Jungle Inferno (20 page)

“Harder,” he urged. “Faster.”

She hummed again, this time a purr of satisfaction, and increased the tempo of hand and mouth. Down, up. In, out. Pressure on his balls. Fire in his groin. More, more, more.

He exploded, erupting into her mouth like a rumbling geyser, spurting over and over. She swallowed every bit, squeezing his cock and his balls to draw the very last drop from him. When he was spent she slid her lips down the length of him one last time before releasing him. She pressed her mouth to his and he could taste himself on her lips, a flavor that carried deep inside him. She thrust her tongue into him, seeking a mating with his own, a dance they’d done many times.

Only when she’d explored every inch of his mouth and carried every drop of his cum still resting on her tongue through that wet cavern did she finally sit back on her heels. And smile, that wonderful, secret smile.

“I love you, Mark.”

He lifted a hand weakly and stroked her arm.

“I love you, too, darlin’. More than you can possibly know.” But even as he continued to reach for her the feel of her dissipated and she faded away. He opened his eyes to nothing but the empty tent, filth and pain. Somehow he’d find a way out of this mess. Back to Faith. Back to the woman who held his heart.

And tell her he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

If he survived this hellhole, that is.

Stop thinking about it.

Okay, try to figure out who pulled the trigger on you and got you into this mess.

One more time. The source had gotten information to Rick Latrobe, former SpecOps. He’d given it to his brother who’d passed it along to Mark, the unit commander. Mark had shared it only with Major Gregorio. He’d taken it to his CO, Major Ryan who’d gone straight to the top at JSOC. From there it went to the Pentagon.

And the order finally came back from the top. Take out the Wolf and the burgeoning Al Qaeda cell working to pick up the slack left by Shining Path. Erase them as if they never existed. Get rid of one of the most notorious arms dealers and a group of men bent on wreaking nine kinds of havoc from Peru all the way to the States. They could ignore Tupac Amaru; they had become too small and insignificant to matter.

No one else on base knew the details and the unit was isolated during the planning session. And they were never out of each other’s sight from that moment until wheels up from Fort Bragg. He trusted John Gregorio with his life—frequently had, as a matter of fact—and Frank Ryan was on that list too.

So how many people along the way knew about it and who was the weak link?

Someone at SpecOps headquarters at MacDill? At JSOC? The Pentagon? Any of the possibilities made him sick. He hated to think that anyone who held the fate of the country in his hands would sell out to death merchants, although he knew it had happened before.

He was still dissecting the possibilities when the tent flap opened and the Wolf entered. Even after a week in the Peruvian jungle in accommodations far more rudimentary than anything he was used to, he still looked immaculate and self-possessed. The same arrogant look was still stamped on his face.

“Well, Captain Halloran. I have to say you’re disrupting my life far more than I like.

Not to mention forcing me to stay in this pigsty much longer than I planned.”

“Isn’t that just too damn bad.” Mark’s throat felt raw. Speaking had become an effort and he knew he shouldn’t keep pissing these people off but he just couldn’t help it. If they were going to kill him—and he was sure they’d get to it sooner or later—at least he’d have the satisfaction that he never gave in to them. They’d remember that Captain Mark Halloran cursed them until his last breath.

“My patience is running out.” He took out one of his cigarillos, lit it and blew out a stream of smoke. “I know my reputation. Part of it is built on the fact that as long as I have been in business no one has ever been able to pinpoint any of my meetings. It makes my customers feel secure in their dealings with me. You seem to have found a way to change that. So there it is. I want to know how someone found out about this one.”

I can’t give up Alex. We have to protect him at all costs. He risked his life to help us do this.

I may have to let them kill me after all.

No, not yet. Not until he knew who’d pulled the plug on his mission. Somehow he had to stay alive and avoid giving up information until he knew that and could somehow pass that on. Despite the pain that racked his body, he managed to return the Wolf’s stare.

“And of course there is the even more urgent matter of the recipient of your so-called mind messages.” He shook his head. “I hardly believe in such hocus pocus but both Escobedo and Felix assure me it’s true. You’ve put someone out there in danger, Captain. We will learn who it is and dispose of them.”

