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Join her?His back was up against the wall. He either agreed now and left to go to God knows what location, or he might never see Ziva again. Alex had to go with his gut, and hope the Turchettas had been able to get something on the satellite imaging. Otherwise, Bennett wouldn’t be able to find him, any more than he could find Ziva.
“Five nights, two million dollars. That is my only offer.” The truth was he’d pay whatever they asked, as long as Ziva was unharmed. They already held too many cards and he wasn’t about to reveal his hand. Not this deep in the game. He needed to buy as much time as he could. Changing their offer was the only thing he could think of. If Bennett can’t pull it off and find us, then as least Ziva and I will have five nights together. He knew he was playing a dangerous game. There was no doubt in Alex’s mind that if any of these guys felt they were being set up, he and Ziva would most likely be killed.
He’d put himself in compromising situations many time before for research on his books, but this had nothing to do with anything other than finding her. I’ll find her, even if it means losing myself.
The manager peered at him and Alex feared he’d pushed too far. If he had any hope of seeing Ziva again, he needed this work. Let his greed blind him.
The manager said sharply, “Agreed.”
It was done. He hoped this wasn’t a mistake. If he had any chance of saving Ziva, seeing her again, he’d take it.
“Then come with me and transfer the money. Once it’s received, we leave.”
Alex knew it would only take minutes for the wire to go through. It was all in Bennett’s hands now.
Her head waskilling her. That was a good sign. It meant she was still alive. For how long had yet to be determined. It was dark, but by the bouncing around and the smell of exhaust, Ziva knew she was being transported in a trunk of a car.
She listened intently. They must be in a town because she could hear voices when they stopped and horns beeping along the way. If she knew how long she’d been knocked out, maybe she could estimate her location. Ziva had no idea if it had been minutes or hours. Maybe days by how stiff I am.
Ziva felt around for the emergency release lever. When she found it, she contemplated pulling it or waiting. It wasn’t like anyone was going to come to her rescue if they saw her leaping from a moving police car. If anything, they’d shout out and let them know she was trying to escape. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to help her, they didn’t want to pay the price for aiding and abetting.
She knew there wasn’t a way out for her. They might keep her alive long enough to see what information they could get out of her, but when her usefulness ran out, so would her time. Might as well just kill me now, because I’m not going to tell you where the girls are or how many I have. And I most definitely am not going to tell you about Alex’s plan.
Knowing he’d come here to help put a stop to all this madness was comforting. She’d have been happier if he’d told her himself. All the misunderstanding between them had wasted time they couldn’t get back. Instead of plotting the different ways she’d make him suffer for his actions, she could’ve thought of the different positions she’d try with him. She’d had a lover before. It wasn’t anything that had her blood roaring. Yet there was something different about Alex. Maybe it was the forbidden fruit. Whatever it was he could make her melt, and she loved and hated it at the same time.
Ziva wasn’t innocent, but it’d been a long time since she’d had a lover. If his kiss was any indication what it would’ve been like to be in his arms, she knew it would’ve been explosive. His gentle kiss had her body tingling all over. At the time she hated him and herself for it. Now she longed to taste his lips one more time.
If only I could see him once more; there’s so much I’d say.Ziva made a mental note of where she’d start. There was so much to say, yet nothing came to mind. She would walk up to him, wrap her arms around him, and hold him tight as though she’d never let go. She wasn’t sure someone like Alex Henderson, so good-looking and strong, would want to be with her.
Funny how all I want is something simple. Yet, right now it would be the best thing in the world. For all the things I have to say, saying nothing is best.
The vehicle came to an abrupt stop, and she heard the doors open and close. She’d arrived; she just wished she knew where.
“We have come all this way. Why turn back now?” one man asked.
“Not our job to question. The less we know, the better. When we get there, we turn her over to him. If he wants her dead, then let him dig the damn hole himself.”
They both laughed. “He can throw them both in for all I care. We get paid the same either way.”
Both? Oh, God. No. Please don’t tell me they have Myla too.She’d told her to go for help. Leaving the cabin was so risky. Had they snatched her along the way?
“What I don’t understand is why there? We were told to make her disappear and then told to take her to the finest home in Tabiq. The manager must be drunk on wine again.”
“He offered to pay us each fifty US dollars extra to get her there unharmed.”
“Shit. He should’ve told us that before I hit her over the head with the butt of the gun. Do you think they will notice?”
“We will say we found her that way. If she says otherwise, we hit her again.” The first man laughed wickedly.
Ziva was more puzzled now than before. She’d known her fate. She was being sent someplace unexpected now. They really must think I know more than I do. Wait till they find out it’s all a waste of time.
She heard the key in the lock and the trunk burst open. The bright sunshine caused her to squint and turn her face away. One of the men reached in and roughly picked her up.
“Easy. Remember, no marks or no extra money.”
The guy loosened his hold. “Oh, yeah. Too bad. I was going to have fun with this one. She’s feisty.”
Oh yes, I am. And trust me, I wouldn’t be the only one with marks on me when you were done.“Where are you taking me?”
“The boss said someone requested your company, and we have to deliver you.”
Who the heck would want me? Twenty-nine is not considered young, and I’m no virgin. I must be on the bargain shopper’s list.It was sick that she joked in her own mind about such things. Was she so desensitized she no longer valued her own existence? She should be scared of dying, but her body ached too much to trouble her. Ziva never expected to live as long as she had. Each day, she had wondered if it were her last. She always feared someone knew what she’d been up to and would turn her in. The day had arrived. She had regrets, but not the ones she thought she would. Ziva had done the best she could. Although she was disappointed at how few she’d helped, she was surprised she’d been able to help any at all.
The men placed a blindfold over her eyes and had her sit in the backseat of the car. “Get down. We don’t want anyone to see you. It’s going to be a long ride and a long night for you from what we hear. You might as well get your sleep.” The man laughed again.
Fighting his instructions would only cause more pain. She complied with one request, but she wasn’t about to sleep. Although she tried to fight it, the pounding in her head continued, and darkness once again overtook her.
