Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Aven
I’m pacing the floor in front of the window when Jim arrives at the beach house. It’s the first time I’ve seen a man trudge through sand in a hand-tailored business suit. Though, I guess it’s not nearly as shocking as watching Grim doing downward dog in a Speedo each morning.
These people are so fucking strange. I’ve lived among them for a few months now, and it never gets any easier.
For starters, they’re too fucking chummy for my liking.
I get that they feel like a family—and some of them are literally related—but the entire dynamic just feels so unnatural.
Killers shouldn’t run in packs. Duos, maybe.
Small groups, aye. But this mass of people who take joy in eating dinners together?
I’d rather not, thanks. I only agreed to stay on and take this special assignment because it involved me working mostly on my own.
For the next phase of the plan, however, I’ll be forced to work on the island. I cannae fucking wait. Cue the sarcasm.
The door flies open, and Jim barges in. Rain mats his hair to his forehead, making him look younger, somehow. He shakes off his arms, sending a spattering of water to the hardwood floor. “Where is she? Was she injured?”
“She’s in the guest bedroom. She’s a little scratched up.”
He reaches out and grips my shoulder with a firm squeeze. “Straight to the point. Good man.” He glances around to ensure we’re alone. “And you haven’t let Grim in on the . . . ?” He raises his eyebrows.
I shake my head. “Secret is safe with me, pal.”
His hand relaxes, and he pats me twice before pulling away. “Good man. Good man, indeed. Yes, well, it looks like we’ll have to change plans a bit, hmm?”
A change of plans is an understatement. I was supposed to play friendly with the girl and keep her safe until Desmond shows up for the retreat.
Then King and Jim were to swoop in and take charge during the retreat, leaving me free to carry my happy ass back to my homeland.
This shifting timeline is bullshit. Not to mention the fact that I already know what Jim’s about to push for, and I refuse to go to the island.
I need to head him off before he forces me to join in.
If the cruise experience taught me anything, it’s that I don’t play well with others.
“We should tell her everything so that she’ll agree to stay here with me until you guys head to the retreat,” I say. “She’s more than willing tonight because she’s scared, but when she has a clearer head, she’ll want to go home. That lass has an independent streak a mile wide.”
Jim fingers his bottom lip as he studies the floor.
“Yes. Perhaps we should divulge some of the secrets to her. Maybe not all, though. If she learns she’s a Carter sibling before she’s mentally prepared, that could end badly.
I don’t want any of the others to know, either. Remember that your bonus—”
“Ach, I know. Enough already. I said I wouldn’t tell a soul, and I haven’t yet.”
Jim learned of her sensational parentage when he went through Frankie’s mother’s computer.
The woman had been cyber-stalking Quinn for years, likely jealous of the fact that the love of her life was also the love of someone else’s.
When the DNA test confirmed the suspicions, Jim offered to tell the group, but they chose to learn about Slaughter Park instead.
Now he’s holding them accountable for their decision, and it’s in my contract that I’m not allowed to tell anyone.
If I do, I lose my bonus, and the money is the only thing keeping me here.
Jim says something else, but I only catch the tail end of the sentence. I surely didn’t hear what I thought I heard.
“Sorry, what was that?”
“I said that we’ll need to convince her to join us on the island. We won’t be able to protect her here, not like we can there.”
My hopes and dreams of working alone sift through my fingers like sand. “I don’t think that’s necessary. This house is secure, and I’m perfectly capable of hunkering down and playing guard dog. No need to drag her out there and expose her to what we do.”
And no need to force me to participate, either.
“If you aren’t up to finishing the job, I’m sure I can find someone more eager to collect that money.”
My jaw drops, because what?
His mouth forms a hard line—a look I haven’t often seen on his face. “Speaking of money, that’s another issue we’ll have to tackle. She can’t continue her cam show. Not until we have Desmond in hand. But when we tell her that, she’ll likely dig in her heels.”
“You could offer her more money. Tell her we’re putting her in witness protection for a few weeks, and this is part of it.”
His mouth screws up, and he recoils as if I’ve just pissed on his leg. “Handouts? Absolutely not. Give her your cut if you’d like, but I’m not a bloody charity.”
“Bloody?” I roll my eyes. “You’ve been hanging around King too much.”
Jim sighs. “No, it’s the island or nothing, I’m afraid. Are you in or out?”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I want the money. With it, I can finally return to Scotland.
I haven’t seen my native land in nearly twenty years, and I can’t go back until I’ve paid a serious debt for a mistake made in my late teens.
It’s the only place I’ve ever felt at home.
The green hills and solitude call to me daily, even from this distance.
But is it worth putting up with Jim’s dysfunctional-family shenanigans?
“Do you think we could wrap this up before everyone gets to the island for the week-long retreat?” I ask. Because if I can avoid the games, I can avoid the socialization. “I mean, you don’t want her around all the murder anyway.”
Jim’s lips pinch together as he fights a smile. “Say it again.”
“Huh?”
“Better yet, say purple burglar alarm!”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Are you going on about my accent again?