Mark never broke eye contact, putting as much hatred into his eyes as possible.

“No comment?” The smile on the man’s face was a grotesque mockery of humor. “I must say, your stamina and endurance amaze me. Most men would have broken long before this. Well.” He looked at the tip of the cigarillo. “Well. Enjoy your rest, Captain.

In a very short while we’ll be inviting you to answer questions again. I hope this time you show a little more willingness to cooperate. We will find out who your contact is.

Make no mistake about it.”

Mark watched the man leave, trying to still his racing heart. He had to protect Faith at all costs. He only hoped that whatever she was doing to help him, she being extremely careful about it. He had to trust her good judgment and common sense. And pray that she’d been able to find the right people.

Tidbit. Are you there?

Please be there. Please, please, please.

I’m here.

Watch yourself…danger…
And finally, finally, getting the words out.
I love you.

Tell me in person, soldier.

Oh God, Tidbit. I pray I’ll be able to.

* * * * *

Ed Romeo flew Rick in the smaller of Phoenix’s Bell helicopters to a private air strip outside Raleigh, where the owner had a black SUV waiting for him. The man was an old friend of the Romeos and while his shrewd eyes scanned Rick’s face, he asked no questions. He knew what the brothers did and was glad to help in any way he could.

In less than an hour Rick was driving through the gate at Fort Bragg, thanking his old Army credentials and blessing the sentry who got a telephone call at that exact moment and so didn’t look as closely at them as he should. It hadn’t been that long since he’d been based here himself and he knew the way to John Gregorio’s office without directions.

No one gave him a second look as he parked and made his way into the building and down the corridor to the scarred door. He opened it without knocking, startled to see Colonel Frank Ryan standing beside Major Gregorio’s desk.

Gregorio looked up at the interruption. His eyes said he knew why Rick was there.

“Did you get Joey?” were the first words out of his mouth.

“Yes. We’ve got him stashed.”

Gregorio blew out a breath of relief. “Thank God. I was afraid the people who leaked the mission might have, shall we say, plans for him.”

“They did.” Rick’s lips thinned. “The kid actually had two visitors who discussed it in his room, thinking he was unconscious. That was before I got my buddy up there to sit with him until I got back. But yeah, we got him out in time.”

“Good. Where is he?”

Rick shook his head. “Sorry, Major. Even you don’t get that information.” Gregorio started to say something, then just sat back in his chair.

“We’re on your side, Rick,” Ryan told him. “Don’t forget that.”

“Oh, yeah? Then tell me what you’re doing to find the rest of the team. And Halloran.”

“You know it’s not that easy,” Gregorio told him. “I don’t have the luxury of mounting an operation without official sanction. If I did, I’d lead it myself.”

“John’s not in this alone,” the colonel added. “That’s why I’m here. I’ve been calling in every chit I have, trying to fight my way up the ladder past the roadblocks.”

“And not having any luck,” Rick guessed.

Ryan lifted a shoulder. “Face it. We don’t even know if anyone’s still alive.”

“Halloran’s still alive. Joey told us and I know he told you. Are you planning to leave one of your best team leaders to the sophisticated torture of those terrorists?” The major banged his fist on the desk. “You think I don’t feel the same thing you do? Right now I’m about ready to resign my commission and get down there myself.”

“But you won’t do that.” Ryan’s voice was firm. “You won’t because you have a big responsibility here and a lot of other men who depend on you.” Gregorio made a rude noise. “How much do you think they’ll depend on me if they find out I let this get away from me?”

“The thing is, Rick,” Ryan added, “it appears there’s a determined effort to slam the door shut on this. No one wants to listen, no one wants to know. Something funny’s going on and I can’t figure out what.”

“I’d say whoever leaked the word is covering his ass.” Gregorio’s lips thinned.

“And it’s obviously someone high up enough to do this.” He slammed his fist on the desk top. “Damn it to hell. I’d like to find him and squeeze the life out of him myself.”

