Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

F inn wasn’t sure how long they had been in the air or where they landed. Once she had been herded onto the plane, she was injected with something that put her out. When she woke, she was in a nicely furnished small bedroom. The windows, though barred, showed a rolling landscape of lush green pastures. She was happy to see there was an adjoining bath. It didn’t have windows, but there was a skylight directly above the small shower stall.

She was just reentering the room after washing her face when she saw the door handle turn. There didn’t appear to be anything in the room she could use as a weapon.

“Good morning, Ms. Reid. I am Gerold Springer. You will be my guest for the next few days. You will be confined to your room unless one of my men is with you. Your meals will be brought to you. If you choose, you may join us for dinner.”

“Why did you bring me here? How did you know I was awake?”

“We have been checking on you every few hours. There are no cameras or listening devices in your room, but the halls, exits, common areas, and grounds are heavily guarded and under twenty-four-hour electronic surveillance. I’m afraid bringing you along wasn’t necessarily part of my original plan, and I have yet to decide your fate.”

“I think you will find my brother is still willing to complete the transaction and exchange the information for my safe return.”

“If I wanted the information, I would already have it. Your people seem to think the issue was the information. It wasn’t. Your family’s financial concerns have never been ours. The withdrawal of your capital from the hedge fund would have been a minor inconvenience. My brother was inept and vastly underestimated the depth of loyalty Fariq commanded. I have not.”

“Not overly concerned with your brother’s death, are you?”

Springer shrugged. “He was incompetent. Unfortunately, what happened at the Four Seasons forced me to show my hand. My brethren and I were moving toward seizing Fariq’s organization and all of its assets. Once Fariq had time to examine this entire affair, he would have found the real threat and had me eliminated. I tried to take him out at the hotel but failed.

“And me?” she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.

“I needed you as a hostage to ensure I could get away. Now, the question is, what do I do with you?”

“Killing me does nothing for you. If, as you say, Fariq knows of your plans, holding me or letting me go will make no difference, but if you worked for Fariq, you are aware I have value to those at Wild Mustang. Kill me, and they will never stop. I’ve served my purpose for you. Let me go—give me cab fare to the closest U.S. embassy, and I’ll be gone as well as any threat I posed to you.”

Springer laughed harshly. “You overestimate your value. You are nothing. It would be easier to simply eliminate you and dispose of your body.”

“If I’m of no value, then why did Fariq want me at the meeting?” Finn asked, making note Springer had not corrected her assumption they had left the United States.

“He is old and getting weak. He truly believed your brother would be easier to deal with if you were there. Like you, he should have simply gotten rid of him.”

“Then why not just kill me?”

“I have considered it, but as you say, doing so would put me in the cross-hairs of the Wild Mustang group. I know you share a bed with Croft. Those I truly serve do not wish to run afoul of that firm and your lover, in particular. If I to kill you, he would make it his life’s mission to take vengeance on those who harmed you and would ultimately discover who I am, who I represent, and what we plan to do. Your only value is as a pawn… that can be sacrificed at any time. You are fortunate in that you spread your legs for the right man. I will have breakfast sent up to you.”

After the door closed behind him and the lock clicked, Finn conducted a more thorough search of her temporary prison for a means of escape. She also wanted to ensure Springer had spoken the truth about any kind of electronic monitoring in her room. Feeling safe enough for the moment, she went into the bath to take a shower.

Finn stood under the lukewarm water, but there was little pleasure to be found either with its maximum temperature or water pressure. It occurred to her as she stared up at the skylight overhead, she ought to heed Croft’s words and wait to be rescued, but patience had never been her strong suit, and she doubted they even had a clue as to where she was. Finn truly believed the best thing to do was bide her time, only as long as it took to find a means of escape.

She jumped up and clung to the top of the glass shower enclosure. Solid and well installed, bumping and climbing along its edge didn’t even cause it to shake. Finn thought she was probably tall enough, standing on top of it, she could reach the skylight. It looked as though there were both a screen and a handle, which indicated the skylight would open.

The problem was, having not seen the outside of the building, she had no idea what the roof was like. She needed to persuade Springer to let her stretch her legs outside, so she could take a better look at both the roof and the surrounding countryside. All she could see from her window were open fields. It would be easy for someone with a rifle to pick her off as she fled. No, she needed to get a lay of the land.

C roft slept little, his dreams either enhanced by memories of being with Finn and envisioning a life together or tormented by thoughts of what might happen to her before this was all over. He was up before Noah and took another shower to chase the cobwebs from his mind. He needed to be focused and sharp if they were going to get Finn back. And God help Springer if he’d harmed her in any way.

Noah was up and getting dressed as Croft reentered the barracks.

John stuck his head in. “Apparently, Thom has some intel. We’ll go over it while we eat. Mandy made burritos.”

Croft grinned. Mandy’s breakfast burritos were a team staple. There wasn’t a single member of the organization who would turn one down. Croft got dressed, and the two men headed to the conference room. They met Junior, four burritos in hand, headed to Fariq.

