Chapter 25
E milie changed into yoga pants and the Sex Pistols T-shirt she’d given Chains in London. She pulled on socks and sneakers, put her hair in a ponytail and wrapped an ankle cell phone holster around her left ankle, stuffing a burner phone in it. She put her regular phone in one pocket of her pants and her wallet in the other one. Gripping her keys tightly in her hand, she leaned over and brushed her lips over her daughter’s cheek .
“Mummy will be home soon, darling,” she whispered .
She tiptoed down the back stairs and out the kitchen door that the housekeeper usually used. She paused to pet Dante’s German shepherd, Puzo, named after his favorite author, Mario Puzo, hoping to keep him from barking. Luckily, though he could be ferocious with strangers, he seemed to love Emilie and let her scratch behind his ears for a few seconds before she kissed the top of his head and finally reached her SUV. She sat in the driver’s seat and took a deep breath. Simone and almost everyone she cared for was either safely inside Dante’s house or nowhere near Las Vegas. Now if only she could get to Chains before it was too late, if only it wasn’t already too late …
She pulled onto the street and got on the highway, putting her phone in the hands-free cradle and using voice commands to call Franny. It rang once, twice, three times. Emilie clenched the steering wheel tightly; she didn’t know what she would do if Franny didn’t answer. Finally, she heard the line engage .
“Franny? Are you there ?”
“Hello, Emilie.” Franny’s voice sounded strange .
“What do you want in exchange for Chains?” Emilie kept her voice level .
“How did you figure it out?” she asked blandly .
“Does it make a difference? I know your husband was Gary Matthews and he died in Iraq on that mission with Chains .”
“Bastard let all of them die!” she hissed in response .
“There was no parachute,” Emilie said gently. “He jumped into a group of trees .”
“Liar!”
“I’m not lying .”
“Shut up !”
“Then tell me what you want,” Emilie repeated. “Money? Something else ?”
“The only thing I want is Gary…and we both know that’s not happening .”
“What else? There must be something else or you wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble .”
“Trouble?” Franny laughed. “This hasn’t been any trouble .”
Emilie grit her teeth to hide her annoyance. “Tell me where you are,” she encouraged softly. “I can meet you there… We can talk .”
“Oh, honey, I’ve been waiting for you—I just didn’t think you’d come in until tomorrow .”
“Tomorrow?” Emilie pressed down on the gas pedal. “You’re at Inferno !”
“Of course! I wasn’t sure you’d figured it out, but I was planning to leave a little surprise for you to find when you got in to work because it was time. However, since you seem anxious to come in on your day off, I suppose letting you watch him die wouldn’t be terrible. Not quite as dramatic as you finding him already dead, but probably equally gut- wrenching .”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes .”
“Emilie.”
“Yes?”
“Come alone, or you won’t have a chance to say good-bye, much less save him. The outdoor cameras give me a view of every entrance and the entire parking lot. If they’re hiding in your trunk, or parking up the street and walking over, I’ll see them and Chains will be dead .”
“I understand,” Emilie whispered, her heart racing. “I’ll be alone. I swear. Please don’t do anything until I get there .”
“I’ll think about it.” Franny disconnected .
“Shit, shit, shit!” Emilie drove as fast as she dared .
S he pulled into the Inferno parking lot and quickly got out. She knew exactly which way to go because she only had about 30 seconds where she would be in an area the cameras didn’t cover. She ducked into the loading dock door and yanked out her phone, keeping it in her hand as she hurried through the hall. Joe and Chains had decided management needed a secret escape route in case they were ever raided or attacked. They’d designed it when they’d first bought the building and only Dante, Becca, Joe, Chains, Emilie, Viggo and Jamie knew about it. She wondered if Franny would ever get the irony she was going to be outsmarted because she’d refused to become a manager; had she accepted their offer, she would have been told about the escape tunnel .
