Siren in the Wind Book One of the MIT Series

Chapter Forty Two

The landing was rough. Fourteen miles per hour winds rocked the aircraft. A Cape windstorm descended on the city, and fifty mph gusts were predicted within the hour. Thanks to Mandla's contacts, they'd secured a private landing strip on a wine farm near Sir Lowry's Pass—thirteen clicks out. With lights and speed on their side, they were looking at a nine-minute drive. Khalid's jet had landed at Stellenbosch Airfield twenty-eight minutes before them but had a longer commute of twenty-one kilometers.

Praying that Khalid hit traffic, Max's team raced for Somerset West.

Mandla gave Max the stink eye. "Never mind a windstorm, we'll be driving into a political shit-storm if you get exposed. There'll be more than just my reputation on the line if you go berserk."

"We look like berserkers?" Slater smirked.

"Not so much you, but the look in his eyes tells me otherwise."

Max didn't like the jab and told him so. "This is my operation, my men, and Khalid is my responsibility. If you get in my way, a political shit-storm will be the last thing you'll worry about."

"Easy, sir. We're on the same side, but my men's safety is my first priority, and you've had a taxing twenty-four-hours."

"I'm just peachy." Max gave him a feral grin.

Five minutes out and they received the news that Khalid had arrived ahead of them. Frustration at the setback had the men on edge as Mandla called his team.

***

Salty winds whipped Abby's face as Roman shoved her through the front door. The sparsely furnished safe house still spoke of home comforts. Two sofas stood in the right corner with a brightly covered handwoven throw draped over the side. An old wooden wall unit held a small television and a couple of knickknacks. Drawn curtains added to the ominous tension. A humble dining table sat on the left side of the open-plan living area, where Noleen sat with Gabe in her lap. Two burly men stood guard on either side. Two more men were watching soccer on the telly in the dim living room.

Ignoring the guns pointed her way, Abby rushed to her confused son's side. Gabe stared up with wide eyes. She'd sworn she'd kill Khalid before he touched her son and she'd failed. He buried his head in Noleen's shoulder, clinging like a crab. It was a natural reaction. Noleen had been his entire world for the last six months. Still, Abby felt the pain of rejection.

Khalid knelt in front of the pair, reaching out to his son and stroking Gabe's face. He spoke softly to the terrified kid, who hid his face in her friend's shirt. Eventually Khalid gave up, joining the squad of terrorists and issuing commands in Arabic.

Abby ignored them. "Have they harmed him? What about you?"

Noleen shook her head. "We're fine, but sweetie, look at your face..." She reached out to touch Abby's torn-up cheek.

"My ribs are even worse, but I have a lot of fight left in me. Khalid won't take him away."

"No, Khalid won't."

Their exchanged look indicated that the emergency plan was now in effect. Khalid assumed that Noleen was just a nanny, an intentional mislead on Abby's part. Noleen was a highly trained bodyguard, an expert in hand-to-hand combat and a kung fu master. One level away from the title of sifu.

With a snuffle, Gabe finally reached out to his mommy and Abby pulled him in. He'd grown so much in the past months, no longer a baby but now a little boy. Rocking her son and kissing his neck, Abby knew she'd die rather than hand him over. When the time came, she wouldn't have a choice. Having faith in Noleen's plan was one of the toughest choices she'd ever made. Her life for Gabe's.