Cold Day In Hell (28 page)

Marcus, the crazy bastard, ran in a zigzag pattern to the old woman. 

Ty had seconds to react. He ran between Marcus and Ortega's men and dropped the hammer on the AK-47. The kid appeared to be frozen in place, but Ty kept an eye on him. No telling what the boy was capable of. He hadn't hesitated to send the dog to attack the woman.  

Ty dove to the ground while Marcus struggled with the dog.

A spray of bullets hit the dirt next to Ty's head. One grazed his shoulder. He rolled, his control of the automatic rifle much better than the guards'. The last of the lot fell.

Except for Ortega, who was nowhere in sight.

Ty caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye. Damn. Ortega had circled around and had a pistol aimed at Ty. He rolled just as a bullet brushed his sleeve.

Ortega's chest exploded. His body flew backward and landed with a thud.

Ty jumped to his feet. Ana stepped closer, still aiming a pistol at the dead body. She'd saved his life.

"No." The sound renting the air came from the boy. He ran to his father and gathered the crumpled body in his arms.

"So much for her staying in the tree." Marcus lifted the limp animal, carried him to the car, and placed him onto the backseat.

"Clearly, you don't know her," Ty commented more to himself than to Marcus. "She never backs away from a fight."

Ty took a running step toward her. Her expression stopped him. Taking another person's life was harder than most people thought. How would she react at the sight of Ortega's blank stare?

"You're hurt." Her tone was flat.

Ty turned so he could keep an eye on the sobbing kid, before he answered. "It's a scratch. Not as bad as last time." Jesus, it took every ounce of strength he had not to gather her in his arms. But her stiff posture said she was still processing what had happened.

Her gaze traveled to the car. "Did you have to kill the dog?" she asked Marcus, as if that sort of question came up every day.

"No." He nodded in the direction of the car. "He's stunned. Otherwise, he'll be fine."

"What's going to happen to him?"

"I'll figure out something."

Ty's mind was scrambled. Ana was supposed to be somewhere safe. That fact had brought him at least a small amount of peace. But, no, there she stood, ignoring him and seemingly relaxed with an AK-47 hanging from a strap over her shoulder and a pistol in her hand. He knew better. She was in shock.

"Ana." Ty closed the distance between them. "You fulfilled your promise to your mother and father. And you saved my life again."

"I did. But there's no joy in my heart. Funny, I thought there would be. Maybe it's relief that I feel."

Marcus walked past. He wiped at the blood on his arms, drawing Ty's attention.

"Is that red stuff yours?" Ty asked.

"Some mine. Some hers." He pointed at the dead woman.

Marcus took the pulse of each man, except Ortega. Ty thought it wise to allow the kid to mourn for a few minutes. Marcus took out the sat phone and made a phone call.

"Ana," Ty pressed, aching to hold her. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah. Dealing with mixed emotions." Her shoulders sagged.

She could pretend she was fine, but he knew better. No way could he stand there and do nothing. He pulled her into his arms and held tight. "It's over."

Her body quaked in his arms as she finally released the pent up emotion. Ty muttered soft words of reassurance. After a few minutes, she lifted her face and looked up at him. "You're not sorry you saved my life, are you?" he joked.

She laughed. The sound relaxing a few knots in his shoulders. "Never."

"Don't ask me that question." Marcus joined them, easing the tension.

"Did you reach Nate?" Ty figured there'd be time to question Ana's sudden appearance later.

"Yeah. We need to get to the airstrip."

"What are we going to do with the boy?" Ana asked.

"I'll tie his hands and gag him," Ty said. "I don't want him giving that dog commands. We have to figure out how to turn him over to the police."

"That's not good enough. That kid is just like his father. We gotta do more than that. What if a corrupt cop finds him?" Marcus advanced a step, stabbing a finger in the direction of the boy. "He was grinning when he gave that dog the command to kill that old woman. What do you want to bet she took care of him for years?"

The young man stood, and any residual youth vanished from his features. Broad shoulders, dark eyes and hair, he had the appearance of being very much in control. He wiped sweat off his face with the back of his hand, leaving a streak of his father's blood across his cheek. His dark eyes scanned the ground.

