Cold Day In Hell (24 page)

As he should be.

None of this came as a surprise, so what explained the unbearable feeling of loss gripping her stomach?

She should have been happy. Ortega would be dead, maybe not at her hand, but her promise would be kept. Her birth parents would finally rest in peace.

"Then it will be over. Mission complete." She pulled away, focusing on showing no emotions and praying Ty wouldn't touch her again. She couldn't. Wouldn't shame herself or force him into uttering words he didn't want to hear. "It's just as well. Lina and Pablo will need help while they recuperate."

"Ana," he whispered into her hair, his warm breath slicing her wide open, strong hands splayed across her midriff. "I'll never forget the warrior I found locked in that room or the passionate woman I held in my arms. Promise you'll remember me, even if it's only when you see a giant spider."

"Of course, I'll remember you always and think of you often." Her heart ripped into pieces, but she'd told God's truth. Blinking hard, she refused to give way to the tears burning her eyes.

So this was really the end. What had she expected? He'd never offered any words to make her think he returned her affection.

Her mind demanded she let him go, but her heart cried to hold on tightly. The desire to lean into him, to tell him how she felt, sent a powerful ache rippling through her heart. She couldn't put him in the position of turning her away. A burst of unwanted emotions would only humiliate her and make him uncomfortable. She refused to make him feel guilty for wanting to return to his life.

Pulling strength from an invisible source, she stepped further out of his grasp, leaving only her heart in his hands. "I've had too many goodbyes in my lifetime. When you leave tomorrow, please don't look back. We'll just go separate ways."

****

"That's probably best. Everybody will know when Ortega is dead, but I'll make sure you know before it hits the news." Ty stared at his empty hand. She'd walked away from him, leaving him holding nothing but air.

He wasn't good at this stuff, and explaining to Ana was unnecessary. She knew the score. Her goal, her motivation, hell, her mission in life would soon be realized.

With her vendetta satisfied, she might become a big shot in the Colombian government. She was dedicated enough. And she could move on with her life. He could see marriage and kids in her future. His gift to her would be a safe and happy life. So why did the idea of her having children with another man send his heart rate through the roof?

Ty welcomed the sound of a wheezing engine, indicating Marcus and Jack were getting close. Determined to keep what had happened between him and Ana private, Ty walked through the front room, stepped out on the porch, and waited for the car to come into sight.

The irony of this situation didn't escape him. If he'd dealt with Ortega when she'd originally asked him to, none of this would be happening.

Even before the screen door opened, he sensed her presence. His body reacted instinctively, remembering her pressed close against him. Memories of things in the past had to be stowed away if he wanted to survive. Not only his life but also Marcus's depended on his ability to go inside himself, to block out all internal and external stimuli, and execute his assignment. 

She'd said goodbye. So leave it at that. Everything in life had an end. He got that. So why did his chest ache as if Marcus had put his boot dead center and stomped?

Marcus killed the motor and exited with a smile. He and Jack both pulled a couple of sacks from the backseat.

"You two were hungry." Ana's voice had an unnatural lilt to it, a forced sound, making Ty believe she'd put on her brave face.

Marcus's smile vanished. "Starving."

He paused at the first step and looked up. His deadpan, tight-jawed expression left little doubt that his mood had shifted. Had he read something into her tone or her expression?

"Me, too." Jack hustled inside, breaking the tension.

The atmosphere was thick as they ate their meal. Most of the discussion was around getting Ana to her uncle safely. Jack agreed he'd drop her off and meet Ty and Marcus at the airstrip. He'd ensure their transportation was ready when Ty and Marcus arrived.

"Marcus and I will go to Ortega's home. If we can get to him without involving the boy and the old woman, we'll take him out right there. If not, we'll tail him until he's alone."

Marcus nodded his agreement. He held his finger up. "Did you hear from Nate?"

"Not yet. If we don't hear something before we turn in, I'll call him," Ty answered.

Jack collected the empty paper plates and stuffed them in a sack. "Marcus said Nate's looking for the mole. Want me to contact my boss?"

