Mallory Kane - Solving the Mysterious Stranger

Cole’s gaze slipped past her as he dug into his pocket. “Here it is. I took it when I took her cell phone.” He held it up between thumb and forefinger.

For a second Chien Fou hesitated and a frown creased his forehead. Then he nodded. “Good. You hold on to it. If he needs it, give him one—just one.”

“He needs it now,” Amelia insisted.

“Yes, Leader.” Cole shook a tablet into his palm and handed it to her dad, who picked up a water glass sitting on his desk and quickly downed the pill.

“Now, if there are no more illnesses to treat…” Chien Fou rubbed his hands together. “We need arrangements for the night. I’m ready to retire. Where shall we all sleep?”

“There are—” Amelia’s throat fluttered with apprehension “—seven bedrooms. My father’s suite is there.” She nodded at a door beyond his office. “My rooms are on the opposite wall, beyond the stairs. There is another master suite upstairs, plus two smaller bedrooms. And a small room with its own bath behind the kitchen.”

“Abel, you take the mayor and Mr. Hopkins to his suite. Handcuff Hopkins. Search the suite to be sure Mr. Hopkins has no more weapons. It would be regrettable if we had to use force to convince him not to play the hero.”

Amelia stiffened. “Dad, please. Just do what they say.”

“I’d be a whole lot more cooperative if I knew what’s going on here.”

“Dad—”

The guard named Abel produced a pair of handcuffs and quickly cuffed her dad, then dragged the mayor over next to him.

“Cole,” Chien Fou said, “I want you out here, keeping an eye on everything.”

“Ha,” the guard at Amelia’s side shouted. “That means I get to spend the night guarding the beautiful girl.” He touched her hair with one hand. “We will have fun, eh?”

Amelia recoiled.

Cole didn’t move, although every muscle in his body tensed in response to Habib’s implication. He had to protect Amelia.

“Leader,” Cole said, working to keep the desperation out of his voice. “I got us into the house. You know I have not asked for favors. But do I not deserve the woman? She is well-versed in her father’s business. She will be an asset to our cause. We cannot afford to have her damaged.” He shot Habib a glare. “And we all know how enthusiastic Habib is.”

Amelia turned her haunted honey-colored eyes to his. Her abject terror made his chest ache. She didn’t consider him any better than Habib, and he couldn’t blame her.

Maybe once they were alone, he could prove to her that he didn’t mean her any harm. If he could convince Chien Fou to let him guard her, and if the terrorist leader wasn’t in one of his perverse moods.

Chien Fou’s coal-black eyes studied Amelia, and a chill slithered down Cole’s spine. He’d never seen Chien Fou express any interest in a woman. It hadn’t occurred to him that the man might want Amelia for himself.

Cole shifted cautiously onto the balls of his feet. He still held his SIG. If Chien Fou allowed Habib to have her, or took her for himself, Cole would have to stop him.

There were some things he wouldn’t do—not even if it meant his three years under cover infiltrating the Global Freedom Front would be wasted.

Not even if it meant his death.

Your two worlds are about to collide and your young woman may be crushed in the collision .

The fortune-teller’s words echoed in his ears and a faint memory of spice and roses tickled his nostrils. He shook off the distracting sense that the woman was nearby.

Chien Fou met Cole’s gaze and for an instant, their wills locked in a silent battle.

Cole slipped his finger into the trigger guard on his SIG.

Then Chien Fou smiled. “Take her, Cole. You’ve earned the right.”

He had to force himself not to slump in relief. He heard a shaky sigh from Amelia and a curse from Habib.

“You sons of bitches!” Hopkins blurted, yanking away from Abel. “Keep your filthy hands off my daughter!”

Abel backhanded the older man with his fist.

He fell.

“Dad!” Amelia lunged forward. Cole had to grab her by the waist to stop her from throwing herself at Abel.

“Stop it—” he hissed, pinning her to his side with one arm. “Leader. We can’t afford to have Hopkins injured.”

“Abel. Mr. Hopkins is understandably upset,” Chien Fou said evenly. “We are guests in his home. If you do not remember how to accept hospitality, I can call another guard and send you back to the ships.”

Chien Fou’s voice was soft and amicable, his words reasonable, but Abel turned a sickly shade of green. “Yes, Leader.” He reached out to help Hopkins up. “Pardon, sir, I apologize for lifting my hand to you.”

“Now, since we all understand our roles here, please escort the mayor and Mr. Hopkins to his suite for the night.”

“I’m not budging,” Hopkins insisted, gingerly touching his jaw where the skin was turning dark red, “until you give me an explanation for this. Why have you invaded my house?”

“Mr. Hopkins, of course. Let me apologize. You don’t know who I am, do you?” Without waiting for an answer, Chien Fou went on. “I am called Chien Fou, and my organization, the Global Freedom Front, is destroying the economic stranglehold the United States has on the rest of the world.”

“You’re nothing but a filthy terrorist.” Hopkins coughed.

Chien Fou laughed. “Ah, but, sir, one country’s terrorist is another country’s liberator.”

“So what do you want with me and my family?”

“With your help, we will transform a fleet of your yachts into floating bombs.”

“Floating—” Amelia choked out.

“Floating bombs?” Hopkins repeated. “What in the devil’s name are you talking about?”

“We will blow up a fleet of oil tankers off the East Coast. In doing so we will accomplish what no one else has ever done. Using your luxury yachts as weapons, we will destroy the U.S. economy.”

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