by Sloan Storm
Since I’d gotten off the phone with him, I’d huddled with my security team for hours, planning out our attack. We’d studied the building plans and started formulating our strategy by the time he’d shown up.
“Here, Ronan,” I said, placing my palms flat on the plans and spinning them around. “Come have a look.”
He leaned over the desk while I continued.
“There’s a lot of unknowns in the situation, unfortunately. We have no idea about their exact location in the warehouse. We also have no idea how many men Malcolm has working for him. About the only thing we can hope for is that your unexpected entrance will give us the time we need to slip inside get to the electrical controls for the building.”
I stopped, using my finger to pointing out the location. “Here.”
Ronan looked at me. “Knowing Malcolm, I’d say he’s got a half a dozen men or so. He might be crazy but he’d never go into a situation like this unprepared.”
I nodded at him. “Okay, we’ll figure a minimum of six but plan for twice that many. Sound good?”
“Yeah, can’t be too careful.”
I turned my attention back to the schematic.
“It’s really the only chance we have to get an upper hand. Assuming you’re successful and Malcolm doesn’t shoot you on site, we’ll cut the power, switch to night vision and take care of Malcolm’s men. That, of course, leaves you to deal with Malcolm yourself.”
Ronan nodded and glanced up at me. “Understood.”
“Once Malcolm’s men are subdued, the power comes back on, and with any luck, we’ve got them outnumbered.”
“Mmm, hmm…” Ronan muttered. “What about surveillance? Don’t you think there’s a chance there might be security cameras in key positions?”
“Way ahead of you. I’ve got two of my men on the way to the warehouse. They’re going to check for them before we arrive on the scene.”
I looked at him. “Where’s the case, man?”
“It’s outside, in the limousine.”
“All right,” I said, facing him and slapping my hand on top of the shoulder. “I’m gonna be straight with you. I can’t afford to risk anyone’s life. Of course it goes without saying that applies to Ainsley and Tempest but also my men and you.”
“Of course.”
I dropped my hand away from his shoulder.
“Okay, so, if I’m forced to take the shot to kill Malcolm myself, I won’t hesitate. My men have the same orders. My question is… Are you okay with that? If you aren’t, don’t come with us. It’s that simple.”
Ronan hesitated before responding. I expected as much.
“I understand. But I need you to promise me that if a kill shot isn’t required, no one will fire.”
“Yeah, absolutely, you have my word. Ideally, he’s your problem to deal with, not mine.”
A grimace came to Ronan’s face. It had to be a goddamn hard thing to think about – killing your brother. Changing subjects, I started to walk around the table we’d huddled over.
“There’s just one more thing I need to get ironed out before we go.”
“What?”
“Come with me.”
21
Malcolm’s Ultimatum (Tempest)
After he’d killed the men he was going to sell us to, Malcolm’s behavior changed again. He sat across from us in a chair, just staring. I don’t think he said a word for at least a half an hour.
Finally, he narrowed his eyes at both of us. Then, he yawned before speaking. “I’m beginning to tire of this. What am I going to do with two of you? What indeed…”
Glancing over at Ainsley, I noticed she looked as anxious as I felt. He’d removed the gag from her mouth. It was a rare act of kindness.
Malcolm raised his cell phone up in front of his face. “Let’s call my brother and get all this over with. I’m getting bored.”
He lifted the phone and brought it to his ear. I could’ve sworn I heard another phone ringing in the distance. I frowned, looking at Malcolm. Obviously, it wasn’t his phone ringing.
Next, I heard the sound of footsteps… A steady clip clop echoing through the otherwise silent warehouse. The mystery ringing grew louder. Malcolm noticed it too and stood from his chair, turning in the direction of the approaching noise.
A man emerged from the racks of clothing.
“Ronan…” Ainsley whispered.
I snapped my head in her direction. She looked at me.
“That’s him,” she mouthed.
I looked at the man again. In some ways, he reminded me of Dorian. Tall, muscular, and incredibly good-looking. If he was really Malcolm’s brother, one of them must have been adopted, because I don’t think I’d ever seen two siblings look more different.
