“All over it. I got a translator in route.” The Irishman sits somewhere to my left, deep within the cube walls.
“Everyone. Stop for a moment and stand.” Slate waits until all eyes are on him, then claps. “Good work team. We now know where the ladies are headed. Get some rest. We’ve got a couple of long days ahead of us.”
He’s right but in a way, it feels like we’re giving up.
While the geeks stretch, my pal meanders up and down the aisle, making sure they all have somewhere to sleep. Some find couches, some crash on the floor, and others move aside their keyboards, simply putting their heads on their desks.
Finished, he strides toward me, and slaps me on the back. “Andy, Finn? Suds? My office.”
The door closes and the negotiator points us to leather chairs but me and my lawyer decline. Neither of us feel like sitting on our asses while our women are in danger.
Leaning against the door with his arms crossed over his chest, the Irishman frowns. “The Arabs won’t want ransom. They’ve got more bloody bullion than they know what t’ do with. That being said, they generally treat the girls well… if they behave.”
“Shit.” Jaw muscles ticking, Andy takes a deep breath while I, on the other hand, punch a hole in Slate’s office wall.
Grimacing, Slate opens a drawer and hands me a scraper with a small tub of spackle. “Focus, dammit. How long before the team arrives?”
“Jack’s already in the city. Lucky’s scheduled to arrive at JFK around eight. That’ll make us five.” Glad for something to do, I pry off the plastic cover and begin the work of patching the cracked plaster.
“Six.” Andy steps forward and glances around, daring anyone to argue.
“My team has four. I’ll need them close by.” While Finn starts texting, Slate picks up his cell phone, thumbs in a number, and puts it to his ear. “How long before you can have us ready for takeoff? …Dubai. …Copy that. See you then.”
He stares out at the dark clouds and curses under his breath. “We’ll take my chopper to Teterboro. Make sure everyone’s downstairs in an hour.”
“What about Lucky?” I can’t imagine storming the castle without him.
“Grayson Patten is flying him, personally. They’re joining us in Dubai.”
I’m so touched by the billionaire’s involvement, I don’t know what the fuck to say.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sam
The suns sets, a cold breeze blows across the open airfield, and I shiver. Teeth chattering, my damp clothes stick to my skin as I jump up and down beside the plane.
Sienna bites her lower lip and stares up at the Arabic letters on the jet. I wonder if she’s thinking what I am. With no extradition treaty, the odds of rescue sink even further.
I could hop the fence and make a break for it, but I can’t leave the rest to fend for themselves. Now, more than ever, they’re going to need me.
At the top of the stairs, the door swings open and the pilot argues with our kidnappers. I wish I studied Arabic but it doesn’t take a genius to know they’re pissed. I use the opportunity to stare up at the sky where high above, spy satellites circle the earth.
I’m forced to stop as the men reach an accord and we’re all shoved toward the stairs. “Go. Now.”
Before climbing, I turn my head, and spit out a piece of my shirt. Maybe, if I’m lucky, in a few days Suds will find my DNA. Then, I barely have time to sit before we taxi and take off.
Thank God we’re allowed to use the bathroom but they tie wrap our ankles when we return to our seats. I must doze off because I wake to the sounds of Sienna retching into a barf bag. Her complexion is too pale. What will they do if they find out she’s pregnant?
I recall reading an article on how to survive being kidnapped. The thing to keep in mind is if you’re not dead in the first few hours, there’s a reason. To me, it’s clear. We have value as prostitutes or personal sex slaves.
The best thing one can do is to be compliant and buy time. I pass my wisdom to the girl sitting next to me and wait until a dozen heads nod in understanding. A few shed silent tears but it’s better they know what’s about to happen.
Shortly after, our two thugs wake and while one holds a gun, the other unties our wrists. A woman who I hadn’t noticed before, serves us a pita stuffed with spicy meat. We also get chips, water, and a brownie. Even though I haven’t eaten since breakfast, I have to force myself to bite, chew, and swallow.
For you, tough guy, I will keep up my strength.
The flight goes on forever. I count seven dreadful movies with English Subtitles and do the math. If each one is approximately two hours long, we’ve been in the air for fourteen. As I feared, we’re not headed for Europe, but far beyond.
