51. I’m the Bad Guy #2
“I’m afraid you have no idea who you’re dealing with.” I studied her as a chill settled over me while she countered, heat rising in her voice, “Don’t fight what’s inevitable.” I crossed my arms continuing, “Keep pushing me and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to find out.”
She scoffed, the tension breaking. “Aren’t you na?ve, tossing around idle threats when you have no idea what’s really at stake.
” The woman checked the watch on her slender wrist as she headed for the door.
“Enough of this. Follow me.” She turned, “Now. Or you’ll miss the event, and then we’ll both be screwed.
” She droned, a bored expression painted across her face.
Her heels clicked over the striated marble as she sauntered smooth as a panther down the dimly lit hallway while I reluctantly followed.
I knew she could be leading me to my demise, but what other choice did I have, but to let them show me the pieces in play so I could finally tip the board—once and for all.
We passed several more armed security guards before she swiped a key card and opened a set of tall, heavy doors and motioned me through.
Several dozen shadows moved within the dark room. Soft conversation held in careful whispers filled the space, just barely audible above the quiet music playing from the speakers.
My pocket began to vibrate, and I pulled out my phone, realizing it wasn’t my phone, it was Sara’s . Shit, I’d been so upset, I’d forgotten I’d taken it from her. The phone continued to buzz—it was Theo.
Stepping away from the woman, I quietly answered the call, but before I could even speak, Theo was barking through the phone, “You are in some deep shit, Sara.”
Oh, hell no.
“I know you’re never going to speak to her like that again.” I murmured, keeping my voice low. “Or I promise you, Theo, I’ll cut your goddamn tongue out myself.”
“Perfect, you two kissed and made up,” Theo admonished, irritation lacing his voice. “You mind telling me the next time you two feel like sneaking off to fuck in secret?”
“We didn’t sneak—” My chest tightened with realization. “Why the hell are you calling her phone, like you don’t know where she is?” My blood pressure went through the roof, senses sharpened. “Tell me, you know where she is, Theo.”
“Fuck!” Theo hissed. “Call you in five.”
“I swear to God if you hang up—” I stared at the phone as the line went dead. He’d lost her. She’d been in the building with us, and he’d fucking lost her. I was going to kill him.
Richard Sinclair approached me. “You should know your attendance tonight is purely a courtesy to your late father.”
“Excuse me?” I pocketed the phone, ruthlessly running my fingers over the necklace in my pocket. Where the hell was she? She’d been so upset when she’d left earlier. Where had she gone? Damnit, she was so impossibly stubborn, ditching her security detail purely to piss me off. Fuck.
“Despite the fact that you refuse to be formally inducted, we here at The Society understand you have a special interest in tonight’s merchandise, and as such, we’ve voted in favor of your attendance.
” I could hardly think. I had to leave, had to get out of here, get eyes on her.
Richard smiled. “Sometimes all the pieces align without you even trying. Isn’t that right, Bradford?
” I turned, surprised to see Sara’s father.
I gripped his shoulder, confused at the panic drenching his expression. “Do this for me, Carter.” He begged, pressing something into my hand just before two armed guards closed in. “No matter the cost.”
“Brad? What’s going on?” I demanded an explanation, but an armed guard stepped between us, and several more promptly dragged him away.
The sound of his begging disappeared into a back room, while my fingers tingled against the cool, curved metal beneath my suit jacket.
“What the hell is going on here?” I demanded, but no one seemed the slightest bit alarmed. Except for me.
Richard watched me, all too amused. “Why don’t you ask Seven? Tonight will go a whole lot smoother if you decide to cooperate.” He nodded to the woman with the dark features, who was glaring at Richard with a death wish in her eyes.
Had Brad’s gambling debts finally caught up with him? “Is this a ransom?” I grabbed Seven’s arm, murmuring into her ear, “Whatever the cost, I’ll pay it.” For Sara, I would.
“I know.” She said simply. “But you’ll find I prefer to operate in favors rather than dollars.”
I gripped her arm tighter. “ What do you want?” I couldn’t deal with two crises at once. Not when one was so much higher priority to me. Sara would never forgive me if something happened to her father, but I’d never forgive myself if something happened to her.
Seven shot me a warning look even as she traced my lapel with a sharp burgundy fingernail, murmuring, “Tonight will cost you. The only question is—how much?” She turned her head, and I sucked in a sharp breath as she revealed a brutal scar down one side of her face.
“Don’t worry.” She patted my lapel condescendingly.
“I think you’ll find our selection to be worth every penny.
” Underneath all her swagger was a flash of something else.
It was gone almost quicker than I could detect. Pity? Resentment?
I released her as an armed guard approached us. “Who are you?” I demanded softly, unable to determine if this woman was here against her will—she had a damn number for a name, add that to the growing list of crises to deal with. “I can help you. What is your name ?”
“I am the seventh.” She murmured, her voice a push of breath as she ignored my question altogether and tapped the object in my hand, drawing my attention back to it.
