Page 82 of Acting on Instinct
The gun dangling from the man’s hand had a silencer on it.
If he turned on a recording of a military movie, he’d get cover for the noise. But if Kira were dead, he wouldn’t get his answers.
Resist.
“You wish me to be unconscious around men that I don’t know? That’s horrific, Uncle. Why would you ask me to do such a thing? It’s unfathomable.”
“Because I don’t trust you, and I need to trust you, or your aunt will suffer further.”
She heard a long scream, followed by her aunt begging for him to stop.
“Where are they taking me?” Kira whispered.
“They’re bringing you to me.”
“In Dodoma?” Kira asked, thinking that it would be very hard for them to get her onto a plane if she just agreed to walk. Maybe her image would be on the security cameras when Gator got there.
“How would you know that?” Uncle Nadir asked.
“Christen said that Moses called her because she had the medical directive for her dad since London was shot. And Moses said William was taken by a medical evacuation helicopter, and that you and the guests left in the SUV. I guess I just assumed that, since William is your dear friend, you were driving to a nearby airport to fly out and support him until his family could arrive.” She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I am not drinking the drugs and risking myself with these strangers. I was planning to come to Dodoma with Christen tomorrow. All of this is very unnecessary.”
“Kira, you will come to me, now. Your Aunt Fatima is not the only one who will suffer if you fail to follow my directives. You have cousins. Many beautiful young women whose lives are easily destroyed.”
What did he mean by such a threat?
Dangerous marriages?
Physical disfigurement?
Imprisonment within the compound.
There were so many horrible things her uncle could do with impunity.
Kira thought of how she’d watched the news of sportswomen who were on safer ground, competing outside of their countries when they were offered asylum. They went home knowing that torture and death were probably waiting for them. But they went out of love for their families.
She looked from one hardened face to the other. Kira wasn’t getting out of this, and waiting would put Lynx and Gator in danger.
Stalling was both selfish and futile.
She would do this for her family’s safety.
Kira unscrewed the top.
Ty, I love you with all my heart and soul. I hope someday you can forgive me for bringing you pain.
She brought the bottle to her lips.
Kira always knew it would come to this.
But maybe, just maybe, someone would help her before she vanished into her fate.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ty
“There are worse places to wait for a collection,” Havoc said, watching the twinkle of lights across the river.
“There are better,” Jeopardy countered. “Middle of the damn night, sitting on the water with this cold, wet air. White,” he called over to her, “you could have bought us some long johns.”
