by Linzi Basset
“We’re taking the chopper. If either of them gets hurt, I’m going to be seriously pissed off,” Rhone’s lips curled in a snarl. “Max, get air clearance and make it snappy. I’m lifting off in ten minutes,” he ordered as they all marched out of the office toward the rooftop where the chopper was kept. “And phone Ethan with the coordinates. I want him there, just in case.”
“This time, they have gone too far. Why the fuck didn’t they talk to us?” Keon raged the moment they were in the air.
“Isn’t it obvious, mate?” Rhone said through thin lips. “They want the honor and to be honest, I don’t blame them, not after what he’d done to them.” The tremor in Rhone’s voice was proof of the anger that was swirling like a raging demon inside him. “As god is my witness, if he so much as hurts a hair on their head, I will rip him apart; limb by limb.”
* * * * * * * *
“I told you before, Whittaker, I shoot to kill.”
“And your point is?” Adam stretched his legs out. It was why he loved luxury cars so much. The amount of legroom they offered.
Javier glanced at the man slouching in the passenger seat with a speculative gleam in his eyes.
“We’re talking about Ace, the celebrated sniper—not just another loser, and you’re telling me you want her dead?”
Adam glared in his direction. “I don’t pay you to do my thinking for me, Velez. I pay you to make my life easier and Ace has enough reason to want me dead. I don’t trust this sudden change of heart. She’s up to something and if anyone is gonna become fish bait in the Potomac River, it’s going to be her.”
“Have you made the transfer yet?” Javier asked as he took the corner too fast and had to compensate by yanking the steering wheel sharply to straighten the big vehicle.
“You should learn to trust me, Velez. You’ll be doing a lot of work for me and if we’re going to have to haggle over money every time, it’s going to become onerous.”
“You’re welcome to find someone else then, Whittaker. I told you, I only deal in upfront cash. No money, no fucking kill. Got that?” He barked.
Adam swallowed and with an annoyed grumble made a call to the bank.
Javier was impressed that no questions were asked about the instructions to transfer a large amount to a Cayman bank account. He was even more impressed when his phone beeped with the message of a deposit received.
“Where do I park?” Javier asked as he slowed down when they approached the warehouse.
“Drive between the two buildings to the back. I don’t want a luxury car in a deserted street to draw unnecessary attention.”
Adam snorted when he noticed the silver Range Rover already parked. “On time as usual.” He glanced at Javier. “Make sure you have the silencer on. I don’t want anyone to storm in here until I’ve got what I came for.”
“I’m not a fucking rookie, Whittaker,” Javier snapped as he lifted his rifle from the back seat. He looked around. “Where are you meeting?”
“Inside and it’s not going to be a long-distance shot, Velez. This place has no windows and only one access through a side door.”
“Ah, well, that will be a refreshing change for me then. Up close and personal.” He grinned as they made their way to the room on the side of the building. “What exactly are you here for, if not to see Ace dead?”
Adam’s mouth curved into an evil smile. “Let’s just say, I don’t believe Ace is alone and it’s her companion who I’m after. What she’s had to endure in the past will seem like child’s play to what I have planned for her this time. She will pay for the part she played in the destruction of—” He swallowed his words and ignored the inquiring look from Velez. There was no need for him to know who he really was.
“Be warned, Velez. Ace will be waiting and she will be armed. I have no doubt about that.”
“Should I just shoot her on sight and get her out of the way?”
Adam was tempted to say yes but after a brief consideration, shook his head. “No, I want to watch them squirm; especially the little redheaded bitch. I want to see the horror in her eyes when she realizes what the future holds for her.” His smile turned evil. “I’ll pay an additional two million for the first maim shot, not to kill. In her stomach I think. I want Lauren to watch her sister bleed out while I taunt her with what I have planned for her.”
Velez shrugged. “I guess it can’t hurt. When do I shoot?”
“When I say ‘little sparrow’. That’ll be your cue,” he said as he pushed through the door.
