Targeted (37 page)

“Where are you taking me?” Vargas snapped.

“Your friend Chadwick wants to make a trade.” Fear for Sophie’s safety a living thing inside him, Jack glanced in the rearview mirror as he maneuvered around parked planes. No one was behind them.

“You know about him?” Vargas’s voice was cautious.

“I do now.”

“I take it from our escape that you are working alone.” It wasn’t a question.

“Your friend has something I want.” Jack’s fingers flexed around the steering wheel. The back gate was still open. No doubt from when Sophie and Chadwick left. Jack was counting down the seconds until he wrapped his hands around that bastard’s neck. When he’d heard Sophie cry out in pain, he nearly lost it. The knowledge that if he’d reacted he would have put her in more danger was the only thing that stopped him.

“Something or someone?”

Yeah, as if he was going to have that conversation with Vargas. “How long have you worked with Chadwick?”

He shrugged. “Long enough.”

Nice, evasive answer. “Who approached whom?”

Vargas shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “We approached him, of course.”

Somehow Jack doubted that. Jack was silent as he followed the signs toward I-95.

“Ninety-five South? Where are you taking me?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” Intentionally, Jack jerked the vehicle sharply as he took the ramp onto the highway. When he did, he retrieved his phone from his pocket and held it down next to his left leg. His phone was usually set to silent, but he’d also set the tone to mute.

Wesley was going to be pissed, but texting him was the only way to communicate.
Chadwick has Sophie. Wants 2 trade Vargas. Activate small tracking on V. C has info on Ramaan. Follow. No choppers.

The message was choppy at best, but Wesley would figure it out. Or at least Jack hoped he would.

After pressing SEND, Jack made a show of pulling his phone out of his pocket and dialed Chadwick. Even though Vargas looked uninterested, Jack knew the man was watching his every move. He redialed Chadwick’s number and waited.

He answered midring. “Do you have him?”

“Yes.”

“Good, put me on speaker.”

Jack did as the man ordered.

“Miguel?” Chadwick spoke.

“I’m here,” Vargas said.

“Is anyone following you?”

Vargas turned around as he answered, “Not that I am aware of.”

“Is anyone with you?”

“No, he’s working alone. Took out two of his men to free me.”

“Can you get us out of the country?”

By now Wesley would have grounded every flight in Florida. Something he had the power to do and something Chadwick no doubt knew. Chadwick’s order to free Vargas was a tricky bet, but Jack understood why he’d done it. He clearly didn’t have all the funds he wanted to live his life on the run, and a man like that, who’d betrayed his country, would never be satisfied without all the money he’d been counting on. However much it was, Jack could only guess.

Vargas looked at Jack, a smirk playing across his hard features. “Do not worry about the transportation. I have men on standby.”

“Good. As soon as we get off the phone, Jack, you’re going to throw your phone out. If you don’t, Miguel will tell me at the meet and your girlfriend will pay.”

“Where’s the meet?”

“Do you know where the Channel Five Bridge is in Long Key?”

He’d grown up in south Florida. Of course he knew. “Yes.”

“Turn off onto that abandoned strip right before the original Overseas Highway.”

“We’ll be there.”

“If you’re not, your girlfriend dies.”

“If you don’t have the information you promised, you won’t make it to jail.”

Chadwick hung up.

Though he was loath to do it, Jack tossed his cell out the window. He’d give the slimy bastard credit. He’d covered a lot of his bases. Just not all of them.

“What information has he promised you?” Vargas asked.

Jack shrugged and increased his speed.

“How do you know he won’t betray you?” Vargas spoke again.

Jack internally smiled. Vargas was getting nervous. “I don’t, but he’s got better information than you. I’m willing to take the risk.”

Vargas was silent, so Jack reopened the conversation. “There’s a man that works for you I’m interested in. You sent him after me a few days ago.”

“I don’t know who you are talking about.”

