Page 52 of Reclaimed (Hostage Rescue Team)

Was that it? Was that where she was? He pulled out his phone and immediately reported everything to Foster and DeLuca, still back at the command center. The area mentioned wasn’t a big place. “Can you get a satellite or drone in there?”

“You sure this is what she was trying to tell you?” Foster asked.

“Yes. Has to be.” He couldn’t calm his heart rate. The deadline was just over nine hours away. He wanted eyes in the sky on that locationnow.

“All right. I’ll make it happen.”

Adam closed his eyes, expelled a hard sigh. “Thankyou.”

Foster grunted. “Don’t thank me yet, it may be another dead end. And there’s a weather front moving in, possibly a sand storm. Even if I can get the resources we want, we’re looking at a tight window to utilize them.”

“I understand.” It couldn’t be a dead end. He knew it was right. And there had to be enough time to find them.

Summer’s life depended on it and this time, he wasn’t going to let her down.

Chapter Seventeen

Only two hours in, and the video was already going viral.

Tarek ended his call with an ATB contact who had uploaded and broadcast everything for him, a hacker who had proved himself highly useful over the past few weeks. Even if the intelligence agencies hunting for them managed to find their location, it wouldn’t be until after they were gone.

He turned to Akram. “It’s working.” Even better than he’d anticipated.

The female captive had performed beautifully. She’d delivered the scripted message he’d given her, then added a short personal message to her husband. The end result was perfect. The sight of her bound and helpless, staring into the camera while she gave that sad little speech would tug on heartstrings all over the world.

It would make the global reaction to tomorrow’s executions even more spectacular.

The younger man grinned broadly at him. “I know. I just talked to one of our media reps a few minutes ago. Cable news networks all around the world are picking it up already.”

“Good.” Now all that was left to do was make the final preparations and stick to the timeline he’d set. “Is everything else ready?”

Akram nodded, but looked away, clearly uneasy. Tarek knew his friend wasn’t comfortable with what was coming, but that was because he had no stomach for such things. Akram preferred to work behind the scenes with logistics and personnel, resupply and finances.

Tarek wouldn’t hold his lack of bloodlust against him. In truth, he’d been much like Akram before the war started. He’d seen killing as a necessary part of his military service, but only against an armed combatant.

Growing up, his parents had raised him in a loving home, imparting on him a strong sense of right and wrong along with a kinder, gentler interpretation of the Holy Quran and its teachings than he followed now.

All of it had burned to ash the night they’d been killed. In the wake of that tragedy, a new man had risen from the ashes like a metaphorical phoenix. He didn’t miss the old him. He was stronger now, wiser, and understood better how the world really worked.

He picked up the small video camera on the table before him, resolved in his course of action. “We’ll save the woman for last.”

“So all three will be…” Akram trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Tarek was growing annoyed by the hesitation. “Yes, all three,” he said curtly. “But the woman last. It will have the most impact that way.” The most shock value. The entire world would be holding its breath, praying he would spare her.

They were in for a huge disappointment.

When Akram continued to stand there shifting his weight from one foot to the other with a troubled frown on his face, Tarek sighed and set the camera down. “What is it?”

Akram rubbed the back of his neck. “I always thought the plan was to sell her. With her being young and American and considering her position at the intelligence agency, there would be many buyers interested. She would have gone for a fair price and you know we could use the money. Our supplies and ammunition stores are running low.”

Only until they got back to Syria, which was in a matter of hours from now. “After this, the money will come pouring in,” he told his friend, completely confident in the course he’d set. “Once our supporters around the world see this, and see the power we wield, they’ll send us more money than we’ll know what to do with.”

The ATB would make good use of it, dividing it amongst its groups. And since he’d been the one to plan and orchestrate this whole thing, he’d likely be promoted right away. Maybe even to field commander, a position he’d wanted for a long time.

“She makes me uneasy,” Akram murmured at last, glancing toward the door as though he could see her at the far end of the building.

He snorted. “She’s a female trapped behind bars with no weapon. How could she possibly make you uneasy?”

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