Both men shrugged.
* * *
It was the next day when they heard from Remy. There was no word on Tania, but Sergio had agreed to stop by later that afternoon.
“How did Remy get Sergio to agree?” Jenna asked when Greyson disconnected. She had been sitting on the patio when Greyson answered the call.
“I’m not sure. I can ask Sergio when he gets here.”
Jenna closed her laptop and stretched. “I have hundreds of questions for him.”
“Write them down.”
“Why?”
“So I can ask them.”
“Why can’t I ask?”
“Because you’ll be upstairs in the bedroom with the door locked.”
“If you think you can lock me in the bedroom —”
“You’re going to lock yourself in the bedroom.”
“You’re crazy if you think I’m going to do that.”
“I’m just being cautious. I want to know what he’s up to, but I don’t want him to know you’re here. He could be looking for you too.”
“Then why bring him here?”
“Because I have a gate to keep the rest of his hired thugs away.”
“So you trust Sergio, but you don’t trust his people.”
“Didn’t say that.”
“Then can you clear it up for me?” Jenna fumed.
Greyson shifted dirt around a small plant near the patio. “I trust Sergio for now, but I don’t trust his circumstance or those around him. Until I know what’s going on, he’s someone to be wary of. People can change when their situations change.”
Jenna sighed. She wasn’t going to argue with Greyson right now. She knew when to pick her battles. She also knew how to navigate around one and charge in when it was too late to stop her.
So, let Greyson think she was going to lock herself away in the bedroom like a tragic princess. She had no intention of staying there.
* * *
Remy and David arrived at the house thirty minutes before Sergio. They both looked surly, and Jenna detected an abnormal bulge in David’s waistband. She knew it was a gun. Remy didn’t bother hiding his. It seemed a little over the top for the arrival of someone they kind-of sort-of trusted. At least Greyson was unarmed. Unless . . . Jenna scanned Greyson, looking for signs he was carrying. She couldn’t detect anything. As her scan concluded on his face, she was aghast to find him smiling at her. With his teasing smirk, she knew she was busted. But it was innocent enough. She was just looking for bulges.
She cleared her throat. “So, there’s been no sign of Adam or his ex?”
David shook his head. “I keep hitting dead ends.”
“Me too,” Remy said.
“What happens if Sergio doesn’t know anything?” Jenna asked. “Will all this be for nothing?”
“No. It just means we have to find new leads,” David said.
“How?”
“We can leak false information,” Remy said. “See if anyone takes the bait.”
“What kind of false information?” Jenna asked.
“It could be almost anything about you or your brother,” David said. “Even something as simple as Adam living here could rouse enough attention.”
“Let’s try not to draw too much attention to this house,” Greyson said. “Right now it’s our only safe place.”
A buzzing sounded in the house, jarring Jenna.
“He’s at the gate,” Greyson said. “Jenna, head upstairs.”
Jenna did as Greyson requested, although it was only to the top landing so she could see Sergio. She hid in a shadow, waiting. Her breath caught when the doorbell rang only a minute later.
Remy cracked the door open. “Anyone with you?”
She strained to listen but couldn’t hear the answer.
Remy stepped back and allowed a man to enter. Compared to Remy, he was short and scrawny, but that could be said about anyone standing next to Remy. She’d have to wait to get closer. But she could tell he was of Latino origin. His dark hair was pulled back into a short ponytail.
“What’s this about?” Sergio asked. His accent was light, but his tone was hard. “Where’s Nadia?”
“I believe Amsterdam,” David said with a shrug.
“You said she was in trouble.” Sergio glared.
“Technically, Remy said that.”
“What the hell is going on? Is she in trouble or not?”
“Caleb could probably answer that, but he’s in Amsterdam too,” David said.
Sergio’s hands clenched into tight fists.
“Enough,” Greyson said, stepping between the two men. “Come with me. We have a lot to discuss, and I’d rather not have to listen to David all day.”
The corners of Sergio’s lips twitched. He gave a slight nod and followed Greyson.
Jenna leaned forward to see what room they were heading to when Sergio’s eyes snapped over to her. She was trapped in his dark laser stare, caught out of her own stupidity. She couldn’t move. She was like a breathing statue. Actually, she wasn’t breathing either.
Right before Sergio vanished beyond her sight, he winked, unbalancing her. She caught herself before crashing into the banister.
He’d winked at her!
Sergio knew she was spying and didn’t give her away.
Jenna wasn’t sure what to think about that. She wasn’t sure about many things, but she did know she wasn’t going to give up just because Sergio had caught her. He probably didn’t even know who she was. He might have thought she was Greyson’s current fling, for all she knew.
Jenna crept down the stairs and headed for the study. Voices drifted beyond the cracked door. She tiptoed over and pressed her back against the wall, leaning near the door.
“So, why am I here?” Sergio repeated his question.
“I was going to ask you the same thing,” Greyson said.
“Unless I’m mistaken, you wanted me here,” Sergio said.
“That’s not what I meant. Why are you in the country? I thought you left to take care of a family situation.”
