Shadow Pawn, page 7
Not nearly enough, of course, but a few key words. Just like he knew enough Pashto to get by…in another life. Another time.
“Good to hear.” She smiled, but it faded quickly.
“You okay?”
“Just feeling a little claustrophobic, I guess.”
Ah. So that was the problem. It explained her sudden desire to chat. She needed a distraction.
He couldn’t blame her. It was tight in here. There wasn’t much he could do about it but try to lighten the mood. “You should try living in a sub underwater for a few months.”
She lifted her gaze. “You’ve done that?”
He’d said too much. Opened up that chapter of his life he’d rather remain closed.
He shook his head like it didn’t matter. “Once upon a time.”
Time to change the subject.
“Hey. It could be worse, you know. He could have hid us inside one of the containers,” he joked.
Her eyes flew wide.
“Joking... He wouldn’t do that. Container space is too valuable. They wouldn’t waste it on us.”
She narrowed her eyes to shoot him a glare, obviously not a fan of his jokes, while he was slowly but surely becoming a fan of her.
Smart, beautiful, mysterious, bold…and completely off limits, so of course he was attracted to her. Because that’s how his life and his luck ran lately. Why would anything be different now?
“I feel—grimy. I never thought I’d miss the hotel, but I’d do anything for a shower right now.” She wiggled on the seat, looking as uncomfortable as she sounded.
“The Huangpu River isn’t the cleanest place to go swimming,” he agreed.
She sniffed. “No doubt.”
“The safe house will be better,” he promised.
“Safe house.” She laughed. “Like on one of those crime shows on TV.”
“Yes. Just like on TV.” He nodded.
And like on those shows on television, it would all be over at the end of the episode. He’d leave and next week there would be a whole new story with different people, as last episode’s characters became memories who faded until they were forgotten.
That was some dark shit running through his head. Maybe he needed to get out more. Have something else in his life besides work and home with a stop at the bar for dinner in between.
The door swung open, having him reaching toward the gun in the holster at his waist beneath his shirt. He smelled the offering as well as saw it as the captain leaned inside and thrust two plates of food toward them.
Their passage apparently included food. What a luxury.
He took both plates, managed to say what he thought was a passable thank you in Chinese, then turned to hold one plate out toward Angela.
She stared at the plate and then at him.
“Food delivery,” he said with a smile.
“How?” she asked staring at the plate laden with rice and what looked and smelled like marinated fish, along with the pair of chop sticks.
“There’ll be a full galley on board. They have to feed the crew.”
But they didn’t have to feed the stowaways hiding in the rescue craft. They were lucky to get food. And a decent meal to boot. Not what he was used to ordering off the bar menu back in Virginia but not bad considering.
There was a gallon of drinking water next to the piss bucket, both provided by their well-bribed host, making their dining experience complete.
He couldn’t say he’d be booking this particular cruise again in the future, but he’d had way worse exfils in his life.
But this was Angela’s first, no doubt. He glanced at her to see how the woman who was most likely used to being pampered at five-star hotels was doing under these unique conditions.
There was a small crease still marring the otherwise smooth skin above her dark brows. And she had yet to take the plate.
Oh, well. It wasn’t an incredibly long journey. She wouldn’t die if she didn’t eat. But he sure as hell was going to partake of the meal. It had been too long since he’d filled his belly.
He leveled his gaze on her, still holding out the plate. Finally, she stood.
She’d been sitting far away—or as far as one could in an enclosed lifeboat. Now she moved closer. Too close.
When she sat next to him and took the plate he offered, her leg bumped against his. He got a vision of what other parts of their bodies could bump against each other if they’d met at another time. Another place. In other circumstances.
Yup. Definitely time for tonight’s episode to end. Before he started wishing for a part two. He was a man, after all, and she was an attractive woman, so it was understandable. But he feared he wanted more than just her.
This wasn’t just the usual need to scratch the itch of physical desire. He wanted more of the mission. A recurring role in this action-adventure show.
Being back on the job had awakened something in him he hadn’t thought he’d feel again. Like a drug, it was too tempting to seek that high again.
While he wrestled with his existence, Angela took one tentative bite and chewed. He nearly laughed at her expression of surprise.
“How is it?” he asked, taking his own sampling with the chopsticks.
“Not too bad actually,” she said. “You think it’s okay to eat? I mean, fish can be iffy if not stored properly.”
He laughed. “We’re surrounded by water. I’m pretty sure this fish is fresher than anything you get in the States that had to travel to get to the market and then the restaurant.”
She considered that for a moment—she did that a lot, take time to think about things—before she nodded. She glanced around them as she chewed another bite as calmly as if this were a perfectly normal dinner in a restaurant.
His respect for her rose another notch, as did the regret inside him that he hadn’t met this woman in a normal situation.
