Shane

by Linzi Basset

  “I’m sorry, Shane but I can’t … I’ll be bad company and spoil lunch for everyone. I’d rather go back to Castle Sin if you don’t mind.”

  “We’ll go.” He hugged her briefly. “I’ll be right back, let me just make our excuses.”

  “No, you stay. I’ll be fine—”

  “I said I’ll be right back.” Shane got out of the cab and walked over to Kane.

  “What the hell was that all about, Shane? Is Alexa okay?”

  “She will be … once I take care of that bastard and bitch.”

  “You have me concerned. Talk to me. What the fuck is going on?”

  Shane briefly gave Kane a shortened version. His anger knew no bounds and had returned in full blast by the time he finished.

  “It ends here. They will not haunt her one moment further. They're here because they want money and he’s pushing Rita to extort more from me. Why the fuck I don’t know since he owns a Fortune 500 company.”

  “So, that’s why you asked Parker to look into his background.”

  “Yes. I gave her thirty million dollars, Kane, and from what she’s saying it’s all gone. Why does he need her money if he has millions himself?”

  “Are you going to give her any?” Kane frowned darkly.

  “Hell no, but I'm going to make sure they pay for what they did to Alexa.”

  “Good. What are we doing and when?”

  “No, this is on me. I'll—”

  “The hell with that. Alexa is going to be my cousin-in-law, so to speak, therefore I’ll protect her as fiercely as you do. Besides, I’m just as furious as you.”

  And that was it. Drake and Rita’s fate had been decided.

  “I’m taking Alexa back to the island. It’s her safe haven and the only place where she’ll calm down.”

  “Go. Take care of her.” Kane watched him walk away. “And Shane!”

  “Yeah?” He looked back at him.

  “I’m happy you and she found each other, my friend. Fucking happy.”

  “So am I. God knows, so am I.”

  “We miss you at Castle Sin, Dom Evans. When are you coming back?” Celeste Dunn cooed as she walked her fingers up his chest to run them over his full lips. She was one of the permanent subs at the castle.

  “Last I heard you’re not going to be living on the island anymore.” Evans looked at her with a curious smile. “Or has anything changed?”

  “Oh no, we’re leaving in three weeks.”

  “Then what are you doing here in Key West in the middle of the week? Don’t you have duties to perform?”

  “You forget so easily? We have a day off every week. A bunch of us decided to hang out here, go watch a movie and shop.” She smiled slyly. “You know, the usual … among other activities.” She smiled at him. “I never thought I’d be so lucky to bump into you.”

  He caught her nape in a hard grip, smiling as she gasped in surprise. “No, I believe I’m the lucky one.” He started walking, his fingers biting into her neck in warning to keep up. “I have an apartment at the Hyatt Residence Club. Shall we explore some of those activities you mentioned?”

  “Oh, yes, Dom Evans,” she said eagerly.

  They entered the ground level unit from the garden—unnoticed by design.

  “Why don’t you slip out of those layers of clothing while I get drinks.”

  Evans settled on the sofa, sipping on a cold beer as he watched her undress. Celeste was a Mediterranean beauty, slender, with legs to the heavens. That she loved rough sex was an added bonus. One Evans intended to exploit to the fullest.

  “Where do the others think you are?”

  “What I do is none of their business. I’m a big girl. I don’t need to report my every move to any of them.”

  “Still as spirited as always I see. Come. Sit on my lap.”

  She didn’t need a second invitation and slipped gracefully in place. “Oh!” she gasped as he pressed the cold bottle against a nipple.

  “Any new trainees arrive on the island that you’re tormenting?” he prodded as he teased her nipples with the chilled glass.

  “No, but all the Masters and their women are in residence at the moment. Not that I have any idea why.” A pleased laugh flirted from her lips as she arched her back and watched him latch onto the proffered nipple, sucking hard until she writhed on his lap. “Oh, yes!” she wailed as he slowly pushed the narrow neck of the beer bottle inside her pussy.

  He lifted his head. “Don’t waste my beer, sub. One drop and you’ll be punished.” He nibbled on her breasts as he tipped the bottle, filling her pussy with the ice-cold beer.

