VAUGHN TILTED HIS head listened for movement or voices, but heard nothing. What did he think he was going to hear through a wall with the shower running?Carla was next door.This was technically her room.Her things were in all the drawers, hanging in the closet and lined up on the vanity. Her stamp was everywhere. He was beginning to see her touch where others weren't. It was in the absolute cleanliness, the smoothed comforter, the picture perfect arrangement of toiletries. Even in the shower she'd positioned her bottles of shampoo and soap so they were visually appealing.And he was supposed to sleep in here?Not fucking likely.He'd had a hard enough time ignoring her this morning while in the company of Melody. Just Carla's nearness distracted him. It was frustrating, sexually and professionally. He'd worked around women he was in an intimate relationship with before with no problem. He'd always been able to get his job done and keep it work and pleasure separate. But

Vaughn turned and went down the stairs. He grabbed the surveillance laptop and did a quick inventory of the cameras they had covering the place."What's that all about?" Grant asked him.The others had dispersed and most were pulling on gear."They want to have dinner downstairs in a private room with Jamie or I acting as waiter. That last bit was a concession they made." And it didn't sit well with Vaughn."Should be okay. The private dining room has its own entrance from inside the building. It was part of the building specs.""You think it's okay to green light this?"Grant shrugged. "It's not like they're wanting to go somewhere flashy and make a big scene. We gotta pick our battles."Vaughn thumbed upstairs. "Is that your official ruling, because Melody wanted a security assessment.""Yeah. Let's not piss them off more than we have to. This isn't going to be an easy job.""Got it." Vaughn waved Jamie over and caught him up on what was going on.It sucked, but V

Sunday. Toy Town, Beirut, Lebanon.FAREZ FOCUSED ON keeping his face calm. He couldn't give anything away to these people. It was the proverbial give an inch, take a mile situation. But...How had he missed this stuff?He'd been researching and looking into the potential that oil might bring to their community, but he'd missed everything else.This report on fishing, if it was true, it would destroy his cousin's fishing business. That in turn would mean local restaurants that served sea food wouldn't have anything to cook. More businesses would close up. And then there were the reports, stories from other countries who were just as hungry for an influx of cash into their economy. People just like Farez who'd seen oil as their golden ticket, only to be skipped over.Oil was an answer, but maybe it wasn't the right one.Farez laid the tablet down and folded his hands together.This was a lot to process.How did he sell the others on Ashton's plans? How did he explain i

Sunday. Safe House, Beirut, Lebanon.CARLA SQUEEZED THE straps of her purse tight to keep them from shaking. The elevator was far too cramped with the three hulking men surrounding her.No one had spoken since they'd left the toy shop.Not a word.It was safe to assume everyone had heard her admit to having sex with Vaughn.She knew how that must look to them. Ashton's girlfriend and their team mate. It was awkward for her, but what about Vaughn? What would happen to him?The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.The big, silent scary dude stepped off first then waved her to follow him.Brenden. That was Vaughn had called him.There was something about Brenden's eyes, a darkness that sucked up all the light. He'd seen things, likely done things, that haunted him.The men escorted her down the hall and into the condo.Melody stood inside waiting for them."I need someone on surveillance." Melody's gaze landed on Carla. "We need to talk.""Not right now."

Sunday. Sodeco Auto Repair, Beirut, Lebanon.HANI SHUDDERED. HE could still feel the hooks of the stun gun in his chest and every few minutes it felt as though he were being shocked all over again, albeit with a much lower voltage."Put them in the cage." He gestured at the chain-link fence at the back of the garage. On normal days they stowed things like bikes or expensive parts there, things that could be easily stolen.Tonight it was a cell.He lowered onto a rolling stool and watched the others secure the hostages. They'd done a lot of shit in their time working for the boss. Normally smaller stuff. Guys like Hani and his friends hadn't proven themselves to be trusted with the important jobs.They were going to prove themselves now.Not only were they going to follow through for the suits and hand-deliver the Americans to them, but they were going to manage to get paid, too.Someone would pay for the first hostage, the one the suits didn't care about. All Hani had