Ty could easily take him down before he reached the gun his gaze had locked on, but to be safe, he kicked it farther away.

"You'd better kill me," young Ortega said, venom dripping from his words.

"Talk to me after a few years in a Colombian prison," Ty snapped.

"I am Enrique Ortega. Don't think for a minute I'll go to prison."

"May I have the phone?" Ana asked Marcus.

Ty watched her walk away, his mini warrior, with her hair pulled up in that fly-away knot, her clothes in tatters, and looking more beautiful than ever. He didn't try to listen, figuring she'd called her Uncle Rodrigo. Ty didn't think Rod could come up with a plan for Enrique, but he was open to anything. The sooner the better.

Ana ended the call and handed the cell back to Marcus. "I have someone picking up the boy on our way to the airstrip. And he's not a corrupt cop or official."

"Good enough. Let's get out of here." Ty secured Enrique with strips of fabric and gagged him. Marcus pushed him into the backseat with the dog. Awake and curious, the mutt licked Marcus's hand.

Ty slid in behind the wheel, jockeyed around into a U-turn, and breathed a sigh of relief. It was over. Time to go home. Only one more thing to do. He dropped the car into park. 

"Be right back."

He went straight to the guards who'd smoked the joint and dug through their shirt pockets until he found the lighter.

Mission complete, he jumped behind the wheel, dropped the gear shift to drive, and put the gas pedal on the floor. The air conditioner kicked in just as the ground under the wheels rumbled.

Chapter Twenty-Three

The car lurched back and forth a couple of times. A loud boom shook the windows.

Ty exploded in laughter.

"Dear Lord." Ana turned in her seat and peered out window. Her heart rate jumped to supersonic. "What exploded?"

"I returned Ortega's playground to the environment."

Marcus chuckled. "As it should be."

"You do like to blow things up." She joined the laughter. Just like he'd obliterated the drug compound, Ty had wiped the torture site off the map.  

Relief made her giddy. Her promise had been kept. Fate dealt her the opportunity to save Ty's life and kill Ortega at the same time. No more running. By day, she'd lobby the government for better, stricter, enforceable laws. By night, she'd help Pablo and Uncle Rod. They'd never blown anything up, but maybe it was time they did.

"Who's taking Enrique? And what happens to him?" Ty asked.

"I contacted a friend. He'll make sure the boy is put somewhere he can't hurt anyone else."

"That 'boy' is a man. When you can send a dog to kill another human, your youth is gone." Marcus shifted in the seat.

She understood his discomfort cramped in so close. She was sandwiched between the two of them.

"That means a Colombian prison," Ty said. "Where money could buy his way out."

His comment reminded her of his very vocal dislike of her country. "Suffice to say, Enrique will never walk the streets freely again. If he was willing to kill one of his own, I'm sure he's the one who gave the command to attack Lina and Pablo."

"Just who did you call?" Ty asked. "I'm not all that keen on trusting your government."

"Then you'll have to trust me. There are traitors everywhere. Shall I remind you about Jack? Many good people in my country are honest and respected. I told one of them to meet us at the airstrip."

Ty glanced at her. His dark eyes had turned obsidian. "You didn't give those directions to anyone."

"I gave directions to the house where we changed clothes and picked up the car. I didn't mention planes or airstrips. We'll hand Enrique off in the driveway. There's no reason for him or anyone to come inside or go around back."

He blew out his pissed-off sigh. "What about the dog?" he asked Marcus.

"He goes with me."

"He's a killer. You saw firsthand what he can do."

"I saw him follow orders. He's a smart animal that can be taught. How many war dogs come home and live good lives?"

"He's no war dog." Ty's voice dropped an octave. "Don't try to compare them."

"You know what I meant," Marcus fired back. "You might as well get used to the idea. Because he's fucking coming with me." Marcus glanced at Ana. "Sorry, Ana."

"No problem." She waved him off. After such a passionate declaration from him, she wasn't getting involved in the discussion.

"In that case, we'd better come up with something. The three of us are about to get on that plane, and he's too big to smuggle him in your backpack."

