Authors: Kariss Lynch
“Colt?”
“Fine. Go!”
Nick left his position and took off in pursuit of the three targets, radioing his
plans as he ran.
A man stepped out in front of him, the barrel of his gun coming even with Nick's
chest. Nick couldn't slow down. He slammed into him, grunting with the impact. The
gun fired into the air. Twisting free, Nick aimed and fired, sending the man sprawling
backward. He paused long enough to confirm the fight was over before he took off
again.
“Right behind you, Hawk.” Nick heard Micah's feet pounding in perfect rhythm behind
him as the rest of the team secured the warehouse while the two of them pursued Janus.
He didn't care about anyone else. Just catching her, ending the threats, the worry.
Ending her career and reign of terror. Ending, or at least slowing, the slaughter
of American soldiers fighting on foreign soil.
They spilled out the door into an industrial shipyard hugging the bank of a water
channel that flowed out into the Black Sea. Nothing moved, and he and Micah slipped
back into the shadows, guns ready, their black wet suits blending into the night.
A crane hovered above Nick's head and smaller boats with glowing lights sat silent,
their owners in bed. A shot pinged the building behind his head. He ducked, and his
senses sharpened. He scanned the dimness to determine direction. Another shot whizzed
past, and Micah inhaled sharply. Nick shifted to look at his best friend. Micah's
wet suit hung split open, and a slim gash bled from where the bullet grazed his arm
before embedding in the side of the warehouse.
“I'm good. Keep moving.”
Another shot hit the building. Either the person lacked marksmanship or he was shooting
blind. This time Nick guessed the direction to be an old industrial fishing boat
of some sort about one hundred yards to their right. He signaled to Micah to go around
the side while he slipped up onto the deck.
A click sounded over the radio as Colt slithered into view, rounding the boat and
disappearing to cover the other side. Three-on-three. Nick liked their odds. He was
thankful for more men on this mission taking care of the rest of the guys inside
the warehouse. But right now all he cared about was Janus. He wasn't sure who fired
at them or if the other two lay in wait or fled the scene. But he swore that at least
one of them would fly back to California with his team. And he knew which one he
wanted.
He crept across the deck, his footfalls silent in the murky night. The moon hid behind
clouds, the light muted for a moment. He scanned the deck. A small figure shifted,
leaning over the railing, gun aimed and trained.
“
Do svidaniya
.” She whispered just as Micah entered her line of sight. Nick reacted
and launched himself forward, regretting his
directive to capture and not kill. Her
shot went wild. Micah yelled over the intercom.
Nick tackled the slight frame, rolling on the deck in a mess of arms and legs. Blonde
hair tangled in his fingers, obscuring his view of Janus's face. Although she was
wiry and strong, he heard a slight wheeze in her breathing. Taking advantage of the
weakness, he punched her in the stomach, enough to stall her breathing for a moment,
then flipped her over and bound her hands behind her back with lightning movements.
Nick's breathing slowed as he radioed his team. “Female jackpot apprehended on fishing
boat near warehouse. Radio HQ. Any sign of the other two?”
“None, Hawk. Searching now,” Titus's voice sounded over the intercom.
“Coming up, Hawk.” Micah pulled himself up just as Janus regained her breath.
“We're going to take a little trip, Janus. I hear you've taken a liking to my town.”
“It suffices if you like tacky American culture.”
“What I like is you staying away from my girlfriend. What I like is you in American
hands.”
She squirmed beneath him. In one swift movement he stood, hauling her to her feet.
“But the games were so fun. And you are so gullible. Face it, little SEAL. I infiltrated
your world all too easily, and you could do nothing to stop me.”
Nick towered over her, his temper fighting his good sense.
“I should have shot you when I had the chance.” He grabbed her arm and tugged her
with him.
“The game's not over yet.”
Micah stalled next to Nick, studying their adversary. “What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. The game does not end until I say it does.” Her eerie chuckle
turned to coughing as she doubled over.
Nick gritted his teeth, unsure what to do. Colt radioed that the Iranian and Big
Kahuna were gone. Jay responded with confirmation that the sniper and remaining
men in the warehouse had been taken care of. The helicopter would pick them up in
five minutes.
