The Executioner 2: Love, Lies, and Revenge (The Executioner Series)

by Melissa Silvey

  “I’ll lead you to the main house, but I really should be leaving soon. Kosum will take care of you there.” She nodded again. ”You won’t try to attack Kosum, or any of the other staff, will you?”

  “No, I promise.” He stood and gave her his hand, and she allowed him to help her up. He was just about Sam’s height. The closer she came to him, the more flawless his pale skin appeared.

  He opened the door, and she could see why the waves were so loud; the hut was as close to the water as it could be. Three more huts, right next door, were built over the water on stilts. Perhaps he didn’t put her in one of those huts for fear she would destroy the grass floor trying to get out. As far as she could see in front of her was water. Several lanterns with candles hung on bamboo poles by the huts and down the beach, then formed a path headed away from the water. Kosum followed after them.

  “You’re on a private island,” Damien informed Ari as he led her toward the path. “The servants all live here. There are very few boats, and you wouldn’t be able to find your way to the mainland anyway.” The path was well lit, through huge stalks of bamboo and thick palm trees. Huts sat along the path, with several people out on their balconies enjoying the cool breeze from the ocean.

  The main house, as he called it, was like something from her imagination. The front courtyard was stone surrounded by lit lanterns. Set inside the stone was an oval pool lit from the inside. The floor of the pool was blue-green tiles that made the water appear the color of the sea. A round hot tub was situated at one end. Both pools were fed by a waterfall that trickled down the side of a wall made of the same stones. Palm trees, ferns, and other palm plants grew by the waterfall. Wood carved statues dotted the scenery. She wanted to strip down and dive into the pool, but she was afraid of the grime she would leave in the water.

  Opposite the waterfall was an open bungalow with bamboo furniture and a wet bar. Mosquito nettings, tied to the roof, were the only walls. The house was three stories, each story made of floor to ceiling glass and light wood. The roof was angled and appeared to be thatch. Most of the rooms were lit up, creating a cheery, welcoming feeling.

  “This is my father’s uncle’s island. We’ve been coming here since I was a small child.” He smiled at Kosum and said something to her in her language, and she made her way inside.

  When he escorted her in, her heart stopped. The rafters were exposed, creating a rustic feel. The settee and the chairs were all oval cushions on bamboo bases, and the tables were bamboo and glass. A rattan chair hung from a base in one corner, and gave the feeling of a small pillowed pod. She wanted to climb into everything, but she abstained.

  “The kitchen is that way,” he said as he pointed toward what looked like a dining area with a huge table. “Another sitting area and the entertainment rooms are that way,” he said as he pointed the other direction. “And the bedrooms are upstairs.”

  A wood and glass staircase curved up to the second floor, and she hesitated to follow him. “It’s perfectly safe,” he laughed, and climbed up several to demonstrate. She slowly followed behind him, looking down as the first floor seemed to fall away.

  A long hallway held several doors on both sides, and he brought her to the first door to the right. Kosum pulled down the blanket and fluffed the pillows. She laid one of Ari’s new nightgowns out on the bed. When Ari chose it, she thought Vince would be sleeping beside her.

  A very modern looking bathroom sat to one side, an open closet filled with her clothes in front of it, and on the other side a sitting area with rattan furniture covered in colorful canvas cushions.

  “This is beautiful,” Ari exclaimed. “It’s like a dream come true.” She walked toward the window and stood in front of it, staring down at the front courtyard. She could see everything, the huts, the water, and a pier to the far right of the huts on the beach, lit by modern fluorescents. “It would be so romantic to walk out there at night,” she sighed.

  “You can watch the fish swimming under the pier.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “One of the huts over the water has a glass floor.”

  She turned to him with awe in her eyes. He knew there was something about her and now he could see it, standing in front of him. She was real, genuine. Even with her hair all frizzy and her dirty clothes she was beautiful. And that look on her face; he could imagine that same expression as he had sex with her…

  “I should be leaving soon,” he said as he turned his attention toward the bed. The gown that lay on top was nothing more than light pink lace. He quivered as he thought of her tan skin inside it. “I’ll try to come earlier tomorrow, and take you for a tour of the island.”

