Page 22 of Knox
Knox clenched his fists, frustrated.“I should’ve checked up on her again.She’s been gone for nearly two days.She’s been missing, and none of us did a damn thing!”
Holt muttered a curse behind him.“None of us knew.”
Anger coursed through Knox, red hot and searing.“I’d bet anything those were the crates we intercepted in the self-driving vehicle.It was only a few blocks from this location.That bastard took her.And he must’ve thrown her in the trunk—” He cut off, his voice hoarse.
Holt clapped him on the shoulder, giving Emily some instructions.Knox didn’t even hear it.More people came into the office, watching the footage, and he stumbled away, feeling numb.He’d felt like something was wrong and just—ignored it.Trusted that she was okay.Quinn wasn’t his, but he felt like he’d let her down anyway.They’d stopped the damn terror cell from setting off explosives, but at what cost?Quinn was missing.And Knox would never forgive himself if any harm came to her because he’d failed to protect her.
Chapter 11
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QUINN COWERED IN FRIGHTas she was forcefully taken from the vehicle and shoved into a small, ramshackle structure.After driving an hour from the airstrip, they’d arrived at a compound teeming with Afghani men.There were other small shacks and tents, vehicles, weapons, and men moving between each, busy with their tasks.The entire area looked like it had been quickly assembled and added onto as the group grew larger.
Fear churned through her.
Even if anyone knew where to look for Quinn, her kidnapper could quickly move her.This was hardly a permanent home.He could take her to a new location, remain on the run, and ensure she was never, ever found.
She sucked in a gasp of the dry, desert air.She’d barely gotten her bearings before being hustled inside.Heavy footsteps sounded behind her, and for a moment, Quinn was worried she was about to be raped.There was a small sleeping mat on the dirty ground, bags filled with supplies stacked around the perimeter, and not anything in the way of seating aside from the ground.A tarp covered an opening in the wall.It was a window of sorts that could let in light—or keep prying eyes out.
Her wrists were still tied together, her body sore and exhausted.Even if she ran and jumped through the opening, she couldn’t fight.Her head swam.She barely remembered the last time she’d had anything to eat or drink, and if her kidnapper attacked her, she feared she could never fight him off.
Quinn turned, swaying on her feet, and his disdainful gaze raked over her.
He didn’t say a word, and somehow that made her more uncomfortable.The fear of the unknown was almost worse than whatever would happen.Seconds ticked by, both a brief blip of time and an eternity.
Noises from the camp rang out around them—pots clattering, voices shouting, engines rumbling.It was dimly lit and dusty inside—as far from the cool, crisp Seattle air as one could get.Quinn could feel a headache throbbing at her temples, the pain sharp.What she wouldn’t give to be home safe in her own bed.To be at the office with Knox or her IT team, bouncing ideas off one another
Yet Quinn was here—alone in a goddamn shack with the man who’d kidnapped her off the city streets of Seattle.She blinked as she stared at him.
He moved without a word to his gear, quickly riffling through it.Quinn swallowed.He seemed to assume she wouldn’t run.He was right.
“Why did you bring me here?”she finally asked, finding her voice.It sounded hoarse.Rough.If she asked, would he give her water?Would it even be safe to drink?
His eyes hardened.“Why?You’re going to assist us.It appears that your skills will be a great asset to the cause.I took you because you were following me, but this is even better than I could have prayed to Allah for.You have useful knowledge, not to mention technical skills that will be extremely helpful in our mission.I must prove my worth, and bringing you here will help me to do so.”
“What makes you think I have any skills?”she questioned.
