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  Also By Bradley Wright

  Alexander King

  THE SECRET WEAPON

  COLD WAR

  MOST WANTED

  POWER MOVE

  Alexander King Prequels

  WHISKEY & ROSES

  VANQUISH

  KING’S RANSOM

  KING’S REIGN

  SCOURGE

  Lawson Raines

  WHEN THE MAN COMES AROUND

  SHOOTING STAR

  Saint Nick

  SAINT NICK

  SAINT NICK 2

  Copyright © 2021 by Bradley Wright

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  Bradley Wright/King’s Ransom Publishing

  www.bradleywrightauthor.com

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead,

  or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  MOST WANTED/ Bradley Wright. -- 1st ed.

  ISBN - 978-0-9973926-9-2

  For John Younce

  I’ve had the good fortune of meeting many a fine gentleman in my life. But you, sir, stood above them all.

  “That was the trouble with lies: it was very important to remember them accurately when, generally, they were the things you most wanted to forget.”

  Liza Cody

  “Running away will never make you free.”

  Barton Gellman

  1

  There was a chill in the air as Alexander King leaned against the corner of the high-rise building. Night had fallen over Mexico City. The weather reminded him of San Diego. The underbelly of crime, however, did not. Across the street, the drug-lord-turned-human-trafficker whom King had been waiting for exited his black Mercedes sedan. The streets were mostly quiet. Not uncommon for two in the morning on a Thursday night. Especially when the party section of the city was a couple of blocks away.

  King took a step back behind the brick wall to further conceal himself. He’d been in Mexico City watching Raúl Ortega for the past three days. Learning his patterns, studying his habits. The man was infamous in all circles of intelligence across the globe, but especially in North America. His reputation was that of a ruthless leader, quick to silence detractors by any means necessary. For over a decade it had been all about drugs. However, for the last year his operation had grown into pedaling humans. The reason King was watching was because young American girls had become his choice of sale.

  So far King had learned one important thing: Ortega was never alone. This didn’t surprise King. Men like Ortega always have someone hunting for their head. However, it seemed to King that Ortega had either grown complacent or he considered himself untouchable. Three days had shown King the man wasn’t afraid to be in public. He’d visited night clubs, restaurants, and even outdoor markets. Anyone with any sort of skill wouldn’t have a problem removing this drug king from his throne. That’s why it frustrated King that for the first time in his career as an assassin for the CIA, he had only been sent there to gather intel.

  He hadn’t been sent in to kill.

  The entire thing had been odd to him. What was the point of learning an enemy’s patterns if you weren’t to capitalize on them? Sam, his longtime partner and a handler at the CIA, thought the same thing. So much so that she’d almost told him to stay in the Cayman Islands with the new woman in his life—Cali—but Director Lucas was adamant it had to be King. So there he was, watching a known kingpin go about his normal routine, only to report on it, not to stop it. Meanwhile, Cali was in bed all by herself on the other side of town. He could still be with her in the islands, overlooking the beach, but instead they were stuck in the city where neither of them wanted to be.

  Consequences of the job, he supposed—never getting to go where he wanted to go. All he could hope was that his legwork would somehow help nail this criminal in the future.

  King took one more glance toward Ortega’s car. When he did, King’s entire operation changed. Under the bright glow of a streetlight, he saw one of Ortega’s men pushing a Caucasian female out in front of him. He could hear her cry of distress from a block away. There was no way King could just sit back and take notes after his eyes witnessed what was almost certainly a woman being taken against her will, being forced into only God knew what next.

  King pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed Sam.

  “Everything all right?” Sam answered. Her British accent sounded sleepy. He must have woken her.

  “No. Ortega has a girl, and she did not want to be with him.”

  “I won’t ask you how you know this for a fact,” Sam said as she cleared her throat. “But I will tell you it doesn’t matter. This is a strict no-contact operation. Do not engage, X.”

  “Easy for you to say, Sam. You didn’t hear the fear in her voice as she was pushed into a building.”

  Sam was quiet.

  There was the faint rush of traffic in the distance. The occasional horn honking, even a siren far away, but all of it was background noise to the sound of blood rushing between King’s ears as his adrenaline surged and his heart rate quickened.

  “Sam? No comments?” he asked her.

  “Comments? No. Just lying here wondering why you called me. You and I both know that whatever I say, it won’t change anything. You’re going to do what you want to do. Next time just save yourself the minutes to wake me up, and skip the call.”

  Sam didn’t sound frustrated, merely confident that what she was saying was true. And King had nothing to say in return, because he knew she was right.

  “Just know,” Sam said, “if it gets messy, the agency will deny to the Mexican government that you’re one of ours.”

  “Then I guess you’ll just have to come down and bail me out yourself.”