It was a remote, with a two-digit number inscribed on the top and a single button on the bottom.
“As an honored guest, the elite members of the organization have voted, and you’ll be allowed to take part in tonight’s event.
” She added. “You’re quite lucky, you know—they’ve never voted to include an outsider. ”
“What is the event?” I demanded.
“All will be revealed in due time.” She lifted a folder, holding out a pen. “Now sign your intention to join the organization or you will regret it.”
I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I can’t.” What would they do to her when she failed, I wondered.
“Your funds will be limited as a guest.” She warned.
“Seven,” Richard warned sharply, and as small as it was, her flinch was unmistakable.
She shot him a glare from beneath her dark lashes and stalked away, disappearing into the darkness without another word.
I stared at the slender metal object in my hand, its shiny gold surface reflecting the dim candlelight.
“Sad really, what a man will do to pay for his debts.” Richard shrugged, sipping his cocktail. “However, one man’s loss is usually another man’s gain.”
“How much does he owe?” I asked.
“Enough to hurt.”
I bristled, shoving my personal feelings down. “I’ll buy out the loans. Tell me who to talk to.” Why hadn’t Brad just come to me? He must've known I’d help him. If not for the guidance he’d offered me over the years, however skewed, then for Sara, and for Liam.
“They’ve already been bought out.” Richard said blandly, and an odd feeling washed over me as I looked back in the direction they’d dragged Brad off to. “He made a donation to cover his debts in full.” Richard explained.
Donation? What did that even mean?
“Almost time.” Richard checked his watch, looking pleased. “You really should grab Seven and sign the membership addendum before it’s too late.” He added, “Although this is undoubtedly more entertaining. I wonder if you’ll fight as hard as your father did?”
“Excuse me?” I demanded, all while feeling a pull towards the glass that I couldn’t explain as I peered into the darkness, took stock of the guards blocking the room they’d dragged Brad into.
“You could have been a great asset to this organization and not the liability you’ve turned into.” He said. “You know, I heard a rumor that several people pooled assets to bid against you. Makes it a fair fight, I suppose.”
So this was an auction. “Who did?” And what was the merchandise they all thought I was so interested in? They were going to be sorely disappointed. I’d never been hypnotized by all the glamour like everyone else.
“We owned your father.” Richard ignored my question.
“And don’t you forget for a minute that now we own her too .
” I stared at him, panic rising in my throat.
“You didn’t think that messy little PR stunt was really going to deter us, did you?
” A slimy smile. “This is just the beginning, boy. You can use your father as an example of what happens when you deviate from the organization’s wishes.
Your membership was just a formality. Always has been.
” He scoffed. “We owned you the minute you took over the estate. Your childhood entanglement only makes all this that much easier.” He added menacingly, “Let me make one thing clear. From here on out, you will offer the utmost loyalty and respect to this organization. Otherwise.” He gripped my shoulder, amusement painting his ugly expression.
“ She dies , unavoidable collateral damage, just like your mother . Though, even I can admit how wasteful that was.” He shrugged irreverently, as if he hadn’t just admitted what I’d always suspected— he’d murdered my parents.
Everything went red hot as I shoved him against the glass, and even reaching for my gun, I felt powerless. “You bastard?—”
The void beyond the glass blasted us with a burst of too-bright light.
I couldn’t see, and I couldn’t look away—my eyes stung as my vision adjusted all too slowly.
Sara’s phone started vibrating in my pocket over and over again as a vague outline on the other side of the glass took shape, all while Richard chuckled.
I shoved him out of the way, blinking to bring the horrifying reality into focus. The long dark hair, the plunging dress plastered over her every curve, how she wobbled on too high heels— my throat went dry.
She was the merchandise. The only thing I had left. Sarafina.
The sounds in the room ceased to exist. Only my heartbeat in my ears as time slowed. She’d always be mine, and I’d been a reckless fool to pretend otherwise. Seconds turned long and deadly as my training took over.
One. Hands cuffed to the podium.
Two. Eyes glassy, terrified — drugged.
Three. My fingers against the cool glass wall between us— bulletproof .
Four. Armed guards at all the exits.
Five. Approximately thirty disposable suits spread evenly across the room.
Six. Taggart-fucking-Caldwell was here, eye-fucking, what was mine to protect .
Seven. Fingers sliding over the familiar curve of metal. My gun.
Eight. A voice crackled through the speakers, clear, crisp, and perfectly grating. “The bidding will begin at five hundred million.” I finally slipped into that narrow space, that quiet, lethal calm settling over me. The cost was child’s play, and my woman was fucking priceless. Not. For. Sale.
Nine. I spoke. “Now it’s my turn to make one thing clear, if she doesn’t walk out of this room with me— no one does. ” I slid the barrel of my gun against the throat of the man responsible for my mother’s death. “You’re not the first man I’ve killed, and tonight— you certainly won’t be the last. ”
Ten. Time to burn it all down. I pulled the trigger.