Distorted

by Christy Barritt

  “You used a body double?”

  “Yes, my Alessandra. That’s what I did. Clever, yes?” He stopped in front of her and reached down, cupping her face with his hand.

  She jerked away from him as bile continued to rise. “Why do you have me now?”

  “Because we’re meant to be together.” He was close enough now that she could clearly see his face. Smell his repulsive breath. Feel the burn of his fingers on her skin.

  “Why now? It’s been two years.”

  “I had to lie low. Have some work done. But now I’m back, and I’m ready to finish what I started.”

  “Which is?” Keep him talking, Mallory. Keep him talking.

  He chuckled again, something akin to warmth in his eyes. “So inquisitive and feisty. I can see you’ve changed some since we were together last.”

  “You kept me drugged. You can hardly know who I really was.”

  “My Alessandra. I envisioned our reunion would be different than this.”

  “My name is Mallory.” She shouldn’t have said it. Shouldn’t have potentially provoked him. Bitterness rose up in her. But along with the bitterness came her fighting instincts.

  Victor, not victim.

  “What are you going to do with me?” Her throat burned as she said the words.

  “You’re going to live with me. Soon, I’ll be one of the richest men alive. Together, we can have whatever we want.”

  “Except freedom. You’ll be one of the most wanted men alive.”

  Maybe she could find a weapon. But there was nothing.

  “Don’t you worry about that. I’ll handle that side of things.” He smiled down on her.

  She licked her lips, fighting sickness. “What’s going to make you so rich?”

  “That’s not for you to know. I’ll find you nicer accommodations. Soon. Until then, sit tight.”

  At the thought of being stuck in here again, panic set in. Darkness. She didn’t want to face the darkness again. It was like being buried alive.

  “No—wait! Please. Not in here. Don’t leave me in here.”

  “Don’t worry, my love. I’ll be back. This is just temporary. Soon you’ll be all mine again.” He brushed his hand across her cheek.

  “Please. I can’t stay here.” The thought of it made her want to crawl out of her skin.

  He stood, his gaze still fixated on her. “We’re leaving tonight, and I’ll take you somewhere no one will ever find us.”

  Where would Logan have taken her? The possibilities seemed endless, but Tennyson had to narrow them down. And he needed help. Wheaton—his first choice—was on the Eastern Shore. That left him with Ethan Stone.

  He called his friend, found out his location, and picked him up five minutes later.

  “Just stop for a minute,” Stone told him in the parking lot of the hotel where he was staying. “Driving around won’t bring us any closer to finding Mallory. Let’s talk this through.”

  Flexing his jaw, Tennyson put the car in park. His friend was right, but he hated to sit by idly while Mallory could be getting farther way. “Okay.”

  “Torres used Logan to take Mallory,” Stone said. “But where? Where would he take her?”

  “That’s the question I’ve been asking.”

  “He’ll want to get her out of the country,” Stone said.

  “I agree. But how is he going to do that? I already called Agent Turner. The FBI is keeping an eye on all of the airports and ports.”

  Stone rubbed his neck. “But what about the small airports? There’s more than one way to get her out of the country.”

  “There’s an APB out across all the agencies. I doubt he’ll slip past there. Too many people are looking for him—even at the small locations,” Tennyson said. “Torres will need to sneak her out.”

  “So let’s think like a terrorist. How’s he going to do that?” Stone said.

  Tennyson closed his eyes. “He’s got a plan. There’s no doubt about that. He’s using some kind of company as a front.”

  “Dawson Electronics? Isn’t that who they’re saying was blackmailing Jason?”

  Tennyson nodded. “According to Agent Turner, none of that is panning out. I think that was a cover.”

  “How about Jason’s company?”

  “It’s clear also, best I can tell.” Tennyson turned his thoughts over until a realization hit him. “Jason had his own company within his father’s company. It was on his card that he gave to Mallory.”

  “What’s the name?”

