Slow Release (Ebony and Ivory Book 1)

by Steele, Suzanne

  “Here you go swee…” was all I heard before I lunged from behind the door, grabbed the tray, and slammed it into the side of the poor woman’s head. The coffee carafe flew through the air, sending the hot beverage sailing and splattering all over the pristine wall. I quickly leaned down and grabbed the keys she had placed in her apron pocket.

  I had the thought that someone else could be in the house, and it sent a surge of fear through me. I quickly ran down the long hallway and flew down the steps that led to the foyer. My hands trembled as I tried various keys in the lock. There was a lock on the door that had to be unlocked to get in or out, and it made me wonder if I wasn’t the first woman he’d kidnapped.

  After what seemed like an eternity, one of the keys finally worked, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, the respite was short-lived. I could hear the growls of dogs as I ran down the long driveway towards my freedom. I wished I hadn’t looked over my shoulder when I viewed two large German Shepherds quickly gaining on me.

  Winded, I finally made it to the end of the driveway where I was greeted by a huge iron gate. There was nothing I could step on to help me climb over it, so I went for the next best thing and scaled the concrete wall. Pain shot through my leg as one of the dogs lunged at me and mercilessly clamped down on my leg. Blood immediately soiled my jeans and only seemed to spur the animal on. As vicious as they were behaving, I wouldn’t be surprised if these dogs were actually rabid. Now that the creature had smelled and tasted my blood, he was going in for the kill.

  Pure fear gave me the strength to push through the pain and finish scaling the wall. I threw my body over with such force that it knocked the wind from me when I landed on my back. I was free, but walking was going to be difficult at best. Not only had the dog torn the denim material from my body, but he also ripped the flesh from the back of my upper thigh.

  I knew it was bad. The wound was deep; the dog’s teeth had gone past flesh and into my muscle. Though it hurt like hell, I didn’t give a fuck if I had to drag myself to freedom; I was going to accomplish exactly what I had set out to do and escape that madman. At this point, I knew if I didn’t succeed, I’d be in even more danger just for making the attempt, especially after being so thoroughly warned against it. God forbid he managed to get me out of the country too. I’d never be able to escape him then. I wasn’t just dealing with some random psycho with a penchant for stalking. No, this guy was a member of a lethal organization and was, no doubt, trained to kill.

  Chapter Thirty Seven

  Damon

  I knew it was ludicrous to go to the docks and meet that shipment, but I had no choice. I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. I knew Antonio Wayne would lose all respect for me if I didn’t show up because, to him, it would be a sign of weakness. He was the type of man who would torture anybody who so much as looked at his woman the wrong way. Antonio didn’t understand that not everyone was like him, not everyone had that vicious bone in their genetic makeup. In his sadistic mind, everybody should enjoy watching their enemies be tortured. Me? Well, I always pictured myself as the type of guy who would get it done quickly if I had to exact revenge. A bullet in my adversary’s brain would suffice, and then I’d be done with it. Until now, I’ve never been put in a situation where I had to make that decision, though, so I’m unsure how I’ll react when the moment comes.

  The thought crossed my mind that I could pay Antonio to do this for me. He’d be willing to torture Skye’s stalker for a price. Hell, he might even do it for free. After all, he was known for his ruthlessness, and the idea of watching Antonio make this man pay for abducting Skye was definitely a temptation. Though I wasn’t a man given to sadism, Aedan had pushed my limits, and for the first time, I wanted to see someone suffer. The only thing stopping me from asking Antonio to set it up was the fact that I was already going to be indebted to him. Changing the gun run so I could get to Aedan was huge, and if I let him do my muscle work as well, it would be another debt in his favor. Besides, I wasn’t entirely confident I could stomach watching Antonio at work. The stories about him were legendary and revealed not only did he get off on his victim’s pain, but he also loved finding new and unique ways of subjecting them to it.

