Her Man Flint (10 page)

Chapter Eighteen

Flint stood in line behind an elderly couple at customs, shuffling his feet. He was anxious to get on his way. Bryce had to have been able to find out something about the shipment coming in, and where it was going by now.

He knew he needed to get to Adriana as soon as he could, otherwise he felt in his gut something awful would occur. The whole thing left him sick inside. Everything that had happened to her was his fault. All because of a one-night stand he couldn’t even remember, Hartford had kidnapped Dray, and killed Lindsey. He knew that, but what could he have done? He would have stopped Adriana from leaving the cabin that morning if he’d known. But she chose to sneak out without his knowledge and got abducted, all because she didn’t want to face him again.

Did she hate him that much for what he’d said? What would he do if she did?

“Can I see your passport, sir?” the customs officer asked, drawing Flint back to his surroundings.

“Of course.” Flint moved forward and handed the man his phony documentation, then waited for him to stamp it and give it back.

“I hope you enjoy your visit.” The man ushered him on.

“Right.” Flint’s tone had to have been perceived as sarcastic, because the officer glared at him.

He waited for Robert and Billy’s passports to be approved, then they grabbed their bags and headed for the front entrance.

They hailed a cab outside the terminal and rode in silence to Bryce’s address.

By the time they reached his place, Bryce should have the information they’d need to go search for Adriana.

The taxi pulled in front of a very modest adobe home. Definitely not much to look at. They made their way up the sandy walkway and knocked.

Flint rubbed at the tension in the back of his neck, silently praying Adriana was being a model prisoner.

Yeah right. The thought was laughable. She didn’t have a docile bone in her body. Though, he hoped for her sake she’d behave this time. Her life depended on it. Arab men didn’t treat women with the same kind of respect American men did. They expected them to be subservient, something he was sure Adriana had no clue how to be. And that’s why he had to find her, and soon, before she got her beautiful, delicate neck rung.

The door rattled, and Bryce stood holding it open. He was one of Flint’s oldest friends. They’d started at the DNS at the same time, traveled in the same circles, and felt the same way about never settling down. Though now, after being with Adriana, Flint’s feelings had changed.

“Flint, you look like hell.” Bryce clapped him on his shoulders, drawing them all into the house.

“You don’t look so good yourself.” Flint studied his friend closely.

Bryce’s green eyes looked tired, as Flint was sure his own did, but Bryce’s sandy blond hair was sticking up in every direction, something Flint hadn’t expected to see. He wore an old ragged t-shirt that read, ‘Arabian Knights are cool’ and a pair of faded blue jeans with a tear across one knee. He was not the man Flint remembered, a guy who’d always taken pride in his well-maintained appearance.

“Sorry about the attire, I’ve been staking out air freight since this morning and haven’t had a chance to change.” Bryce had obviously read Flint’s mind.

“Did you find out anything?” Flint was anxious to get back on the road.

“Yeah. This so-called shipment was in a large crate with holes. You know the kind used to transport wild animals. Anyway, it came from Hartford on a cargo plane and was thrown onto the back of a truck, headed for Madain Salah to Prince Lenon’s excavation site.”

“Can you show me how to get there?” Flint was impatient. Time was running out. He had to save Adriana from herself. Darn woman was probably at that very moment getting herself into hot water.

* * *

Adriana picked at the unappetizing food on her plate. How was she going to get out of the mess she was in? The fault lay in her lap. If she had stayed at the cabin and dealt with Flint and their problems, she wouldn’t be thousands of miles away from home right now.

She shoved the plate across the small table and watched it fly off. The plate hit the floor and shattered. A smile curled her lips when the guard came rushing in.

His face reflected his rage as he looked from the broken plate to her face.

“You will pick that up,” he growled.

Adriana sat back against the chair and crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t think so.” Her refusal didn’t set well from the look he gave her. Steam practically rolled out of his ears as he glared at her. She thought maybe she shouldn’t have been so rash, but then dismissed the idea.

“I will inform Prince Lenon that you are being difficult again. We will see who picks this mess up.”

She cringed. All she needed was that animal coming back to slap her again.

Adriana hung her head in defeat. “I’ll pick it up, okay?”

“You are very smart to do so.” Kadar turned and left her to deal with the mess.

Adriana reached down and picked up a piece of ceramic, pricking her finger.

