Delta Recon (SEAL Team Phantom Series, Book 2) (19 page)

Kai pushed the button and then realized they needed a code. “Fuck, what’s the code to get up?”

“Move,” Jaqui shoved Kai out of the way and punched in the sequence.

“I don’t even want to know.” Tay nodded.

The doors slid open and each man had a gun aimed inside. Coyle was the first in, making sure it was safe before they entered.

“When the lift opens, I know the code there,” Tay said.

Jaqui was glad since she hadn’t gotten that one.

They rode up, tension mounting with every floor. The last call to Nettie had gone to voicemail. Of course, she knew it could be that her cousin’s phone had died, or she was in the middle of getting them to safety. Or...she didn’t want to think about the other options.

The door to the suite was open, a sinking feeling hit Jaqui at the knowledge they could be too late. She straightened her shoulders and nodded at the men.

Remnants of the dinner they had delivered was on the coffee table. She made a motion of her head and hands to show where the master suite was. She took a deep, silent breath, letting it out as they split up. Kai and Tay went toward the suite where Mo and Nettie should be, with her following on their heels, while Oz, Coyle and Sully fanned out to scout the rest of the rooms.

Kai tried the door, seeing the handle not turn she had a moment of triumph. Kai held his finger up, made a motion for them to back up, then attached a device to the locking mechanism. A small popping echoed around the hall and then there was a hole where the handle used to be. No scream or any noise at all came from the room.

“Shouldn’t they be screaming or something?” Jaqui asked Tay’s back.

Kai used a camera on the end of a pen inside the hole he created. “There is no movement in the room,” he muttered.

Oz and Coyle came up to them. “Sully is guarding the door. We didn’t find anyone in the apartment.”

“Let’s get this door open. Are you sure there was no other way in or out other than the elevator?” Kai looked her in the eyes.

Jaqui was breathing hard. “Mo said no.”

Kai and Oz worked to push the door open. The dresser Nettie had shoved in front of it clearly doing a good job of keeping them out, or at least slowing them down.

Her mind blanked when they entered and she saw Mo lying so still on the floor. A whimper escaped her throat. Moving on legs not quite steady, she fell next to her cousin, hands shaking she brushed the strawberry blonde hair back from a warm forehead. “Oh god. She’s alive.”

“Get a medic,” Tay ordered.

Oz was already dialing on his cell. She heard him telling them the situation, but couldn’t let go of Mo’s hand. “Where’s Nettie?” She looked around the room.

Kai and Tay were checking every inch of space. The large master bath was bigger than her bedroom.

Mo’s eyes fluttered open. “What’s happened, Jaq?”

Knowing she had to stay strong, she looked up to catch a fleeting glance from Sully. He shook his head. “Is there another exit from the master room to the hotel?”

Licking her lips, Mo grabbed her head. “I think there’s an emergency exit, but I’ve never used it.”

“Where’s it at?” Sully asked.

“The closet behind some suits. Why? What’s happened?” She sat up, groaning, looking like she was in pain.

Jaqui helped her. “Someone drugged your food and took Nettie.”

“This is your fault,” Mo screamed, her hand came up and slapped Jaqui across the cheek.

The sound deafening, yet Jaqui knew it was true. Had she not brought the cartel into their lives her cousin would not have been taken. She stood up, releasing Mo and turning her back. She would get Nettie back.

“Don’t do that,” Tay’s growled order had her stopping in her tracks. “Don’t allow her or anyone to blame you. What the hell have I told you a dozen times? It’s not your fault some asshole has targeted you. It sure as fuck ain’t your fault he came and took Nettie. Now, you.” He pointed to Mo. “Shut the fuck up. I’m assuming since you just woke up, you have nothing helpful to say so keep your damn mouth shut.”

Jaqui wanted to kiss the man. He was right and she needed to quit blaming herself for the actions of others.

“I’m sorry Nettie was taken, Mo. But it’s not my fault. We’ll do what we can to get her back, but if you ever hit me again, I’ll beat the living shit out of you. Consider that your one free pass.” She turned and strolled to the closet, watching as Kai systematically destroyed what was once a wooden panel, exposing the hidden door.

