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“Now is not the time, Mace.
We need to go.” She paused briefly. “Now.”
Mace followed her out the window. She handed him a
pair of night vision goggles, gave him about two seconds
before she was moving out. For a moment he let his gaze
move over her body. She was totally covered, even in the
heat. Her hair was confined and covered by a cap. Still,
her movements were flawless and impressive.
He had seen her in action before and it seemed that
the time incarcerated didn’t do anything to take away
from it. She kept them along the edge of the jungle as
they moved towards a destination only she knew.
Once they reached bridge, she took the goggles off
for there were lights already around. Her hat came off
next and was shoved into one of many pockets on her. As
Mace took his goggles off as well, he ran his eyes over
her again.
He noticed there were no visible weapons on her but
he knew she was packing heat, somewhere. Mace fell into
step beside her as they walked out onto the pier and
headed out towards a boat.
She kept them in the shadows, but if there was anyone
watching them. Sinjin was savvy enough that it didn’t
appear that way. Once they reached the end she turned
them down the left pier. Not a word passed her lips as
she stopped before a light craft. Her hand gesture waved
him forward.
Mace stepped onto the boat and hesitated as he saw
two men with fully automatic weapons pointed at him. One
of the men jerked his head toward the cabin and so Mace
followed and went in there.
Once the door had shut behind him, he felt the engine
start and the boat began to move. The feel of another
presence startled him and he scanned the room only to
freeze. Sitting comfortably on a lounge was none other
than Cicero.
The man laughed as astonishment flashed across Mace’s
face. Cicero was a very handsome man. He looked to be
around mid to late forties. His hair was streaked
through with silver, but that only added to the
distinguished look he portrayed with ease.
His skin was deeply tanned, but not wrinkled. Here
was a man who took good care of his body. Mace’s stomach
heaved as he imagined this man and Sinjin together.
“Well, well. You seem to be a bit speechless, Mace
Dylan,” Cicero’s voice filled the room. It had an accent
on it that Mace couldn’t identify. “It is an honor to
meet the one man who came the closest to capturing me.”
“What do you want?” Mace braced himself as the boat
banked to the right.
“Me?” The broad shoulders shrugged easily. “I want
you dead…alas it is not my call. Not this time.”
Mace’s ears picked up on a loud conversation that was
going on outside the door. “Why am I here? They won’t
ransom me and they won’t make any promises.”
Cicero merely stared at him while he swirled his
drink in his hand. “Take a seat.” Mace did and as he
waited he rubbed the arm that Sinjin had cut. “She took
blood?” Cicero asked, something lighting up his dark
eyes.
“She sliced my damn arm,” Mace snapped.
“It had to look like you put up a fight and didn’t go
with her willingly,” Cicero explained as if Mace were a
five year old.
“I didn’t go willingly!”
“Didn’t you?” Cicero questioned softly.
Mace didn’t know how to respond. Part of him had been
thrilled to follow Sinjin but the agent in him knew it
was wrong on all counts. No matter how he looked at it.
It was willingly. Instead of admitting it, he remained
silent.
The door opened and in walked Sinjin and a man Mace
didn’t even recognize. He thought they had photos of
most of the men around her. But this was a new one, even
for him.
Sinjin wore a pair of black BDUs that sat low on her
hips. Pressed against all her lovely sienna skin was a
camouflaged tank top. Her hair was shoved up under a
green soldier’s cap and there were black combat boots on
her feet.
She had a pistol on each thigh and slung over her
shoulder was the assault rifle he recalled from when she
was shooting outside. Dangerous and sexy were the words
that came to mind as he looked at her. Her face was an
unreadable mask of indifference.
“Drink this,” she ordered as the man that had come
with her handed him a glass of murky brown liquid.
“No,” he refused. A refusal that changed the second
she aimed a sidearm at him.
Copyright © Aliyah
Burke, 2008.
All Rights Reserved, Phaze. |
