“What currency do you intend to use?” Yes. Blade’s getting down to serious negotiations.
“Gold.”
Her team member burst out laughing. Perfectly straight white teeth flashed bright as the moon in the night surrounding them. “You don’t have an ounce of gold anywhere in this camp.”
The head rebel pulled back his fist as though to punch Blade.
Instantly, five gun barrels pointed at the man in the tattered green T-shirt, faded jungle camouflage pants, and boots held together with duct tape.
Xena had the man’s head in her crosshairs. “I’ve got him. Just give me the signal.” Her voice was quiet and low so as not to carry over the low scrub. She had no qualms about shooting this asshole. He was a rebel soldier fighting against the duly elected government. Their side had been angry when they lost the election two years ago, losing control of one of the most corrupt administrations in the world. In their country, power was money, a lofty lifestyle, and global recognition. The rebel party currently had none of those things.
What they did have, was something the United States of America wanted back. Or at least it would if they knew that the Navy SEALs were alive. Xena still wasn’t sure how deep the cover-up went.
But she was the reason that six of America’s best special operatives were in captivity and two were supposedly dead.
“Whoa.” Blade held up both hands, palms out. “Let’s take this down a few notches.” He lowered his hands in signal to the rest of their men…and her…to lower their weapons. “I’m just a salesman but I have to be sure you can pay for everything you’re ordering.”
“The leader of the rightful regime has plenty of money. We will pay the Digger in gold.” The camp leader stepped closer to Blade and lowered his voice conspiratorially. “We have been told that is the only currency he will accept.”
Xena knew that the Digger would take all kinds of currency, but gold was one of his favorites. The glittery metal had been used as payment from nearly the beginning of time. Tonight, though, information was worth more.
“Gold always works with the Digger. Good choice.” Blade walked away from the other men. As expected, the camp leader followed him. When the other rebels started to move, her team brought their weapons up in warning.
“Sometimes Digger takes payment in other forms.”
Go, Blade. Draw him in.
“We’re out here looking for valuable information.”
The man nodded. “I know things. But I will never betray the true and rightful leader.”
Xena didn’t care about him. They already knew that Kofi Tamru considered himself the duly elected prime minister and this ragtag group of dedicated followers was just one of many hiding in the mountains and deserts. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the group they were looking for.
“Not asking you where the leader is hiding out.” Blade stepped in closer to the man. “Digger wants to know where the American soldiers are being held.”
The camp leader stepped back three feet in one stride. “No. No. I cannot tell you. I cannot tell anyone.”
Blade frowned dramatically as he closed the distance between them. “This information is very important to the Digger. He plans to sell the information and that money could be used to supply you with guns and ammunition. We could probably throw in a few hand grenades but we’re running low on mines these days. Depending on how accurate your information is, it could be worth a lot of money.” Blade put his arm around the small man’s shoulders and stepped a few feet farther away from the group. “Nobody needs to know that you told us.”
Come on. Tell him. Xena mentally encouraged.
“No.” The camp leader’s whole body shook. “He would kill me.”
This time when Blade’s brows drew together, it was for real. “The true and rightful leader would kill you?”
“No. His second-in-command, Nebil Yared. He has the Americans. Well, some of them. They are his to do with as he wishes.”
Xena wasn’t positive what the man said because he whispered so low the miniature microphone in Blade’s earpiece only picked up phrases. She’d ask Blade as soon as the rest of the team made it to the rendezvous.
Since they weren’t going to get the location of the SEALs, Blade wrapped up the fake negotiations. The second Xena watched them leave the camp, she belly-crawled to the next rocks and worked her way over the lip of the hill.
Two miles away, on one of the few flat spots, she slid into the Italian military-style helicopter and started the warm-up checklist. As soon as her men were on board, she’d take off. After a week of sweating in the equatorial heat, they all deserved a cool shower and a cold beer. She also needed to make contact with Charley and tell her the bad news.
