Page 48 of Silent Sins

Javier’s eyes widened. “Should I double the guards? Get ready to take them out?”

He shook his head. “I wanted them to trace the call. They can have him.”

Javier’s jaw dropped, his face a mask of shock and disbelief. “What? But why?”

“Because that was a stupid thing to do.” He let the raw anger bubble up now. Let it spice his voice. Instill terror. “I told you to stay back. Watch and wait.”

“But he was just sitting there.”

The urge to shoot Javier in the face warred with his need to remain calm. Javier deserved to die, but Ghost might yet have some use for him before the end. Still, this couldn’t go unpunished.

Ghost thrust out his hand. “Give me your gun.”

Hands shaking, Javier unholstered his pistol and handed it over, grip first.

He took his time checking it out, noting the round in the chamber. Javier waited silently, hands digging into the steering wheel, ready to flee. Or crumble.

Ghost savored the sharp tang of sweat wafting off his second in command. Slowly, lovingly, he raised the weapon, sighting in on Javier’s forehead. “I should end you.”

Javier’s Adam’s apple slammed from the bottom of his throat to the top again, over and over.

Once Ghost sensed the man was at his breaking point, he bent his arm, pointing the weapon at the roof. “One more chance. One. Next time, you won’t walk away.”

Javier slumped in his seat, and pressed his hands to his chest. His mouth worked, but no words came out.

Message received.

“Did he see any faces when you took him?”

“N-n-no. We made sure of that. He can’t ID any of us.”

“Good. Then the guards should walk away. Let his friends come. Those guys are SEALs. The real deal. Let them come get their guy, and they’ll disappear. No harm done. This time. Anyway, I have another job for you. Something way bigger. One last detail before the beautiful finale. We need the woman. We need Avery Ellis.”

Javier nodded, his face now a mask of determination. “When do you want me to get her?”

His smile widened, his eyes glinting with a cold, cruel light. “I’ll let you know.”

Javier’s eyes gleamed with a fierce, predatory light. Every ounce of terror morphed into determination. Excitement. Exactly the way he wanted the kid, hot for action and ready to do whatever it took to get the job done. To save his own skin.

Only a few more pieces needed to fall into place and he could pull the trigger.

Bait and switch. Bait and switch.

28

“Hello, you beauty!”

Paige’s exuberant shout echoed through the room, jolting Avery awake.

Muzzy-headed and disoriented, she lifted her head from her arms, blinking in the soft light of Bridger’s kitchen, trying to clear the nightmares from her head.

She’d fallen asleep at the breakfast bar.

A glance at the clock above the stove made her stomach twist. It had been two hours since Paul’s abduction. Two hours of helplessness and fear.

At the table by the window, Paige shot to her feet. “I have a location on that text,” she shouted, her voice ringing through the house. “We’re a go.”

Footsteps clattered. The team rushed into the room, their faces tense with anticipation.

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