Page 110 of Killer Secrets (Tempting SEALs 5)

Kira watched him silently. He knew the question running through all their minds.

"Sorrell made contact. It's happening at midnight at the villa. What kind of support are we going to have?" He directed that question to Reno, whom he knew always had backup.

Reno's lips quirked into a grin as he leaned lazily against the far wall, his M-16 cradled in his arms. Macey nodded and Tehya paled. The resignation that shadowed Kira's eyes had him watching her harder, more intently. He'd had a feeling she was in Aruba for more than sex or love when she first arrived. He hadn't altered that opinion, though he knew sex and love had definitely added in to the factors that had pulled her here.

That flash of emotion that he saw in her gaze proved it, and he prepared himself to defend against whatever might come from it.

She was a DHS contract operative, she had come there with DHS backing, and he knew it. She wouldn't have come without orders. Orders that she hadn't told him about, and he hadn't pushed to find out.

Pushing meant possibly not liking the truth, and though Ian was the type of man who believed in facing reality at all times, he didn't wa

nt to face reality with Kira until he had no other choice.

"We have two SEAL teams off the coast, waiting," Reno reported as Ian held his hand out to Kira. "They'll move in when we give the word."

"Move Miss Talamosi to the Fuentes villa after dark," he told them as Kira took his hand and he pulled her to his side. "Diego knows you're here. I don't want to take the chance that anyone else does, and she'll be better protected if we don't have to split our forces."

"How did he find out?" Kira bit at her bottom lip as he stared down at her, her expression concerned.

"With Diego, only God knows." Ian shook his head. "He didn't say how he knew, but he knows. We'll pull together tonight and get things in place. Keep Durango team hidden at all costs until the meet; we don't want Sorrell warned ahead of the game."

He outlined the layout for the negotiations, watching as Macey frowned and made notes on a legal pad at his side and Reno nodded thoughtfully. Through it all, Tehya sat stoically on the bed, her head lowered, her hands clenched tightly together.

"He'll have men move into place after he arrives," Tehya said softly, once Ian had finished. "A large contingent of men, highly trained and heavily armed. Once he leaves, all hell will be laid on the villa."

"He won't be leaving alive," Ian reminded her.

Tehya inhaled roughly. "And all hell will be visited the moment they believe there are any problems. Sorrell times everything. He's fanatical about it. It's nearly as important as whatever ideal he fights for. If he doesn't call the attack off, then it will commence at a certain deadline, no matter where he is in the game. You must be prepared for that."

Ian nodded toward Macey. "I recorded our conversation," he said to Tehya. "You can go over it with the team, give him what details you may remember. At ten we'll meet at the villa and prepare for the meeting."

"I want that weapon, Mr. Richards," she told him again, her voice low but throbbing with determination. "I can't be taken alive by him."

Ian glanced at Reno. The other man's gaze was compassionate, and concerned.

"There's always the chance you could be rescued, Tehya. If something like that happened, we wouldn't stop searching for you."

Her lips twisted at his promise. "Perhaps you could, but not before he allows my half brother to breed me. You see, it's not love that drives Sorrell to find me. He chose the woman to breed his child with, hoping it would be a daughter. He chose her specifically for her bloodlines, her character, and her strength. He wanted a daughter, a half sister for the son he bred for the same qualities. I won't be raped by my brother, not even for a chance at escape."

* * *

Twenty-eight

IAN GAVE TEHYA A GUN. His backup weapon, small and compact, but it didn't take a large gun to commit suicide.

Ian filled Kira in on the confrontation between himself and Diego as well as the fact that Diego was aware of Durango team's involvement. She learned that Diego was also questioning Ian's plans once Sorrell was taken care of.

When they returned to the villa, Ian cleared the servants from the house, sent them back to Palm Beach, and placed a complete lockdown on any transmissions into or out of the villa that he didn't make or take himself.

Fuentes soldiers were positioned around the grounds, but none were inside the villa. Deke, Trevor, Cristo, and Mendez were busy securing the room to be used for the meeting, and Diego was sitting in the living room alone, a glass of whisky in his hand, the bottle at his side, though it didn't appear he was seriously drinking the liquor.

"Ian." He came to his feet as they entered the foyer, the bodyguards still surrounding them protectively. "Garcia was here moments ago. He asked to speak to you regarding the additional men sent to the warehouse. I was not certain how you wished to handle them."

She felt Ian's hand tense at her back as he sighed roughly.

"I need to take care of this," he told her, brushing her forehead with a light kiss as he stepped away. "I'll leave Deke and Mendez with you. I shouldn't be gone long."

She nodded, watching as he moved toward the back of the villa, his tall, leanly muscled body tense and prepared for battle.

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