You cannae focus on anything. Ach!” I throw my hands in the air and pace in a circle.
It’s better than socking him in the chin.
“I’ll fucking do it, but I’m not running interference if the games commence while she’s still on the island. You can figure that out.”
He raises his hands, palms out. “Fair enough. Now you just need to convince her that this is a good idea.”
“Convince me that what is a good idea?”
Jim and I spin on our heels to face Quinn, who materializes in the hallway like a phantom.
Despite the red rings around her puffy eyes, she’s still uncommonly pretty.
Her dark blonde hair reminds me of honey as it falls over her shoulders and kisses the tops of her breasts.
A snug cami hugs her midsection before bowing out along the line of her full hips.
She’s thick in all the right places, especially that extra bit of softness around her stomach.
Stop sexualizing your primary.
It’s bodyguard 101, for fuck’s sake. I’m here to protect her and keep her safe, not violate her with my dirty thoughts.
Even if she forces me to think them each time she does a show.
“We were just discussing how best to protect you, dear girl,” Jim says with all the sweetness and gentleness of a father. “But where are my manners? My name is Jim Madigan, and I’m—”
“You’re the man who sold me the beach house,” she says. “I’ve never met you, but I saw your name on the paperwork. Have you been stalking me?” Her gaze flicks to me. “Was this all a setup? Are you Desmond? Oh my god, it all makes sense now! You’re fucking Desmond!”
With a squeal, she bolts for the front door. I step into her path, and she collides with my chest and bounces back as if she’s struck a brick wall. She lands in a heap on the floor, eyes wild and mouth agape.
I offer her my hand, but she scoots backward like a terrified kitten, hissing and fluffing and swiping her claws.
“I’m not Desmond, lass. I’m Aven Slade, same as I was yesterday and same as I’ll be tomorrow.” I nod at the most nonthreatening man to walk the planet, despite his disgustingly high body count. “That’s Jim, my boss, and we want to keep you safe, I assure you.”
She licks her lips and blinks much too quickly as her eyes jump between us. Outside, thunder rumbles overhead as sheets of rain patter against the tin roof. It’s as if even God means to terrify her.
“I’ve been keeping an eye on you, that much is true,” Jim says, “but my motives were not nefarious in nature. Convincing you to buy the beach house was a little devious on my part, but it was all to protect you. You’ve been on Desmond’s radar far longer than you realize.”
“You convinced me to buy that beach house?” Quinn looks between us, but her eyes land firmly on me. “And you? We didn’t just meet by chance?”
“Afraid not, lass.” I stuff my hands into my pockets and shrug. “Our meeting was more orchestrated than I led you to believe. But the rest of it is just as he says. You’re in more danger than you realize.”
“Desmond is . . .” Jim looks at me, searching for a way to put it that won’t freak her the fuck out.
“He’s a serial killer, and you’re his current obsession,” I say, putting it plainly, which is usually the easiest way, if not always the best. “If he gets his hands on you, that’s it. You’ll be dead within a day.”
“We don’t know much about him, but what we do know isn’t good,” Jim adds.
Quinn gulps and places her hand to her chest. “And what, you guys are with the FBI and just happened to take a vested interest in a sex worker because she’s the target of the top guy on your most-wanted list?
Is that what this boils down to?” She scoffs and shakes her head, a bit of her fire returning.
“Listen, I appreciate the help, but maybe it’s best if we involve the local police now.
I’m feeling a bit like a worm on a hook here. ”
“We have connections to the FBI, but we are not a government entity,” Jim says.
“And your assumption is correct. We have used you as bait to lure him out, but your safety is more important than his eventual capture. I realize it’s asking a lot, but you’ll need to trust us.
” Jim looks at me. “Both of us. Your life very literally depends on it.”
We hang on this moment, holding our breath as she determines whether we do this the easy way or the hard way. Personally, I wouldn’t mind the hard way.
“No,” she says with a gentle shake of her head. “I’m sorry, but I’m not comfortable taking off with two strange men to avoid being attacked by a third strange man. You can see how this makes no sense, right?”
“Told you,” I mutter to Jim.
“Besides, I still have money to make. Does your island even have Wi-Fi?”
I pull up a chair and take a seat by the window. Lightning splits the sky in half as Jim and Quinn continue to argue. He begs her to reconsider, and she refuses to budge. After ten minutes of spirited debate, I’ve had enough.
“C’mon, lass. I’m taking you home.” I rise from the chair and head for the front door.
Jim grabs my arm, stopping me before I can step onto the porch. “You can’t be serious. Aven, you pinged his location. He’s somewhere in town, and knowing him, he has been since we blacked out his system a few weeks ago. He’s pissed.”
I shrug him off and keep going. “Not my problem.”
I shove my hands in my pockets and hurry down the steps. When my feet meet sand, I turn left and step into the rain. It’s tapered to a trickle now, but more is on the way, judging by those dark clouds.
The door slams behind me as someone steps onto the porch, but I don’t turn to see who it is. I already know it’s Quinn, and I already know what she’ll say as soon as she reaches me.
I hope Jim has the boat ready to go.