Firestorm by Rachel Grant

Author:Rachel Grant [Grant, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-944571-14-6
Publisher: Janus Publishing

19

Gbadolite didn’t exactly have rental car companies, but similar to the way Motel Nzekele still rented rooms to the determined traveler, they were able to rent a car from a hotel employee. The vehicle was necessary because they could hardly pay a driver to take them back to the palace at midnight. Way too many questions would be asked.

They spent the afternoon prepping for their nighttime raid. Freya searched for anything and everything she could find on the diamond-cross symbol, drawing Cal’s attention when she crowed with excitement, having found the symbol drawn in dirt that coated a vehicle parked behind the Reverend Abel Fitzsimmons in a televised interview. He was in Kinshasa at the time, raising money for his Mission School.

Official or unofficial, this was the link they’d been looking for. They were on the right track.

Cal left Freya to her searching and hung out in the lobby to work the locals. His cover story was the local cuisine hadn’t agreed with Freya—or rather Sandy—and he was letting her sleep in peace while her stomach settled.

He returned to their room after two hours with news that a flight from Dar es Salaam had just landed. Today was the date in the document. Did the incoming flight have something to do with that? Coming from Dar es Salaam, it almost had to. Was Lubanga here?

Without any answers, all they could do was move forward with their plan to explore the tunnel under the palace in the dead of night.

They prepped carefully for the night op, with their backpacks fully loaded. They planned to return to Motel Nzekele if they could, but they were going on a midnight reconnaissance mission without a clue as to what they’d find. Returning to the shabby, former five-star hotel might not be possible.

They set out just an hour after nightfall with a basket laden with food they’d purchased in town. Cal had spoken to the concierge in Lingala, telling him of their intention to visit the hydroelectric dam on the Ubangi River and enjoy a picnic with stargazing.

The concierge had warned of the insects being attracted to light and food, which might make the meal less romantic and more malaria inducing, but Cal waved off his concerns. He heard the man say something under his breath about stupid Americans, and Cal held back his smile as he took Freya’s hand and exited the hotel.

They drove to the dam as stated and climbed out of the car to view the river and scout out a spot where they could picnic. They strolled hand in hand, which felt more natural than it probably should.

He was reminded of the hotel room in Kenya, where they’d practiced touching each other. How far they’d come since then. She was falling in love with him and he…he cared about her. More than he wanted to.

She triggered his protective nature. He’d rage at witnessing any woman being assaulted, but at Gorev’s party, when Anton had gone after her, his fury had been deep and primal.

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