But then again, when had his life ever been normal? Not since before he’d earned that SEAL trident. And not since he’d lost it, either.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
There was a small window in the craft. Outside, the sun still shown.
Time moved surreally inside the bright orange pod. She wasn’t sure if she and Adam had been inside for hours or just a fraction of that time.
They’d taken her smartwatch along with her cell phone. She missed both with the intensity of an addict jonesing for a fix.
She’d never take having technology for granted again.
It was frustrating beyond measure that she had no means to even find out the damn time except to ask Adam, who was currently lifting his plate to his mouth to shovel in the last grains of rice.
“Do you know what time it is?” she asked when he lowered the plate.
He glanced at his watch. “Five-ten. Sunset is in about an hour.”
Sunset. Then they’d be in there, together, in the dark.
She wasn’t afraid of him. At least not in the sexual predator kind of way. But she wasn’t sure she completely trusted him either.
Just because he’d rescued her from one bad situation didn’t mean he wasn’t delivering her directly into another, worse one.
The accommodations had certainly been better at the hotel than in this…this weird capsule of a lifeboat. But she did feel freer here, even while confined in the hot, humid, tight area with a man who seemed to fill more space than his not inconsiderable size warranted.
Glancing down at her plate, which still had food on it, she started to feel bone deep exhausted and not in the least bit hungry.
“You don’t have to eat it all,” he said.
“Don’t want to insult our host,” she joked.
He held out his hand for her plate. “I’ll take it.”
As she handed it to him, she shot a look at his plate, practically shining it was so clean.
“You’re still hungry, aren’t you?” she asked.
He tipped his head to one side. “It’s been a busy forty-eight hours or so since I left Virginia. Eating took a backseat to everything else I had to do.”
Virginia. She rolled that clue around in her mind. Her company was based in Maryland. It’s possible they’d hired him. And if so, then she was safe.
Could it really be over?
She couldn’t remember what it was like to not be afraid. To not be braced for the worst.
“Why don’t you take a nap? You look like you’re about to drop.”
Looking up, she saw Adam’s eyes focused on her as he finished cleaning her plate as well.
When she hesitated, he added, “I’ll stay awake and keep watch. It’s okay. We’re safe for now.”
For now. Less comforting then if he’d left it at just we’re safe. But she’d prefer to know the truth. And if she was in danger again once they left this ship, she needed to know that too.
She nodded. “All right. Thank you.”
He moved and grabbed the backpack, laying it on the hard bench seat. “It’s not the best pillow, but it’s better than nothing.”
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
She eyed the bag, happy the knives and gun were safely stowed on Adam’s person and not inside where she was about to rest her head.
Amazingly, she slept. The next thing she was conscious of was Adam nudging her shoulder.
“Angela. We’re docking.”
Her eyes flew open as she went from sound asleep to wide awake in a moment.
It was dark outside, but enough illumination filtered in through the small windows from the lights on the deck she could see Adam as he handed her the jug of water.
She’d avoided drinking so she wouldn’t have to pee in the bucket in front of him, but she was thirsty. She took a mouthful and swallowed.
The noise on the ship had definitely picked up as the crew scrambled, boots pounding on the deck amid shouts.
“What now?” she asked, as trepidatious about getting out of the protective bubble as she was relieved.
“Now we play tourist,” he answered.
“What?” she asked, not understanding.
“American tourists who don’t speak Korean—unless you know how—who are in need of a taxi to get to their rented house.”
“Tourists who are arriving by container ship?” she asked.
“Well, we won’t tell them that part.” He grinned.
She didn’t share his amusement. The worry was back in spite of his jokes.
“Will we be in danger when we get off here?” she asked.
He sobered. “I don’t think so.”
“That’s not real definitive.”
He bobbed his head. “If someone saw us get on the ship, they could easily find out exactly where it was going and when it would dock. Then they’ll be waiting for us. But we traveled pretty far from the hotel. By speedboat, which they weren’t expecting. I don’t think anyone saw us board.”
“What if someone did see us and they are waiting?” It was hard to draw in a complete breath as her chest tightened.
“We’ll be ready for them.”
“With one gun, two knives and a taser?” she asked, not wanting to sound doubtful but not feeling at all as confident as he seemed to be.
“Yes.” He dipped his head. “I’ve made do with less,” he added.
She blew out a breath. “Good to know.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The dark of night worked in their favor. As did the fact they waited until the crew disembarked at Jeju Port. That made it easy to insure they got lost in the crowd as they made their way down the gangplank and onto the docks.
The port was used by both cruise ships and those transporting commercial goods. The perfect combination for a couple of people who’d been smuggled into the country in a container ship, but now had to pretend they were tourists looking for their beach bungalow rental.
He and Angela walked away from the cargo ship until they reached an area frequented by more sightseers and less sailors. There he hailed a taxi.
Adam told the driver the address of the safe house, which he’d memorized.
