Jinn & Toxic (17 page)

Replacing the gag, Tab hissed, “Get her to safety, Blackstone, and don’t stop or look back. We’ll meet up with you in a few days north of here at the coordinates I’ll send you. Hurry.”

Gun shots sounded in the distance as the enemy began their search. Blackstone picked her up and placed her over his shoulder then took off.
Time to run.

***

From the expression of pain on Tab’s face, he was hurt by his sister’s betrayal, yet he focused on the team. Jinn helped him take down two of the enemy on the outskirts of the camp. It was imperative they get it done as fast and quietly as possible. They didn’t want to get Burgess or the boy killed either, so stealth was needed.

At Tab’s silent hand signals, Jinn followed orders for once and moved to a strategic place where she could take out some of the enemy with little danger. She also used her psychic gift to confuse the men until they literally walked in circles.

You don’t know where you’re going. Turn back. Turn around. Walk over to the tree on your left. Spin around.

“What the hell are you doing?” another Mexican asked, confusion on his brow.

“I’m looking for the gringos.” Though the man seemed sure he was doing a good job, he appeared totally lost.

Jinn fought back a grin.
Shoot at your friend’s foot.

The gun went off, scaring the daylights out of the second man. “Hey! You fool. You could have killed me. Watch where you’re aiming.”

It was all Jinn could do to keep back her laughter as she watched from deep in the bushes. Neither man could see her.

It’s your turn. Hit him.

Sure enough, the second man pulled back his fist then let his compadre have it. The larger man hit the ground and remained in there, still and quiet.

“What the hell is going on?” His eyes were filled with surprise as he stared down at his friend.

Time to finish this.
You will tie up your friend then sleep for two hours.

A few moments later, job done, the man lay down and did as she’d bid him. Jinn moved on to find others.

“You are one dangerous woman.”

Startled, she spun to find Tab watching her. At his feet lay two more tied up soldiers. Offering a simple shrug, she didn’t say a word.

“Let’s get the rest of them and save Burgess and the boy.”

Together, they walked through the forest, cautious of disturbing any branches or bush in case an enemy was watching. It took some time before they came across a small encampment with three tents. Inside one of them Jinn hoped they’d find their quarry. If Burgess was still alive, she had to be nearby.

***

“Kill her now and be done with it.” The sultry, dark-haired beauty stood over Burgess with a knife in her hand, her eyes full of bloodlust. Jinn watched from the small slit in the tent as the woman spoke. “She’s useless to us.” Long black hair fell to her waist. She wore an old style Mexican blouse and a colorful skirt that gave her the look of a gypsy.

The next voice came from someone out of the line of vision. “Solange, my pet, we need to use her to capture the others on her team. I have my orders.”

“Benito, you’ve already had your fun with her. Finish the job. You can always capture another one.”

“She’s the best fighter I’ve seen yet. Did you see the way she killed that other gringa? It was precious. And besides, the boy likes her. If it keeps him in line, then she’s useful to us.”

“I say she’s a liability we can’t afford. She’s dangerous. When she got free the third time, I nearly got shot. If not for the quick work of Luis, I’d be dead now. She’s a bad influence on the girl. If this keeps up, Niña might remember where she came from and then what will we do?”

The man laughed. “Don’t worry about the
chica
. She’s got a weak mind and is easy enough to control. Another night in ‘the box’ and she’ll be completely ours. When we send her back to North America, she’ll destroy the government and open the market for our drugs.”

“What if the gringos get to her first? We could lose billions of pesos.”

“That won’t happen. I have her trained to resist them. She hates them all.”

“Benito, I demand that you kill this one now.”

“Solange, please listen to reason, not your jealousy.”

Frustration on her face, the woman threw down the blade and stalked out of the tent. Burgess lay on her side, hands tied behind her back watching the man with venom in her gaze.

“Pretty
chica.
You and I have some time together. Let’s spend it wisely.”

Jinn watched as he came into her line of view and bent over Burgess. She was not a woman who liked men touching her unless it was her own idea and could only imagine how the soldier rebelled from it.

You will leave the woman alone and go find Solange.