Despite the victory chatter in his ear, Nick could only focus on Janus. His head
spun. “You're crazy.”
“What you call crazy, others call brilliant. It is all a matter of perception, is
it not?” she wheezed, a smirk twisting her lips. Gone was the polite, affluent, proper
neighbor. Instead, a calculated, cold-blooded killer stood before him.
Micah grabbed Janus's arm and hauled her from the boat. “Listen, lady, I've had about
enough of you, your games, and your threats to my family. I don't care if they lock
you up and throw away the key. You are getting on that helicopter. You lost, you
got that?”
Between the two of them they half-carried, half-dragged Janus to a waiting helicopter,
hovering above an empty dock. Colt and Titus pulled her in as Micah and Nick jumped
on.
“I expect we are flying home?” All eyes turned to Janus, who stared back with icy
blue eyes, her cherry red lipstick still perfectly painted on thin lips that grinned
triumphantly. “Perfect. I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
Nick's heart stalled. He had a sinking feeling that Janus spoke the truth. This game
wasn't over yet.
M
EGAN DIDN'T COME
home after work Friday night. That wasn't too unusual, but when
Kaylan tried to call, she couldn't reach her. After dealing with news of the intruder
Tuesday night, Kaylan couldn't believe Megan wouldn't let her know her plans. The
FBI had found no signs of a break-in and no indications that someone had tampered
with the door, and they reassured Kaylan that they were watching the house 24/7.
Still, Kaylan couldn't shake the feeling that something didn't add up.
Thankfully the rest of the week had gone by without incident. On Wednesday Megan
brought by her latest flame, Jackson. On Thursday Nick called to say they were fine
and hoped to be back by late Friday night or early Saturday morning, but he would
be out of pocket until then. Now it was Friday evening, and no sign of Megan. She
was probably spending the night at Jackson's, but then why hadn't she called or texted?
Should she tell the Feds? With the events of the past few weeks, Megan's lack of
communication rattled her. She tried Megan's cell again, but it immediately rolled
to voicemail.
At eight o'clock Liza came over for a movie, bringing popcorn and chocolate-covered
almonds to snack on. Kaylan immediately
unloaded her anxiety, hoping it was another
case of overactive imagination.
“I'm sure she's fine, Kaylan. Isn't she dating someone again? That girl's a firecracker.
I bet the guys just line up.” Liza popped in a DVD and curled up on the couch.
“Yeah, she brought a new guy around a few days ago. I just wish I could tell her
that it's going to end in a lot of heartache.”
“Honey, they don't all end bad. Look at Titus and me. We lived together for six months
before we finally got married. My parents threw a fit, but when it's meant to be,
why wait? I mean, I'm sure you and Nick get that.”
Kaylan smiled and shook her head. “We're waiting. Nothing's happened between us.”
Liza's eyes grew wide. “Girl, are you serious? That man is hot. What are you waiting
on?”
Kaylan settled into the couch and thought of Nick. She never felt cheap or used with
him. Every touch demonstrated care and affection, every look showed attentiveness
and love. He honored her. She'd seen the way Jay looked at women, like a lion on
the prowl. But with Nick, it had always been pure innocence. They were both attracted,
but they hadn't made a covenant yet, so he didn't belong to her.
“I guess I believe there are two ways to do this. A way that feels good and a way
that is best.”
“What do you mean?”
Music on the home movie screen filled the room as Kaylan prayed for the right words.
“I think that God intended one man and one woman for life within the confines of
a marriage. I think it is supposed to feel amazing within the commitment. But we
love what feels good now and in our own way. I think we settle for immediate pleasure
over God's best, which would be a committed, devoted, and loving life partner. I
think you two got lucky.
Not everyone who lives together ends up getting married.
That âtry before you buy' mentality usually ends with a lot of pain.”
Liza waved her hand in Kaylan's direction. “I'm glad you're a good church girl. I
was that way once. But Titus and I were in love. It all worked out in the end.”