“Motherfucker,” Kai swore as he opened the door and they all watched as lights illuminated stairs going down. “Let’s go. Sully, stay with the cousin until the paramedics get here. Make sure she gets to the hospital safely as well,” he corrected as Jaqui gave him an imploring look. She may be pissed as hell at her cousin, but she didn’t want anything to happen to her.

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T
ay wanted to wrap his arms around Jaqui and promise all would be okay. Hell, he wanted to take her back to her parents’ house and leave her there while they handled the situation, but knew he’d have a fight on his hands. Instead, he made sure she was in the middle as they went down the steps into the unknown. Stealth and speed, had them all moving quickly.

Again, Kai held up a fist, signaling they stop. Voices carried up to them. He recognized the deep baritone of Reece and felt his muscles bunch. He noticed Jaqui readying to jump ahead, and placed his hand on her arm. Her shining blue eyes looked at him over her shoulder, and he saw worry for her cousin in their depths.

“I’m not sure who you fellas are, but this is a private area of my employer. Probably just took the wrong turn and one of the staffers left a door unlocked. It’s happened before. If you could just follow me, I’ll lead you back out to the casinos floor.” Reece sounded almost cordial.

Tay met Kai’s gaze and gave a jerky nod. The instant deep-seated knowledge that his team was with him leveled his doubts and fears. He hoped Jaqui felt the same.

A rapid fire of Spanish was spoken, then Reece’s deep voice explaining he didn’t speak Spanish.

“Listen, if you let me go I won’t go to the police,” Nettie cried out.

“You stupid punta. You’re only alive because the boss wants you. Keep talking and I’ll shove something in that hole of yours.”

Jaqui froze at the threat, and he knew she didn’t want her cousin hurt.

“Well now, isn’t that nice. You kiss your mama with that mouth, boy. I reckon you think all the girls love you cause you’re handsome. Well, let me tell you, you look like you’re so high you can sit on Wednesday and see both Sundays.” Nettie’s voice dripped sugar.

“What the hell does that even mean?” Reece asked.

“I think these asshats are higher than a kite, and they really do have potty mouths don’t you think? Ow, fucker.” Nettie’s words were cut off by the sound of flesh hitting flesh.

“Now, I was willing to let you walk out of here. Of course, I was going to put my foot down on you taking the girl. However, it’s now come to my attention that with just the three of you, and myself, I still have pretty good odds.” Reece’s voice raised.

Tay raised his brows and wondered if the other man knew they were there.

“You think you are a match for the three of us and our guns, hombre?”

Tay knew Kai had stopped waiting when the other man’s fist dropped, and the hand on the knob turned. In a calculated move, Kai rolled across the concrete floor of the basement to the casino. Bullets pinged against the door, and then Coyle followed, leaving him and Jaqui inside. Knowing their positions were compromised, he gave her a quick hard kiss. “Don’t get hurt, woman.”

She opened the door and they both rolled out to the sound of gunshots. Tay felt a bullet graze his arm, but he got up on one knee, aimed and fired in quick succession. It was over within seconds.

Reece had been smart, grabbing Nettie and rolling her body behind a trash bin as soon as the bullets started flying. The three men who’d taken her had turned at the sound of gunfire, and returned it.

“Well, damn. That was easy,” Kai groused, strolling over to one of the men crawling away.

Tay kicked the gun away from another man, then made sure he was dead. Coyle stood over another and shook his head. “This one ain’t getting up,” Coyle said.

“Neither is this one.” Tay indicated the one by his feet.

Reece and Nettie came out, and Jaqui walked over to her cousin, waiting for the recriminations like Mo had given her.

“That was so awesome. Wait till I tell Shep I was in a real live gun fight.” Nettie held her hand up like she wanted a high five.

“Do you have a fever?” Jaqui asked, holding her hand up to the woman’s forehead.

Nettie shook her head then laughed. “Did you see yourself roll out and start shooting? Woop, girl, you are the things we talk about when we sit on the porch and drink iced tea. I mean not you specifically, but what we’d do if we were ever, you know, like accosted. You are my hero, Jaqui Wallace.” Nettie hugged Jaqui with such strength that Tay was shocked his woman didn’t feel a rib crack.

“Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” Jaqui stepped away, brushing tears from under her eyes.

Nettie shook her head. “No, I voluntarily went with them when they entered the bedroom. I told them if they took Mo, I’d scream the place down and everyone would hear. They looked nervous and agreed. How’s Mo?”