“All right. Enough.” Rick’s voice cut into the back and forth. “I came here to ask you face-to-face what you were doing. I get the answer. Nothing.” He opened and closed his fists. “Fine. And I understand what you’re facing. But there is one thing you can do. Don’t get in my way.”

“Listen,” Gregorio began.

“No, you listen, Major. That could be me stuck in the bowels of the Peruvian jungle.

I led enough missions like this that had every chance of going south. And this one’s a little different for me. Mark Halloran had my brother’s six all the way. Now I need to have his.”

Gregorio’s face was twisted in frustration. “You don’t need to remind me of that.”

“And one more thing. We have to protect the source at all costs. He came to me. I won’t sell him out.”

“Understood.”

“Rick.” Ryan moved toward him. The expression on his face was hard and unyielding. “Will this be a Phoenix operation?”

“Don’t say it, Colonel.” Rick felt the anger building inside him at the question. Not everyone approved of the company’s existence and what it did. “Whatever it is.” Ryan’s face relaxed and he held out his hand. “I just wanted to wish you good luck.

And please. Don’t tell us anything until afterward.”

Rick took the man’s hand and shook it. The grasp was firm. “I’ll pass that along.” One corner of his mouth turned up. “Afterward.”

Five minutes later he was speeding away from Fort Bragg, cell phone to his ear as he filled Dan in on the conversation.

By the time her flight landed in San Antonio, Faith felt as if every nerve in her body had been unwrapped and sandpapered. There was no message on her cell phone from Eric Latrobe and the more she thought about her meeting at Fort Bragg, the madder she got. Time was spinning out of control and she was powerless to stop it. Maybe if she could at least figure out where in Peru Mark was… No. Who the hell was she kidding?

She had no way to mount a rescue operation. She had no contacts, no resources. And she didn’t think Trey Winslow would stick his neck out for her.

It wasn’t just that he put his image and position before anything else. She’d learned that during her first interview with him. No, it was something else. Trey wasn’t one ever to get his hands dirty with something that might spray blowback on that carefully constructed political career.

But who the hell else was there? All through the plane ride she’d racked her brain for a name, a contact. Anything at all. A place to start.

“I know this isn’t what you want to hear,” Tia said when she pulled up outside baggage claim, “but you look like shit.”

“And thank you so very much.” Faith fastened her seat belt, then leaned back and closed her eyes. “Could I please wake up and find out it’s last week instead of today?” Tia was silent while she negotiated the exit traffic. “You know,” she said once they were on the Interstate, “we’ve known each other a long time. I’d like to think by this time you felt you could trust me with whatever it is that’s dragging you down.”

“Oh Tia.” Faith pressed her fingers to her temples. “I’m not sure I’d even know where to begin.”

“Why don’t you just lean back and relax for the moment. We’ll pick up the food and get to your house. I’ll show you what I’ve found digging around on the internet.

And maybe that will shake a few things loose from you.”

Faith had seldom been so glad to arrive home. She put her laptop on the floor next to her overnighter and tossed her purse onto the little hall table.

“I need to check my email and answering machine, before I do anything. Abby’s probably going crazy. I haven’t answered any of her cell phone messages so there have to be a ton of them here.”

“No. Go shower, we’ll eat, then you can play catch-up. Give yourself a break.” Faith showered and pulled on shorts and a t-shirt, while Tia set out the food. She called Abby and soothed her anxieties, then allowed herself to be distracted from any messages that night be waiting for her but she resisted Tia’s efforts to get her to eat before looking at what the latest research had uncovered. She was too edgy and too anxious to see what the internet had turned up. They sat at the kitchen table, sharing sweet and sour shrimp and cashew chicken while Tia dug the printed sheets out of her briefcase.

“Okay. You said to focus on Peru, so I Googled anything with Special Ops related to it.” She chewed on a crisp noodle. “Of course, as you can imagine, all I found was whatever they approved for release after a mission. These guys have been active against the drug cartels in the countries all along the Andean Ridge. Here.” She pulled out a printed map.

“How recently?” Faith asked. “How new are the news items you found?”

“The last story was about two months ago. And you can figure that’s well after the fact.”