"No. We'll wait on Nate. The fewer people involved the safer it will be for us." Ty slapped Marcus on the back. "My friend here and I were in and out of Ortega's property way too easily. He knew we were coming and didn't care."

Jack leaned forward. "Then we should take Ana to her uncle, and I'll go with you."

"No. I want her kept safe," Ty snapped. Damn, he'd spoken too loudly and too fast.

"There's no reason not to use me," Jack fired back. "I'm trained and capable."

Ana stood, gathered trash off the table and dropped it in the garbage can. "You don't need me for this. I'm going to rest for a while."

Ty felt her eyes on him as she paused in the doorway. Their gazes locked, and waves of heat rushed across his skin. The desire was overshadowed by the knowledge he'd never hold her in his arms again.

Marcus's frown had returned. "I'm gonna bring in the weapons bag from the trunk. They need to be checked out before we leave."

If that was a message, Ty couldn't decipher its meaning, so he pushed his chair back and followed. As soon as they were out of earshot, he asked, "You have something you want to get off your mind?"

"That's a good woman in there. It's just a shame I didn't meet her first."

Ty almost fell for the dig, but he knew better. Marcus was still in love with his wife, even though she'd been gone for years.

"She's got her life mapped out, and I'm not on it. Hell, after we're gone, she's liable to be an important government official someday. A life in the public eye doesn't exactly mesh with my line of work."

Marcus grunted something unintelligible. He popped the trunk, hauled out the duffle bag, and passed it to Ty. "We've got a busy day tomorrow. Are you ready?"

"I'm good," Ty answered.

"You'd better be."

"Let's look over the weapons out here," Ty said, setting the bag on the porch. He understood his friend's concern and appreciated him not lecturing.

Trust had nothing to do with them inspecting the equipment. He believed when it came to weapons that you check them out thoroughly yourself.

They worked in silence for a while, separating as they went. The AK-47 reminded him of the ones Ortega's guards carried. They were low cost, easy to operate, and easy to obtain. He handed Marcus the newer-model Belgian FN FAL after seeing his lustful grin.

"Thanks." Marcus took the rifle and clips. 

Ty stood, glancing at their surroundings. "We need to be outside Ortega's house by four in the morning." The thick trees, heavy foliage, and still air reminded him of being deep in the jungle. "Jack and Ana can work out a plan to visit the hospital or get her to her uncle's house. She's smart, she'll hang onto Jack. His badge will open doors for her."

Marcus inspected his share of the weapons. "It's almost dark. Want me to take the first watch?"

"No. I'll stay out here. Get an hour or so of rest, and then I'll come get you."

Ty's cell buzzed, stopping Marcus before he'd made it inside. Nate's message was what Ty had expected. The FBI was digging into everybody's backgrounds, including his, in an effort to identify the mole, if in fact there was one.

"Bullshit. There's no 'if.' Marcus and I waltzed in and out of Ortega's backyard as if we'd been invited."

"I hear you," Nate agreed. "What we can't figure out here is why. It's your call. If you think it's best to put this op on hold, do it."

"No. This has already taken too long. We end it tomorrow."

"I'll follow up with Jack. He'll ensure the pilot waits twenty-four hours in case you can't go straight to the airstrip. Call me when you get on the plane."

"Sure thing, Daddy." Ty disconnected before Nate responded.

Marcus grinned. "Should've told him to have a pizza waiting on me, cold would be fine."

"He'll be at the airstrip when we land in Texas."

"Aww, he's worried about us." Marcus snorted a laugh.

"Will you tell them inside that we'll need a ride at four in the morning?"

"You got it."

Marcus disappeared inside the house, closing the door behind him. Ty considered calling Nate back and delivering the food request. Back in college, the big Italian had lived on pizzas. Some things never changed.

Darkness swallowed the safe house. With its blacked-out windows, the place was virtually invisible. Using the stillness of the night, Ty turned into himself. He went to that place where no one and nothing mattered. His focus sharpened, concentration deepened, and compassion vanished.

Chapter Twenty

The thud of Ty's boot heel landing on the pavement rang like a death knell, shooting Ana's already rapid heartbeat to supersonic. An icy vice clamped around her heart and tightened. Breathing became difficult. Panic gripped her vocal cords, rendering her speechless.