“Ouch, damn it.” She cursed her luck. What else could happen? Maybe if she were real lucky, she could catch a case of Malaria and suffer for weeks before she died.

With her finger in her mouth, Adriana sucked at the blood, wondering where Flint was and if he thought about her at all. Surely he would have found her Porsche by now and known that Hartford had taken her. But to know he’d send her to God-knows-where was another thing all together. It’d be impossible for him to. She was on her own.

Adriana sank down onto the floor, tears welling in her eyes. Why? What did she do to deserve this? She was trapped in a desert oasis. At the mercy of a man who thought women were objects to use when the need hit. Frankly, she’d rather die than let Prince Lenon touch her.

She stared at the piece of glass in her hand. She could run the edge across her wrists and end it all. It was an option. Definitely not one that was appealing. Besides, that would be taking the easy way out. She was Adriana Kent, DNS agent, not Adriana Kent, victim. She certainly wasn’t going to become one now. No way. She had to use her brain and find a way out, not cower in a corner like a wounded animal.

The guard who stood outside the flap wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, so surely she could come up with a plan.

The grin she had earlier reappeared only to broaden to a full-blown Cheshire cat smile. She’d get out, and when she did, she planned to fly back to the states and confess her love to Flint. And, if he didn’t return that love, then so be it. At least she could say she’d been honest with him for the first time in their relationship. That would have to be enough, if he didn’t feel the same.

Adriana left the pieces of plate on the floor and reached under the bed and grabbed the porcelain bowl. Quietly, she snuck over to the flap and listened. She could hear the guards slow, even breathing. He’d fallen asleep at his post. Good.

Easing the flap open, she slipped inside.

She had managed to sneak around him when his leg stretched out, startling her. Without thinking, she raised the bowl and brought in down hard over his head, sending him sliding off the chair to the floor. She could visualize birds circling his head, generated by those silly images on cartoons.

Pushing the idea away, she contemplated her next move.

The guard would be out for a while, but that still didn’t give her much time. She had to exit the tent and find a Jeep or some sort of transportation so she could get safely away before they realized she was gone.

She opened another flap and found herself looking into a second room filled with women wearing a rainbow of colorful robes. Was this Lenon’s harem?

Hartford had said the Prince collected beautiful women and it was no lie. They obviously weren’t all Arab women either. There were three blondes, like herself, two redheads and the rest different shades of browns and black, each exquisite in her own rite.

Adriana wondered if they’d let her pass, or try to stop her escape?
Only one way to find out.

She entered the group, trying to go unnoticed, but was stopped by a red-haired woman with huge aquamarine eyes.

“Who are you?” she asked, reaching for Adriana’s arm to stop her from leaving. “Are you the new one?” She stared Adriana down, waiting for her to answer her questions.

“The new one.” Adriana wasn’t sure what the woman meant.

“Sultan’s new woman.” She rolled her eyes at the other ladies.

Did she think Adriana was stupid?

Adriana’s anger intensified. “No, I am not the Prince’s woman. I belong to no man.”

They all smiled. “Right. That’s exactly what I said when I first came here, but you get used to being a possession after a while. There is no way out. Believe me. We’ve all tried many times to escape with no success.” The redhead glanced at the other ladies and they all nodded in agreement.

“That’s right,” a blonde with amber eyes said, “You’d better get used to it or you’ll end up like Greta—dead.”

Adriana’s jaw slacked. “Who was Greta?” She hoped the woman died of natural causes.

“Greta was from Sweden and tried to escape all the time. Sultan got tired of it and strangled her in front of us all. He said it was an object lesson for us not to try to escape again,” a raven-haired woman with sad gray eyes, reminding Adriana of Flint, said.

Adriana swallowed hard, not at all pleased with what she’d just been told. Apparently Sultan Lenon was ruthless, not a man to upset.

What was she going to do now? If he was that dangerous, should she even attempt to leave? Would he kill her for trying?

Flint’s handsome face flashed before her. What would he do? Would he try to escape now, or bide his time, waiting for the perfect opportunity? Maybe if she appeared to accept her fate, they’d all let their guard down and give her a chance to slip out undetected.

She thought about the new plan for a minute, then decided it had more of a chance of success.

A deep growl from behind her made her turn around slowly. Pissed would have been a kind word for the look Kadar gave her. His eyes pierced hers, as he rubbed the top of his head.