Their eyes met. Adam resented the shock that showed on his face as he looked at Samantha. The taunting smile that played on her lips attested to the fact that she’d noticed it.
He’d expected Lauren to be there but he didn’t anticipate being this affected by her presence. The hatred in her eyes shouldn’t bother him, but it did. Not as much though as the gun she held in her hands, aimed directly at his head. She didn’t falter when he walked closer, his eyes blazing. Her hold on the weapon was steadfast, without the slightest tremor.
“Jesus,” he exclaimed when the splatter of blood coated his jacket. He’d not even heard the pop of Samantha’s rifle when she took the shot at his Javier’s wrist.
Javier’s cry echoed warehouse. His rifle clattered to the ground as he hunched forward clutching his wrist in his hand.
“You fucking bitch,” he stammered. The shock in his eyes was more than just the pain of severed sinews and bones in his wrist. It was the realization that his shooting hand had just been rendered useless. Forever.
“What the hell did you do that for, Ace?” Adam shouted, spooked for the first time since he’d taken her call.
“Do you think I’m stupid, Adam? We both know why he’s here and I have no intention of dying today. I eliminated a threat, as easy as that. And now, we’re going to eliminate another.”
“You lied to me,” he yelled, glancing around frantically. With both weapons aimed at him, he had nowhere to go. He looked at Velez who was sitting on the ground. “Get up, you useless piece of shit or we both die here today.”
“Ah, poor baby. Now isn’t this fun? All three of us together, for a final reunion,” Samantha taunted him.
“Look, Ace . . . Samantha, why don’t we let bygones be bygones. You forget I exist and I’ll do the same.” His eyes flickered toward Lauren who hadn’t said a word but her eyes did the talking. They were filled with hatred for him. He could almost feel it cutting into his soul.
“How about it, little sparrow?”
A searing pain shot to his brain as a bullet tore through the crease above his right ear. He watched the red spark flash from the barrel of the gun in Lauren’s hand. “Fuck,” he wailed, clutching at his ear, staring in disbelief as his hand came away bloodied.
“You shot me!” he railed at her, horror clear on his face.
“Ah, so finally the penny has dropped. Come now, Baxter. You didn’t really think I asked you here to give you the best buddy award, did you?” Samantha quipped, doing her best to hide her own surprise at Lauren’s action.
She spared a quick glance at her. Lauren still hadn’t moved and held the pistol with both hands, aimed squarely at Adam. Not the slightest tremor was visible. Her eyes were turbulent but the rest of her was cool as cucumber.
“What do you want?” He screamed at her and then at Lauren. “You bitch! Open your goddamned mouth! What the fuck do you want?”
Her lips barely moved but the chill in her voice couldn’t be missed. “I want to watch you suffer, like you’ve exulted in my suffering over the years.”
Adam’s eyes widened and his mouth opened in a silent scream when another whoosh resulted in a bullet slamming into his shoulder, throwing him off balance. He stumbled but managed to stay upright as he clutched his shoulder. His breath wheezed through his lips like an old geezer heating up in the basement.
Adam noticed the hatred that now raged in her eyes. He saw death. His death.
“No, please, Lauren. I don’t w
ant to die. I’ll leave you alone. All of you, I promise. Money. I’ll pay you! I’ve got money, lots of it. Just let me . . . argghhhh!”
His scream echoed through the warehouse as Lauren’s next shot shattered his knee. He went down and rocked back and forth, crying like a baby.
“I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. Please Lauren,” he begged, his face wet with tears.
“You are a pathetic loser, Adam Baxter. I only realize it now and Keon was right, you are no Dominant, hell, you’re not even a man. You’re nothing but a lowlife slug, feeding off recycled shit.”
Lauren lowered her gun and turned to Samantha, disgust pulling her face into a grimace.
“You were right, sis. He’s not worth it. I’m satisfied. He’s all yours.”
“Watch out!” The warning shout came from the door and then all hell broke loose.
Lauren and Samantha’s four bullets hit their target in quick succession, the force of Samantha’s rifle shots, spearing Adam’s skull between his eyes, catapulted him yards backward, the pistol still clasped in his hand.
