Page 19 of Her Faithful Protector

Again, she looked to Camilla for direction. “He’s at work. I don’t know his work number, it’s programmed into my phone. I think I know his mobile number by heart.”

“Call it!” El Jefe yelled at her.

Phyllis’ fingers trembled as she pressed in the numbers. Before it had a chance to ring, the big man grabbed it and put it on speaker.

“Who is this?” A man’s voice answered the phone angrily. Phyllis’ whole face seemed to crumple as she started to cry.

“Answer him,” El Jefe growled at Phyllis.

Camilla nudged Phyllis. “Say something, Phyllis.”

“Phylly, is that you?” Her dad’s voice changed, he suddenly sounded scared and anxious.

“Daddy? It’s awful,” she gasped out between sobs.

“Tell me where you are and I’ll come and get you.”

“It’s not going to be that easy.” El Jefe laughed. “Talk to your daddy, tell him everything the bad man has done. Tell him everybody I’ve killed.”

Phyllis sobbed harder.

“Phylly, has he hurt you?” her father shouted.

El Jefe pulled out his knife. “Talk to your father,” he said as he let the knife play with the hem of her fluttery top.

“Talk, Phyllis,” Camilla used her school teacher voice.

“Talk!” El Jefe roared.

Phyllis jumped and the knife pierced her side. “Ahhh,” she screeched.

“Phylly, what happened? Are you all right?”

“Daddy, he wants money. I’m afraid. Please pay him so I can come home. Please.”

She sagged against Camilla who couldn’t hold her upright. They both ended up in a heap on the hood of the Jeep.

“Did you hear that, Daddy?” El Jefe sing-songed. “Get as much money as you can ready, otherwise your daughter is going to die a horrible death at the hands of my men. I’ll let them have fun with her first.”

“Keep your fucking hands off my daughter! I’ll get you your damned money.”

“You have forty-eight hours. I’ll give you the wiring instructions then.”

El Jefe severed the connection and turned to Camilla. “Now it’s your turn.”

* * *

Of course, Asher was leading the way, didn’t matter if they were jumping into the desert, the water, or the jungle, somehow he was always the first man out of the plane. It always pissed off Cullen Lyons. The third time Nic looked over at Zed, the man rolled his eyes at him.

“I’m fine,” Zed yelled over the roar of the plane engines. “Have a doctor’s certificate to prove it and everything. If I didn’t know better, I would say you were a parent.”

Nic stiffened. He didn’t want anyone to accuse him of having mothering instincts; that would blow his entire cover. Ezio laughed.

Before more laughter could ensue, Max shouted out. “Formation.”

Everybody got in line behind Asher. Drone images had found the tour bus off the major highway. It was on its side. They still didn’t have a list of passengers, but Nic’s spidey senses were going off the charts. It was like he was channeling Zed. It had to be because it was Cami’s alma mater.

Head in the game, Hale. Head in the game.