“That time you went to the emergency room. A warrant was issued for Harry. When I heard about it, I kicked Harry’s ass and hauled him in. But you dropped the charges.”
“I dropped the charges when Harry agreed to grant me a divorce and stay away.”
Rocco reached for her hands, held theminhis. “God, Gena, I know there’s more. And if I had realized—”
“If, if, if. We can’t go back.”
He watched as she pulled the blanket closer around her. “Come here. You’re exhausted.”
Gena stood and moved closer. “Rocco—”
He shifted her onto his lap and kissed her forehead. “I never stopped loving you, Gena. Ever.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “And I’ve always loved you, too.”
Richmond, Virginia
October 6, 5:00 A.M.
I am not Taz.
I am Logan.
Mission incomplete.
Logan dug the ice pick more deeply into his thigh but got little relief. Erin was right. He needed to do something different.
When she had told him about the data chips earlier, the pain had spiked worse than ever. But in that moment of extreme agony, he’d had a breakthrough.
He’d remembered.
Everything.
Right now he could count the data chips inside his abdomen and beneath the muscles in his thighs. He also recalled Rufin’s instructions.
“Find me. Save me. Or Bettina dies. She is with me.”
Bettina.
Those bastards had stolen Taz’s sweetest memory of love. And then they had invented others. Imaginary
brothers. Fictional sisters. Children he’d dreamed of but never had.
But Bettina had been real. And she had loved him like no other.
“I’ll wait for you, however long it takes. I intend to be Mrs. Logan Treyhorn.”
He’d had that inscribed on her tombstone. Bettina had died from pneumonia. Logan had been on a mission when she’d taken ill. By the time he’d reached the hospital, she’d been on life support for seven days.
“I’ll wait for you.”
He’d sat beside her bed, holding her hand, begging her to get better. “I’ll never leave you again,” he had said.
Bettina had died a few hours later. And his life had sucked ever since.
“Pull over here.” Logan’s voice was hoarse. “We’ll get gas.”
“We just stopped.” Erin’s voice was gentle.
He knew she wondered if he was losing it. Actually, he’d found it.
Now that Taz knew about the data chips, it all made sense. Rufin had felt trapped, had expected to be killed. Hell, part of Logan still wanted to find Rufin, just to fulfill that expectation.
But a bigger part realized the danger he was now in. People would slaughter him to get the data.
“Pull up at the pump,” Logan said. “I’ll top the tank off anyway.”
When Erin shut off the engine, Logan held out his hands for the keys, but instead of taking them, he grasped her hand.
“Thank you for telling me the truth. About Rufin.” Logan took a deep breath, struggling to hold back the pain. “When I was with Dr. Winchette, I saw his
thoughts before he died. A man’s life doesn’t flash before his eyes, only his regrets. Winchette had many. He felt guilty for not warning your father. Winchette worried he’d be murdered, too, and kept copies of all his records on a hard drive. It’s in a bank box in Springfield. Number 803 is all I got.”
Erin blinked back tears. “Now I need to thank you.”
“For what it’s worth, Winchette regretted deceiving you, too. And he planned to take his own life if anyone tried to force him to take action against you.” Logan grimaced and dug the ice pick in more deeply, seeking a few additional minutes of relief.
Erin shifted her hand, gripping his more tightly, and he wondered when their grasp had changed. She held him now.
He also noticed there were different cars at the gas pumps. He’d been talking, unaware of time or even what all he’d said.
No matter. He tugged his hand free of hers. “Go inside and pay for the gas. Then call Hades … Max. Tell him I remember. And tell him where you are.”
“Please don’t leave! I can help you, Logan. Max will help you, too.”
Logan.
Mission incomplete
.
Logan could feel the insanity inside his skull frantically changing tracks as it tried to take over again. He knew he couldn’t fight it much longer.
He panted through the pain. “I’m not leaving, Erin. Just go. Pay for the gas, then use the phone at the back of the store.”
Delving into Erin’s thoughts one last time, he read her indecision. Her concern for him was genuine. She wanted to help him.