  “Yes, please,” she said as if she was an eager guest, and not a captive.

  “Good night,” he said softly as he closed the door.

  She heard a key turn, and she knew she was locked in. Still better than the hut, she thought as she made her way to the bathroom.

  The next morning Damien walked through the lobby of the hotel and didn’t see Vince Argento waiting for him. He knew he still couldn’t come and go as he pleased. He knew he would still need to be disguised to leave the hotel to see Arianna. There were cameras everywhere. And anywhere there was a camera Jordan Stewart could be watching. He wondered where Argento was off to, but not enough to ask about him and get on anyone’s radar; anyone besides Argento and Stewart, that is. He wondered what Arianna was doing as he climbed into the back of a waiting limo.

  Vince gathered his bags at the airport in Kuala Lumpur. Most of the women wore headscarves and long, flowing robes. Some of the women had long dark hair and skin as brown as Ari’s. Take away Ari’s blue eyes and she would fit in any of the Asian countries he’d visited recently. She could literally be anywhere. He exited the airport and was met by the hot, muggy air of the capital city of Malaysia.

  He climbed into a taxi and hoped the driver spoke English. “Hello. Can you take me to this hotel?” He handed the man a piece of paper. The man nodded and started the car.

  Arianna sat in one of the settees and stared out the window. What a paradise the island would be if she was not a prisoner. The house was magnificent, the surroundings were spectacular. Hell, the pool itself was a masterpiece. She felt like she was hidden away from the world, and yet surrounded by a village. She found ten huts that seemed to be inhabited as she watched. Men made their way to the fishing boats, some carried poles to the pier. She’d never thought about it, but to live in a place like this would be heaven; just her, Vince, and Jordan. They didn’t need anyone else.

  She found a satellite radio receiver and a 90’s station she could listen to. There was no TV in her room, but that didn’t matter. Listening to the music and watching the villagers was entertainment enough.

  Kosum even brought her a treat; a breakfast consisting of fried dough with a coconut flavored dipping sauce, fried eggs with a bit of rice and pineapple, and a sweet coffee. She ate every bite and wished she had more. There must be chickens somewhere on the island, she mused. The eggs tasted so fresh. She could live here, she thought, until Vince came to get her.

  Vince settled in at the hotel and waited for the FBI contact in this country. He wished he could fly on a military flight, that way he could carry his guns with him. But as it stood he was at the mercy of others, and he hated that. So he sat on the bed in the hotel room, and wondered again where Ari was. He hoped she was well taken care of. If Damien Tremblay had her, he hoped he wasn’t abusing her. And he hoped when he found whoever it was that had Ari he would have the strength not to kill them.

  For some reason Sam Clark had appointed himself to look after Jordan. He stopped by to bring Jordan dinner after he left his office. Jordan couldn’t remember the last time he ate; his mind was so full of worry. Sam remembered Jordan’s vegetarian diet. Jordan smiled and thanked him politely, then tore into the pasta.

  Jordan knew the reason Sam was being so thoughtful: Arianna. Jordan wanted to dislike the man, for many reasons. But he couldn’t manage it
.

  The last time when Ari was gone Vince kept him grounded and sane. Now Vince was gone as well. They were connected only through technology; and Jordan wasn’t too fond of it now either.

  “Any news about Arianna,” Sam wondered after taking a few bites of his own dinner.

  “Nothing,” Jordan said.

  Then he sat very quietly for several moments. He fought back the tears that he wanted to cry. He would not break down while Vince and Ari both needed him.

  “How about Vince?” Sam continued.

  “He’s fine. He’s in Malaysia now,” Jordan responded. “He should be meeting with an FBI contact.”

  “I hope he has some luck,” Sam sighed, then returned to his dinner. Jordan did too.

  Chapter Seven

  Ari watched the boat arrive at the pier. The sunset on the horizon turned the ocean a pretty pink-orange. She could see his blonde hair and white skin glowing in the light. She shouldn’t be so excited to see her captor, but she wanted to get out and explore what she’d been staring at all day.

