Page 102 of Dangerous

“Who are you to speak so casually of my mother?”

Adam sighed. “I am her husband. Now, get moving. We can have this family discussion once we reach the safety of our ship.”

Jibril gave him a look Adam had seen once or twice on Mia’s face. He did, however, turn around and head down the tunnel.

They’d just taken the second left when they heard voices ahead. Arab voices. They stopped and Jibril held up his hand, tilting his head to listen. He mumbled something in Arabic and then turned to Adam.

“It is Assad’s men. It sounds like they caught some of the escaped slaves and followed them back to the caves. We will have to go back.”

“What?”

“It is the only way.”

“What about the other tunnels? You said you’ve been using them for months?”

“One is closed off by rock and the other leads to the fort—you will find Turks waiting at the end of it.”

Adam cursed quietly.

“Come!” Jibril shoved past him and headed back the way they’d come.

“Where are you going?” Adam hissed.

“I know a place we can hide between the courtyard and the apartments. We should be safe if we can make our way there.”

“Safe until what?”

“Until I get us out.”

Adam sighed but held his tongue. He followed Jibril through the same area they’d just left, the cells and halls now eerily quiet. They went down the corridor Delacroix had emerged from earlier, Jibril leading him all the way to the end, where a smallish cell stood, the door open.

Jibril stepped inside and Adam saw the cell led to another larger room.

“Stay in here and wait.”

“What the hell am I waiting for?” Adam demanded.

“I’m going to leave you here while I go and search for some clothing—we’ll be able to move about more easily if we have guard uniforms.”

Adam thought about arguing and then realized the younger man was not only less conspicuous, even with his red hair, but he also knew his way around.

“Take the lantern,” he said. “I don’t need it.”

The boy nodded and bolted for the door. “I will be back soon.”

Adam gazed into the sudden darkness. He bloody well hoped so.

Chapter Thirty-One

Mia sat on the bed, the gun beside her, loaded and ready to fire. She’d also found a short sword and wicked-looking knife in Bouchard’s wardrobe and those lay within easy reach. Most importantly, she’d found a key to the cabin door. A second key Bouchard had forgotten, hidden inside a wooden box that held various trinkets.

Adam had left without the bag of ransom money, yet another little detail he and Ramsay had kept from her. They’d never planned to deliver it.

Men.

Mia bit back her pointless anger and thought about what she would do next.

It was late, very late. Adam and Ramsay should have been in the harbor hours ago. There had been plenty of time to reach the palace and get back to the Ghost or back here if they couldn’t approach the harbor after escaping with Jibril.