Burned (11 page)

“No. Might not be a bad idea to get out of town for a few days, actually. We could head out of state if you want. Why, do you have somewhere in mind?”

If he was with her, she could face the ghosts of her memories. It was remote enough to give them protection and with only a few neighbors around the lake they’d have all the privacy they wanted. “There’s a cabin we could stay in.”

“Come with me.”

He took her by the hand and towed her into another room where Hunter, Gage and Ellis were having a conference call with someone on speaker phone.

“That still Alex?” Sean asked. Hunter nodded. “Alex, Zahra has a possible safe location in mind.”

“Where?” he asked.

“The place out at Deep Creek Lake,” Zahra answered. He knew exactly what she was talking about.

“You still have it?”

“It was willed to me but it’s listed as belonging to a corporation I set up, so it’s not under my name. There’s no way anyone could track me there.” Only one other person knew the location and since he was locked away from society, he wasn’t a threat to her anymore. “I was thinking I could go there for a few days until the situation settles down.”

“Not by yourself,” Alex admonished. “At least one of the guys will have to go with you.”

“I’ll take her,” Sean said. The others didn’t react. “If Hunt can spare me for a few days.”

“Sure,” Hunter answered. “How remote is it up there? Will you still be able to access files and whatever?”

“There’s Internet access, but it might be a little on the slow side,” Zahra said.

“Dunphy, make sure you check in with Hunter once you get there so he can keep you up to speed on what’s going on. In the meantime, the others are heading out to see if they can find this elusive Amir and figure out what the hell he’s been up to.”

“Roger that.” Sean turned his attention to her. “Sure about this?”

Sure about spending time alone with him in a safe location where no one but the team could find them? “Yes.”

****

Careful to keep pressure against the wounds in his upper arm, Amir took the stairs up to his third floor apartment. He was lucky that no one else saw him as he did because there was no way for him to disguise the blood soaking the shirt he’d wadded up to stem the bleeding where the bullet had hit him. His legs were weak and his free hand shook as he pressed down on the metal release lever and stumbled into the hallway.

It was a miracle he hadn’t killed himself trying to get home. He’d ditched the bullet-riddled stolen Ford a few blocks away from where he’d left his cab and forced himself to make it there on foot despite the pain and shock. If he was lucky the cops wouldn’t find the blood trail he’d left. Now he had to patch himself up and clean up his cab in case someone came looking for him.

Entering his darkened apartment, he shut the door and let himself lean against it for a moment. The burning throb in his arm made it hard to think. He wasn’t sure if the bone was broken but he couldn’t afford to go to the hospital. The staff would report the gunshot wound and the cops would be there to arrest him before he’d even been treated.

He flipped on the light and went to the bathroom, hissing as he pulled the soaked T-shirt away to inspect the entry and exit wounds. He supposed he should consider himself lucky that the bullet had gone clean through and missed his chest or head. Fumbling with the tap, he got the water running and gritted his teeth in preparation for what was coming. A strangled scream ripped from his throat when the water poured over the wounds, feeling like acid against his raw flesh. Gasping, gagging, he watched the water run reddish-pink in the bottom of the tub and swirl down the drain. The bleeding wasn’t slowing.

Amir forced himself upright and searched in the medicine cabinet for some bandages. The wounds needed stitching. He’d never put a needle in human flesh before but he’d seen it done and had no choice now. It took him endless minutes to find a needle and thread, get it through the eye and tie a knot in it, especially since moving the hand of his wounded arm caused him more pain. Before pouring hydrogen peroxide on the open wound, he glanced up at his reflection in the mirror above the sink. His now clean-shaven face was ashen, a sickly gray color and beaded with cold sweat.

Lowering his gaze to his bloody upper arm, he brought up the threaded needle with his good hand and bit down hard. The needle pierced the skin around the larger exit wound and he swallowed hard before pulling the thread through and pushing the needle into the skin on the opposite side of the wound to make the first stitch. Pain swamped him, made his head swim and his gut churn, almost as bad as the horrible spine chilling fear that numbed his brain.

He couldn’t believe he’d failed. It was only a matter of time before his handlers found out about the botched attempt and took other measures. Amir had to take some of his own before that happened, no matter how desperate they were.

First thing in the morning he was going to be back at the prison for help.

Chapter Ten

By eleven o’clock that morning Pakistan time, Malik knew the operation had failed. What he didn’t know was where the hell his operative was.

With an impatient wave he dismissed one of his closest advisors, grinding his back teeth together while he waited for the door to close behind him. The instant it did Malik shot out his arm and swept the entire contents of his desk crashing to the floor.

Nothing was going right. He didn’t have the location of the Titanium team members and all of them were still alive. Though he’d put more pressure on the mole this morning, there was no further information about the team’s whereabouts. It was probable they’d all scrambled again after the shootout.