  I would have to hide so Aedan didn’t see me, but it was doable. What might prove not so doable was resisting the urge to put a bullet between that son of a bitch’s eyes when I saw him. The only thing saving him right now was the fact that I needed him alive to lead me to Skye’s location.

  My lifelong friend, Jerome, wasn’t crazy about me going down to the docks either, but being the good friend he has always been, he was onboard with the plan and insisted on accompanying me. One thing was for sure; neither of us would be wearing our trademark suits today. No, today we were going in dressed for battle.

  The Stalker

  I’d been trying to get Antonio Wayne to do business with the IRA for years. A deal this huge was going to put me on my superiors’ radar.

  I wasn’t shocked when I arrived at the location and saw that there was no activity. I knew Antonio Wayne owned these docks, and people who would normally be here would’ve been paid to disappear for the day. The Colombian cartel Antonio worked with had connections that reached high in the government hierarchy and included customs officials. My superiors were going to be very happy that I secured this deal. With how quickly everything went down, I didn’t have time to call in for backup from out of the country, but in a way, that was for the better. I wanted to surprise my higher-ups that I sealed this large of a gun run deal on my own.

  After looking around and assuring myself I wasn’t in any danger, I got out of the van. I made my way to the back of my vehicle and pulled out a large black duffle bag. This money was going to ensure me a new connection, a new beginning, and a new life with the woman of my enemy.

  It took two hands for me to carry the heavy bag over to the warehouse door that someone left open for me. I entered the building and immediately saw Antonio Wayne himself. He was dressed in a high dollar, tailored suit and leisurely sat back on a crate while he toyed with a toothpick in his mouth. He nodded in his bodyguard’s direction, a signal for him to retrieve the bag from me, and for the first time, a wave of fear rolled over me.

  The cocky look on Antonio’s face was not reassuring me, and he still hadn’t spoken yet. I watched as he unzipped the bag and eyed the money inside. He then nodded to another man to take it out to his vehicle.

  At first, I thought nothing of it when I heard footsteps behind me. I just assumed they must belong to more of Antonio’s men. That was, of course, until I heard the unmistakable sound of a gun cocking and recognized a voice I knew all too well.

  “Where the fuck is my woman?”

  The smirk on Antonio’s face clearly let me know there were no guns to be traded.

  “I think he asked you a question. You should probably give him an answer. He looks pretty pissed off, though I can’t say I blame him.”

  I cringed as I felt Damon reach in the back of my pants and retrieve the one firearm I had in my possession. This whole thing had been a set-up between the two of them from the start.

  Skye

  My leg felt like it was on fire, and I was losing a lot of blood. In a pathetic attempt to get further away, I half walked and half dragged myself, using my arms to pull my body along the wall I just scaled. I could still hear the dogs growling on the opposite side. I’m sure they could smell the blood, and it was spurring them on.

  I had no idea where I was or when my abductor would return, and though the pain was excruciating, my fear predominated. I reached back to lightly touch the bite mark and was horrified when I felt an open, gaping gash in my leg. I had to find a main road and get out of here before the woman I assaulted woke up and contacted her boss.

  My vision was blurred and I was fighting off lightheadedness, both of which told me I was close to passing out, probably due to blood loss. I decided the best plan of action would be to secure a hiding place and wait out
my enemy if my symptoms got any worse.

  I could hear traffic and fought to make my way towards the sound to try and get help. After coming so far, the thought of failing in my escape attempt sickened me. There were just too many people depending on me. I had to make it out of here, and I had to make it out alive. I didn’t want my mother to endure the loss of another child; she’d been through so much already. I was also saddened by the thought that I might never see Damon again. In such a short time, he had come to mean so much to me.

  The sound of traffic was closer now and, step by agonizing step, I made my way towards the road I could now see up ahead in the distance. I retched as bile rose in my throat, and I had to bend over to spit out the bitter taste. Over and over, I just kept telling myself one more step… just one more step.

