Bad Men - Piper Stone Page 0,53

manner. There are ways to tell if it’s been synced.”

“Are you certain you can render the damn thing untraceable?” he asked.

“Can you find us a place to stay?” I countered. “I assure you I’ll know if we have a bug. What I won’t know for certain is whether it can be deactivated completely.”

He snorted, darting another look in my direction. “Fuck. This shit is getting deeper; however, I already have a place in mind we can hole up. You take care of your end and I’ll get us there safely. Might cost us some bucks, but I think we’ll have a place to stay at least for a few days.”

“Where the fuck are you talking about?” We had limited cash to begin with, another issue on this godforsaken adventure.

A grin crossed his face. “Trust me, Jack. I have a few tricks up my sleeve and people I can count on. Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”

There was no other choice. For a while, we were going to be on our own. “You fuck this up, I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”

“I assure you, the feeling is mutual,” Diego said, laughing. “And I always keep my promises, Jack.”

I could hear Lindsey’s disgusted sighs from the back. I was itching to learn more about the boyfriend, but she was far too exasperated to question now. I rubbed my fingers across my lips, trying to forget the damn kiss. This whole damn thing was muddled as shit. I felt more and more like we were being played because of who we were.

I slammed the door after getting back inside, loathing the fact we had no idea what we were facing or why. I had no doubt the Serpent would try to get Lindsey back, but the explosion was off his usual methodology. But if he was being well paid for his abduction of her, then he would stop at nothing.

With no time to waste, I pulled out my knife, praying to God I remembered what the hell I was doing. While we had passports and would eventually find a way out of the country, that would take additional time, the danger level much higher. Diego was correct in that all the main roads and airports, even bus stations would be watched, more so when they figured out that we weren’t dead. Something just didn’t feel right. Given what we’d just been through, I had to venture a guess that our chances of success were minimal.

If not zero.

“We’re staying off the main road. The roads are crap. It’s gonna be an adventure,” Diego said, trying to keep his tone light.

And he wasn’t wrong.

The terrain was bumpy as hell and as the morning turned into one scorcher of an afternoon, we were forced to make a stop for food and water. What I noticed immediately was that all eyes were on Lindsey. Her blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair complexion were completely foreign, at least in this location. Attention we didn’t need. The Serpent would certainly use eyes in the field to try to find her. I had to imagine what the reward would be.

What I enjoyed about some small towns in other countries was the vendors selling on the streets. The collage of colorful tents and huts was inviting. I almost immediately found what I was looking for. The scarf and glasses just might keep attention away until we were safe.

If that was even possible.

“Here,” I said as I walked toward her as she stood next to the Jeep, a bottle of Orange Crush in her hand.

For a few seconds her eyes lit up, as if I’d bought her a present.

Sighing, I looked away, slapping on the sunglasses I’d also purchased for myself. “When we get closer, you’re going to need to wear both. Okay?”

She opened the small bag, pulling out the items. “A disguise. Great.”

“Until we can make one that’s more permanent.” I started to walk away when she grabbed my arm.

“The least you could do is tell Diego thank you for saving our lives.”

I turned to stare at her, uncertain of what to say. “We’re trained professionals, Lindsey. That’s what we do.” As I walked away, I once again heard the same words she’d said more than once.

“I hate you.”

They were words I knew far too well, the same ones that had been said on one sizzling afternoon years ago.

The very ones that had broken my heart.

Chapter 10

Jack

“I hate you.”

The words remained filtering into my mind, slicing open the old