Page 12 of Fatal Conspiracy

Alayah grimaced when the guy took the gun from the waistband of Derek’s pants and then shoved him from behind. He went flying and sprawled out in the gravel beside her. He popped back up almost immediately and brushed off his hands.

“We’re not friends,” the guy snarled. “You wouldn’t have lied to a friend about where the information was that he wanted.”

“I didn’t lie,” Derek said, posturing until he managed to block her with his body. “I told you where the files were.”

Alayah noticed one of the men touch the giant bandage on his face and she got a little satisfaction knowing he was the one Derek had stabbed. The bandage had blood seeping through it, and he probably needed a hospital, but they were too determined to finish the job. Since they were standing just off a populated highway, even if it was dark, they took the risk of someone seeing them. The thought hit her in the gut. They weren’t worried about collateral damage, and that terrified her.

As though one guy read her thoughts, he opened the back hatch of the Suburban. “We can’t stand here all night. Get in.”

The guys herded them toward the back of the SUV. Alayah limped toward it but knew getting in meant certain death. What choice did she have? Four guys with guns trumped two people without them. Especially when one was nothing more than an ankle-biter in a fight. When they reached the back of the SUV, Derek held his hands up.

“She can’t get in herself. I’m going to lift her. I’m not trying anything.”

“Boss,” one of the other guys said. “We ain’t gotta kidnapthem. We just gotta get the files. Ain’t nobody said nothing about kidnapping no one.”

Those few sentences told Alayah that these guys were flying by the seat of their pants rather than following a set plan.

“Ain’t nobody asked for your opinion,” the boss said, turning away from them to argue with the other guy.

“Can you run?” Derek whisper-asked and she glanced up to meet his gaze. His eyes told her he’d try anything to save them, and she suspected hers reflected the same level of desperation.

“Not on this terrain or with my ankle throbbing the way it is,” she whispered as the guys behind them started to argue among themselves.

They listened, hoping for some piece of information they could use once they got out of the situation. Alayah refused to believe that they wouldn’t, because if she gave up fighting, she’d be dead.

“We don’t have time for this!” the boss yelled, and all the other guys stopped talking, which made it easier for them to hear. “Our job is to get the information. Once we do that, we’re out of here. Now shut up, get back in your car, and let’s get out of here.”

In the second of silence that followed, a twig snapped. “What was that?” the boss asked as they all turned to the woods.

“Probably an animal. I think there are wolves and bears around here,” one of them said, and Alayah heard the skitter in his voice.

Something told her it wasn’t a wolf or a bear. She glanced up at Derek.Put me in the car, she mouthed. Without question, he lifted her carefully by the hips up and into the back of the SUV before she motioned him in. He lowered thehatch while the guys were facing the woods, looking for a threat on four legs. Alayah suspected they’d be surprised to discover the animals they were about to meet only used two.

“What’s going on?” Derek asked.

“Do you still have the jump drive?”

He shook his head. “No, I shoved it down in the seats of your SUV. No way will I hand that over willingly to these guys. I’d run while they are distracted, but I’m afraid we’d end up with bullets in our backs.”

“Running won’t be necessary,” she said with a smirk just as the first grunt of pain hit their ears.

“Secure One, Romeo,” a voice called out, and Alayah did an internal fist pump.

“Secure Watch, Alpha!” she called when Derek pushed the hatch open. She threw herself at Roman, who caught her, lifting her from the car and setting her down on the road. “I’m so happy to see you!”

Derek climbed out behind her and looked around in confusion. “How?” he asked, taking in the four guys already zip-tied on the ground. Zac and Declan stood with their hands on their hips and frowns on their faces as they stared her down.

“Everyone, this is—”

“Derek Benjamin,” Roman finished, but didn’t take Derek’s outstretched hand. “We’ve been looking for you. I will say I’m a bit surprised to find you with one of our technicians.” He turned to her. “Is this your deer?”

Shame filled her and she willed her body to be still, but she was shaking too much from relief. “I promise I’ll explain everything, but we need to get out of here,” she said. “How did you get here so quickly?”

“We managed to track down Derek’s cabin earlier tonight,” Roman explained.

“That was fast,” Derek said, obviously shocked.

“The head of Secure Watch, my wife,” Roman added, “worked for the FBI. Finding your cabin was child’s play for someone like Mina.”