Page 120 of Lethal Threat

I’ve been such a headstrong fool when all he was trying to do was love and protect me.

When the front door opens on the driver’s side, I nearly throw up. This is it. It’s coming.

Whatever horrible fate they have planned for me is seconds away.

I can’t even breathe. But the truck rocks when the driver climbs in. A second later, the passenger follows and climbs into his seat.

The truck starts. Leather shifts as if someone is turning around to look at me. “Guess it’s your lucky day, Stinger. Or maybe it isn’t. Change of plans. You’re going to be worth more to us alive than dead right now.”

It’s the ringleader of the pair. The laughter that follows his words is utterly terrifying.

The man that grabbed me joins in. “Death can wait. It’s not going anywhere.”

Is it stupid of me to feel elated?

I’ve been given a few more minutes, at least. And if I have time… maybe, just maybe, I can get away.

It’s not much. But hope creeps in only to be dashed when I get jostled and my injured ribs make me sob.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

COLE

I stare through binoculars at the cluster of men coming and going from the warehouse. Unloading boxes. This has been going on a while. I relay what I’m seeing. “There are four total.”

“Breathe, man.” Simona tosses an ink pen at me from the passenger seat. “You’re gonna pop an aneurysm if you don’t get that under control.”

I clench my teeth against the overwhelming urge to scream my fucking head off at the woman.

She’s right. I know I need to breathe. I’m a highly trained Pararescuer. I know the importance of emotional control. It’s just never been this hard for me before.

Twenty years of high stakes missions and I’ve never been wired so tight. The woman I love has never been held by deranged maniacs before.

And the men in that building aren’t just everyday criminals. They are trained killers that know the most brutal torture methods known to humankind.

Army Rangers.

Corrupt special forces operators.

I’m smart enough to know doing this wrong could get Sierra killed. Doing this right means we get a chance to start over.

Simona touches my arm, then pretty much reads my mind. “They aren’t torturing her. No way they’d do it in broad daylight. Too many people around this complex. Everyone would hear.”

I blow out a hard breath, that sticks in my lungs like it has barbs. “I just pray you’re right. I thought the same thing, but they could have a basement in there. Bad shit happens in basements right under people’s noses.”

“Roark reviewed the building permits. It doesn’t look like there are any official basements.”

We both know that there are plenty of unofficial basements and rat infested holes in the ground. This thought makes a low growl rumble through me.

I can’t think like that.

She tips up a water bottle and sips. Casual. Totally relaxed. Who is this woman?

“Take it easy, Cole. Save your energy. As soon as it’s dark, we’ll move.”

Glancing at the sun, I curse, “Fuck. That’s too long.”

“One hour.” She tugs the binos from my hands. “Then we’ll get your girl and make these Army boys wish they’d never been born.”