Desert Secrets Read online

  “And…”

  “They gave him forty-eight hours to come forward, or they will kill me.”

  “They’re bluffing, Lexi—”

  “I don’t think so. They’ve shown they have patience, but they also they shot our plane down. Hunted us down at the Kasbah. And now they’ve taken us. These men won’t think twice about killing someone if it means getting what they want. That’s what they do.” There was no inflection in her voice as she caught his gaze. “And it might end up costing both of us our lives.”

  *

  Colton massaged the back of his neck with his fingers, but it did little to relieve the growing tension. “You’re not responsible for your brother’s actions.”

  He paused at the irony of his words. How many times had his mother thrown that same line at him when it came to his father? He might not have been responsible for his father’s actions, but that hadn’t kept him from having to deal with the consequences.

  Just like Lexi was having to deal with the ramifications of her brother’s choices.

  “You’re wrong. This is my fault.” Tears welled in her eyes as she looked up at him. “I should have figured out what he was up to when he was staying with me. Instead, I wanted to think that he’d grown up. That things had changed between us and for whatever reason he wanted to come see me. But I should have known. He was simply using me.”

  “Stop.” He ran his hand down her arm until his fingers caught her hand. “I meant what I said. This wasn’t your fault.”

  She shrugged. “Maybe you’re right, but even if you are, it doesn’t matter. We’re still here, and I don’t see any way of that changing.”

  “Lexi—”

  “When I arrived, I thought I was strong enough to handle whatever I had to do. I’ve seen so much heartache over the past few months, and yet that very heartache is what kept me going. Every day, I watch women and children spend hours collecting water. I met mothers who lost their babies because they didn’t have access to a clean water supply. Health care facilities and schools lack adequate sanitation. I thought that if I could just change things for a handful of people my contribution would matter.”

  “It does matter.”

  “But today…” She looked up at him. “I don’t feel strong anymore. I don’t know how to handle this.”

  She was crying silently now, the tears evident on her checks. “I’m scared, Colton. We’ll never get out of here with one of the vehicles. There are too many guards. Too many weapons.”

  Colton pulled her against his chest, knowing that every answer he could think of seemed trite. He didn’t know if everything was going to work out. Didn’t know if they would walk away from this alive. And no matter how badly he wanted to, he couldn’t promise her any of those things.

  She lay still until her breathing became steadier. She felt comfortable against him. A perfect fit. He tried to ignore the thought as he pushed back a strand of her hair and looped it behind her ear. There was something about her, though, that had managed to weave its way into his heart when he wasn’t looking. Something that made him wonder again if an ongoing relationship might be a possibility once they were out of here.

  “Thank you,” she said, looking up at him.

  “For what?”

  “For not promising me that everything’s going to be okay. For just listening and being there for me.”

  He nodded, wishing he could give her more. “You’re welcome.”

  She wiped her cheeks, then sat back, though still close enough that their knees were barely touching. “I’m the kind of person who needs to have a plan.”

  “Okay.”

  “I need to figure out where my brother might have gone.”

  “Who did your brother work for back in the States?” he asked.

  “Honestly, I’m not sure.”

  “Okay, then just tell me what you do know about him.”

  “He’s twenty-six. Knows he’s charming and knows how to make people laugh. He’s never held down a job for long, floats from one place to another, looking for the next payoff. He’s suave and a bit of a con. Has always got by on his good looks.”

  “You said the two of you weren’t close.”

  “Not really.”

  “What about your stepfather and their relationship? Would he go back home?”

  “He might. My stepfather spoiled him growing up. That’s probably part of why he’s not responsible. He always used to bail him out. Though when he came to see me he paid for his own ticket.”

  “Did he go out at night?”

  “Yeah. He made friends with a few ex-pats and met them for drinks a few times.”

  “Any strange conversations you overheard, or anything that seems off now that you’re looking back?”

  “I heard him talking on the phone one evening. I didn’t really think much about it at the time, but he seemed… I don’t know. Upset. Like he was afraid something he was working on was about to fall through. But while I knew he had a few questionable friends, I never thought he could be this stupid.”

  “Do you think he wanted to tell you the truth?”

  She pondered his question for a minute. “Looking back, I think he didn’t know what to do and had no idea what the consequences were going to be. He’s not a horrible person. Just in way over his head.”

  “What about his airline ticket? Where had he planned to go when he left you?”

  “He was planning to fly to Morocco.”

  “Did he know anyone there?” Colton asked.

  “I don’t know. He didn’t tell me much about his plans.”

  The bottom line was that Trent was going to have to come forward on his own. But he wasn’t sure her brother was man enough to do so.

  He shot her a reassuring smile, hoping to convince her that this wasn’t a hopeless situation. “You said Salif mentioned he had a sat phone.”

  “Yeah.”

  “If we could somehow get a hold of it, it’s possible for someone on the outside to track the phone through the built-in GPS.”

  “Even if we were able to manage that, who would we call?”

  Colton knew that with the growing number of terrorist organizations that threatened American interests, there were special operations located throughout North Africa.

