Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
“Sylvie, I’m Aaron Sandford. What a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”
Sylvie was trying to inch away from the man, but he was squeezed in next to her. Men with guns sat in the other seats, staring at her, while the driver gunned the engine.
How had everything gone to shit so quickly?
One minute, they’d been headed for the safe house.
The next, Raymond was missing, Sylvie and Dominic had been kidnapped, and Tanner was lying on the concrete with a gash on his head.
Rex would find him soon, but she hoped he wasn’t badly injured.
The man had a hard head, but he wasn’t invincible. None of them were.
Could she throw herself out of the car? She was afraid to reach for the handle with those guns aimed at her. Besides, Tanner might’ve failed to engage the child safety locks, but she bet the Syndicate wouldn’t be so generous.
“It’s rude not to answer when you’re spoken to,” the lawyer snapped.
“I know who you are. Where are you taking Dominic?”
“Aren’t you more worried about yourself? Or are you just too blinded by love? It’s sweet. You’ve certainly been going to a lot of effort for him. I promise you, he’s not worth it.”
“What about Raymond? Where is he?”
Sandford gripped her chin and forced her to look at him.
“Let’s not get distracted. Aren’t you wondering how we caught up to Dominic so quickly?
It’s because he’s been working with us all along.
How else do you think we knew from the beginning about the little program you wrote and installed on that computer last night?
The one that was supposed to trap our hackers? ”
Icy dread shot through her. There was no way Dominic had told. It was impossible. “Dominic would never do that.”
He pinched her chin hard between his fingers and let go. “You’re right, he’s always been too soft when it comes to women. But it was still a mistake to ever trust him. It’s his fault you’re sitting here. His fault and your own for thinking you could outsmart us.”
His voice was so smug. He wanted her to know there was more he wasn’t telling.
How had the Syndicate found out about the malware? Had she screwed up with the code? Were their hackers just that good, and she’d underestimated them?
Or had someone else betrayed them?
Aside from Bennett Security, the only people who’d known were Maureen…
and Raymond. Sylvie couldn’t believe Dominic’s brother would give that information up voluntarily.
What had they done to the kid to make him talk?
Her heart ached with worry. She didn’t know Raymond at all, but Dominic loved him, and that meant Raymond was important to her, too.
The car turned off the boulevard into a neighborhood. Massive houses stood behind shade trees and hedges. She didn’t know exactly where they were, but it had to be near Beverly Hills.
“I don’t see why Dominic is so attached to you, though,” Sandford said. “You don’t seem that special.”
“Is that supposed to offend me?”
She felt his shoulder shrugging. She tried to put space between them, but there was simply nowhere to go. She laid her head against the cold car window.
“But maybe your best qualities are more evident once you’re undressed?” Sandford’s hand slid onto her thigh.
She slapped it away. “Touch me again, and you’ll lose whatever body part you use to do it.”
The gunman in the front seat flinched, his gun barrel inching closer. But Sandford just laughed.
They pulled into a driveway. It wound through trees, skirting a palatial Spanish-style mansion.
The car stopped, and the driver got out to open Sylvie’s door. Sandford pushed her outside. They seemed to be at the rear of the property. Tall hedges and more trees surrounded them, as if they were in a dense forest instead of a fancy West L.A. neighborhood.
Sandford took her arm and led her through a wrought iron gate.
They passed a swimming pool glowing with blue lights.
Guards were everywhere, many of them carrying submachine guns.
There was no chance of running. Yet her mind still searched for some means of escape.
If she could just get a hold of one of the weapons, maybe…
But if she even tried, she’d probably get gunned down in three seconds flat.
They reached a carriage house. Sandford pushed her through the door.
Dominic sat in a straight-backed chair with three more guards nearby. Neither she nor Dominic were restrained in any way, like these people didn’t have the slightest concern about them getting free.
Dominic looked up when she came in. “Sylvie!” A livid bruise marred his cheek.
She started toward him, but Sandford kept hold of her, pulling her closer.
“Behave yourselves, both of you. Wouldn’t want anything else to happen to Dominic’s face.”
“I’ll do whatever you want. Please just let Sylvie go. Don’t hurt her.”
“Your father would be sick to hear you pleading like that.” Sandford’s fingers tightened on her elbow.
“You got her involved in this. No one can come after us and get away with it. Not even a Crane. You thought you could rat out your family, and there wouldn’t be consequences?
You think we won’t force you to watch what happens to each and every person you love? ”
Even with all the guns aimed at him right now, Sylvie could tell Dominic was fighting to keep himself seated. He had hatred in his eyes as he glared at his former lawyer.
“There must be something you want,” Dominic said through gritted teeth. “If Charles needs me to endorse him, I’ll say whatever he wants me to.”
“None of the captains want to hear the opinions of a traitor.”
“But Raymond is innocent. And he’s a Crane, too. I know some of the captains are still loyal to my father and to Warren. So do what you want to me, but let Raymond go. Let him take Sylvie, and neither one of them will ever bother Charles or the Syndicate again.”
Sandford started to laugh. “You really haven’t realized yet how fucking dumb you are?
How you could’ve walked away with your new friends and bought yourself some time?
Of course, we would’ve gotten to you eventually.
But at least you could’ve fucked your girlfriend for a while longer in blissful ignorance instead of delivering yourself up on a silver platter. ”
“What are you talking about?”
No, Sylvie thought. Please say it isn’t true.
The door opened behind them. The guards in the room all stood straighter, and Sandford tensed beside her.
An older man with sleek black hair strode into the room.
He wore khakis and a gingham button-down shirt, like somebody’s rich dad relaxing on the weekend.
The man nodded at several people as he entered, then his eyes fixed on Dominic.
“Uncle Charles.”
“Nephew. This isn’t the family reunion I was hoping for. But I suppose it’s the only one we’ll get.”
Another man stepped into the room, this one far younger. He was tall and lean, with similar features to his older brother’s, though they were sharper. Not quite as beautiful. Raymond wore a look of sad determination on his face.
Charles reached out to put his arm around Raymond’s shoulders. “We weren’t expecting you so soon, Dominic. But it’s good you’ll get to see this. Your baby brother is finally taking his place in the family business.”