Garrett moves back with a black scowl to make his goons go in first. The two goons open the door and step inside. Garrett enters right behind them. I follow him. Danny sits in an executive swivel chair with his hands on the big black desk. Garrett turns, red-faced, glowering at me.
Garrett’s two goons are grabbed from behind, by men who were waiting either side of the doorway.
Danny calls out. “Nice of you to come, Mr. Garrett. Do have a seat.”
Danny’s men cable-tie the two goons and bundle them outside.
I put a hand on Garrett’s shoulder and he looks up. I guide him to the metal chair in the middle of the room.
Then I zip-tie his wrists to the frame of the chair and his ankles to the legs.
Danny’s voice is soothing as he tells Garrett, “Don’t worry about your men. They will be humanely released back into the wild.”
“I’m not worried about them,” he snarls.
Danny shakes his head, “Now, why does that not surprise me, friend?” He cocks his head to one side, “You’re in a people business. You should cultivate some more interest in those around you.”
Garrett looks up at me. “You’re supposed to be working for me.”
I shrug. “Job satisfaction is low. Besides,” I move around to look in his face. “I got a better offer.”
“Who from?” -- ‘
Danny tells him, “I’d say that you have more pressing issues to occupy your concern.”
My phone vibrates.
It’s a text message from Corky
BIG TROUBLE AT THE PARTY
URBAN MYTH RAMPAGING
Chapter Twenty
Luce
The bald man cut through the crowd like a machete. He knew what he was doing and he came straight for me. He knocked Corky to the ground with a blow of his forearm then he aimed two long guns out at arms length. He rotated and the room cleared in seconds. So did both of the rooms on either side.
While everyone fled, he cuffed my hands behind my back, slung me over his shoulder. He fired a volley of shots through the glass doors. The glass shattered and fell like a crystal waterfall.
He carried me outside, where, naturally, everyone had left or was leaving at speed. He walked, holding me over his shoulder, along the side of the house. A group of security guards came running toward us from the front of the house.
Slowly, deliberately, one by one he shot them all. Single shots to the forehead or the neck. One he got between the eyes.
He walks me to a dark stone staircase, headed down into a lower level of the house. He obviously knows where he’s going. At the bottom of the stair is a heavy double door. The man jams a putty into the lock, then a metal stick in the putty.
He steps back, the stick sparks and the putty explodes with a muffled thud. He shoves the doors open, then kicks them shut behind him. It’s pitch dark inside. I can hardly see a thing. He pulls a pair of goggles from his jacket and puts them on.
He makes me walk ahead of him. Walking, shuffling with my arms out, I’m unsteady and I can hardly see at all. He shoves me from behind. He lays his huge, hard hand on my shoulder to steer me. He stops me and pulls open a door.
Through the door, it’s cold. I can just make out that we’re in a huge room that echoes. Most of the floor is a black void. I hold down a sense of insane panic. I realize that It must be a swimming pool.
I shiver. All I can hear is the echo of his boots and my feet as he steers me to a corner of the pool. He stops me and bends to pull nylon zip ties around my ankles. Then he lifts me and carries me down the steps. Into the freezing cold water. Lowering me onto the steps, he leaves me sitting, immersed in the cold water up to my shoulders.
He leaves the pool and stands ion the side. His face is lit by the screen of a phone. The green goggles are up on top of his bald head. I hear the beeps of his phone as it dials. The light of the screen goes off as he holds the phone to his ear. I can’t see or hear him move.
The screen comes on again as he hangs up the call and in the light I see hard eyes.
“Apparently, young lady, you know something. Something which is of great importance to somebody.” He paces along the side of the pool. “Regrettably, that somebody seems not to be answering their phone right now. So, I guess, while I wait for them to call back, we can just have ourselves a little fun.”
Standing behind me he says, “Speaking somewhat more strictly, I guess I’ll be having most of the fun. You’re mainly just going to be the fun that I’m going to have. Unless, of course, your tastes happen to run down that particular dark and peculiar river.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Connor
I drive fast back to the Kinahan House. Too fast. If I cross paths with a cop, I’ll never get there. I’m calling Corky on redial, having more and more difficulty holding it together when she doesn’t pick up. I’m nearly there before she finally answers.
“Come straight to the back of the house. I’ve let security know that you’re coming. They’ll bring you straight to me.”
“What happened?”
“The urban myth busted into the party, Hoss. He came straight for Luce. Knocked me down to get her. I’m certain she’s the reason he came.”
“Where is she now?”
“Come to the back of the house.”
“He’s got her.”
“Get here, Connor. Right now.”
Corky is surrounded by guys with weapons and body armor. “He’s in there.” The door she points to is down a set of stone steps. It’s like the place in a movie where, as soon as you see it you think, ‘Don’t go down there!’
I ask her, “What’s in there?”
“It’s an indoor swimming pool.”
“How do you know he’s there?”
“It was closed off for the party. My guests, one of them could easily have busted in, but if they had there would be music and lights inside.”
“Makes sense.”
