Falcon agent was a trained killer with the instincts of a man who lived on the edge. Brody had pulled off stunts other agents wouldn’t even consider. Given the right circumstances, he could bury a man in a heartbeat. A.J. had witnessed a few of those times and it wasn’t pretty. Brody Hawke was one of the most dangerous men alive.
Exhausted and struggling to stay awake, A.J. groaned as footsteps pounded down the stairs. A glowing lantern chased away the darkness and sent the rats scurrying for cover. Squinting against the glare, A.J. staggered to his feet and braced his back against the wall.
Oscar Chavez stood outside the bars of his cell, alone. A.J. met his gaze and would have paid anything for the chance to wrap his hands around Chavez’s neck and squeeze.
“I see you are our guest, again.”
“Not by choice.”
“No, I can imagine the dis comfort you must be feeling now.”
“I’ll live.”
“Let’s hope that is the case.”
A.J. chuckled. “You concerned about my health?”
“You are a guest in my home. Your welfare is important to me.” Chavez smiled wickedly.
“Bullshit. If Brody doesn’t get me out of here, the government will eventually come for me.”
“ Ha. Don’t you know most American diplomats want to believe what people like me say?”
“Y ou mean killers, drug lords and arms dealers?”
Chavez laughed. “No. M en of great wealth and power.”
“I think some of that great wealth is now in the hands of the United States government.”
The smile slipped from Chavez’s face faster than snow sliding off a hot roof. “You think your little Falcon Securities team hurt me? You are mistaken.”
A.J. shrugged. “Okay, if you say so.”
“I do.”
“So why am I here? And why didn’t you take Brody and the girl? You had the manpower.”
“Do not worry about your friends. Their time will come. I promise. I have plans for them. But you are the one I have to be careful with. You came on a mission for your government. Those other two are here of their own accord. No one even knows they are in Mexico.”
“Why are you keeping me alive?”
“You will learn soon enough. And since I keep telling Frank Hamilton I don’t know about your abduction, he probably thinks you are dead.”
A.J. spat. “ While I find it hard to believe, I think you’re a dumber asshole than I first imagined. You seriously think Frank doesn’t know exactly where I am? Well, he does. Brody Hawke being here proves that. And if anything happens to one of us, Hamilton will storm in here and destroy your whole fucking world.”
Chavez’s face glowed red and his lips tightened. “My government has refused to even communicate with your people about obtaining any kind of release. Even your Department of Defense has been shut down.” Chavez stepped closer. “No one can confirm you are even here.”
A.J. folded his arms. “Frank isn’t sitting on his hands. You can bet your ass he’s working on getting me out of here.” A.J. shrugged. “When he does, I’m not sure I’d want to be you.”
“Nobody can touch me.”
“You’ re a cold blooded killer, Chavez. And one day Brody Hawke will put a bullet right between your eyes.”
Chavez laughed. “I don’t think so.”
A.J. straightened. “Tell me, Chavez, what kind of man sets fire to a tunnel with two people trapped?”
The drug lord straightened and stepped forward, his eyes wide. “What fire?”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t try to kill Kate and me in the tunnel.” A.J. turned and showed his burned shirt and back. “If Brody hadn’t blown the exit you sealed, we’d be extra crispy.”
Dark brows pulled together. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Chavez’s eyes darted around the cellar, and then he shook his head
“You’re a liar and a cold-blooded murderer.”
“I...”
“The boogeyman is coming for you, Chavez.”
“But...”
A.J. shoved away from the wall and grasped the bars. “Boo!”
***
Late
Exhausted and struggling to stay awake, A.J. groaned as footsteps pounded down the stairs. A glowing lantern chased away the darkness and sent the rats scurrying for cover. Squinting against the glare, A.J. staggered to his feet and braced his back against the wall.
Oscar Chavez stood outside the bars of his cell, alone. A.J. met his gaze and would have paid anything for the chance to wrap his hands around Chavez’s neck and squeeze.
“I see you are our guest, again.”
“Not by choice.”
“No, I can imagine the dis comfort you must be feeling now.”
“I’ll live.”
“Let’s hope that is the case.”
A.J. chuckled. “You concerned about my health?”
“You are a guest in my home. Your welfare is important to me.” Chavez smiled wickedly.
“Bullshit. If Brody doesn’t get me out of here, the government will eventually come for me.”
“ Ha. Don’t you know most American diplomats want to believe what people like me say?”
“Y ou mean killers, drug lords and arms dealers?”
Chavez laughed. “No. M en of great wealth and power.”
“I think some of that great wealth is now in the hands of the United States government.”
The smile slipped from Chavez’s face faster than snow sliding off a hot roof. “You think your little Falcon Securities team hurt me? You are mistaken.”
A.J. shrugged. “Okay, if you say so.”
“I do.”
“So why am I here? And why didn’t you take Brody and the girl? You had the manpower.”
“Do not worry about your friends. Their time will come. I promise. I have plans for them. But you are the one I have to be careful with. You came on a mission for your government. Those other two are here of their own accord. No one even knows they are in Mexico.”
“Why are you keeping me alive?”
“You will learn soon enough. And since I keep telling Frank Hamilton I don’t know about your abduction, he probably thinks you are dead.”
A.J. spat. “ While I find it hard to believe, I think you’re a dumber asshole than I first imagined. You seriously think Frank doesn’t know exactly where I am? Well, he does. Brody Hawke being here proves that. And if anything happens to one of us, Hamilton will storm in here and destroy your whole fucking world.”
Chavez’s face glowed red and his lips tightened. “My government has refused to even communicate with your people about obtaining any kind of release. Even your Department of Defense has been shut down.” Chavez stepped closer. “No one can confirm you are even here.”
A.J. folded his arms. “Frank isn’t sitting on his hands. You can bet your ass he’s working on getting me out of here.” A.J. shrugged. “When he does, I’m not sure I’d want to be you.”
“Nobody can touch me.”
“You’ re a cold blooded killer, Chavez. And one day Brody Hawke will put a bullet right between your eyes.”
Chavez laughed. “I don’t think so.”
A.J. straightened. “Tell me, Chavez, what kind of man sets fire to a tunnel with two people trapped?”
The drug lord straightened and stepped forward, his eyes wide. “What fire?”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t try to kill Kate and me in the tunnel.” A.J. turned and showed his burned shirt and back. “If Brody hadn’t blown the exit you sealed, we’d be extra crispy.”
Dark brows pulled together. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Chavez’s eyes darted around the cellar, and then he shook his head
“You’re a liar and a cold-blooded murderer.”
“I...”
“The boogeyman is coming for you, Chavez.”
“But...”
A.J. shoved away from the wall and grasped the bars. “Boo!”
***
Late
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