Steel Vengeance (Blackthorn Security #6)

Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

“ T he Arabian Princess leaves Karachi tomorrow,” Stitch said as they walked to the restaurant. Blade was beside him, while Sloane, dressed in a flowing gold tunic and a scarf that covered her rich, chocolate hair, walked a pace or two behind.

“How do you want to handle it?” Blade asked.

“I’m guessing Omari will be there in person. He’ll want to make sure the shipment goes off without a hitch. This means a lot to him.”

“Agreed,” said Blade, shooting him a knowing look. This was it. Once that shipment left the port, there was no reason for Omari to keep breathing. Finally, Stitch would have his revenge.

“What about Jeremy?” Sloane asked, as they reached the restaurant. “Do you think he’ll show up?”

“I doubt it,” Stitch replied, holding the door for her. “Jeremy’s the muscle. He’s here to keep you in check and make sure Omari holds up his end of the deal. With the shipment taken care of, Jeremy’s job is done. The next one won’t be for months.”

“You’re the only loose end,” Blade said somberly, once they’d sat down at a table. “You’re the reason Jeremy’s still hanging around.”

Sloane didn’t reply, but Stitch saw the flash of fear in her eyes.

“It’s a long drive to Karachi,” Blade said. “We should leave tonight.”

“What about me?” Sloane asked. “Am I coming with you?”

“No,” Stitch said. He couldn’t have her there, not when he was going to take out Omari.

“Why not?”

“It’s too dangerous,” he explained. “It’s safer for you to stay at the hotel.”

“You can’t just leave me here,” she protested. “Jeremy knows I’m in Islamabad. He’s probably looking for me right now. How long until he starts checking all the hotels?”

“We paid cash. No names. He won’t find you.”

“But you don’t know for sure.”

Stitch felt torn. He wanted to keep her close, to protect her, but he couldn’t risk having her interfere again. Whenever she was around, something always stopped him from finishing the job with Omari. This time, there couldn’t be any distractions.

“Karachi’s over a day away. What am I supposed to do if something happens, and I can’t reach you?” Damnit to hell. He hated seeing her like this. Scared. Vulnerable.

Blade glanced at Stitch. “There’s a way we can neutralize the threat.”

Stitch didn’t reply.

“You can’t kill him,” Sloane gasped, reading between the lines.

Blade shrugged. “You’d be safe. He’s a bad guy, Sloane. He’s working with the enemy.”

She shook her head. “I couldn’t live with myself.”

And that was why she couldn’t come to Karachi.

“Okay then, what if we get him arrested? That would take him out of the picture, at least for a while.”

Stitch smirked. “It’s not easy for a foreigner in a Pakistani jail.”

“Exactly.”

Sloane hesitated. “How are you going to do that? Give the police his cell phone data?”

Stitch had a feeling he knew where Blade was going with this.

“By now, Jeremy’s probably told Matthew you came to see him,” Blade explained.

Sloane watched him warily. “Yeah, but he already wants me dead, so what?”

“Exactly, he’s going to be desperate to shut you up.”

She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

“In fact, I’ll bet Matthew’s already tried to reach you,” Blade continued.

“He can’t. I destroyed my sim card and left my phone in Peshawar.”

“Yeah, but you know his number,” Stitch said. By heart.

She paled. “You want me to call Matthew?”

Both men nodded.

“But why?” Her eyes were wide with trepidation. Stitch couldn’t blame her for being scared. Matthew had betrayed her. He’d seduced her, recruited her, and then sent her out here to die.

“Because if you don’t, it’ll look suspicious,” Stitch replied.

“But he tried to kill me?”

“Someone tried to kill you, yeah. You don’t know it’s him. You trust him, remember?”

“I think I’m going to throw up.”

“It’s a good plan,” Blade said. “Tell him you lost your phone. Beg him to fly you home as soon as possible.”

“Do you think he’ll believe me?”

“Why wouldn’t he? Under the circumstances, it would be odd if you didn’t try to contact him.”

“Then what? As soon as I get to the airport, he’ll try to have me killed again. He’ll probably have Jeremy waiting for me there.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Stitch said quickly. “Jeremy won’t get anywhere near the airport.”

“He won’t?”

Blade grinned. “No, we’ll make sure of that. All you need to do is make the call.”