Jack gave a brief description of Levi but didn’t say his name because he assumed Levi had used an alias. Vargas didn’t respond, so Jack guessed he knew exactly who he referred to. “Why wasn’t he with you today?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Like I said, it’s personal.” Jack couldn’t give the guy a reason, so either he told him or he didn’t.

Vargas shifted against the leather seat, causing his handcuffs to jangle against the side bar. He didn’t speak for so long Jack gave up on him answering. Finally Vargas sighed. “What does it matter? The man you speak of doesn’t work for me anymore.”

“Why not?”

“He did a few contract jobs, then left to hook up with some Russians—which he thinks I don’t know about. He did not follow orders well. Who is he?”

“I’ve been after him for a few years. Thanks for the tip.” Jack made a mental note about the Russians. He’d put Levi out of his mind for the past day, but he wanted to find his friend when all this was over. He just hoped Levi hadn’t gotten in over his head.

FUBAR: Fucked-up Beyond All Recognition.

In the deafeningly silent vehicle, Sophie fought to keep it together. Tears burned her eyes, but she blinked them back. It was hard, though, when she knew she was going to die.

Had no doubt about it. Jack didn’t give a shit about her. Only information and his damn job were important to him. Her heart might still be beating in her chest, but it wasn’t working. As a young woman she’d loved Sam, but she loved Jack, the man he’d become, just as much. More, even. Something she could finally admit and it didn’t matter. He not only didn’t feel the same but was just like everyone else.

She was disposable. A means to an end.

Her throat and muscles were so tight from holding back the avalanche of tears pressing at her, she was practically shaking.

As Chadwick tapped his gun against the center console, Sophie forced herself to stay calm. She was terrified that any overt movement would set this maniac off. She had one foot inside death’s door, and time was not on her side.

Every time Chadwick glanced at his watch, the more antsy he got. At least he wasn’t chatty. Since his last call to Jack he’d said a few words to her, but only to give her directions. If he wanted to talk she’d start crying and she’d never stop. God only knew how he’d react to that. Probably knock her out or cut her again.

Her yellow sweater sleeve had turned a crimson red, but the bleeding had stopped. Now the dried material was stiff against her arm. Every time she moved she was afraid she’d open the wound again.

They were parked just off the road, right before a long bridge in a gravelly spot that couldn’t be called an actual parking area. From where they sat she had a good view of the new bridge and the older, crumbling one that ran parallel to it.

The turquoise water glistened under the bright sun and there literally wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It seemed impossible that she was being held at gunpoint on such a beautiful day. Cars zoomed past in sporadic intervals, but traffic was fairly light. Every time she saw a dark vehicle in the rearview mirror, she nearly jumped.

Then she cursed herself for the reaction. She had to stay immobile and not give Chadwick a reason to lash out at her.

When the SUV she was watching started to slow and turned off the road she automatically swiveled around in her seat. Chadwick did the same.

“You’re going to do everything I say or you’re getting a bullet in your back.”

Ice slithered through her veins. Swallowing hard, she nodded. The SUV pulled up next to them on her side, but she didn’t make a move to get out.

Chadwick glanced around nervously, then motioned with his gun. “I’m getting out on this side. Climb over the center console.”

She did as he said and the moment her feet touched the ground, he grabbed her by her injured arm, then shoved his gun into her spine.

Little needles of pain splintered up her arm, but raw fear overtook any agony.

Sophie watched as the passenger-side window of Jack’s SUV rolled down. Miguel Vargas was handcuffed to the side handle and Jack was in the driver’s seat.

“Miguel, did he toss his phone?” Chadwick asked.

“Yes.”

“Were you followed?”

“No.”

“Jack, get out where I can see you.” Chadwick’s voice rose.

Blood rushed in Sophie’s ears, but she kept her focus on Jack. It killed her to even look at his face knowing he cared so little for her, but she knew he’d save her if he could. Even if she wasn’t a priority in this trade-off. The small consolation did little to ease the clawing ache in her chest.

Jack got out but stayed behind the front of the vehicle. “I want what you promised me,” he shouted.

