Page 5 of Killer Secrets (Tempting SEALs 5)

This world did that to a man. Planted in ice where a heart should be and diluted the guilt over the bloodshed. The bastards now lying in the center of the warehouse were murderers, kidnappers, rapists. They were terrorists who didn't care who lived or died as long as their fanatical agenda was observed.

He kicked at one lying on its side, knocking the body over until the dead eyes stared up at the heavily beamed ceiling.

"The girl that got away is Algeria Winters," Deke reported. "There's no sign of her, boss."

She didn't get away. He'd let her go.

Ian stared at the terrorist's body. He remembered this one from a mission in Russia several years before. Algeria Winters had been there as well. A Russian-born informant who often worked with Antoni Ruissard, the dead terrorist at his feet.

Anger tightened his jaw as his fingers clenched on the Glock he held carefully by his side.

"We have a team in place in Oranjestad as well as Palm Beach," Trevor stated. "We can get her description out, have her picked up."

Ian nodded slowly. "Go ahead."

They wouldn't find her. The persona Algeria Winters would be discarded before anyone else had a chance to see her. The higher cheekbones would be altered, that sharp chin would disappear, hazel eyes would change, and blond hair would become another color. Her next disguise would be as natural, as smooth as birth, and no one would ever know she was Kira Porter, except him.

He stared down at the dead assassin Antoni, the dark blond hair matted with blood, the head shot having taken off half his face. He wasn't nearly as handsome, as debonair, as he had been when Ian's men had raided the warehouse.

"Have the Misserns arrived yet?"

Josef and Martin Missern were the weapons dealers Ian was to have met at this warehouse. In less than ten minutes.

"Their limo just pulled in minutes ago," Deke reported. "They're being held outside."

Ian's jaw clenched. Would the twins, certain Sorrell contacts, have arrived if they had known about this strike?

Of course they would have, he thought cynically as he stared at the bullet-ridden bodies laid out before him.

"Secure the perimeter. Half of you take up sniper position, the other half are with me."

He had a dozen men. He had come prepared. Survival instinct, knowledge of his enemies, or just plain paranoia had precipitated the cautionary attack on the warehouse.

It wasn't the first time Sorrell had tried to take him out in the past year. Ian had learned to be on guard.

Of course, that was the price of walking away from a life of truth, justice, and the American way to take over the reins of a drug cartel. That cynical thought had something dark and bitter brewing in his gut.

As he turned and strode away from the dead bodies he knew none of the regret at the loss of life that he had often known during his years as a SEAL. The knowledge that he'd had no choice, that he was preserving the laws of his nation, didn't comfort him.

Because he didn't need comfort.

"What the hell happened in there?" Deke asked, his voice low, as the others moved out to secure the perimeter and to surround the heir of the Fuentes cartel. They left Ian and Deke in the center as they moved from the warehouse.

"Did you see Algeria?" Ian asked him carefully.

"Who could miss her," Deke breathed out roughly. "Those Russian cheekbones and cool hazel eyes would be a dead giveaway a mile away. Knock-dead gorgeous and dangerous as hell. Have you ever seen such a pretty package housing such a black heart?"

Ian holstered his weapon as he stared at Josef and Martin Missern across the warehouse lot, although his attention was focused on Deke.

"You're sure it was her?" Couldn't anyone else see beneath the package, the disguise?

"Man, no one could imitate Algeria." Deke snorted, but his look as he stared back at Ian shifted. "Could they?"

Ian shook his head. "It looked like Algeria; I just didn't expect to see her here."

"Antoni was here," Deke pointed out. "They're known associates."

"She doesn't usually work assassination squads," Ian reminded him.

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