  “So, they stay on the island all the time?”

  “Mostly. Not today though.” She whimpered as he wiggled the bottle deeper and felt the liquid spill from her slit. She cried out as he bit into her breast, twisting, and shaking his head.

  “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to,” she pleaded.

  He conceded to ask, “Not today, meaning?”

  “Ehm …” She licked her lips, desperately trying to tilt her hips higher to prevent further leakage. “Masters Eagle, Bear, Tiger, and Fox are having lunch with their subs somewhere on the island as well.”

  “Now that’s interesting.” Evan felt excitement surge through him. Ava Harper was Parker’s sub, which meant them being on the island offered an unexpected opportunity to give Lionheart what she was after.

  Revenge on Billy Hewitt and crippling the Sinclairs. He had to find a way to get Ava out from under the watchful eye of the Sinclairs.

  But first, he had to silence the squealing bitch. He couldn’t afford that she’d rat out his presence on Key West to all the others. He rammed the bottle deep inside her, smothering her screams of pain with a throw pillow. He watched with a satisfied smirk as her eyes widened, how the excitement of an afternoon fuck switched to horror as desire became pain and eventually … death.

  “God, what a rush.”

  He carried her lifeless body to the bathroom, quickly rinsed the blood from her pussy, washed the bottle clean before he threw it in the bin, and placed her on the bed. He arranged her on her side with the sheet covering her up to her waist. To anyone looking in, she was sleeping soundly.

  A touch of regret filled him as he stared at her, like it always did after a killing. He had never classed himself among the cruel criminals in the world, the ones who killed for gain as much as their own pleasure. The reality was, he was no different. When the shift had happened, he had no idea but that didn’t mean he regretted losing his way. He'd never thought of himself as a moral man, but perhaps morals were like the infra-red beams in the jewelry stores, invisible until crossed.

  Money and power. Two factors that had the ability to rule everyone and everything in the world. Evans Carter hadn’t been any different. He had succumbed to both.

  “I have important business to take care of. Don’t worry, I’m sure the cleaners will find you in the morning.”

  No fingers would point to him since he’d booked in under an assumed name and wore a disguise whenever he was in the hotel’s public areas. He smirked over his shoulder as he opened the outer door.

  “Until then, little whore … sweet dreams.”

  Chapter Twenty

  He came across them purely by chance.

  “Fuck, it truly is your day, Evans Carter,” he chirped as he cut the engine of the rental. His eyes scanned the front of the restaurant as he pulled the cap lower. The four Sinclairs and their subs had just exited El Siboney Restaurant on Stock Island in Key West with Shane and Lady S leading the pack. He watched them get into cabs and with a smirk followed them at a distance.

  “I hope they’re not heading back to the island just yet,” he muttered as they stopped at the Safe Harbor Marina. “Yes! I am the man today.” He shifted in the seat with glee coating his face as he watched them walking toward the Hogfish Bar and Grill. His glowing eyes settled on Parker and Ava Harper taking a seat at one of the outside benches at the front end of the bar, alo
ng with Stone and his sub. Kane and Shane were having an animated discussion out front.

  His mind was in overdrive as he scanned the perimeter, evaluating the best options for a getaway route—one that was quick and would aid him in rapidly disappearing with his prey. It wouldn’t be easy, since they were sitting outside, but it was an opportunity that wouldn’t present itself again. He’d have to take the chance, even if it meant he had to snatch her from right under Parker’s nose.

  “Knocking him out would give me loads of pleasure.” The Sinclairs were all expert fighters, that much he knew since he’d seen them practice over the years, but so was he. He’d have the benefit of surprise on his side. Parker wouldn’t know what hit him. By the time he’d alerted his brother and cousins, Evans would be long gone … with his precious Ava Harper as his captive.

  “Yeah, Lionheart is going to be very pleased. The question is, how do I separate her from the rest?”