“First come out from behind the SUV. I want to see you.” Chadwick’s voice rang in her ears.

“I’m not putting my weapon down.”

“Fine. I still want to see you.”

Without moving her head, her eyes strayed to Vargas. He sat immobile, looking so calm, as if this were something he did every day.

She was barely keeping it together.

Jack still had his gun drawn as he walked around the vehicle toward them. “Let the girl go, Chadwick. I’ve held up my part of the bargain.”

The girl.
God, he didn’t even say her name. She truly meant so little to him.

“First you unlock Miguel.”

Jack’s pale eyes narrowed. “Not until you give me what I came for.”

“Take the minicomputer in the middle seat.”

Gun still pointed in their direction, Jack sidestepped until he opened the door, retrieved it, then transferred it to his vehicle. He then unlocked Vargas with one hand, jerked him from the vehicle, and clasped the man’s hands behind his back and secured the cuffs again. “We exchange at the same time, Chadwick.”

“After the exchange, we leave first,” her captor snapped.

Jack nodded in agreement. “If the information you gave me doesn’t pan out, I’ll hunt you to the ends of the earth. You know that.”

“I haven’t stayed alive this long by being stupid. All I want is to get out of here alive and get my fucking
money
,” Chadwick snarled. “And if you try anything, I’ll take her down with me.”

Shit, shit,
shit
. She had no doubt he meant it. Could only imagine what it would feel like to have a bullet ripping into her.

Jack, however, didn’t seem to break a sweat, which further embedded that dagger in her chest. “On the count of two. One, two.”

When Chadwick released her, Sophie jerked her arm close to her chest. Without the gun pressing into her back, she no longer felt as if the Grim Reaper was about to claim her. Keeping her steps measured, she resisted the urge to sprint. Everything around her funneled out as she walked toward Jack. This entire time he’d barely made eye contact with her, but even now she knew he was aware of her gaze on him.

Jack was aware of everything—even if he didn’t give a shit about her.

When she and Vargas passed each other, he tossed her a disdainful glance. She picked up her pace.

As soon as she was a foot from Jack he spoke low enough for her to hear. “Get behind the truck.”

She nodded and continued past him, rushing the last few feet to gain cover. A second later Jack joined her. “Stay low. I’m letting them go and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

The sound of the other engine revving, tires squealing, then the loud pop of gunfire sent her diving for cover. Sophie shielded her ears and hit the ground. This sound was becoming all too familiar.

“Damn it!”

She looked up to find Jack pounding on the hood.

“What happened?” Standing, she brushed off her hands on her jeans.

“They shot the engine.” He holstered his weapon in the back of his pants, then rubbed a hand over his face.

She couldn’t find it in her to care. All she felt was betrayal and she just wanted to see that Hannah was truly safe, then go home.

Recovering quickly from his outburst, Jack assessed her from head to toe in such a clinical fashion she felt like a specimen under a microscope. “Is this your only wound?” He gently held her arm and moved the material of her shirt to the side.

Even though what she really wanted to do was strike out at him and hurt him the way he’d hurt her, she just nodded.

“Did that bastard hurt you in any other way?” There was a sharp bite to his question.

Still not trusting herself to speak, she shook her head.

“We’ll take care of your wound later. I hate bringing you with me, but we’ve got to go after them now, Sophie.”

She nodded again. If she started talking, she feared she’d open the floodgates and would never stop crying. And God help her, she refused to let Jack see how much he’d affected her. How he’d basically flayed her insides.

•   •   •

Sophie was safe and with him. The reality went a long way in letting Jack focus and do his damn job.

His woman was safe.

That was the only thing that mattered. She was quiet and possibly in shock, but she was alive. He kept saying the words over and over, but they did nothing to still the beast raging inside him. That bastard Chadwick would eventually pay.

But first Jack had to catch him. He ran through their options in his head. He needed to upload the information he had to Wesley and he really needed to track Vargas and Chadwick. As a car whizzed past them, he grabbed the small computer case and handed it to Sophie. “Just stay behind me.”