Page 84 of Dangerous Games (Tempting SEALs 2)

"You failed me. Failure is not forgiven easily," he murmured as the men advanced on her. "Take your punishment, so that I may forgive you. Then we will see if you can redeem yourself in my eyes."

She jumped to avoid the hands reaching out for her, scrambling to keep them from touching her, to keep them from hurting her. Nightmares of the past rose before her eyes, the soldiers who'd held her down, grunting, sweating over her as they raped her.

God, death would have been better.

She screamed as she was tossed to the bed, hard hands tearing her clothes from her body, touching her, laughter echoing around her.

She heard herself begging. Crying. She felt the horror that took her mind as her legs were jerked apart, restrained, and her punishment began.

Was it worth McIntyre's life, she wondered hazily, this punishment? Was it worth giving the fragile emotion she saw in his gaze when he watched Morganna a chance to grow? Was it worth allowing him what she would never know?

Loyalty was earned. McIntyre had earned her loyalty. But with this act, even death would not ease her plans to see Diego fall. By her hand.

Her mind drifted, darkened. Unable to accept or to deal with the pain, the horror, of what was happening to her body. She escaped the only way she knew how, within plans for vengeance. Diego would fall by her hand.

Chapter 23

WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS INTEL moving across the Net," Mace informed Clint as he stepped into the basement fortress, his hands loaded with shopping bags Jayne Smith had arranged to have waiting for him hours before. If Morganna was going to pull this off, then she was going to need clothes. Slipping into her house to get her clothes wasn't going to work, so Jayne had gone shopping for her.

Clint worried about that one. To be honest, the two women seemed way too alike in temperament; he didn't need Morganna getting any clothing or personality tips from the other woman. Morganna was too hard to handle as it was. What have you found?" He set the bags on the couch, glancing toward the still-closed bedroom door. "Don't worry; she's sleeping like an angel," Mace grunted, "I haven't heard a peep out of her." She was exhausted. The weariness that had lined her face as she slept earlier had worried Clint. He hadn't allowed her much sleep during their stay in the hotel room, and last night hadn't exactly been relaxing.

"Intel's coming in from several sources. Trina Blake called her personal doctor a few hours ago. One of her maids is a pretty little spy for the Feds. Seems Diego made a visit. He messed her up pretty bad."

"Shit." Clint pushed his fingers through his hair, a scowl tightening his face. "What happened?"

"Five of his men raped her." Mace's voice was tight with fury. "Diego was pissed off when you got away from his men. He made her pay for it. The maid reported extensive damage, though her physician is treating her from home rather than a hospital."

Clint prowled around the room, his muscles tight, fighting the urge to go hunting. If he did, Diego would merely go to ground; they had learned that over the years. That was why the strike against his compound had been made, to take him and his wife out together, without warning.

It was one of the reasons Trina had become so important as an informer two years before. If it hadn't been for her information, the team would have never located the senators' daughters last year and rescued them before they were brutalized.

"Any reports or Diego?"

"Nothing conclusive. There are some rumors of several of the large gangs within the South American community being pulled in to work together. I'd hazard a guess that's Fuentes getting his spy network in gear. Your and Morganna's picture is being flashed a lot, but no one is one hundred percent certain where you're hiding." Mace flashed him a triumphant grin. "Those boys just don't know how it's done; that's all I can say." Mace could find a needle in a haystack a continent away.

"You're so modest, Mace," Clint snorted. "What else have you found?"

"There's a rumor you have Morganna stashed in Diva's basement suite." Mace cast him a leer. "Now that sounds like fun. Can I come play, too?"

"Did you forget Morganna's trigger-happy knee?" Clint asked him carefully.

"Not likely," he growled, scowling. "I didn't mean with her. Jeez, Clint, not all of us have lost our minds like you have."

Boy, that one was the truth.

"Any leaks on Diego's

whereabouts?"

"Nothing yet. He's staying hid real good. But we do have good ole Roberto Manuelo. He's Diego's right hand since Carmelita died. From everything I have coming in, it's ole Manuelo that has the hard-on for you." Mace stood from his

chair, stretching the kinks out of his body before glancing back down at the computer. "I have some feelers out on his whereabouts. Kell and Ian are also on their way here. They'll

be able to cover your and Morganna's asses after you leave here."

"'Have you briefed them on the situation?" The message was clear. If anything happened to Morganna, Clint was going hunting. Everyone responsible would pay.

"It's been done." Mace nodded firmly. "I also have the info on Manuelo and several of Fuentes' current head men. Those boys need to watch their asses better. My sources have been spilling info since last night."

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