Page 64 of Trapped With the Secret Agent

Peter nodded.

“What happens after ninety minutes?” Georgia asked, unable to keep from asking the question even though she wasn’t sure she wanted an answer.

Stokes looked at her. “If we haven’t returned within the ninety minutes, Welis will take the truck we stole and get himself and you out of the city.”

Georgia frowned. But hadn’t Stokes just said Peter was their ace in the hole?

Before she could question him further, Stokes addressed his men.

“Everyone good to go?”

Nods all around.

Georgia opened her mouth to stop them, to ask what Stokes meant, but Peter stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

With one last nod to Peter, Stokes signaled his men and headed down the steps into the tunnel.

Peter tightened his hand on her shoulder and flicked on a flashlight. “We’re going to bring up the rear,” he said to her. “No talking after this, ok?”

“I understand.” She didn’t want to get caught any more than he did.

The walk back to the embassy was done in complete silence. Georgia was amazed all over again at how quiet these men could move. It didn’t matter that there was dirt and debris all over the floor. They never stumbled or scuffed their feet. With guns held ready, slung over and braced against one shoulder, they looked like deadly wraiths floating over the floor. And they could become statue still at a moment’s notice.

Georgia watched them as the first time the sound of voices filtered through the rock, coming to a halt before she even registered the noise.

They moved slowly after that first hint of contact with the outside world. Creeping through the tunnel, feet placed with precision, breathing even, all except for hers, of course. Her breathing and steps were the only ones audible. She was chagrined to note that Peter was just as quiet as the SEALs, and she wondered if he’d taken some of the same training. He must have. Lessons in sneaking around, along with lying, and survival tactics had to be compulsory for a guy with his job.

The tunnel curved to the right and, after walking around it, Georgia was forced to come to a quick halt or step on someone. The SEALs lined the tunnel walls on either side, squatting with their weapons aimed at the door several feet in front of them.

Stokes didn’t appear to be in a hurry. He stood with his ear almost touching the wood, listening. After several long moments, he raised one hand and flashed a signal. One man came forward to stand slightly to one side and behind him, while Stokes lifted the latch.

The door swung open with ease, just as it had before. Stokes waited another tension-charged second before pushing the door open a bit farther and slipping into the room.

No shots echoed; no cries rang out.

His arm appeared in the doorway, flashing yet another signal. This time all the SEALs got up and went through the doorway. The door closed and the latch was engaged a few seconds later.

Georgia looked at Peter, the flashlight in his hand illuminating his face. He shook his head. No, they would not be following them into the fray. They had to wait and pray that the eight men would be successful. She didn’t want to think about what might happen if they weren’t. Without thinking, Georgia reached out and grabbed one of Peter’s hands. She wanted to hold on to something warm and full of promise. He was all she had. Her lifeline.

What if they didn’t succeed?

The question bounced around in her head, echoing back and forth, reverberating, knocking her secure life off its foundation. Everything she’d dreamed about, all the things she wanted to do, the places she wanted to see...were in jeopardy. Already so much time wasted, so many opportunities had passed by. She’d kept her life too safe, too simple. Georgia pressed her lips together in a determined line. Well, that was going to stop right now. She looked at Peter.

Starting with him.

Her anger and questions could wait.

She had other needs that wouldn’t.

Peter had let go of her and sat opposite her with his back to the wall while she’d been busy thinking. She hadn’t even noticed him move. That annoyed her. He was always doing that, appearing and disappearing silently, like he was some kind of magician. Well, if that’s what he was, she wanted to experience all the magic he had, not just a couple of tricks.

He glanced at her, looked away then did a double take.

“What?” he asked. “Are you ok?”

Georgia realized that she still had her chador on and pulled it off, freeing her hair as well as revealing her body. “No, I’m not ok, but it’s nothing you can’t fix.”

“Oh, good.” He nodded, then an expression of confusion infused his face. “What?”

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