Page 70 of No Regrets
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Amir Saleem watched his son splashing around in the pool, while his wife prepared dinner inside their Los Angeles home. He owned a property management company, his son attended the local public school, and his wife was on the PTA. They got on well with their neighbors, watched their son’s soccer games, and had dinner parties. He’d become an expert at living a lie.
Amir Saleem was actually busy building a major terrorist cell. He recruited and radicalized new members for Reborn. They had been preparing for the upcoming attack right here in the great United States of America. It would be payback for dozens of attacks and air strikes that had killed so many of their people, including his parents and sister.
Under Lazir’s command, taking out the SEAL team a few months ago was just a taste of what they had planned. Making sure Ahmed Khalini was seen and then leading the Americans there had been almost too easy.
His son came running toward him.
“Papa, did you see me jump in?”
“I did. You were magnificent. Show me again.”
He watched his young son run back to the pool and jump in, laughing and splashing as he came to the surface.
His burner phone rang. Seeing an unknown number, he answered but didn’t speak.
“It’s me. Are you alone?”
He recognized the voice of his informant at once. “Yes.”
“I have bad news regarding your brother.”
Saleem gripped the phone tightly. “Go on.”
“There was a raid on the compound, Ahmed was captured.”
Rage surged through him, his whole body tensing as he turned away from his son.
“I believe I know who it is.”
“Tell me.” Amir hissed the words.
“The team that attacked the compound and got the woman back.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. A soldier overheard a conversation. It was them.”
Amir began pacing. First, they embarrass Reborn by getting the woman, now they snatch his brother.
“I want the names, and anything you can tell me about them. I’ll pay, whatever the price.”
“Of course.” The line disconnected.
Amir knew without a doubt his source would deliver the information he needed. He’d not let him down in the past two years and was loyal to Reborn. And to money.
He had no fear Ahmed would give up any information. Amir’s brother would suffer whatever they did to him and give his life if necessary. But the Americans would pay. Amir would make sure of it. Reborn would not stop until America was brought to its knees, starting with whoever took his brother.
He dialed another number from memory. If this was the same team that rescued the woman, then Lazir would want them taken care of as badly as he did. Lazir answered on the first ring.
“We have a problem.”
TWO DAYS LATER RAVEN team were at Jerry’s bar. Dex had asked them all back to Onyx HQ yesterday, even though they were on down time, to talk to them. He’d apologized and together as a team they’d talked it out. Never had he been offside with his team, and he never wanted to be that way again. He planned to talk to Sam too, but Sam had been too wrapped up on Nyx’s op and he hadn’t yet had a chance.
Ryan nudged him. “I think you have an admirer.” Following Ryan’s gaze, he spotted the blonde sitting at the other end of the bar. She smiled at them.
“How do you know it’s me. Could be you.” He looked away.