At the same time Rhone and Keon charged forward, Javier Velez, who held a pistol in his left hand got the brunt of their bullets; two between the eyes and two in his chest.
The silence was thick, like everyone was holding their breaths.
Lauren dropped the pistol, the noise of the gunshots still reverberating in her ears. She stumbled toward Adam’s prone body, thrown back in an odd angle with his legs twisted beneath him. She kneeled beside him and stared at his bloodied face, half of which had been blown off. His eyes were fixed and vacant. He was gone. She picked up his hand, still hot but much paler than she remembered. The memories of what she’d had to endure under these cruel fingers swirled inside her mind and just as suddenly, they began to disintegrate.
She sighed. Finally, it was over. Now she could breathe. She was free to open up to new experiences, new memories and best of all, to a love she treasured above all else.
Her voice rang as cold as ice to the men watching. “You don’t deserve forgiveness, Adam Baxter. Not even in death. May your soul burn in hell.”
Chapter Twenty
“No, Daddy, you have to go and stay with Uncle Rhone tonight. You can’t see the bride until the ceremony,” Beckie said with her foot tapping on the floor.
“That’s ridiculous, Rebecca. Your mother and I are already married, so it doesn’t matter.”
Beckie frowned at him. It rattled him. She looked just like Amelia when she was arguing with him. It still amazed him how much she looked like her mother.
For years he’d felt a hollowness inside his heart. One, he’d never wanted to fill. He’d believed that he would always have the memories of their love to carry him through life. And he’d been content with that.
His eyes moved to Lauren who sat reading in front of the roaring fire. Now, he wasn’t so sure anymore. She’d encroached on his mind. She was always there. It didn’t matter where he was or what he was doing, she would pop into his mind and stay to keep him company through the day; with thoughts of her beauty, her smile, her natural grace and her sensual innocence.
“Of course, it matters, Dad,” Beckie teemed.
“Do explain, poppet. How does it matter?”
“Well, Mom deserves a pretty wedding dress, don’t you think?”
“I guess,” Keon conceded
“And to receive a wedding gift, correct?” Beckie asked with narrowed eyes, daring him to say no.
Keon heaved a sigh. “Very well, Rebecca. You’ve clearly made up your mind that this is going to be a traditional wedding. So, I give up. I will spend the night with Rhone and Samantha,” he growled and jumped up.
“Daddy,” Beckie said, stamping her foot on the floor. “Do not tell me you forgot to buy a wedding gift.”
Keon was hard pressed not to laugh at his daughter's expression. She seemed genuinely upset at the prospect, especially as she’d been reminding him every day for the past week.
He shrugged and went to his study. He returned with a large brown envelope and a long, red jewelry box.
Beckie clapped her hands. “Oh, goody, you did remember.”
Keon grumbled and handed the items to Lauren. She berated Beckie with a reproachful look for her forwardness before she took it from him.
“You really didn’t have to do this, Keon.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Open it. Mom! Hurry,” Beckie skipped excitedly next to her.
Lauren opened the envelope and pulled out the documents. Tears filled her eyes when she saw the confirmation of Beckie being her legally adopted daughter.
“Oh, Daddy, you are so wonderful.” Beckie said with glowing eyes.
“It’s because I’ve got such a wonderful daughter who looks at me with starry eyes,” he said with a smile.
“You’re silly, Daddy.” She turned to Lauren. “Now the other one.”
Lauren opened the lid and gasped. Her eyes lifted to his and took his breath away. He felt humbled when he read the emotions in her gaze.
“How did you find it?” Lauren asked in surprise, too overwhelmed to even remove the dainty necklace with the ruby pendant from the black velvet bed it was resting on.
“I contacted the cab agency you used to get here and got hold of the driver. It took me a while to trace it because it is a very valuable piece of jewelry but Max and Richard found it for me in a pawn shop in LA.”