Suddenly desperate, Logan opened fully to her and let himself feel the power of her caring. Her innate goodness. And her total love for Max. The same love Logan had once shared with Bettina.
Dropping his defenses and opening to Erin allowed Max to charge into Logan’s thoughts.
She’s mine! If you harm her, I’ll destroy you.
Logan opened his car door. “Go on,” he said to Erin. “Pay for the gas and call Max.”
As she hurried inside the store, Logan moved to the back of the car and began to loosen the gas cap. He watched Erin pause at the counter to prepay before moving toward the phone near the coolers.
She’s calling you now, mate.
Taz projected the message to Max.
I let her go.
The sense of relief Logan received in return was profound.
You’re doing the right thing,
Max replied.
We can help you.
I’m beyond help.
Not true. Erin will fix you. She fixed me.
But the chips, mate. No one can be trusted with them. The stuff they did to us should never happen again.
Logan lifted the gas pump nozzle and flipped the lever. Then he doused himself with gasoline.
Don’t do it!
Max’s voice reverberated in his head.
Erin, stay back!
She’s a keeper,
Logan thought.
Don’t be a fool like me and lose her.
Bettina had asked Logan to stay, but at his hesitation, she’d withdrawn her request.
“Pay no attention to me, love. I know you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Just hurry back to me.”
Logan walked away from the car and withdrew the
Zippo lighter from his pocket, feeling free for the first time in years.
“I’m coming, Bettina.”
Logan flicked the lighter and felt the wonderful ease of relief as his clothes and skin began to burn.
Minh Tran’s Compound, Thailand
October 6, 9:00 A.M.
Maddy was in the formal dining room, waiting for Minh Tran to join her for breakfast. Dreading it actually. What would she do if he made any advances?
She’d been drugged last night with a powerful sedative. This morning Sunlee had woken her early for a bath. Afterward Maddy had been given a gauzy pantsuit and heels to wear.
“I can’t wear this,” she’d protested. “It’s practically see-through.”
“It is important you please Master Tran,” Sunlee had insisted. “It is important I please him as well.”
That Sunlee was simply following orders made it no easier for Maddy to walk down the staircase. One guard stood near the front door but he’d ignored them. She’d been relieved that the dining room was deserted and prayed that Minh Tran would oversleep.
Now all hell broke loose. The early morning quiet was decimated by ringing phones and harsh alarms.
People started shouting. Maddy didn’t understand their words, but total pandemonium transcended language.
The house came alive with frantic activity. A half dozen of Minh Tran’s guards ran down the hall, toward the front entrance, as household staff ducked out of their way.
Sunlee had risen from the table and stepped outside the room to speak with one of the guards. When she returned, she was pale and visibly upset. “We go back to room. Now.”
Maddy stood. “Sunlee, what is wrong?”
“Upstairs. Quickly!”
In the hall, two guards stood before a recessed cabinet handing out compact submachine guns and ammo clips to other guards who seemed to stream out of the woodwork, but no one gave the two women a second glance.
From outside came the sounds of a helicopter— no, multiple helicopters—circling close.
The compound was under siege.
Maddy’s hopes soared. They were coming for her. Travis hadn’t let them forsake her.
Sunlee tugged Maddy’s forearm. “Come.”
They swept up the wide staircase as several more guards rushed down. The second-floor landing was deserted as they hurried toward the bedroom Maddy had been assigned.
Inside the room, Sunlee went to answer the ringing telephone. Maddy moved to the window and shoved the drapes aside, wanting to give her rescuers a clear glimpse of where she was being held.
But the three helicopters parked on the estate’s sprawling lawn were all painted flat black except for
the crimson red three-headed dragon stenciled near the tail rotor.
These were Tran’s own helicopters and his heavily armed men scrambled to get inside two of them. Another group of men headed for the third chopper. In their midst was Minh Tran himself.
That Tran was leaving was a good sign, right?
Sunlee grabbed Maddy’s arm and dragged her away from the window.
“What is wrong?” Maddy hid her elation by pretending to be frightened. “Are we under attack?”
Sunlee made a dismissive clicking sound with her tongue. “Here? Never! One of Master Tran’s enemies raided a warehouse. They will be dealt with harshly.”
