Their Masquerade (The American Soldier Collection 6)

“Is Mariah with them?” he asked and Sandman nodded his head. “Yes. We’re going to get to her, and we’re going to bring this fucker down.” They walked into the other room, and Randy was there. Axel was pulling him inside from the window. They were three stories high.

“What the fuck is going on in here?” he asked.

“I was just seeing if Randy, here, wanted to learn how to fly,” Axel said as he shoved Randy down onto a chair. One look at the man’s disheveled clothing and pee stains on his crotch and L.T. couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Well, what did you find out?”

“Oh, the location of the arms being sold to a known terrorist group. An agent is on that now. The money exchange through international bank accounts. An agent is on that one, too, and where Armando is holding Mariah.”

“Oh, I was going to say that I’m impressed, but I thought this asshole would have told you who DeLacruz is. It would be nice to put this entire mess behind us after we catch Armando and Manchenso and lock them up for the rest of their lives,” L.T. teased.

“You’ll never figure out who DeLacruz is. Your woman is done, gone. By this time, she’s out of the country,” Randy yelled, and Axel elbowed him in the jaw.

Randy fell to the floor and agents cuffed him and brought him out of the room.

“Impressive, bro,” Deacon told Axel.

“We have a location on Armando and Manchenso. Mariah is with them. Come on. You can tell us more on the way to this asshole’s hideout,” L.T. said and Quentin chuckled.

“You did great, Axel. Let’s go get our woman and bring her home,” Quentin said and they headed out of the room with Sandman and a cavalry of agents and officers.

* * * *

Mariah sat there in astonishment. Her head felt funny, her eyes still trying to adjust to the light. She was propped up in a chair, and she could hear the conversation going on in front of her. Armando was talking on the phone.

“So we lose the deal, the company. Who cares, Manchenso? Just do as I say and get out of there now. No, she comes with me. That’s why having an alias is so great. I’m leaving for the airport,” he said as he continued to pull items from a drawer and place them into a briefcase. There were bags packed and then two men entered, took the bags, and headed out of the room. He turned to her.

“Ahh, you’re awake. I have some rules to go over with you. I expect complete cooperation as we head out of this building and to the car. When we board the plane, you’d better remain civilized and act as if you want to be there.”

“Fuck you. I don’t want to be here. I’m not going anywhere with you.”

He was in front of her in a flash. He pulled her up by her blouse, ripping the material. His hold was firm, but his eyes, his eyes were as dark and scary as any eyes she’d ever looked into. She couldn’t help but think they were the eyes of a killer.

“You will listen. You’re mine. You are part of the deal I made.”

“That deal is over. Randy has been caught.”

“But I have you. You’re the key to this entire operation.”

He slowly released her blouse and stared at her body.

“You will do as I say.”

“Or else what?” she replied.

“Those men you allowed to fuck you last night? They’ll die. One phone call and they’re dead.”

Her eyes widened, and suddenly she didn’t feel the side effects of the needle they’d given her earlier.

“You can’t get to them. They’re better than you. In fact, I’m sure they’re on their way here, and they’re going to catch you and kill you, and then they’ll kill Eduardo DeLacruz.”

His eyes darkened and he smiled as he reached into the briefcase. She saw the gun strung into a holster on his back. Could she get to it? Could she pull it from his holster and use it on him before he retaliated? Her brother had taught her so much, but self-defense was one thing, disarming a killer another.

He pulled an envelope from his case.

“Perhaps this will prove to you how serious I am.”

“I’m not going with you.” She stood up and the slap to her face came swiftly and hard to her cheekbone. She gasped, grabbing her cheek, feeling the tears roll down her cheeks. The pain radiated under her skin, through her jawbone and into her neck.