In his hand, he held the case. I hadn’t seen it since the first night at Dorian’s estate. Goosebumps prickled along my arms. I couldn’t believe the effect it still had on me.
“That’s far enough,” Malcolm said. “Don’t come any closer.”
Malcolm motioned for his goons. “Search him.”
While they patted him down, Ronan stared at Malcolm first and then at the dead bodies and blood littering the floor. His face twisted with disgust. At last, he looked towards Ainsley and me. His expression changed again, this time, to anger.
Malcolm’s henchmen stepped back. “He’s clean, sir. No weapons.”
“Get away from me,” Ronan growled. He looked at Malcolm and glared. “Do you want this fucking thing or what?”
Malcolm nodded once and motioned for Ronan to approach. He did, closing to within a few feet of him.
“Here, take it,” Ronan said, lifting the briefcase in front of his body.
Malcolm reached for it and Ronan let go of the handle, sending the case crashing to the floor. He laughed while it bounced and came to a stop with a thump.
It wasn’t funny, but I couldn’t help myself. Seeing someone else fuck with this psycho brought a small grin to my lips. I glanced at Ainsley. Her smile was smaller than mine but easy to spot. Apparently, she felt the same way.
“This will never work, Malcolm.” Ronan said. “You’ve always been a failure. Taking out your pathetic emotions on me is going to be your downfall.”
The insult of the case and Ronan’s comment pushed Malcolm too far. With a sudden motion, Malcolm reached inside of his suit and pulled out the pistol again, pointing it at his brother. His face wrinkled with rage.
Ronan scoffed at his brother. “Put that thing down, and get out of my way. We had a deal. I’m taking the women and leaving.”
He took a step, maybe two. Malcolm moved, positioning himself between us and Ronan, lifting the gun higher.
“The deal has changed,” Malcolm growled.
Ronan lunged towards him. Malcolm started shooting. The impact of the bullets in the center of his chest stopped Ronan in his tracks, sending him tumbling backwards. Each round from the handgun hit him like a sledgehammer, pounding his midsection. He fell to the ground and lay there, motionless.
Malcolm lowered the pistol to his side.
Oh my God!
“Ronan!” Ainsley screamed, crying out at the top of her lungs. “Ronan!”
I was too shocked to make a sound. Malcolm’s brutality had no limits. It was one thing to shoot thugs, but it was something completely different to mow down your own flesh and blood. My entire body chilled as if coolant ran through my veins. I shivered while he turned and faced us.
“Now that my business is concluded,” he said, raising the pistol at me. “So are your lives.”
“No!” Ainsley screamed.
That sickening smile came to Malcolm’s face again. I couldn’t believe that was the last thing I would ever see. Suddenly, every light in the warehouse went out. I mean, it was nearly pitch black in there. I couldn’t see more than a foot or two in front of my face.
“What the hell is going on?” Malcolm yelled. “Get these goddamn lights back on, and do it now!”
But a r
esponse from his men never came. Instead, the next sound I heard was gunfire. Only, it wasn’t coming from Malcolm but from other parts of the warehouse.
Who is shooting whom?
I started to tug and yank against the ropes, jerking my body with violent intention, trying to get some slack in them. But the harder I tried, the tighter they seemed to get. While I struggled, another shot rang out, and then another.
I still couldn’t see anything, but I soon felt a presence. Malcolm grabbed me, crushing my arm in his hand.
“Ahhh!” I cried out.
Malcolm shook me. “Shut the fuck up! I bet this is your boyfriend’s handiwork, isn’t it? That fucking Dorian. Macho asshole.”
“If it is,” I snapped at him in defiance, “you can count the rest of your life in seconds.”
I never saw it coming, only felt the hot sting. A flash of white filled my eyes. Malcolm slapped me harder than I’ve ever been hit in my entire life. It was so forceful I felt like I might be sick.
Hearing the sound, Ainsley yelled. “Malcolm! You spineless worm! If you hit her, I swear you will regret it!”
