Sudden Recall (18 page)

Jonah didn't move his attention from Parker; he just lifted one eyebrow.

Parker ignored it. “Let's go.”

He strode down the porch steps and watched for Ames to come back with the car. While they waited, he thought through what had happened. “What about Loughton? Did he have a phone?” Sienna would have left hers in the car when she went in; she wouldn't have taken it in the house where it could have been discovered and used against her.

Hailey got on her phone again. “I'll find out.”

Ames drove up and they all climbed in. While Hailey called the office and asked for information on Loughton that might give them a phone number they could trace, Ames glanced at Parker in the front passenger seat.

After the fourth glance, Parker said, “What?”

“It wasn't my fault.” Ames paused. “I know you care about Sienna, but I'm sorry. A minivan pulled out in front of me, windows down, full of kids. I wasn't going to slam into the side and risk seriously hurting them. As it was, I scraped the back bumper.”

“Fair enough.” Parker knew Ames well enough to know his usually joking exterior hid a big heart. Not that Parker would have made a different decision, but Ames was wired a whole lot differently. The man's career as a homicide detective before he'd transferred to their team had left him with deep scars.

He gritted his teeth. “Let's just find Nina and pray that somehow we figure out where Loughton took Sienna.”

Jonah reached forward and squeezed Parker's shoulder. The man had rededicated his life to the Lord a few months back. Sienna believed in the Lord. If it was going to help get her back, he would do whatever it took.

Or he would die trying.

EIGHTEEN

S
ienna huddled in the backseat, watched street signs and traced the route they'd taken. Loughton drove like a crazy man, but apparently no one cared. The streets were almost completely deserted, the sun having dropped behind the houses and set. Streetlights lit the main roads in whatever town this was; she didn't know what it was called.

“Why did you take me?” Sienna didn't move her attention from the streets outside the car window, but she had to get him talking if she wanted to find out the answers to all of her questions.

“Why not?” Loughton was out of breath, but the tone of his voice was that of a man who thought he'd won. “You ruined everything, and I'm going to make things right. I planned this meticulously. I gave up my whole career to retire and live the sweet life, and you just had to come along and mess up all of it.”

“It's my job.”

Loughton laughed. “The CIA, systematically messing up men's great plans the world over.”

Sienna much preferred the Bible verse that said God directed man's steps, despite what they had planned. He was sovereign.

A rush of peace filled her. It calmed her racing heart and helped her breath to even out. God was in control, as He had been all along. The mission. The coma. Nina's future. Sienna's guilt and pain over what had happened with Parker. God had His hand on all of it, and she didn't have to worry.

Thank You, Lord.
She breathed.
Now if You could help me get out of here, that would be great.

She smiled to the window, despite the situation. God had proven Himself to her before, and she was sure this situation would be no different.

“I don't know why you're smiling, being as you're going to die. You're only going to live long enough to see me win, and then I have no use for you. Unless you can think of a way to make my life sweeter.”

Sienna looked at him so he knew exactly what she thought of that idea.

Loughton laughed. “Too bad.”

When he looked back at the road, she glanced around. There was nothing on the floor or the seat. She'd already tried opening the door while they were driving away from Parker. If Amand had brought Loughton to the mansion in his car, Loughton would probably have known the child locks were on in the back. Which she figured was why he'd pushed her between the seats into the back instead of letting her sit in the front passenger. That had hurt.

Then Sienna saw it. The side of Loughton's jacket was flipped up onto the space between the front seats, where the cup holder was. In his pocket was a cell phone. His, or someone else's that he'd stolen. Who knew? But it didn't matter.

Sienna was going to steal it.

“I'm sorry Amand brought you into this.” Maybe appealing to the fact that Amand had him beaten before she got to the mansion would help. Loughton's pride probably didn't like the fact that he'd been bested and then forced to log in to the NSA's system using a dummy account that hadn't been suspended.

Loughton scoffed. “Karen was going to have me killed before Amand's people snatched me from her assassin. Now I'm free of him, and I have the flash drives. So far, it's better than being dead.”

“I don't know. My shoulder hurts pretty bad.”

Loughton laughed and got into a turn lane. Sienna leaned forward while he said, “Serves you right,” and pickpocketed his phone.

Sienna pressed the button to unlock the phone and nearly cried out in frustration. It was Loughton's phone—the picture of his daughter on the lock screen was proof enough—and it wouldn't unlock without his thumb swipe.

