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RYKER FROWNED AT THE text on his cell phone later that night, scanning over it a second time. Despite Hunter’s insistence earlier that Ryker was worried about nothing, this didn’t bode well. This just proved he’d been right all along. Damn it.
I think someone’s after her.
He quickly thumbed a response, asking for more information. His phone buzzed immediately with Hunter’s reply.
Two men traveling under aliases flew out of London on Wednesday.
We think they work for Izallah.
They landed at Dulles.
Ryker muttered a curse, standing up and crossing Emily’s living room. Dulles Airport was just forty-five minutes outside of Washington, DC. And these guys had been here for a couple of days? Jesus Christ.
Emily had been sound asleep for several hours, and he’d been culling through information, hoping to glean something new that had been missed. But it sounded like they finally had solid intel and his hunch had been right all along. Emily was in danger, and if he hadn’t come up here, who knows what the hell would’ve happened. Who knows if she would’ve been taken once more.
He quickly thumbed a response to Hunter.
Who are they? I need names.
Ryker waited a beat and then cursed when Hunter didn’t respond right away. He didn’t like the idea of sitting around here just waiting for someone to show up. For something to happen. If they landed at Dulles several days ago, they could easily have been hanging around DC since then, scoping out her condo. How’d they discover her name so quickly though? The media had barely gotten wind of the story.
They must’ve tracked her down from whatever government ID they’d taken from her. But why?
His phone buzzed, and he answered the call in a low voice.
“I hate to admit it, but you were right,” Hunter said. “Emily is in danger.”
“God damn it,” Ryker said. “How do you know? Who are these guys?”
“Contacts of Izallah’s. One of them used to live in the U.S.—he’s American. He moved his entire family to Afghanistan. He’s probably the guy with the teenage daughter that Emily told me about. Apparently, he’s developed a strong dislike of westerners—especially western women. Although we still don’t know if someone sold them out when they were on patrol that night, leading to Emily’s capture, we do know they’re after her now.”
“He doesn’t like that we rescued her?” Ryker asked.
“Fuck no. He wants to bring her back there. They held her for an entire month to get her to Izallah. She’s worth a lot of money to them. They’re not willing to just let her go now.”
“That’s bullshit. It’s hard to believe anyone would go to such crazy lengths over a woman.”
“They’re extremists,” Hunter said. “There is no rhyme or reason to anything they do.”
“I know, it’s just—Jesus. I had a bad feeling, and I hoped I was wrong. But you’re right—they were saving her for a month for that asshole, moving her from camp to camp, so I guess they didn’t like that we swooped in right before he was going to make her his wife.”
“Apparently not,” Hunter said. “They must not have gotten paid yet for taking her.”
“I should get her out of here,” Ryker said, his gaze sweeping around the living room. He glanced out the window of her condo overlooking Georgetown, and quickly crossed over to it. He shut the blinds. “I need to take her somewhere that’s safe.”
“Are you bringing her down here?”
“I don’t know. It might be safer to keep her away from other military right now—not that they know who specifically rescued her. They shouldn’t know that.”
“We still don’t know if there was a mole on base,” Hunter said. “Or there could’ve been a shady informant. If there was, it’s possible he or she could’ve slipped Izallah’s men intel that she was rescued by a SEAL team. It’s too hard to track us down, even if they don’t have our specific names.”
Ryker muttered a curse, scrubbing a hand over his jaw. “You’re right. We might just hole away somewhere up here for now. Is State tracking them down? They should have surveillance from Dulles if these two are suspects.”
“I’ll find out who’s taking the lead on that,” Hunter replied. “My guess is the FBI since they’re on U.S. soil. Not that that would stop any of us from taking them out if they show up trying to harm Emily.”
“Damn straight it wouldn’t,” Ryker spat out. His eyes swept the room once more, and he wondered if he should pack up some of Emily’s things before he woke her. He needed to get her far away from Georgetown.
Jesus.
The poor woman was finally planning to get a night’s sleep in her own bed, and he was going to move her. The FBI could lay in wait though. He wanted her far, far away from anyone intending to do her harm.
Rage surge through him at the thought of those assholes’ hands on Emily. He hadn’t seen the bruising on her ribs, but the lump on her forehead was enough to make him see red. There was no telling what they’d do if they got a hold of her once more. If they dare touched her or harmed her, he’d end them.
“Keep me updated,” Hunter said. “I talked to the CO and told him you’d be gone longer than expected.”
“Roger that,” Ryker replied. “I’ll stay with her until we’re certain it’s safe. I’ll update you later with our location.”
