“If they were ever actually married,” Skye said.
“Either way, Purcell may figure she belongs to him. If she was my woman, I wouldn’t want to let her go.”
Edge felt his eyebrows climbing. Trace rarely got involved with a woman. He was a confirmed bachelor. Or at least he had been.
“With luck, Purcell will be spending his days in jail.” Edge checked the Black Predator combat watch on his wrist. “It’s still early. Let’s head over to the café and get something to eat. We’ll come back and work through the plan, catch a little shut-eye, then head out to the compound.”
“Sounds good.” Trace unwound his tall frame and stood up. They were both six-three, Trace a few pounds heavier. They were big men, physically fit and well trained. Skye could hold her own, but considering what they could be facing tonight, Edge was glad to have Trace along.
Edge opened the motel room door. He didn’t glance at Skye as she walked past him out of the room. He needed his entire focus to be on the mission. It was what he had been trained to do.
But once their mission was complete and they were back in Denver, his objective was going to change. Skye Delaney was going to become his focus. His attraction to her was a problem he intended to solve, and like everything he did in life, he wouldn’t quit until he had achieved his goal.
In the meantime, his complete concentration had to be on his team and their objective. He wanted Callie Delaney out from under Henson’s control, home and safe. A simple snatch and grab should do it, in and out without firing a shot.
That was Plan A.
Plan B was the fail-safe. If unexpected problems arose, they’d do what was necessary to protect their charge and get out of the compound. Plan C would be implemented if all their planning went south. Then they would figure things out on the fly, do their best to get everyone out alive, and get the hell out of Dodge.
Edge’s mouth tightened in grim anticipation as he closed the door to the motel room.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“YOU CAN’T DO IT, CALLIE. IT’S TOO DANGEROUS.” HER ROOMMATEand best friend, Lila Ramirez, rose from where she’d been sitting on the edge of the twin bed. “We still don’t know what happened to Molly. And what about Sarah?” It was after lights out, the simple lamp on the nightstand turned off in the bedroom they shared.
“You have heard the rumors,” Lila continued. “People say she is dead.” Lila had met Raul Ramirez at a local nightclub, a man as handsome as she was pretty. Three months later, they were married. When Raul took a job with Daniel, she had excitedly followed him to Blancha Springs.
A month ago, Raul had been killed in a car accident, or at least that was the story. Devastated, Lila wanted to leave, but Daniel refused. After a period of mourning, he said, he would find her a suitable replacement, and she would be happy again.
Callie believed the replacement would be Daniel himself. Then, in time, he would marry Lila to another of his men.
“Maybe you’re wrong,” Callie argued. “Maybe Molly and Sarah both got out and are living like normal people somewhere far away from this terrible place.”
“The chances of you escaping are very slim, Callie, and you know it. What if Klaus finds out? He is expecting to be married tomorrow. What do you think he will do to you if you get caught running away?”
Callie shoved a long cotton skirt and flowered blouse into the big quilted purse one of the women had given her as a welcome gift. “In that case, I’d better not get caught.”
Lila walked toward her. Only thin rays of moonlight sliding out between intermittent clouds lit the darkness outside the bedroom. “Callie, please. Why don’t you wait until we go into town? Maybe there you will find a chance to escape.”
“And in the meantime, I’m supposed to submit to that bastard Mahler? The man is a pig. Have you seen the way he eats? He disgusts me. And those hard, cold eyes? The way he leers at a woman makes me sick to my stomach.”
She paced toward the wall and whirled back to her friend, sending her long skirt billowing around her ankles. “I have to go tonight, Lila. I’d rather be dead than marry Klaus and stay in this place.”
Lila fell silent, knowing she would soon be in the same situation. Callie wondered if Raul had really died or if Daniel had just sent the man off to work somewhere else so that he could have Lila.
It wouldn’t surprise her. Nothing Daniel Henson did surprised her. Not anymore.
She hitched the strap of the quilted bag over her shoulder.
“Even if you reach the fence,” Lila said, “how will you get out?”
“I know where Molly dug the hole. I’ll take my time, watch for the guards, and stay out of sight. I’ll go out the same way she did.”
Lila clamped a hand on a generous hip. “Ifshe got out, you mean. If they did not kill her.”
Callie made no reply, just leaned over and hugged her friend. “If I make it, I’ll find a way to help you get out, too.” Lila had no family. No one but Cassie. “You and the rest of the women who want to leave . . . I won’t just abandon you. I promise you I’ll be back.”
Lila hugged her. “I will pray for you, my dear friend. God bless you and good luck.”