  Damon

  “If I were you, I’d tell him where his woman is. Motherfucker looks pissed off,” Antonio laughed. “Yep, the way I see it, you’re out 1.5 mil just for fucking around with me. I can’t believe you’re stupid enough to think I’d do business with the IRA. Fuck you and your cause. I’ve got my own cause to think about. Seriously though, you probably ought to tell him where you stashed his woman. He looks like he wants to kill you, and far be it from me to stop him. All it would mean to me is one less competitor if he does it.”

  “He’s right, you know. My trigger finger is itching. Where. Is. My. Woman?” I leaned in to get in his personal space and growled the words in his ear.

  It felt good to see him trembling beneath the barrel of my gun. What kind of man goes after a woman because of a vendetta? He would have done much better if he’d directed his hatred towards me, not Skye. Now, I’m tempted to kill the bastard just to have the assurance he won’t ever hurt her again.

  However, through my rage, there was a small part of me still capable of logical thought, and I knew if I killed him, there was a chance I could go to prison. Honestly though, I doubted anyone would find him after Antonio Wayne disposed of his body. I knew Antonio Wayne’s reputation well enough to know he would never leave loose ends when his name was involved. He would also have no problem with me taking him out because he meant what he said about less competition in the gun running business. He played a ruthless game, and he was one of the most merciless players. Having his approval and encouragement was making it not only very easy for me to kill Aedan O’Hara, but also very tempting. If I went through with it, though, this would be the first time I’d ever killed anyone. Then again, it was the first time I truly wanted to end a man’s life and could picture myself pulling the trigger.

  The Stalker

  “You son of a bitch, you set me up!”

  “Yes, I did, and now I’m over a million dollars richer. You fucked up when you took his woman. I don’t blame him for wanting to kill you. I know I would if I were in his shoes.”

  “You’ll never get away with this, you arrogant Colombian bastard.” I watched Antonio smirk as he answered.

  “I’m sure you’d like to think that, but let’s put things in perspective, shall we? Right now, you’re the one with a gun jammed up against the back of his head.”

  I grappled for the only salvation I had. “If you kill me, you’ll never find the bitch.”

  The last thing I felt was the butt of the gun slamming into the side of my head before I passed out and crumpled to the concrete floor.

  Chapter Thirty Eight

  Skye

  The heat of the afternoon was wreaking havoc on my already taxed system. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before I passed out either from the heat or from blood loss. I needed medical help, and I needed it soon. I didn’t want to die out here, but with every minute that passed, the likelihood of it happening grew. I was worried that if the blood loss didn’t kill me, the inevitable infection would.

  I forced myself to hurry and make it towards the traffic I could see speeding down the highway. I was so close to freedom. I pulled my body along and then half dragged myself up the side of the small hill. If I lost the fight here, I’d be hidden from view, and there’s no telling when I’d finally be discovered.

  Cars sped past, unaware I was fighting for my life. I was finally able to peek over the top of the hill to see asphalt. I pulled my body along and forced myself to get to flat ground, hoping someone would see me and get me to a hospital.

  The last thing I remembered was the heat of the asphalt and the screeching sound of brakes. I readied myself for the impact of metal crashing into my already beaten down body. Instead, I heard the voice of a man calling my name, and then there was darkness… just blessed peace and darkness.

  Damon

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  I watched Antonio Wayne as he worked, and it was easy to see how he got the reputation for being so sadistic. He was thoroughly enjoying what he was doing. I failed in my attempt to get Skye’s location out of Aedan, and Antonio was more than happy to take over the interrogation. Though I wasn’t shocked by his offer, I’ll admit I was surprised and a little nauseated when he sent his bodyguard to get his kit. I mean, seriously? The son of a bitch carried a torture kit with him for crying out loud!

  Though Antonio directed his speech towards me, I knew he was, in actuality, talking for Aedan’s benefit. If the look on Aedan’s face was any indication, it was a good scare tactic to use. “You see, Damon, our friend here has been trained by the IRA in the art of interrogation, so he won’t be an easy one to break. Luckily, I happen to love a challenge, so this is right up my alley.”

