Chapter Sixteen

E llie.

Wes jolted back to awareness after being shot and swam out from beneath the sinking Zodiac. He rolled onto his back and gasped for air, trying to get his bearings. Water lapping against the sinking raft filled his ears as he loosened the straps on his vest and groaned. Being shot always sucked, even if the bullet only hit the vest. He shook off the pain, righted himself, and began treading water. Damn, he wished he had his prosthetic fin on. His gaze swept the water around him, searching for Ellie. Then the distant hum of the retreating motorboat filled his ears.

Fuck! They’d taken her. Panic reared its ugly head and his gut twisted. He knew he had to get to her fast. The Zodiac was useless, so he turned toward shore and started swimming. The sound of a boat’s motor approaching caught his attention and he instantly went on high alert. Had the pirates seen him moving and were returning to finish the job?

Thank fuck. It was his team.

Wes lifted his arm and waved them over. The moment the boat pulled up alongside him, Corey leaned over, grabbed his wrists and heaved him aboard. Breathing hard, Wes pointed in the direction the pirates had gone.

“They took Ellie.” Although he was doing his best to remain calm and collected, this was his Ellie. He’d already lost her once and he couldn’t let it happen again.

“Who took Ellie?” Brand asked.

“Pirates. They know we killed his son and now they want revenge. Said they know where our safehouse is, too.”

“Fuck.”

“You’re bleeding,” Corey stated, but Wes didn’t even glance down. He was too focused on going after Ellie.

“Let’s move! We need to find her!”

“We’ll get her back, Murph.” Brand motioned to Chaz to turn the boat then squeezed Wes’ shoulder. “Head to the Sea Dogs HQ!”

Chaz tossed him a salute and Wes sagged forward, using the rail to hold himself up. They would get her back. There was no other option.

“How many were there?” Brand asked, legs akimbo, arms crossed. His large body rolled easily with the pitch of the deck.

“Nine Indonesian pirates. They surrounded us on three different boats. Fast boats with rigged motors like ours.”

Corey came up beside Wes. “Sit, so I can take a look at your arm.”

Wes only grunted, dropping down on the bench, and did his best to keep it together. But he could feel his edges beginning to unravel.

“How would they know where we’re staying?” Lex asked.

“It’s a small community, which means everyone talks,” Xander responded, leaning against the railing.

Wes thought back to their run-in with Ellie’s friend. Had she tipped the pirates off? Even inadvertently? Or, had it been someone else? Either way, his worst nightmare was coming true because Ellie was once again in the hands of pirates.

“Just a graze.” Corey began to clean the wound, but Wes didn’t feel a thing. He was completely numb except for the ice-cold fear trickling into his belly.

“So what’s the plan?” Jayson asked.

“We need to go in now,” Wes stated as Corey wrapped his arm. “I’m not fucking waiting around. Anything could happen. The sooner we get Ellie back, the better.”

“Roger that, but they’re going to be expecting us, so we need to play this carefully,” Brand stated.

“I’m killing every last one of those fuckers,” Wes growled.

“Lock it down,” Corey warned under his breath.

“I’m past locking shit down.” Wes sat up straighter and tried not to grimace at the wet liner rubbing against his stump. “It’s time to finish this.”

No one commented, but Wes could see the support and fire flare in his teammates’ eyes. They were his brothers. They would always have his back. And, for that, he was forever grateful.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at the small island where the pirates’ HQ was stationed. They debated where to leave the boat and eventually chose the same hidden cove as before. Only Brand, Chaz and Jayson had been there, so Wes fell in step behind them, relying on their knowledge of the area.

“It’s right over this hill,” Jayson told them.

“So do we have an actual plan orrrr…” Chaz drew the word out, looking around at the other guys.

“Let’s go with our usual game plan,” Brand answered.

“Blow shit up?”

“That’s Plan B,” Lex said.

“Oh, right.” Chaz checked his weapon. “Sneak attack?”

“Affirmative.”

“Cool.” Chaz slammed the magazine back into his Glock with his palm. “And if that fails, then we blow shit up.”

Yeah, they would definitely be leaving this place leveled and burning, Wes thought.

“We need to come up with some better alternate plans,” Xander said dryly.

As the house came into view, the group halted in surprise. The entire property was surrounded by a chain of men, all armed, standing within five feet of each other. Waiting for them.

“Well, fuck. They sent a welcome wagon and everything,” Lex murmured dryly. “And none of them brought cookies to the party.”

“How many do you count?” Brand asked, squinting.

“You need your glasses, Grand-paw?” Chaz asked. “Cuz I’m seeing at least fifty tangos.”

“I don’t need glasses to punch you in the face, Madden.”

Chaz stifled a laugh and Wes moved to the front of the group. “We’re going in through the front door,” he announced and stepped right into view.

“Oh, fuck,” Corey hissed, hurrying after his friend.

◆◆◆

Wes read the situation easily enough. Each side wanted something and the pirates were ready to bargain. If that meant getting Ellie back unharmed, Wes would give them anything they wanted. Unfortunately, he had a pretty good idea what the enemy’s intentions were, because if it was just about revenge, they would’ve killed Ellie instead of taking her as a negotiating tool. His team would have to lie. Because striking a bargain would be impossible.

