Page 5 of Fatal Thrill

“Relationships are challenging, but not impossible,” Hunter chimedin.

Jon resumed his spot near Bells and Nyx, watching the hut through his night-vision binoculars. “Says the guy getting married in a few days. Is there anything you’renotgoodat?”

“Macrame,” Hunter answered without missing a beat and with total sincerity. “My grandmother tried to teach me when I was a kid, but my plant hangers always turned into balls of yarn that looked like alienspaceships.”

Jon canted a glance at Colton. Bells just shook hishead.

I’m thirty years old and the only woman I’ve ever felt this way about is out of reach.Jaya deserved someone solid, respectable, and supportive. Not someone who hid in the shadows and could never tell her about his job, his life. A man who fought depression on a regular basis and was covered with scars inside and out. She needed someone by her side she could be proud of, who could walk into any party with her and not receive looks of fear or disgust. Not only did Jon have issues, as soon as anyone found out who his dad was, it was gameover.

“I’ve got movement.” Hunter’s voice, now serious, dropped a notch. “One tango emerging from back door, lighting acigarette.”

In his mind, Jon saw Hunter tightening his hold on his smart rifle, body tensing ever so slightly, ready to go. Next to Jon, the air around Bells changed too, kicking up adegree.

It was time to shift this mission into high gear. “I’ll entice the second one to come out front,” Jon said. He looked at Bells. “As soon as Tango Two emerges, you’reon.”

“Copy that,” both Hunter and Bells said at the same time. Hunter would take out the backdoor kidnapper, Bells thefront.

It was time for Jon to leave his hiding spot. Producing a set of firecrackers from his vest, he headed for the bottom of the hill to start the distraction party. They would make just enough unusual noise to bring the second kidnapper out to see what was goingon.

By his calculations, they’d have this wrapped up and be back in the States by 0400 hours. Beatrice would expect his full report once he’d had a shower. He prayed she’d have another job to keep his mind off the fact he had no chance with Jaya. No chance at true happiness. His long, lonely life stretched out in front of him. Numbness, nohope…

Pushing the depressing thoughts aside, he gave Nyx the command to stay with Bells, then snuck down the hill to take his place at the bottom of thehill.

He gave Hunter and Bells the signal, then set off thefireworks.