  He pinched the skin between his eyes, trying to remember the name. “Rocket Tech! That’s it.”

  Stone pulled out his laptop and began typing. “Rocket Tech has a warehouse in Norfolk.”

  Tennyson’s thoughts surged. “That’s it. What if they were working with Jason the whole time? What if he’s been using his business as a front for their operations?”

  “It’s our best lead yet,” Stone said.

  Tennyson started the engine. “Let’s go.”

  CHAPTER 44

  The door opened again. Mallory didn’t know how much time had passed. It felt like hours, but it could have only been minutes. In the darkness, everything blurred together. It felt muted yet electrified.

  She fully expected to see Dante. She was prepared this time. She’d managed to work a piece of wood off the floor. The scrap was sharp enough to act as a knife.

  Maybe she could throw Dante off balance for long enough to escape. She had no idea what was beyond the walls. But anything was better than being trapped in here and eventually returning to the life she’d been rescued from. Anything.

  She stood at full height, ready to fight. Even with her raw fingers, achy arm, and wobbly legs.

  But it wasn’t Dante standing there.

  It was Sanchez.

  She lowered her hand in surprise. What . . . ?

  He didn’t seem anxious. No, each of his motions seemed to be taken with a nuclear-aftermath-like calmness. He was so calm that Mallory’s own apprehension surged. Dante had plans that included keeping her alive. Sanchez did not.

  “I tried to warn you.”

  She blanched, uncertain if she’d heard him correctly. “What do you mean?”

  “I left you a note, telling you Dante was still alive. I told you to hide.”

  “You left that? Why?”

  “Dante . . . he’s reckless. He hasn’t been right in the head for years now.”

  Her mind raced, desperate to draw the right conclusions. “You’re trying to stab him in the back?”

  Sanchez stepped closer, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his slacks. Mallory stepped back, unsure what his intentions were. She was both frightened and fascinated by how easygoing he seemed. “You don’t understand, do you?”

  “Understand what?” She gripped the piece of wood behind her back, wondering when she could use it. Her heart pounded in her ears.

  “My sister Alessandra . . .”

  “Dante loved her.” Her stomach turned at the thought.

  “She was just like you,” he said softly.

  Mallory’s heart stuttered. “What?”

  A shadow formed over his eyes. “She didn’t willingly come into a relationship with Dante. She was forced. Like you.”

  Mallory’s gut twisted at the news. That couldn’t be right. Alessandra was Dante’s love. His wife.

  But all along she’d actually been . . . his slave?

  Bile rose in her throat. “I . . . I didn’t know. I thought . . .”

  He nodded. “I sold her out to be a part of his team. I’ve never forgiven myself. I won’t make that mistake again. I tried to let you get away that day, Mallory. On the island? I knew you were hiding behind the boathouse.”

  Memories of that day flooded her mind. “I thought you might have heard me.”

  His gaze remained stoic. “I did. Unfortunately, Dante did also. He caught you.”

  Mallory took a step back, wanting to trust Sanchez, but unsure if she should. �
��Did you kill those women?”

  “Dante had his men do it. He tried to replace you. It didn’t work, and he wanted to send a message.”

  “How was Jason involved?”

  “We needed to use his business as a cover to ship out our weapons, so we blackmailed him. He would lose everything. End up in jail. His family would be ruined.”

  It was a powerful motivation, especially for someone like Jason, who prided himself on image.

  “He really did send those messages?”

  She stared at the opening. Could she run?

  Sanchez nodded. “Dante wrote them. Jason sent them.”

  Her heart thudded in her ears. “The perfume? Did Dante do that himself?”

  “He did.”

  “Who tried to break into the hotel room that night? Jason?”

  “He did under our directive.”

  “You’re trying to help me?” Was she understanding him correctly? Nothing made sense.

  He offered a quick nod of affirmation. “Yes, and you’re wasting time asking these meaningless questions. You have less than five minutes to run. Go straight until you reach a block of blue containers. Then go left. Run as fast as you can.”

