Cobb (Lighthouse Security Investigations #9) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,95
sat, holding her tightly. She cradled her injured hand but placed her face directly in front of his and chanted, “I’m okay, I’m okay, I’m okay.” A trail of dried blood was on her arm, and as though she anticipated his imminent roar, she rushed, “That’s where I got the needle earlier. Honestly, Jorge, I’m fine.”
Cobb kept his arms around her, unsure if the shaking was from her or himself. He glanced to the side and watched as Drew pulled out a gag for Carmen.
Timothy was pale, sweating profusely. “What’s gonna happen? Christ, we’re in Mexico. We’re never going to get out. Christ, why did I come here?”
Cobb stood, his arm still around Josie. Bray moved in and bent low, checking her pupils. “You steady on your feet, Josie?”
She offered a wobbly nod, and Bray shot a look toward Cobb before looking back at her. “You did great, Tiger, but we’ll all be close as we get out of here.”
While their medic checked Josie, Cobb took the opportunity to approach Carmen, who eyed him warily. “We’re going back across the border. While I would love nothing more than to leave you to the cartel to carve up at their leisure, we’re taking you back with us.” His face held no emotion, but rage burned in his veins. “I’m telling you right now we’re getting out of here. We’ll get you turned over to the FBI. If you don’t want that? If you try to alert anyone here to our presence? I will leave your ass to the cartel to deal with.”
Tate pulled out a gag, but Timothy shook his head. “I won’t say anything. I won’t do anything. Just get me the fuck out of here, please.” Tate chuckled as he continued to gag Timothy.
Checking with LSI, they received the all-clear that the security was still disabled. Moving quickly into the hall, Drew and Tate hustled Carmen and Timothy along, finding neither giving resistance. He picked up Josie and carried her out despite her soft protests. “Babe, we can travel quicker out of here if you let me carry you. Right now, I don’t trust that you have your full abilities with the drug still running through your body.” Ready for an argument, he should have known she would offer no fuss. Acquiescing, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and they hustled out of the doorway and down the stairs.
The guard at the top of the stairs that Drew had subdued was just beginning to stir. Grinning, Drew bent, dragging Carmen along with him, and pressed against the artery just long enough to render the man unconscious again. Standing quickly, he jerked his charge along as she fought against the gag.
At the bottom of the stairs, Bray exited first, then signaled for the rest of them to follow. Slipping back through the shadows of the alley, they arrived at their truck. Cobb set Josie’s feet onto the concrete carefully, making sure she was steady. Bray stepped over, his arms reaching for her while holding Cobb’s gaze. “Go on, I’ve got her.”
Cobb hated to let her go but knew there was no other way. He watched as Bray climbed into the back, then turned and assisted as Josie scrambled up into the bed of the truck. They disappeared underneath the boxes. Drew shoved Carmen into the small space then followed her, sitting close enough to keep her under control. Tate did the same with a wide-eyed Timothy.
Back in the driver’s seat, Cobb rumbled out of the alley. Receiving a message from LSI, he answered, “Talk to me.”
“Floyd has reported that someone may have alerted the border guards that something is up. They are checking every truck,” Mace said. “Follow your backup plan.”
Turning away from the border bridge, he left Ciudad Juarez and traveled on a road toward the north. The Rio Grande was not deep at several junctions but the U.S. Border Patrol had the area under close surveillance. Receiving the notice from LSI that Floyd was waiting for them at the backup rendezvous, he turned off the headlights and moved closer to the river.
“Look for an ally,” Josh radioed. “He should be close. Someone Floyd set up.”
A man stood in the road, a rifle slung over his shoulder. Bringing the truck to a stop, Cobb kept his eye pinned on the man as he walked toward the driver’s side. He rolled down the window and peered at the man with suspicion.