  “I have no idea how many special operations bases there are, but I do know that the US has a footprint all over Africa, including the Sahara. And while our government might not pay ransom, there are military resources who might be able to help.”

  Lexi frowned. “They didn’t help with Bret.”

  “We didn’t know where he was until I made the swap.”

  But could he really expect the US troops to sweep in and snatch them from the middle of the Sahara?

  “Do you really think it’s worth the risk?” she asked. “Trying to get the phone?”

  “I think we need to keep our eyes open for an opportunity.”

  “I asked about Issa and Bret.”

  “And?”

  “He wouldn’t answer me as to where they were. But he did promise me Issa wasn’t going to rescue us this time.”

  “Do you think they’re here?”

  “I don’t know, but I do think they have them. It’s the only thing that makes sense. They have the manpower and the weapons to conduct a search. Even if it is in the middle of the desert.”

  “What about me?”

  “Salif didn’t say anything about you.”

  It was strange they hadn’t brought him to talk with Salif. Was Becca’s life truly in danger? Or were they waiting to find Bret so they would have more leverage?

  *

  The dreams were back. He was running again. This time through an endless brick maze, with faceless men behind him. They were gaining on him. For every step he took, they came closer until they were breathing down his neck.

  Colton opened his eyes where he lay on the hard mat and stared up. His heart pounding as if he had actually been running. In the faint light, he could see
Lexi on the other side of the tent. He wasn’t sure if she was sleeping, but if she was, he didn’t want to wake her. She needed her rest. They both did. And they also needed a plan.

  He’d heard the fear in her voice. She believed without a doubt that Salif would follow through with his threats. And he had to admit she was probably right.

  He drew in a deep breath, trying to slow down his breathing. No matter what they did, it seemed like a no-win situation.

  So what were they supposed to do? They’d have as much of a chance of delivering the moon as they would have coming up with the two million dollars. And who knew where Lexi’s brother was, or if they found him, if there was any money left to repay the partner he’d embezzled from.

  So what happens now, God?

  Becca and Noah were in hiding. He had no way to communicate with anyone for help. They could make a run for it and pray they didn’t get shot in the process. He wasn’t sure he believed Issa and Bret had been captured, but if they had, would he and Lexi be sealing their fates if they ran?

  “Colton?”

  He turned back over, the sudden movement shooting pain through his head. It took him a moment for his eyes to adjust.

  “Lexi?”

  “No, it’s Issa.”

  “Issa?”

  “Don’t talk right now, but I need you to get up. I’m going to get you and Lexi out of here.”

  Colton had to still be dreaming.

  Issa couldn’t be here. Or maybe it was a trap.

  “Colton? We don’t have time to wait. I need you to come with me now.”

  ELEVEN

  Lexi stepped out of the tent behind Colton and Issa into almost total darkness. The moon was temporarily hidden behind a row of clouds and the only light was coming from a few stars overhead. But it wouldn’t stay hidden for long. She could feel the breeze and see the break in the clouds above her. If they were going to do this without being seen, they were going to have to hurry.

  Colton took her hand as they darted behind the tent. She had a dozen questions for Issa, but knew she was going to have to wait until they were away from the compound before she got any answers. And for the moment, they were going to have to trust him. Because every second it took them to escape was another chance to be discovered.

  A shadow shifted to their left. One of the guards was making his way toward them. She glanced at Issa. He had his weapon, but they would be no match against the dozen armed men in the camp if they were caught trying to escape.

  Issa held up his hand, motioning for them to pull back into a small alcove between the tents. Lexi drew in a lungful of air and held her breath. Footsteps came toward them. She glanced up at the sky. The moon was beginning to slip out from behind the blanket of clouds. In another few seconds its white light would cover the camp, leaving them vulnerable if they didn’t cross over the ridge behind them and disappear from sight.

  Lexi pressed against Colton’s chest and let him wrap his arms around her as they waited for the man to pass. She could feel Colton’s heart beating. Feel his chest expanding with each breath…

  The guard paused a dozen feet from where they stood. Close enough for her to see the silhouette of his weapon across his shoulder and the glint of a knife in his belt. She couldn’t move. Colton’s arm tightened around her waist. All the guard had to do was turn around and he’d see them…

  But he only hesitated a moment longer, then kept moving in the other direction.

  Lexi let out a sharp sigh of relief as he faded into the darkness. “There are three other guards patrolling,”

  “Then we need to move now,” Issa whispered. He started toward the open desert, in the opposite direction of the camp, as another cloud rolled by, concealing the moon once again.

  Lexi’s lungs threatened to burst as she ran beside Colton up a slight ridge of sand. She glanced back, expecting to see someone coming after them. She’d been this close to freedom before only to discover it was nothing more than a mirage and she’d been forced to go through it all over again. But this time…

  Please, God. Let this be over.

  Because if they came after them now… She’d seen Salif’s eyes. He would kill them.

  Issa topped the ridge, then scurried down the other side of the sand dune before pausing to let them catch their breath. “I don’t see any signs that we were followed, but we must leave quickly.”

  “Where’s Bret?” Colton asked.

