Carlos Menendez shouted again, his voice raspy and loud, roaring at the top of his lungs. His throat burned and a fine spray of blood burst from his mouth. He was bound and naked, cold and wet in a cave somewhere in the mountains. His guess was somewhere near Landarbaso, but he was so confused that for all he knew, he could be being held captive somewhere in France. This could not be! This was never meant to be!

Carlos was a pampered young man. All he was meant to do was smile a handsome smile and strum his guitar. He was very good at it, but if not for his sister’s amazing talent with the flamenco, he would have been nothing. Nothing but a wealthy, unknowing young man destined to be a wealthy, unknowing old man some day. But as things looked, perhaps that would not be either. How could this have happened?

He cried out again and dropped his chin to chest with a sob. His wrists were tightly manacled with steel and chains and high above his head. He straightened and leaned back against the repulsively damp, rough stone wall. The mere touch of it repelled him. Bile climbed up his throat but all he wanted at that moment was to relieve the misery in his lower back. Soon enough he would be forced to cope with the agony rippling along his arms. It would be hours before he was fed again, inedible food served on filthy paper plates and even at that, not enough to help him keep his strength. Several times he had passed out only to wake in terror and still chained.

Did they plan to kill him? And … how could this have happened?

Luc Ramirez was his friend since boyhood. His playmate in youth and secret lover as curious adolescence came. Maturity and position kept their relationship thin and secret. Carlos loved women too, in fact, loved to have women in his big, silk covered bed along with Luc. Nothing had satisfied more, unless it could have all that and several lines of cocaine. In fact, it was where he was before the nightmare began; stoned and in the grip of intense passion when the men broke into his house in San Sebastian and brought him into hell. Among them was Luc. His friend. His lover turned traitor. How could this have happened?

Carlos cried out again, this time shouting to the heavens when the blood generated in his damaged throat threatened to choke him to death. He gagged, spewed vomit down his body and shivered with disgust and pain. There was no point in wondering any longer how such a thing could have happened. Carlos already knew.

He was always a sympathizer, but nothing more. He secretly financially supported the ETA any time Luc made a request. He was aware of Luc’s terrorist activities but chose to turn a blind eye; after all, this was a man he loved. A man he would stand beside if terrible things came to him. Of course, a blind eye meant that he never saw the terrible things at all. Luc had gone into hiding for many years, contacting Carlos for money to help get him safely back to the Basque Country. Of course he assisted. A fool. Carlos was such a fool.

He knew nothing of day or night as the cave was so deep. A gas lamp sickened him and twisted his stomach into nausea as it sputtered and died, leaving him in the darkness and terrified. And in that darkness, Carlos Menendez knew he was more the fool than even he had imagined. He’d told Luc many things he should have never spoken. Things of Eva and her fiancé, things of his plan to make improvements on the massive house … and the amount the mansion was worth should they choose to sell it.

A fool.

A fool who will die alone in a cave for want of a more intelligent mind.

***

He had little time to comfort Eva. She wanted her brother home safely, but she also worried for Terry, he could see it in her eyes. “You are not field ready,” she cried softly into his neck. They’d made love, held each other and talked until dawn. Now it was time for him to leave and she did not wish to let go.

“Darlin’, no field for me. I’ll be managing negotiations, nothing more.”

“You will try, I know you will,” she sobbed and he held her tighter.

“Listen to me, Eva. Love? Come now, listen. Do you think for one moment I’d put the rest of the team in that kinda jeopardy?”

She gulped back another sob and looked into his eyes for a long moment. Finally she nodded. “No, you would not. But I need you here.”

“I wanna be here with you, but darlin’, sometimes I gotta be out there. This is Carlos, Eva. I need to oversee this operation from beginnin’ to end. It’s bloody important. No matter how it plays out.”

“Will there be a rescue?”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” She trembled and he kissed her brow. “I don’t wanna lie to you. You should know the score here. Our goal is to gain freedom for Carlos … whatever we gotta do. Now,” he sat up and tugged her to lean against his chest. Kissing her softly he snuggled in to drop the big one. News like this always went down better if he held on tight and didn’t let go. “Eva, I’m sending you to Vermont.”

Slowly she raised her head. Her Spanish temper reddened her cheeks and he quickly continued.

“I want you with the family. You can’t be staying here in New York alone.”

“I have the school.”

“Which will continue just dandy without you.”

“I want to be close to your office.”

“And what do you think that’ll serve, love? Any information I get can be given to you in Stowe as easily as it would if you’re here. I’m taking a full team, Zack, Dino, Hammond and Spendle. Who are you sticking around here for?”

“I want to be in our home,” she said and he could hear the resolve in her voice dissolving.

“Home? You talkin’ ‘bout this apartment? Darlin, there’s nothing of yours here. Everything is in storage until we buy a house. Hey,” he teased playfully. “Maybe while you’re up in Vermont you can house hunt.”

“Do not play with me, Terry! You will be in danger. Your team will be in danger and my brother may die!”

“Yes, I know. But dammit, Eva! I need to know you’re safe! Don’t you understand?” Terry hated to resort to raised voices but an argument with Eva required it. The fire in her eyes melted into tears and he groaned, tugged her tight to his heart and whispered. “Bloody hell, if I’m gonna do this well, I have to know you’re safe. At the Inn, in Biebe’s care, I know you’ll be fine. Can’t you help me that much, Eva?”

It took a while but her tears dried, her trembling hands wrapped around him and she sighed. “Yes.”