Torsten huffed in irritation. We cant wait any longer. Our Vietnamese instructors are only here for a few days, and I need you to learn as much as you can while you have access to them. Fall out, ladies.
Rebel and Tessa stood, trading worried glances with one another. It was supremely unlike Piper to blow off required training, and even more unlike her not to check in with someone. A note of worry started to vibrate low in Tessas gut.
The major led the way to the reinforced steel door disguised to look like weathered wood siding, unsealing it and stepping out into the mornings steamy heat. Tessa fell into step beside Major Torsten.
She said soberly, Sir, Im worried something has happened to Piper. You taught us to listen to our intuitions, and mine says shes in some sort of trouble. I think one of us should go look for her.
He frowned, but at least he didnt rip her head off. Ill take your intuition under advisement. If Piper doesnt show up in the next hour or so, Ill go looking for her myself.
Yikes. Piper was in a heap of trouble.
Chapter 3
Piper regained consciousness slowly. Her head throbbed painfully, and it didnt help matters that every time the van hit a bump in the road, the metal floor bounced underneath her temple, whacking her head again.
Her lips were dry, and her bladder was full, which meant shed been out for a while. A couple hours, possibly. Dang it! They couldve changed directions a dozen times without her knowing. She had no way of knowing where she was now!
A sense of disorientation swirled around her. As if she was completely disconnected from the real world. It was scary as hell, and she had to force herself to lie perfectly still until her breathing settled back down and the panic attack passed.
Questions peppered her mind almost too fast to catalog. Where was she? Who were these guys? What did they want with her? How much danger was she in? Where were they taking her? Would she have a shot at escaping them? Did they plan to kill her? Was this even real?
Cautiously, she cracked her eyes open and saw black pants and black combat boots. It hadnt been a terrible dream. She really had been kidnapped. The weight of panic landed on her chest again, and she struggled to control her breathing.
She could just lie here pretending to be unconscious...but just then the van hit a big bump and slammed her head hard into the floor.
Ow.
She probably had a concussion already from the blow that had knocked her out. No need to exacerbate the stupid thing. Piper pushed against the floor with both hands, sitting up groggily. At least none of the men stopped her from doing so.
The ski masks had come off, replaced by baseball caps pulled down low and dark sunglasses. Drat. She still wouldnt be able to identify her kidnappers in a lineup. She felt the weight of their stares upon her and did her best not to freak out and start screaming hysterically.
Whatever this was, whoever they were, she had to keep her wits about her, watch, wait and seize the opportunity to escape when it presented itself. And surely one would. She had to believe she would have a chance to get away, eventually.
Be calm. Breathe. Relax.
She did her level best to settle into the state of loose readiness that Major Torsten stressed over and over was absolutely necessary to peak performance.
At least they hadnt tied her up. It was a small victory, but she knew from her POW training that those were all a hostage could hope to achieve.
Choking fear bubbled up in her throat unbidden, and she stomped it down hard. She had no time for that. This was a battle of wits and wills, and she needed all of hers. In the meantime, maybe she could figure out who these guys were, why theyd grabbed her and where they were going.
Pitching her voice to be polite and diffident, she asked, Who are you? A little rapport with her kidnappers could never hurt.
They stared back at her in stony silence. One of the men was seated beside her, between her and the driver. Which ruled out her making a dive for the steering wheel and maybe putting the van in a ditch.
Why did you kidnap me? she added.
Still nothing.
She debated starting up a one-sided conversation with these men to provoke them to talk, but ultimately decided she would be better served acting scared to death and letting them lead the conversation wherever they wanted to.
She craned her head to peer out the front window and saw a ribbon of interstate highway stretching away in front of the van. The sun seemed to be overhead, so she had no means of working out what direction they were going. But it confirmed shed been unconscious for a while.
She realized her elbow was lightly rubbing the arm of one of the bad guys. Based on his build, she thought it might be Goldeneyes. Subtly, she shifted away from him. If she wasnt mistaken, she heard him exhale in irritation. What did he have to be irritated about? She wasnt his freaking girlfriend. And she wasnt about to cozy up to some homicidal terrorist.