  He started the car and parked around the corner. His face lit up. “Blue Sky boat rental,” he read the sign. “Abso-fucking-lutely perfect!” Within minutes he strolled past the bar, jiggling the keys to the speedboat as he went in search of it. It was conveniently moored right in front of the bar; a couple of yards and he’d be home free … it was perfect. He chuckled as he loosened the mooring line and retied it in a loose knot that he’d be able to yank loose easily. It was enough to keep the boat in place and since he intended to get this over quickly, he left the key in the ignition before he strolled back toward the bar. He didn’t miss the irony. He’d gotten away when he abducted Zeke’s sub in the yacht's speedboat … and now, he would again.

  “And they won’t be able to do shit but watch me speed off. By the time they get access to a boat, I’ll be long gone.”

  He found a spot behind a large potted plant close to the table where the Sinclairs were seated. Evans wasn’t the lurking kind but he’d learned since he’d joined SPEONUS that there were times that he had to do things outside of his comfort zone. Whether he liked it or not, Evans acknowledged that he had become, and was as much a criminal, as those he used to chase as an FBI agent in the past.

  “This is too fucking easy,” he muttered as he watched the three men walk toward the bar, leaving their women unattended. He glanced around. “Fuck.” Their complacency was due to the number of police officers and security guards on the marina, stationed there to keep the community safe. He peered at the Sinclairs through the leaves of the palm tree while keeping a close eye on his surroundings. The opportunity lent itself when the immediate area cleared of law enforcement.

  His approach was quick, the pressure on Ava’s carotid effective to put her out before she realized what was happening.

  “Hey! What are you doing?” Peyton screamed as she struggled off of the bench. Her cry alerted the Sinclairs.

  “AVA!” Parker’s raw shout echoed in Evans’ ears, spurring him to move faster. He pumped his legs, cursing at the dead weight of the woman over his shoulder, which made her heavier than he’d thought. He yanked loose the mooring line at the same time he threw the prone woman on the floor of the boat. He cackled a laugh as the engine purred powerfully when he opened the throttle, pushing away from the marina and cutting to the side at the same time.

  “AVA!”

  “Fuck,” Evans cursed as he looked over his shoulder to see Parker lunge himself off the marina after the boat. How he managed, Evans had no idea but he was hauling his body over the side as he pulled back the throttle. The boat slowed to a crawl. He wasted no time. He couldn’t afford a lengthy fight, not with the other two frantically searching for a boat to use. His boot connected with Parker’s jaw in a flying side kick that sent him flying backward, the second one in his gut landed him in the churning water as Evans opened the throttle and sped off.

  “Motherfucker!” Parker ignored the pain in his jaw and gut as he stared with murderous eyes after the disappearing boat.

  “Parker! Get over here. We’ve got a boat waiting on the other side,” Stone shouted, waving at him urgently as he watched the boat growing smaller in the distance.

  Parker swam to the jetty. “It’s no use, Stone. He’s gone but we need to get hold of Zeke. He can track them via GeoEye. Wherever the fuck he’s going, it won’t be far enough.”

  “I contacted the Coast Guard as well,” Kane said as he came up running. “They’re already out on the water. They’ll catch him, Parker.”

  Parker’s face was grim as he led the way back to the pub where Peyton and Rose waited with concerned expressions.

  “Who took her?” Peyton asked as she clutched his hand.

  “Evans. The fucking bastard did it again. First Taylor, now Ava,” he gritted out in a cold voice. Death underscored every syllable.

  “Zeke already has a trace on him, Parker. It looks like he’s on the way to the Bahamas. Michael is on his way with the boat. He’ll be here in five minutes. We’ll get there in—”

  “No, Stone. He’s not going to be there by the time we arrive.”

  “Yes, Zeke?” Stone snapped as he answered his ringing cell phone. “You’re on speaker. Talk to us.”

  “It seems that the Bahamas is a midway point. I checked the flight plans at every private airport. One is set for Belize. A William Lock booked a private flight thirty minutes ago to be on standby to leave with two passengers.”

  “How do you know it’s him?” Kane interjected.

  “It was flagged by our system. William Lock was Evans’ grandfather’s name.”

  Parker shook his head. “This isn’t just an abduction; it’s a lure. They know we have the resources to track him.” He looked between them. “They want us to come to them.”

  “Straight into a trap.” Kane wrapped his arms around Rose who was shaking in delayed shock.