“Four?” Noah teased.

“You bet,” Junior said as he took a bite of one. “One for Fariq, one for Baez, and two for me.”

They continued on their way and entered the conference room to find not only had Mandy brought breakfast but coffee as well. There was a big pot brewing, but also a specialty coffee for each man with his name on the sleeve. Junior had gone down to keep an eye on Fariq, Baez was most likely getting some shut-eye, and Adam would be manning the electronics. That left John, Noah, Thom, and Croft in the conference room.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” said the curvaceous redhead John was married to. “I knew you’d be hungry, so there’s plenty to eat.”

“Coffee first.” Croft walked past the burritos and grabbed his coffee, then took a long drink.

He turned and was confronted by the feisty Mrs. Hampton, who thrust a burrito in his face.

“You need to eat, Croft. You can’t do her any good if you aren’t at your best, and that means food as well as coffee. She’ll be fine. You’ll get her back.”

Croft nodded but said nothing as he sat down at the table.

John approached his wife and kissed her. “Thanks, sweetheart. Any word from Willa?”

“Now, why do you think I would hear from Willa before you hear from Mac?”

John chuckled. “Because Mac had no intention of doing anything but having his way with Willa while they were gone. And while your best buddy enjoys that as well, she tends to be rather driven about her business, and you have a big group going out right after she gets back.”

Mandy laughed. “It’s a repeat group, and she wants everything to go smoothly. I haven’t heard from her in a couple of days, though. If I do, should I bring her up to speed?”

“No, but if she calls, tell her to have Mac contact me. Be a good girl and take a burrito and coffee to Adam, will you?”

“Already done. Let Baez and Avery know there are burritos in the kitchen for them. Anything else?”

“I think that’ll do it,” John said and kissed her again. “Do me a favor and work from Willa’s today, will you?”

“I’m fine, John,” Mandy replied, letting her exasperation with her husband’s overly protective nature shine through.

“You will be if you work from Willa’s and do what I tell you,” he replied with just a hint of annoyance. “I want to know where all our people are.”

Noah, Thom, and Croft grinned. It was obvious Mandy wanted to argue, but it was just as obvious she knew better, and John wasn’t in the mood for it.

“Fine, but only because it’ll be easier to make lunch for everybody,” she said in a tone just this side of snarky.

“Mandy’s dander seems to be up this morning,” Croft noted.

John smiled. “She gets that way when I don’t sleep at home with her.”

“Poor John. The things you have to do to keep her happy.”

“Well, a man’s gotta do, what a man’s gotta do,” he laughed. “So, Thom, what do we know?”

Thom went over the information he had been able to glean from his contacts in several intelligence agencies. It boiled down to Springer most likely involved with a splinter group from the RAF that had ties to Boko Haram and other extremist organizations. There were rumors they had been planning to make a big push to become one of the world’s major players in terrorism. As they had feared, taking over Fariq’s organization was their way to secure funding.

“What does he want with Finn?” John asked.

“From what I’ve been able to gather, she really was just a means of escape. She has no intrinsic value?—”

“What the hell do you mean by that?” Reid said as he entered the room.

“Easy, Christian,” Croft soothed. “He means she doesn’t know anything about them and isn’t a threat. They’re not going to see a pressing need to harm her. It’s a good thing.”

“Sorry,” he mumbled as Croft handed him a coffee cup with his name on it.

“Help yourself to a burrito,” Noah said. “Where the hell is Avery, by the way?”

Thom grinned. “Making deals with the officials so we can come and go on the fly with a very sketchy flight plan. She’ll get the jet ready to go, then head over here. My contacts were also able to run down where Springer landed—Paris. He may no longer be there, but my friend, Andre in DGSI, one of France’s security agencies, says he has a headquarters of sorts in the countryside outside the city. They aren’t prepared to move on them, but if we want, he can arrange for us to do that very quietly with no interference or paperwork. I’ve assured him this is simply a snatch and grab.”

“We’re headed to France, then?” Noah asked.

“I would think so. Adam is going to stay here. I’m planning to sleep on the plane on the way over,” Thom offered, looking at John.

“Good thinking, Thom. We may need intelligence on the fly, and you have plenty of contacts in that area. I think we need to leave Baez and Junior here with Fariq. That leaves Noah, Croft, and me to go over there and get Finn,” John said, nodding.

“What about me?” Reid asked.

“It’s best if you stay here. You can make yourself useful by helping Baez, Junior, and Adam go over the information you gathered. I don’t think it has much to do with Finn, but it could have a negative impact on Fariq’s group, which Springer wants for himself.”

“I can’t just stay behind?—”

“Christian, we’re going to try to negotiate with Springer, but if we can’t, we’re going to go in and get Finn. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but in that situation, you’d be a liability,” Croft said.

Reid sighed. “I just feel like I should do something.”

“You will be,” John said. “I know it may not sound like much, but we’re going to be all hands on deck getting your sister. There’s no knowing what we’ll need here. It may be something as simple as helping out with the phones or helping Mandy with food, but whatever it is, if you aren’t here, it will be harder on them. I hate to say this, but Croft is right. If you’re with us, you won’t be of any help.”