Malik shook his head, the anger burning through his veins like a wildfire. Missing this hit was the second humiliation he’d had to suffer in the past ten days. He didn’t intend for there to be another.

In the soundproof office he paced back and forth across the thick Persian carpet. Not only had Amir failed to kill Zahra Gill and whoever had escorted her to that dinner last night, he’d also dropped off the face of the earth. Malik knew he wasn’t dead because his men had already checked with law enforcement, the local hospitals and morgues. No one matching Amir’s description had been brought in. The police had, however, found the bullet-strewn truck he’d been driving. From the bloodstains in it they knew he’d been wounded, though how badly no one could say.

Where was the bastard now? In hiding? He couldn’t possibly be stupid enough to believe he could escape Malik. With one phone call, one single
phone call
, he could have him either killed or dumped straight into American hands. Part of him wanted to do it, to teach him a lesson and remind everyone who worked for him that he was not to be trifled with.

The other part knew Amir was one of a few operatives embedded in the States who might yet be able to pull this off.

Either way, it was time to bring other, more powerful measures into this scenario. He was going to send a message to the American authorities.

Stalking back to his desk, he bent to pick up the phone now lying on the floor and punched in a number. “Activate the others and call Amir.” He might not be answering his phone at the moment but Malik knew he’d be monitoring his calls and messages. “Alert him that he is no longer working alone and if he does not contact me within the next six hours, he’ll be handed over to the Americans.” Even if Amir wanted to get revenge for that he’d never be able to leak Malik’s current location because no one but his most trusted inner circle knew where it was. All four of those men were with him now and were all secretly watching each other twenty-four hours a day.

“Yes, sir,” the man answered.

“One other thing.” Malik paused to trace the wood inlay on the front of his desk as he gathered his thoughts. “I want them to take the device with them.”

A pause filled the line for a moment, as though that had taken the man off guard. “Yes, sir, I’ll tell them right away.”

“Good.” He hung up and started picking up the mess on his carpet. Amir might be missing but he’d surface soon enough. All they needed was a location and the hunt could begin anew, only this time with a secret weapon that would make his statement loud and clear.

****

Sean turned down the access road to Deep Creek Lake Park just as the sun came up after a tense but uneventful three hour, one hundred and eighty mile drive to the westernmost part of Maryland. They’d left Gage and Claire’s just after three in the morning, and the long night coupled with the constant state of vigilance every time a vehicle appeared behind them had started to take its toll on him. His neck and shoulders ached from the crash and the long drive and more than anything he wanted to drop into a bed and sleep with Zahra beside him all night. She had to be just as sore and tired as he was.

“Take your next left,” she directed from beside him in the passenger seat, “then the second right. The cabin will be on your left about a quarter mile up.”

He followed her directions in the darkness, much more at ease now that they’d left the city far behind. During the drive he’d been extra cautious and hadn’t spotted anyone tailing them. He was looking forward to spending some time alone with her here to decompress…and a lot of other things. Mostly involving them naked in bed together. The brush with death earlier had only amped his primal and possessive feelings toward her. He wanted to hold her bare body against his, imprint the feel and taste of her in his brain. He wanted to possess her until he was buried as deep as he could go inside her and listen to the broken cries she’d make as she came for him.

She’d already gotten under his skin to the point that he knew he couldn’t walk away from her after his contract was up with the NSA. After that kiss he knew she wanted him, he just didn’t know if it went beyond the physical for her or not. And the look of startled wonder in her eyes when he’d ended the kiss had tied him in knots. He was glad to know she’d never felt this way before either.

Tightening his grip on the wheel, he pushed away the sexy image of her in the throes of release and made the final turn. As he steered slowly down the unpaved road in the early morning light, Deep Creek Lake appeared through the trees on their left. The manmade lake was the largest body of freshwater in the state and the perfect temporary hideout because it was remote enough to provide them with added protection. He couldn’t see anyone else finding them here without a direct invitation, not for the next few days at least.

Ahead, the outline of a cabin appeared off the road. “That it?”

“Yes. There’s a little driveway off to the side you can park in.”

Sean pulled in, getting his first look at her place. The small, one story building was constructed of timbers and surrounded by trees.

“I know it doesn’t look like much but the inside’s really comfortable. There’s plumbing and electricity, a wood burning fireplace if we get cold. A full shower too, and a fridge and stove,” Zahra said.

“Honey, to me that’s like a five star hotel.” And she didn’t have to worry about getting cold. Not with him here to warm her.

He cut the engine and set a restraining hand on hers when she started to undo her seatbelt. “Stay put while I look around.” When she nodded he got out and closed the door behind him. The woodsy scent of the air wafted around him on a cool breeze that ruffled the surface of the lake. Overhead the trees swayed gently, the slight creak of the branches mingling with the sound of birdsong. The wind was picking up, the approaching rain storm moving in from the coast. Mottled clouds blocked out most of the sky, allowing only occasional sparkles from the sun to ripple on the water. It was beautiful. Peaceful. Exactly what Zahra needed right now.