Blade jumped into the open-sided helicopter and popped into the copilot seat, immediately shoving on his helmet. “Did you hear what that little scumbag said?”
She continued down her checklist as Blade started his. Two thumps on the back of her seat indicated that everyone was safe and onboard. Glancing at her copilot, he gave her a thumbs up.
It was time to get the hell out of these mountains.
“Gentlemen, hang on. We’re headed home.” She cleared the top of the mountain range to cheers and didn’t spare the fuel.
As soon as they were in clear air, her men began reporting in.
Blade started, “Did you hear the camp leader say that Nebil Yared has the SEALs?”
“No!” Xena cursed their comm system. Improved comm gear just got moved to the top of the Need Now list. “I only caught a few words here and there when you pulled him aside.”
“Oh,” Jax cut in. “But he doesn’t have all of them. The Eritreans grabbed two of the SEALs.”
“Fuck.” Now that they were separated it was going to be even harder to rescue them. Xena’s gaze swept over all the dials and gauges. Everything looked good enough to get them back home.
“But wait. One of the men by the fire got real chatty when I offered him some of my whiskey.” Leave it to Boomer to bribe someone down the food chain. “Nebil Yared hasn’t told Kofi Tamru that he has them.”
Xena wondered if she told Tamru that his second-in-command had helped ambush eight U.S. Navy SEALs if he would help her retrieve the American servicemen. Or if he would just order them all killed. She was too tired to think about it tonight. Her dad would have some insight and advice for her…if he was home. She’d also discuss the possibility with Charley, tomorrow.
Just over an hour later, she touched down light as a butterfly on the designated pad. The aviation crew sprinted out to greet her with hugs and huge smiles before they rolled the chopper into the camouflaged helo hanger.
“Daddy back yet?” Xena asked Batman, their director of aviation.
“Not yet.” Thaddeus Bantam, who was like an uncle to her, threw his arm around her shoulder and gave her a hug as they walked in step to the awaiting vehicles. “He had a lead near Gondar and went to check it out last night. I haven’t heard from him since.” He chuckled. “But I’ve heard from your mother several times today. You hadn’t better miss the party at the embassy tomorrow night. The vice president’s son is back in town.”
“Ugh.” She groaned. “I’m really not sure who I despise more, Crawford Sutton or the ambassador’s son, Wesley Schultz. They’re both slimy frat boys who think just because I live in Ethiopia, I should be honored to fall to my knees and suck their dicks.”
“Xena, if your mother heard you say that she’d—”
“She’d know it was true. Mom calls Wesley the man-child. She’s thrilled she’s no longer on the embassy staff. The ambassador lets his stepson get away with everything. I think he’s afraid of what his wife would do if he disciplined her little twerp.”
Batman burst out laughing. “I’d be afraid of that viper too.”
Click here to continue reading Shadow in the Mountain.
Author’s Note
I hope you enjoyed reading Shadow in the Desert as much as I enjoyed writin
g it! Here’s a complete list of all the books in the Shadow SEALs series.
