Avenged (Hostage Rescue Team Series) (Volume 5) by Kaylea Cross Page B

“It makes me want to punch something, to know you and the others were treated like that.”
    Taya understood all too well the helpless fury he felt. At first after she was captured she’d assumed the U.S. government was searching for her. That they’d launch some sort of secret rescue op and get her out. But weeks had turned into months and no one had come for her. She hadn’t learned the truth until after she’d come home. Turns out her own government had left her in captivity because they didn’t want to risk blowing Hassan’s position in Qureshi’s network. They’d weighed the major bust he’d been close to giving them as more important than her life or freedom. All of that had been covered up of course, so there was no hard evidence for her to use against them in a lawsuit.
    Knowing they’d abandoned her was one of the hardest things for her to get past.
    So many times during those months as a prisoner she’d thought about running, risking everything just for a chance at freedom. But knowing what would happen to the other women if she did had always stopped her cold. They’d all have been tortured and then slaughtered because of her actions.
    She was quiet a moment, staring out her window as the scenery flashed by in the darkness. “I think the worst part is to know she survived all that, actually made it home and got into WITSEC, and now she’s gone anyway.”
    Nathan drew in a deep breath then reached across the console for her hand. His fingers wrapped around hers, strong and sure.
    Oh, his hands. Callused at the base of the fingers, fingertips slightly rough, but so gentle on her.
    He squeezed. “It’s not exactly classified, but the bastard she was given to was killed when she was rescued. And whoever took her this time will get what’s coming to them.” It sounded like a vow.
    “I hope so.” She shook her head, tried to make sense of it all. “God, I hope so.”
    Nathan didn’t say anything else, just kept holding her hand and for that she was grateful. The physical contact made her feel less alone, not as lost. This madness had to end. She would get up on that witness stand whenever she was called, and earn justice for Chloe and the others.
    Let it go. There’s nothing you can do for now. Let it go, before it eats a hole inside of you.
    She’d lived with a giant black hole inside her for the better part of two years after coming home. She refused to let it take over her again.
    With effort she exhaled and sought her center, focused on everything she had to be grateful for. Her health. Her father and brother. Finding Nathan again after all this time.
    “So where are we going?” she finally asked as he drove west away from the base.
    He’d left his truck parked there and taken an unmarked SUV instead, in case anyone was looking for them. He’d explained that the hotel security cameras would have both of them on video, so there was a chance someone would be able to see them coming and going from the hotel. Cruz was in another vehicle not far behind them and other agents were on call as well, available to them if they wanted extra backup. Nathan had told her they might use a rotating team, or just stick with him, Cruz and Vance, depending on what intel came to light in the next twelve hours or so.
    “My commander’s house,” he answered.
    She glanced over at him in surprise. “Are we staying there?” She understood that she would have people guarding her during this trip, but she still wasn’t comfortable with the idea of going to someone’s home—she didn’t want to put DeLuca or anyone else at risk. Too many people had already been in harm’s way to protect her, and now Nathan was as well. If anything happened to him she didn’t know if she could take it.
    “No, just making a quick stop to grab a few things.”
    His enigmatic answer made her curious but she didn’t ask anything else on the short drive over to a residential neighborhood close to base. Nathan pulled into the