Uncaged Love, page 13
Melina continued, “I am to contact Mr. Gillpatrick directly if I see you. Any message for him?”
Rafe looked at each woman then said, “If it goes bad tonight, Harper and I will try to escape from here. Otherwise, we’ll head back to the Narváez compound tomorrow morning.”
Melina nodded as if another message had been sent and received. “I understand.”
Harper smiled. “Let us know if you see your inside man. In the meantime, what do you know about Solis and tonight’s party?”
Melina looked Harper up and down. “He likes beautiful women who call him by his American name, Justin.”
Harper wasn’t sure if she needed that information. She had no intention of meeting the man. “I’ll keep that in mind. What else?”
“He’ll switch to bourbon just before he gives his birthday speech, which should happen around midnight. Until then, he’ll drink vodka and tonic, heavy on the tonic. He likes to keep his senses with this many people around.”
“Thank you, Melina. You’ve been a great help.” Harper looked to Rafe. “We need to find Narváez and tell him to slow down. We’ll be partying all hours, and we can’t afford for Carlos to even hint about our plans or, worse yet, brag. He needs to stay sober.”
As the three emerged from the darkness of the gardens, they scanned the party for Solis, Narváez, and Melina’s inside man. The first two were easy; they were talking ten feet from the bar.
Harper pasted on her best party smile as Rafe guided her through the crowd that had left the house to enjoy the warm evening air.
Narváez gestured to them when they were several feet away, and in a loud voice announced, “Turi, my old friend, I’d like you to meet Ms. Tambini.” He gave Harper a smug smile. “She’s staying with me for a while.”
Mentally Harper rolled her eyes, but they remained fixed on Narváez, narrowing ever so slightly.
He noticed.
Turi Solis raked cold, dark eyes the length of her body with overt male appreciation. She couldn’t help herself; she feared and hated this man instantly for his arrogance and the brutal heart she knew hid beneath his expensive tuxedo.
“Is she my birthday present? Or perhaps you might lend her to me for a few days, on a trial basis, before we negotiate a price.” His eyes lingered on the cleavage exposed by the deep V of her emerald dress. He grabbed her chin and moved her face to examine each side.
Rafe stepped toward Solis and was immediately grabbed by two of Solis’ bodyguards, who promptly restrained his hands behind his back.
“Your Segundo doesn’t like me touching her.” Even the man’s voice was slimy.
Narváez laughed heartily, although a bit nervously. “You misunderstand. Miss Tambini is visiting me from the United States.”
Solis’s gaze held a lusty gleam as he met her eyes.
Harper grabbed his thumb and bent it back to nearly breaking. His smile strained visibly as she looked into his dead eyes. She spoke very quietly in English, “If you ever touch me again, I’ll kill you.”
Narváez nearly choked.
In English, Solis began, “Please, Miss Tambini, accept my sincere apology for assuming that you were…available. Many of the women here tonight are professional escorts and thus paid for their services. As a single man, I am open to paying for the right attributes.”
She released his thumb, but not his eyes.
He continued, “Please, call me Justin, all my American friends do. Although I know American women have a sharp tongue they rarely withhold, a word of advice: it’s not wise to threaten a man, especially me.”
The corners of her mouth turned into a genuine smile. “Mister Solis,” she emphasized his formal name, purposefully defying his request. “Underestimating a woman could be the death of you.”
Narváez coughed repeatedly.
Solis winced as he rolled his thumb in a circle. “What brings you to Cali, Miss Tambini. I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your first name.”
“Mr. Narváez brought me here, and I prefer you call me Miss Tambini.” It was true, Narváez was responsible for her being in this garden.
Solis was an idiot. She couldn’t wait to see amber liquid in his glass.
She breathed a sigh when a portly man with a voluptuous bleach blonde on each arm approached their small group. He gave Narváez a wicked scowl before he flashed a used-car-salesman smile at Solis.
