and the man’s hands automatically went to cover his nose.
Flipping him onto his stomach, Jack wrapped one arm around his neck and pulled tight, cutting off his air supply. The man started struggling, instinct kicking in as he clawed at the asphalt and tried to buck Jack.
But he had at least fifty pounds on the guy and clearly a lot more experience. Less than thirty seconds later, the man passed out. After retrieving the fallen weapon and his own duffel bag, he’d started securing the man’s wrists behind his back when the back door opened.
Jack glanced up to find Sophie watching him, her mouth pulled into a thin line. Immediately she frowned. “Are you hurt?”
He didn’t have to look to realize what she meant. “Not my blood. You okay?” When she nodded, he hefted the guy up and carried him to the back, where he dumped him.
His chest ached painfully as he watched Sophie wordlessly get into the passenger seat. This was the last thing he should be doing with her. For once in his life Jack wanted to do something normal. Like take Sophie on a fucking date instead of have her wait for him while he set up high-powered explosives and then knocked a man unconscious.
Scrubbing a hand over his face, he got in the driver’s side. “Where did that guy come from?”
She wrapped her arms around herself, traces of fear evident in her dark eyes. “I’m not sure, but he came from the direction of the hangar you were in. I thought maybe . . . you’d gotten hurt or something. I was worried.”
That’s when he realized the fear wasn’t for herself, but for him. He wasn’t used to anyone worrying about him. Despite what they’d shared last night, he told himself he couldn’t get used to it. “I’m fine,” he said, the words harsher than he’d intended.
He didn’t trust himself to say more, so he started the vehicle and slowly backed up. They didn’t have far to go, so he continued driving behind the next couple of hangars until he parked in front of number five.
“Why are you stopping?”
“We’re here.”
“
Jack nodded. “We need to be close to whatever’s going down with Vargas.” He jumped out of the vehicle and punched in the code for the hangar door. It immediately started rolling up.
“What’s going to happen to me now?” Sophie asked as he slid back into the driver’s seat.
“What do you mean?” Glancing in the rearview mirror, he slowly pulled through the entrance. Wesley’s team should be here soon.
“Will I still, uh . . . never mind.” It was as if the temperature in the vehicle dropped a few degrees. He could practically see her shutting him out, shutting down. She’d done it numerous times when they were teenagers.
If something was bothering her, her automatic reaction was to pull away emotionally. Jack had never done the comforting thing well, but he hated Sophie pulling away from him. Especially now. “Sophie, I’m not letting you out of my sight if that’s what you’re worried about. You are mine to protect. No matter what happens, I’ll keep you safe.”
Her expression softened a fraction, but she didn’t respond. As if she wasn’t quite sure she believed him. Before he could say more, three black SUVs with tinted windows drove through the opening, parking in a perfect row.
“Looks like everyone’s here. . . . Remember, don’t mention what I just did to anyone.”
She nodded, her expression guarded. “I promise.”
• • •
Levi was silent as he walked down the tiled hallway in Vargas’s house. As he passed one of the open doors, he overheard two of the guards arguing. He stayed in the doorway, but neither of them took notice of him.
As their voices escalated, he frowned when he realized what they were discussing. “What the fuck is going on?” he asked. Stupid fucker, always looking at the two women Vargas held captive. There weren’t many things Levi would ruin his cover for, but protecting a woman was about it. He hadn’t been with the team to pick up Hannah Young—because he would have made sure the girl got away—but she was here now and there wasn’t anything he could do about it. Unfortunately he had a feeling he’d be leaving soon.
“Why don’t you mind your own business,
Rico waved a hand in the air as if to dismiss him. “Don’t worry about it, man.”
Levi ignored Rico and focused on Manuel instead. He leaned casually against the door frame. “You touch either of those girls and Vargas will cut your nuts off. He’ll probably make you eat them before he kills you.”
Manuel let out a string of curses before storming past him. Levi waited until he saw the scarred man disappear down the hall before turning back to Rico. “Keep him away from those girls.”
“I’m trying to get it through his thick skull that Vargas will kill him. . . . Man, whatever, it’s his fucking hide.” Rico shook his head and brushed past Levi.
The world would be a better place if Manuel was dead, but the only way Vargas would kill him was if he actually hurt one of the girls. On that front, Vargas was a strange man. Levi had overheard him threaten to hurt the blond girl to her parents, but he’d never actually do it and he’d never let his men hurt them. Levi wasn’t sure why, but there was a rumor that someone had raped and killed Vargas’s wife a decade ago.
But that’s all it was. A rumor. If it was true, it was the only thing Levi had in common with the drug-running bastard. Whatever, everyone had a fucking sob story. Right now the only thing he cared about was vengeance. He couldn’t worry about anyone else’s shit.
When his phone buzzed, he frowned at the number on the caller ID. “Yeah?”
“You still looking to get in bed with the Russians?” a familiar voice asked.
“Your time with Vargas was worth it. Your credentials are solid.”
“When do they want me?”
“I can get you a ride off the island in three hours. You know the place.”
“I’ll be there.” Levi’s hand shook as he disconnected. This was it. He hated that he couldn’t free the women, but they weren’t his problem. A year ago he’d have died trying to get them out of here. But if he was dead, no one would avenge his wife’s death. Right now that was the only reason his heart was still beating. Once he’d ended the bastards who’d cut down his life, his soul, he didn’t care what happened to himself.
He glanced down the hall. Empty. Most of Vargas’s men guarded the perimeter. Getting off his estate without being seen would be tricky. His friend was doing him a huge favor flying him out of Cuba, and he couldn’t risk Vargas following him to the airstrip.
It wasn’t as if he owed Vargas anything. Not to mention that something big was going down if Jack was involved. Vargas had been very vague about what he was doing with SBMS other than running weapons. Deep down Levi knew it was bad and that if he dug deep enough he’d find out what it was, but the driving need for revenge inside him kept pulling him back. Levi couldn’t get caught up in that mess if he wanted to stay alive. It was definitely time for him to disappear and get his revenge.
Chapter 18
Op center: location where an operation is being run.
Sophie watched an older man get out of one of the SUVs. He was followed by two men wearing what looked like battle gear. They were dressed in all black, wore Kevlar vests, and carried some big freaking guns. Everything about the situation had her on edge. When she’d seen the man they now had tied up coming toward her, she’d tried to hide, but it had done no good. Then to see Jack disarm and knock him unconscious so easily . . . it was jarring. Though she wasn’t sure why. She’d seen him take down two men with a bullet between the eyes —while he’d been running. He moved with such fluidity, his actions natural and graceful—in a terrifyingly deadly sort of way. And the longer she was with him, the more she couldn’t shake the feeling that she knew him. Had known him for a long damn time.
It didn’t matter what reality told her, something bone deep recognized Jack and it was starting to drive her a
