“Mena Nix,” Tubeec said, unsure of the cryptic plans being discussed by Adam and Quentin or who Priscilla was. Tubeec was mildly curious, but quickly losing interest. The sooner he made it clear that Mena was likely not going to be a part of the deal, the sooner he could get back to Somalia and plan his next moves.
Tubeec wasn’t one to make many mistakes, but he had made a big one trusting his former associate, Hakeem Underwood. The years away from the militia had made Hakeem soft. His former protégé had struggled to secure Mena Nix and deliver her to the hangar at the agreed-upon time. Tubeec had given Hakeem confirmation that the money had been wired into his account, but the incompetent fool still hadn’t responded to calls from Cangrejos.
“Where is she? I want to leave soon,” Adam said, his mouth drawn into a tight line.
“There has been a delay in the transportation of the American woman. Is she worth waiting for? I could easily prorate the fee if you want to leave without her,” Tubeec suggested.
“Adam, we can’t do that. Without Mena, we have no leverage. No way to enact the plan. We must have her!” Quentin said, his eyes growing wide. “I will not let Priscilla down again. We can’t leave without her.”
“What’s the estimated time of arrival?” Adam asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Tubeec wished he knew the answer to that question himself. He looked over at Liban and Cangrejos. The two men were engaged in a heated discussion as they passed a phone back and forth between them. “Hold on a moment and let me confer with my team.”
Stepping past Assad and Suleymaan, still maintaining a tight hold on Quentin Tufa, Tubeec approached Liban.
“What’s going on? Have you located Hakeem and Mena?” Tubeec whispered.
Liban nodded, then showed Tubeec a photo of Mena Nix surrounded by a group of men from al-Harakat.
“When was this taken?” Tubeec asked.
“Just now. They are willing to make an exchange if the bounty is still being paid,” Liban said.
Tubeec contemplated his options, not sure he wanted to continue to deal with Adam. He had other preparations to begin and this assignment was dragging on longer than he expected. “Set up a meeting point and get the Jeep ready. I’ll ride out with you.”
Turning back around, Tubeec walked to Adam and placed a hand on the man’s shoulders. “Good news, my friend. Mena Nix is being delivered to our scheduled drop off point now. My team and I will go out personally to collect her and bring her back to you. Cangrejos will stay behind as a sign of good faith.”
Adam smiled, exposing deep dimples. “Good. Before you leave, there’s one more person I need you to bring to me. He should be easy to lure here.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
“Taye! Slow down!” Julian ordered, leaning forward in the passenger seat of the Humvee. About a hundred yards ahead, near a copse of dying trees, a Jeep lay overturned on the road.
“Looks like that motherfucker flipped his Jeep,” Enzo said, from the back seat. “How the fuck did he manage that? Ain’t shit out here.”
The Humvee slowed to a stop a few yards from the Jeep and Taye put the vehicle in park.
Julian opened the door and jumped out, jogging over to the Jeep, which rested on its side with the passenger side door facing up to the sky.
“Julian, these tracks look familiar,” Glaze said, squatting down to peer at the skid marks in the dirt. “Like the ones back at the safe house in Takaba.”
Sprinting ahead, Julian stepped on the axel beneath the JEEP’s chassis and hoisted himself toward the top of the Jeep. The vehicle rocked as he peered through the window. The cab was empty. Dropping back down, he walked to the other side—
Leaning against the roof of the Jeep was Hakeem Underwood. His breathing was ragged and he held his side, grimacing in pain.
“Where the fuck is Mena, you bastard?” Julian demanded, stepping toward Hakeem. Lifting the man from the ground, he drug him toward a tree.
“Hakeem?” Taye said from behind Julian. “Hey, Hakeem is over here. He looks hurt.”
Hakeem looked up at Julian, contrition and shame in his eyes. He exhaled, then said, “Al-Harakat ambushed us. They took Mena. They’re going to hand her over to Tubeec Hirad for the bounty.”
Julian rammed his forearm under Hakeem’s neck.
Gurgling from the force of the blow, Hakeem’s eyes grew wide with fear.
“What were you planning to do with Mena? Why did you take her and not tell us?” Julian demanded.
An arm wrapped around Julian’s waist. He felt himself being pulled backward.