  She froze, Sanchez’s words nearly not registering. Was this real? Was this her chance to get out?

  “Why are you standing there?”

  She flinched, coming out of shock. Then she took a step forward, her legs wobbly, her feet bare.

  But before she reached the door, a gunshot exploded through the air.

  Mallory screamed as Sanchez dropped to the floor.

  CHAPTER 45

  Mallory retreated from the pool of blood surrounding Sanchez’s head. His lifeless figure appeared to stare at Mallory, even though he was dead. The blood running through her veins seemed to freeze at the thought.

  Dante stepped inside.

  “You killed him,” Mallory whispered. She started to squeeze the makeshift dagger in her hands. It was gone. She must have dropped it when she heard the gunfire.

  “He betrayed me.” Dante scowled and lowered his gun. “He couldn’t be trusted.”

  She backed up, until the frigid metal of the container hit her hands. “I don’t understand what’s going on here. Were you stalking me?”

  His eyes warmed with misplaced affection. “My Alessandra, I would not stalk. I kept an eye on you.” She wanted to keep him talking. To find out answers. To delay whatever the inevitable was.

  She pressed herself farther into the chilly wall behind her, wishing she could disappear there. “What are you planning, Dante? What’s going on?”

  “Weapons are on the way to Berna. The rebels will use them and overthrow the government.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  He tilted his head. “I thought you knew me well enough to know that.”

  “For the money?”

  Satisfaction ignited in his gaze. “And the power. Of course.”

  “Why are the stakes so much higher now?” Where was that piece of wood? If Mallory looked for it, Dante would notice.

  “Once the rebels overthrow the government, they’ll have access to the country’s nuclear weapons. Of course.”

  Her heart pounded in her ears. “What? They don’t have nukes in Berna.”

  “You don’t think their government would announce it to the world, do you?” He chuckled. “A government’s power can be determined by what they do in secret.”

  “But with nukes . . .” Her mind drifted with the possibilities. None of them were good. In fact, they were devastating.

  Tennyson’s choice flashed back to her, as well as the grave consequences.

  “With you by my side, I’ll be invincible again. I’ll be calling the shots. You understand that, my love?” He stepped closer and reached for her.

  She scooted back, on the verge of being violently ill. “Why do I need to be by your side? You don’t need me.”

  “But I do. We were meant to be together. Can’t you see that, Alessandra?” He shifted and touched her face again. “I’m nothing without you. You complete me.”

  Her stomach twisted and bile rose in her. She tried to jerk away from his touch, but she had nowhere to go.

  “We’ll never be apart again,” he announced, trailing a finger through her hair. “Never. Now I’ve got to finish my preparations. We leave tonight.”

  Tennyson, Stone, and Wheaton showed up at the warehouse just as darkness was beginning to fall. Tennyson had called Wheaton, and he’d agreed to meet them. They parked in the woods and made their way on foot toward the fence around the property.

  This could be nothing.

  But Tennyson prayed that he’d be able to find some answers. To find Mallory.

  Lord, help me.

  If she wasn’t here, he didn’t have any other options. Their time was running out. That was a possibility he didn’t want to face.

  Usually at this time of night, everything would be quiet in a location like this. But Tennyson clearly saw movement near some of the shipping containers in the distance. He grabbed his binoculars for a better look.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me . . . ,” he muttered.

  “What do you see?” Stone crouched beside him.

  He handed him the binoculars. “They’re preparing to move out.”

  Stone squinted into the eyepiece before shaking his head. “That’s what it looks like.”

  “Do you think they have Mallory in one of those containers?” Tennyson’s muscles tensed with every word.

  “It’s a good guess.”

  Anger climbed up his spine. “We’ve got to get her.”

  Stone’s hand gripped his shoulder, pushing him back down. “We can’t do anything rash. Let’s watch for a few more minutes and develop a plan of action.”

