Page 21 of Depths of Destruction
Naomi steps forward then dives under the water. When she rises back to the surface, she's several feet to the left and moving downstream. Her eyes widen, and she starts paddling toward me.
I quickly swim over to her, pulling her into my arms and closer to shore. "Careful of the current."
Her arms and legs wrap around me. I tighten my hold. One of my palms drifts to her ass.
Squeaks fill the air, and she leans closer to me, gazing around.
"Monkeys," I murmur in her ear and stroke her back.
She focuses on my lips and licks hers.
I edge closer to her face.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
She jerks back. "What is that?"
"My phone."
She lets go of me and swims toward shore.
I follow. Louis Couture, my boss's name, is on my screen. "Lòpez," I say while staring at Naomi's wet, almost-naked body.
"It's Louis."
"What's going on?"
"I'm going to send the coordinates of the drop-off point to you."
"Are all the targets going to the U.S.?"
A hint of annoyance is in his voice. "No. Only Naomi Salazar. The rest will go to their home countries."
The hairs on my neck stand up. "Why not Salazar?"
Naomi's eyes turn to slits.
"The U.S. is taking her,” Louis replies.
"For asylum?"
"No."
"Then why do they want her?"
"That's for the U.S. to decide," he states matter-of-factly.
My stomach flips. “What do you mean?"
"Since when is questioning orders part of your job description?" he barks.
Silence fills the line and the sound of the jungle competes with the rapid beating of my heart.
"Your job isn't to ask questions. It's to rescue and deliver the target," he reminds me.
I run my hand through my hair and turn away from Naomi. I lower my voice. "Is she on the list and I'm not aware? My guys and I have a right to know if she's on it." The list contains terrorist suspects. I don't for one moment think Naomi could ever be one. Yet, it's the only thought entering my mind about why the U.S. would want her. If she were on the list it would make sense.
"Don't worry. She isn't on it."