Tay stepped up. “Sully was staying with her until she was checked over at the hospital. Hell, this was over before the ambulance may have even gotten here. She woke up before we followed you guys down here.”

Relief washed over features very similar to Jaqui’s. “I don’t think they knew who was who. They kept looking at Mo, then me, and asked which one of us was Jaqui Wallace. I was scared if I said neither, they’d shoot us both so I lied.”

“You did good, girlfriend.” Jaqui squeezed her cousin once more. “Let’s go back up and check on Mo.”

Kai nodded. “I’ve got a cleanup crew coming. This one is still alive, so we might be able to get some information out of him. Did they say where they were taking you? Tay, you need a medic?”

Tay looked at the wound on his arm, then shook his head. “Oz can just bandage me up and give me a shot or some shit for infection.”

Kai looked closer at the wound. “Hell, it’s barely a scratch.”

Nettie shook her head. “Sorry, mostly they were muttering in another language. Spanish I think. The only Spanish words I know are Margarita and a few things like yes, please and the universal word for no.”

Reece laughed. “You are surely a handful for your boyfriend.”

Her cousin’s face flamed. “I do believe he has said that a couple times.”

Back up in the suite, Jaqui couldn’t meet Mo’s eyes, and Tay wanted to throttle the other woman. Luckily, the paramedics came, and agreed she should be seen at the ER.

“I better call our parents.” Nettie sounded less enthusiastic.

Reece looked around the destroyed penthouse. “I guess I better call my employer.”

“Shit, sorry man,” Sully muttered as they all looked around.

“Nah, he’s thrown house parties that damaged a lot worse. He’ll just be angry he didn’t get laid in the process.” Reece gave a weary look toward the gurney taking Mo away.

“When will this be over?” Jaqui asked.

“We will get him, sunshine.” Tay wanted to soothe all her pain away.

He left the words unsaid of what would happen if they didn’t. Meaning her entire family would be a target until they did.

“Commander Lee is setting up a safe house for your family, Jaqui. He has men enroute to the hospital. Let’s go.”

Jaqui and Tay followed behind with Oz taking up the rear. He felt as though a huge bullseye was drawn on the woman he loved, and he hated it with every fiber of his being.

“Stop it, Tay.” She grabbed his hand.

They walked back out of the elevator. With the paramedics leading the way, the casino seemed to understand something was going on, and several patrons stopped playing their machines as they passed.

Out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw a familiar face. One he didn’t think would be in the casino and out in the open. He tapped Jaqui’s hand three times, letting her know there was danger, then casually strolled ahead of Kai as if he was taking the lead with Jaqui in tow. The action was out of character, which would alert the other man that something was up.

Once they stepped outside he spoke with as much calm as he could so only Kai could hear. “Medellin is inside the casino. We can’t do shit or he could kill hundreds of innocents inside. Shit!”

Tay looked up and down the strip.

“Let’s get to the hospital, then once we have Jaqui’s family secure we’ll rendezvous with Lee and go from there.” Kai’s tone didn’t change, yet Tay knew he was bracing for a battle.

“I don’t want my mother to know. She has enough to deal with right now.” He’d never heard Jaqui be so stern, and it made him want her even more.

With Nettie and Mo riding together in the ambulance, the team all filed into one of the military SUVs, after Kai and Tay both made sure it was secure. He was getting tired of always looking over his shoulder, especially when Jaqui’s very life was at stake. Dammit, he wanted to spend a week or ten where the two of them did nothing but bask on the beach and enjoy the sun, and each other, with nothing to worry about but what they were going to do for dinner.

Carefully, Kai drove them back through Vegas traffic, the large vehicle sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the sports cars and cabs. At the entrance there were several military men waiting, their expressions full of anticipation.

Tay climbed out, and let Kai deal with them. He reached back and pulled Jaqui with him, uncaring what others saw or thought. He would make sure everyone knew they had to go through him to get to her.

“You constantly amaze me, Tay.” She kissed his cheek.

Her unguarded expression was a balm to his soul. Never had such a simple action given him the content he felt, even in the middle of one of the most stressful times.

“I see Nettie pacing. I’m going to go check on Mo,” Jaqui said.

He frowned as he looked over to see the bodyguard Reece standing outside the doors. “Have we done a thorough background search on the bodyguard, Kai?”