Page 56 of Hazard

He banged again with the flat of his fist. Still no answer.

Finally, he turned the knob and found both rooms empty. He immediately queued his radio. “Iceman, Hazard and Leigh aren't here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“They’re gone.”

“Stand by.” He heard Iceman conversing with someone. Then he came back on the radio. “The Marine at desk said he and Leigh left with Jose about fifteen minutes ago. What the actual fuck?”

Skull was already halfway down the stairs. The man in the photo had been a young Jose. He knew Astrid and Nacho, so it didn’t bode well that Hazard and Leigh were with him…alone. When he reached the lobby, the team was milling around outside of command. He looked at Kodiak’s grave gaze. “Anna doesn’t know where they went. She didn’t even know they were gone. Neither did Hollywood.”

Skull pulled out his cell phone, his gut clenching in that terribly edgy feeling he got when shit was about to hit the fan.

“Ice already tried to call, and they traced it. It’s off. So is Leigh’s mobile.”

“Goddamn it! What the hell, Hazard?”

He entered the room to see what the hell they were going to do to find them when Iceman’s phone buzzed and when he looked at the screen, he swore.

“What is it?”

“A text from Jose. Coordinates. Let’s move now.”

The team broke into a run for the vehicles.

Hazard’s senses told him to turn the wheel and get the hell out of there. They were quite a ways out of the city, the jungle thick, impenetrable, and ominous.

“Turn left here, then stop.”

Hazard did as he was told.

“Leave the car. Let’s go.” He gestured with the weapon, and Leigh opened her door, Jose sliding across the seat.

Outside, he pulled out a flex cuff. “Bind your wrists.”

Leigh’s hands were already bound, but he could see how they were shaking. “Hazard,” she whispered.

“It’s going to be okay, babe.”

“Start walking,” Jose said. They entered the jungle and before long, Hazard was aware of the men who moved unseen alongside them. When they came out of the jungle, automatic weapons in their hands, they all stopped walking.

The rough men disarmed Jose, but Hazard couldn’t help but wonder why they hadn’t found his knife. They patted him down, even though he was bound, but didn’t bother with Leigh.

A man shoved him in the back, and they resumed walking. After about ten minutes they came to a camp. There was a big tent in the middle and their guards herded them toward it. One of them leaned over and pulled the flap open, then shoved them inside.

The man who was sitting at a makeshift desk piled with cash looked up. He smiled.

Hazard’s head swiveled to the right when he heard a whimper. Astrid Cristo was bound and gagged, lying on her side on the tent’s floor. She latched onto Jose, tears squeezing out of her eyes.

“I have brought the American lawyer.”

“I can see that, Jose, but I didn’t ask for any additional Americans. Who is this prize?” he said sarcastically.

“Her bodyguard. He’s valuable too, Angel. He’s a SEAL and part of the military.”

His attention went to Hazard, and he glared at the drug lord, his black eyes glittering like a snake.

“Take her and go,” Alzate said, rising, tossing a knife to Jose. He caught it and released the minister, then helped her to sit up.

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