Wes led his guys out of the jungle. His teammates flanked him on either side as they stalked forward, looking deadly, yet in complete control. It was that moment in a film when the lead actors all walked forward in slow-motion and a fireball exploded behind them just for the hell of it, and no one flinched or turned to look back. Badass to the bone.

Except this was real life and no director would be calling cut.

“We tell them whatever they want to hear,” Wes stated. “Then kill them after we have Ellie.”

“Right. Just lay low, Murph. We aren’t giving them the warhead,” Brand murmured.

“Just making them believe that we will, I assume,” Xander finished.

“You think that’s what they want? How would they know about it?” Jayson asked.

“Bad guys always know about destructive weapons,” Corey said. “What else could they want?”

“Maybe Lex can throw in a blowjob? Might sweeten the deal.” Chaz snorted back a laugh.

“Stop telling everyone your fantasies, Madden,” Lex said.

They continued forward, pistols in hand, and then stopped in front of the lead pirate blocking the main path leading up to the house.

“We’re here to talk to your boss,” Brand said, keeping his voice neutral, fearless and commanding, “and get the woman back.”

“He is waiting for you.” The pirate motioned for them to follow him inside. The house wasn’t big, and they were guided into the back room where smudged windows overlooked a grove of native tropical fruit trees, including durian and mangosteen.

Nayvadius, the same asshole who ordered his men to shoot at Wes and Ellie, stood there, flanked by two Indonesian men. “I was wondering when you would arrive.” His tone was cocky and Wes’ trigger finger itched.

“Where is she?” Wes demanded.

“In a safe place,” the man answered. “You are lucky I did not slit her throat.”

A red haze began to creep into Wes’ vision and it took all of his strength not to blow the fucker away. But, they were outnumbered and he couldn’t save Ellie if he and his team were dead. Instead, Wes clenched his teeth together and forced himself to breathe. To focus. To harness all of his energy into finding and rescuing his wife.

“One of you killed my son. For taking his life, I took yours. Or thought I had.”

“You missed.” Wes clenched his fist.

“Actually, he didn’t,” Chaz said. “He shot you twice, but his aim sucked, so all good.”

“What do you want?” Brand asked, cutting to the chase.

“I want the nuclear warhead laying on the bottom of the sea, and I know you have its location from the laptop you stole.”

“ We stole?” Lex echoed. “I think you’ve got that backwards, pal. We just gave it back to its rightful owner.”

The pirate ignored Lex. “You have the equipment at your safehouse to bring it up. We saw it. So either go get it or the woman dies. Then all of you die.”

“Harsh terms, but we’re willing to set up a trade,” Brand said.

Wes was looking around, searching for any sign that Ellie might be near, but his gut told him she was being held somewhere else.

“You bring us the warhead, we will bring you the woman.” Nayvadius pointed to the clock on the wall. “You have three hours before I kill her.”

“Fucking touch her and I’ll gut you like a fish,” Wes snarled, his voice seething with vengeance.

“Try it,” the man challenged, tilting his head back to maintain eye contact with a much taller Wes.

Wes stepped closer, right into the pirate’s space, and pinned him with a glare full of hellfire. “I won’t try anything. It’s a goddamn promise.”

The pirate took a step back and Wes took another step forward, narrowing his dark eyes. If looks could kill, this asshole would be dead ten times over and buried six feet under. Wes wasn’t done yet, though. Not even close.

“You touch one hair on her head and I end you and all of your men. Then I’m going to burn this fucking island to the ground and watch it sink into the sea. You wanna see your son? Hurt her and I will make sure it happens before you can fucking blink an eye.”

Beside him, he heard Brand mutter a curse under his breath.

“I am not scared of you,” the pirate insisted, puffing out his measly chest.

“You should be,” Wes hissed.

“Alright,” Brand interceded, stepping between the two men before Wes could carry out his threat, “we’re going to get the nuke. You’ll meet us at the fruit grove by the dock. We can do the trade there, on neutral ground. Understand?”

“Three hours,” the pirate repeated, throwing a daggered look at Wes.

“Boom,” Wes responded, voice so low it was barely audible. But from the look on the pirate’s face, he’d heard and understood. Good. Wes needed him to comprehend the deadly consequences if anyone put their dirty hands on his Ellie. He’d go berserk and turn that nuke right on them all.

“Let’s go,” Brand said, gripping Wes’ arm as he turned back to the front of the house. Knowing the rest of the team had their six as they left, they strode out like they owned the place.

Once they cleared the building, Brand leaned closer to Wes. “Way to lay low.”

“If they had Julia, would you have laid low?”

“I’d probably have blood on my hands right now.”

“Exactly,” Wes agreed. “All in all, I think I kept my shit together pretty damn well.”

Brand slapped him on the back. “We’ll get her, Murph. That’s a fucking promise.”

Yes, they would get Ellie back. The alternative was unthinkable, and Wes refused to let his mind go there or he’d fall apart. And, right now, he needed to be stronger than he’d ever been before.