How had he got it past Amand's men? Or had he simply picked it from a dead man's pocket before they left the mansion? She'd seen him grab the flash drives, and something else.

Either way, there was no way she could call for help except to dial emergency. She should call the police, but would anyone believe her? She wanted to call Parker. He could get the police to her with more urgency, given his pull as a marshal. She quickly came up with an alternative plan and prayed it worked.

The light turned green. Loughton hit the gas and careened through the intersection. Halfway through the turn she reached forward with her good arm and pulled up the hand brake. Before Loughton knew what had happened, she slammed his head down onto the steering wheel. He cried out and let go of the wheel.

Sienna prayed they wouldn't hit anyone, grabbed his hand and used his thumb to swipe the phone.

Loughton pulled the car off the road and slammed into a concrete bench with a roar. He twisted and came at her between the front seats with a determined look on his face. He spied the phone in her hand and made a grab for it.

Sienna reared back. Had she just lost her only opportunity to call for help?

Loughton was going to kill her.

* * *

Ames slowed the car as they passed the house where they suspected Nina was being held. The phone that was being used for the video connection had been traced to this house.

Parker assessed the entry points in front.
God, help us get her alive.

They parked around the corner, outside another street. TVs flashed in the front windows of houses, people who hadn't yet gone to bed even though it was late. Otherwise, these were working people tired after a long day.

There was no reason to gear up, given this was the second breach of the night. All they needed was extra ammo. Back-to-back raids weren't unprecedented, but usually they weren't personal like this one was.

Parker said, “Let's go.”

Technically, Jonah was boss, but it was Parker's team and they'd all worked together long enough it wasn't like anyone would get confused as to who was in command.

“Hailey and I will take the back.” Jonah and Hailey broke off.

Hailey had taken the time to call her daughter and speak to her husband, their other teammate Eric, who'd had to head back home. Parker admired her ability to sign off the call and switch back to the operation and the objective. He'd known SEALs that weren't able to leave their personal lives at home when they went on a mission.

Parker crept up to the front door under cover of darkness. No lights were on downstairs, and the curtains had been drawn on the upper level. It was an ordinary three-bed house any small family would live in. Certainly not like the place anyone would stash a hostage. Although, that was likely the point.

Ames stood to one side of the front door, Parker to the other. Ames gave him a nod. Parker said, “Breach.” He kicked in the front door and they went in.

No furniture. Empty rooms.

Jonah's voice came over the radio. “Kitchen is clear. Cell phone on the counter and an empty pizza box. Recent.”

Parker noted the smell more than anything else. No one had opened a window in months, and the air wasn't moving at all. “Living room is clear.”

“Downstairs is clear.” Ames led the way upstairs.

They broke off at the top of the stairs and both opened different doors at the same time. Hailey and Jonah had stayed downstairs to provide cover in case someone came home. The place was practically deserted. Was Nina even here?

Parker entered the bedroom.

Ames said, “Bathroom is clear. I'll check the...”

Parker cut him off. “She's in here.”

Sitting on a dirty bare mattress in the corner of the room, huddled against the wall, Nina lifted her eyes. When she saw who it was, they narrowed. “You.”

“The one and only.” He stowed his gun and moved across the room to her. Parker wanted to tell Sienna that he'd found her friend for her. That they'd done it. “Loughton took Sienna.”

“The buyer?”

“Amand Timenez and his men are dead.”

“The flash drives?”

“Karen has them.”

“That's not good.” Nina's voice was quiet. She held a bloody kitchen towel to her that was wrapped around her left hand. “Not good at all.”

“Can you walk?”

She nodded. Parker helped her to her feet and supported her weight as they crossed to the door. Ames stood at the top of the stairs. “House is clear.”

His gaze fell on Nina and his eyes flared. His mouth opened, but he didn't say anything. Mr. Smooth had no words, faced with an injured, admittedly beautiful woman. She did bear a resemblance to Sienna. Parker could have laughed aloud at his partner, floored by a woman for the first time in his life. Or so far as Parker knew.

Ames recovered enough to say, “Does she need an ambulance?”

“No ambulances.” Nina shook her head. “I'll take care of it.”

Ames frowned. Parker shot him a look. If the woman didn't want this to be officially reported, that was her business. Parker wasn't going to argue, and he wasn't going to let Ames push her. Not when Parker needed Nina to help him find Sienna.

