Read Online Marked (Hostage Rescue Team Series) by Kaylea Cross - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kaylea Cross
Ads: Link
contracting world. Word is he’s FBI now.”
What? “That’s impossible,” he rasped, a sick feeling taking hold in his stomach. The security cameras would have picked him up from time to time as he moved through the building. Though he’d worn gloves, he’d no doubt left some DNA behind in her room, and with the underwear thing they’d be even more motivated to find him. Shit.
The man grunted in irritation. “Get out of there and disappear, but keep this line open and available. I’ve put my personal reputation on the line by recommending you for this op—you’d better do everything in your power not to ruin it.”
Or else .
Xang heard the unspoken threat in those words and had no doubt it was real. One misstep and he was as good as dead, no matter how fancy he was with computers or how careful he was with his field craft. In the cell, there was always someone they could replace him with. His gaze shot to the full length windows, to the view he’d been admiring moments ago. There could be men down there hunting him right now, ready to take him out because of what he knew.
A ripple of trepidation shivered up his spine. He couldn’t be taken or killed yet. Not now.
He moved back from the window, suddenly feeling paranoid. “I’m on it.”
Xang hung up and ran a hand through his hair, frantically going over his options. No doubt about it—he was being hunted. He needed time to clear out of here and erase his tracks before either a hit team or law enforcement officials closed in on him.
At this point his only real chance of survival, let alone living long enough to collect his money at the end of this op and put his next plan into action, was to get himself some collateral. Lucky for him, he knew just where to find some.
But instead of going after it, he would bring the collateral to him.
Reassured by the feel of his weapon stuffed into the back of his waistband and the weight of the knife strapped to his calf beneath the leg of his jeans, he fished his personal cell out of his pocket once again and dialed Brandon, who answered on the first ring.
This plan would work. It had to. “Hey, I feel bad about your sister, especially now that I know she was in an accident.” He paused, sighed for effect. “Are you on your way to her place?”
“No, she just called again and I’m meeting her somewhere else now, why?”
“Because…you’re right. I took the files, and I’m sorry.”
Brandon made a sound of outrage. “Tim, why the hell would you—”
He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. This was almost too easy. “Meet me at the diner on the corner now and you can take them to her.”
Chapter Four
Out in the parking lot in his truck, Jake kept his eye on Rachel. She was seated at a window booth, waiting for her brother to show up at the restaurant they’d chosen, after she’d changed the meeting location. Having seen the state of her bedroom, there was no way in hell Jake was letting her stay in her building a second longer. The team was still going through her condo, but hadn’t turned up anything new yet. Others had begun the hunt for Xang. With any luck, they’d have him in custody by nightfall.
For now, Jake needed peace of mind.
He dialed his roommate, Tuck, who picked up on the third ring with a drawled, “What’s up, farmboy? You meet up with your mystery girl yet?”
Normally the dig at his Iowa roots amused him, but he was in anything but a happy mood at the moment. He knew Tuck and Bauer were curious about Rachel, since he’d dropped everything to rush out and meet her this morning. “Yeah, and I’ve got a bit of a situation.”
Tuck hooted. “That was fast. Serves you right for ditching us for a chick. You’re missin’ out on some gorgeous conditions, by the way—we’re just about to hit our first trail.”
Jake had originally planned to go dirt biking with them, right up until the moment he’d seen that e-mail from Rachel.
What? “That’s impossible,” he rasped, a sick feeling taking hold in his stomach. The security cameras would have picked him up from time to time as he moved through the building. Though he’d worn gloves, he’d no doubt left some DNA behind in her room, and with the underwear thing they’d be even more motivated to find him. Shit.
The man grunted in irritation. “Get out of there and disappear, but keep this line open and available. I’ve put my personal reputation on the line by recommending you for this op—you’d better do everything in your power not to ruin it.”
Or else .
Xang heard the unspoken threat in those words and had no doubt it was real. One misstep and he was as good as dead, no matter how fancy he was with computers or how careful he was with his field craft. In the cell, there was always someone they could replace him with. His gaze shot to the full length windows, to the view he’d been admiring moments ago. There could be men down there hunting him right now, ready to take him out because of what he knew.
A ripple of trepidation shivered up his spine. He couldn’t be taken or killed yet. Not now.
He moved back from the window, suddenly feeling paranoid. “I’m on it.”
Xang hung up and ran a hand through his hair, frantically going over his options. No doubt about it—he was being hunted. He needed time to clear out of here and erase his tracks before either a hit team or law enforcement officials closed in on him.
At this point his only real chance of survival, let alone living long enough to collect his money at the end of this op and put his next plan into action, was to get himself some collateral. Lucky for him, he knew just where to find some.
But instead of going after it, he would bring the collateral to him.
Reassured by the feel of his weapon stuffed into the back of his waistband and the weight of the knife strapped to his calf beneath the leg of his jeans, he fished his personal cell out of his pocket once again and dialed Brandon, who answered on the first ring.
This plan would work. It had to. “Hey, I feel bad about your sister, especially now that I know she was in an accident.” He paused, sighed for effect. “Are you on your way to her place?”
“No, she just called again and I’m meeting her somewhere else now, why?”
“Because…you’re right. I took the files, and I’m sorry.”
Brandon made a sound of outrage. “Tim, why the hell would you—”
He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. This was almost too easy. “Meet me at the diner on the corner now and you can take them to her.”
Chapter Four
Out in the parking lot in his truck, Jake kept his eye on Rachel. She was seated at a window booth, waiting for her brother to show up at the restaurant they’d chosen, after she’d changed the meeting location. Having seen the state of her bedroom, there was no way in hell Jake was letting her stay in her building a second longer. The team was still going through her condo, but hadn’t turned up anything new yet. Others had begun the hunt for Xang. With any luck, they’d have him in custody by nightfall.
For now, Jake needed peace of mind.
He dialed his roommate, Tuck, who picked up on the third ring with a drawled, “What’s up, farmboy? You meet up with your mystery girl yet?”
Normally the dig at his Iowa roots amused him, but he was in anything but a happy mood at the moment. He knew Tuck and Bauer were curious about Rachel, since he’d dropped everything to rush out and meet her this morning. “Yeah, and I’ve got a bit of a situation.”
Tuck hooted. “That was fast. Serves you right for ditching us for a chick. You’re missin’ out on some gorgeous conditions, by the way—we’re just about to hit our first trail.”
Jake had originally planned to go dirt biking with them, right up until the moment he’d seen that e-mail from Rachel.
Similar Books