“I guess. Just get Finn,” he said.

“All right, boys, the next flight for Paris is ready to board. I’ve got a tight flight plan, so let’s get to it. Good morning, Christian,” Avery called.

The other men got up to head out to the plane.

“That’s nice, Avery,” Thom said. “You shout orders at us and say nice things to him.”

“Maybe because he’s nice a guy, and I know you a lot better. Get a move on, boys. Time’s a-wasting.”

Croft turned to look at Reid. “We’ll get her. If they’ve harmed her, they’ll pay.”

F inn was pleasant and cooperative all morning. She finally asked the man who brought her lunch if it might be possible for her to take a stroll around the grounds. He was uncertain but finally agreed to ask Springer.

The door opened, and Springer entered her room.

“Why is it you think I would let you wander around the grounds?” he asked suspiciously.

“I don’t think you’d let me wander. I’m sure you’d have someone with me. You have guards posted, and I’m amendable to anything you feel you need to do to ensure I don’t get away—bind my hands, make me walk barefoot, whatever. I’m just understandably anxious, and I think a walk outside in the fresh air would help.”

Finn didn’t care for the speculative look that came over his face.

“I couldn’t care less what might help you, but it could be entertaining for my men. You will be stripped naked, your hands bound, and one of my men will have a tether on you. If you behave, you will be given back your clothes when you are returned to your room. If you don’t, I will allow one of my men to use you as he sees fit. I warn you, Ms. Reid, some of them have not had a woman in a while, and you are a very tasty morsel. Are we agreed?”

Finn gulped. She hadn’t been prepared for his conditions but felt it was imperative for her to get a long look at the outside. The idea of a bunch of men ogling her didn’t sit well, but she needed to do whatever it took to get outside. She couldn’t go out a window and over a roof and not know the terrain. As she had no interest in misbehaving on her tour, she thought it was worth it. Finn also hoped it would feed into his arrogant superiority and make them all a little less concerned.

Once Springer left, Finn removed her clothes and sat waiting on the bed. The big man she had seen standing outside her door came in and bound her hands with soft leather cuffs and buckled a collar with a leash around her neck. He stroked her breast, circling her areola before pinching her nipple at the center.

“We go,” he grunted, openly staring at her mons. “You should have pussy shaved.” He tugged on the tether.

Finn stood and walked with as much dignity as she could muster under the circumstances. The men inside the house were respectful other than their eyes riveted to either her ass, her breasts, or her mons. They walked outside, and the cool air caused her nipples to harden. The giant on the other end of her line grinned lustily as he watched.

“I want you to try something. I know how I would use you. Regardless of who gets to fuck you, I get to watch.”

The men outside were not as concerned about their response to seeing her being paraded around naked. They made catcalls in both German and Arabic, and several opened their flies so she could see their cocks. Finn paid them no mind, keeping her head down but moving her eyes around so she could take it all in. The front, first side, and back where her room was didn’t seem to offer any means of escape, but the far side of the house was a different story.

Finn recognized her bedroom window and the roof where the skylight had been installed. Although the main portion of the house had a pyramid-style roof, the section she was in appeared to be an addition and had a more traditional gabled roof without a steep incline. More importantly, it led directly down to a roof, only a single story above the ground with bushes beneath it. Finn figured she could slip off the roof, hang from the edge, and allow the bushes to break her fall.

On the far side of the house from the bedroom she was using, there was a small open field adjacent to a heavily wooded area. She made note of the speed with which the guards seemed to patrol on that particular side.

When her walk was through, she was led back into the house, where Springer met her. He spoke in a language Finn didn’t understand before taking her lead.

“Otto tells me you were a very good girl and kept your eyes averted as you should. You are very beautiful, Ms. Reid. I can see why Croft wasted no time fucking you.” Springer reached out and drew his finger down the swell of her breast, causing Finn to recoil. He smiled. “His desire to fuck you again could prove useful.”

He handed the tether back to Otto and again spoke in a language, not at all familiar. She was taken back to her room, where he removed her bindings, never taking his eyes from her still-stiffened peaks. As he left, Finn realized she needed to make her move tonight. She thought Springer might have underestimated his ability to keep a bunch of horny men under control when there was a woman available to satisfy their lust.

Finn opted to take her dinner in her room and planned her bid for freedom. She wasn’t sure what country she was in, but she planned to make her way through the woods, avoiding any kind of roadway. If they gave chase, they would have to pursue her on foot. If she found a town or factory, she would ask to be taken to the American embassy. Not a perfect plan, but it was all she had.

She waited until she had eaten, then gave the house time to settle down, spending the time tying the bedsheets together to form a strong rope. If there was something she could secure it to, in order to climb down, she would. Otherwise, she would tie it to the bars outside her window, so it looked as though she had climbed down from that side. Either way, the going would be rough, and she hoped her innate sense of direction would keep her from going in circles.