Chapter Twenty-Eight #2
Iona froze, back pressed against the wall, at Zane’s command. The seconds ticked away, each one feeling like an hour.
Finally, Zane said, “Go.”
Iona covered the last foot of the landing in one stride and reached for the doorknob. A twist told her that Eddie and his people had locked this door, too. Iona grabbed her lock picks and went to work. A few twists and turns of her tool did the trick.
Standing, she twisted the knob. “Still clear?”
“Clear.”
“Which room, Z?”
“I think it’s the room on the far left. I’m just guessing, though. Be ready.”
“Always.”
“Iona.”
Brent’s voice had her freezing in place once again. “Sir?”
“I’ve been monitoring Elias through his watch. It’s bad. Control is the key.”
“Copy that, sir.” Her stomach knotted. If Brent was warning her about Elias’ condition, the enforcer must have gone too far. How badly was he hurt? “Seth?”
“I heard,” he said, voice grim. “We’ll make sure he gets out. You focus on what has to be done for the two of you to survive.”
“Copy.” Iona straightened, opened the door a crack to confirm the coast was clear, and slipped into the dimly lit hallway. She turned to the left and walked silently down the corridor.
Stopping in front of the door, Iona prayed this was the right room because if she wasn’t fast enough with her throw, the enforcer would raise the alarm before she could stop him.
She twisted the knob slowly. Locked. Great. Not. Iona dealt with the lock in seconds and exchanged her lock picks for her favorite knife.
She held the knife blade with her fingertips, ready to toss the weapon at the enforcer working over Elias. After taking a few seconds to blank her expression, she twisted the knob slowly and eased open the door.
Rock music blasted out of a set of small speakers. The enforcer, dressed in black from the neck down to his feet, stood with his back to the door, punching Elias each time he swung back toward the enforcer.
Elias hung suspended from his shackles, which were attached to chains hanging from the ceiling. His head lolled against his shoulder. His face was swollen and bloody. Blood dripped from his wrists down his arms to his bare chest.
The enforcer threw another punch, this one to Elias’ stomach, which was already bruised.
If Iona had to guess, she’d say the enforcer had focused the most on Elias’ torso.
After a punch to Elias’ side, the enforcer spun around. His eyes widened at the sight of Iona approaching him. “Who are you? What are you doing in here? Don’t you know this area is off-limits to Old Ladies?”
She smiled and used a sultry expression and walk. No, Elias wouldn’t like it, but his enemy wouldn’t do anything about the unspoken invitation.
When she was a few feet away, she tossed the knife, her aim true. The blade sank deep into his heart. By the time she reached him, the enforcer was dead on the floor. Too bad. He got off easy after all the pain he’d caused the man she loved.
Iona scanned the walls until she found the control to lower Elias to the floor.
In less than a minute, she had unlocked the cuffs around his wrists and lowered him to lie on his back.
She hesitated. He looked so bad that she was afraid to touch him.
Bruises bloomed all over his body, some so dark that she wondered if he had internal injuries.
They were in the boondocks of Bodine, Alabama. From what she had seen, the only structures in town were a gas station and the post office. No medical facility in sight.
“Suck it up, sister,” she murmured. “Elias. Can you hear me?”
He frowned. “Iona?”
“Yeah, babe. It’s me.”
“Run. Get out.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“You don’t understand. My father wants you. I’ll do anything to save you.”
“You need to trust me.”
“Baby, please.”
“Trust me, love,” she whispered, afraid to say more with cameras in the room. She was pretty sure those cameras also had sound capabilities, and she didn’t want to give away the game now.
Elias’ breathing was shallow. Broken ribs? Fear lanced Iona’s heart. A broken rib could puncture his lung and cause it to collapse.
“Enforcer?”
Of course he’d want to know about the man who’d beaten him black and blue. “Dead.”
“Good.”
Through her earpiece, she monitored their teammates’ infiltration of the compound. They moved closer by the second, taking out Reckoners who stood in their way. “How badly are you hurt, Elias? And don’t sugarcoat it. I need the truth so we can get help if we need it.”
He grimaced, his bruised and swollen face still revealing the truth. Elias was in a lot of pain. He shook his head slightly. “Can’t make it on my own. Sarge worked me over good.”
She’d been afraid of that when Brent warned her to be prepared. “Then we’ll wait for help.”