“If you were my woman, I’d kill you now.” He grabbed her arm painfully and dragging her through the tent to her room and deposited her roughly on the bed.

“Another attempt to escape and I’ll not care who you are.”

Kadar turned abruptly and left.

Adriana stared at the flap long after he’d gone.

Her opportunity to escape would come, and when it did, she’d take full advantage of it.

Chapter Nineteen

Flint studied the map Bryce gave him, trying to locate exactly where they were. Billy had stayed behind with Bryce to see if they could get their hands on a helicopter to fly them out once he was able to rescue Adriana from Lenon’s camp.

Flint threw the map down and glanced at Robert, who was behind the wheel of the jeep. “We’re getting close. Once we get within half a mile or so, I think we should work our way in on foot.”

“I agree. I’m sure Lenon has security and we’ll need to scope out the perimeter to see how many we’ll have to deal with.” Robert frowned, obviously as anxious as Flint about what was to come. Two men against Lord knows how many wouldn’t be good odds. They’d be damned lucky to get in and rescue Dray without getting killed. But Flint had to save her so he could tell her how he felt. He should have told her that night at the cabin, but his damnable pride got in the way. Being too proud had always gotten in the way of his relationship with Adriana, that and his stupidity.

Flint stared out the window of the jeep, nothing but sand dunes for miles. It was totally desolate. So why would Sultan Lenon want to be there, and more importantly, what was the man digging for?

Bryce told him Madain Salah had tombs carved into an outcrop of rocks that had been filled with artifacts at one time. It was said to be quite unique, though he doubted they’d get a chance to sightsee.

“Do you think Billy and Bryce will be able to find a chopper?” Robert question drew Flint’s attention back to the business at hand.

“I hope so. I’d hate to have to travel this road at night, especially if Lenon is chasing us.”

“What do you think this prince is digging for?” Robert glanced at Flint, then back to the road.

Flint shrugged “Who knows? What do you think he has to do with Hartford, and why did Hartford need access to DNS files? This whole thing is strange, and leaves a lot of unanswered questions. Like, why does Ryan Hartford have it in for me so bad?”

Robert looked uncomfortable with his question. Suddenly, Flint sensed that his uncle knew more than he was letting on, and clearly had for some time now.

“What? Do you know something? Can you tell me why Hartford despises me so much?”

From the way Robert shifted in his seat, Flint knew he did, but obviously didn’t want to talk about it.

“I don’t think this is the best time to get into it,” Robert hedged.

Flint narrowed his gaze on his uncle. “Tell me what you know, Robert.”

“All right.” His uncle took a deep breath. “It goes way back. When you were a little boy your father worked for what was tentatively then the DNS.”

Flint couldn’t have been more shocked. “What? You never told me my father worked for the company.”

“I should have told you, Flint, but I wasn’t sure how you’d take to finding out that your parents were killed because of something your father had been working on.”

“But they were killed in a car accident.” Flint stared in disbelief at his uncle, as if seeing him for the first time.

“Yes, they were killed in their car, but from an explosion caused by a bomb planted under the ignition switch. When Cole turned the key, it triggered the explosive. He and your mother never had a chance. You were lucky you were with my parents at the time or you would’ve been killed as well. Actually, DNS representatives told the world you were killed along with your parents because they were afraid they’d try to get to you, too.”

Inside, Flint felt betrayed. Everything he’d thought he’d known had been a lie. “So what does this all have to do with Ryan Hartford?”

“Your father was working on a case with Grant Hartford, Ryan’s father, who was also DNS. It was cold war stuff. Lost uranium from Russia the US was trying to find in a hurry. They were over here in Saudi Arabia, known to be the last place this so-called uranium was spotted. Then it just disappeared. Vanished off the face of the earth. Naturally everyone with DNS and CIA were very concerned. Anyway, Cole and Grant were over here trying to find out anything they could about its whereabouts, with no success. At least that’s what Cole thought. Grant was what they referred to at the time as a double agent. He worked for DNS and for a private Russian benefactor, one very interested in selling this Uranium 235 to the highest bidder. Iran was very interested in acquiring it at the time.”

Flint frowned. “How did they find out Grant Hartford worked for this Russian?”