“My friend Turi, knowing your taste I have selected these two for you.” The women left the man who was as tall as he was wide and went directly to Solis, distracting him with groping hands.
Harper took this as her cue to leave. “Mr. Solis, I’m sure we’ll see you later this evening.” She turned her back and headed to the bar.
Rafe shook off the hulking bodyguards. He signaled to Narváez with only a tilt of his head to join them.
They found a standing table and gathered around it, fresh drinks in hand.
At an unseen signal between the two men, Narváez suggested, “Bunny, my sweetheart, why don’t you go freshen up.”
Instantly, the woman dug out a mirror from her purse and began examining her face.
He took pity on her and added, “Give us a few minutes.”
Grudgingly, she gazed across the table at Harper.
Rafe slid his arm around her and said, “We need to talk to Harper. It’s business.”
At that, she turned and started to march away, dejected until Carlos smacked her playfully on her abundant ass. She spun around and blew him a kiss, then added an extra swing to her step as she disappeared into the crowd.
“Harper, my apologies for Turi’s misconception.” Narváez said in an attempt to be a gentleman.
It didn’t work. Turi Solis was a pig and no one could apologize for his actions.
Narváez tried to explain, “Colombia is a very different culture from the United States.”
“I understand its differences, but that doesn’t mean I approve of the sale of women for sex.” She wished she could wash off the feeling of Solis’ hands on her face.
Narváez glanced around and quietly asked, “So, now that you’ve seen the place, how will you do it?” He had a conspiratorial edge in his voice.
Harper wasn’t sure she should trust him with the details, but needed them all to cover her.
“We need to wait until he switches his drink to bourbon,” she explained and rolled the stem of her wine glass between her fingers. “I’ll rig the microphone to explode when he turns it on. He’ll be standing alone, and away from others at that point, so it will reduce collateral damage. I need all of you to be scattered around and mention that it must be a rival cartel.”
Harper took a deep breath. “It’ll be ugly. Gross. Just be prepared to run out the door with the other guests.” She slid the wine away, her stomach churning, again.
“Change to soda,” Rafe suggested to Narváez. “We need to keep aware of Solis’s men. We can’t afford for anyone to suspect you.”
As though Narváez suddenly realized this could lead back to him and the repercussions would be deadly, he turned serious. “We need to be out of here as quickly as possible.”
“Agreed,” Harper said.
Walking companionably in silence, Harper regained control of her emotions and focused on the mission. They had a lot of time to kill. What an appropriate phrase, she decided.
Time passed slowly, but the crowd never thinned as the hours drew on. In fact, Harper believed more people arrived the closer it got to midnight. She watched as Bunny became a needy drunk hanging all over Narváez, who grew increasingly irritable.
Harper kept a shrewd eye on Solis, waiting for the short bourbon glass to replace his tall ice-filled vodka and tonic. For a while, he’d disappeared with both blondes then reappeared alone nearly an hour later with damp hair and a crisp white shirt under his tailored tuxedo. He brought a glass of amber liquid with him.
“It’s time.” Harper and Rafe casually walked toward the band. On a small side table lay a black microphone atop a white cloth next to a black notebook with songs the band knew how to play.
Rafe opened the book in front of them both as Harper slipped the microphone into her purse.
“Darling, I’m going to visit the little ladies’ room while you decide on a song,” she called as she stepped away from Rafe.
He nodded then motioned the bandleader over to the edge of the stage and began a lengthy discussion about songs they could play.
Inside the house, she saw the usual line to use the closest restroom so she turned down a hallway. She was immediately met by a lanky man in uniform carrying an automatic rifle.
“Where are you going?” he demanded in Spanish.
Chapter 15
Thinking quickly, Harper answered in his language, “I really need to use the ladies room and there’s such a long line to the one in the hall. Can you please show me to another?” She placed her hand on her stomach and faked gagging.
The man blanched and all but shoved her down the hall and into a bedroom. For effect, she slapped a hand over her mouth and made retching noises.