Emilie walked into her office, grateful they’d purposely kept security cameras out of there. She nudged her desk out of the way and pulled up the hatch under the rug. She lowered herself to the ground, grumbling about her aching back and feet, but managed to find the handrail for the staircase that would lead her to the dungeon. Letting the hatch close behind her, she navigated the stairs using the flashlight on her phone until she was on flat ground again. She walked 20 steps to the door that led to the dungeon and slowly pulled it open just a crack. Franny had turned on the red lights that were used when the equipment was being utilized, and there in the middle of the room was Chains. She swallowed hard when she saw him. He was chained to the spider web, arms above his head and legs out to the side. He wore nothing but a pair of jeans and most of his body was covered in blood. Franny was standing next to him now, a fistful of his dreads in her hand .
Steeling herself, Emilie let the door softly close and she hit the speed dial button for Joe’s phone .
“Emilie!” He answered immediately .
“I’m at the club,” she whispered. “Franny’s got Chains in the dungeon. I’m in the tunnel right now but I don’t know how long before she kills him .”
“We’re coming!” Joe was yelling. “Keep her talking—do whatever it takes to keep him alive until we get there .”
Emilie was nodding to herself; keeping him alive was definitely the plan. She needed a weapon, though, and she cracked the door again to see what was nearby as she thought about what Chains had told her .
“Any weapon is better than nothing,” he’d said. “A stick, a rock, a bloody vase of flowers—anything you can use to defend yourself or hurt your attacker is worthwhile. Going into a fight empty-handed is foolish unless you have absolutely no choice .”
She looked around and spotted a can of WD-40. That would have to do, so she stuck it in the back of the waistband of her yoga pants, hoping her bulging belly would keep Franny from noticing it. Once inside the dungeon, all she needed was to get her hand on one of the whips on the wall; it wouldn’t do much against a gun, but she could protect herself against almost anything else with it .
She paused, wincing at the stinging pain in her back. The baby had somehow managed to sit on her sciatic nerve and it had been bothering her for weeks. Tonight it was the worst it had been to date and she massaged her back for a moment, whispering to the baby to please move into another position, just until she could get to Chains. After a few deep breaths, she opened the door and stepped inside .
Franny spun around, glaring at her. “Where did you go? How did you get in here ?”
“I know every nook and cranny of my club,” Emilie replied calmly .
“Your club! Ha! This is Dante and Becca’s club—millionaires who don’t care about anyone or anything except money .”
Emilie shrugged. “They also don’t care about working, so it might as well be my club.” She wanted to run to Chains and see how he was, but she needed to give Joe and the others time to get here, so she had to keep talking .
“Well, you came to see your disgusting boyfriend—don’t you think he looks better now?” She laughed bitterly. “Dreads are ugly .”
Emilie stared at the floor where Franny had let each lock fall after she cut it off. He had little stumps all over his head now, but she barely noticed as she took in his much leaner frame, the bruises all over his torso and the blood dripping from his nose. He had a black eye and he was filthy. She swallowed her horror and turned to Franny .
“This won’t bring Gary back,” she whispered .
“No, but I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing one of you will watch the other die…” She turned to Chains and slapped him hard across the face. His eyes fluttered open and a slight frown creased his brow when he saw Emilie. “Are you sure you want to die for her, big guy? Huh? You sure you want her to watch you die and spend the rest of her life reliving this moment ?”
“Em…” His voice was a hoarse whisper .
“It’s all right,” she said in a voice so cold she almost didn’t recognize it. “Just because you broke my heart doesn’t mean I’m not going to try to save you .”
Franny snorted. “Seriously? You’re nine months pregnant! Did you really come for this guy after he broke your heart? Really? Can you possibly be that stupid ?”
“I spent eight years of my life feeling guilty for letting another man die once… I couldn’t live with myself if I did it again.” She moved closer to Chains, keeping her back pointed away from Franny so she wouldn’t see the odd bulge in her pants .
“Then maybe I should kill you instead!” Franny was thoughtful. “If killing him isn’t going to break your heart, I know killing you will break his .”