“Family situation.” Sergio’s laugh was scratchy. “If it were so simple.”
“Well?”
“Why do you want to know?” Sergio asked.
“Because I have a feeling our paths are crossing again, and I need answers.”
“Really?”
Jenna peeked in to find all four men standing with their hands on their hips. None looked comfortable. Did Remy just flex his biceps? Maybe he just twitched.
“Really,” David said.
“I have nothing I can tell you. My business is my own.”
“Lives are at stake,” Greyson said.
Sergio’s laugh was brittle. “Do you think I don’t know that? What the hell do you think I’ve been doing all this time? Writing my memoir?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out,” Greyson said.
Sergio shook his head. “Stay out of the way. I don’t want any more deaths on my conscience.”
“More people will die if you don’t give me answers,” Greyson said, staying amazing calm. It was as if he was conducting a business meeting.
“Who?”
“Adam Newman. What do you know about him?”
“Stay out of my way!” Sergio seethed, turning to leave. “He’s mine!”
Jenna was about to retreat until she heard Greyson.
“I can get him for you, but we have to work together.”
Jenna’s throat constricted. What was Greyson thinking?
Sergio paused before turning back to the men. “I’m listening.”
“We’ll help you find him in exchange for information.”
“What kind of information?”
“I want to know who else is after Adam. What did he do that he owes so much money?”
“If you don’t know, I have a hard time believing you’ll be able to help me. What’s it to you, anyway? Why do you care what happens to Adam?”
“Let’s just say
I have my reasons.”
Sergio smirked. “Would your reason happen to be a pretty brunette?”
Greyson’s jaw clenched. “There are many pretty brunettes in the world. Could you be more specific?”
“The one listening outside the door.”
Chapter 21
“Jenna!” Greyson barked.
Jenna froze outside the door. She had wanted to be a part of the conversation, but not like this.
“Now!”
She rolled her eyes and pushed the door open to find Greyson and Remy glowering, and Sergio and David smirking.
“Do you have a problem with directions?” Greyson snarled.
“You were very calm and business like a few minutes ago,” Jenna said. “Do you normally unravel this quickly? It’s no wonder you quit the business world.”
Greyson’s scruffy jaw fell.
Really, he was too easy to rattle. And she needed answers.
David grinned and sat down in a high-back leather chair. Remy shook his head and followed David’s lead, sitting down as well. His gun remained visible.
Jenna reached her hand out to Sergio. “I’m Jenna, although you probably already heard that like the rest of the county.”
Sergio took her hand. “I’m Sergio. It’s lovely to meet you. How are you wrapped up in all of this?”
Jenna was quick to study Sergio. His tan skin, dark hair and eyes complemented him. He wasn’t too thin, not as he had originally appeared next to Remy, but he had a look about him. He looked like someone stressed to the point of breaking, although his pleasant smile helped to cover that fact. He was taller than her, but that was normal in her world. And by the way his hand felt in hers, he wasn’t a weakling.
“Can I be honest with you?” Jenna asked.
“Jenna,” Greyson warned.
“It would be a refreshing change if someone would,” Sergio answered, still holding her hand.
“Jenna. Don’t.”
“I’m Jenna Newman, Adam’s sister. I’d like to know what happened to my brother. I want to find him.”
A series of groans set off like an orchestra around the room.
Sergio smiled. “That was refreshing. Thank you.”
Jenna smiled back and glanced over at Greyson, whose neck vein bulged. Before she could comment, the window shattered and she found herself locked into Sergio’s hold with a gun pointed at her throat. A can of smoke rolled through the room.
“I’ll take good care of her,” Sergio said, yanking her out of the room and kicking the door shut. He fired a shot at the door knob. “That should keep them occupied for a moment.”
“What are you doing?” Jenna choked, pulling on his arm, nails biting into his skin. The more she struggled, the stronger his hold became.
Sergio hurried her out of the house and to the driver’s side of his car. He pushed her through as he held both her and the gun. She wiggled over to the passenger side, bashing her leg on the steering wheel.
“Why are you doing this?” Jenna asked.
A shot fired in the distance.
“Did someone just shoot at us?” Jenna squeaked, hunkering down in the seat.
Sergio revved the engine and blazed down the driveway.
“Sounds that way.”
“What if they shot me?”
“If I had to guess, I’m sure they’d celebrate.”
Jenna’s jaw sagged. “I might be a little difficult at times, but I doubt David or Remy would want to kill me.”
“Not them.”
“Then who?”
Sergio’s silence filled in the blanks for her. The person who shot at them belonged to the same group that had been hunting her down. Sergio’s men hadn’t been the ones who shattered the window. But he did take advantage of the situation.
After a few minutes, Sergio said, “I had to take you before they did. I knew they followed me.”
“Remy knows where you live. I assume they do too,” Jenna said, crossing her arms. “And put that thing down. It’s not like I’m going to jump out of the car with you driving ninety down a country road. The speed limit is fifty-five, by the way.”
