Arielle Immortal Fury (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 6)

by Lilian Roberts

  The men laughed revoltingly, slapping each other’s hands and appearing amused that they had embarrassed the young girl. Sebastian cursed under his breath, and it took all the strength he had to stay in his seat. He would have loved to shove the disgusting laughter down their throats.

  Nathan and Troy clenched their teeth, seeming just as angry at witnessing the interaction between the thugs and an innocent girl. The rest of the patrons glared at the two goons. Nathan and Troy shifted in their seats. Sebastian’s brows lifted, letting Nathan and Troy know that they needed to relax. This wasn’t the time to draw attention to their table. They listened in on the men's conversations and heard them discuss bets, women, and cars, but nothing about their activities for the day. When the breakfast plates were served, silence fell at their table as the men stuffed their faces. Sebastian, Nathan, and Troy ordered coffee and sipped slowly. They waited patiently for Frans and Gustaaf to finish eating. Their poor manners had created a spectacle in the small restaurant. They held their faces only inches from their plates while they shoved the food into their mouths as fast as they could.

  Disgusting groans of satisfaction escaped their mouths. They rapidly scraped their plates with the forks, trying to get every last morsel. When they finished, they belched loud enough for everyone to hear and then laughed disrespectfully.

  They pushed their plates back and pulled the coffee cups closer. Nearly in unison, Gustaaf and Frans lit cigarettes and sat back, leaning their heads against the vinyl.

  “So what’s the plan for today?” Frans whispered. This is exactly what the guys were waiting for.

  “We'll meet with Daniel Tarasov and discuss the assignment,” Gustaaf replied, keeping their conversation to a whisper.

  “Why Daniel?” Frans asked curiously. “I thought we were in charge of the assignment. At least that is what Jorrit said.”

  “Daniel is working with Vitorio and Mauritsio right now,” Gustaaf explained. “They’ve been in Brighton for a couple of days, and they have already made contact with the person we need. They are handling the initial requirements to help us step in and finish this.”

  “Have they provided any updates to Daniel?” Frans insisted.

  “That’s what we’re going to find out.” They drained their cups and then pushed away from the booth before walking up to the counter. They handed the ticket to the girl behind the cash register. She rang the total silently, painfully enduring additional explicit remarks. They dropped their money on the counter, and with vulgar laughter, they walked out the door.

  The guys turned their gaze to the young girl’s face. Her eyes were dark as she watched the two thugs crossing the street. Her lips were pressed together in disgust, but she remained silent.

  Chapter 20

  THE GUYS PUSHED their chairs away from the table and stood up. Troy walked to the counter to pay for the coffee while Sebastian and Nathan walked out the front door, keeping the goons within their eyesight.

  The girl smiled. “Thank you, sir. Have a good day.”

  “You too,” Troy replied politely as he left.

  They were just getting into the car when they saw the red Mazda pulling away from the curb. Nathan pressed on the gas and followed them, holding a safe distance.

  The thirty-minute ride through the narrow lanes of the city was nerve racking. The streets were crowded with pedestrians, making it difficult to move safely and keep the Mazda in sight. Nathan cursed out loud. “Why don’t we just forget about the damn car and go after them on foot?”

  “Nathan,” Troy snorted. “We can’t go charging all over Brussels on foot.” Silence fell, and there was nothing to do but tolerate the drive.

  Soon they were outside the city with nothing ahead but a long stretch of road.

  Troy shook his head. “Where the devil are they heading?”

  Sebastian shrugged his shoulders. “Wherever it is, we have no choice but to follow.”

  After another long, boring twenty minutes, they finally arrived at a smaller town. It appeared relatively quiet. They drove past several nice apartment buildings and a few gated communities with few people on the sidewalks. The Mazda kept moving until it reached a lightly populated area.

  They turned off the main road onto a narrow street and slowed down, avoiding being noticed. The street led into a tight lane filled with potholes. It was sort of like driving in a minefield or an obstacle course. The concrete surface had worn away, creating craters and cracks. The goons never slowed down. The guys watched the Mazda as it bounced wildly. Before long, it stopped. Nathan drove slowly and cursed inwardly every time they hit a bump.