“If he loved me, he shouldn’t have left!” Emilie snapped, cutting her eyes in his direction. She knew he’d seen the WD-40 in the back of her pants and though he didn’t move, she could see the intensity in his eyes; he was letting her know she needed to use it .
“A bastard like him doesn’t love anybody!” Franny growled, her eyes gleaming dangerously. “I’m sorry you had to be the one who finally meant something to him, though. I like you, Emilie. I hated putting that disgusting cat in your car—I hope it didn’t make you nauseous .”
Emilie scowled. “That was you? Why? What was that ridiculous message ?”
Franny laughed. “It was meant to let him know I was coming for him—and for you .”
“None of this will bring back Gary,” Emilie said gently. “Is this what he would want for you? For your children ?”
“Shut up!” Franny glared .
How long had it been? Would Joe and the others arrive in time to help? Emilie’s back was on fire again, the baby pressing down on the sciatic nerve so hard she nearly grabbed her stomach so she could shake it and move him around. She knew that was a ludicrous thought—at this stage the baby barely had any room left and the doctor had said he’d moved into position already. Pressing her lips together and trying to ignore the pain, she took another step towards Chains and the wall with the whips .
“You’re not planning to get to the whips, are you?” Franny raised her eyebrows and chuckled. “I’ve seen you wield those things and you’re vicious, so step away from them .”
Emilie moved closer to Chains instead, not sure what else to do. Then she saw the bullet wound. It was behind his right shoulder, the skin jagged and raw, blood still dripping down his back and right leg. It didn’t look particularly recent, which meant he’d lost a lot of blood. She closed her eyes. I’m sorry, little one , she thought, one hand on her stomach. I can’t let him die. Not after he tried so hard to protect us .
“Now what?” Emilie asked Franny in a voice that was surprisingly calm. “He’s already half-dead and even though I don’t want him to die on my watch, he’s not the love of my life—you know Jamie and I have just been waiting for the baby to come before we tell Viggo?” She had no idea where that came from, but the words fell from her lips easily .
“You really are something,” Franny stared at her in disbelief. “Do you fuck around with everybody ?”
Emilie would have been affronted if she wasn’t so afraid for Chains. Except the smug bastard actually had a small smile on his face; he knew she was lying and found it amusing. If they got out of this alive, she would make him pay for that. Until then, there was only one thing left to do. She took three quick steps towards Franny, who was momentarily distracted, and pulled the WD-40 from her pants. She depressed the button and shot the aerosol chemical right into Franny’s face. Franny screamed, clawing at her eyes as she turned her back on Emilie. Emilie ran to the wall and yanked down her favorite whip. It was long and thick, with a sturdy handle and a tail that would leave a mark. She turned and let it slice through the air, catching Franny across the back and making her scream again. She clawed at the air now, trying to grab the whip, but Emilie was fast, pulling it back and snapping it towards her again. She repeated the motions, flicking her wrist expertly, so the whip slashed exactly where she wanted it to hit, cutting the skin on Franny’s hands and face .
Franny wasn’t done yet, though, and she hurled herself in Emilie’s direction, knocking them both to the floor. Emilie was momentarily dazed, pain shooting through her abdomen as she lay there .
“Em!” Chains’ raspy voice roused her and she gripped the WD-40 with her left hand, spraying it in the other woman’s face at point-blank range this time. Franny screamed bloody murder just as the doors burst open. Emilie fell back with a moan .
“Emilie!” Joe ran towards her but she waved him off .
“I’m okay!” she cried. “Don’t let Franny get away! And someone get to Chains!” She was breathing heavily as she watched Viggo hesitate before pivoting towards the man she loved, who was no longer moving, his head hanging lifelessly on his chest .
“Chains?” Viggo approached him warily, his heart beginning to slam against his ribs as he realized their big friend wasn’t moving at all. His body hung limply from the spider web, blood covering his torso and face, his trademark dreadlocks gone. “You’re gonna be okay, mate,” he whispered, wrapping one arm around Chains and lifting him enough to slacken the chains holding his arms. “Jamie! Jamie, I need help !”