She'd instructed him not to say goodbye. Now she wanted nothing more than a tender look from him, something for her to hold onto late at night when he crept into her thoughts.

But what was there to say, really? Be safe? Good luck? Come back to me?

Surely, it was better to say nothing.

He slid on his backpack and glanced over his shoulder. How many times had he done the exact thing when he'd led her through the jungle? His dark eyes would assess her condition, her well-being, before he'd press forward.

Except this time, he wasn't checking on her. In fact, he hadn't looked her direction since he'd slid into the backseat of the car. She recognized the zone he'd slipped into, having been exposed to it when he'd rescued her.

Marcus nodded in response to Ty's raised eyebrows. Together they moved to the shoulder of the road. She understood he wasn't exacting justice on her behalf. His mission was for his government and hers. Nevertheless, the commitment she'd made twenty years ago and failed to keep was in his hands.

She clutched the seat belt, using every drop of restraint she could muster to not unbuckle and run after him. Clamping her teeth down on her lip was the only thing stopping her from crying out his name.

Jack dropped the car into gear. Panic burned inside her lungs, scalded her throat. She whirled to face him.

"Wait," she demanded, her mind shooting off in a dozen directions. "How will they get to Ortega's house? They can't walk. It's too far."

"They didn't say, but I'm sure they have a plan." The car moved forward then slowed. "It's too early to go to the hospital. Let's find somewhere to have coffee."

Without waiting for a response, Jack made a U-turn and headed away from Ty. Had she seen him for the last time? How would she know he'd made it home safely?

"Will you at least let me know when Ty and Marcus get to America?" She couldn't spend the rest of her life not knowing if he was all right.

"Oh, you'll be kept up to date on them both," Jack assured her with a chuckle.

She found it odd that he'd laugh at her concern, but she didn't have the strength to challenge him. She turned her face away and allowed the hot tears she'd held back to burn trails down her cheeks. Her thoughts were on Ty and the time they'd spent in the jungle. Back then, all she'd wanted was to get out of the unrelenting heat. Today she'd give anything for a few days with him tucked away in that cave.

She'd secretly wondered if she could give up her goals for a chance at permanence in their relationship, but there was still so much left to do here at home. Still, she regretted not at least confessing what was in her heart. Now she'd waited until it was too late. How would she ever move on?

Maybe seeing her parents would help her refocus on something besides her own unhappiness. She couldn't wait to get to the hospital and check on their conditions. Ana glanced at her watch.

An hour had passed while she had daydreamed. Finding a place for coffee should have taken no more than ten minutes. She cleared her mind and scanned the countryside.

"Where are we?" The barrel of a gun pressed into her ribs. "What's going on?"

"You won't be meeting your uncle today." His friendly manner was gone, replaced by a cold, harsh sneer. "Using two fingers, put that pistol you're carrying on the seat between us." 

"You're the mole?" Ana's heart jumped to her throat. "You bastard, we trusted you."

"Put the gun on the seat." His voice rose, and he shoved the barrel deeper into her side. "Don't make me shoot you. My boss wants you delivered alive."

Ana did as instructed. He released the steering wheel, grabbed her gun, and dropped it in the back floorboard. A foreboding like she'd never experienced washed over her. She found it difficult to breathe. Rage and hate filled every fiber of her being.

"
Traidor
! You betrayed your compatriots and set this whole thing up. Ty and Marcus are walking into a trap."

Jack laughed. He put his gun on the dash, dug out a small vial from his pocket, and snorted from it. Her stomach rolled over. How had he managed to hide his habit from everybody?

"By now the trap has sprung. They're on their way to a special place. You'll see them soon enough."

"Why didn't you kill me? You had plenty of chances."

"I wanted to. The boss wanted you two together in one place. He has big plans."

"Think about what you're doing. Aligning yourself with Ortega is wrong."

"How do you figure? Everything that has happened is your fault. You're responsible for Ty getting shot. The villagers? Your fault. Your parents wouldn't be in the hospital if it weren't for you."