Sergio eyed her cautiously but lowered the gun.
“Now can you tell me what’s going on?” Jenna asked.
“You’re the bait.”
“The bait for who?”
“Adam.”
“So, he is alive?” Jenna asked, hopeful.
“Yes. For now.”
Jenna burst into tears. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t suspected it, but there was that part of her mind that had so many doubts. To hear that he was alive . . .
For now?
She wiped her face with her hand. “What did he do? Why are so many people after him?”
Sergio’s gaze slid to her. “Did you hear the part where I’m using you as bait to lure your brother?”
She waved her hand. “Yes, yes. But what did he do?”
Sergio shook his head. “I must be losing my touch. No wonder I can’t get the family off my back.”
“Well?”
“He was at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“What wrong place? What wrong time?”
“He’s a musician, no?”
Jenna nodded.
“A drop was supposed to be made in a guitar case at a club. I think your brother picked up the guitar case thinking it was his.”
“Can’t you just forgive him if it was a mistake?”
“It’s not me who has to do the forgiving. It’s my cousin. He’s never been the forgiving type. It’s always been his way. Your brother can pay back what he owes, or he can pay in blood. Personally, I’d go with money. My cousin has a nasty streak.”
“Nasty streak?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“Then why are you after Adam? Are you turning him over to your cousin?” Jenna demanded.
Sergio turned into a driveway. A gate closed behind the car as he drove through, heading for a large, weather-beaten house. Guards were posted all along the front.
“You don’t mess around, do you?” Jenna breathed.
Sergio rolled to a stop. “Out.”
“But —”
“I can only keep you safe if you follow my direction. Things are not always as they appear. Out.”
Jenna swallowed the huge lump forming in her throat and slid out of the car, watching as large, dark men surrounded her.
Sergio spoke in rapid Spanish. She could tell by the tone of his voice that he was barking orders, which were quickly being carried out.
Men on either side of her grabbed her arms and hauled her forward. As she moved between them, she mentally kicked herself for busting into Greyson’s study. She should have locked herself in the bedroom and waited. She had a feeling she was going to find herself behind a locked door anyway. She’d much rather be behind Greyson’s.
What did Sergio mean when he said that things are not always as they appear?
He had appeared to be a reasonable person before he kidnapped her.
She walked into the house, feeling the weight of a dozen stares targeting her. She kept her eyes down and kept moving. Sergio was not nearly as frightening as the guards who were watching her intently.
She was led to a sparsely furnished bedroom and, thankfully, windows to escape through. Unfortunately, her journey didn’t end there, but instead, in the walk-in closet. The door slammed behind her, and a metal scraping noise could only mean they had locked her in.
Her only consolation was the fact that there was a light. And it was clean. Empty, but clean.
And that Remy knew where Sergio lived.
Not that it mattered. She doubted they’d be able to rescue her here. It was impossible with the guards posted out front, knowing people were on their way — and not just Greyson, Remy, and David, but Sergio’s cousin as well.
And Adam.
He’d be walking straight into a trap.
She felt sick.
* * *
�
�What the hell happened?” Greyson snarled through tears, ripping the hose away from David and dousing his face with water, which felt as if it were blistering.
Remy snatched the hose and let the water run over his red, blotchy face. “Sergio dropped a number on us.”
“And took Jenna!” Greyson yanked the hose back. “What the hell are we going to do?”
David bent down to splash water on his face. “If you’re going to hold the hose, at least hold it higher.”
Greyson’s veins pounded as his blood pressure spiked.
“Didn’t think Sergio had it him,” Remy said. “I forgot how bad this shit burns.”
“It’s probably because you’re getting old,” David said. “Can’t handle it anymore.”
Remy’s large fist plowed into David’s arm, knocking him down into the wet grass.
“Sensitive, are we?” David asked innocently.
Greyson’s hands clenched into a fist, cutting off the water. They were idiots. He should’ve never listened to them. “Can you at least tell me who fired the shot?”
“What shot?” Remy asked.
David looked at him quizzically.
“You didn’t hear it?” Greyson asked.
Both men shook their heads.
“Was it in the house?” David asked.
“No. It sounded as if it was far away. Maybe outside the gate.”
“No wonder we didn’t hear it,” David said. “We don’t all have delicate office ears.”
“No kidding,” Remy said. “It’s a wonder I can hear anything anymore. Shell blasts have a way of screwing with a person.”
“Or, you could be getting old.” David scooted back before Remy pounded him again.
“You two are morons!” Greyson fumed. “Are you not worried about Jenna at all?”
David shrugged. “It’s Sergio. She’ll be fine.”
“Yes, Sergio, the one that kidnapped her at gunpoint and had my house bombed with teargas! That Sergio?”
Remy snorted. “Still didn’t think he had it in him. But don’t worry. We’ll head over right now and get her.”
“We’ll just waltz over there and pick her up?” Greyson asked incredulously.
Remy frowned. “I don’t waltz. But, yes, we’ll go pick her up.”
Last Tailored Suit Page 17