Ryker ended the call and slid his phone into his pocket. Stuffing his few belongings back into his bag, his gaze landed on the groceries in the kitchen. He should bring some food and supplies with them as well. There was no way of knowing how long it would take for this to end.
Presumably the FBI could track and detain the two men, but what if they’d gone underground? He wasn’t going to rely on someone else to protect his—
A sudden scream had him turning in an instant and rushing down the hallway, weapon drawn. He edged into Emily’s room and quickly holstered his gun as he flipped on the light switch and saw Emily alone in her bed. She was sitting up, twisted in her sheets, covered in a fine sheen of sweat and shaking.
“Emily, sweetheart,” he said, quickly crossing the room to her. She was gasping for breath as she trembled, and he knelt down beside her, hesitant to even touch her. “It was just a bad dream. A nightmare. I’m right here,” he assured her.
“Ryker?” she whispered.
“Yeah, it’s me, baby,” he said, leaning over and brushing a strand of hair back from her face. Frightened brown eyes met his. He wanted to comfort her more, to pull her into his arms, but that didn’t seem appropriate yet. Watching her tremble right in front of him made his gut clench.
He settled for reaching over and taking her hand, feeling her delicate fingers in his own. She seemed so fragile in this moment compared to his own mass and strength. His thumb brushed over her skin in a light caress, and she suddenly burst into tears.
“I dreamt I was back there, alone in that dark room. They’d lock me in all night, and even though they didn’t hurt me, it was unnerving. I swore I was still stuck in there—it just all felt so real.”
“Shhh,” he murmured, unable to stop himself as he collected her in his arms. “You’re here at home and safe.”
“Thank God,” she whispered, letting herself relax against him. It killed him that he had to take her away from the security and comfort of her own home, from her own bed. They were short on options though. Sure, he could take down someone if they burst in here, but hell. He didn’t want to risk her getting hurt in the crossfire.
Ryker needed her somewhere safe for the time being. She deserved to rest and recover without looking over her shoulder every moment.
He let his large hand trail over her back for a moment, comforting her, but then he pulled back.
“We have to leave,” he said urgently.
“Leave? Why? You just said it was safe.”
“You are safe, and I intend to keep it that way. You can’t stay here tonight though. I’ll explain everything in the car, but I need you to pack a bag so we can go.”
“What? No! I just got back here. This is my first night home. I’m not letting some assholes on the other side of the world scare me from living my own life. It was just a dream! I’m safe in my own home.”
“They’re not on the other side of the world—they’re here, right in DC. Hunter just got word that two of Izallah’s men flew into Dulles the other day. They could be watching your condo, somewhere right here in the building. It’s been on the news that you were released from the hospital today. We have to get out of here.”
“Ryker, I can’t leave. I won’t,” she insisted, glaring at him.
She looked so goddamn vulnerable and beautiful in the moment, it slayed him. Her dark hair fell around her slender shoulders. Supple breasts pushed against her tee shirt. Even without trying, she was sexy as hell. For a split second, Ryker had a crazy image of her exactly like this in his bed—rumpled from a night of making love, hair tousled, lips full and swollen from his kisses.
It was so real it was unnerving. Like he’d just seen an image from his future with this woman he’d known for mere days.
Shaking his head as he tried to clear his thoughts, he met her gaze. “We’re going,” he insisted. “We’re leaving right now even if I have to kidnap you myself.”
“Kidnap—what? You can’t kidnap me. Don’t be ridiculous.”
Ryker’s lips quirked. “Why the hell not? I’m bigger than you. I’m armed. You’re coming with me.”
“I can’t—I’m supposed to be safe here.”
Ryker interrupted her. “Unfortunately, you’re not. Not anymore. I don’t give a shit what they said the other day—we have new intel now. My job was to rescue you. To keep you out of harm’s way. If you don’t want to come with me willingly, then I’ll haul you over my shoulder and carry you out of here caveman style.”
She bristled beside him.
“I already rescued you from a damn terrorist compound. If I have to carry you out of here for your own safety, I’ll do it.”
“Ryker, don’t be so crazy,” she admonished.
He nailed her with a gaze, daring her to argue with him further. Her strong personality was a turn-on, but this was a matter of life or death. He wouldn’t sit here with her all night arguing about it. If she didn’t want to come with him, he’d take her, consequences be damned.
“This is insane,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
He stood up, watching as her mouth parted. “Pack your things—whatever you need for a few days. We’re leaving in ten minutes.”
“Ryker...”
“I’m taking you with me. Pack your stuff.” Ryker turned and left the room, leaving Emily sitting there on her bed. It was the hardest damn thing he’d ever done.