Sean did a quick circuit to get the lay of the land, noting the wooden dock jutting out into the water a few hundred yards to the north. A few other homes and cabins were scattered around this part of the lake, still far enough away that he and Zahra wouldn’t be bothered by any neighbors during their stay. He checked the darkened cabin next, found both doors locked and all the windows undisturbed.

Satisfied everything was as it should be, he went back to the SUV and opened her door. He helped her stand and climb the steps, noting how much she favored her right hip. He’d have to do something about that once they were settled. On the front porch she fished for the key she’d left hidden in a nook behind one of the wooden rocking chairs on the front deck that overlooked the water. She unlocked the door and pushed it open with a groan of the hinges. A wave of slightly musty air hit him as she stepped inside and flipped on the light.

Instinctively Sean set an arm around her and stepped past her to check things out for himself. The small kitchen joined with a living room where a white mantel that looked like it had been cobbled together out of vintage corbels graced the far wall. A little TV sat in the corner opposite a sofa and coffee table. The whole place was decorated in bright jewel tones that spoke of a strong feminine touch.

“The bathroom’s back there,” Zahra said, gesturing down the short hallway. “Both bedrooms are beyond that.”

Sean walked through and flipped on the hall light, his boots thudding softly on the wide plank wooden floors. The full bath looked recently renovated, sporting a sink and vanity and a fiberglass combination tub/shower. At the end of the hall he found the bedrooms, both boasting comfortable-looking double beds and thick floral comforters.

He turned back to face Zahra, still by the door. She had her arms wrapped around her waist and was looking around the kitchen/living room with a wistful look that made him realize how hard it had been for her to come here. Where he saw a cozy cabin built for two, she saw whatever ghosts haunted her past. “Why don’t you sit down and relax for a bit while I unload our stuff?” he suggested.

“I’ve been sitting for over three hours already,” she muttered, and limped into the kitchen to start opening cupboards. Sean caught glimpses of mismatched cups and dishes as she checked each one.

“Be back in a minute,” he told her. With his leather jacket on, his shoulder harness was concealed. She obviously wasn’t comfortable with guns and he didn’t want to put his on display in front of her. He stripped off his jacket and the holster, tucking the weapons away in the large duffle he’d brought with him that contained even more firepower. Not that he thought he’d actually need it, but he’d rest easier out here having his rifle as well.

He carried in his duffle and the bag of clothes and toiletries Claire had packed for Zahra and set them in the room he thought must be Zahra’s. If she wanted him to sleep in the other room he would, even though he’d hate doing it. Next he carried in the groceries he’d run out to buy before they left Gage and Claire’s place, along with the ice filled cooler that held other items. He brought them into the kitchen and placed them on the butcher block counter. Zahra was standing by the stove, head bowed, hands balled into fists. He stepped up behind her and set a hand on her shoulder, finding the muscles rigid.

“You okay?” A stupid question since he could see for himself that she wasn’t, but he didn’t know what else to say and wanted to give her a chance to open up on her own.

She pulled in an unsteady breath before answering. “Been a long time since I’ve come up here.”

“I’m guessing not since your mom died?” It was obvious from the decor and her reaction that her mother had stayed here and Zahra was thinking about her.

Zahra nodded, sucked in a breath as though she was on the verge of tears. Sean slid his arms around her from behind and pressed his front to her back, reminding her without words that she wasn’t alone. She settled her arms over his, squeezed once. “I’m glad you’re here with me. I don’t think I could’ve done this by myself. Too many ghosts, you know?”

Sean was silent a moment before speaking. It was nearly seven in the morning, she’d been through something traumatic tonight and now she was facing whatever demons of her past hadn’t yet been laid to rest. “I think you’re done in. Want to just crash now?”

“No, I want to get everything put away first. I just need to get used to being here.” She pushed away from him and started unpacking the groceries and Sean didn’t try to stop her. As they put everything away the wind began to gust against the window panes. Soon the first drops of rain began to patter against the glass and roof.

Zahra went to her bedroom to get everything organized and Sean stayed back to give her some space. He’d spotted a cord of wood stacked against the side of the cabin so he went out and gathered what he needed to start a fire. Once he had it going he sank onto the couch and stared into the flames, wondering what his next move should be. His body wanted Zahra, naked and willing underneath him, but he also wanted answers. With no one else to overhear or interrupt them, this was the perfect time to ask her about all those secrets she kept locked away from the world.

She came out of the bathroom a while later wearing yoga pants and a long T-shirt Claire had loaned her, her hair damp from a shower. She’d left it down so that it spilled in a dark curtain down her back. Seeing him on the sofa, she stopped and leaned against the hallway wall, her expression unreadable. He waited, staying silent.

Finally she looked into the fire and spoke. “This was my mom’s place.”