He pointed to the attached bathroom. “In there.”
She chanced a glance back at the guard as she closed the bathroom door. He’d returned to his post in the hall.
After locking the door, she quickly disassembled the microphone and withdrew its contents. With shaking hands, she twisted the lipstick from the tube.
Get a grip, Harper. You can do this. Deep cleansing breath, exhale slowly and focus.
She followed her own advice. Instantly, she felt better. She could do this. She’d rigged hundreds of bombs, even with the sensitive CL-20. Chaz was much more stable, especially polymerized. She rolled it into a ball and hooked up the detonation cap. Ever so carefully, she put the microphone back together after making sure it was in the off position.
When Harper sighed in relief, her bladder screamed at her. Well, she was in the bathroom so she took advantage. While turning on the water to wash her hands—she had to scrub them well to be sure no traces of the Chaz remained—there was a knock at the door.
She jumped. Who the hell would that be?
“Harper, is everything all right?” Melina’s voice sounded hurried.
“Yes. I’m fine.” Harper cracked the door open and whispered, “It’s finished. I’m just cleaning up.”
Melina glanced at the microphone lying next to the sink the over her shoulder at the empty doorway. “I’m going to assist Rafe. Make it quick. Solis was working his way toward the band.”
“Let me wipe the place down real fast.” A few seconds later, Harper heard heels clicking in the hall then Melina telling the guard her friend was feeling better and would be out shortly.
Harper looked at herself in the mirror. This is it. I’m really going to kill a man.
She’d killed before, but that was with an M4 rifle and the bad guys were shooting at her and her team. Yes, Lei Lu had shot their boss seconds before and they were running like hell to reach the extraction point, but that was a different situation completely. She was part of a team who had her back.
This really wasn’t that different. Her team was no longer all female. She had Rafe and Melina on her side. They’d have her back. She hoped. But Narváez had her ATF teammate.
Time to go do this. She just hoped it wasn’t too late for Hernandez.
With only a nod for the guard, she quickly moved outside.
Near the end of the path, yet still hidden within the garden, Narváez shifted from one foot to the other. “What the fuck took you so long?”
Harper looked at him. In the dark shadows, his pupils were pinpoints. The bastard was high. She held up the microphone and covered the on switch with her thumb.
“Release Hernandez, now, or I’ll show you the way to hell.” Harper’s voice came out stronger than she expected. Thank God. She could show no weakness to Narváez. He had to believe she’d do it.
He stared at her thumb. One breath, then two. His eyes finally met hers. Yes, she’d do it too. She’d sworn to kill him and was willing to become a suicide bomber if he refused.
Sweat beaded over his top lip, and droplets formed at his hairline. Narváez must have seen her conviction because he reached for his cell phone.
“Proof of life first,” she demanded.
With swipes of his fat fingers, he managed to connect to the live feed. He spoke quietly into the phone then extended his arm so she could see her teammate.
“No, Harper. No.” Hernandez’s voice was raspy and slight, but she understood him.
She knew what she had to do. “Release him. Now.” Harper held up the microphone so he could see. “As soon as he’s released, this goes to Solis.”
Narváez nodded and gave the order. She watched as Hernandez struggled to stand and staggered to the door.
With every ounce of determination she could muster, she glared at Narváez. “If they go after him, or any other members of my team, I’ll hunt them down and kill them. I want you to video this tonight and send them a copy. Let them know I’ll find them, and when they least expect it…kaboom.” She dragged out the last word.
He quickly spoke her warning into the phone. There was a glint of disbelief in his eyes, but all it took was one look at her for confirmation.
“Give me your phone,” Harper demanded. She dialed Estes’s number. Before he could say anything more than hello, she blurted, “I’m alive. You’ll find Hernandez at…” She held the phone toward Narváez, who gave him an address in Virginia. “We’re in Cali, and I’m about to leave Turi Solis’s party with a bang.”