  “Just over the next ridge,” Issa said, jutting his chin away from the camp. “I couldn’t drive the vehicle close to the camp, and we decided he wasn’t strong enough to make the trek here and back. So I came alone.”

  “But he’s okay.” Colton asked.

  “He’s going to be fine. He’s just weak.” Issa started walking again. “Can you both make it? The Jeep’s about half a kilometer out.”

  “Yeah. Of course,” Colton said. “Lexi?”

  Her heart was still pounding and the adrenaline had yet to stop flowing, but she was okay. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Salif implied that his men had found you and Bret,” Colton said, as they hurried across the sand.

  “Then that was what he wanted you to believe. We saw them searching for us several times, but managed to evade them.”

  “I still don’t understand where you went,” Colton said, asking one of the questions she wanted answered.

  Issa paused and caught Colton’s gaze. Even in the darkness she could see the confusion in his eyes. “You thought I betrayed you?”

  “I honestly didn’t know what to think. I know you have always been a faithful friend, but when the two of you disappeared…”

  “Do not blame yourself,” Issa said, walking again. “I took my gun, and left the car with your brother-in-law. If I run the scenario through my mind, I might have come to the same conclusions as you did. There are men who would betray another for a lesser price.”

  “So what did happen?” Lexi asked, hurrying to keep up with the men.

  “During the sandstorm—after the wreck—Bret woke up and was confused. The car was filled with sand and the sounds of the storm. When I realized he was getting out of the car, there was nothing I could do but go after him, knowing how quickly he could get lost out there.

  “I grabbed my weapon for safety, knowing you had one as well if you needed it, and went after him. I didn’t expect him to go far, but adrenaline must have been working with the storm, and I struggled to keep up with him. He finally collapsed about a kilometer from the vehicle. By the time I finally managed to get him to come back with me and to tell you what was going on, they were leading you to their car. But I was afraid to risk leaving Bret alone and come to help you, because if I had gotten caught—”

  “You would have left Bret exposed in the middle of the desert, and he could have died,” Colton finished for him.

  A wave of guilt flooded through Lexi. She never should have doubted the man’s innocence. Since he and his caravan first came upon them at the wreckage site, he’d done everything he could to protect them.

  “Issa… I’m sorry,” she said.

  He shook his head. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

  “I was the one who doubted your loyalty. Not Colton. You’ve done nothing but help us, and now you have risked your life to come back for us. You didn’t have to do this.”

  He paused beneath the ribbon of stars shining above them. “But you are wrong. Colton and his team saved my son’s and my wife’s lives. I would do anything to repay that debt.”

  “There is no debt,” Colton said, gripping the man’s shoulder. “Only friendship.”

  The shadow of the Jeep appeared as they topped another ridge of sand.

  “Here we are,” Issa said, as they hurried down the mound. “Thankfully, they left the vehicle fairly intact after only stealing some of my supplies. The wind had completely died down, so after I finished changing the tire, I was able to follow the tire tracks to the camp.”

  Bret was sitting in
the front passenger seat with the door open. He still seemed a bit pale, but looked far better than the last time she’d seen him.

  Colton leaned inside the car and grabbed his brother-in-law in a bear hug. “Bret! You don’t know how happy I am to see you. How are you feeling?”

  “Honestly, I haven’t felt this good in weeks. Partly because the pain from the scorpion bite is gone, but mainly because I’m closer to being back with my family again.”

  “We’re going to get you home,” Colton said, squeezing Bret’s shoulder.

  “I hate to break up the happy reunion,” Issa said, “but we must hurry. I have a feeling it won’t take them long to discover you are gone. And once they do…”

  Lexi glanced at Colton. Issa didn’t need to finish his sentence. The men from the camp would come after them, which meant they needed to put as much distance between themselves and the camp as possible.

  “So what do we do now?” Lexi asked as she climbed into the backseat of the vehicle beside Colton.

  “We need to make it to the Moroccan border,” Issa said. “I’m hoping the three of you will be safe there, and it will be easy to catch a flight out of North Africa.”

  Lexi felt her stomach churn. Crossing the border wouldn’t be easy under the best circumstance, but unlike Colton and Bret, she didn’t even have her passport. And they’d never be able to smuggle a passenger across the border, where armed guards patrolled day and night. These uniformed men had the right to search any vehicle and were not above using intimidation and demanding bribes.

  We’ve come this far, God, but I don’t see how this is going to work.

  How was she supposed to leave the country without proper documentation?

  “I don’t have a passport,” she said above the rumbling of the vehicle. “They’ll never let me through.”

  “She is right,” Issa said. “Not without paying a bribe or managing to convince someone of your story and the need to get to your embassy.”

  Colton reached out and squeezed her hand “We’re going to get you home. We’ll find a way. I promise.”

  She nodded, hoping he was right, but the sick feeling in her stomach refused to dissipate.

  *

  An hour later, Colton glanced out the back window. A puff of dust hovered on the horizon behind them, a sign that someone was following them. Again, he weighed his options, but they were driving across open desert. The track Issa was following in his 4x4 was eroded and more often than not obscured by dirt and sand, but it was the only route to the border.