A moment later, Jamie, Karl and Dante came bounding into the room. “Is there a key?” Karl called, looking around .
“There’s a master!” Dante yelled. “Hold on, I’m getting it !”
“Is he breathing?” Jamie moved to the other side of Chains’ body, helping to hold up the large man .
“His pulse is weak,” Viggo said after latching onto his wrist. “But he’s alive .”
“What the fuck happened?” Karl growled, leaning in to offer support. “Em, are you hurt?!” He felt a little guilty for leaving his pregnant sister to fend for herself but she seemed okay as she sat up .
“I’m fine!” she called back. “Just a little sore. How is he? Is he awake ?”
“No,” Viggo swallowed, “but he’s breathing .”
“I’m coming!” Dante was sprinting across the dungeon floor. He quickly unlocked the cuffs around Chains’ wrists and they slowly lowered him to the floor .
Viggo gently rolled him onto his back and ran experienced hands down his torso, frowning, grateful he’d kept up his first aid certifications so his EMT training kicked in automatically. “Broken ribs and damn, this is a gunshot wound—we need medics !”
“I’m on it.” Dante was already calling as he moved towards Emilie to check on her. She hadn’t been able to stand yet so he slid an arm around her waist to help her as she stumbled across the room to where Viggo, Karl and Jamie were trying to awaken Chains .
“What did that bitch do to you?” Karl asked softly, reaching out a hand to his sister as she knelt between him and Viggo .
“Nothing,” she said, taking a ragged breath. “Thanks to Chains. She must have threatened to hurt me unless he let her do this to him…” Her voice choked on a sob and she covered her mouth with her hands as she started to cry. “He did this for me …”
“I’m sorry,” Viggo whispered, reaching for her hand .
“I didn’t hear you leave the house,” Dante grunted, obviously pissed at himself .
“Chains vouched for Franny personally,” Emilie sniffled. “Otherwise I never would’ve hired that redheaded bitch !”
“How does she connect to his MI6 days? Was she a spy too?” Karl asked .
“Don’t make me laugh.” Chains’ deep voice was a raspy whisper, but they all heard him and stared down in surprise .
“Hey.” Viggo squeezed his arm. “Help is coming, don’t try to talk .”
“I’ve been beaten, not given a bloody lobotomy,” he rumbled. “Quit starin’ like you’ve seen a ghost, yeah ?”
“I’m so sorry, my love,” Emilie leaned over, wiping blood from his eyes and gently running her fingers over his face. “I would have let her hurt me too so it wasn’t all you …”
“Not a chance in hell,” he grunted, wincing at the pain in his rib cage. “This wasn’t about you, love—this was about ending an old score. It wasn’t your fight—she just used my new life—and my mother—to get to me .”
“Dante?!” Becca’s panicked voice echoed off the walls .
“In here!” Dante stood and moved towards his wife, reaching for her as her gaze fell on Chains’ bloody form .
“Oh no!” she cried .
“It’s not as bad as it looks, he’s going to be okay, querida —help is coming.” He cradled her against him .
“Did Franny really do this?” Becca asked, her eyes narrowed angrily .
“Someone needs to deal with her,” Emilie said quietly .
“Joe’s taking care of it,” Dante said, motioning impatiently. “The authorities will find her up on the St. Andrew’s cross— gagged .”
“Bitch.” Emilie tried to wipe the blood on Chains’ face with her top but a few cuts were still bleeding and it seemed futile .
“Must you fuss?” Chains whispered, his eyes meeting hers .
“Yes, I must!” she snapped. “Now shush until help arrives.” She smoothed a stray lock of hair from his face and realized this was the first time she’d seen him without dreadlocks. His hair was soft, lighter than she’d imagined despite being caked in blood now. He was going to be even more handsome, she thought with a private smile. In a way, the dreadlocks had been his way of hiding his extraordinary good looks; she’d always thought him handsome, but as she looked beyond the blood and bruises, she saw he was much more than that. Inside and out, he was one of the most beautiful people she knew, and she was very grateful she’d found him in time .