  She already showered, dressed in the new bikini he bought her, and weaved her long dark hair into a braid. She tried to seem uninterested, but she turned toward the door when she heard it unlock. She tried to find her best Florian Desjardins expression, tried her hardest to appear cold and distant. But she couldn’t. When the door opened, and she saw Damien standing there in a soft white t-shirt and black shorts, she smiled. Not entirely because it was him; but because she would get a taste of freedom.

  “Hello, Arianna,” he said as walked toward her and dropped the pack he carried onto the bed. “You look beautiful.”

  The pink cover-up she wore over the matching bikini did little to hide her figure or her skin. The heavy braid hung over her shoulder, leading his gaze up to her brown neck.

  “Thank you for the new suit.” Her voice held an unadulterated tone of gratitude that touched him. His wife never said thank you for anything, she just asked for more. Thankfully their pre-nup was iron clad, and their divorce was final just weeks ago. He was truly free to do whatever he wanted.

  “I brought more chocolates,” he said with a smug grin. “And I brought you another bottle of wine.”

  “I was hoping we’d…” She let the words go as she turned back toward the huge window. The edges of the sky were turning a soft lilac. The waters of the sea and the pool mirrored the fascinating colors on display.

  “You like it?” He closed the distance between them and stood right beside her. She could see his reflection in the glass, but instead of watching the beautiful nature show outside he watched her.

  “It’s breathtaking,” she whispered.

  “I need about fifteen minutes and I’ll be ready to take you swimming, okay?” She nodded eagerly and continued to gaze out the window. “Do you want to come with me?”

  “Sure,” she nodded, and followed him into the hall and up a spiral staircase to the top floor of the house. Right at the top of the steps was a small hallway with two doors. He opened the door to the left, and she was amazed yet again.

  “I don’t need a partner,” Vince growled into his phone.

  “You don’t know your way around Kuala Lumpur,” Dutton stated calmly. “And if these men have Arianna, they are probably both guarding her. You need someone to watch your back.”

  Vince couldn’t argue with that. But he glanced over his shoulder at the agent he was to be paired with and shook his head. The guy was younger than Jordan, and as big as Arianna. He couldn’t understand how much he could possibly help.

  “Plus he speaks the language fluently. His mother and father immigrated to the US a few years before he was born.” He did look like he fit in with his dark hair and eyes. “Give him a chance, Vince.”

  “Yes, sir,” Vince agreed and ended the call. “What’s your name again, kid?”

  “Awan Long,” he answered.

  “Long?” Vince wondered as he double checked one of the automatic pistols Long brought. He placed it in a shoulder holster, then checked another and tucked it in the back of his trousers.

  “It’s a traditional Malay name,” he shrugged. “These two men you’re after, they belong to a gang. If the gang has Agent Becker she could have been sold anywhere in Asia.”

  Vince knew what he said was true. He’d thought it himself more than once. But hearing it from another person made it way too real. Vince took a deep breath, held it, then exhaled loudly.

  “I’m sorry. Did she mean something to you?” Long asked as he followed Vince out the door.

  “She means everything to me,” Vince corrected him.

  Outside was just as muggy as it had been earlier in the day. The sky was an odd purple color; Vince found it disconcerting. It was just another reminder that he was not in America, and that he’d lost Arianna in a foreign country.

  Long climbed into the right side of a vehicle that reminded Vince of Jordan’s little electric car. “Get in,” he called out. Vince opened the left door, the side that should have been the driver’s side, and climbed into the small car. “You’ll get used to it.”

  Vince hoped he would soon.

  Arianna stood on a balcony that looked out onto the other side of the island. It, as most other things on the island, had a thin mosquito netting that separated her from the outside world. It was still better than the window she stared out all day.

  She found more huts, more palm trees, and a small ridge that prevented Ari from seeing the ocean on the other side. But it didn’t matter, she was totally fascinated. There was a hen house with a small fenced area for them to roam around in. She could hear monkeys chattering in the distance, and what sounded like pigs snorting.

