Her Man Flint (9 page)

Chapter Sixteen

The first thing Flint saw was a pair of snarling white teeth. He knew with the slightest move, he’d be dog chow.

“Nice doggy,” he said in a low, unthreatening voice, but the Doberman growled again, baring his sharp fangs further.

What do I do now? If I reach for my gun, he’d have me before I was able to aim and fire. If I just stand here, he’ll eventually get tired of waiting and attack
.

Flint stood deathly still. Billy’s voice spoke through static in his earpiece.

“Flint, what is it? I couldn’t make it out.”

“Billy I can’t really talk, but call Robert and ask him to get his ass over here, pronto. Tell him it’s a matter of life or death—mine.”

Flint swallowed hard, watching the animal. He could faintly hear Billy signal Robert and held his breath, praying that the large Pinscher in front of him would stay calm and not decide to rip him to shreds.

His heart beat a frenzied rhythm as he waited for Robert to show up. What would happen when he did? Would he have to shoot the animal? If he could try to reach his bag, he could get to his tranquilizer gun and put the dog to sleep. That way he wouldn’t have to kill it, or alert the compound to their whereabouts.

Leaves crunched from behind him and the dog lunged forward, knocking him to the ground, ripping at the sleeve of his black leather jacket. He maneuvered his arm out of the coat and grabbed for his bag, fumbling with the zipper.

Robert materialized out of the darkness and came to his side.

“Don’t shoot him, Robert. I have something I can put him to sleep with.” Flint tugged at the coat the dog was devouring, trying to keep the animal distracted.

“Damn thing’s ruining my favorite coat.”

Slamming the dart into the chamber of the gun, Flint fired. The projectile punctured the dog in the hindquarter, making the animal yelp and slowly drop to the ground.

“Whew. That was a close one.” Flint looked over his shoulder at Robert.

“Shall we?” Robert signaled to the back of the house.

“After you.” Flint picked up his bag and threw the gun inside.

Both men skirted the outside of the red stone house, and snuck to the back. Flint prayed there weren’t any other dogs patrolling the perimeter.

They made their way to a window and peered inside. It looked like some kind of office. Flint reached in his bag and retrieved his glasscutter.

He pressed the suction cup to the pane and turned it in a circular motion until the glass popped out, then stuck his hand inside and unlocked the window. Flint pushed the frame to the top and turned to Robert. He gestured for his uncle to go first. “Age before beauty.”

“I believe its brains before brawn,” Robert corrected, climbing through the window.

Flint snorted as he climbed in behind him.

Inside, both stood still, listening for a sign of anyone close by. It was quiet—too quiet.

They walked to the door and Flint eased it open, scanning the next room, but found no one.

Both edged in to check the next room, finding it empty as well.

“I’ll check upstairs.” Flint started up the steps. “You look around down here.”

Ten minutes later, he descended the stairs, a very uneasy feeling building in the pit of his stomach.

Robert met him at the bottom of the steps, looking about as concerned as Flint felt.

“She’s not here. She must’ve been in one of those cars leaving earlier. Now what are we going to do?” Flint knew he had to find her, and soon. If he didn’t, Adriana would probably end up dead.

“Let’s look around here and see if we can find out where Hartford could have been taking her.”

They headed back into the office.

Robert rummaged through the papers on his desk. Flint went to the computer to see what he could find there.

A beeping noise had them turning. They watched as a fax came in.

Both rushed to the machine to read what it said. It was from a Prince Sultan Bin Lenon from Saudi Arabia.

The fax read:
Mr. Hartford. I have received your request, and am looking forward to the gift. I will enjoy sampling it as soon as it arrives. The excavation is slow and tedious. I will keep you informed on the progress. Sincerely, Sultan Lenon.

Flint looked to Robert for answers. “What the hell does this mean?”

Robert shrugged. “I have no clue.”

“You don’t think this so-called gift could be Adriana. I have this bad feeling. I wouldn’t put it past Hartford to do something so low.”

“Have you ever heard of this Prince Lenon?” Robert asked.