June 8, 2021 Cat Johnson Shadow Pawn
June 29, 2021 Elle James Shadow Assassin
July 20, 2021 Becca Jameson Shadow in the Desert
Aug 10, 2021 KaLyn Cooper Shadow in the Mountain
Aug 31, 2021 Donna Michaels Shadow of a Chance
Sept 21, 2021 J.M. Madden Shadow of the Moon
Oct 12, 2021 Sharon Hamilton Shadow of the Heart
Jan 4, 2022 Desiree Holt Shadow Defender
Jan 25, 2022 Elaine Levine Not My Shadow
Feb 15, 2022 Abbie Zanders Cast in Shadow
Also by Becca Jameson
Surrender:
Raising Lucy
Teaching Abby
Leaving Roman
Choosing Kellen
Pleasing Josie
Honoring Hudson
Nurturing Britney
Charming Colton
Convincing Leah
Surrender Box Set One
Surrender Box Set Two
Open Skies:
Layover
Redeye
Nonstop
Standby
Takeoff
Jetway
Open Skies Box Set One
Shadow SEALs:
Shadow in the Desert
Delta Team Three (Special Forces: Operation Alpha):
Destiny’s Delta
Canyon Springs:
Caleb’s Mate
Hunter’s Mate
Corked and Tapped:
Volume One: Friday Night
Volume Two: Company Party
Volume Three: The Holidays
Project DEEP:
Reviving Emily
Reviving Trish
Reviving Dade
Reviving Zeke
Reviving Graham
Reviving Bianca
Reviving Olivia
Project DEEP Box Set One
Project DEEP Box Set Two
SEALs in Paradise:
Hot SEAL, Red Wine
Hot SEAL, Australian Nights
Hot SEAL, Cold Feet
Hot SEAL, April’s Fool
Dark Falls:
Dark Nightmares
Club Zodiac:
Training Sasha
Obeying Rowen
Collaring Brooke
Mastering Rayne
Trusting Aaron
Claiming London
Sharing Charlotte
Taming Rex
Tempting Elizabeth
Club Zodiac Box Set One
Club Zodiac Box Set Two
Club Zodiac Box Set Three
The Art of Kink:
Pose
Paint
Sculpt
Arcadian Bears:
Grizzly Mountain
Grizzly Beginning
Grizzly Secret
Grizzly Promise
Grizzly Survival
Grizzly Perfection
Arcadian Bears Box Set One
Arcadian Bears Box Set Two
Sleeper SEALs:
Saving Zola
Spring Training:
Catching Zia
Catching Lily
Catching Ava
Spring Training Box Set
The Underground series:
Force
Clinch
Guard
Submit
Thrust
Torque
The Underground Box Set One
The Underground Box Set Two
Saving Sofia (Special Forces: Operations Alpha)
Wolf Masters series:
Kara’s Wolves
Lindsey’s Wolves
Jessica’s Wolves
Alyssa’s Wolves
Tessa’s Wolf
Rebecca’s Wolves
Melinda’s Wolves
Laurie’s Wolves
Amanda’s Wolves
Sharon’s Wolves
Wolf Masters Box Set One
Wolf Masters Box Set Two
Claiming Her series:
The Rules
The Game
The Prize
Claiming Her Box Set
Emergence series:
Bound to be Taken
Bound to be Tamed
Bound to be Tested
Bound to be Tempted
Emergence Box Set
The Fight Club series:
Come
Perv
Need
Hers
Want
Lust
The Fight Club Box Set One
The Fight Club Box Set Two
Wolf Gatherings series:
Tarnished
Dominated
Completed
Redeemed
Abandoned
Betrayed
Wolf Gatherings Box Set One
Wolf Gathering Box Set Two
Durham Wolves series:
Rescue in the Smokies
Fire in the Smokies
Freedom in the Smokies
Durham Wolves Box Set
Stand Alone Books:
Blind with Love
Guarding the Truth
Out of the Smoke
Abducting His Mate
Three’s a Cruise
Wolf Trinity
Frostbitten
A Princess for Cale/A Princess for Cain
About the Author
Becca Jameson is a USA Today best-selling author of over 100 books. She is well-known for her Wolf Masters series, her Fight Club series, and her Surrender series. She currently lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and her Goldendoodle. Two grown kids pop in every once in a while too! She is loving this journey and has dabbled in a variety of genres, including paranormal, sports romance, military, and BDSM.
A total night owl, Becca writes late at night, sequestering herself in her office with a glass of red wine and a bar of dark chocolate, her fingers flying across the keyboard as her characters weave their own stories.
During the day--which never starts before ten in the morning!--she can be found jogging, running errands, or reading in her favorite hammock chair!
…where Alphas dominate…
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