Luckily, the man didn’t require more conversation than that so they made do with the few words of Korean Adam had learned for this assignment.
Looking like she might pass out from nerves, Angela hadn’t offered up any Korean language skills, so it was just as well they hadn’t needed her.
His prior preparation for this job kept him calm. He knew how many miles it was from the docks to the safe house, how much taxis on the island charged—surprisingly little—and how much he’d have to hand over of the wad of Korean cash, or won as it was called, that Charley had given him.
Angela, who hadn’t had the benefit of preparing in advance like he had, looked far less calm. She was practically vibrating next to him.
In the backseat of the small car, he reached out and squeezed her hand.
When she jumped from the contact and glanced over, he said, “We’re good. Another half an hour and we’ll be there.”
She sucked in a stuttering breath. “Okay.”
He drew back his hand. It felt too nice—too natural—to keep hold of her, which was why he couldn’t, shouldn’t, do it.
Things felt too normal when they arrived at the safe house. Adam pantomimed well enough for the driver to understand that he didn’t want him to leave until he’d checked for the key under the statue in the garden and unlocked the door.
With Angela standing by the taxi watching him, Adam found the key, opened the door and held his breath.
No boom. That was always a good sign. He ran through the small house, checking the two bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and living room quickly enough the taxi driver only looked mildly annoyed at having to wait to be paid.
He hadn’t remembered to check tipping customs in South Korea online so he gave the guy the same gratuity he normally would have if he’d been tipping a cabbie in the States. The driver looked pretty happy so he’d most likely wildly over-tipped, but that was fine. It was Charley’s won he was spending.
As the taxi drove away, he reached for Angela and glanced around them. “Come on. I’ll be happier with you out of sight.”
The houses were neat and attractive with enough space between them to not feel crowded, but they were still set fairly close.
No sweeping yards here, but actually, that layout was a comfort. Any bad guys sneaking around would be more likely to be seen by a neighbor.
On the other hand, he and Angela would also be seen going in by the neighbors.
Keeping that in mind, he looped his arm around her shoulders and leaned low. “Remember. We’re just a happy tourist couple.”
She raised her gaze and shot him a glance. “Who travels with nothing but a single backpack?”
“There’s a beach. All we need is a swimsuit.”
Angela let out a snort while she took a step inside and looked around their abode. “You’re obviously not married.”
He lifted a brow at what was the first personal comment she’d made about him.
“No. I’m not.” And that was by choice. He locked the door after they moved inside and left the conversation at that as he made a plan.
He needed a shower and a good night’s sleep. A meal wouldn’t hurt either. He made his way to the kitchen and started opening the few cabinets and then the fridge.
“There’s food,” he called out.
Charley must have arranged for that. He had to admit, she was good with details. She was shady as fuck, yes, but good at implementing a plan. He had to be grateful for that at least.
“Good,” Angela called back through the closed bathroom door. He was wondering how long she could hold her bladder since she hadn’t used the bucket on the ship.
Although, neither had he. They were both dehydrated. He reached into the fridge and took out two bottles of water, cracking one open for himself and downing the contents.
He tossed the empty bottle in the bin marked for recycling and carried the other to the bathroom door.
“There’s bottled water too. I brought you one.”
She opened the door and peered out. “Thank you.” She reached out and grabbed the bottle. “Do you mind if I take a shower?
“Not at all. I’m gonna take one right after you then get some sleep before I leave.”
Her eyes widened. “Before you leave?”
She’d picked up on the fact he hadn’t said we.
“I’m supposed to leave you here.”
“Until when?” She leveled a glare on him.
“Until someone comes to get you, I guess. I wasn’t told.”
“You weren’t told? And you didn’t ask?” she accused.
“No.”
“So you’re just leaving me? How will I get home? I have no passport. No credit card.” She was ramping up to a fit and he didn’t blame her.
“I’m sure the company arranged for all that.”
“Well, I’m not so sure. I don’t know this company from Adam... No pun intended.” She looked annoyed with herself for making the unintentional joke.
His smile at it earned him a scowl.
“Angela, there’s plenty of food in the kitchen. It’s a nice house.” He glanced around them.
Yeah, it was a bit sparce in the furniture department, because this was Korea. Design was simpler here. Unlike in the States.
But he liked the house. Mostly because the enclosed courtyard was a plus in the safety and defense column. The building’s stone walls and storm shutters on the windows were as well. She wouldn’t be able to appreciate any of that.
There were things she would appreciate. A big screen television. One of those fancy bidets in the bathroom. A/C.
Still, it didn’t feel right. Like he was leaving the job unfinished. He’d prefer to deliver her directly home. To her house. To her office. At least to her own damn country. But walking away and leaving her with nothing but the clothes on her back in a foreign country so far from home seemed wrong.
He couldn’t leave her his cell phone. Charley’s instructions were to keep it with him until she told him otherwise and then destroy the SIM card.