“No, never, but I know someone who might. Bryce Vale is stationed in the area. Let’s get out of here, and I’ll call him from my cell and see what I can find out about this Sultan character. If I have to fly to Saudi Arabia, I will."

Flint headed for the window, his stomach all in knots.

“Wrong,” Robert said from behind him.

Flint turned to him and frowned. “Wrong? How?”

“
WE
will fly to Saudi Arabia.” Robert wrapped his arm around Flint’s shoulder. “We’ll find her, Flint. I promise.”

* * *

Adriana eased an eye open slowly. Her head pounded an unappealing rhythm, shattering her brain. Why did it feel as though someone had taken an overloaded semi truck and run it repeatedly over her head? And why in the world did her mouth taste like salt and sandpaper?

She tried to lift herself up, but a wave of dizziness stuck, sending her head spinning. Her stomach pitched and rolled.

“Oh, God.” She closed her eyes and swallowed repeatedly, praying that what was in her stomach wouldn’t come up to torment her.

What happened? What was the last thing she could remember?

Ryan Hartford. That animal. Him, and a pin prick to her arm. They had to have injected something into her again.

Her face flamed with anger.

Images of an airplane, a Jeep, and white sand flashed like a flipbook in her mind. Had she been hallucinating?

Adriana forced herself to stay calm, squinting to peer around her.

It was hard to focus, but she strained to make out something—anything that could tell her where she was.

Blinking, her eyes landed on a focal point, which turned out to be the large bed she was lying on, it’s coverings almost blinding to the eye. Every color of the rainbow was displayed in a wild pattern, causing her nausea to intensify. She had to be hallucinating.

She squeezed her eyes shut, afraid she was going to lose her lunch, and not at all looking forward to it.

“I will not throw up, I will not throw up,” she repeated, over and over until she began to feel better.

With resolve, she opened her eyes slowly, noting that a sheer netting draped the top of the bed, falling in cascades down all four sides.

Adriana frowned, thinking it must be mosquito netting.

Where the hell was she?

She crawled over to the edge of the bed and pulled at the mesh fabric, trying to get out, but found no means of escape.

Angry, she tried again, tearing frantically at the cloth. “What is this stuff made of? Teflon?”

Finally giving up on tearing it, Adriana tugged upward. There had to be a bottom somewhere.

She rolled it in her hands, continuing to work it up until she came to the end and threw it over her head. Then, she eased up and swayed forward, catching herself on the bedpost.

Adriana looked around, not sure that what she saw was real. The structure looked like a huge tent, one made of heavy, gray canvas. Large colorful pillows covered most of the floor. A flap in front of her obviously led into another room.

She took a couple steps and tripped over a pillow, landing on her chest in front of a pair of dark booted feet.

Adriana looked up. Standing before her, holding the flap open with legs spread apart, and hand on hip was a tall, dark-skinned man with piercing brown eyes. Ebony hair peaking out beneath a wrapped cloth around his head. A turban. His clothing was strange. Middle easterner.

The man stared at her as if she were some unwanted bug he’d like to squash under his boot heel.

Adriana swallowed hard.

“Do you think you are going somewhere, woman?” His eyes narrowed, and he sneered at her.

“Could I use your powder room?” Her only thought was to get past that flap. She prayed Flint would find her soon. Then again, how could he know where she was when she didn’t?

“What is this powder room you speak of? I have not heard of such a thing.”

Adriana assumed he must be mentally challenged, and changed her tact. “Bathroom. Do … you… have… one?”

He still looked confused.

“I need to relieve myself. Do you have facilities?” She pulled herself off the floor.

He turned his back to her, and walked to the bed. Beneath, he retrieved a large bowl, then returned to her.

“Here.” He shoved it into her hands.

“And what am I supposed to do with this?”

“Relieve yourself.” He turned to leave the room.

“Okay…wait a minute. I’m not using this. I need porcelain.”

“That…woman…is porcelain.”

He pulled the flap opened and stepped out, a deep, robust laughter ringing out in his wake.

Adriana threw the bowl at his retreating form and stomped her foot in frustration, stubbing her toe on something that sent a jolt of pain shooting up her leg.

