“After this is all over, I swear I’m going to—”
“What have I told you about making empty threats? It will do nothing but bring you further embarrassment. I’ll be in touch.”
Fazil hung up and grinned. Listening to Hawk get worked up brought on an inordinate amount of pleasure. But that’s how Fazil liked it—rubbing his power and control in the faces of his enemies. He felt confident he would be doing the same thing to the entire world soon enough after he finished avenging the death of his brother.
He looked at Jafar and held his hand out. “Those two Americans are having a virtual vacation here. Let us go show them how we like to handle people who try to stand in our way.”
With Jafar perched on Fazil’s shoulder, the Al Hasib head lumbered down the hallway, excited about the prospect of roughing up Hawk’s two favorite people in the world.
They will survive, but they will wish they were dead before I’m through with them.
CHAPTER 12
Zagros Mountains, Iraq
ALEX WAITED UNTIL THE DOOR rattled shut behind Fazil before she spit blood onto the cell floor. She looked at Blunt, whose left eye had already swelled up. He groaned as he shifted positions. While Fazil said little other than disparaging comments during the torture session, Alex wondered if beyond the prison walls the situation wasn’t going as he planned.
The overhead pipes in the ten-foot by ten-foot cell dripped several times per minutes, enough to keep the air damp and a small puddle in the center of the room. Alex and Blunt stood with their arms chained to the wall. Their movement was limited, though Alex tried to jog in place to keep her blood moving.
She waited to speak until she was certain no guards were close enough to hear.
“You still hanging in there?” Alex asked.
Blunt grunted. “I’m too old for this.”
“That’s not what I asked,” she said. “I need to know that you’re still with me.”
“What the hell for? It’s not like we’re going somewhere any time soon.”
Alex took a deep breath and winced from the pain in her ribs. “We need to be if we’re going to survive. Do you honestly think Fazil is going to let us live?”
Blunt shook his head. “We’re as good as dead.”
“And that’s all the more reason for us to attempt an escape.”
“We’re chained to the wall, not to mention we have no idea where we are. Afghanistan, Iraq, Oman. Who the hell knows? If we get out, we’d probably be dead within the hour—or worse.”
“Worse than dead?”
“Sometimes death is a merciful mistress.”
Alex scowled. “I hope this doesn’t mean that you’re ready to throw in the towel because I’m certainly not.”
“If we’re dead, it means they can’t hurt us any more. And I think so far, Fazil has been surprisingly kind to you. It’s only a matter of time before things get far more unsavory for you, if you know what I mean.”
“All the more reason for us to get out of here.”
“Alex, they’re just going to drag us back in here and do more vile things to us—all before they kill us.”
“From what you’re saying, it sounds like we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t. Quite frankly, I’d rather die trying than simply await some fate Fazil has dictated for us.”
“So, you have a plan?”
“I guess you could say that,” she said with a faint smile. “I’ve got an emergency tracking device in my shoe one of my friends at the CIA gave me.”
“That could be a game changer. Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?”
“I wanted to wait and see what happened first before I used it, not to mention the battery life is very short. A couple hours at the most. So I wanted to make sure we weren’t going to be moved around. And there hasn’t been any indication that they have plans to take us somewhere else. Plus, I haven’t really had a chance to talk about this since this is the first time there haven’t been guards right outside the door.”
Blunt nodded subtly. “Makes sense. Now, where exactly is this handy little gadget?”
“It’s in the sole of my shoe.”
“Can you activate it now?”
Alex laughed softly. “I’m fairly flexible, but I’m not a contortionist.”
“So, how do you plan on turning that sucker on?”
“Tomorrow when they feed us, they unshackle us. I’ll try to do it then.”
Blunt’s eyes widened. “They usually have a guard or two in the room watching us.”
“Maybe you’ll have to get creative to distract him. I’m sure you’re more than capable.”
“I’ll think of something.”
Alex had more she wanted to say, but she decided against it when she heard the scuffing of footsteps headed toward them from down the hall.
She took a deep breath and readjusted her position once more, and a searing pain overtook her body. The combination of the beating and being forced to keep her hands raised above her head while standing was taking a toll on her, both physically and mentally.
You can do this, Alex. Just breathe.
CHAPTER 13
Washington, D.C.
HAWK STOOD IN THE WINGS of the stage that stretched across the south end of the Capital One Arena. Noah Young was still fifteen minutes away from kicking off his final rally in the nation’s capital before the election, but the arena was packed and buzzing with excitement. News of a big forthcoming announcement from Young had the media whipped into a frenzy and the curious public wondering if this was just another overhyped political stunt.
Rolling up the program Hawk had picked up when he was in the hospitality suite, he tapped the paper against his leg. He looked at his watch again, the seconds dripping past slowly. Despite the importance of Young’s announcement, Hawk was
