have a team nearby, but it’ll take time for them to find an exact location.”
“Okay. I’ll stall them. Whoever this is.”
“We suspected your father but I’m leaning more toward Mandrake at this point. Did your father have access to RPGs or choppers mounted with weaponry?”
“RPGs, yes. I’ve never seen military choppers, but he has extensive connections who do. Former military personnel.” Kristof forced a deep breath as pain ran along his shoulder. “Why isn’t she waking?”
“She will soon enough. If there’s any chance for you two to escape, take it. Do not wait for us. We will find you.”
Escape. Okay. He’d figure out a way. “Metal restraints on our ankles and wrists. Locked together and on a stone wall. Underground. Mildew. Near a water source. It’s running down the wall to my right.”
“Okay, that helps. You have two choices for that ear com you’re wearing. You can’t let them find it. You either swallow it now or give it to Fatima to hide. She’s either not a party to this or already knows it exists because you told her.”
Kristof noted the woman’s censure for his actions but remained silent. Fatima was a lot of things, but she was not a betrayer. “Fatima, come. Take this and hide it. Do not let them see it when they come. If you fear they will, swallow it. Okay?”
The woman nodded.
“I’ll keep Addy safe,” he promised Edge.
“Keep yourself safe. She can handle herself once she’s awake. We’ll be listening as long as that com is active, so the more information you get, the better it’ll be.”
“Okay.” Kristof pulled the com out and tossed it to Fatima, who tucked it into a pocket within the underside of her bra.
God help whoever underestimated the women trapped with Kristof. He chuckled and leaned his head against the wall behind him and shifted his gaze to Addy.
“If someone enters pretend to still be out,” he said. Fatima’s eyes widened but she nodded. “Someone will come and rescue us. We just have to hold on until then.”
“Maybe they’ll let us pay a ransom.”
That was doubtful. Kristof tightened when he heard footsteps nearby. The door squeaked open. Three men clad in black outfits entered. One pocketed a set of keys. The more information he got about who had taken them, the better. The Arsenal was still listening on the ear com Fatima had hidden.
“Where are we? Who are you?” Kristof asked.
Pain exploded along his cheek as the first man punched him. “We ask the questions. You’ll answer if you want to live.”
The fake Russian accent jarred Kristof, but he made no comment as he tugged on the chains locking him into place. The second and third guards unlatched him from the wall and hauled him to his feet. Breath escaped his lungs when they each slammed fists into his stomach before slamming him against the wall.
The chains rattled as he kicked out and tried to free himself from the three men. Legs shackled together and arms outstretched over his head, Kristof realized escape right now wasn’t going to happen. He’d either need help or patience. They’d relax their guard soon enough.
Or so he hoped.
“Who did you buy the missiles for?”
“A client. An anonymous one.”
The first man gripped Kristof’s throat and squeezed. “Give me a name.”
“I don’t have one,” Kristof wheezed. The grip loosened. “Most of my business is conducted on the Dark Web. Names aren’t necessary.”
“Bullshit,” the man growled, his Russian as bad as before. “There’d be a money trail. Give us that info.”
“Nothing I conduct on the Dark Web is traceable. That’s why it exists.” Zoey had traced the Dark Web. The Arsenal could chase any transaction they wanted, but he didn’t know of anyone else who’d succeeded. It was one of the reasons he’d secretly relied so heavily on them the past few months.
“Where are the missiles? Who helped you secure them tonight? Those weren’t your men.”
“I didn’t hire them. The buyer informed me he’d have an armed escort there. I know nothing else,” Kristof lied.
“I was hoping you’d be stubborn,” the man said as he stepped away and walked into the corner of the room.
Kristof’s pulse quickened when he spotted the metal cart the man wheeled closer. It’d been years since he’d endured physical torture, but he recognized the instruments set out easily enough. Tension filled his body as the man returned with a knife.
“The human body can endure more pain than the mind,” the man said.
Kristof fought the amusement rising in him. Either the bastard hadn’t