“Your father found out completely by accident, and confronted him with it. The two argued, Grant pulled a gun on Cole, they struggled. Your father shot and killed him.”

Flint shook his head in disbelief.

“And this is why Ryan Hartford wants me dead, because my father killed his? Why did it take so long for him to come after me?”

“Because, like I said, DNS made it look as if you were killed in that car as well, so he thought you were dead.”

“How did he find out I wasn’t?”

“Those stolen DNS files I imagine, or he might have found out another way, and just accessed the files to confirm it.”

This was hard to take in. “I can’t believe this. Why didn’t you tell me before now?”

“I meant to, but you were a hothead already and I didn’t want you going off in a rage, trying to find out who murdered your parents. You’d have gotten yourself killed.”

Flint threaded his hands through his hair. Robert knew him well. He would have tried to find out who butchered his parents, and in the process probably gotten murdered.

“So who killed my parents?” Flint studied his uncle’s face. If Grant Hartford was dead than who could have ordered their kill?

“That... is another very long story. And, as you can see, we don’t have time right now.”

Robert pulled to the side of the rode and killed the engine.

Flint glanced around.

“All right, but after this is over, you’re going to tell me who took the lives of my parents.”

Robert opened the door of the Jeep. “Deal. So, let’s go get your woman.”

An hour later, Flint and Robert stared down at a cluster of tents. Men in robes mulled around. What looked to be guards stood sentry at each corner of the perimeter of the large encampment. Further east, Flint saw the outcrop of tombs Bryce had spoken of. They blocked the backside of the camp completely, and would be the perfect place for them to slip in.

“What do you think?” Flint asked, then handed his binoculars to his uncle. Robert glanced around the camp and then turned to him.

“I say we go in through the back, by the tombs. They have no guards posted there and we can climb down and sneak in that large tent there.” Robert pointed to a huge tent, centered in the rear of the camp.

“I agree. Let’s go.” Flint crawled off toward the direction of the tombs, sliding down a dune, then up another steep drift. After working their way down to the front of the catacomb, they found themselves located directly behind the big central tent.

“Now what?” Flint turned to Robert. “Maybe we could find some sort of disguises to slip in and search for Adriana and get out without anyone even noticing.”

“What kind of disguises?”

Robert shrugged. “I don’t know. Can’t you think of something?”

“Sure, I’ll go in there as one of Lenon’s harem woman.” Flint said sarcastically.

A dark brow shot up on Robert’s face. “Hey, that’s not such a bad idea.”

Flint snorted. “You’re not serious? No way! I’m not dressing up as a woman. We’ll have to think of something else.”

“How bad do you want Adriana back?”

Flint released a frustrated breath. “You know I’d do anything to get Dray back, but dressing like a woman? Do I really have to go that far?”

“Come on. Let’s find you something to wear.” Robert pushed Flint toward the tent.

After cutting a small hole in the canvas, Flint stuck his head in and peered around. The room was empty.

They squeezed through, hoping to get lucky and find something as a disguise before they got caught.

Once they were both inside, Flint spotted a group of tall wicker baskets lining one wall. It looked to be used for storage.

Searching the baskets, Robert pulled out a pea-green robe with an array of colorful gems around the collar. “Perfect.” Robert threw it at Flint. “Just your color.”

“You know I don’t… ah… think…ah… this is going to work,” Flint stuttered.

Robert patted his back. “Sure it will.”

Flint shook his head. “But, I don’t look anything like a woman.”

“Not now, but when I’m through with you, you’ll look fabulous.”

“Oh shit,” Flint hissed. “You’re going to enjoy this aren’t you?”

Robert grinned from ear to ear. “You got it.”

* * *

Adriana tucked a large piece of the broken plate under the mattress of the bed, then picked up the rest and placed them on the table in a jumble so no one would realize there was a piece missing. Either she’d use it as a weapon later or a means to cut her way out of the tent. But she was going to wait for the perfect time first. Then, when that time came, she’d escape.

Kadar’s entrance brought her out of her thoughts of flight.

“What?” Adriana asked. “Did I do something wrong again?”

“Prince Lenon has asked that you join him for the evening meal.” Kadar used the same irritated tone she had.

“Tell your highness, thanks, but no thanks.”

He sneered. “It was not a request. You will dine with him. But you will bathe first and dress accordingly.”

