Page 34 of The Captive
The other man turned at the sound of his name, the scar on his cheek puckering as he frowned.“Yeah?”
Deacon picked up a duffel and approached the truck.“Apparently we’re moving out,” he said.
Tango nodded.“That’s the order.”
Tossing the bag into the truck, Deacon lowered his voice and added, “What the hell is going on here, man?”
“I don’t know.”Tango ran a hand through his dark hair.“But it isn’t good.”
“No kidding.”
There was a long pause, followed by an awkward cough from Tango.“Apparently there’s another team in Montana.”
Deacon raised his head.“Yeah?”
“Yeah.Le Clair let it slip that he’s got men watching the senator.Dude’s hiding out on some ranch.”
“Hiding out?Because he screwed around on his wife?”
Frustration seeped into Tango’s harsh features.“I don’t know what’s going on, bro.But I definitely don’t like it.”
A dour voice sounded from behind.“They want the father to come forward.”
Deacon turned to see Echo approaching.There was a deep crease between the other man’s brows.“I overheard Le Clair talking to someone about it.”
As if his ears had been burning, Le Clair suddenly appeared on the porch, his cell phone glued to his ear.He cast a suspicious look in the direction of the trio, causing Deacon and Tango to bend down and pick up a metal crate filled to the gills with dynamite.Dynamite, for Chrissake.Why did they need all this crap?This had been supposed to be an easy grab-and-wait.
“What did you hear?”Deacon murmured.
Echo unlatched the cab so that the other two could slide the crate into it.“Apparently old man Kelley is being asked to turn himself in.”
“Do you know why?What did he do?”Tango asked.
“No freaking clue.But he’s not cooperating, whatever it is.”Echo made a frustrated sound under his breath.“Le Clair doesn’t know what to do with the girl anymore.Whoever hired us is getting mighty impatient.Le Clair’s not too happy, either.”
Deacon sneaked a peek at the boss, whose dark eyebrows were bunched together in sheer aggravation.This latest call in a string of phone calls was obviously not going well.Deacon’s gut went rigid with trepidation.“I don’t like this,” he said, echoing Tango’s earlier words.“Something’s not right with this entire job.”
“I hear ya,” Tango muttered.
“Ditto,” Echo added.“So…what do we do?”
Get Lana the hell out of here.
He swallowed back the words and pasted on an indifferent expression.“We wait,” he finally murmured.“Let’s get on that plane, see how things play out and figure it out then.”
They stored the last of the gear into the truck and latched it up.Deacon was slightly comforted by the fact that his fellow mercenaries shared his concerns, but at the moment, none of them could do a damn thing about it.Whatever was going on in the real world, it wasn’t good.Sooner or later, Le Clair would need to fill his men in on whatever it was.
And then Deacon would have to decide if he’d need to save his own skin.
Or protect Lana’s.
* * *
Washington, D.C.The irony of their destination didn’t escape Lana as the jet began its descent into the city that had caused her family so much turmoil.Le Clair hadn’t blindfolded her this time, so she had a clear view of the Washington Monument and the glow of lights from Capitol Hill as the jet headed for the runway below.
She used to visit her dad here when she was a kid.She and her mom lived in California for most of the year, but D.C.was like a second home.Her father’s entire life revolved around this darn city, so much so that he’d neglected all of his children, thanks to his high-profile political career.
Why had her captors brought her here?The choice oflocation troubled her, but also brought a flicker of hope.Maybe this was it.Her dad would give them the money they desired, and an exchange would be made.Maybe she could finally gohome.
