Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(94)

“You’d be dead right now if the Warden hadn’t betrayed me and planned to get rid of me, too,” Niko said bluntly. “If she shows up, how could I signal her? No way can I risk a phone call or text.”

Boots sounded down the hallway. Ashley bent over even more, imitating some dry heaves. There had to be a way. “She taught me Morse code,” Ashley said, her voice hesitant. Then she smiled. “No. Four stars,” she said. “As in a four-star admiral. Like the address label. She’ll get that it’s from me.”

The Warden’s voice boomed down the hall. “Niko, where the hell have you been? Get her in here. She’s late.”

Niko grabbed her by the arm. “Yes, sir. She started to vomit, so we stopped for a moment.”

Ashley wrapped her arms around her waist again, feigning sickness.

“She can throw up all over the damn computer lab for all I care. Just get her in here.”

As they walked across the expanse, Ashley blanched. Mylo and Floyd stood in the black corner against the wall. Fletcher’s blood still stained the grated floor. Her stomach lurched for real. She understood the warning.

Niko shoved her into her computer chair. “One screwup, one gunshot. You’ve got two friends. Two chances. Then you go to the corner.”

“Nice performance, Niko, but a little too late for me to believe,” the Warden hissed. “I’ll deal with you later.”




Faint light rose from the horizon. Dawn was approaching.

Gabe tensed. Their positions were more vulnerable than ever. “Status?” he hissed in the mic.

“These people have a military connection or someone in the government,” Seth said, frustration piercing his voice. “Their equipment is military grade like I’ve only seen in black ops. Either black market or with major connections in D.C.”

“When do we go?” Deb asked.

“Incoming!” Seth’s voice boomed over the airwaves. “Everyone take cover. Binoculars down. Chopper coming in from the southeast, heading straight toward the helo landing pad.”

Gabe hit the dirt next to Deb and lifted his gaze. A large, luxury helicopter flew to the edge of the compound, then, rocking slightly, settled to the ground.

“That’s one damn expensive design,” Deb said.

“The moneymen.” He touched his earpiece. “Heads-up. Anyone in line of sight take a good look. See if you recognize them. Maybe we finally have proof of who’s behind this place.”

The high-pitched squeal of the rotors slowed, then stopped. “This isn’t a drop-off,” Deb muttered. “They’re staying awhile.”

“Good. That means we clean up this mess that much sooner.” Gabe crawled to a position where he could view the helicopter. Two men exited. Gabe would know one of them anywhere. “Jeff Gasmerati. We were right. That son of a bitch.” He hesitated, then, not caring who heard, added, “Watch Paretti.”

“I know you don’t want to trust me,” Steve said, his voice furious. “But that’s low, Gabe.”

“We’ll see.”

Paretti muttered a very succinct curse, then signed off.

Seth let out a low whistle. “Eight heavily armed guards showed up to escort these guys inside. At least two muscle men with Gasmerati. From the bulk, I’d say they’re packing Kevlar, and carrying a lot of weapons.”

“How do we get in?” Deb asked.

“Ask and ye shall receive,” Seth said. “Zach’s top-secret-sensors-we-should-forget-asap came through. Whitney and I just located a tunnel and a hatch. We’ll have to crawl the last forty yards, but if it’s open and we can bring down that surveillance, we may have a way in.”




Niko stared at the camera feed, searching again for the small flash of movement he’d seen on one of the dunes when the helicopter pad lit up. Had he imagined it, or had Ashley’s sister come through after all?

A quick scan of the monitors made him smile. There it was. A slight discrepancy in the light hitting the sand in some of the pictures. Very slight, but the change could only come from one source. Someone had looped the cameras. Only problem was they’d missed the Minicams on the second security line.

Niko picked up his AK-47 and touched his pocket to check on the symbols for the doors. If the Admiral had brought friends, it was time to invite them in.

He strode down the hall and met two guards. “The helo is here,” he stated firmly, as if he was following orders from the Warden. “I’m going outside for a quick perimeter check. Make sure everything is ready for our guests. Their satisfaction takes precedence over anything else.”




Deb crawled over the sand to study the imposing warehouse. Hope rose within her. The tunnel gave them an option.

Now, if only Gabe’s techy brothers, Zach and Luke, could bring down the sensors, they could storm this castle of horrors and bring Ashley home.

“Heads-up,” Jazz said through the comm device. “I’ve got movement at the main door. A blond guy attached a sign. He’s carrying an AK-47. Damn. He looked straight at us.”

“Our cover blown?” Gabe asked. “I don’t want to take him out if we don’t have to, we’re not ready.”

For several seconds only the whisper of winter wind sounded. “I don’t think so,” Jazz said finally. “After he put up the sign, he pointed to a small circle right above his head. Then he just walked back inside. No alarm, no nothing.”