While I bobbed in my chair, stunned from the blow, I felt him circle around behind me and start to loosen the ropes. Within seconds, he’d undone them, and they fell away. Malcolm immediately pushed the barrel of his gun into the back of my skull.
“If you try anything, it will be the last thing you ever do.”
The area where he’d struck me throbbed, but it wasn’t enough to keep me from fighting back.
“Go to hell! Do it already!”
“My pleasure…” Malcolm began, a sinister tone bellowing from him. “I’m going to enjoy this. Putting a bullet in your skull is almost as good as putting one in Dorian’s.”
“Not if I put a bullet in your skull first, you sleaze.”
“Dorian!” I screamed.
“Tempest, baby, just stay calm.”
“Light ‘em up!” Dorian yelled.
The lights in the warehouse flickered on, and I saw him standing in front of me, less than ten feet away. Holding a pistol in his hand, he had it aimed at Malcolm, who stood behind me. Seeing Dorian standing there gave me new courage. Pure instinct took over, and I swung my arm around, hitting Malcolm in the gut. It was a solid strike. I heard him exhale in pain, and I tumbled out of the chair, rolling to the ground.
“You bitch!” Malcolm coughed, trying to catch his breath. “I…”
I fell to the cold concrete with a thud. No sooner did it happen than the sound of a gun being fired at close range echoed throughout the warehouse. After, all I heard was the sound of a man screaming. Turning in the direction of it, I watched Malcolm tumbling to the ground.
I snapped my head towards Dorian. Several of his security team were running in our direction.
Dorian pointed at Ronan. “Check on him, now!”
He ran over to me, kneeling down and reaching for my arm. It felt so incredible to feel the touch of his hand on my skin again. Lifting me up with ease, Dorian yanked me into his hard midsection.
“Are you okay, baby? Are you hurt?”
I shook my head and flipped my hair away from my eyes. “No, no.”
From behind, Ainsley yelled. “Dorian! Look out!”
He pulled me out of the way. Malcolm lunged for his gun, but Dorian raced towards him, kicking it away at the last instant.
“Don’t move, fucker,” Dorian snarled.
While he kept an eye on Malcolm, I watched a couple of Dorian’s security team run over to Ainsley and untie her. Once she’d been set free, she thrashed the ropes off and sprinted over to Ronan, tears running down her face.
With his eyes still firmly locked on Malcolm, Dorian called out.
“How is he?”
One of the men knelt over Ronan’s body, examining him for several seconds.
“Fine, sir. Unconscious, breathing. Vest intact.”
Dorian chuckled. Turning his attention back to Malcolm, a huge smile came to his face. “Did you really think it would be that easy, shithead?”
Dorian’s bullet had found its way into Malcolm’s shoulder. The wound apparently wasn’t life-threatening. There was plenty of blood though — a lot of it.
“Did you think it would be?” Malcolm began, looking up at Dorian through a dark, hooded gaze. “Shithead?”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Dorian asked, taking a cautious step back.
Before Dorian could say another word, Malcolm curled his fingers inward and reached towards the center of his chest, grabbing his shirt in two fistfuls. As he ripped it open, buttons scattered, skidding across the concrete floor.
A vest full of explosives appeared in front of my eyes.
I staggered back.
“Everyone! Get out, go!” Dorian yelled.
Swiveling my head, I took a quick look around at Ainsley and Dorian’s security team. Just like me, they stood there, staring in slackjawed disbelief. Dorian didn’t hesitate, barking out his commands again.
“What did I say! I want all of you out of here, and I mean it!”
With his pistol still aimed at Malcolm, Dorian glanced towards his security guys.
“Take the women, take Ronan, and go! Even though they don’t deserve it, take Malcolm’s men also.”
“Dorian! No!” I cried out. “I’m not leaving!”
“Me either!” Ainsley screamed.
Dorian ignored us. Instead, he turned his attention to Malcolm again. He appeared to be growing more pale by the second, I guessed from the blood loss.
“I should have known you would take the coward’s way out,” Dorian began, clenching his jaw. “I don’t know why I didn’t see this coming. Fuck!”
