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someone’s hit list.
    “I understand completely. If Gabe is doing dangerous work, it’s important to know that when he’s not on duty, so to speak, he has a safe place to unwind. So can you tell me exactly what he does?” She looked directly at Daniel Killian. “I mean, now that I’ve been yanked out of my house in the middle of the night and have no idea what’s happening?”
    Gabe and Killian exchanged glances, then the older man cleared his throat. “Since Sam’s kidnapping we’ve worked off the books for the government to infiltrate the terrorist cell that took him and tried to follow it to the top. The group that kidnapped him was just one unit of an organization calling themselves Sword of Allah. But we think the name’s a red herring. That they’re a huge mercenary army for hire to whatever cause pays them the most. The government needs them put out of business but at the same time can’t be involved in it. We’ve done things like this before.”
    “And?” Rachel prompted when he paused.
    “Gabe is one of my best. We managed to get him inside and he’s been working on this for two years, moving up in the structure to where he was close to getting the names we wanted. And the opportunity to shut them down for good.”
    “But something happened,” Rachel guessed. “Or we wouldn’t be here in the middle of the night.”
    “Yeah,” Gabe broke in. “I’d like to know what the hell is going on too. I thought we had this operation locked down tight. No leaks. No way for anyone to know who I am.”
    Killian nodded. “So did I. But someone somehow learned who you are, Gabriel and put out the order to eliminate you. Immediately. We…learned through an informant that the order just came down tonight, that they knew where you were and you were to be taken down at once.” He looked at Rachel. “I promise you, Miss Winters, you would have been little more than collateral damage to them. That’s the way they operate.”
    “But how did this happen?” Rachel asked. “He wasn’t at the dinner even thirty minutes. We left almost as soon as he arrived. I know for a fact he was very careful when we drove to my house. And I can’t imagine anyone at the fundraiser knowing who he is.” She looked at Gabe.
    “That’s the only thing I can think of.” Gabe’s voice was flat but Rachel sensed the hidden anger. She didn’t blame him. This was his life they were talking about.
    “Someone we didn’t expect was in place and somehow recognized me.” He looked at his boss. “What are you doing about it?”
    Killian shrugged. “I put people to work on it at once. It happened suddenly so we’re playing catch-up at the moment. The first thing we did was pull a list of everyone at the function tonight, including staff and start a check. Everyone in the tech department’s working on it.”
    “What happens next?” Gabe asked. “Do we just sit here and wait? You know that’s not my style.”
    “At the moment your safety is the number one priority,” Killian told him. “I use this house when I need a very secure place for someone important.” Killian swallowed the rest of his drink and looked at Rachel. “I’m sorry you were caught in this but Gabriel was right not to leave you behind. Five minutes after you left men invaded your house looking for him.”
    “My house?” She suddenly felt cold all over.
    “Yes. We managed to get there just as they finished searching and let them go in order to see who they would lead us to.”
    “And?” Gabe prompted.
    “We followed them back to an apartment building and we’re sitting on them. They had to report they didn’t find you, so sooner or later they’ll get new orders. When they move, we move.”
    Rachel looked from one man to the other. “And that’s all we can do? They wanted to kill us, for god’s sake.”
    Killian rose from the chair. “I know that. But until my men report in we can’t make specific plans. That’s why I had both of you