  “Wouldn’t be the first time,” Sam said. “Tell me why again is it that we work for the CIA? If you’re constantly going to defy their orders, shouldn’t we just go back to our own team and let them contract us if they’d like? We could go back to using your own plane, and you’d get to see your family and poor Kyle.”

  “How ’bout I just keep this clean, then we can worry about leaving the CIA on our own terms if we want.”

  “Not sure that’s how it works, X, but whatever you say. Just be careful. This guy isn’t a small-timer. He has an army at his beck and call, and probably half the Mexican government as well. Play the long game. I know you want to save the girl, but maybe you can save hundreds of girls if you wait and we do this right.”

  Sam, ever the voice of reason. He knew she was right; he just didn’t know if it was in him to watch them take that girl.

  Sam added, “Sometimes being smart is a better skill than being a magnificent killer.”

  King took a deep breath to slow his climbing heart rate. “Sounds boring, but I hear you. I’ll be in touch.”

  2

  The next morning Alexander King’s coffee tasted sour. There wasn’t anything wrong with it; it was the exact same coffee he’d had the last few mornings. The difference, he supposed, was the horrible taste he already had in his mouth from his sickened stomach af
ter leaving that girl alone with those monsters last night. Every ounce of his being wanted to charge in there like he always did. He just couldn’t. It wasn’t about defying orders from the CIA, like Sam had said on the phone; he did that all the time. But he wouldn’t have been able to get her out of there without getting her hurt, or worse. He had no backup in Mexico City, and it would have been much more than a one-man job.

  But that didn’t mean he liked it.

  King watched the sun begin to rise behind the buildings across the street through the slit in the curtains of the hotel room. He hadn’t slept a wink, but he did manage not to wake Cali. They had an early morning ahead. Their flight to Alaska was leaving soon. King was going to fly back with her and stay for a couple of days while he had a hole in his schedule. He wasn’t too happy about going back to Barrow after what happened there only a short time ago—plus, it was still cold as hell there—but Cali would be able to keep him warm.

  King felt Cali’s arms wrap around his waist and her kiss on the back of his neck.

  “Good morning,” Cali said. “I didn’t hear you come in last night. Everything go okay?”

  King turned and accepted the kiss she was offering. The green in her hazel eyes sparkled in the morning light coming in over his shoulder.

  “It was fine.”

  She squeezed him. “You excited to get back to the cold?” Her smile was ornery. She knew how much he hated it.

  “Oh yeah, can’t wait,” he said, devoid of enthusiasm.

  “Well, I’m going to hop in the shower. Join me?”

  “Go ahead. Let me finish my coffee here and make a phone call.”

  Cali squinted her eyes as she stared up at him. “Hmm. Declining a shower with me. That’s a first. You sure everything’s okay? It’s fine if it’s not, you know. I do realize that every day doesn’t begin with roses and end with champagne.”

  King liked Cali. He was probably already in love with her. But he wasn’t ready to deep dive into feelings with her. At least not about the underworld in which he had to operate.

  “It’s fine, I promise. Just an off morning.”

  “Well . . .” She leaned in and kissed him softly on the cheek, then on the neck as she pulled away. “You’re allowed those, I suppose. Just don’t make a habit of it.”

  She walked away toward the shower. It was hard not to follow. She was only wearing a pair of tiny white panties. A man can’t fake it when other things are on his mind. And as beautiful as Cali was, and as good as she would feel against his skin, his mind was on the haunting decision of leaving that girl alone last night. It was absolutely eating him alive.

  King finished his coffee, and Cali, her shower. The two of them packed their things and loaded up the rental car.

  “You want to stop and get some breakfast or just grab something at the airport?” Cali asked.

  King put the car in drive and pulled away from the front of the hotel. “I’m okay to wait.”

  “We can stop and grab snacks too. Half the price of the ones at the airport.”

  “That’s okay,” he said. “I’m not much of a snacker.”

  “Yeah . . .” Cali patted his hand. “That one package of Fritos or M&M’s might ruin your six-pack. I wouldn’t be able to sleep with you if that happened. So, good thinking.”

  He didn’t throw her a playful laugh as he normally would have. She patted him again, this time without speaking. She didn’t know him very well yet, but Cali was a quick study and wasn’t only focused on herself. She could tell he was trying to work something out in his mind, so she let him.

  The thing his brain was working on now was the same as in the hotel room. However, they were now driving past the corner where he stood and watched that innocent girl be taken inside the lion’s den, and all he could do was fester on how he’d let it happen. As they passed the entrance to Ortega’s place, King made up his mind that he just couldn’t leave Mexico City without at least trying to save her. All other orders be damned.

  King took out his phone and pressed Sam Harrison’s contact.

  “No news of mayhem in Mexico City this morning,” Sam answered. “You must have actually shown restraint.”

