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Celeste was barely aware of his words, remembering the last time she had been at the mercy of NSH. Remembering how he’d wanted her to destroy the technology that kept the US safe and only Ailee had been able to save them. But Ailee was no more, and if she was forced to write another computer virus, who was going to stop it from decimating their defenses? She couldn’t do it. Even if the three of them were to perish.
Part of her was aware of what was happening externally—Rose and Karasu just as horrified by their predicament, helpless to what Trasker would force her to do. But another part, the internal part, was struggling to right her equilibrium, trying to camouflage the panic. And little by little, the disconnected sensation abated and she found herself watching the man on the screen, a man who was as familiar as any celebrity. His hair, which was similar in color to her own, was liberally flecked with gray at the temples, and his face was devoid of any emotion, bar the pain that was embedded deeply in his eyes.
Wasn’t that always the case with mass murderers and people who took life without mercy? There was a tragedy in Trasker’s past. That revelation helped her to unravel that constricting ball of dread that had been sitting just below her ribcage. Trasker had lost someone close to him, and that understanding freed her from the undertow of panic and she could suddenly see things a little more clearly.
She didn’t want to be here, and she certainly didn’t want to have the lives of Rose and Karasu in her hands, but that was her reality right now. Trasker had lost his link to reality, and he was going to follow through with his plans.
By force.
That was a given.
It would be up to her to stall long enough for Iceman, Preach, and GQ to find them.
That was one steadfast belief that was ingrained in her heart and mind. GQ wouldn’t rest until he found her. Iceman and Preacher would rip apart the world to get Rose and Karasu back. And, they had the CIA and probably now NCIS and the FBI working on their case. It was a matter of time.
Unless they could escape first.
She took a deep, hard breath. She wasn’t much of a liar or a very good actress, but she was going to bluff her ass off.
She slipped off the bar stool, walked over to the sofa, and sat down.
Rose and Karasu continued to stare at her.
“He’s going to tell us what he wants from us. It’s best to know. Trust me,” she said.
Karasu looked like she could chew glass, but she came over and plopped angrily down on the sofa.
“The little wallflower has grown a spine. Interesting,” he said. “Mr. Nash has been quite the influence on you.”
“Shut up, Trasker, and tell me what you want from me,” she said, her patience at an end. She had grown a spine. She had foiled his plans once, and she could do it again. She would do it again.
“Testy.” He leaned forward and said, “You’re going to write me another computer virus, Dr. Potter, and you’re going to hack into the White House computer system and get me some information. If you try to contact anyone or warn anyone, Rose and Karasu will die in front of you in as agonizing a way as I can think up. Don’t cross me this time and maybe I’ll let you all live long enough to see your nation fall. I’ll be in touch.”
The screen went blank and Karasu let out a low growl. “If I ever get my hands on that bastard, he won’t breathe air ever again!” she said, pacing back and forth. “How dare he keep us here?”
“Yeah, I find that completely odd that there are no guards,” Rose said, rising. She headed toward the front of the building. When she reached a door that looked like it led to the outside, she looked at the two of them. “It could be boobytrapped,” she said tentatively.
“I doubt it. He wouldn’t want to hurt Celeste,” Karasu said bitterly. “He needs her. We’re apparently expendable.”
“I’m so sorry about this,” Celeste said, guilt twisting in her chest.
“It’s not your fault. Don’t lose it. He’s the asshole. Remember that,” Rose said, giving Karasu a censoring look. Rose huffed out a breath. “He blew up his own hotel, killed his employees and guests all to throw us off his scent. Oh, my God. He’s unconscionable.” She bit her lip. “I can’t imagine what Chris is going through right now. He must be mad with worry not knowing where I am and if I’m even alive.”
Karasu’s face twisted for a second and she looked away. “Boyce…he’s got to be devastated. My poor baby.” She took a fortifying breath, swiping at her eyes. “It’s mind-boggling that we had him right there in front of us all that time, and he was laughing at us and mocking us. Ooh, when I think about it, I could almost go mad with rage,” Karasu said.
“Anger isn’t going to get us anywhere, Karasu. We have to stay rational and think ahead of him. Let’s see where we are, and we can devise some plan of escape. Agreed? We’re all in this together, so we’ll work together.”
Celeste nodded and spontaneously hugged Rose, her throat going tight just thinking about Remmy and his anguish at her disappearance. She hoped he didn’t blame himself. “I don’t know what I would have done if I was here alone. Having you guys to support and bolster me will be a big deal.”
Rose hugged her back, then reached out and encompassed Karasu. For a moment the three of them stood there gathering strength from each other.
She let go of Rose and turned toward the door. She touched the handle and twisted, then pulled. The door opened and all three of them stood there dumbfounded, gasps released into the frigid air, chilling them right down to the bone. Everywhere was white as far as the eye could see. Ice and snow in a barren, bleak landscape.
2
Archer “Hazard”Booth walked up the stairs to GQ’s porch. There was still glass on the stairs and deck. The windows were still smashed. He’d come prepared. His lips tightened, thinking about sweet, gentle Celeste being forcefully taken by NSH. It made him crazy as all his male protective instincts kicked in. He’d been the head of his household since he was nine years old with his single widowed mom and three sisters.
It had helped that he’d had a strong mom, stronger than even she had imagined she could be. He was nine years old when he lost his dad. His mom was devastated, so sad that she cried herself to sleep when she thought he couldn’t hear her, but every day she rose above the pain. She taught him that dealing with his emotions was true strength, closing down was being a coward. Even now, Hazard couldn’t help but smile at the thought. His mom was one hell of a role model.