Except, when they finally stopped at a rest area near a truck stop, that same homicidal terrorist was the one who helped her out of the van and steadied her elbow for a second while blood flow returned to her legs. Yup. Definitely Goldeneyes. He was the tallest and broadest of shoulder of the whole bunch.
He muttered in unaccented English, Dont try anything, or my companions will shoot this place up and kill everyone here. Oddly enough, he sounded almost apologetic when he made his threat. What was the deal with this guy?
He also was the one who guided her over to the ladies restroom, parked outside the door and said gruffly, Two minutes, and then Im coming in after you.
She went inside and checked quickly to see if there were any other women in there whom she could ask for help. The place was empty except for her. Damn.
But there was a window on the far end of the long bay of toilet stalls. She eyed it critically. It was small and high, but she might be able to squeeze through it. At least it was worth a try.
She climbed up on the nearest sink to the window and punched her fist through the screen covering it. The actual window was mounted on a hinge that swung out, and she forced it wide-open. It was awkward aiming her arms through the small opening while jumping up, but she managed to land her waist on the sill. Pushing against the outside wall with her hands and kicking her legs, she wriggled through.
She fell headfirst and caught herself with her arms, rolling into a somersault.
Yes. Free.
She jumped up and took off running as fast as she could. A large field of mowed grass separated her from the truck stopand other peopleperhaps a quarter mile away.
She sprinted for all she was worth. Her breath came in huge gulps, and pounding blood roared in her ears. Must. Get. Away. Her thighs burned and her lungs screamed for air, but she pumped her arms hard and kept on going for all she was worth.
She was about halfway across the field when, without warning, something huge and heavy tackled her from behind, landing on top of her and knocking the breath out of her. She gasped frantically for air, but none came.
Dammit. Shed never even heard him coming.
Dammit. Shed never even heard him coming.
A hard hand plastered over her mouth, which did nothing to help her regain her breath.
A male voice snarled low in her ear, You and I are going to stand up. Then youre going to turn around and walk back to the van and climb in, all nice-like and cooperative. Hot breath wafted over her ear as her captor leaned close to add, And if you dont, Ill knock you out and carry you back to the damned van.
A detached voice in a far corner of her mind registered that he hadnt threatened to kill her. But in the abrupt rush of adrenaline that accompanied the return of her ability to breathe, she ignored the voice and thrashed wildly beneath him.
She managed to get turned over on her back, but he was significantly bigger and stronger than she was, and apparently a trained wrestler. He flattened her with demoralizing ease. Their bodies pressed together in what would be a blatantly sexual fashion under any other circumstances.
As it was, she held herself rigid beneath him and did her best to ignore the way his thighs pressed against hers, the bulge of his crotch against the junction of her legs, the way his hard stomach pressed into hers and how her breasts smashed against his chest.
Goldeneyes, indeed.
She stared up at him in shock. Either his tackle or their struggle had knocked his baseball cap and sunglasses off, and she got her first good look at him.
If one human being could look any less like a violent criminal, this guy was it. His hair was a sun-tossed mix of brown and gold, nearly the same color as his eyes. His skin was tanned, his jaw chiseled, his features classy. All in all, he looked like he belonged on Marthas Vineyard, wearing chinos, a polo shirt and a white cricket sweater, sailing a boat on a crisp summer day.
Her brows twitched into a frown. Shed pegged all of these guys as Iranians from their use of Farsi. But this one didnt look even remotely Persian.
Who are you? she breathed.
Get up. With a quick flex of powerful biceps, he popped to his feet. He had a crushing grip on her hand and gave a hard yank on it now, dragging her upright.
He frisked all her pockets and then did a weird thing. He checked her neck for jewelry. What are you doing? she demanded.
Making sure you dont have a wallet with any identification in it or dog tags on you, he muttered.
