Read Online Unmasking the Mercenary by Jennifer Morey - Free Book Online Page B

a terrorist—a worthy endeavor, to be sure—but what would happen once he found his retribution? Would he ever find it? Or would he return to his mercenary ways?
    “How do you know Habib will be here?” she asked.
    He glanced back at her and then resumed his surveillance. “I’ve followed him before.”
    “But how do you know he’ll be here today?”
    “I heard him arrange it.”
    “How? When?”
    “After Ammar threatened Habib at the market. After you and Travis were attacked.”
    While she lay unconscious? She stared at the back of his head. “Who is Habib meeting? Who is his diamond contact?”
    “Somebody from a small-scale mining company outside Koidu. Easier to smuggle from a smaller outfit than the bigger ones. Less money for security. And Habib probably has tighter connections with them.”
    “So, what were you planning? If you want revenge, why not just kill Ammar? Why snoop around his illicit diamond deals?”
    Rem didn’t answer and a few seconds later, he straightened from the wall. “He’s here.”
    She swore in French, something she only did when she was really frustrated. She wanted him to answer her.
    Rem glanced back at her, a frown of momentary curiosity changing the set of his eyes before returning his attention to the window. Well, it was good to know he spoke French, too. She only knew it because her mother was French.
    Haley put the cup down and unfolded her legs from the chair to stand. At the window beside Rem, she watched Habib climb out of a white Jeep splattered with red dirt. His short black hair messed in the hot breeze, showing a round bald spot on the top rear of his head. The wiry, under-six-foot man glanced around him before disappearing into the building across the street. She looked up at Rem.
    “What are we really doing here?” she asked. He hadn’t answered her when she asked why he was snooping around Ammar’s illicit diamond deals. Why?
    Barely making eye contact with her, he left the window and began to load the SUV, which he’d parked beside the shack of a dwelling, hidden behind some trees.
    Haley’s instinct warned her something wasn’t right. Rem was up to something, and it wasn’t just getting Ammar.
    After putting on her hiking boots, she got into the SUV and tried to calm her rushing adrenaline. Maybe she could go back to the Mamba Point Hotel. Walking back to Monrovia alone and unarmed would be nothing short of stupid. So for now, she was stuck with him.
    He drove to a dirt road just outside Robertsport and turned around so the SUV faced the main road to Monrovia. Less than thirty minutes later, Habib’s Jeep passed. The road was lightly traveled.
    Rem waited awhile before driving onto the road.
    “What are you going to do?” She knew it was futile asking.
    His eyes never flinched from the road, and he pressed the gas when the Jeep came into view. Veering into the opposite lane, he raced beside the Jeep. Haley saw Habib’s shocked and frightened look before Rem steered the big SUV right into the Jeep’s side. Habib lost control with the hard hit and swerved off the road. A loud bang penetrated the interior of the SUV when the Jeep hit a tree. Rem braked and spun the SUV around, racing back toward the Jeep. Her seat belt jerked her around in the seat. He skidded to a stop not two feet from the driver’s door. Habib was slouched in the driver’s seat.
    Rem yanked off his seat belt and leaned close to her. “Stay here. If you run, I’m coming after you.”
    She heard her own rapid breaths as she stared at him with disbelief swimming so hard in her it made her dizzy. He was crazy. She should have never trusted him. He swung the driver’s door open and ran to the Jeep. After searching Habib’s clothes, he pulled the man’s body back against the seat and leaned across him, then backed out with a small purse-sized leather pouch in hand.
    While he loosened the top to check its contents, Haley swung the passenger door open. She went around the front of