Page 107 of Fixed Asset

If I can see them, they can see me.

I did not want to fire my weapon this close to the village and alert everyone to our presence. Which would mean we’d have to take our chances traversing the mountains. That was going to seriously suck. With no choice, I gently pulled the slack out of my trigger, chose a target, let out a breath, and . . .

“Don’t shoot me.”

Tom?

Three of the men fanned out, taking a defensive position to guard the man in the middle, who was now coming at us at a fast clip.

Calista got to her feet and voiced my thought. “That’s Tom.”

What the hell was he doing here? And how did he find us?

“Stand down,” he commanded.

Screw that.

I kept my Sig leveled and at the ready.

And Christ, he needed to stop yelling before he woke up the whole damn town.

“Get behind me,” I told Calista.

“But Tom—”

“We don’t know why he’s here or who those men are.”

“They’re Tom’s team.”

Tom’s team?

Since when did CIA officers have teams? And how the hell did Calista know Tom had a team?

“Tell them to lower their weapons,” I called out when Tom was close enough I didn’t have to shout.

Tom waved a hand. The men followed his silent order and lowered their rifles.

“Your turn,” he returned.

“First tell me why you’re here.”

“To get Calista.”

“Are they our backup?” I motioned to the men with the barrel of my Sig.

“No. They’re here with me.”

Of course Tom would only be out for himself.

“Here.” Tom held out his hand when he stopped in front of me. “This is for you.”

He opened his palm, presenting me with a white earbud.

“What’s that?”

“Your backup.” When I didn’t immediately take Tom’s offering, he continued. “Jack called in, but we were still in the air. Service was cutting in and out, so I don’t know how much he heard. Ahmad Sindi sent two of his people along with two guards to retrieve Calista. Those guards are former British Special Air Service. Only one of those men went to the island. The other one is still here.”

Well, fuck a duck.