“Also, my party guests wouldn’t be using C4 explosive to get a naughty swim.” She points to a big hole in the door where the lock would have been.
“Don’t you have surveillance?”
“Of course.” she shows me a plan of the basement on her phone. Panels show what lights are on, which is none, pool temperature and motion sensors. She swipes to show me the CCTV cameras, but they’re all showing dark gray.
“He hasn’t put the lights on.”
I ask her, “You control all this with apps?”
One of the men in body armor leans in to Corky. “Ma’am? We’re ready to go.”
“No,” I tell her. “I’ll do this.”
“Connor, you don’t know what you’re going in to. Whoever he is, he’s incredibly dangerous.”
“Corky, she’s incredibly important to me.”
I memorize the layout of the basement and go in as quiet as I can.
When I reach the doors to the pool, they’re partly open. Just a crack. Peering in, all I can make out is a single bulky figure, standing by the far corner of the pool. I’d know him anywhere.
But I can’t see her. And I can’t hear a thing.
He must have nightsight goggles. And that’s the only weapon I can risk using.
I’m about to move when he raises a phone. The screen lights up and I can see him. He has a powerful set of night sight headgear up on his bald head. I’m searching in the gloom and I can’t see Luce.
The rumble of his voice echoes as he speaks, “One last try, sweetheart. If the man doesn’t pick up this time, I’m going to have to pull the plug.”
He dials, then the tiny light of the screen goes off as he lifts the phone to listen. He’s still.
The light of the screen comes on again as he lowers the phone. The light is not enough for me to find Luce. I’ve no idea where she is. She must be near him somewhere, though.
I’ve got no idea how I’m going to do this, and I have to get it right first time.
Keeping the phone I took from Corky behind the door, I
take a breath to get ready. My thumb is over the button.
I make the one stab on the screen, and I run at the same time. All lights in the pool room flash and burst into life.
He howls in pain. I’m blinded too, but I was ready. I run with my eyes shut, at first, around the side of the pool. I throw a flash grenade at the other side.
The bang of the grenade stops him hearing me, working out where I am. It doesn’t stop him letting off automatic rifle fire in an arc around the room. I’m ready. As soon as I hear the first shot, I dive in the pool. I’ll stay below the water, all the way to the side where he is.
Most important, I’ve seen Luce. She’s in the water, at his feet, and she’s fine. She’s slipping into the pool. Aiming to hide under the surface out of his sight, I’m guessing. Smart girl.
He’s shooting blind, spraying bullets in every direction. But he hasn’t thought of firing down. Not yet.
I have to get out of the pool and tip him in before he can hear where I am. The noise of the gun will help me. But I’ll make a splash as soon as I break the surface. I need to be fast.
I get an elbow on the tiles at the side. Haul myself up. Heavy wet clothes and shoes drag me down. I slip. He’s reacting.
He’s moving the gun barrel. Down. I snatch his ankle. Trying to adjust his aim, he lurches back and his head cracks against the tiled wall. He lets go of the gun. As he turns forward I twist his ankle hard. I can’t do much damage, but I overbalance him and he’s falling, toppling into the water.
I look for Luce. It takes what feel like forever to locate her. She’s in the best position. At the bottom of the pool, right below where he was standing. She’s long, straight, like a dolphin.
She’s not moving.
I dive back in.
I hook her over my shoulder. Push for the surface on the far side. Gunfire starts up from the middle of the pool. In the corner of my eye, I see him, rolling, turning. Arms out. A pistol in each hand. Firing blind.
I pull Luce up and roll her onto the side of the pool. The man is firing too high, I don’t think he has a chance of hitting either of us. But I’m sick off him.
I sling a flash grenade, deep into the water, as near to him as I can get.
It feels like the whole building shudders.
But I’m not paying it any attention. I have Luce on her side to get the water out of her. She’s freezing cold and she’s not moving. And, as far as I can tell, she’s not breathing,
I’ve never practiced the kiss of life. But I know how it’s supposed to work. I roll her onto her back. Press on her chest, three times. Seal her lips with mine. Push warm air into her lungs. Enough for her chest to swell and inflate. Pressing her chest.
Three compressions.
Repeat.
Nothing.
Repeat.
Nothing.
Repeat.
I shout, “Come ON Luce!”
Repeat. She shudders. Only a shudder.
Repeat.
She shakes. Starts to cough. I roll her onto her side. She’s convulsing. Sounds like she’s in pain. And I’m almost ready to cry with happiness.
I want to get her untied, but I want to get her out of here more. As I lift her, I notice Shock an’ Awe’s phone by the pool. I stoop to pick it up as I walk around the poolside, hardly even bothering to register the bulk of his body, floating, splayed, face up in the middle of the pool.
Luce is wrapped in towels. Inside the house, we’re shut in a room to ourselves. I don’t have long.
“When you said you were going to be my guardian angel, I don’t remember you mentioning that your wings were water wings.”
“Well, do I get the job?”
“I’ll let you know.”
I tell her, “There’s still a piece I have to finish. You’ll be safe here now.”