  “So are you ready?” Damien asked as he snuck up behind her. He wore just a pair of swimming trunks. His body reminded her of Sam’s, but better. He was slightly taller, and much wider, than Sam. Not quite as big as Vince, but still very nicely built. His skin was so white, even whiter than Jordan’s. He had very fine blonde body hair, and tiny little pink nipples.

  She shouldn’t be looking at him that way, she reminded herself.

  “I brought you something else,” he said as he slipped a light pink bracelet on her wrist. She exhaled when his hand touched hers. He noticed, and his fingers lingered on the delicate skin on the inside of her wrist. “They keep the mosquitoes away. You’ll need it.”

  “Thank you, again,” she said, and smiled weakly. For some reason she decided not to pull away from his caress. Was it self-preservation, or something more?

  “Let’s go swim,” he said as he walked toward the door. His hand was still on her forearm. It slid down quickly, and clasped hers. Their fingers twined together easily as if they always had, and he gripped her tightly as he walked toward the staircase.

  “Okay,” she nodded, and followed.

  “Where are you?” Jordan spoke as he nibbled on a biscuit. Sam had carried it in to him earlier, along with some potatoes smothered in cheese. Then he glanced at his watch and said he had a meeting, and he was gone. Jordan decided he really should find a way to thank Sam properly when this was all over; as long as it didn’t include sharing Arianna with him again.

  “We’ve already checked all known addresses for them, but no one’s seen them in days. I’m outside what looks like an abandoned warehouse,” Vince answered. “Are you sure the phones that belong to the kidnappers are inside?”

  “I’m fairly sure,” Jordan stated. “You are within twenty feet of the signal.”

  “Okay, great,” Vince said as he ended the call. Then he turned to Long and asked, “Do you think we should wait for backup?”

  Long shrugged and pulled a big flashlight out of the glove compartment, then pulled a pin-light out and handed it to Vince. “This building doesn’t look like it’s been used in a while. And the gate is locked from the outside. I don’t think anyone’s in there.”

  “Maybe there’s another entrance,” Vince said. “Let’s go walk the perimeter.”

  �
��Alright,” Long nodded. They made it to the back of the fence, and came upon a pack of stray dogs. “Turn around and go back,” Long ordered as three of the dogs began to growl loudly.

  They walked back to the main gate; the dogs continued to snarl and bark. Vince got that antsy feeling again, like something bad was about to happen. He didn’t warn Long, he just pulled out his gun and fired at the lock. It fell open, and the chain it held rattled. “Let’s go,” Vince ordered as he pulled on the chain.

  “I didn’t just see that,” Long groaned and followed. The door to the warehouse was locked, but it contained four small windows.

  Vince shined his light inside. “I don’t see anyone,” Vince groaned.

  “Me either, let’s just go,” Long suggested. Just as Long turned to leave Vince broke one of the windows, reached inside, and unlocked the door. Something scurried in the shadows, but when Vince shined his light at the noise he saw nothing. “Rats,” Long said.

  “Probably,” Vince nodded, and made his way toward an open box that caught his eye. Inside the box were dozens of cell phones, all makes and models. Vince picked one up, snarled, and threw it back on the pile with the others. “This explains it.”

  “We have no idea where our suspects are, or if they are still in Malaysia,” Long observed.

  “Good job, Sherlock,” Vince patronized. “Let’s go.” They were back in the tiny car and speeding away when Vince called Jordan. “They weren’t there.”

  “SIB can’t find a single image of the pair after they left the dock.” Jordan’s clinical voice was back. Vince knew that was just a step above his maniacal tone. If they didn’t find Arianna soon Jordan was going to have another meltdown. And Vince wasn’t there to pull him out of it.

  “Maybe the man who hired them to kidnap Arianna killed them when they delivered her, and dumped their bodies at sea.” Vince didn’t want to say it out loud, but he didn’t have any other ideas. “I think the best idea is to return to stalking Damien Tremblay.”