“I don’t know how to thank you for this. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do; handing it over to that cab driver.” She traced the ruby with her fingers. “My dad gave it to my mom as a wedding gift and now you’ve returned it to me for the same reason.”
Tears trickled down her cheeks in rivulets that she didn’t even try to contain. Keon went onto his haunches in front of her and wiped her cheeks.
“You should never have had to part with it in the first place, baby. I’m just glad I managed to find it. Will you wear it tomorrow?”
“Do you want me to?”
“I think your mother would’ve liked you to wear it.”
“Yes, she would’ve,” Lauren smiled through her tears. “And finally, I can rightfully call you, Beckie, my beloved daughter,” she said to Beckie who stood silently watching with tears in her eyes.
She took the small step and fell into Lauren’s arms. Keon stood watching. For the first time in years, he felt complete. He had a family again.
And she loves our daughter as much as we do, my beloved Amelia. Thank you for being my strength all these years but it’s time to let you go. You will always be in my heart but I have more to give.
Beckie hugged Keon around his waist. “I love you both so much,” she said tearfully. “Night, Daddy,” she said and kissed his cheek when he leaned forward. “I’m gonna take a bath. You have to go to Uncle Rhone’s,” she ended forcefully. “Aunt Sammy is coming to stay with us. She promised that we’re going to have a popcorn party. I don’t know what that means but it sounds like fun.”
Keon watched her skip upstairs, chirping cheerfully with Baloo who faithfully trailed after her. Keon sat down opposite Lauren and stared at her for so long that she began to squirm.
“What?” She finally asked when he silently continued his intense scrutiny.
“I’m not a better man than Adam Baxter, am I?”
Lauren was stunned and stared at him trying to gather her thoughts.
“What the devil are you talking about? There’s no comparison between the two of you. You’re a good, caring man, Keon and an even better father. Beckie and . . . I are lucky to have you in our lives.”
“That’s not what I meant, Lauren.”
“Then I don’t understand.”
“He forced you, Lauren, into a situation you didn’t choose. He changed your life and turned it into a nightmare. He took from you without asking.” He sighed heavily. “And I did the same.”
“I still don’t follow, Keon. You have never taken anything from me without as
king. Not even at the club. Nothing you’ve done could ever compare to what he put me through.”
“That’s not what I mean, Lauren.”
“You’re talking in circles, Keon.”
“I took something from you, something only you have the right to offer. I forced you to marry me.”
Lauren stared at him; momentarily stupefied into silence.
“Are you saying that you want a divorce?” she asked in a small voice.
“Ah shit, I’m making a mess of this,” he muttered under his breath. “No, Lauren. I guess what I’m asking is whether you would’ve married me if I had asked you to?”
Lauren felt giddy, butterflies fluttering inside her stomach. She got up and with swaying hips, she walked toward the staircase.
Keon sat in amazed silence as her sugary voice floated back toward him.
“Well, you never did. And if you really want to know, maybe you should ask me.”
* * * * * * * *
“Oh, my goodness, Mom! You should see how gorgeous the reception area looks. It’s exactly like you explained to me. A real fairytale.”
Lauren smiled tolerantly at Beckie. “Honey, it’s winter, I told you we can’t have the reception outside. We’ll freeze to death.”
“I know but I explained to Daddy what you always dreamed of and he did it. He said something about an a-line glass tent with heating panels and guess what?”
“What poppet?”
“He turned the pool into a glass dance floor! He said every Cinderella should have her dream wedding. Isn’t it romantic, Aunty Sammy?” Beckie beamed as she danced around. The long, peach colored dress she wore, twirled around her ankles.
“Indeed it is,” Samantha agreed drily. She glanced at Lauren. “And you said he doesn’t love you,” she intoned in the same tone when Beckie left the room. “Close your eyes.”
Lauren smiled and tilted her chin back dutifully while Samantha skillfully applied her makeup.
“Hm, come on, out with it. That’s a very sensual smile if ever I saw one.”
Lauren told her about the discussion with Keon the previous night. “And? Did he ask you?”
“No but it doesn’t matter anymore.”