Tears filled her eyes.

“I’ll get you for this, you beast.” Adriana hopped around on one foot, a colorful array of curse words leaving her pursed, dry lips.

Chapter Seventeen

Flint pressed a sequence of numbers on his cell, and waited for Bryce Vale to answer. “Please be there.”

A feminine voice picked up, sounding as if he’d woke her up.

Not sure he had the right number, Flint asked, “Is Bryce around?”

“Bryce, sweetheart, it’s for you.” Flint heard her call in the background.

“Hello,” Bryce’s deep voice peeled.

“Yes, sweetheart, it’s Flint. I thought you’d planned to never get yourself tied down. Who’s the young lady who managed to snag you?” He couldn’t believe all the men who’d promised never to get ensnared seemed to all be falling in love.

“Never. I met her last night. She offered to make me breakfast this morning if she could spend the night. How could I say no to that?”

Flint laughed.

“Same old Bryce. I need your help, buddy. Can you tell me anything about a Prince Lenon?”

“Sure. He’s a very wealthy man. Oil, I believe. I’ve heard rumor he’s in Madain Salah, a remote area here in Saudi Arabia. He’s said to be doing some kind of excavation. Maybe for more oil, I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

“I’m worried that Ryan Hartford might have sent Adriana to him. I found a fax from this guy and it sounded as if Hartford was sending him a gift. I think that gift is Adriana."

“That wouldn’t surprise me. I’ve heard he has a harem of some of the most beautiful women from all over the world. He’s notorious for his collection. How did Hartford get a hold of her?” Bryce asked. “I find it hard to believe she’d just set back and let him capture her.”

“I don’t know for sure, but Robert found her car on the side of the road and I knew he had her. Can you snoop around and see what you can find out for me. I’m going to catch a flight as soon as I can and I’ll call you when I hit Saudi soil.”

“Sure thing, Flint. If she’s here, I’ll find out.”

“Thanks, Bryce.”

Flint hung up and looked at Robert.

“Bryce’ll find out where she is. I’m confident about that. Can you call and get us on a flight.”

Flint opened his bag and retrieved a stack of passports, leafing through them. He found the one he was looking for.

“Register me under Clayton Stone.”

“I’m on it.” Robert turned back to ask. “Is Billy going with us?”

He nodded. “Definitely. We’ll need all the help we can get.”

Flint’s cell phone rang, and he flipped it open.

“Flint. It’s Bryce. I talked to a friend. A flight is due in tomorrow afternoon from the states with some cargo. It’s from Hartford to Lenon. I’ll be there to check it out. I’ll call you as soon as I find out what it is.”

“You did great, buddy. Keep me posted.” Flint glanced at Robert.

“Will do.”

“There’s a shipment from Hartford due in tomorrow. Bryce said he’d be there when it arrives and find out what it is and where it’s going.”

“Good man.” Robert nodded. “Now let’s get the hell on a flight and get Adriana back.”

* * *

Adriana struggled to get away from the guard. This was her third attempt at escape, to no avail, but she was determined to get out of the tent, or at least past the damn room. The angry guard tossed her onto the bed, a deep scowl etched on his dark face.

“Prince Lenon will not be happy if you continue in your attempts to escape. He was called away for the day, but when he returns, you will be expected to be ready.”

“Ready for what?” Adriana didn’t like the insinuation.

All the guard did was smile, then turned and left.

Adriana pounded her fists on the bed. She was tired of this whole thing, being kept prisoner by men in dresses.

“Flint where are you? Are you even looking for me?”

Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to succumb to them again.

She would think of a way to get out, and when she did, she intended to rid the world of men like Prince Lenon

“Humph, the balls of this guy.” She’d show him. If he thought for one minute she’d play along with this, he was crazier than the country that would allow it.

Adriana rose and went to the tent flap, peeking into the next room. The guard narrowed his eyes at her.

“What do you want now, woman?”

“I need a bath. Do you understand that, or are you just dumb, Abu.”

“I am not Abu. I am Kadar, and you will address me as such.”

