Chapter Twenty Two
Raven performed a HALO infill. Then the plane pulled back, landing just across the border. No way were they putting a US plane at Daram airport where it could be stopped from taking off.
Omar Aziz had sent coordinates where the team were to surrender.
The pass between two mountains meant Omar would have snipers on each mountain, looking down into the pass, ready to shoot at his word.
Kelly, Mira and the intel team had been monitoring the area via limited satellite feeds, but Onyx also had an advantage.
They had spent way too much time in this godforsaken country and knew the terrain.
They had hidden in those mountains for more hours than Reborn would know.
Nyx were still on the ground and had met up with the surviving marines.
Sam had called just before the HALO relaying that three marines had died, more injured.
Those able were trying to get their teammates to safety.
Four had met with Nyx, eager to assist in getting the hostages back.
They also wanted payback for the brothers they had lost. Onyx would take all the help they could get.
Reborn had an army of soldiers and while their aim was not always on point, fire enough bullets they will hit something.
The marines had confirmed the ambassador had been caught in the blast at the embassy and died of her injuries before the hostages were taken. Donnie hated that the ambassador was dead, but it meant Charlie may still be alive. He hung onto that.
Raven had been on foot for an hour when Dex brought them to a stop.
Despite being told they needed to surrender unarmed, they all carried weapons.
Until they saw the hostages were unharmed, they were not going quietly.
Coms were still in place, and they would maintain contact with Nyx and the Farm for as long as possible.
Two of the marines were with Raven, ready to escort the hostages to safety.
If Reborn let them go. Just because Omar Aziz said they would, Onyx were under no illusions they may have other ideas.
The exchange would take place in ten minutes, but there was no sign of anyone yet.
“Raven, there are tangos to your west, top of mountain,” Liam, Nyx’s team leader, said. “I count ten.”
“We see them.” Dex said, glancing up where the team waited behind a rock.
“They could just pick us off right here,” Donnie said.
“They won’t. This is too personal. The Aziz brothers want to kill us personally, like they said. Parade us like a victory over the US,” Dex said calmly.
“Three cars approaching now.” Liam was back in their ears.
“Got ‘em,” Dex said. The cars stopped and armed soldiers got out. No sign of the hostages. One of the soldiers moved aside and there was Omar Aziz. Donnie itched to raise his gun and pull the trigger. That bastard had a lot to answer for.
Omar stepped forward. “Put down your weapons and move forward slowly. Once we confirm you are unarmed, we will release the hostages.”
Donnie glanced up at the tangos on the mountain top.
Nyx were nowhere to be seen, but they were up there, too.
Waiting. Nothing would happen until the hostages were safe.
There was still a chance Reborn would shoot them all.
The team and the hostages, right here, right now.
But Dex was right. They wanted to make a show of the team’s death.
But if they killed fourteen innocent Americans, the US would have troops on the ground hunting them within hours.
“Where are the hostages?” Dex said.
A Reborn soldier stepped forward, holding up a phone, showing a live feed.
“You see. They are alive and well,” Omar said.
“Us for them. That was the deal.”
“You will see them very soon. Do as we say, and we will honor that deal.”
Like fuck they would. Donnie tightened his grip on his M4. They had anticipated this, but it didn’t make it any easier. With Nyx ready to take down the soldiers on the mountain, Raven could take these guys, but no doubt, if they did that, the hostages would die.
When Dex put down his gun, the rest of Raven followed suit. They removed guns from leg holsters and knives from belts. When the team moved forward with their hands raised, Reborn soldiers surrounded them, roughly patting them down.
Donnie’s hands were pulled behind his back and secured with zip ties.
Someone should have warned them they could get out of zip ties in less than thirty seconds.
Not yet though. Patience. Their coms were ripped from their ears.
Then, Reborn’s soldiers punched machines guns into their backs, shoving them forward.
Like a general surveying troops, Omar Aziz paced them, then stopped in front of Dex.
“Finally, your team will pay for all the death and pain you have caused my people. My family.” He sneered.
“I think you have that the wrong way around.” Dex taunted. A soldier slammed a machine gun butt in his face.
Dex reeled and spit blood. Omar snapped, “My grandson is growing up without his father, because of you. My daughter without a husband.”
“Your son in law is a rapist. They’re better off without him.” Dex’s mouth dripped blood as he spoke.
Donnie winced when Dex took another blow to the side of the head.
“Get them in the truck. Now,” Omar ordered.
***
CHARLIE HUDDLED IN the corner of the dirt room.
She wasn’t sure how long they had been there.
With no windows, no phones or watches, she’d lost track of time.
A small oil lamp provided the only light, and she could just about make out the others.
Bowls of water and scraps of bread had been placed on the floor, not that she had an appetite.
Initially, there had been tears and panic as the reality of their situation set in.
Now everyone was quiet. She was cried out, scared, and almost numb with fear.
She was going to die here in this dirty room.
Alone. Did anyone know what had happened to them?
Was anyone looking for them? A team were supposed to come, right?
Maybe they had tried and failed. How would her parents get over this?
Or Maddie? She wouldn’t see those wonderful babies grow up.
She would never know what being a mother was like.
She would never see Donnie again. Donnie.
All the drama with Simon, the revelation about Nate’s death, him leaving her.
None of it mattered anymore. She loved Donnie. Now he would never know.
Shouting outside had her squeezing her eyes shut and shrinking into a tighter ball against the wall.
She didn’t want to know what was happening.
Voices, and lots of footsteps, were getting closer.
The screech of the door opening. She placed her hands over her ears, not wanting to hear.