Kaylan smiled. “I'm so glad it did. But these guys Megan spends time with, they like
her because she's feisty and gorgeous in her own dark way. No commitment. Just a
night purely for their own pleasure. And that makes me angry for her because God
says she is worth more.”
Liza pursed her lips. “I see the way Hawk looks at you. It's different from some
of the other guys. Almost like he worships you.”
Kaylan chuckled. “Believe me, Nick would like to shake me sometimes. I can frustrate
the heck out of that man. He doesn't worship me. Nick treasures me because we both
belong to Christ, and he wants to honor me. That's what you see. Respect. Love. Honor.”
“Not too bad. Maybe Titus and I need to get back in church. I want our kids growing
up that way. I'd kill my daughter if she followed my example and moved in with a
guy.”
“I'd love for you to come with Nick and me, Liza. But it's not about the church.
A changed life is a direct result of a relationship with Jesus.”
Liza popped an almond in her mouth. “Yeah, I thought I had that once. It's about
time I got back to it. You keep fighting for Megan. One day she'll realize how much
you love her, and she'll start fighting for herself. She's lucky to have you.”
“Someone fought for me once when I was in that dark place, and it changed my life.”
“Well, you sure are shaking up ours. Now let's watch this movie.”
Kaylan and Liza enjoyed a few hours of pure laughter. By the time Liza left a little
before 11:00 p.m., Kaylan had almost forgotten her roommate. Almost.
She walked down the hall to Megan's bedroom and flipped on the light. Her room decorated
in navy and white held a feminine grace most people would never see behind Megan's
tough exterior. Kaylan glanced around at art on the walls and photos of the whales
and dolphins from Megan's work, enjoying the glimpse into her roommate's world. They'd
made major strides the last week. She not only liked her roommate, but she'd come
to enjoy her as well.
Kaylan sat down on the navy bed spread and noticed a dark smudge. Looking closer,
her heart stopped. She knew that sight anywhere. Blood. Not just a streak or a dot
like with a paper cut, but almost as if someone had wiped a scrape or cut on the
hem of the bed spread.
She jumped from the bed, stumbling over a shoe lying in the floor. The smell of dust
and blood assailed her nose as her mind flew back to Haiti and days under tents,
her hands stained a brownish red. Tears pricked her eyes, and she fought to steady
her breathing.
“You aren't in Haiti. You're in California. You're in your home. Everything's okay.”
But nothing was okay. Her home had been violated. Now she wondered if her roommate
was missing.
“Megan?” she breathed.
She flashed back to panicked moments looking for Sarah Beth. She pivoted in the room,
and her gaze stopped on the closet. No. She wouldn't be in there. She wouldn't find
another friend dead.
“Megan!”
She sank onto the floor in a heap. “Think, Kaylan.” Taking a deep breath, she focused
on the room around her. Megan had stayed away multiple nights before. Really, there
was no reason to be alarmed. Kaylan picked up her phone to call again just as the
screen lit up.
Megan.
“Hey, where are you? I was just about to call.”
Heavy breathing filled the line.
“Megan?”
“We have your friend.” A thick accent assailed her senses. Eastern European with
a hint of Middle Eastern mixed in.
“Who are you? Where's Megan?”
“It does not matter who I am. It only matters that we have a mutual friend in common.
And she has sold you to the highest bidder. I'm here to collect.”
The man's cavalier tone sent her over the edge. Rage unlike anything she'd ever
known filled her. She would not lose someone else. “I asked you a question. Where's
my friend?”
“Temper. Temper. You want to see your friend? Meet us on Imperial Beach Pier at midnight
tonight. Come alone, and do not tell any of your little SEAL friends. I would hate
for something to happen to Megan.”
Kaylan heard a scream in the background. “Kaylan, don't!”
“Megan!”
But the phone went dead. Kaylan stared at the blank screen. She wouldn't leave Megan
alone. She wouldn't lose someone else, not when she could stop it.
Glancing at the clock, she stood. Less than an hour to figure out a plan. If only
she could talk to Nick. But he had said she wouldn't be able to reach him. She could
call Logan, but she didn't want to risk these men killing Megan. No FBI either. She
had to do it alone.