Gage’s horror switched to primal anger. Shedding his pack in one swift move, he rushed towards the mudslide. No-one or nothing would rip Chantal away. “No!” Gannon shouted, but Gage didn’t care. Launching himself at the brown river in a suicidal leap, he braced himself for the rough descent. The powerful tide swept him along a chaotic path, and Gage focused on keeping his head above the mud—a challenge when his heavy tactical vest weighed him down. Something slammed into his back, twisting him sideways as the avalanche gained speed. A fucking tree. Trying to spot Chantal, he raised his knees and leaned back, guiding himself with outstretched arms. “Chants… Chantal!” He caught a glimpse of her shooting around a bend. Gage tried to sit up, instead, he slammed into a log, and his strapped rifle became snagged, ripping him to a stop and flinging him to his stomach. Gage refused to

Rajin didn’t like the news. The ambassador bitch and her daughter had escaped the ambush. Harris seemed confident in tracking down the women. His soldier was a loyal dog, trailing their scent. But Rajin couldn’t remain on Sri Lankan soil. He trusted his network, but one betrayal could lead to his arrest, and without that USB, he had little leverage over the president. He glanced at his Rolex before taking a seat on a leather sofa. A maid walked by. “How long must I wait? Are they done packing?” His loafer tapped against the coffee table impatiently. “I’ll check, sir.” She rushed towards the stairs and Rajin admired her shapely ass. He’d fucked her a few times—along with the rest of the female help. They all bore the marks. Rajin wasn’t a gentle lover. He’d tried with Pearl—his dedicated wife. But she’d never seen the monster below the surface—the man who got excited with thoughts of torture and death. That’s why he’d recorded his “interrogations.” Watching th

Panting against the dizziness, Gage tried to push himself up. His heart hammered in terror when he thought of Chantal—in the fields—being chased by a fucking assassin. Alexis—Jona—was well-trained but had made one fatal mistake. She hadn’t given Gage the full dose of whatever drug she’d probably bought on the black market.  And now, he’d hunt. Snapping Jona’s pretty neck would be a satisfying revenge—especially if she hurt his woman. The best he could do was get to his knees. Roaring in frustration, Gage crawled from cover and rolled down the hill. His damn legs wouldn’t work, and he couldn’t slow his descent. His head slammed against a rock, and blood poured from a sliced-up cheek. Another shot sounded as he rolled to his stomach. Had Jona found her?  If he lost Chantal, his soul would crumble to dust.  “Hold it together. She needs you.” ***

Sri Lanka.Jaffna Peninsula. They’d walked for just over a mile from the chopper landing site, and Chantal stumbled to keep up. Approaching the thirty-five-hour mark—aside from half a protein bar—she hadn’t eaten. Desperately thirsty and exhausted from her two-day ordeal, Chantal’s weakening body felt uncooperative. All she cared about was Gage. Staring numbly ahead through eyes swollen from tears, she prayed he lived. He’d lain bleeding, beaten and surrounded the last time she’d seen him. He had to have found a way. Gage wouldn’t give up on fighting for his life or for her rescue. The alternative would destroy her heart—her soul. They’d flown north and had stopped once to refuel. Chantal guessed—from what she’d seen on the approach—that they were on the outskirts of a coastal town which looked familiar. The

Chantal paused to examine her bleeding hands before switching from the window to her chain. She knew, if she slept anymore, she’d waste time. She began a fresh count to five hundred, and would switch tasks unless she made progress with either the bracelet around her ankle or the chain link.It took an agonizing moment to lower herself to the ground. Her body screamed with exhaustion and relentless pain. Was this how her mom felt every day? And Chantal had wanted a break—thought about walking away? What kind of daughter was she, to abandon her impaired mother, to run off and “find herself”? Except she’d found herself—with Gage. Each moment they’d spent together was etched in her shattered mind. For the hundredth time, she analyzed their last moments together. And Alexis… the way she’d looked before pulling the trigger and deliberately firing past Chanta