“Affirmative.”
“It’s…a well. Faruk threatened to put the doc down there. Keep her there if she didn’t cooperate. And there’s something really faint on the thermals. Like…actually underground.”
After another minute, Ryker swears softly. “Package located. Bravo Team, prepare for infil. My position. Hold until I have proof of life.”
“There’s a rope ladder,” Joey says. “And a stake in the ground a few feet away.”
“Alpha Team Leader,” another man says, “Enemy target secured. Office. Southwest corner of the main floor.”
Fuck. They’ve got Faruk. And they’re going to kill him.
“Mateen will not be safe until his father is dead. I…a part of me wishes you would have—”
“Amir Abdul Faruk is one of the richest and most powerful men in Afghanistan. His death would have started a war. I couldn’t risk it.”
Our conversation rattles around in my head for too long. Lisette and Mateen will be safe now. For the rest of their lives. No more fear. No more running. No more hiding.
“Base, put the doc on,” Ryker demands, pulling me out of my own head.
After a beep, Ford nods. “I-I’m here,” Joey says.
“His heart’s racing. One-sixty at least. There’s an empty water bottle with him, but I don’t know how long he’s been down here. He ate some of the scorpions, I think. And he’s burning up.”
“Oh my God.” Tears spring to her eyes. She balls her hands into fists so tightly, her knuckles turn white and Ford whispers something in her ear. After a few seconds, she stammers, “Y-you have to…to get fluids into him. And sugar. Lower his core temperature. His kidneys are probably shutting down. Beyond that…get him to a hospital.”
“Roger that.”
I’d give anything to see what’s going on. And then as if the Universe heard me, the thermal image disappears and a grainy video takes its place.
“What the fuck?” I scoot closer to the screen.
“Dax is wearing a camera,” Ford whispers.
Joey swipes at her cheeks when Dax kneels next to Ryker. The man on the ground between them is barely breathing. Blood stains his lips, and his closed eyes are sunken.
Joey covers her mouth with a trembling hand. “He’s been down there for days. Because he helped us. Faruk knew…”
On screen, Ryker orders Trevor and Dax to get Ripper to the truck, then takes off at a run toward the house. Less than two minutes later, the big man’s voice takes on a tone that scares the fuck out of me—even from six thousand miles away.
“You took our brother. If our truck wasn’t full, I’d bring you with us and spend months making you bleed until you begged for death. And then I’d let you heal up and do it all over again. But instead, I’ll grant you this one mercy.”
After a muffled moan, Ryker’s back on comms. “Bravo Team? We’re on our way. Faruk will never hurt another person again.”
Joey breaks, turning into Ford’s embrace and sobbing quietly. She’s been through too much. I meet Ford’s gaze over her shoulder and nod at the door. The two of them need to be alone, and I need a double shot of scotch and a soft bed. Because tomorrow, I have to tell Lisette her bastard of a husband will never hurt her again.
CHAPTER NINE
Lisette
Noele breezesinto the hospital room, a large coffee in her hand. Her smile fades when she sees me slumped in the chair next to Mateen’s bed.
“Did he have a bad night?” she whispers. Beautiful as always in a soft white sweater and flowing black pants, she takes a long sip from her to-go cup. The scent makes my mouth water.
“He did not have a single nightmare.” My spine cracks, loudly. Thankfully, Mateen doesn’t stir, and I brush a few curls from his forehead. “He woke up half a dozen times, though. The port in his chest itches him.”
“Pauvre bébé,”Noele says softly. “You should go to the apartment and sleep. I sent Maman and Papa on something called a ‘Duck Boat ride.’ They will be gone at least four hours.”
“What is a ‘Duck Boat ride’ and why would you send them anywhere but here?” Our parents have come to the hospital every day, and Mateen is starting to look forward to their visits.