The news deflated Maddy so swiftly she stumbled.
This wasn’t about her! She wasn’t being rescued. No one was coming for her.
Ever.
The thought of remaining Minh Tran’s prisoner was intolerable. But if she wanted to escape this situation, she’d have to take matters into her own hands.
Outside the helicopters lifted off, one at a time.
“Your master must have a powerful enemy. He took a lot of men with him.” Maddy shivered and put her hands protectively over her stomach. “Are we safe?”
“Jengho Vato is more stupid than powerful. Master Tran will destroy him this time.” Sunlee crossed the room and began to fold back the covers of the bed. “Do not worry. By the time you wake up, it will be over.” Clearly, Sunlee intended to sedate her again.
Maddy moved closer to the bed. “May I remove this outfit before I lie down?”
Sunlee nodded and turned away to withdraw a syringe.
It’s now or never.
Maddy grabbed her from behind,
slipping one hand over Sunlee’s mouth, while snatching the syringe with her other hand. Then she swept Sunlee’s legs out from under her, taking her to the ground.
Maddy had the advantage of surprise and size, outweighing Sunlee by twenty pounds. It helped that Sunlee had bought into the notion of Maddy as a frightened wimp.
But Sunlee’s strength wasn’t dependent on size. She struggled, nearly bucking Maddy off her back. Maddy held tight, using her teeth to uncap the syringe before jamming the needle into Sunlee’s neck.
Sunlee bit her hand and Maddy bit her own tongue to keep from howling with pain. Almost immediately, Sunlee’s struggles slowed.
“Fast acting, isn’t it?” Maddy whispered. “It took me down in less than a minute last night.”
She remained on top of Sunlee until the woman’s body went totally limp. Then Maddy sprang up and carefully peeked out the window. The grounds appeared deserted now, the house eerily quiet.
She moved to the opposite window, to survey the back of the house. There were a large vegetable garden and some small outbuildings. A chain-link fence separated Tran’s property from the jungle beyond. The jungle was her best bet for hiding.
After moving to the door, Maddy cracked it open and peered out. The hall was deserted but she knew it was unlikely Tran had left the place unguarded. He also had housekeeping staff, whom Sunlee had mentioned used the back staircase.
She slipped off her heels and carried them as she flew down the hall. Dress shoes weren’t the best choice for an escape, but they were all she had.
Maddy crept down the stairs, trying to be as quiet as she could. If she was caught—
I won’t be!
At the bottom landing were two doors. Ignoring the one that led to the kitchen, she unlocked the other and stepped into the morning sun. Too late, she spotted the cameras mounted under the eaves.
Just go!
She ran for the closest section of fence and tossed her shoes over, then began to climb it, barefoot. The chain link sagged near the top, causing her to lose her balance. She wrapped her fingers around the wire as the fence started to sway.
She heard the bark of a dog and glanced over her shoulder. A large black and tan Doberman raced toward her, teeth bared.
Terrified of what the beast would do if it caught her, Maddy pushed up and threw a leg over the top. The sharp tips of the fence tore through her clothes and ripped her flesh.
The Doberman had reached the fence now and leaped straight up, snapping his jaws. She kicked as hard as she could, catching the dog’s ribs. The dog sailed backward and hit the ground with a yelp but immediately bounced up and launched into a more vigorous attack.
The dog jumped again. And this time, he latched on to Maddy’s foot.
Luc Skihawtra hadn’t expected a second uproar at Minh Tran’s compound. At least not yet.
Just before sunrise, while the guards ate breakfast in the kitchen, Luc had diverted the power to the section of fence at the back of Tran’s compound. Then he’d made a vertical cut in the chain links behind the gardener’s shed and slipped inside.
The crowded shed held yard tools and reeked of oil, gas, and chemicals. Keeping the grounds from reverting to jungle was a full-time job.
At nine A.M., the place went wild. Three helicopters swooped in and landed on the compound’s neatly manicured lawn. Luc had a perfect view from one of the shed’s dirty windows.
Travis Franks had promised to create a diversion and indeed it appeared he had.