Another head shake. “Can’t let my father touch you.”
“Iona, incoming,” Zane warned in her ear.
“Copy. Company, Elias.”
“Run. Please, Iona.”
“Too late,” she whispered. “Pretend to be unconscious.”
Immediately, he closed his eyes and went limp.
Although it went against every instinct she possessed, Iona turned her back to the door, leaving herself vulnerable to attack. She took a soft cloth and wiped his face, careful to avoid his injuries. The last thing she wanted to do was cause him more pain.
When the door opened, she felt the change in the room’s temperature and heard boots on the concrete floor. Whatever he was, Eddie Knight would not make a good operative.
“Well, well, who do we have here?”
She stiffened and slowly turned to face Elias’ father. She could see the resemblance between them, not that she would tell Elias as much. He wouldn’t appreciate knowing he resembled Eddie. “Eddie Knight.”
His mouth curved into a mocking smile. “Iona Byrne. I’ve been expecting our meeting for quite some time now.
” His gaze skated over her body, giving Iona the creeps.
“Yes, I see what my son sees in you. He has good taste. Although I wasn’t sure I could instill good values into him before he left, the lessons took after all. ”
Lessons. Is that what they were calling it now? In her world, it was just plain old abuse. Her smile grew into a sultry invitation to Eddie. She needed the other two men to leave. “Who are your friends?”
That broke the spell he’d fallen into. He cleared his throat. “My enforcers.” Eddie glared at the two men. “Wait outside.”
“But, sir, she’s armed to the teeth.”
Iona bared those teeth. “And you will be right outside the door. Do you doubt your president’s ability to protect himself from me?” She’d boxed the men into a corner and she knew it. If they said no, the men would have to leave. If they said yes, the enforcers would call their president a liar.
“Out,” Eddie snapped. “I can handle a woman.”
One enforcer backed out of the room. The other stood there, shaking his head. “I don’t trust her, Prez.”
“This isn’t your call. Get out.”
Again, the enforcer shook his head. “No, sir. You made us swear to stay with you no matter what until Elias was ready to take his place at your side. No offense, sir, but he won’t be strong enough to stand with you for a month or longer.
” He motioned to the fallen Sarge. “And she killed Sarge. That’s punishable by death. You know the rules. You wrote them.”
“I can also demand an exception.”
Another head shake. “Not in this case. I’m sorry, sir.”
His president rolled his eyes and turned back to Iona. “Sorry, my dear. He’s right. I wrote the rules for a reason.” He walked closer with Enforcer One trailing behind him. “Did you kill Sarge?”
“He hurt Elias and enjoyed it,” she said, her voice silky.
Eddie stopped inches away from her. “Sarge was very good at his job, you know. He wouldn’t have killed Elias. My enforcer was under orders to spare his life.”
“I think your man forgot his orders.”
“Then he would have been disciplined.”
“After he killed my man? I’d rather have Elias alive and kicking, thank you very much.” She winked. “Unless I have a better offer.”
A slow smile curved Eddie’s mouth. “Is that right?”
“Two more minutes,” Seth said through the earpiece.
Two minutes? What was taking them so long?
She gazed into Eddie’s eyes. “Are you offering?” Eww.
Yuck. Gross. Iona reminded herself she was playing a role until their teammates swooped in, but this role was more difficult than she thought.
It wouldn’t take much for her to upchuck.
To react that strongly was a first for her.
“Maybe. What would you say if I did offer?”
Iona’s eyebrows rose. “Well, we’d have to talk benefits. I’m very well set up with Elias, you know. Unlimited expense account, a house of my own so I can take a breather from him if he becomes too annoying, and an SUV. He knows how to take care of me.”
Behind her, she felt Elias shaking and realized he was laughing silently. Good thing she amused him. She hoped Eddie bought the lies she told.
“I can provide all those benefits plus more.”
“Really?” Iona widened her eyes.
“Oh, yes, my dear. I’m a very wealthy man, and I know how to please my women.”
Women? Double yuck. “Women?” Iona scowled. “I don’t share my man. It’s one of my rules.”
“Rules?” Eddie laughed. “That’s a new one on me. What rules might you have, Iona?”
“The top one is I don’t share my man.”
“Yes, yes.” He waved that aside. “What other rules do you have?”
