Relentless (Option Zero 2)

“Good,” Jazz answered, her relief evident. “They’re about to load them onto the bus.”

As he headed around to the back of the building where the victims were being helped, he couldn’t help but appreciate his OZ partners. Not one of them believed he’d ever find who he was looking for, but they were always willing to go the extra mile for him.

With every step he took, he felt as if this time…this time would be different. This time he would finally find her.

He rounded a corner and took in the scene. Two large vans, doors open, were parked parallel to the motel. Several aid workers milled around. The victims were easy to spot. Not because of their lack of clothing or anything materialistic. It was the expressions on their faces. The desolation in their eyes. Yes, they had been rescued and life could begin again for them, but it would take years, even a lifetime, to overcome what they’d been through.

Liam entered the area slowly, not wanting to alarm anyone. The aid workers were easy to spot, too—calmness in the midst of chaos, compassion in their eyes.

As relieved as he was that this had been another successful rescue, he couldn’t deny the normal disappointment. He should be used to it by now. She wasn’t here. None of the women fit Cat’s description. And in the deepest, darkest part of his soul, he knew none of them ever would.

How many times had this very same scenario occurred? How many times would he experience the same crushing disappointment before he finally accepted the truth?

He didn’t know—he knew only that he couldn’t give up. Not yet.

The scene one he’d seen all too often, he turned to leave. He’d done his job. People were rescued, lives were saved. The traffickers would be picked up by local authorities and hopefully never released. He would have to be happy with that.

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted one anomaly. A young woman stood several yards away from everyone. Instead of offering aid to the victims, she was speaking into what looked like a handheld recorder. Every minute or so, she’d jot something on a notepad and then would occasionally wipe her eyes of what he assumed were tears.

He didn’t know how long he stood there, watching. As if she knew she was being watched, she jerked her head up and met his gaze for a brief, electrifying moment. Her eyes, a blend of light blue and electric gray, mesmerized.

She gave him an odd, cautious look and then went back to taking notes.

He was so distracted he didn’t even notice that Eve had come to stand beside him until she said, “Damn fine work and I didn’t even fire a shot.”

“Glad you were there to back us up.”

She winced at his raspy voice. “You sound like a geriatric bullfrog. Heard you got gassed.”

“Yeah, something like that. Some kind of modified smoke grenade. Burned like hell.”

“You need to get that checked out. You sound awful.”

“Yeah, I will.” He coughed and tried to clear his throat without much success. “Stupid of me.”

“We’ve all done the stupid.”

He nodded toward the group of workers. “You’ve worked with this relief agency before?”

“Yes, a couple of times. They’re one of the finest on the planet.”

He directed his gaze to the young woman talking on her recorder. “Know who she is?”

“No. Must be new. I recognize everyone else.” She sent him a speculative look. “Any particular reason you want to know?”

“Just wondering. She doesn’t appear to be part of the group. She’s been taking notes and talking into that recorder for a while.”

“I’ll find out.”

Liam thought about stopping her. It wasn’t as if it mattered who she was. He didn’t do long-distance relationships. The aid team was based in Kosovo. He lived in the US. It would never work.

Despite telling himself that, he watched in anticipation as Eve spoke with one of the aid workers. She was back within a minute.

“She’s not with the relief group. She’s making a documentary about human trafficking. Want an introduction?”

Shaking his head, Liam headed toward the woman. Stopping for a moment to consider his appearance never entered his mind.

When he was about five feet from her, she jerked her head up again, like a wild animal sensing danger. Her wariness intrigued him even more.