  “I did, but I’m not leaving.” King glanced over at Cali. She didn’t react. “I need you in Mexico City ASAP. Get Zhanna here, too, if you can. And I don’t want to hear it.”

  “Hear what?” Sam said. “I’m actually proud of you. At least you’re waiting long enough to get some help.”

  “Can you be here by tonight?”

  “Don’t see why not. Let me make arrangements.”

  “Don’t tell Director Lucas.” Robert Lucas was the director of the CIA. King knew he wouldn’t be happy about King changing plans. As always, King believed in asking forgiveness, not permission.

  “You don’t say,” Sam said, playing it up. “Seriously, though, Xander. When this one is over, there is no use for working for the CIA anymore. You never do what they ask anyway.”

  The airport exit was coming up on his right.

  “Let’s worry about the girl for now. I have to get Cali to her plane. I’ll see you tonight.”

  King ended the call and immediately addressed Cali. “Sorry. I know we planned on going back to—”

  “Don’t apologize to me, Alexander. I knew who you were when I decided to travel with you. You don’t owe me anything. Sounds like someone is in trouble. Save them, then worry about seeing me again.”

  King gave a thankful smile. “I will see you again, right?”

  Cali leaned over as King pulled into short-term parking, in the parking garage just across from the airport’s entrance. She gave him a long kiss. “I certainly hope so, Mr. Special Agent.”

  “You know, I’m not just a piece of meat,” King teased.

  “Yeah, you are.”

  They both got out of the car. King left his bag in the backseat, but he grabbed Cali’s for her.

  “I’ll walk you in. It’s the least I can do.”

  “Not necessary. I’ll be just fine.”

  “I want to,” he said. “Besides, I have to run in and extend the car rental. It will be easier than calling since I’m already here.”

  Cali hooked her arm in his. “All right then. Lead the way.”

  3

  King strolled across the walkway back to the parking garage. It was hard to watch Cali leave. The two of them had shared a fantastic couple of weeks. It was the most fun he’d had in a long time. He could still taste her cherry ChapStick as he rode the elevator up to the level where his car was parked. It took longer than he wanted at the rental counter. There was a line of impatient travelers waiting to get their vacation started. Unfortunately, he didn’t have his phone to pass the time; he’d left it in the car when he went in with Cali. Too many things on one’s mind makes it easy to forget the little things.

  King unlocked the rental and took a seat behind the wheel. He had a few hours to kill before Sam would be arriving. For the moment he was content to watch a few planes take off and land in the distance. His mind drifted from the task at hand—rescuing the girl from the grip of Raúl Ortega—all the way to the people in his life he had been missing desperately in the two years since he faked his own death to keep them safe. Sam had obtained a few photos of his niece, Kaley . . . she was getting so big. King missed hugging her and, of course, giving his sister a hard time for no reason. They were the only blood family he had left.

  Then there was Kyle. They may not actually be blood related, but Kyle was his brother nonetheless. He missed getting into girl trouble with him. Sam said he was doing well. He’d been on assignment with the CIA in several different locations. Sam mentioned he’d acquired quite a few skills, but the most impressive she’d heard about was his ability to blend in while undercover. He was no longer the rookie King was teaching a few years ago. King longed to see his friend’s growth for himself.

  His thoughts led him back to Sam’s suggestion on the phone last night. She’d mentioned they should go
back to their vigilante team on several occasions. The only reason King hadn’t made the move to do so was his relationship with the president, and the promise King had made him. He’d vowed he would always be there to fight for the United States when the president needed him. King had no interest in going back on that promise; however, his mind was beginning to shift to the possibility of having his cake and eating it too. To come back to life, so to speak, and bring his team back with him. Taking mercenary missions, but also being available anytime the president needed him. King wasn’t sure the two could coexist, but it was a thought he was beginning to fall in love with.

  Aside from the people he missed from his former life, he missed his home in Kentucky. He missed his horses and being a part of the races. He missed the thrill of seeing them thunder down the track for a win. More simply, he missed living a life. His life. As selfless as King had been to give it all up, it was beginning to take its toll. Meeting Cali only exacerbated that feeling because he wanted to show her who he really was, aside from the human hunter he had become. She had awoken a side of him that had been lying dormant since the night he met Natalie Rockwell. He was falling in love with Cali, and it was dampening his desire to remain living in the shadows. King was at a point now where the people who had threatened his friends and family were all dead. They had been the reason he had to disappear. Maybe now he could at least partially return to his old reality. And though he didn’t want to get ahead of himself, these thoughts of living an actual life while still fighting for his country were exciting.

  King’s trance was broken by the buzzing of his phone that rattled in the console’s cup holder. It was Sam.

  “You on your way?”

  “What the hell is going on down there, Xander?”

  King’s glowing mood instantly shifted to anxiety as he sat up in his seat.