She curled her upper lip into a snarl. “Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Ali Baba. Can I get a bath or not?”

Her intent was to rile him. She was sick to death of his attitude. “Maybe you could bring me one on your magic carpet while you’re at it.”

His eyes turned fierce. “We will see.” He closed the flap in her face, stinging her nose.

“Thanks a bunch, Aladdin,” she bellowed through the canvas. She could hear him growling on the other side and she started to laugh. She planned to get even with him, yet.

An hour later, a large brass tub was brought in and filled with hot water. Adriana had to admit to being pleased she’d gotten her way, but was apprehensive about getting naked with Kadar standing only inches away without a door to keep him out. But need outweighed worry, and she stripped off her clothes, easing down into the hot, steamy liquid.

She sighed loudly. “Heavenly.”

Adriana dunked under the water and washed her hair with the bar of soap they’d left for her. It didn’t smell all that great, but at least she’d be clean.

Allowing herself to stay in until the water became too cold, Adriana stepped out and toweled off with a rough, scratchy cloth. You’d think a Prince could afford one hundred percent cotton.

She was about to drop her towel to dress when the flap flew open and a tall, masculine Arab she’d never seen before stalked in. He wore all white except for the blue turban on his head.

His amber eyes pierced hers, sending chills throughout her body. He was handsome in a dark, menacing way.

“Kadar has told me you have been giving him trouble. Is this true?” His deep timbre of a voice sent another chill skirting her backbone.

“He hasn’t been all that nice to me either.”

He laughed.

“Kadar is just doing as he is instructed.”

“Was he instructed to laugh at my discomfort?”

“Have you not been comfortable?” He gaze took her in from head to toe. “What is it you need that would allow you to be so?”

Adriana secured her towel tighter. “Being released would be a good start.”

He flashed her a smile. “I find you quite amusing. I had heard that American women were quite different from most and I can see this is true. I have want of you to stay and I will make your comfort here my priority.”

“That’s really very sweet of you, but I don’t think so. This has been a rough few days for me. First, I’m kidnapped and abused by a group of Neanderthals, then drugged and brought here to some hole in the wall so that you could use me at will and put me on display. Why doesn’t that sound appealing to me?”

His smile faded and was replaced with an angry glare. “You will obey me. And you will give yourself to me when the time comes. But I will allow you a few days to adjust yourself to the idea, and then you will succumb to my wishes. Do you understand?”

Adriana couldn’t believe the gall of this Arab.

“I’d rather die,” she said with bravado, turning her back to him.

He grabbed her by the upper arm and spun her around. His eyes darkened as he raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.

“You will obey me, or—you
will
die.”

Adriana held her hand to her face, in shock. No one had ever struck her before, and it hurt more than just her cheek. If Flint didn’t find her soon, this man would have no qualms about killing her to get what he wanted.

She swallowed convulsively. How could she allow a man to use her like that?

No, she couldn’t—she’d rather die.

* * *

Flint shook him roughly. “Robert, wake up. You’re snoring like a cow.”

Robert snorted, then opened his eyes. “What?”

“Do you know you snore?”

He frowned. “Nonsense. I don’t either.”

Flint stood and asked, “Does he snore?” to everyone in first-class.

“Yes,” they all rang out, glaring at Robert with annoyance.

“See,” Flint gloated as he sat back down.

“Sorry, I haven’t gotten much sleep lately.” Robert rubbed his hands over his face. “Where are we?”

“About an hour out. How about some coffee?”

Robert sat straight in his seat. “Sounds great.”

Flint signaled to the flight attendant for three cups of coffee, then sat back and thought about Adriana.
Please don’t let her get hurt
. If anything happened to her he didn’t know what he’d do. He loved her so much.

Before he met her, he’d have bet a million dollars he’d never feel this way. But the truth was, Flint Tiberius Morgan loved Adriana Marie Kent. He just did, and he had to face that fact head on.

Now he had to convince her they belonged together.

Could he do that? Make her love him as much as he loved her? Somehow he had to.

What was the alternative? Living without her.

Flint’s guts twisted at the thought. In his heart he knew there was no way he could do that.