  “This forsaken road makes the narrow streets of the city look like open highways,” Nathan observed. Several oaths escaped the lips of Sebastian and Troy as they hit another deep bump, and the car became airborne. Their bodies lost their stability, swaying from one side of the car to the other.

  Eventually, the Mazda came to a full stop. They saw Frans and Gustaaf jump out of the car, making their way through a small yard that surrounded a two-story home. The men quickly disappeared behind a brown door. Sebastian assumed the door was unlocked, because he didn't see the men use a key or knock.

  Nathan drove on until he reached the next street. He rounded the corner and stopped behind a large building.

  They moved quickly, reaching the dilapidated structure that was engulfed in wilted hedges and drowning in dead vines.

  “What the devil is this?” Nathan said.

  “Just an eyesore, I’m sure,” Troy chuckled.

  Sebastian cringed, and his hands curled into tight fists. “It’s appropriate for the type of scum living here.”

  Regardless of the house's appearance, it seemed to be the place the goons were meeting their contact to discuss their plans.

  The guys looked around, using their immortal speed to avoid being seen by any human eye. In a matter of milliseconds, they had crossed the yard, and as they drew closer, they rounded the corner to the back and crouched below the windows.

  The back of the house bordered a field covered by a thick stand of trees and bushes that extended into the distance to small hills that disappeared into the heavy clouds. The surroundings provided concealment for their movements. They gazed out over the treetops and up to the cloudy sky with narrowed eyes, scanning the area and hoping that they could avoid a downpour. A mild wind moved through the trees, and a curtain flapped against the open window on the second floor. They lapsed into silence, patiently waiting to gather the information they needed before they moved to eliminate the thugs.

  Gustaaf and Frans opened the front door without knocking and crossed the threshold quickly, shutting the door behind them.

  “Daniel!” Frans called out. “Where are you, man?”

  “I’m upstairs; come on up.” Daniel’s voice, thick with a Russian accent, gave off waves of authority. Frans and Gustaaf quickly ascended the small staircase leading to the second floor. They walked into the only room with the open door on the top of the landing. Daniel was bent over a long bench, working diligently on something. He lifted his head briefly and smiled widely at the two newcomers.

  “It’s good to see you both,” he said with a laugh.

  “Yeah…you too,” Gustaaf replied. They both curiously approached the bench. “What are you working on?”

  Daniel laughed. “Just an experiment of mine.”

  “What kind of experiment?” Frans asked, eyes narrowed.

  “I’m getting ready for tonight’s assignment,” he added, giving them a meaningful look.

  Frans and Gustaaf ran their hands over the various items on the bench. There were small copper pipes, gunpowder, duct tape, electrical tape, a couple of galvanized steel boxes, and some liquids. Wires were spread all over the place. There were a few jars filled with nails.

  “Good God!” said Frans. “What the devil are you making?” He swallowed hard, eyes wide open. “Whatever you’re making is going to be pretty powerful.”

  “I’m cou
nting on that,” he said coolly.

  “Have you heard from Vitorio or Mauritsio?” Gustaaf asked.

  Sebastian tensed and made a face. Turning, he glanced at Nathan and Troy. They moved closer to the wall and stood below the second floor window.

  “Yes, I spoke with Vitorio this morning,” Daniel said and paused.

  After a pregnant moment, Frans pressed on. “Well?”

  Daniel coughed, clearing his throat. His long fingers curled around the glass that was sitting on the bench, and lifting it to his mouth, he took a long sip. Setting the glass down, he bent over and continued working. He didn’t seem to be a man of many words. “They made contact with the target and one of her best friends,” he finally said.

  “For God’s sake. And…?” Frans asked again anxiously.

  Daniel looked up. A wry smile spread across his face. “Vitorio actually said...” He paused again.