  “He’s right.” Wheaton pulled out his phone. “I’m going to call Agent Turner and let them know what we’ve discovered.”

  Tennyson didn’t argue. He needed his friends to keep him levelheaded. Rash decisions could lead to destruction, and he couldn’t afford that. Not when Mallory’s life was on the line. He’d let her down once. Never again.

  “They’re on their way, but they’re still at least thirty minutes out,” Wheaton said, sliding the phone back into his pocket.

  “We don’t have that much time.” Tennyson’s muscles stretched taut. He wouldn’t let Mallory slip away. He wouldn’t do it.

  Just then, a gunshot sliced through the silence.

  His blood froze.

  Tennyson stood, ready to pounce when he thought about who might be at the opposite end of that gun. Stone jerked him back down again. “Torres won’t kill Mallory.”

  Tennyson wished he felt that confident. “How do you know that?”

  “You know that, too. Think it through. Torres wants her alive. He could have killed her already otherwise.”

  Tennyson took some deep breaths and tried to rein in his emotions.

  He took the binoculars from Stone and glanced in the direction of the gunshot. A moment later, someone stepped from one of the containers.

  Tennyson’s breath caught.

  Dante Torres.

  It was him. Tennyson had no doubt.

  He was alive and up to no good.

  The man’s plan had worked, and he’d successfully faked his death for the past two years.

  No longer.

  Torres yelled something in Spanish to the men in the distance.

  Una hora y nos vamos. One hour and we’re gone.

  One hour? They might have enough time to wait for the FBI.

  But Tennyson couldn't bear to risk it. “I’m going to get her,” he said.

  They huddled and developed a plan of action. It was risky. But if Mallory disappeared from this warehouse, Tennyson knew he’d never see her again. He couldn’t let that happen.

  One by one, they climbed the fence and landed on the other side. A guard patrolled the perimeter, but they knew they had approximately three minutes to get over the
fence and to disappear from sight before he returned to this area.

  Once over, they split up. Tennyson headed toward the container. He remained in the shadows, listening for any signs that someone had spotted him. So far, it was quiet, except by the dock area. There, a group of men talked beside a barge. Their voices carried on the air of the otherwise still night.

  Dante had disappeared inside the warehouse itself, but it was only a matter of time before he came back out.

  Tennyson peered around the corner of the container. A man stood guard there. Of course.

  He glanced across the property. Stone nodded at him before making a soft whistling sound.

  The guard turned toward the noise. As he did, Tennyson lunged forward and brought the butt of his gun down on his head. The man sank to the ground. Tennyson grabbed his weapon and tucked it into his waistband. Then he tugged at the door.

  To his surprise, it opened. He held his breath, a moment of fear washing over him. He didn’t want to think about worst-case scenarios. But the image of finding Mallory dead pummeled him.

  He shined his light on the floor. Blood. His heart leapt into throat. No . . .

  He had to confirm it. He stepped inside. As he did, he sensed movement beside him. He barely had time to register the dead body of a man.

  Sanchez. Was that Sanchez?

  He jerked his head to the left. Facts clicked in place one by one. Arms raised above someone’s head. Clutching a makeshift weapon. Ready to plunge it into him.

  He caught the arms before the sharp edge could prick his skin.

  “Tennyson?” a soft voice said.

  “Mallory?”

  In the next instant, she flew into his arms.

  “You’re okay,” she cried. “You’re okay.”

  She was alive. And safe.

  Thank You, Jesus.

  He wanted to relish the feel of her in his arms, but he’d have time for that later. “We’ve got to get you out of here.”

  She pulled away and nodded, but her limbs were still shaky. “Let’s go.”

  Just as they stepped outside, Tennyson heard a gun cock.

  He looked up.

  Dante Torres stood there.

  His gaze shot to the left. Stone had his arms in the air. This wasn’t good. Not the outcome Tennyson had anticipated.