Page 51 of Fatal Intent

Sean White looked from one operative to another. “What’s this about my father?”

Iona folded her arms. “Your father arrived at the compound with five bodyguards in tow and a boatload of money to buy your freedom.”

Tara gasped. “Oh, no. What happened?”

“About what you’d expect,” Seth said. “The cartel stole the money and took out four of the bodyguards. Gerald and his remaining bodyguard are on the run in the rainforest with soldiers hot on their trail. They’re heading in this direction.”

“We have to help them. We can’t leave them to face the cartel alone.”

He turned to the operatives. “You heard the boss. I need two volunteers to intercept and provide help.”

“I’ll go,” Grant said. He had a few more bombs left that might even the odds.

“I’ll go with Grant,” Rayne said and handed Jenna to Iona.

Seth gave a curt nod. “Thanks for stepping up. Z is tracking White and the bodyguard. He sent all of us the link to intercept.”

Grant turned to Rayne. “Ready?”

She nodded.

“Let’s go rescue a billionaire.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

RAYNE HOISTED HERGo bag and slid it onto her shoulders. She followed Grant through the rainforest, quartering the area as she ran. No sign so far of the cartel soldiers or of White and his bodyguard.

As they ran through the early morning in the jungle's heart, high humidity made breathing a chore. On and on they ran until they’d covered at least a mile.

Three hundred yards later, Grant held up a fist.

Rayne froze. What did he hear or see? A beat later, the sounds of breaking branches and muffled swearing in English reached her ears. Sounded like their quarry wasn’t far in front of them.

Grant signaled her to go right. He went left. Merging with the shadows, he blended in with the foliage and trees.

Following his lead, Rayne picked her way through heavy ground cover until she reached a stand of trees. She waited to see who passed her position. Was it White and his bodyguard or one of the cartel soldiers who spoke English?

Minutes later, a man with a muscular build, no neck, dressed similar to her and Grant, and sporting a bald head plowed through bushes, his hand wrapped the upper arm of an older man stumbling through the jungle dressed in a business suit that was the worse for wear.

Had to be White and his bodyguard. No one who lived in this area would wear a power suit in a jungle in the middle of thenight. Rayne’s lips curved. Wonder how quickly White’s tactics landed him in a world of trouble with Los Lobos?

Grant stepped into the path of the two men.

The bodyguard raised his weapon and aimed it at Grant.

Rayne shook her head as she stepped from the shadow of the trees. If Grant had been out to kill them, the men would have already been dead.

Grant raised his hands, palms out. “Relax. Martin sent us.”

“Us?” The bodyguard maintained his hold on his weapon which was aimed at Grant’s chest.

Grant tipped his head in her direction. “My partner, Rayne. I’m Grant.”

“Trevor.”

“What about my family?” White demanded. “We have to go back.” He glared at the bodyguard. “This idiot won’t take me back to the compound. I have to free my son and his family. My grandchildren are in that horrible place.”

“Your family is with my teammates.”