Malcolm groped for the chair I’d sat in, steadying himself while he got to his feet. Blood dribbled from his wound, splattering on the cement flooring. All the while his eyes never left Dorian.
“I’m no c-coward,” he gasped. “I’m no coward…”
Dorian took a step closer to him. “Prove it right now. To me. But, it’s only to me. Everyone else goes, including Ronan.”
I shook my head, wanting to yell in protest, but the words wouldn’t come.
“No,” Malcolm snapped. “Ronan stays. You stay. The rest… They can go.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. The fact Malcolm agreed to do anything except kill all of us surprised the hell out of me. Dorian shook his head, countering Malcolm’s demand.
“Your brother is unconscious, defenseless. It’s bad enough you shot him in cold blood. I’m not going to give you a chance to kill him a second time.”
While Dorian spoke, Malcolm reached for the detonator at the center of his vest.
“This is not a negotiation. Ronan stays or we will all die right now.”
My attention remained riveted on him until I heard the sound of someone coughing. I looked in the direction where Ronan lay on the floor. He was trying to stand, having difficulty doing it on his own.
Dorian nodded towards his men, “Help him up, for fuck’s sake.”
Ronan wobbled to his feet, stabilizing himself by grabbing onto the shoulder of one of the men.
“Tempest, baby,” Dorian began, staring at me. “Listen to me. You need to go, you and Ainsley both. Everything is going to be fine, but you can’t stay here.”
I shook my head back and forth. “No, no! I’m not going to leave, I…”
“Tempest!” Dorian yelled in a way I’d never heard from him. “Go!”
He looked at both of his men. “Take them, now!”
Before Ainsley or I could react, Dorian’s men grabbed hold of us and started to drag us away.
22
Showdown (Dorian)
I hated having to do that, but I didn’t have any goddamn choice.
Eventually, the sound of Ainsley and Tempest yelling and screaming started to fade. I got final confirmation of it when one of the warehouse’s heavy doors slammed in the distance. I knew she was safe. Now, it was time to deal wit
h Malcolm once and for all.
“You’re going to die here. You realize that don’t you?”
Malcolm didn’t respond, the blood loss was starting to take its toll.
“Here’s the thing though, I promised I wouldn’t be the one to kill you. But there’s no fucking way I’m going to let you bleed out either.”
Malcolm sputtered a chuckle. “We are all going to die together. Your threats don’t bother me.”
I shook my head. “You’re bluffing. You don’t have the balls to do it.”
“Fuck you, you arrogant prick.”
No sooner did he finish speaking than Malcolm moved his hand towards the center of his chest and closed his fingers around the detonator, activating it.
Shit. The fucking thing started beeping.
I took a couple of steps back. “What the fuck did you do?”
Malcolm’s balance threatened to leave him. His speech started slur. “I did… What I said I… What I said I would do. Make peash, peace with your maker.”
I raised my pistol higher, aiming it between his eyes.
“Go ahead,” he stammered, his body starting to sway. “You can’t… The building… you, you’ll never get out, never get out in time.”
I swallowed hard and slipped my finger around the trigger. “Nothing would make me happier than to spray your brains all over this floor.”
But I never got the chance to make good on my promise. From behind, a gunshot rang out, causing me to jerk towards it and look. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw a barely conscious Ronan propped up on one elbow with a pistol in his hand.
Malcolm’s body hit the floor behind me. Turning around again, I noticed he’d been shot right between the eyes, a perfect kill.
Unfortunately, the timer was still running. Shit!
There was no time to talk about what happened. I ran towards Ronan and knelt down next to him.
“Can you stand, man? Can you walk?”
Ronan seemed out of it. He looked at me, his eyes glazed and distant. “What?”
Even though he must have known what he did, he just wasn’t all there. I didn’t have any choice. I reached down and wrapped my arms around his waist, trying to get him to stand. Ronan was a big guy. It was no easy feat. After a brief struggle, I finally got him upright, but he couldn’t steady himself.
