“But you have a map.”
“Yessir.”
“Okay, then,” Black said. “Here’s the deal.”
The CO rattled off time, map coordinates, the name and location of a mountain to cross. There was a stretch of empty beach on the other side of that mountain where they’d be picked up.
“Yessir,” Dec said. “One more mountain, then a beach, then extraction.”
“Yeah. I wish we could get you out without sending you up that mountain, but you’re on disputed turf. Bad enough, but sending in a couple of heavily armed birds—Washington says no.”
“Understood.”
“Also, the weatherman says you’re in for high winds later today. Maintain a steady pace, you should be over the mountain by then.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
“Sanchez. You have an interesting assortment of motherfuckers who’d like to get their hands on you.”
“Yessir.”
“Intel says you’ve done a good job of losing most of them.”
“Good to hear.”
“Altair Amjad’s the one you’ll have to watch out for. He’s smart, he’s hot on your trail, and he wants what you have.”
Damn right he did. He wanted Annie.
“In other words, he’s pissed off, Sanchez. You are not his favorite person.”
Dec knew exactly what that meant. No way could the terrorist survive the humiliation of being outfoxed by one STUD operative, especially when it had cost him his very special prize.
“Sir,” Declan said. “About the princess…”
“Yes?”
“I have information you don’t have.”
“It can wait.”
“Captain. You should hear this now, sir.”
“Sanchez. There’s no way of knowing what the enemy might be picking up. And if you want to make it to the extraction point on time…”
“Yessir. I understand. But at least you need to know that the princess does not want to return to Qaram.” Annie took his hand and squeezed it. “She must not return to Qaram, sir. The situation there is not what we were led to believe.” Annie squeezed his hand again. “Captain. She can’t be sent back.”
“Understood.”
“Sir. I’m just trying to clarify—”
“Clarify getting your ass out of there immediately,” Black said brusquely.
Dec swallowed hard. “Aye aye, sir.”
“Remember your duty, Lieutenant.”
The satphone went silent. Dec thought about Black’s last comment. What the hell was that all about? When had he ever not remembered his duty?