Ty's tone was warm and understanding. Normally, the sound would have touched her heart or even curled her toes. The arrogance of his assumption, that she intended to return with them, stunned her.

"The dog can have my seat on the plane. I'm not going back with you."

The car slowed slightly, and Ty shot her a quick glance. Disbelief clouded his eyes. His eyebrows rose as if her statement was ludicrous.

"You can't stay here." He spoke in a "you're behaving like a child" tone.

"He's right." Marcus turned to check on the boy, who was kicking the back of the seat. "Stop that or I'll break one of your legs."

"I'm not leaving my home again. I can make a difference by standing up and being heard."

"There will always be another dealer. They'll come after you if you get in their way."

"And so they will. Who is going to do this if not me?" Using her love for her country as a shield, she tried to shove her feelings for Ty from her heart. She'd fantasized they might have had a chance. That had been a daydream. And daydreams never came true.

Ty blew out that aggravated sigh of his. Funny, she'd held the tears at bay until he'd made his unique little huff. Now, they threatened to break over the dam. She feared if she started crying, she wouldn't stop.

He stayed on the back roads, cruising at a normal speed to avoid drawing attention. Neither he nor Marcus mentioned her staying behind again. The closer the time for goodbye came, the more her emotions fractured.

Ty's thigh pressed against hers by necessity, but sent reminders of his hard and defined body to her mind. His right shoulder stayed in constant contact, triggering a mental picture of his arms around her. His hands gripped the steering wheel and induced the strongest reaction. They could be tough yet gentle, harsh yet comforting, deadly yet loving. In her heart, she admitted her love for him. In her mind, she reconciled the fact that some people weren't meant to spend their lives together. She'd cherish the few times he'd held her in his arms.

Uncle Rod would tell her to make do with the hand life dealt her. When Ty got on the plane, he'd carry her heart with him, relieving her of the responsibility of "making do."

She beat back panic when the road leading to the house came into view. Ty dropped a hand from the steering wheel to her knee and squeezed. A peace offering. One she needed. Once again, tears flooded her eyes. She twined her fingers through his in a show of strength.

A dark sedan was parked on the shoulder of the road in front of the house. Ty released her fingers and pulled his pistol free.

A figure emerged, and Ana recognized her contact. "It's okay. He works for the Minister of Justice. I trust him with my life."

"He's trusting you with his." Ty put his gun away and pulled the car over at the end of the driveway.

She understood his reasoning for not wanting Oscar Guzman close to the house and grounds. Ty assisted her out. Marcus exited, keeping the car between him and their guest.

Oscar offered to shake, and Ty reached out and grasped the extended hand. Introductions were brief, without exchanging qualifications.

"You have the prisoner?" Oscar glanced at Marcus.

"This kid is dangerous. Surely you didn't come alone." Ty studied the blacked-out windows on the car.

Oscar lifted his hand, and two doors opened. Two armed, uniformed officers exited.

From behind, Ana heard Marcus's rifle land on top of their car.

"Enrique Ortega isn't unknown to us. He's had more than one scrape with the law. His temper is worse than his father's."

Ty motioned to Marcus, who then shouldered the rifle, opened the back door, and dragged the kid to his feet. The two guards met Marcus, and quickly removed the gag and makeshift ties, securing Enrique's hands and feet with plastic ties.

"I can't walk," the young man said through clenched teeth.

"Is okay. We'll help." The guards grabbed the kid under his arms and dragged him to the sedan.

"Do you want to ride back with us?" Oscar touched her arm.

She couldn't imagine what he thought of the three of them. Filthy, reeking, bruised and bloodied, they must've looked like they'd fought and lost. But they hadn't. Thanks to Ty and Marcus they'd won this round on the war on drugs.

"No, thanks." She'd want the privacy she'd have driving the rental back. Ty and Marcus would be winging their way to the land of milk and honey. She'd always thought that saying to be funny, but looking at how beaten and worn her country was, maybe indeed America offered a heaven here on earth.

"
Vaya con Dios
," Oscar said, shaking both Ty's and Marcus's hands. "My government is grateful."

"Thank you." Ana hugged him.

"Let me hear from you."

The sedan sped off toward Bogota.