Wicked and Bound (Wicked Lovers: Soldiers For Hire #10)

Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

N ight stretched over the Caribbean, the sky a star-filled midnight blue. Room service had come and gone, leaving behind the lingering scent of grilled seafood. Nash wheeled the cart into the hallway for one of the attendants to take away. One less reason for Haisley to open the door—and one less way danger could infiltrate—while he attended tonight’s auction. And took down the flesh-peddling scum on this island.

But he fucking didn’t want to leave her.

“I stocked the fridge with water and sodas, along with a few bites of cheese. Fruit and crackers are on the counter.” He kept his voice casual. “You shouldn’t need anything else while I’m gone tonight.”

She nodded from the bed where he’d just made love to her again, clearly understanding the subtext. Stay put. Stay safe .

“When will you be back?” Her voice shook.

Nash crossed the room to her. The apprehension on her face was unmistakable. She was scared, not for herself, but for him. He squeezed her hand and did his best to send her a reassuring glance.

Damn it, he hated that they couldn’t talk freely. But if all went well, he’d never have to obscure anything he said to Haisley again. They would have the rest of their lives to communicate openly and honestly.

As far as Nash was concerned, that couldn’t come soon enough.

“Probably close to dawn. I’ve already made arrangements with Gray’s people for us to be on the eight-a.m. ferry tomorrow. Be ready by the time I return.”

Haisley bit her lip and nodded bravely, clearly fighting tears.

Nash wrapped his arms around her and brought her against his chest, feeling her breathe, committing every detail about her to memory—her scent, her silken hair against his jaw, the warmth of her body against his.

Outside their window, palm trees swayed and waves broke in the dark. Inside, the clock on the nightstand ticked over to 8:35. Less than a half hour until the action began. He prayed like hell this would be their final few hours in this hellhole.

His sat phone vibrated in his pocket. Time to move.

He pressed a kiss to Haisley’s temple, his hand drifting to her still-flat belly. Their miracle. Their second chance. Another reason to end this nightmare once and for all.

“I have to go.” He kept his voice carefully neutral for the cameras, but his grip tightened imperceptibly.

She wrapped desperate fingers around his arms. “Be safe.”

Pulling from their embrace felt like tearing off a limb. He crossed to the closet and retrieved his tuxedo, delivered earlier by some nameless staff member. As he dressed, he caught Haisley watching him in the mirror, her eyes haunted.

“I left you something to wear in the bottom drawer,” he said, adjusting his bow tie. Their gazes locked. “In case anyone comes to the door while I’m gone. Though I’d prefer you didn’t need to open that drawer tonight.”

Understanding flickered in her eyes. She knew what he’d hidden beneath the silk negligees: a burner phone and the Glock 19, both of which Ethan had smuggled in. The clothes were merely camouflage for the cameras.

“I understand.” Her voice warbled. “Hopefully, I won’t need anything new to wear tonight.”

“That’s the plan.” He faced her, memorizing her features. If something went wrong, if this was the last time he saw her… No. He refused to let his thoughts go there. This wasn’t goodbye.

Naked, she rose and crossed to him, straightening his tie with trembling fingers. “Come back to us.”

Her words were a punch to the chest. He cupped her face and kissed her with all the love and determination filling his heart. When he finally pulled back, her eyes were wet.

“I will.” He brushed his thumb across her cheek. “By sunrise, we’ll be gone.”

After one last lingering look and one final brush of his lips across hers, Nash forced himself to leave the suite—and Haisley. Each step felt heavier than the last.

At the door, he paused. “You know what I’m thinking,” he said softly. I love you .

She gave him a tremulous smile. “I’m thinking the same thing.” I love you, too . “See you in a few hours.”

With a nod, he shut and locked the door behind him. He compartmentalized his worry into the far reaches of his brain and put it in a box marked later. Right now, he could best save her by focusing on the op and taking down anyone who sought to keep her caged.

He strode down the hallway toward Kane and Ethan, who waited by the elevator, both in formal wear that did little to disguise the warriors beneath.

“Good to see you, man.” Nash clapped Ethan’s shoulder.

He flashed his cocky signature grin. “Good to be back. Tonight should be exciting.”

“Should be. Get bored with the pussy at home?” Nash asked for the cameras.

Ethan’s expression sobered. “Too many tears. I decided to fix that shit.”

