Alana jabbed her elbow into Delgado’s ribs.
Chase sucked in a breath and ducked, sure he would be shot.
Delgado’s hand jerked. The weapon went off, the shot going wide of the target, catching one of his own men’s right arm. The man cursed, dropped his gun and slapped a hand over his wound.
Delgado’s hold loosened on Alana’s neck.
She slammed her fist into his crotch. “That is my husband you’re talking about, and I’m not ready to call it quits on him,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’ve barely gotten to know him.”
Delgado hunched over, giving Alana enough room to duck under his arm, grab the wrist of the hand holding the gun and yank it up behind his back. “Now, tell your men to lay down their weapons.”
Chase’s chest swelled with pride at how fierce Alana was with Delgado.
Delgado clamped his jaw shut, refusing to give the order.
Alana pushed his arm up higher between his shoulder blades. She plucked the pistol from his grip and held it to Delgado’s leg. “Tell them, or I’ll shoot first one leg, and then the other.”
The cartel leader grunted. His face broke out in a sweat and turned a ruddy red. Finally, he spoke in Spanish.
His men didn’t budge, but held onto their weapons, pointing them at Chase.
“I get the feeling you didn’t do as I said.
” Still holding the arm up between his shoulder blades, she pressed the pistol into his thigh.
“Think I won’t pull the trigger? Remember who was going to rape me and then turn me over to his men to do with as they pleased?
” She shifted the barrel of the pistol and pulled the trigger, hitting the tip of Delgado’s toe.
The man screamed and would have hopped up and down, but Alana had his arm in her grip and refused to ease up on the pressure she applied.
“The leg is next,” she warned him.
Chase chuckled. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about my wife, she’s a very determined woman. I’d do as she says.”
“Exactly,” Hank Patterson stepped out of the shadows, carrying a submachine gun. “Your men are surrounded. Have them put down their weapons.”
“Now,” Chase said, his voice steely. He’d had it with Delgado and his threats. “I have a man on the roof, ready to shoot you as soon as my wife is done with you.”
Delgado glared at Chase and muttered Spanish obscenities beneath his breath. Then he took a deep breath and shouted to his men.
One by one, they threw down their weapons and held their hands in the air.
Trevor herded the two men down from the roof at gunpoint.
Three of Hank’s men collected the guns and knives from Delgado’s men and patted them down, finding more on their bodies.
When they were divested of their weapons, Hank had his men load them into the back of the delivery truck and lock the door.
Hank paid the driver to take them to the south side of Cabo San Lucas and let them loose in their rival gang’s territory. That left only Delgado himself.
“We’ll take care of Delgado.” Hank took over from Alana and zip-tied Delgado’s wrists behind his back.
Chase closed the distance between him and Alana and pulled her into his arms.
“There’s an extradition order for him, but the Mexican government won’t do anything to release him to the US,” Trevor said.
“I know someone who could help get him to the US,” Carson said. “Let me handle it.”
“Who is it?” Hank asked.
“The less you know, the better,” Carson said. “My friend doesn’t always follow the rules.”
“Hank, this is Carson,” Chase said. “Former Navy SEAL.”
“Thought I recognized you.” Hank held out his hand. “We served a deployment together.” His eyes narrowed. “I think it was in Iraq.” He shook his head. “I’m pretty sure you saved my ass on that mission. It’s been a while.”
Carson grasped Hank’s hand. “I think it was the other way around. You saved my ass.”
Hank waved a hand at the men standing around. “How did you end up helping Trevor and Chase?”
With a shrug, Carson said, “I’ve been an expatriate for several months here in Cabo.”
“Well, if you decide you’ve had too much fun in the sun,” Hank said, “the demand is greater than the supply of Brotherhood Protectors. You’re welcome to join Brotherhood Protectors in Montana or one of my other locations across the US.
” He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing.
“Or you could join my newest acquisition, the Stealth Operations Specialists. That might be right up your alley.”
Carson shot a grin toward Gina. “I’ll consider it. Working this mission reminded me of all the fun I’ve been missing.”
“Well, the offer is open,” Hank said.
“In the meantime, I’ll take out the trash,” Carson tipped his chin toward Delgado. “Should I dump him in the ocean and save time and tax dollars on his extradition?”
“I don’t really care what you do with him,” Chase said, “as long as he doesn’t bother Alana ever again.”
“If he’s wanted Stateside,” Hank said, “and you can get him there, take him.”
Carson nodded. “I spotted a sweet Ferrari 296 GTB parked in a garage on the south side of the compound. Raul and I will go for a little ride. Then I’ll hand him off to my friend who will get him where he needs to go.”
“Can you handle him by yourself?” Hank asked. “I can send one of my men with you as backup.”
Carson shook his head. “I’ve got this. If he gives me any trouble,” he touched the barrel of his handgun to Delgado’s temple, “I’ll take care of him.
The world would be a better place with one less murderous cartel leader.
Hang onto him. I’ll be back in a minute.
” Carson left them with the cartel leader.
Raul glared at Chase and Alana. “The rest of my men will come. They will kill all of you.”
“I suspect you have them positioned at the La Casa Loca for our midnight rendezvous,” Chase said.
“We’ll just send word to that location that their leader has been extradited to the US, and the rest of your team from the compound will be landing in the rival cartel’s turf.
I’m sure they’ll head that way to help their brothers out, or fade into the shadows since their leadership has been compromised. ”
“You won’t get me out of Mexico. They’ll stop you before that happens,” Delgado said.
“Are you sure?” Alana tilted her head. “Do you see any of your men standing in our way?” She shook her head. “No. You’re on your way out.”