Chapter 4
Sierra Oscura, Mexico
Code Name: Raven
The humidity pressed down on Jade like a weighted blanket as she trudged through the jungle toward her resort.
Her bruised and battered body screamed at her, but she’d take alive over being at the mercy of those men who’d held her prisoner.
She’d doubted the guys when they’d constructed the tarp tent for her, but it had worked.
Perfect? No. But the night hadn’t choked her in fear, and having four walls, even flimsy ones, had chased away the panic.
She’d used the calming techniques that Breana had taught her.
Between those methods and Liam and Rafe standing guard, Jade hadn’t succumbed to her fears in the middle of the jungle.
The guys had protected her instead of mocking her.
But that shouldn’t have surprised her. And now, they circled her like a prized treasure. She snorted at the notion.
“What’s so funny?” Liam asked.
“Nothing. Just my imagination running wild.” Jade followed Rafe in the lead position, which seemed odd. Charlie One always led. At least on the missions she helped with. She glanced at Liam on her right. Had he changed things up to be next to her?
Stop. You’re imagining things.
“Must have been an entertaining thought,” Dax teased to the left.
Boone and Xander added their fun jabs from their positions in the rear.
Something about these men calmed her nerves. She appreciated the sense of inclusion. Jade studied the group as they moved as one. Each anticipated the subtle movements of the others. It was fascinating to watch. Dots on a screen didn’t reveal the honed precision acquired over the years.
“What happened to those men last night?” Part of her wanted to forget about the threat, the other part worried those men or others would ambush the team before they got to the resort.
“Boone and I led them away from your location. Then we scouted around for others coming to find you. Those two appeared to be alone.”
“So, we’re safe?” Oh, how she hoped. But her gut told her otherwise.
“No. I believe the rest of your captors aren’t in the jungle. It’s hard to track with all the trees and vines everywhere. I think they’re strategically placed at the resort and along the highway leading out of here.” Liam continued scanning their surroundings while delivering the unappealing news.
Dax picked up where Liam left off. “You weren’t that far in the jungle. Just enough that no one would hear your screams for help. Any farther in and we probably wouldn’t have found you. The best bet for whoever took you is to wait for us to make our way out of here.”
“Thanks for the uplifting thought.” Jade fought the panic rising inside.
“Don’t worry. We’ve got this.” Liam brushed his shoulder with hers. “We won’t let them get to you.”
The group trod through the foliage in silence to the edge of the resort.
Birds warbled, and insects clicked and buzzed in the background, pressing in on her.
Dizziness washed over her. She had to get out of her head.
A list. That’s what she needed. Get out of the jungle.
Go home. Okay, so maybe she’d missed a few steps.
She racked her brain but came up empty. Liam would know what to do.
Jade shifted her gaze to him. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Boone’s normally our breacher, but inside the resort without a key, it will take a little more finesse to pick the electronic lock on your room.
That’s where Rafe comes in.” Liam jutted his chin at Charlie Two.
“I don’t want to call attention to you by going to the front desk, so he and I will escort you to your room and gather your things, while Boone holds watch outside.
Dax and Xander will double-time it to the SUV we secured when we arrived in Mexico.
They’ll swing back to the resort entrance and pick us up.
The whole thing should take less than twenty minutes.
” He glanced at her. “Will that work for you? I’d extend the time, but I want you out of here.
This whole mission has a hinky feeling.”
“That won’t be a problem. I barely got here before those men abducted me and threw me in that hut.”
“I have questions.” Dax grinned. “How—” He stiffened. “Ten o’clock.”
Jade opened her mouth, but Liam held up a fist, and the guys froze. Her heart pounded, and her breathing shallowed. She struggled with the open space, but the intensity of Charlie Team pulled her nerves tight enough to snap.
With two fingers, Liam pointed at Boone and then deeper in the jungle.
Boone ghosted into the trees.
“Charlie Two, proceed.”
She strained to hear Liam’s order. The men were intimidating when they shifted to warrior mode. If she hadn’t worked with them and known what kind of men they were, she’d be terrified.
“Raven, we need to pick up the pace. Can you do that?” Liam continued to scan the surroundings while he asked.
Could she? Not really, but what choice did she have? “I’ll do what I need to do.”