She tried to block it all out. This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be happening.
“Charlie?”
Jesus, was she hallucinating now? She knew that voice. The soft whisper of her name in her ear as he had kissed her neck. No! No! No! She shook her head, her hands clamping harder over her ears.
“Charlie, baby. It’s me. Donnie.”
When hands covered hers, she froze. Donnie? No, she had to be losing her mind. The voice stayed soft as her hands were gently pulled away from her ears.
“Baby, open your eyes. Tell me you’re OK.”
It sounded just like Donnie. She opened her eyes, but the figure crouched before her was still shrouded in darkness.
“Baby, are you alright? Are you hurt?”
Slowly, her eyes adjusted, and then she saw him. With a strangled cry, she lunged forward, then his arms were around her. She clung to him, fearing if she let him go, he would disappear.
“Ssh, Charlie, it’s OK. We’re going to get you out of here.”
He released his tight hold, though his arms stayed loose around her shoulders. She looked up at him. The light was poor, but she could see his eyes.
“I can’t believe you’re here. You can see? Are the team here? Are the bad guys gone?”
“Slow down, sweetheart. Breathe.”
He was here. It really was him. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s kind of what I do, babe.” He gave a small smile. “Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No. I’m OK. You can see me. Really see me. Are your team here?”
“Yes, I can see you, and yes, my team are here.”
A deep guttural cry got her attention. She looked at Donnie. His face tensed.
“Fuck. Where the hell are Nyx?” She recognized Ryan’s voice. “OK, everyone. I need you all to gather round and listen carefully,” He was whispering.
Donnie helped her stand, and they moved to join the rest of the group. The door was closed. She could hear movement outside.
“We are here to get you home. Things might get a little messy. Do as we say, when we say it, and we will get you home safely. My teammate Tyler is a medic, and he is going to check you all over. Let him know if you are hurt or need help. When it’s time to move, we will need to move quickly.
I apologize now for some of the things you might see, but our mission is to get you home, and that is what we intend to do. ”
Charlie glanced around at the rest of the hostages, finding tentative hope. Then she took in the men. There were five of them. One was missing. Dex. She turned to ask Donnie where he was when another loud groan reached them.
“Oh my God. That’s Dex, isn’t it?” she whispered.
“Yeah. They took him to question him. Don’t worry, he can handle it.”
Charlie didn’t say anything. He was trying to reassure her but the tension on the rest of the team’s faces told her they were all concerned for their team leader.
***
THIS WAS SO NOT THE fucking plan. Donnie listened to the beating his team leader was getting.
Reborn had way more soldiers than they’d anticipated.
They had expected twenty, maybe thirty armed soldiers, but there were easily double that.
Raven had busted out of their zip ties the moment the door to their makeshift prison had closed and they’d all had razor blades tucked in their waistbands.
But as skilled as they were, they were severely outnumbered, and now they had fourteen hostages to protect.
Nyx would have tracked them here and would have seen the same thing.
Liam would be in contact with the Farm and regrouping.
Hopefully finding more fucking boots to put on the ground.
But that would take time. Dex may not have that time.
Raven may not have that time. There was nothing they could do but wait and be ready for when Nyx made their move.
“Donnie?”
Charlie’s voice was soft.
“Yeah?”
“How did they capture you?”
He smoothed the hair off her face. “They didn’t. We made a deal. Our team for the hostages. They reneged on the deal.”
“Oh my God. So, they’re going to kill us all!”
“No, babe. We anticipated this. The rest of our team are here. We just have to be patient a little bit longer.”
Her face was dirty, her hair damp from the heat.
Her clothes were disheveled, but she was still the most beautiful woman in the world.
Seeing her, even in this dim light, in this dirty prison was the best thing he’d seen in weeks.
She was alive and he had every intention of making sure she stayed that way.
“I’m really glad you’re here.” Her voice was shaky. “I know we have a lot to talk about but—”
“Sshh. Not now. We can talk when we get home. I meant what I said. I’m not letting you walk away from me.
We are going to work this out.” No fucking way he would let her out of his life again.
If he had to quit the team and follow her around the world, he would.
Whatever it took. Ignoring the rest of his team, the hostages, he cupped her face and kissed her.
Her soft lips beneath his lit him up like a fucking Christmas tree. Jesus. Reluctantly, he pulled back.
“I’m scared, Donnie. What’s going to happen?”
“I know you’re scared. I know you don't trust me, but I swear we are getting you out of here safely.”
She nodded. “I know you will. I feel safe with you. I still can’t believe you came for us, and you can see.”
“I’ll always come for you. Plus, I couldn’t wait another minute to actually see the sexiest woman I know.” He studied her face, still taking in the fact he could see her. It had him a little choked up. The sound of engines turned him away.
“Baby,” he urged. “Remember what Ryan said. Follow instructions.”
“What? Are you leaving me?” The panic in her voice tore at him.
“I don’t want to, Charlie, but I have a job to do. Get you and all the other hostages to safety. You will be OK, I promise.”
“Please, don’t leave me.” His heart shredded at the plea in her voice.
“Charlie, I’m not leaving you. I promise I’ll see you real soon.
But that’s my team leader in trouble, and I need to go get him.
You understand that, right?” Of course, he wanted to go with her.
Make sure she got out of here and on a plane in one piece.
But the plan was Nyx would be taking charge of the hostages while Raven took care of Reborn. He had to follow his orders.
“Donnie, it’s time,” Ryan said as the roar of engines grew closer.
Donnie gave Charlie one last kiss, then stood to join his team, trying not to think about the tears rolling down her cheeks.
It was showtime.