“I will be treated with respect. That means you don’t hit me or yell at me. You never talk down to me, especially in front of other people. If you want something, tell me. I’m not a mind reader.”
Eddie stared at her for a beat, then shook his head, amusement lighting his eyes. “No wonder my son couldn’t handle you properly. You deserve better than Elias, Iona.”
“I deserve the best.”
“You are correct, and the best man for you isn’t my son.”
She changed positions to protect Elias better. Something was going to break soon. She could feel it. “And you think that’s you?”
“I don’t think it, Iona. I know it. You and I are soulmates. Of that I have no doubt.”
“I don’t know, Eddie. I have a pretty sweet deal going with Elias.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Frankly, I’m not sure you can top him.”
His cheeks reddened. “You underestimate me, my dear.”
“I don’t think so.” She moved farther away from Eddie an inch at a time. Would Elias know what to do? Was he aware enough to help her with their escape? If not, she’d have to wait for Seth and the others. The way things were looking, Iona may have to allow Eddie liberties she’d rather not give him.
Or maybe not, if Elias took the opportunity she was setting up for him. She could only hope he took the hint. “You are too sure of yourself, Eddie. I think you’re all bark and no bite.”
He laughed. “I assure you, my women walk around daily wearing a bite mark in sensitive places.”
She’d take that bet any day of the week. Hope he had his rabies shots up to date. Iona frowned. “I wouldn’t appreciate that at all. I have sensitive skin and bruise easily. You wouldn’t like my body with bruises all over it, would you?”
“Depends on who made them.”
She wagged a finger at him. “Naughty, naughty, Eddie. I’m thinking you’re not a good option for me.”
“I can be very persuasive, Iona.”
“Thirty seconds,” Seth murmured. “Keep him busy, Iona.”
Easy for him to say. Seth wasn’t dangling himself as bait over the lion’s den. “You said you could offer more than Elias. What did you mean by that?”
Again, he laughed. “You are quite mercenary.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Man, she sounded so vapid that Iona wanted to slap herself.
“I can control that tendency, I assure you.”
“Maybe. I’m still waiting for the answer to my question, Eddie.”
“Elias gave you a house. I can give you Paris.”
She blinked. Paris? Was he kidding? “No, thanks. I’ve been to Paris, Tennessee.”
Eddie stared, then he laughed. “No, sweetness. Paris, France.”
Iona wrinkled her nose. “Eww. Snails. I’ll pass.”
“I see. So, where would you like to go that will seem better than Europe?”
“I want to go to Boonsboro, Maryland.” Now they’d see what he did with that.
The information seemed to stump him. “What’s in Boonsboro?”
She gaped at him. “Not what. Who. Nora Roberts, of course.”
Now it was his turn to blink. “Who is that?”
“The greatest romance author who ever lived. I love her books.”
“And you will pass up Paris, France to visit Boonsboro?”
“You bet. It’s my biggest dream.”
He opened his mouth to respond when the door to the room flew open and two more enforcers stormed in.
“Sir, we’re under attack.”
Eddie scowled. “Show me.” He glanced back at Iona. “Crusher, chain Iona next to Elias, then take her weapons. After that, we’ll give them a few minutes to contemplate their fate while I handle this rude intrusion. Rowdy, give him a hand.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Hey,” Iona protested, scowling. Had to make it look good, after all. “I didn’t ask to be trussed up like a turkey.”
“It’s only for a short while, Iona. Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon, and then we’ll continue our discussion.”
Although she fought Crusher and Rowdy, Iona didn’t put everything she had into it. Wouldn’t do to clue them in on her skills. Five minutes later, she and Elias were chained side by side.
“That should hold you until I get back,” their captor said. “I will enjoy the next few hours.”
Eddie’s smile gave her the creeps. As soon as Elias’ father was gone, along with his enforcers, Elias raised his head and glared at her. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Rescuing you.”
“Some rescue. We’re both prisoners of my father, and this is exactly what I was afraid would happen. He’ll use you against me. To protect you, I will do anything, Iona.”
“Back at you, babe.” Come on. Didn’t she get a little love for finding him, sneaking into the compound without detection, and bringing their teams?
“You don’t understand, Iona. I know the price of sparing you pain and suffering.”
She wiggled the handcuff key from her watchband. “Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“Me. My father knows I won’t fight him if he’s threatening someone I care about. Don’t you get it, baby? You’re my weakness.”