Circle of Desire (25 page)

Standing over the man, Ryker opened and closed his fists. The temptation to punish him further for his stupidity warred with the fear of jabbing the cartilage of the idiot’s nose into his brain.

“I swear, sir, I told her to wait until I could get backup in place, but she wouldn’t listen.” Bryan cupped his jaw and shifted it from side to side. “Two of our operatives are held up in a traffic accident about twenty-five miles from her last location.”

“Last location?” Ryker gritted his teeth.

“The target’s house, off Riverview Road.” Bryan scooted back when Ryker took a step. The man’s head bobbled on his skinny neck. “As soon as Phil and Harry reach it, they’ll extract her.”

Afraid he would crack the man’s chicken neck, Ryker turned away and pointed at the nearest handler.

“You! Sal?” Mohawk trembling, the pale man nodded. Ryker said, “Tell Phil and Harry to call me on my cell as soon as they reach the house. Do not go inside! Jack and I will be there in twenty minutes. Have them wait for us. AHH” He turned back to Bryan. “Have the Spirit ready in five minutes.” His helicopter could cover the miles quickly and land almost anywhere.

M
arie Beltane struggled against the chains restraining her on a cot that reeked of sex and urine. She stifled a groan. No, no, no. Nausea traveled up her throat.

All the beams and pipes overhead felt like they were squeezing the air out of the room. Basements were never one of her favorite rooms. The dampness and creepy crawly things always gave her the willies.

She still couldn’t believe she’d been caught. Bryan had sworn it would be an easy gig. Prior surveillance had revealed the man worked each evening at a massive bank of computers. Go in and download a flash drive load of info and get out. The target always left his house at nine in the morning and didn’t return until nine that evening. Breaking into the house when most people ate dinner in the surrounding homes had sounded so easy. Few would look out their windows as they settled down in front of their plates or televisions or both. Hours would pass before he returned home. But he came back early.

Oh, God, she’d screwed up big time!

He looked like a fourteen-year-old with his cartoon theme T-shirt and his mop of hair, but she knew from his file he was between twenty-six and twenty-eight. During their surveillance, they never got a clear photograph of him. Whenever he entered or exited his house, he did so through his garage. His SUV had tinted windows, preventing anyone from seeing inside.

The man standing with his back to her had outmaneuvered every defensive tactic she’d been taught. He didn’t fight like a kid. Jack was right. She needed to work harder on her moves. If she had, she wouldn’t be in this predicament. The nerd had surprised her, taking her down with surprising ease.

She refused to cry even though she couldn’t stop the trembling in her body. Every inch ached from his battery of hits and kicks. For a scrawny man, he’d moved fast and hit hard.

Her head hurt from holding back tears. She’d hoped to never be in this position again, to be under someone’s control. No matter how many times she reminded herself this was different from before, the horror of repeating history pushed her to keep her eyes open. But by staying aware of her enemy helped to keep her calm.

“You’re not very smart. I’m efficient in seven different types of martial arts.” His stiff words failed to impress her. He moved, revealing what he held in his hand. The huge syringe with a shiny green substance in the barrel had a needle longer than her forefinger. “Just because I’m a geek doesn’t mean I’m unacquainted with ways to defend myself.”

Marie stared at the needle. The duct tape covering her mouth muffled her scream. Ever since he’d jumped her, she tried to see a way to escape, while keeping calm.

She tried to be brave. She kept telling herself, screaming would only be a waste of energy. Stifling the panic engulfing her would keep her alive.

“Wait until this stuff hits your bloodstream. I’m told the sensation is similar to that last second before reaching an orgasm. In other words, you’ll do anything to get off.” He chuckled and lifted her shirt. He tugged at the waistband of her jeans.

She flinched when the needle slid into the soft skin near her hip.

“Perfect for where I’m sending you.” He jerked on the jeans until the tips of his fingers brushed her pubic hair. “White American women, especially petite, natural blondes like you, are quite popular in parts of the Middle East and Asia. Virgins are preferred but rare here unless we go much younger.” He shrugged. “Then you get into Amber Alerts and they’re too much trouble. Anyway, bitches like you are plentiful and disposable.”

He pulled harder at her jeans, taking her panties down.

She froze. Her stomached churned with the thought of what he might do next. Then he pushed the needle deeper. The liquid burned, becoming hotter as he eased the plunger down. The pain took her mind off her fear for only a second. When she tried to move away, the rattling chains reminded her she wasn’t going anywhere. Tears pooled at the corner of her eyes and she turned her head, refusing to let him see her cry.

“A formula created by . . . a fucking genius! Especially created to use on sneaky sluts like you. The Wizard is a god!” He laughed. The back of his hand grazed her cheek. “I know it stings, baby. Sorry . . . no. I’m not sorry. You have the look of an ice princess. I love seeing an uptight cunt like you suffer. You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into. This wonder drug is highly addictive and from what I’m told, it has long-lasting effects. You’ll grow to love it.”

The grin on his smooth face terrified her more than anything else he’d done. Her vision blurred. The man leaned over her, his brown eyes dark and merciless. She whimpered. Every cell of her body tingled.

“Do you feel it? It takes a little while to set in. First, it tingles all over and next, for a small time, you’ll feel like you’re floating on water. Then you’ll get sleepy and then bam! you’ll be like a bitch in heat.” He cackled and thrust his groin several times against her leg and the side of the cot. He punched the air with his fist and did a little dance. When he turned his back, he reached for something on a table nearby. “Now let’s see what all of you looks like.”

Light glinted off the scalpel. He swiped at the air above her as if he wielded a sword. No matter how brave she tried to be earlier, she couldn’t stop her limbs from shaking harder and her stomach from rolling. She squealed behind the tape.

The sound of slicing material had her arching away from his touch
. Please don’t cut me. Oh, please God, help.
In seconds, he peeled away her clothes. He rubbed his groin and a lascivious grin marred his youthful face.

“Not bad, though I find the scars a shame, yet rather interesting. It looks like someone used a belt or whip on you. Have you been a bad girl?” He slid his hand down her bare thigh and over a long, thin white scar. “There are clients who would love to add to them.”

She turned her head. Swallowing several times to keep from choking on vomit, she concentrated on the number of blocks in the basement wall. She could get through this. It wouldn’t be the first time her body had been used. Eventually, she’d find a way out.

Just as she heard his zipper go down, a loud blast shook the walls. Dust sprinkled onto her face. She blinked her eyes. The room looked smoky, choked with plaster powder.

“What the hell?” The man ran toward the stairs as he struggled to pull up his pants. One foot on the bottom step, he stopped, staring at the door.

A smaller blast was followed by shouting and heavy footsteps running across the floor above. Whoever had come a-knocking were making their way through the house.

“Well, babe, you’re on your own. I hope they appreciate the gift I’m leaving them.” He laughed and disappeared beneath the stairs into a black void.

Her eyelids felt so heavy. Tingling traveling across her torso rushed down her legs and arms, and then a feeling of lightness, floating followed. A strong breeze brushed her naked body. Someone had found the basement. A wave of dizziness pushed her under and she closed her eyes, unable to lift them even when she felt someone fighting with the chains holding her down.

“Damn it, Marie. You better be alive,” a deep voice growled.

She smiled. Deep inside, she knew he’d come for her.