LITMIR.BIZ

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as possible. Except it didn’t take a mathematician to work out the value of a child with direct connections to the Martinez dynasty. Factor in Ramon’s recent demise, and the value accelerated a thousandfold.

      The abductors had to be professionals. Carlo was the best, and if they’d slipped beneath his alert surveillance it had to be a highly planned operation.

      Shannay saw Marcello the instant he came into view, and she looked at him in silent desperation as he joined her.

      There was little evident in his expression as he gathered her close, and one glance at her pale features was sufficient for him to reassure,

      ‘Don’t blame yourself.’

      Then he began firing questions over the top of her head.

      His presence did little to ease the panic pumping through her body. She was too stunned to cry, too inwardly frozen to do more than operate on some form of automatic pilot as police joined the parque’s security personnel.

      The majority of their rapid Spanish went beyond her comprehension, and she stood at Marcello’s side, endeavouring to dismiss numerous images too horrifying to contemplate.

      How could Marcello deal with the situation with such apparent calm?

      Shannay searched his features, caught the clenched muscle at the edge of his jaw, heard the tightness in his voice … and exchanged calm for control.

      There would be a phone call.

      Wasn’t that how a kidnapping unfolded?

      She was a total mess, mentally and emotionally, desperately wanting to rewind the clock, wishing she hadn’t taken her eye off Nicki for a second.

      For that was all it had taken.

      ‘Carlo? Who are these men?’ Nicki’s small hand tightened within his own. ‘Where are they taking us?’

      Carlo was wired, he’d already activated the panic button, but any minute soon they’d pat him down … and any existing contact would be lost.

      The important thing was to protect his charge. To minimise the impact of the kidnapping and to remain alert for any eventuality.

      ‘Just a little ride, pequena,’ he assured gently. ‘It’s OK.’

      His training served him well, and no one, especially the child whose trust in him at this moment was unconditional, guessed beneath his calm persona there was a concealed Glock aimed right at his kidney.

      They reached a nondescript dark-coloured van, the rear doors opened and Carlo lifted Nicki and deposited her on the metal floor.

      ‘There aren’t any seats to sit on,’ Nicki whispered as he leaned in close.

      He watched her eyes widen as he spread his arms and legs wide … hiding, he hoped, the fact he was being competently searched, his sports watch taken in case it contained an alert device.

      A guttural oath sounded from behind as the taped wire was discovered, and he clenched his teeth as it was wrenched free. Then a hard metal object slammed into his kidneys, his hands were cuffed and he was pushed into the van, managing by reflex action to roll into an upright position without making a sound. Difficult when suffering excruciating pain.

      ‘I don’t like those men.’

      Neither did he.

      The doors slammed shut, he heard the lock catch, followed seconds later by the faint throb of the engine.

      ‘We’re going on an adventure,’ Carlo offered gently. ‘Shall I tell you a story?’

      There was a tiny electronic device in his shoe. Virtually a panic button, which when activated provided a direct link to the police. As long as the device remained undetected, it would allow the police to track their whereabouts.

      It wouldn’t be too difficult to extract, but he couldn’t risk Nicki asking what he was doing.

      On the off-chance a listening device was planted inside the van, he lifted his cuffed hands to his face and pressed a finger to his lips.

      Nicki copied his action and nodded.

      Good. She’d remembered the few basic alerts he’d offered in explanation of why he always accompanied members of her family, instilling gently he would always win and she should never be frightened.

      He began to intone a nursery rhyme as he quietly worked, controlling the slow slide as the van took a corner, the pause as it halted at a traffic intersection.

      Their abductors were taking no chances, he perceived, for their speed was regulated, normal, and they were heading in a northerly direction.

      There was a sense of satisfaction when he freed the electronic device, then once it was activated he replaced it carefully out of sight.

      By now, Shannay would have alerted Marcello, notified the police … and it was only a matter of time.

      He gave Nicki an indicative victory sign, and moved from one story to another. Heaven help him, he even sang a few songs, silently encouraging Nicki to join in … which, bless her brave little heart, she did.

      It would take time to set up a roadblock, and his main objective was providing sufficient distraction to prevent Nicki from becoming too frightened.

      Together they discussed her favourite stories, and Shrek the movie, Fiona, Puss in Boots and Donkey.

      Once, she lifted hands and wiped tears from her cheek. ‘When will I see my mummy?’

      ‘Soon, pequena. Soon,’ he promised, and prayed he was right. ‘Your daddy will make sure of it.’

      Every minute seemed like an hour, each one the worst and the longest in Shannay’s life.

      Nothing else came close.

      Then two things happened almost simultaneously.

      Marcello’s cellphone rang … and seconds later he smiled.

      Hope soared as she waited anxiously for him to relay news, and when he did it was all she could do not to subside in a heap.

      Nicki was safe.

      Carlo had her.

      Their abductors had been forced to a halt at a police roadblock on the northern outskirts.

      Nicki was in Carlo’s care, and their abductors were under arrest.

      Reaction, immense relief … the emotional fall-out from a living nightmare began to have an effect, and tears welled up and spilled to run silently down each cheek.

      Marcello took one look and cradled her face between his hands, easing the warm moisture with each thumb.

      ‘Nicki is fine. They’re on their way home in a police car. We’ll meet them there.’

      She wasn’t capable of uttering so much as a word, and he lowered his head to hers and pressed his lips to each eyelid in turn.

      A gesture which only increased the flow of tears, and his mouth closed over her own in a brief, evocative kiss before he lifted his head.

      ‘Let’s go home, hmm?’

      Shannay was grateful for the arm he curved across the back of her waist as he led her to his car. Seated, he spared her a brief glance, glimpsed her still pale features and dark eyes fixed unseeing beyond the windscreen and he swore softly beneath his breath.

      ‘Let it go, querida,’ he advised gently, and she turned towards him with tear-drenched eyes.

      ‘How can I?’ Her mouth quivered with emotion. ‘What if Carlo—?’ She couldn’t say the words. Didn’t want to voice them.

      ‘From tomorrow, Carlo will have a partner, and they’ll both shadow your every move.’

      If he meant to reassure, he failed miserably.

      Two

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