“Eres tú,” he whispered.
Surprised at his words—that wasn’t Arabic—she had a reckoning with the man before her. It was him. The man who hated Navas. The assassin! “Let go!”
“Release her!” A barked voice sent the large man rushing in the opposite direction. “Princess.”
Pulse thundering, legs weak, Leighton stumbled back against the wall and shuddered around a few, heaving breaths.
The man who’d intruded rushed to her in a thobe and ghutra. “Are you okay?”
She waved him off, but only then realized he was speaking English. She glanced up into gray eyes that churned with ferocity. Not like the violence of the Latino man. This man… “You’re American.” Hope leapt through her.
He cast a glance in both directions, then reached under his ghutra and touched his ear. When he withdrew his hand, he held a tiny device. “Put it in your ear.”
Warily, she stared at the thing. “Why…?”
He nodded to the earpiece. “Listen to him. We’re short on time.”
To him? Confused, she reached for it. Tucked it in her ear, listening, her gaze skidding around the narrow passage as a hiss echoed in her ear. “Hello?”
“Leighton.”
Oh sweet mercies. Her heart did a jagged dance in her chest. “Owen.” She straightened, her legs going to putty at the sound of his voice, and turned from the man. Put her face to the wall, fighting tears.
“I can’t be on the floor—they’d recognize me,” he said. “Omen’s in play. Pike thought you’d benefit from hearing from me. The team is working to get you out of there. Tonight.”
Her mind buzzed with his words. But then— “Bruzon’s here.”
“You saw him?” The question came from both Owen and the man before her, Pike.
“Just now.” But she recalled the room, the cups being wiped, and the way Bruzon stared hard at her. “I think he recognized me.”
Pike monitored both ends of the passage.
“Be ready,” Owen said. “When they bring out the cake—ask to use the bathroom again and be ready.”
“For what?”
“Incoming,” Pike muttered, wagging his hand at her.
“Have to go,” she said, reaching for the piece.
“I love you,” Owen said. “Be brave. I’ll see you soon.”
I love you. Had he really said that?
“Now!” Pike barked.
Leighton removed the piece. In her haste, she dropped it.
18
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Pike muttered an oath in the comms.
“What’s wrong?” Owen demanded. Seconds fell off the clock with the weight of iron. “Pike, what?—”
“It’s under control.”
