Seal of Honor(52)

“Is no closer to finding him, I assure you,” Mena said easily. “I’ve kept a close watch on all of you since your arrival in my country. As a precaution, of course. I had no idea you were investigating Bryson’s disappearance until Señor Miller told me this morning when he brought you in.”

“Is that why you had us followed?” Audrey asked, and no way could anyone miss the hope in her voice. “Just as a precaution.”

“And my men ended up dead.” His Cheshire Cat grin didn’t waver. “However, let’s not get into all that now. I think this conversation will be more palatable over good food with good wine, don’t you agree?”

“Gabe, please,” Audrey whispered behind him. “I need to find Bryson. Please.”

Her pleading all but shattered his heart. He couldn’t deny her, even though every instinct screamed to get her far, far away from Mena’s lengthy reach. A deserted island might do the trick. Yeah, and then what? Stay there for the rest of their natural lives?

No, he wasn’t a runner. He was a fighter, and if he wanted to keep Audrey safe, he had to face this threat head on. Alone. Unarmed. With a bum foot.

Shit, shit, shit.

Finally, jaw clenched, he nodded once. Behind him, Audrey let go a hiss of relief.

“Excellent,” Mena said. “Dinner shall be served on the veranda tonight at six-thirty. I’ll have appropriate attire sent up for you both.” He eyed Gabe with a faint sneer of disdain, prince to pauper, and Gabe thought, fuck you. “You’ll, of course, want to bathe before dinner, so I’ll take my leave.”

The door shut and Gabe heard the unmistakable snick of a lock. Just a mind game since the balcony was wide open and a locked door wouldn’t keep Gabe from leaving if he really wanted to go. Still, the sound of a lock closing off an exit always sent a quick skitter of panic down even the most trained operative’s spine. It’s human nature to want freedom. Mena’s nature to take it away.

Audrey stared at the door in wide-eyed horror. “Why did he lock us in? He said we’re guests. He—”

“Doesn’t trust me.” Gabe gripped her shoulders and gave her a little shake. “And you shouldn’t trust a thing out of that man’s mouth. He’s more sophisticated and better dressed, but he rates right on level with Cocodrilo. Don’t let him blind you to that.”

“But…but he said he knows how to find Bryson.”

“That’s what he says. Is it true?” As tears filled her eyes, he let go of her shoulders to cup her face and brush them away.

“It could be,” she whispered.

He sighed. “Audrey, don’t cry. We’ll find out what game Mena’s playing during dinner. Until then, let’s get some rest.”

Because he needed time to strategize. A group of recon marines spent two months quietly scoping out Mena’s home last year, and the DOD built a replica of the house and outbuildings in Virginia to run invasion scenarios with, so he knew the floor plan of this estate. Knew all the weak spots in the security system. Liam Miller, the British mercenary hired by Mena to oversee security, was good at what he did, no doubt about it. But Gabe and the SEALs were better, and if there had been no accident, if Operation Black Boa had gone down as planned, Mena would be sitting in an international prison right now awaiting trial. Not that he deserved a trial.

Gabe led Audrey over to the bed. She looked wrecked, exhaustion bruising her eyes with dark circles. Had she slept at all while he was unconscious? He’d bet not.

Truthfully, unconsciousness didn’t count for sleep, either, and his own energy levels were also in the danger zone. He knew the fuzzy, disjointed feeling well, knew if he didn’t catch a couple hours of sleep he’d crash out and be of no use to anyone.

“This is all so messed up,” Audrey murmured, snuggling into the big bed on her belly, arms wrapped tight around a pillow.

“It is.” He tucked the blanket around her. “SEALs refer to situations like this as fubar. Fucked up beyond all recognition.”

Her lips curved in a hint of a smile, but it didn’t last long. “I’m not going to sleep.” Even as the words left her, she yawned.

“Try.”

She yawned again. Now that she was horizontal, she was fading fast and fighting it. “I shouldn’t have convinced you to stay here.”

Gabe thought about telling her that despite what Mena had said, the drug kingpin wasn’t going to let them leave until he was good and ready for them to go. Their surroundings were more comfortable, but substituting a castle for a prison doesn’t change the fact it’s still a prison.