Redmond.
She and Risto were currently the only guests. Their host had supplied them with gear for a potential trip into the rain forest, found her a ladies model Ruger, and was securing a new all-terrain vehicle for their trip, just in case shit happened and they needed to go off-road. He’d also provided a secure computer connection with video-conferencing capability and she’d spoken with her brothers and Colonel Walsh. Risto had held her as she cried tears of relief to see her brothers safe in the Colonel’s care.
After ordering her to stay put, Risto had taken off on foot for his meeting with Evan and Chad and then his mission at her former hotel. That had been almost three hours ago.
Her gut told her something was wrong.
A knock on the door startled her. Had Risto forgotten his key? That didn’t make sense, he could’ve gotten another one from Conn or one of the guards on duty. She walked over and peered through the peep hole. It was their host. She opened the door.
“What’s wrong?”
Conn’s facial expression was blank as he took her hand and pulled her to the small sitting area in front of the fire he’d built for her earlier. Releasing her hand, he sat and patted the cushions next to him. “Sit, Callie.”
Dread settled over her like a lead blanket. She sank onto the sofa. “Tell me. Is it Risto?”
He shook his head. “I haven’t heard anything from him yet.” She frowned. If not Risto then… “Is it Evan and the others?” Sickness pooled in her stomach. She looked at her watch—it was ten o’clock. The escort should’ve already picked them up for the ride to the Barranquilla airport.
Again he shook his head. “I got confirmation that your friends are on their way. So far, no one has attempted to stop them.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
Conn, a tough-looking blond, leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Cruz has his men tearing the city apart to find you. This makes your situation even more dangerous since there are people in this town who’d sell out their mothers to get on Cruz’s good side.”
“But we expected that … it makes a good diversion for Evan, Chad and the others.” He let out a rough breath and rubbed a hand over his face. “It’s worse than we expected. Cruz has offered a large reward for Risto’s dead body and your live one. This means every free-lance mercenary in town will be on the hunt. The fact he’s willing to bring in outsiders indicates this is more than business as usual. Hate to say it, sweet cheeks, but Cruz is a tad bit psychotic about possessing you. And when crazy people do crazy things, innocents get hurt.”
Her breath hitched but she managed to stifle the moan threatening to erupt from her throat. “He’s hurting people to find me?” She gasped. “Tom and Rosa?”
“They’re fine. They’ve gone to visit Rosa’s cousins in the cartel. Paco is the head of Rosa’s family and understands loyalty to family and leaving innocents out of business whenever possible. Cruz wanting you is not business as far as Paco is concerned—and I got that straight from Tom who got it straight from Paco.” She let out the breath she’d been holding. “This makes it more dangerous for Risto?
With more people hunting for him?” He nodded, his mouth a thin grim line. “We have to go get him.”
“Not we , me and one of my men. I just wanted to let you know I’d be out of the house for a while.”
“But…”
Conn shook his head and chuckled. “Risto told me to tie you to the bed and not let you come after him if he was late—or if something happened. My job, and my only job, was to make sure you kept your sweet ass here.”
“But he didn’t need to go back to the hotel … the meeting with Evan and Chad was necessary, but the rest … he did for me. And I asked, begged him not to go.” She began to cry. “He’s out there risking his life for nothing.”
Conn stared. “What in the fuck did he go back to the Sofitel for if
She and Risto were currently the only guests. Their host had supplied them with gear for a potential trip into the rain forest, found her a ladies model Ruger, and was securing a new all-terrain vehicle for their trip, just in case shit happened and they needed to go off-road. He’d also provided a secure computer connection with video-conferencing capability and she’d spoken with her brothers and Colonel Walsh. Risto had held her as she cried tears of relief to see her brothers safe in the Colonel’s care.
After ordering her to stay put, Risto had taken off on foot for his meeting with Evan and Chad and then his mission at her former hotel. That had been almost three hours ago.
Her gut told her something was wrong.
A knock on the door startled her. Had Risto forgotten his key? That didn’t make sense, he could’ve gotten another one from Conn or one of the guards on duty. She walked over and peered through the peep hole. It was their host. She opened the door.
“What’s wrong?”
Conn’s facial expression was blank as he took her hand and pulled her to the small sitting area in front of the fire he’d built for her earlier. Releasing her hand, he sat and patted the cushions next to him. “Sit, Callie.”
Dread settled over her like a lead blanket. She sank onto the sofa. “Tell me. Is it Risto?”
He shook his head. “I haven’t heard anything from him yet.” She frowned. If not Risto then… “Is it Evan and the others?” Sickness pooled in her stomach. She looked at her watch—it was ten o’clock. The escort should’ve already picked them up for the ride to the Barranquilla airport.
Again he shook his head. “I got confirmation that your friends are on their way. So far, no one has attempted to stop them.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
Conn, a tough-looking blond, leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Cruz has his men tearing the city apart to find you. This makes your situation even more dangerous since there are people in this town who’d sell out their mothers to get on Cruz’s good side.”
“But we expected that … it makes a good diversion for Evan, Chad and the others.” He let out a rough breath and rubbed a hand over his face. “It’s worse than we expected. Cruz has offered a large reward for Risto’s dead body and your live one. This means every free-lance mercenary in town will be on the hunt. The fact he’s willing to bring in outsiders indicates this is more than business as usual. Hate to say it, sweet cheeks, but Cruz is a tad bit psychotic about possessing you. And when crazy people do crazy things, innocents get hurt.”
Her breath hitched but she managed to stifle the moan threatening to erupt from her throat. “He’s hurting people to find me?” She gasped. “Tom and Rosa?”
“They’re fine. They’ve gone to visit Rosa’s cousins in the cartel. Paco is the head of Rosa’s family and understands loyalty to family and leaving innocents out of business whenever possible. Cruz wanting you is not business as far as Paco is concerned—and I got that straight from Tom who got it straight from Paco.” She let out the breath she’d been holding. “This makes it more dangerous for Risto?
With more people hunting for him?” He nodded, his mouth a thin grim line. “We have to go get him.”
“Not we , me and one of my men. I just wanted to let you know I’d be out of the house for a while.”
“But…”
Conn shook his head and chuckled. “Risto told me to tie you to the bed and not let you come after him if he was late—or if something happened. My job, and my only job, was to make sure you kept your sweet ass here.”
“But he didn’t need to go back to the hotel … the meeting with Evan and Chad was necessary, but the rest … he did for me. And I asked, begged him not to go.” She began to cry. “He’s out there risking his life for nothing.”
Conn stared. “What in the fuck did he go back to the Sofitel for if
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