Liam paused. The rest of the guys followed suit without hesitation or word. His eyes met hers. “Raven, you are one impressive woman.”
Jade blinked. No. She wasn’t impressive. A hot mess express on the blue screen of death described her better. Before she responded, the men started moving again.
Her ribs protested, and her bruises ached, but she refused to give in to the pain. She wanted out of Mexico and away from the memories of being kidnapped and held against her will. The pride of venturing out on a vacation had died and breath-stealing fear had taken its place.
Boone slipped back into formation.
“Anything?” Liam asked.
“Two tangos. I led them off in a different direction. I doubt they’ll fall for it for long.” Boone tightened in next to her.
“Then let’s move.” Liam picked up the pace.
A little while later, they entered the side of the resort, out of sight. Liam and Rafe handed off their rifles and packs to Dax and Xander.
Jade followed the pair onto the resort grounds, wondering what people would think of their rough and dirty appearance. But the men strolled down the pathway like they didn’t have a care in the world. To her surprise, no one noticed them, or at least, didn’t focus on them.
“What’s your room number?” Rafe asked.
“Two twenty-four.”
The trio made their way to her room, and Rafe did his thing and unlocked the door. Liam gestured for her to stay behind while he cleared the room.
“Come on in.” Liam motioned for her to join him.
Rafe stood guard outside while she went inside.
“Gather your things. The timetable just moved up. I want us out of here in a couple of minutes. I don’t like the fact that there were men still out in the jungle looking for you.”
Yeah, well, she didn’t either. “I never really unpacked. I laid down for a bit, trying to calm myself from the trip, then called my therapist. After that, I went for a walk and well, you know the rest.” She collected her bag and unplugged her phone that she’d left to charge before venturing out onto the resort grounds. “This is everything.”
Liam, who’d stationed himself at the balcony, nodded. “Here, let me.” He grabbed her small backpack and suitcase. “Charlie Three and Five are on their way with the SUV.”
Jade hadn’t realized, or maybe she’d forgotten, that the team was still on comms. “I’m ready when you are.” More than ready.
“Stay close.” Liam gently took her elbow and led her to the door. “Charlie Four, Charlie One.”
She couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but the lack of tension coursing through Liam told her nothing was amiss.
“Things are clear for the moment. Time to get you out of Mexico.” Liam motioned for Rafe to take the lead.
“Now wouldn’t be too soon. I don’t think I ever want to come back.” She hadn’t wanted to come in the first place, but Breana had encouraged her to take the next step in controlling her agoraphobia.
They strode through the main lobby like they owned the place. A new experience for her. She normally shrank into the background, hoping no one noticed her. But not with these men.
Exiting the building, she let her gaze roam, searching for signs of Charlie Three. Tucked between a couple of trees, she spotted Dax. The man blended into the landscape. If she hadn’t been looking for him, she wouldn’t have found him.
Liam leaned in. “Walk toward the road. The guys will be here in two.”
Too focused on putting one foot in front of the other, she didn’t question his gentle command. They eased into the tree line and disappeared out of sight of the resort’s double door entrance.
God, please get me out of here. I can’t take much more of this. I just want my little house with four walls and my computer monitor.
A tingling sensation crawled up her spine. She jerked her head up and whipped her gaze side to side. Someone or something was out there.
By the way Liam went on alert, he felt it too. The quick communication with him and his team faded as her anxiety ramped up.
Jade held back the tears threatening to escape. She couldn’t survive another night out in the jungle.
Bahía Sombra, Mexico
Thursday – 1200 Hours
Call Sign: Charlie One
The rental SUV came to a stop on the road.
Liam flung the door open. “Get in.”
His command was harsher than he’d intended, but the hinky feeling of being watched had crawled up his back and onto his scalp.
He’d had those sensations before while in theater, and he’d learned quickly not to ignore them during combat zone missions.
And he wouldn’t now. Raven’s life counted on him doing his job without failure.
Raven jolted but didn’t question him. She crawled into the third row of the SUV and slid down in the seat like she was trying to hide from the world.
Dax piled in after her while he and Rafe jumped into the second row and retrieved their rifles.
Rafe shut the door and slapped the back of the driver’s seat. “Go.”
Boone didn’t hesitate. The man hit the accelerator and aimed the vehicle toward the airfield where their plane waited.