So Kaylee Wright was still struggling, and Ethan seemed determined to put a stop to this island of horrors. In fact, he seemed really committed. Did the eternal manwhore have feelings for the virgin he’d saved? It would be goddamn hysterical if it wasn’t so sad.

Whatever the reason, mad respect to Ethan for coming back and putting his life on the line. He wasn’t being paid for this op. Neither was Kane. In fact the whole EM Security team was helping out and risking their lives so he could save Haisley. Nash was grateful as hell.

He fist-bumped Ethan. “Absolutely, brother.”

Face grim, Kane activated one of the Santiago brothers’ signal scramblers disguised as a phone. The light turned green. “Two minutes of privacy. You ready?”

Nash nodded. “Teams in position?”

“Everyone is a go,” Ethan assured. “The feds have the island surrounded and staged themselves on boats beyond radar range. They also have a dozen undercover agents scattered through the crowd, who will rescue women backstage and start making arrests.”

“Speaking of rescue…” Nash frowned. “What about evidence? Files? Records? We need to track down past victims, too.”

“Tech team is standing by,” Ethan replied. “The moment we breach their server room, they’ll start downloading everything. Names, dates, buyer information—anything that could help us find those victims.”

“And current victims? The ones still here?”

“Karliah is coordinating that effort. She estimates that there are at least thirty women on the property right now. Once things kick off, she’ll guide a hostage team to the cells and private suites. They’ve got blueprints showing every room where women are likely being held. Another team will handle the arrests on the compound outside of Midnight Sanctuary.”

“Good. And our distraction?”

“Charges are set. East side of the island, at the supply dock. On my signal.” Kane gripped the detonator in his pocket. “Should give us the time we need to move.”

“Anything else?” Nash asked.

Kane grimaced. “While I walked around, acting like a lost and lonely loser, I overheard staff whispering. There’s a rumor that Black Velvet is here. No confirmation, but…”

Tension torqued Nash’s stomach. That was a complication they didn’t need. He prayed it was merely a rumor, but they’d deal with that possibility if it materialized.

“You two should know…” Nash dragged in a breath. “Haisley is pregnant. We got the confirmation this morning. In case the worst happens, take care of her and the baby for me.”

“You’re going to be fine,” Kane insisted. “The plan is solid, and we’ll watch your six.”

“Totally,” Ethan put in.

“Promise me. If something happens…”

To Nash’s relief, they both nodded.

The scrambler beeped a warning. Kane checked his watch. “Thirty seconds.”

Nash turned to Ethan. “Any other news from back home?”

“Nothing you haven’t heard from the bosses, but we need to be prepared for the downdraft of this op. I’ve visited Kaylee Wright a few times since getting her home. She’s…struggling. Broke up with her boyfriend. Can barely leave the house. She’s afraid of life. She flinches every time she sees me.” Ethan ran a hand down his face. “These women and the trauma they’ve endured... How the hell do we help them rebuild their lives?”

It was a terrible truth and a sadly valid question.

“We start by getting them out,” Nash growled. “Then we make these bastards pay.”

“Absolutely.” Kane nodded. “Let’s go. And don’t die.”

They all tucked their earpieces in place just before the device powered down.

The elevator arrived. Inside, four men Nash didn’t recognize—feds maintaining their covers as buyers—nodded in greeting.

Downstairs, the ballroom doors stood open, spilling forth golden light and the murmur of voices. Inside, the usual mix of wealthy degenerates milled about in designer suits, but the atmosphere crackled with anticipation as Nash and his fellow operatives hunted for their row.

He swept his gaze over the room, cataloging details with practiced precision. Three exits besides the main doors—all guarded. A service entrance near the stage. No windows. At least twenty armed security personnel positioned strategically around the perimeter, plus whatever backup lurked backstage. The crowd itself had swelled to nearly two hundred, all of them potential hostiles if things went sideways.

“Did you hear?” A middle-aged man in Armani clutched his champagne with a leering smile. “Black Velvet is actually here. I want to shake his hand.”

“Impossible.” His companion scoffed. “No one’s ever seen him.”

“But I think it’s true. Something big is happening tonight. I feel it.”

As they settled into their seats, Nash exchanged glances with Kane and Ethan. They definitely hadn’t factored that surprise into their plan. If Black Velvet really was here, why had he come tonight? Why now, of all times?

Coincidence? As he’d heard Haisley say, that’s too coincidental to be a coincidence.

“I don’t like it,” he grumbled.