Instead of doing as bid, the man stood and looked around him, his expression calculating.
Oh, crap, he knows I tried to manipulate him.

“Juarez, Bandaraz, come here!”

The two soldiers rushed into the tent. Jinn backed away fast to hide in the bushes. The only word she could say fast to warn Tab and the group was
run!

***

From a distance, Tab watched Jinn as she fought the two soldiers who’d come for her. He and his team were hidden well enough, but since the Iceman was searching for Jinn, she’d given herself up.

I’ll kill her!

He knew only too well how harsh the enemy was with their captives, hoping Iceman would choose to keep her alive. Jinn got in a few good punches before they took her down and held her at gunpoint.

“Bring her here.” Iceman stood beside the tent. “Send your men out to find her friends.”

“I don’t have any friends. Thanks to you, they all think I’m a traitor and kicked me out of the group.”

“Funny, I thought you were dead. I’ll have to make sure my men are more thorough the next time we have a game. We should have buried you alive.”

“I followed you because I want a rematch!”

That surprised the man. The corner of his mouth lifted.

“I believe that can be arranged, before I make sure you are dead.”

Jinn spit at his feet. “That just goes to show what kind of creep you are. You pick on defenseless women and children and leave the real soldiers alone.”

When Iceman nodded at one of her captors, he tied her wrists together in front of her. Though Tab wanted nothing more than to step forward and kill the bastard, he had the team to think about. Blackstone was with Tara, so at least she was taken care of, but they were shy of teammates and had to be cautious.

Chan moved in close and whispered in Tab’s ear. “The boy is in the next tent. He’s okay.”

Tab nodded then gave hand signals that were passed to Jennings and Murphy.

As he watched them drag Jinn away, he realized that there was little time left.
Damn! We’ll have to work fast.

***

Burgess struggled against her bonds but wasn’t able to get free. She still wore the black silk dress, though it had seen better days.

While Jinn lay still, watching, she waited for her chance to escape and take Iceman down. She was almost free of the bindings.

Iceman turned to face Jinn and laughed. “The senorita wants to play. It’s time to set up our game again. This time we’ll make sure the loser is dead.”

Jinn glared at him, pretending she wanted the fight. “I thought you’d never ask.”

His girlish chuckle filled the tent. “You surprise me. We could have shot you on sight yet you come to fight to the death for the second time. What makes you think you can win when she beat you before?”

“I’ve been called stubborn in my day. I guess I’m a sucker for punishment.”

“Hmmm…I might keep you if you win. You intrigue me.”

Burgess snapped, “You’ll die this time, Dennison.”

Unable to let the woman know she was there to save her, Jinn taunted, “Try me.”

Iceman chuckled. “Very good. You will meet in one hour. It’s too bad you don’t have your dress still. I love to see a woman fight in her most vulnerable state.”

“You’re kidding yourself if you think I’m vulnerable in any way.”

“What is your first name, Dennison?”

“J…Julie.” She’d almost given herself away.
I’ll have to be careful with this guy.

He offered a feral grin and slid his fingertip across her breast.

“No man touches me unless he’s earned the right. Keep your paws to yourself.” Anger began to build as he continued, moving up to her collarbone then her neck.He slipped his fingers through her hair and clenched his fist, yanking her head back. His cold stare became frosted as he kept her gaze.

“I tell you what to do, not the other way around. Do you understand me?”

“For now.” Jinn raised her chin and narrowed her eyes to show defiance. She was rewarded with a sharp slap across her face.

“You’ll learn.” Iceman turned and left them. “Watch them carefully, Lopez.”

Jinn listened carefully and found she could hear more than one person outside the tent.

***

There was no time to warn Burgess of her plan as Jinn watched Lopez checking his weapon. One look at the woman proved she wasn’t into listening to reason. Her hard stare was enough proof. Jinn taunted Burgess to keep up the farce.

“You’ll lose, Burgess. Why not give up now and admit it.”

“Bite me!”

“I may, but it will be more like I’ll slay you.”

“Why you bitch. I’m going to take you apart piece by piece.”