She shakes her head, nursing her hot rum cocktail, “Oh, no. I’ll be safe with you. That’s where I’m going to stay for now.”
I can’t stop holding her. Hugging her close. I’m so relieved to have her back. “I thought I could lose you there.”
“When I saw you come into the pool room, I thought I was saved for sure. Then I felt his foot on my back and I was sure I was done for.” Her face is wet in the crook of my shoulder. She hugs me and I hold her close.
She asks me, “What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to take over Garrett’s territory and run it all properly.” I kiss her. “I’m going to rule this little empire. And I want you to be my queen.” We kiss again. Long and forceful. “Will you?”
“Oh, yes.”
Shock an’ Awe’s phone is a burner. The keycode is still the factory standard. I call
After a long time, someone answers. I say, “What were you hoping would happen?”
I recognize he man’s voice, “Who is this?”
I try again and ask, “What was the mission?”
“Wait,” he says, “Is that Connor?”
“Yes, Danny. What was Shock an’ Awe’s mission?”
“How would I know? I have no clue, friend. The phone you called is Garrett’s.”
“Oh.” Of course it is. “That makes sense. Is he there?”
“Yeah. He’s not very talky right now, though.”
“Is that like, ‘he’s not very talky at the minute,’ or would that be more, ‘he’s done talking’?”
“He’s got plenty more talking to do, he’s just having a little rest. Come. Join the party.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Luce
“You think I don’t know about your parties, Corky? Seriously?”
Corky’s daddy is tall and immaculately dressed. Elegant and smooth like a vampire. He’s waiting for her at the front door of the house. He sees me and does a double take.
Corky lent me some jeans, a top and a coat. I told her I was glad she wears her clothes loose. She twisted her nose when she said, “They look better on you, though.”
I’m getting comfortable with her.
Her daddy goes back to his cold smoldering rage.
“What caused all this havoc?”
Corky’s face is red. “Only the hitman that you arranged to have sent here.”
Kinahan looks up at Connor. “Speaking of which, here’s his predecessor.”
Connor looks at him. “You sent a guy with a name as dumb as ‘Shock an’ Awe’?”
“His name is Jagger Knau. Where is he now?”
Connor says, “I left him in the pool.”
“Which one?”
As Corky leads him into the house and we’re leaving, he turns. “Call me, Connor. Later.”
On the way to Sharkie’s, Connor gets a call from Rhiordan. He puts the phone on speaker.
I chime in, “Hi, Rhiordan.”
“Luce! I’m glad to hear your voice. You okay?”
“Yeah,” Connor takes my had. “I’m safe now. thanks. Are you okay?”
“Sure. I’m cut up about Rico. He’d be glad you were safe, though. He knew Garrett would come for you, one sway or another, sooner or later. That was why he tried to hide you.”
“Really?” I’m confused. “Why did he take me away from Momma, then?”
“Same reason. To protect her, too. He couldn’t hide you both in his club. He always carried a torch for your mamma, but he never would have let on.”
“Do you know where she is?”
“Sure. She’s working as a domestic in the place where Garrett’s office is. It was the safest place he could find for her. Your father was so protective of his family, Garrett never had any idea what either of you looked like. Rico persuaded her it was best for you both to stay hidden until he could work something out.”
“Why, though, Rhiordan?” Connor says, “Why were Luce and her momma such a threat to Garrett?”
Rhiordan says, “It’s time you knew, Luce. There’s a phone shop close to Garrett’s office. It’s got a currency exchange counter.”
“Sure. I’ve seen it.”
&nbs
p; I chip in, “I remember. I saw it too. What about it?”
“That was one of Garrett’s first enterprises. The main cash laundry service for most of the Quarter runs through there and it’s the keystone of all his businesses. When he started, though, he couldn’t set it up on his own. Luce, your father was his partner. When Garrett was getting ready to make his move on the Rattigan family empire, he needed the whole of that business.”
“So he had my daddy killed so he could steal the money laundry for himself.”
“It’s worse than that. He put the hit out on your momma and you, too.”
“Why?”
“He was afraid your daddy would have left the deeds and the books somewhere for you or your momma to find.”
Connor asks him, “Do you think he did?”
“I know he did. They’re in the safe at Nico’s.”
Connor asks me, “You want to deal with Garrett?”
“No. I want nothing to do with him.”
“I’ll give him to Corky’s daddy.” he says, “Unless Danny has something special in mind.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to take over Garrett’s operation. Most important, though, assuming the guardian angel position is still open, I’m going to stay and take care of you. And fuck you night and day, so we can make lots and lots of babies.” The glint in his eye sends a shiver through me. “If that’s something you think you’d like.”
Epilogue
Corky’s daddy calls Connor. “He’s not in the pool.”
Connor says, “I put a phone on his car as a tracker.”
“Can you see where it is?”
“Houston.”
“That figures. that’s not really why I’m calling, though. What do you plan to do?”
“I think I’ll take over what Garrett was supposed to be doing. Run things here the way they should be run.”
Break Her Free: A Curvy Captive Romance Page 9