Kadar turned to leave as another Arab carried the brass tub in, and two of the women Adriana had met earlier that day came with, carrying bottles and a gold robe with jeweled embellishments.

“We’ve come to help you bathe,” the auburn-haired woman who’d detained her said, looking annoyed at the prospect.

Adriana glared at the woman, just as bothered with her. “I think I can manage to take a bath by myself.”

“If we don’t assist you, Prince Lenon will punish us. Would you have him do that?”

“Oh, all right,” Adriana said in a snit. If the bath didn’t look so inviting, she would’ve objected.

She waited until three men filled the tub and left, then slipped out of her clothes, feeling a little self-conscious about other women watching her.

Easing in, she sunk low into the tub, trying to hide her naked body from her audience. Scented oil was poured in, the smell of jasmine filling the air around her. A soothing aroma that helped her relax.

They washed her hair with a similar scent, and then rinsed it thoroughly. Adriana had a hard time keeping her eyes open, the smell immersing her into an almost euphoric sense of well being.

After her bath, she was rubbed down with the same scented oil, then helped to dress, and given a glass of amber liquid to drink.

Adriana looked at it suspiciously. “What is this?”

“Just drink it. You’ll be better off, believe me.”

She shook her head. “If I don’t know what it is, I’m not going to drink it.”

“It will help you to relax. You’ll need it if Sultan plans to-well, if he wants you tonight.”

“That asshole isn’t going to touch me. I have a man.”
At least I had one
. Emotions clogged her throat as she envisioned Flint.

“You do?” the raven-haired woman who reminded her of Flint asked with a faraway look in her eyes.

“Yes. He has hair the color of yours, and eyes the hue of high-glossed pewter.” Adriana sighed as she thought of the man she loved.

“What about his body?” the redhead asked, watching Adriana intently.

“It’s perfect. He’s tall and lean with a solid wall of muscle.”

The two women sighed.

“Does he love you?” the raven-haired woman asked.

Adriana shook her head as her words sunk in.

“No. Flint doesn’t love me. I don’t think he knows how to love anyone.” Her eyes filled with tears and her throat tightened painfully, although she tried to hold them back.

“I am very sorry.” The dark-haired woman placed her hand gently on Adriana’s shoulder. “My name is Kanika. I have been here for close to three years now. My father sold me to the Sultan.”

Adriana couldn’t believe what she’d heard. “Why would your father do such a thing?” Adriana was angry that children had no rights in some countries.

“Because I had two sisters who needed to eat and the prince offered to feed them.”

“How old were you?” Adriana scanned the woman’s lean frame, thinking she couldn’t be much more than twenty.

“Twenty-one,” she admitted, hanging her head.

“If Sultan likes his women inexperienced, what am I doing here? I’m hardly a flowering virgin.”

“You are an American woman. He has heard women from the United States are not easy to control and he wishes to bend you to his will. You will be a challenge to him. You will either submit or die.”

“Well, I guess I won’t last the night then, because I’m not going to give in.”

“It is not all that bad. If you drink this.” Kanika shoved the glass into her hand.

“Why would I want to?”

“It will make it easier to deal with the pain.”

“But like I told you, I’m not a virgin.”

“That is not the kind I am speaking of. Sultan is not a gentle lover.” Kanika’s face flushed. “He likes to inflict agony.”

Adriana swallowed hard, the woman’s words penetrating into her thought process. “What does he do?”

“It is best you not know. Drink.” She pushed the glass to her lips. “The liquid will help you get through it.”

Adriana hadn’t intended to drink it, but when Kanika’s pleading eyes held hers, she drank the fiery concoction.

“We must go now. Sultan will arrive soon.”

Both women looked at Adriana sympathetically, then turned and ran from the room. Seconds later, a strange warmth crept over her entire body. What was the liquid they’d given her anyway, and why could she hardly move now?

She closed her eyes, watching a rainbow of colors spin around in her head. Whatever the drink was, she wasn’t going to be able to protect herself, even if she wanted to, not if she couldn’t move.

Adriana forced her eyes opened and saw someone standing over her. She blinked, trying to clear the vision, and then looked closely at the image. The person looked like Flint. But how could that be? This Flint was wearing a gaudy robe and veil. She closed her eyes, then opened them again. This was all wrong. She was seeing things. The Flint she knew wouldn’t be caught dead in that color.