Their guard chuckled. “Shut up. You’ll get your chance to fight soon enough.”

“It won’t be much of a fight with this useless waste of woman. She should have escaped from your gang on the first day.”

“Ha! No one escapes the Tridente de Muerte. Iceman is powerful. He has many women, guns, and drugs, as well as
mucho
money. Untouchable, that is him.”

Lying on her side, Jinn studied the man. He had a lot of faith in his leader but also a touch of awe. It was time to take him down a few pegs.

“If your boss is so great, why isn’t he sharing the wealth with you and your friends?”

Bingo
! The man’s expression changed to one of dismay as though he’d only just realized that fact.

“He pays us well enough.”

“More than a measly wage, I hope. How much does he have compared to you?”

The man didn’t answer but stood, clicking the stock of his gun into place.

“Seriously, what does he pay?”

“Stop talking, you witch. My leader knows what’s fair.”

“You’re telling us that your
leader
makes you risk your life for peanuts. That’s great. Maybe I can hire you to rob a NorthAmerican bank and give me all the money while I pay you nothing. It’s the same deal.”

“Be quiet!” he shouted, seriously upset. His hands began shaking and his expression turned foreboding. Jinn had hit the mark and now could wait for the results to unfold.

Chapter Twelve: Mirror, Mirror...

The wait was killing him! Tab couldn’t stand another minute yet years of training helped him to calm his mind and think clearly. It was time for strategies, not rash decisions. Jinn could take care of herself, and so could Burgess, if she was still alive. As for the boy, Tab figured he was a commodity and safe enough as long as he was useful.

The team had to watch what was happening, gather information, and take out the enemy at the precise moment, just like all the other missions they’d been on. So why was it so difficult to stand by and let fate intervene? It was because he loved Jinn, and now his judgment was cloudy. For years he’d warned his team not to get involved with anyone for their own sakes and now look at what he’d done.

Iceman came out of the tent. “Watch them carefully, Lopez.”

Jinn was in there, he knew, and watched, waited, held his breath, and died a thousand deaths inside. When Iceman went into the tent next door and came rushing out again screaming for his men, Tab knew something had seriously rattled the man.

“Where is Solange?”

Two men with rifles shrugged, but a third answered.

“She took a Jeep and left with the boy.”

It seemed impossible, yet the albino paled further.

“Go after them and bring them back here. If you fail, I will kill you!”

The three men raced off and climbed into a truck then left, rumbling down the beaten path. Iceman was furious, his face becoming mottled red as he began to pace in front of the tents.

“That bitch. I’ll rip her limb-from-limb. Lopez, get out here.”

When the man didn’t answer or leave the tent, Iceman shouted, “Lopez!”

***

“Lopez, does he respect you? Does he give you a bonus when you do a good job? Does he even tell you when you do so?”

It was almost too easy for Jinn to taunt the man as Lopez stood watch.

“I said be quiet, woman.”

“Oh, come on, Lopez, tell me you’re happy working for a murderous bastard.”

She kept pushing his buttons until he came over to her raising the rifle to strike her. She’d freed her hands just in time, hooked her feet behind his ankles, and pulled on his pant leg so that he lost his balance and fell forward. Before he could utter a word, she grabbed the shoulder strap from the rifle and choked him until he was unconscious.

Once she’d dropped him to the ground, she took his knife and cut the ties on her ankles then released Burgess.

“The Captain is waiting. Let’s go.”

“Wait a minute. I don’t believe you. You all abandoned me.”

Jinn rolled her eyes, frustrated to no end. “We don’t have time for this, Burgess. Let’s go. No wonder you didn’t escape on your own. I’m beginning to think you want to be a prisoner.”

“Like hell,” the woman grumbled, rubbing her wrists. “They kept me in the box when I didn’t conform to their orders. I want out of here.”

“We have to take out Iceman or this won’t end. The team is still scattered and the two traitors are dead. Now are you with me, or what?”

“Two? Who was it?”

“Seguire and Tanaka.”

“No, that’s not possible.”

Anxious, Jinn watched the tent flap. “We don’t have time now to argue. He’ll be back soon.”