  The man was beyond frustrating. Gustaaf and Frans stood there a moment, cursing inwardly and sending glares in Daniel’s direction. “What the devil did he say?” they both barked simultaneously.

  Daniel threw his head back and laughed out loud. He loved keeping them on their toes. He glared over his shoulder at them. “They are going to love this assignment! The girls are absolutely beautiful. They’ll make sure they spend some stimulating time with them, if you know what I mean.” He snorted.

  Nausea threatened to sink into Sebastian's body at the insinuation of his revolting statement. He saw that Troy was having the same reaction. Their stomachs swirled in disgust, and anger built up to a dangerous level. Sebastian drew deep breaths, but it didn’t mollify his anxiety.

  “Really?” Gustaaf asked. “Why in hell don’t I ever get a good assignment like that? All I ever get to work with are ugly guys like you two,” he said and laughed.

  Silence followed. “I’d love to have a taste of those girls,” Frans added in a husky voice.

  Gustaaf scoffed. “You may get your chance.”

  Anger flashed across Sebastian’s eyes, and waves of rage engulfed every muscle in his body. Glancing at Troy, he saw his frown deepen and his teeth clench tightly, trying to control his emotions. Nathan studied their faces. He clapped both men on their shoulders, snorting in disbelief at their discomfort. “They’re never going to touch the girls,” he said calmly, patting his friends on their backs. “You both need to remain focused, so we can get what we need,” he furthered. Sebastian and Troy didn’t quite relax, but Nathan was right. They nodded in agreement.

  “How long do they plan to stay there?” Gustaaf asked Daniel.

  “They’ll remain for at least a few more days or through next week. We have to provide validated documentation, such as close-up photos, to Gaulle. He needs to understand that we mean business and that we can get as close to his loved ones as we want,” Daniel replied blankly.

  “Jorrit said that she’s not to be hurt,” Gustaaf said as he leaned forward and picked up one of the metal boxes from the counter. Turning it slowly in his hands, he examined each side closely. Placing it back on the counter, he turned to Daniel and whispered, “How are you going to convince Gaulle that you mean business without anyone getting hurt? Do you really believe that Gaulle will give up the documents?”

  Daniel scoffed. “He’ll have no choice in the matter.”

  Troy raised a surprised brow. “They don’t have a clue who they’re dealing with?”

  Sebastian eyes narrowed. “They’re about to find out,” he said through clenched teeth. Glancing between his friends, his lips curved up.

  “I’ll be involved in the next phase of this assignment. If Gaulle doesn’t comply, there’ll be hell to pay,” Daniel continued.

  Sebastian cursed inwardly, at the sound of Daniel’s words.

  “I’ll–” Daniel started to say.

  Gustaaf interrupted Daniel midsentence. Annunciating his words, he said, “I’m sure that my extortion packages will make him understand that we mean business.” He glanced between Frans and Daniel, and then his gaze settled on Daniel as he continued his ranting. “I firmly believe that we won't have to move to the next phase. The proper wording will put the fear in Gaulle.”

  His comment made Daniel smile, but the man remained quiet. “I have my own ways of persuasion,” his voice was barely audible, but it traveled to the immortal ears just as clear as if it he had shouted at the top of his lungs.

  “I have to agree,” Frans said. “Gustaaf has the ability to motivate anyone to act sensibly.”

  Daniel glanced between them and chuckled. “But what if he doesn’t act sensibly?”

  Gustaaf’s lips twisted, heated emotions flashing like a blaze in his eyes. He crossed his arms over his muscled chest and glowered at Daniel. “I’ll hurt the girl if I have to.”

  Troy and Nathan tensed at the words, and a harsh oath escaped Sebastian’s lips.

  “I’m sure you can unleash great fear in your victims to advance your reputation,” Daniel said amusingly. Whether he meant that or not didn’t make any difference. It was good enough to make Gustaaf blissful. “There is beer in the fridge if you want something to drink,” Daniel said and motioned them to the door.