When they got to the bottom of the stairs, Jonah introduced himself and Hailey. Ames finally stuck his hand out to Nina, and said, “Wyatt.”

She grabbed it with her good, right hand but didn't manage to hide the wince.

“You're certain you don't want someone to look at that?”

To Ames's credit, she did look very pale. Her skin was clammy, and Parker was concerned about the wound being infected.

Instead of answering, Nina turned to Parker. “What are you doing to get her back?”

“Finding you.”

It sounded so lame when he said it out loud, but what other choice did he have? “We lost the car they were in. Local police are looking for them, and we're checking into Loughton's background to see if we can ascertain where he might be taking her.”

“And you think I know where she might be?”

“Finding you was the most important thing to Sienna, and I've done that, even though she's not here to see it. Now I need you to help me find the only woman I've ever loved.”

“Okay.”

Parker blinked. “Okay?” He wasn't surprised she'd do anything for Sienna, but had this experience opened Nina up to accepting Parker in her best friend's life?

Nina shrugged one shoulder. “I'm a tough CIA agent who happens to secretly be a pushover for a good love story.” She cracked a smile.

Parker grinned. Ames's trademark laughter filled the room, making everyone grin. But it was short-lived.

“He's going to kill her.”

Nina nodded. “He's going to kill her.”

Parker's phone rang.

* * *

Sienna gripped the phone while Loughton roared. He clutched his head where she'd kicked him.

“Parker.”

“It's me,” she gasped.

“Where...?”

Sienna cut him off. There was less than no time. “West Haven Street and Forty-third.”

Thankfully, the car crashing hadn't drawn too much attention, given the late hour. But someone was out there. Would they help her?

“We're on our way. Just sit tight, okay?” She heard shuffling, and then he yelled, “Get me a location, too. I'm not making a mistake with this.”

Sienna relaxed a fraction. But she couldn't get out of the car. So long as Loughton was in the front seat, she had no way out. Even if she incapacitated him, could she get between the seats to climb out? Likely not with her shoulder screaming at her like this.

“Just hurry.”

She could hear him running. Meanwhile, Loughton was recovering quickly. He reached over to the front passenger seat and grabbed something. Sienna realized what it was even before Loughton pulled the trigger.

“Sienna!” Parker's voice rang through the phone.

Sienna screamed and kicked at Loughton's arm. He yelled, the gunfire stopped and the gun dropped to the floor by her but too far away to reach down and get it.

Loughton launched himself between the seats and tried to grab for it. She kicked his hand. His arm. He cried out. Sienna kicked his head and he fell backward. Loughton's head collided with the dash where the radio was. She sucked in a breath and he slumped back.

“Parker.”

“Are you okay?” His voice was steady, solid.

Sienna whimpered. Pricks of light flashed at the edges of her vision.

“Sienna?”

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

“Sienna, talk to me. Are you okay? Please be okay. Sienna? Don't die. I love you. I have since the first day we met and it didn't go away, even though I could have hated you for not coming to the airport, for choosing your job. But I don't blame you. You had the right to make that choice, and it hurt but I understand.”

It was the wrong choice.
Sienna should never have believed Karen knew better. She should have trusted her heart. Trusted what she felt for Parker and the connection they had. God had put him in her path for a reason, and she had to believe that reason was for her good. Just as it was for Parker's good.

God, help him to trust in You. Help Parker to believe what I believe. It'll make it easier for him if he doesn't get here in time.
She gasped.
Help him get here in time, Lord.
If he didn't, it would destroy him. Sienna knew, because she would feel the same way if he died.

“I understand because I love you, Sienna.”

Though she'd given him no answer, he continued, “You're the best thing that ever happened to me, and that's never changed...and Nina's scowling at me. I guess she still doesn't think I'm good enough for you, and that's fine. I won't ever be good enough for you. But I want to spend every day showing you why I'm the right choice. If you'll let me.”

What was he suggesting? Sienna couldn't believe he simply swept away what she'd done. He'd forgiven her. Or at least that's what it sounded like. Parker had let go of the pain she'd dished out to him. Was that because he'd surrendered it to God?

She wanted that for him, because Sienna knew what it meant in her life. Peace. Joy. The ability to forgive herself because she had been forgiven of so much.