Quicker than Harper thought possible, Narváez grabbed the phone from her. “She’s mine now and works for me. My lugartenientes are expecting your SEALs so don’t bother sending them to my western compound, ever.” Narváez disconnected the call. “I did as you asked. Now give me the microphone.” His sneer probably worked on others, but she was running on full adrenaline, and it made her bold.
“No. Go get into place in the crowd. We need to blame a rival cartel. Hurry. I’ll put this back.”
After a long minute, he seemed to agree with those instructions and left.
She counted to ten then nonchalantly walked to the table where Rafe joined her with the book.
“Good job,” Rafe said as he pointed to nothing in particular in the book.
Hiding her actions with what looked like a musical discussion, she replaced the microphone on the tabletop.
Harper glanced to where Melina had the bandleader deeply enthralled in a conversation, or, more aptly, he was enticed by her cleavage that was amply on display from his perch on the raised platform.
“Let’s get the hell as far from here as we can,” Rafe suggested and cocked his head toward Solis.
The man of the hour looked pleased as he headed toward the band, his steps filled with purpose.
“What took so long?” Rafe’s tone was chastising as he placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her through the crowd. “I had to send Carlos up to the band to make a request.”
“I was nervous and shaking,” Harper admitted.
His eyes softened, and he put his arm around her. It felt so good there. He kissed her temple.
“It’s ready to go, though, right?” He whispered in her ear then kissed the sensitive spot just below.
She nodded, but doubts filled her. What if she’d done something wrong? What if it didn’t go off? What if it wasn’t enough to blow Solis all the way to hell? They’d tested it in the blast chamber in the lab. The teaspoon-size of Chaz had impressed Rafe, and her calculations worked out every time she ran them.
This would work. It had to.
Solis approached the bandleader at the end of the song, who pointed toward the microphone.
He crossed and picked it up.
Harper held her breath.
She looked at the gathering crowd who had moved off the dance floor. A low murmur of groans filled the air. Guess they all knew what was next. Several hit the bar for fresh drinks.
Harper and Rafe moved farther back into the crowd toward the house and the exit.
The bandleader walked over to Solis and began talking. Shit, that wasn’t supposed to happen.
Go away, she mentally yelled at the band member. Go far away.
Both men looked at the band, and then Solis smiled. He spoke a few unheard words. The other man nodded, and Solis moved to the middle of the dance floor.
He began to speak into the mic. “Thank you for joining…” He looked down at the microphone in his hand, directly at the button. With an almost sheepish grin, Solis looked back at his audience.
He moved his thumb.
The noise was so much louder than Harper expected even though she’d covered her ears with her palms. Inside the explosives chamber, it had been significantly muffled.
The instant force pounded her and threw debris at lightning speed into the crowd. At the last nanosecond, she remembered to duck her head and close her eyes.
As Harper became aware of her surroundings, she saw more than heard people screaming.
Even though his lips were next to her ear, Rafe sounded distant. “Let’s go.” His arm still around her, he guided her through the house. On the way out the door, they met Melina. She put her arm around Harper like a good friend, and the three speed-walked to the limo.
“Are you all right?” Melina asked loudly enough for her to hear.
Cold as steel, Harper glanced at her. “I’m fine. He was a son of a bitch. How about you?”
At the door to the limousine, Harper hugged Melina briefly. “Thank you so much. You were a big help. I hope you find your inside man. You may want to search for him now during the confusion.”
Harper turned to Rafe, who just stared at Melina. Emotions ran over his face too rapidly for her to read, but she caught regret.
“I’ll be in the car. You might want to say your goodbyes quickly.” She ducked into the back seat. From her window, she watched Rafe take Melina into his arms and kiss her gently, sweetly. When they parted, she saw tears streak down Melina’s perfect face.
Harper thought about the way Rafe held the other woman and remembered their heated pre-party kiss in the suite. She felt a twinge of jealousy but knew Rafe was leaving Melina tonight and heading to the U.S.A. He was leaving her with tears in her eyes.