Realization smacked into her, like a slap across the face. He didnt want any of the other terrorists to figure out her real name. If that was the case, then this wasnt about her being a Medusa at all. That was a relief, at least. Although it still left behind the glaring question of what in the world these guys wanted with some woman who worked with little kids.
With a quick jerk, he twisted her arm up and back behind her, shoving her along in front of him, back toward the rest stop building. The van was out of sight on the other side of the structure.
Whats your name? she gasped.
Amir.
Baloney, she blurted. Thats not your name. Youre named something preppy like Chad or Blaine.
He gave a warning tug on her twisted arm that was just shy of painful.
You really should set me free, she tried. I guarantee you dont want to face the criminal penalties when you guys get caught. All the law enforcement authorities will already be out looking for me. Youll never get away with this. If you let me go right now, by the time I can get over to the truck stop, call the police and wait for them to respond, you guys can be long gone. A clean getaway.
The others will come out of the van any second to see whats taking so long. They have long-range rifles and know how to use them. Youd never make it across that field alive.
He almost sounded regretful about that. Weird.
Be quiet, he bit out as they approached the building shed broken out of.
He shocked her by walking her into the ladies room and shoving her toward a toilet stall. He was still going to let her go to the bathroom? By rights, he should haul her back to the van, toss her in and let her sufferor soil herselfafter her attempted escape.
She used the facilities fast and was not surprised when she opened the stall door to see him looming just outside. He grabbed her elbow and steered her toward the van.
He growled low, If my partners find out about your little stunt, theyll kill youor worse. However, if youll promise not to say anything about your failed escape attempt, I wont, either.
Um, okay, she responded in confusion. Now, why on earth did he make that offer? Surely it was only because he would get in trouble for her nearly getting away. Still. Something was off about this guy.
He hustled her back to the van and started to hoist her inside. Ive got this, she snapped, yanking her arm out of his grip. She got the distinct impression he chose to let go of her. His hand felt plenty strong enough to have resisted her tug.
That took a long time, one of the other men complained in Farsi.
Women, her strange captor responded, rolling his eyes.
The other man grunted in commiseration.
A frisson of satisfaction coursed through her. If they wanted to underestimate her because she was a woman, she was totally fine with that. Wait till they figured out she was a trained Special Forces operative. They werent going to know what had hit them. Anticipation of the moment when she kicked butts and took names coursed through her.
Patience, Piper. Patience.
Not to worry. She would show them, all in due time.
She considered her captors name. She supposed it was possible his name really was Amir, but it had rung false when he said it. He just didnt seem to own the name the way he would have if it had been his actual name. No, Goldeneyes fitted him better.
They drove for perhaps two more hours, taking back roads exclusively. The next time they stopped, she spied through the windows a tiny town boasting a single flashing red light, one gas station/convenience store/Laundromat and a Baptist church. Goldeneyes was the only man to exit the van. Which made sense if he was the only American in the bunch. He would draw a lot less attention than the others in this rural part of the country where few foreigners visited. He went outside to pump and pay for gas, and escorted her to the restroom again.
She didnt have a peanut-sized bladder, and in the absence of anything to drink didnt particularly have to use the restroom, but she still took the chance when offered. Who knew when they would stop again? And it felt good to get up and move around, get some circulation back in her legs. Wary of her captors killing the cashier, she didnt cause a fuss as Goldeneyes marched her inside.
She did, however, make a point of saying hello to the teen girl behind the counter and making direct eye contact with her. Maybe if this girl saw some sort of news story on a kidnapped woman, she would remember seeing Piper and call the authorities.
Goldeneyes had a painfully tight grip on her elbow as they walked past the store attendant, and Piper didnt test his unspoken warning to behave herself. There was no telling how far his goodwill would extend, and shed pushed it pretty hard already.
He deposited her back in the van and went inside once more, returning after a few minutes carrying several grocery bags full of sandwiches and snacks.
Oh, no. That looked like road-trip food. Which meant they still had a ways to go before reaching their final destination.