Toxic Game (GhostWalkers 15)

Faisal sat for a long time, and then he reached up and rubbed his eyes. “I can’t believe I helped them.” He nodded abruptly. “Hidden behind the first drawer in this desk is another drawer. I have copies of their IDs still there. You can take them out and examine them. I was going to destroy them but hadn’t yet. I keep them for a couple of weeks to make certain they are clear.”

“Thank you, Faisal. We’ll leave you with enough money—”

Faisal shook his head. “I don’t want money for this. It is a betrayal, and yet at the same time, it is what any man should do for his people. Take the IDs and go.”

In his eyes, they could see he expected to die right there. Draden moved behind him to cover Shylah while she went to the drawer, putting herself in danger. The moment she recovered the information and altered photographs needed, she backed toward the door. Draden waited until she was clear.

“Thank you.” He didn’t insult the man by throwing the money on the desk. “The authorities will never know about you from us,” he reassured and softly closed the door.

Even knowing Diego had a clear shot if the man made a threat toward them, Draden had to glance back through the window. Faisal had his head down on the desk.

18

Much to the annoyance of the GhostWalker crew, Trap lent his private luxury jet to Draden and Shylah for what he called their honeymoon flight. Draden didn’t feel too sorry for the rest of his unit because Trap turned around and rented another luxury jet to fly the team back to the States. They would meet at the Mississippi airport where Whitney’s three scientists had flown. They were also getting a U.S. military escort until they were out of Indonesian airspace.

Great identity forgeries took time, and the Williams brothers and Agus Orucov had used that time to try to come up with answers as to why Shylah’s immune system fought off viruses so efficiently. By waiting for their new identities, the three virologists had been slowed down and couldn’t leave the country, giving Draden and Shylah time to fight off the virus, leaving them only a step or two behind their quarry.

As Draden and Shylah approached the jet, she nudged his shoulder. We’re surrounded by men with guns. Are they protecting us? Or making certain we board the plane?

They’re making certain we get out of here without incident, sweetheart.

Both were armed. No one had searched them for weapons. Draden had the feeling the Indonesian soldiers wanted them gone as much as the American soldiers wanted them out of Sumatra. It was a little nerve-wracking to walk up the steps, feeling as if dozens of eyes—and maybe guns—were pointed right between their shoulder blades.

Once inside, Draden forgot all about the security measures outside of the jet. He even felt a little sorry for the rest of his team. He tugged on Shylah’s hand, drawing her into the cavernous and very opulent interior. “This is the way my good friend Trap travels.”

A male flight attendant who looked as if he could handle himself in a fight greeted them with a smile. “I’m Greg,” he introduced himself. “Let me show you around. There are five cabin zones,” he announced, indicating the interior of the spacious jet.

“As you can see each zone is very large and comes equipped with leather couches and very comfortable chairs. Dining is easy on the cherrywood table.” He indicated a small intimate table set between two luxurious-looking chairs. “There is a larger table as well, of course. There is a bathroom right here.” He opened the doors to a spacious modern bathroom.

Shylah and Draden exchanged silly grins. His fingers tightened around hers.

“I understand you’re on your honeymoon. The master suite is ready for you.” He threw open the door to a large cabin. The room looked like something out of a magazine. The bed dominated the room, a large queen-size with gleaming gold on the headboard. Gold trimmed the walls. Drawers lined the room leading to the master bathroom.

Knowing Trap, there’s probably all kinds of things we don’t want to know about in those drawers.

There were several presents sitting in the middle of the bed. Greg walked over and placed them in the drawers. “Your friends sent a few gifts for you. I’ll stow them in here for you to look at after takeoff or when it’s most convenient.”

“That’s so sweet of them,” Shylah said.

Draden couldn’t keep a straight face. “Those are potential bombs, baby,” he whispered. “Those men are not sweet. Not one of them. It’s best to leave them locked in those drawers.”

She laughed, the sound like music, filling the cabin. Draden couldn’t help noticing that Greg glanced at her. She looked happy, her face lit up, her eyes dancing with mischief.

“I’ll protect you,” she whispered back.

Draden smirked. If he knew anything about his crew, she was the one who would be in need of protection.

“This bathroom has its own walk-in shower,” Greg said, throwing open the door.

That’s bigger than our private ones at the compound, Shylah whispered into his mind.

“Let me show you the intercom. I’ll leave you alone, so you can have complete privacy, but if you need anything at all, just intercom me,” Greg said. “We’re about to take off, so if you would please find a seat so we can get into the air, they want us off the ground as soon as possible.”

“Thanks,” Draden answered. He knew Joe had orders to get them out of Indonesia immediately. It was best not to tempt anyone to try to acquire either of them.

He led Shylah back to the middle of the cabin to get seated for takeoff. The carpet was thick and a pristine white with darker ivory tones through it. He wanted to smile, knowing Trap hadn’t picked out the colors. He would have waved his hand around and refused to participate in choosing anything but the jet itself. Most likely his assistant, Daryl Monroe, had purchased the jet and outfitted it for his boss. Draden was positive that Trap was one of the few in the military with his own private army of assistants. Gino Mazza had them as well. Draden and Shylah strapped themselves in under Greg’s watchful eye.

“Can I bring you a cocktail? Champagne?”

“We’re good.” The bar was in plain sight. “We’ll serve ourselves until we’re hungry,” Draden assured him. “We’re ready for takeoff.”

Greg nodded and left them, firmly closing the door to the upper cabin. The engines were already rumbling, and the jet began to move slowly to take its position on the runway. Shylah’s smile was a little bit mischievous.

“I just want to take my shoes off and bury my toes in that carpet.”

“There’s no reason why you can’t,” Draden pointed out.

“I’ll wait until we’re in the air and out of Indonesian airspace,” Shylah said. “Just to be on the safe side.”

He looked around the spacious cabin, one zone flowing into the next other than the secluded master bedroom. “You realize we have about nine hours, maybe a little less. I think I can fuck you in every space. The big dining table, the chairs. The sofa …”

“Bed,” she added promptly.

He shrugged. “I suppose, but I don’t want you to get the idea we’re going to be sleeping.”

“How do you propose to stay um … erect for this marathon of sex?”

“Your mouth. You have this beautiful mouth made for sex.”

Her smile widened. “I’m glad you noticed. Are you certain you don’t want me to use it right now, while you’re rising into the air? You’re looking a little … needy.”

He could almost feel the stroke of her tongue on his cock the way she was looking at him, as if she were more than eager to devour him.

“You’re just going to have to wait, sweetheart. Sadly, I’ve got to consider your safety above my own pleasure.”

Her little snort of derision teased along his spine. Draden couldn’t imagine what his life would be like without her now. The simplest thing, like buckling the seat belt of a plane and taking off with her, was an adventure. Fun. Sexy. He found he looked forward to every waking minute, so much so that he fought sleep, so he could

just stare down into her face. He had gone through what should have been the worst experience of his life, but somehow, because of Shylah, it was the best.

Once in the air, the plane’s seat belt sign went off. The cabin lights dimmed, giving the room a soft glow. He was the first to remove his seat belt with the intention of removing her shoes for her.