Page 39 of Burning Justice

“Probably.”

He’d sent her that note, but it hadn’t been for them to meet up. In fact, it had sounded more like her father didn’t want her to find him. That he was going to do what he needed to do, and she should stay out of it.

As if she would ever give up trying to find him.

“Tell me the code and we can forgo all the back and forth.” Elias stood over her.

She had to look up to see his face, making pain shoot through her head. She winced, because she wanted him to know that she was in pain, and eased out a breath between gritted teeth. “You think I’m going to tell you anything?”

She kind of wanted her dad to show up to rescue her. That would actually be nice, considering how long she’d been trying to do that for him. Once in a while, it felt good to be the one being rescued.

Not that she planned to be here long enough that her boys had to go to the trouble of getting her out of this situation.

“Don’t worry. You will tell us.” Elias walked to the door.

His buddy held it open, and the two of them walked out, leaving her alone with the man in the shadows. And the instrument tray.

Definite Sydney Bristow vibes.

He stepped out of the shadows, and Maria realized why Crew, Tristan, and Special Agent Parker had been talking about these guys being connected to the Chinese.

“You look like a fun guy,” she said, trying to keep her tone light. “I can tell.”

He stared at her, his face almost gaunt. Dark eyes full of shadows. “Your father thought so.”

Breath caught in her throat.

She wasn’t going to pray just because she was scared that she would suffer before she got out of this situation. Or that she might not get out of it at all. Maria wouldn’t be the person who reacted because their back was against the wall. She needed a plan.

She could use some help though—she wasn’t unaware of that. The Trouble Boys had rescued her last time, when Elias and that group of militants had held her prisoner in Syria. Kane probably hadn’t stopped praying since the bus. If he was alive, or conscious. Please be okay. She had no idea who was hurt and how badly. Her friends. Her teammates. The man she wanted to…

No, don’t think about that.

Otherwise, her last moments would be about regret.

The man stepped toward her, holding a pair of pliers. “This is most likely going to hurt a great deal.”

She stared at him. “Bring it on.”

It was the only way she knew of to beat the fear. Stare it in the face and not back down, because that meant giving in, and if there was one thing her father’s life had taught her, it was that you didn’t lose heart no matter what happened. No matter how long it took to get out of a horrible situation.

I’m going to fix everything.

Maria tipped the chair to one side, then the other, rocking a little so she could test the sturdiness of the frame.

He closed in, reaching for her index finger. “Hold still, dear.”

Maria screamed in his face. As soon as she had the chance, she would make her move.

Or she would die trying.

“Paging Doctor Weston.”

Kane sucked in a breath and sat up on the hospital bed. “Saxon!”

He was in a tiny bay, curtains all around him. The light-blue material whipped back, sounding like a shower curtain rail. But it wasn’t Saxon, it was Crew. And Tristan was right behind him.

“Report.” Kane didn’t have the authority to demand it, but he didn’t care. How long had he been out? Long enough they’d all been transported here. Who knew what condition everyone was in? And Maria…

---