Free Abducted: Reconnaissance Team (Texas Rangers: Special Ops Book 1) by T.C. Archer Page B

after what seemed minutes instead of seconds. She sat, unable to move. No movement came from the front seat and she pictured Adam dead. She knew the thought was ridiculous, but unreasonable panic caused a tremor in her stomach that quickly escalated into a body shake.
    Liz registered the opening of her car door. A large body blocked the opening. She screamed. He reached across her and she struck at his face. He grunted, then grasped her shoulders and dragged her from the car. Red and blue lights bounced off her retinas. She beat his chest.
    “Liz.” 
    Tears streamed down her cheeks.
    “Liz.” 
    The deep voice caused her to yank her head up. She winced at the glare of the blinding streetlamp. Adam pulled her close and she collapsed into the solid warmth of his arms. Liz fisted his shirt and tears blinded her.
    “It’s okay,” he soothed. “We’re all right.” 
    A murmur of voices penetrated the haze.
    “She’s in shock,” he said. “Get me a blanket.” 
    Liz commanded her mind to clear, but the roar in her ears only thundered louder. Her legs turned to rubber. Her feet left the ground and she threw an arm around Adam’s neck to keep from falling.
    “I’ve got you, Liz,” he murmured. “You’re safe.” 
    She buried her face in his chest and escaped into blackness.

Chapter Ten
    Ben caught sight of his boss, Captain David Medina, when Medina stepped off the elevator in the hospital waiting area. Ben rose as he approached.
    “How is she?” the captain asked when he reached Ben’s side.
    “No injuries. Just shock. They haven’t let me see her yet. The doctors gave her something to help her rest.” 
    Medina nodded. “She was lucky.” 
    “We both were.” 
    “How the hell did she end up in the middle of your operation?” 
    “Ms. Monahan showed up at the party in Tanya’s place.” 
    “What happened to Miss Xavier?” 
    “She was there,” Ben said, “with Sanchez.” 
    Medina frowned, but said with his usual deliberation, “I’d say you let the operation get away from you, Hunter.” 
    Ben nodded. “You wouldn’t be wrong.” He filled Medina in on the details, ending with, “There’s this guy, he gave Sanchez the rundown on my background. He isn’t one of Sanchez’s lower level goons. He’s someone more important.”
    “No name?” Medina asked.
    Ben shook his head. “I can get together with one of our sketch artists and get a drawing. Plus, I’ll see if I can ID him in the system. If we can get the Juarez Chief of Police’s help, I can give him directions to Sanchez’s hacienda. I’m betting Loyola won’t find him there, but there might be some clues to the whereabouts of Christina Remmey.”
    Medina nodded. “I’ll speak with him. You get Davis to do some research on this guy with Sanchez. Now, the big news. The Mexican police are demanding that Adam Billings and Ms. Monahan appear to answer charges of attempted murder and evasion.” 
    “Sanchez works fast,” Ben said. “If we go back, he’ll kill us. He won’t do it nicely, Captain. He won’t do it quietly. If my escape with Ms. Monahan didn’t convince him I’m law enforcement, my running the border without getting shot to pieces had to. The fact I’m a Ranger will rub salt in the wound. He’ll go out of his way to make an example of us. I’m going to have to get him first.” 
    Medina lifted a brow. “If you’d done that first, boy, we wouldn’t be in this predicament. How do you propose to get him? He’s in Mexico—where he doesn’t have to hide.” 
    Ben nodded. Question was: what was Sanchez more afraid of, not knowing the name of Ben’s employer, or the risk he'd have to take to come after him in the US?
    * * *
    “A warrant for my arrest in Mexico?” Liz stared at Captain Medina. “And a warrant for Mr. Billings—” not Billings “—Hunter,” she corrected. “Ranger Hunter. Him too? I don’t understand. It’s—”
    “How is this possible?” Richard broke in. Liz had