  “I could use a beer right now,” Frans replied.

  Daniel eased away from the bench, turning to walk out of the room and down the stairs. Frans and Gustaaf followed him to the kitchen where he opened the fridge and handed each a beer can.

  Daniel was a tall man with an impressive physique. His hair was blond and looked as if it hadn’t been washed or combed in a week. His face was hard with chiseled lines. His thin lips held a stiff look. He popped the top and took a long sip, letting out a satisfied sigh.

  Troy, Sebastian, and Nathan moved quietly and crouched behind the window that was looking into the first floor. They peered carefully into the room. All three men were standing around the kitchen counter.

  “I’ve a small assignment for tonight. Do you want to come along?” Daniel was asking. “I could use your help.”

  “Yeah!” Gustaaf and Frans exclaimed. Their excitement was palpable. “Where are we going?”

  “A government office that holds intelligence files.”

  “What for?”

  Daniel drew in a breath and stared at the beer can. “I don’t know and I don’t care. I’m to destroy all the files and anyone who tries to stop me. The big boss says they're important. I don’t ask questions. I just do the job.”

  “Are we going to use those explosives?” Frans asked, waving his arm toward the room upstairs.

  “Yes,” Daniel replied.

  “Do you ever think of the power you hold over people’s lives?” Gustaaf asked.

  Daniel shook his head thoughtfully. “Yes, quite often.” They lapsed into a short silence. Then, Daniel spoke again. “What’s really strange is that I get a sense of fulfillment that I can’t explain. It’s a high that gives me immense pleasure.” He stopped talking and looked out the window as if he was trying to understand why he felt that way.

  “I guess it’s the end of the line for the folks working in that building tonight, right?” Frans said mockingly.

  “Yep, their time is up,” Daniel chuckled.

  Nathan glanced between his friends, noticing the tensed jaw muscles, the pressed lips, and the disgust spread across their faces. He knew that the discussions about Arielle and Gabrielle had them on edge.

  “I wonder where they find sick people like them,” Troy whispered, reacting to the conversation.

  Nathan glanced at him. His lips curved up. “I wonder how they would feel if they knew that their time was up.”

  “I assure you, not well at all,” Sebastian said through clenched teeth.

  Troy raised his eyes to Sebastian. “We can’t let them harm another soul. We have to stop them from carrying out this murderous assignment. Eliminating these three scum and the rest of the mafia assassins is crucial, am I right?”

  Sebastian and Nathan nodded in agreement. “But let’s wait a few mor
e minutes. I would like to find out the names of the people that Daniel will be working with on the next phase of their assignment,” Sebastian said. “I’ll never give up the company documents.”

  They remained quietly under the window listening to the men carrying on their criminal conversation.

  Daniel stood in the kitchen with one hand in his pocket and the other holding a can of beer. He was slurping his drink and sharing the details of his assignment with Frans and Gustaaf. He clarified how he wanted the job to be carried out tonight. He also provided alternatives in case they encountered any roadblocks. “The result will have to be a complete success,” he said fanatically.

  Daniel drained his beer before pushing away from the kitchen counter. He climbed back up the stairs two at a time. He reached the top of the landing and then looked down, gesturing for Frans and Gustaaf to follow him. They finished their drinks and moved with leisurely strides as they ascended the stairs. Daniel was already bending over the bench, working on a device in front of him when the two came into the room. He motioned for them to take a seat. “I need to finish this,” he said with a throaty laugh. He pointed at the devise.

  Frans and Gustaaf took a seat across from the bench and watched Daniel work.

  “Who are the guys assigned to the next phase? Do you know?” Frans asked.

  “Rainer told me that they decided to go with Borowski’s people at first, but they changed their minds.”

  “Why is that? Borowski is great at his job. I have had a couple of assignments with his guys,” Gustaaf said, a smile on his lips.

  “They are too brutal for this assignment,” Daniel said. “They don’t want to hurt the bargaining chip, and you know how things happen when Borowski’s guys are involved.” They all laughed.