  After grabbing the duffle bag his bodyguard retrieved, I watched intently as Antonio reached inside and took out a suede knife roll. He unbuckled it slowly and rolled it out on the table, unveiling a diverse array of blades. He then reached in the bag again and grabbed bottles of what looked like salt and lemon juice. Damn, this guy did come prepared. I noted Aedan’s eyes were now darting back and forth between Antonio and me. I was certain Antonio’s calm demeanor and deliberately slow movements only added to Aedan’s anxiety.

  I surprised myself at how intrigued I was with watching and listening to the sadist while he worked. The trepidation I felt earlier at just the thought of Antonio at work was all but gone. I was actually enjoying myself, seeing this man who abducted my woman tremble in fear. I listened while Antonio spoke as he worked—no, not worked—I guess played would be a more apt description.

  “Many people think it takes overkill to get information, but many times, it’s the small wounds that do the job. Not only do they physically hurt the victim, but they torment him mentally as well.”

  I watched as he took out a simple piece of paper and started making paper cuts on various parts of Aedan’s body. Antonio had stripped the man down to his boxers before securing him to a wooden chair, so there was hardly a part of Aedan’s body that wasn’t exposed.

  Aedan started making a hissing noise as Antonio continued making the small cuts. As Antonio promised they would, the tiny cuts were clearly beginning to torment the man. I was captivated as I watched him work with precision. Having never witnessed something like this, I expected a lot more blood and more significant wounds during an interrogation. What I was seeing was the exact opposite. The quote, “It’s the little foxes that spoil the vines,” went through my mind.

  Finally pleased with the numerous small cuts he inflicted on the man, Antonio reached for the salt. Some of the cuts were pink and others bled just the tiniest amount, but the stinging effect they induced was evident by the hissing noises still escaping Aedan’s mouth. I continued to watch with interest and listened as Antonio proceeded to train me in an act I never imagined I would take an interest in. Though I wasn’t sadistic in nature, I have always been intrigued with the psychology behind the mindset. I could tell that Antonio was deriving just as much pleasure from having an audience as he was from the act itself, especially an audience as rapt as I was.

  I continued to watch and listen as he spit on his thumb and forefinger. He poured a small amount of salt to mix into the sal
iva and rubbed his fingers together to make a kind of paste.

  “Many people think salt is the best stinging agent.” Aedan’s hisses turned to growls when Antonio rubbed salt into his wounds.

  “While I find salt to be effective, it’s lemon juice after the application of a salt paste, that really intensifies the pain. Where. Is. This. Man’s. Woman?” Antonio calmly enunciated each word for emphasis.

  “Fuck you, I’m going to kill you when I get loose.”

  Antonio casually stepped to the side when the man spit at him, causing the spittle to miss its mark and ineffectually land on the concrete floor.

  “While I find your outburst to be quite rude, I’m more concerned with making sure you realize you won’t be going anywhere until I allow it.”

  I watched as Antonio turned Aedan’s hands so they were palm up and reached into the suede bag to retrieve two pairs of scissors. With lightening speed, he thrust one pair straight through Aedan’s hand and then repeated the action with the other hand.

  Aedan was no longer hissing or growling. He’d graduated to screaming in agony, but Antonio still spoke in a calm, even-toned voice.

  “As I was saying, you won’t be going anywhere until I allow it. As for your threat to kill me, you won’t have a chance to do so before your brothers kill you. They’ll be coming for you either for losing their shipment of guns or for their money. Speaking of the money, since all million and a half dollars are now mine…” He looked in my direction and continued, “it’s going to be payment for the favor Mr. D’Angelo would have owed me.”

  I couldn’t resist the chance to be a smart ass as I looked at Aedan and said, “Well, thank you! How very kind of you to pay off my debt to Antonio, Aedan.”

  “Fuck you, too!” he screamed out in a mixture of pain and anger.