“Same.” Ethan fidgeted beside him. “But let’s keep it on a wait-and-see.”

Kane smothered a curse. “Time for your A-game, boys.”

Suddenly, the lights dimmed. The black velvet curtains parted. Gray appeared on the stage, mic in hand, resplendent in white tie and tails. The crowd fell silent.

Being a remote bidder last time, they’d missed most of the auction’s elegance and pomp. But this fucking show had the production value of a polished Hollywood show.

“Distinguished guests,” their smarmy host greeted. “Tonight is indeed special. Not only do we have exceptional merchandise…” He gestured to the line of terrified women being herded across the stage to the cheers and catcalls of all the men in attendance. “Your enthusiasm is a testament to our success. But I can’t take credit. In fact, no one here can. We owe it all to one person—the visionary who created this paradise, Black Velvet. Never has our fearless leader chosen to join us in person for an event, so tonight is a very rare treat, indeed. How about some applause?”

Clapping rippled through the crowd until it became a rousing ovation. Nash had a bad feeling… His stomach plummeted to his toes. He patted his jacket to ensure he could easily reach the weapon concealed inside. Beside him, Kane and Ethan did the same.

The auction proceeded with excruciating slowness. Nash’s nerves stretched tighter with each lot sold, each woman’s terror. Each minute that passed by without knowing when Black Velvet would appear or why he’d come. Nash thought of Haisley alone in their suite and prayed she wouldn’t need that gun.

Finally, Gray raised his hands. “Before we proceed with the special lots and our ever-popular breeders, I give you the genius behind the Velvet Cove. The architect of all your darkest pleasures… Black Velvet!”

The house lights dimmed. A spotlight hit the curtain as a figure emerged—slim and graceful, wearing an elaborate black mask adorned with jet beads and obsidian. Gasps echoed through the crowd as one thing became absolutely obvious.

Black Velvet wasn’t a man.

Something about the woman’s petite figure and the way she moved about in her black, floor-length gown tugged at Nash’s memory. But he couldn’t place it.

Dread twisted in his chest as she took the mic from Gray’s hands and lifted it to her mouth. “My dear friends. Welcome to my sanctuary. Here, in the Velvet Cove, we’ve created something extraordinary—a place where men can embrace their truest nature without judgment or shame. Where the desires others call dark are encouraged and celebrated. Where power finds its purest expression.”

She glided across the stage, her black velvet sheath catching the light. “But there are those who would deny you these freedoms. Who would chain the mighty and worship the weak. Who would rob you of your rightful dominion.”

Nash gritted his teeth as appreciative murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“That is why we maintain absolute secrecy. Why we guard our paradise so carefully.” She paused. “And why we must be eternally vigilant against those who would infiltrate our ranks to destroy us from within.”

With a fluid motion, she removed her mask. Caramel hair fell in perfect waves around a face Nash knew all too well.

Mila Benedict.

Holy fucking shit .

She stood center stage, her smile razor-sharp. Unlike the woman he’d last seen in the Benedict Land Development’s offices, this Mila was neither nervous nor cowering. She was a viper ready to strike.

“Abort,” he muttered to Kane and Ethan as he leapt from his seat.

He had to get out of here, had to reach Haisley and find a way off this island before someone else came for her.

“Shit,” Ethan muttered, stumbling to his feet and following.

Kane was right behind him. “Too late!”

Their goddamn plan was falling apart. Nash tried not to panic.

Halfway up the aisle, the spotlight surrounded him. He froze. Now what the fuck should he do?

“Leaving so soon, Mr. King? Or should I say, Nash Scott?”

Fuck . He was outnumbered and, given the slew of armed guards lining Midnight Sanctuary now pointing their weapons at him, he was also outgunned. How the hell was he supposed to get out of this?

Kane’s voice crackled through his earpiece. “Now!”

Suddenly, an explosion rocked the compound. The concussive force slammed through Nash’s chest like a physical blow. Glass shattered somewhere in the distance, and the acrid smell of cordite filled his nostrils. The ground shook beneath his feet as secondary explosions triggered in rapid succession. Outside, screams erupted. Inside pandemonium hit as the lights flickered, then went out, plunging the room into complete darkness. In the chaos that followed, Nash had only one thought.

Haisley .

He had to get to her before Mila’s goons did.

Because if Black Velvet knew his real identity, then she knew exactly how to hurt him most.