  “There’s one more thing,” Zeke interjected. “I found traces of dark web search into Billy Hewitt’s past. They found out Ava is his daughter.”

  “Revenge. On us for shutting down their operations and on Billy for betraying them.” Parker’s voice sounded hollow and filled with raw sorrow.

  “Ava is a fighter, Parker,” Zeke said. “I’ve got my eyes on that plane heading to Belize. The moment she’s on it, we know where they’re headed. With the Sikorsky, we’ll get there before they do. Just get your asses back here.”

  “Michael just arrived. Let’s go. Get everyone ready, Zeke. Including Billy and Shane. Contact Mateo Rogers at the Secret Service. I trust him. Tell him to arrange for a Hostage Rescue Team to accompany us. We’ll send them our coordinates once we’re in the air. We’re heading out the moment we get back.”

  “Anything new?” Parker asked Zeke as they walked into the operations center at BSE.

  “I finally managed to get access to the delayed live feeds of Moore’s house.” He pointed to the wall of screens as he ran them through the images. “Recognize anyone?”

  “That’s Keith Hastings, the Governor General of Canada and another fucking bastard betrayer to the president, Frank Moore, the Director of the FBI.” Shane stared at the screens with murder in his eyes.

  “Who’s the other fuck?” Hawk gritted.

  “That’s the President of the World Bank Group, David Muller. They were there meeting none other than Rebecca Lomas and Evans.” Zeke fast forwarded the footage. “Then these two arrived.”

  “World domination isn’t all that farfetched a theory anymore, is it?” Stone said.

  “Sadly, no. I’m sure you recognize the Sicilian Mafia Boss, Miceli Randazzo, all the way from Italy and—”

  “Zhang Yong, I recognize him—the Deputy Dragon Master of the Triads.” Kane shook his head. “Were you able to find Yale?”

  “Yep,” Zeke changed the live feed. “As you can see, Yale and Rebecca are enjoying themselves in Belize as we speak.”

  “Gear up. We’re leaving.” Stone looked at them. “We’re going in hard. This time … no fucking mercy. If any of you have a moral limitation to that, I suggest you stay behind.”
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  “Fuck morals. They took one of us and killed many over the years. Let’s go,” Ace grated with murder in his eyes.

  “Billy, you up for this?” Shane watched the man who hadn’t said a word since they told him Ava had been taken.

  He didn’t respond and then nodded, turned, and headed toward the elevator.

  Parker and Zeke were keeping track of the GeoEye live feeds and the satellite communication systems of the FAA to follow the plane. Earlier images confirmed Evans leading a very groggy Ava into the ten-seater jet. The Sikorsky was equipped with a roaming Wi-Fi router that kept them connected enroute. Stone flew at a low altitude. The choppers of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team moved into place behind them as they flew over Havana.

  “I don’t like this, Stone,” Parker said, staring at the live feed from the drone above the beach house where Rebecca and Yale were lounging next to the pool. They had just landed in a secure area that the FBI Rescue Team had arranged with the Belize authorities not too far from the property.

  “I agree. It’s too quiet. It looks like it’s only the two of them in residence which we know is impossible, especially if they expect us to come to them.” Shane looked over Zeke’s shoulder. “Has the plane landed?”

  “By now it must have but we lost track of it during the time we had no connection to the satellites over the Gulf of Mexico. I just hacked into the local street cam footage and I’m running facial recognition using the tracking technology we just developed that hacks into every camera on every electronic device in the city. If he’s in the streets, we’ll find him.”

  Parker paced outside the chopper, chomping at the bit to get going and find Ava. Stone squeezed his shoulder. “Hold on, little brother. We will find her but rushing in isn’t going to help her. Our first priority is to ensure we extract her safely. We can’t do that until we know her exact coordinates.”

  “Coordinates! Fuck! How goddamned stupid am I?” Parker sneered as he rushed back to the chopper and typed in a command. “The bracelet I gave her … after Billy abducted her, I installed a micro nano tracking chip.” His fingers flew over the keys of the built-in computer system. “Zeke, find these coordinates.” He recited the numbers in a terse voice as Zeke linked them to the GeoEye satellite.