Chapter Forty-one
Honey froze when she looked into the nozzle of the gun pointed her way. Though she’d taken target practice and knew what it felt like to hold one, she’d never before had the killing instrument stuck in her face.
Listening to the female orders from the deadpan voice that meant business, Honey stepped into the room and felt like an oven door closed her into such heat that imaginary blisters formed. Inside the tension-filled room with the dead body and the three other adults who looked frazzled and dismayed, she was instantly sorry she hadn’t left well enough alone.
“Why’d you have to go and shoot the son of a bitch?” Bellowing, the scotch drinker looked like a heart attack was imminent. His pointing finger at Lori soon lowered when he saw her passion.
In a voice filled with self-righteous temper, she barked, “Because he disobeyed orders. That doesn’t happen with my men. There’s one boss here, and it’s me.” She turned to the Chinese man in the corner who looked like a stone statue. He showed no emotion whatsoever. Honey wished she could emulate his behavior. She knew the revulsion and fear in her expression would be plain for anyone to see.
After a quick peek at the body and knowing by the hole in his forehead that he’d be dead, she lowered her neck and prayed someone would come looking for her.
Then a thought hit her, and she prayed Mel wouldn’t search her out. Bad enough for them to have her in their clutches. No way would she wish this danger on her best friend.
Lori started to move, pointing at the one guard waiting for instructions. “Get rid of the body and call Leroy to clear away this mess. We’re going to the warehouse to finish the transaction.” She pointed at Honey. “Deal with this one too.”
“You want we should kill her?”
Lori stopped and gave the idiot a look that spoke volumes. Sarcasm sharpening her tone, she snorted. “Now what do you think should happen? She’s a witness. Of course, kill her. But not on the property. Clear all evidence of her being here and take her somewhere her body won’t be found.”
The guard wrenched Honey to turn, stuck his pistol into her ribs, and ordered, “Walk with me. Easy like. Don’t make any sudden moves, and we’ll get along just fine, Chica.”
He spoke into a mic on his shoulder and gave instructions for Leroy to bring a body bag and go to the office as soon as the room cleared. Once he got an affirmative, he shoved her toward the side door that led to the garden. Instead of heading there, they did a quick turn down a small path and ended up at the garages. There he forced her inside a tiny shed-like building that sat behind the others.
Honey’s brain worked frantically. So many thoughts flying in at once, she felt sick from overload. Should she resist now? Could she take him? He had a gun. True. But maybe if he didn’t expect her to fight, he’d be surprised. While she decided whether to resist by screaming or just try to run, he shoved her in front of him, through the door, and into the darkness.
“Listen. The bitch expects me to kill you, but I never killed nobody. And I ain’t gonna take a fall for the likes of that mujer loca. Chica, stay here quiet. I’ll tie you up and gag you. Then I’m outta here.”
“No. Look. Take me with you. She’s crazy. Don’t leave me here with her. Please.”
“No way.” She heard resistance in the man’s voice.
Whispering, using every bit of intelligence she could gather, she coaxed, “At least take me off the property. Look, she said to erase all signs of me. I’ll drive and… and you hold the gun on me. We’ll… ahh, we’ll pick up my phone at the gatehouse, so everyone thinks I’ve left. Then we can go our separate ways.”
Honey watched him thinking over her plan. “Right. Good. Okay. You’re my prisoner. We’ll get through the gate. But I can’t take any chances you’ll go to the police.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“Not good enough. Everyone in my life has broken their word to me in one way or another.”
“Not me… what’s your name? I can’t keep thinking of you as my executioner. Look, I’m Honey Bolder.”
He thought for a second and then shrugged. “You can call me Sage.”
“Okay, Sage it is. I promise not to resist. But we have to make it look good, or they might think something is wrong.”
“I still need to know I’ll have time to cross the border. You’ll have to stick with me for a while. Look, I’ll take you to a motel and tie you up. The cleaners will find you in a few hours. I won’t hurt you, hermana. But I can’t take chances.”
Honey could hear the earnestness in the young man’s voice and thanked all the Gods for sending him to her. “We’ll do it your way then, Sage. I’m just so glad you’re with me and not one of the others.”
“Oh, Honey, you better believe you’re lucky. I’m new at this and after seeing a cold-blooded murder, I’ve decided this dirty game is not for me. Mi Mamá was true. I don’t have the stomach for such madness.”
Sage led her to one of the property SUVs and then gave directions to take them past the gatehouse. There she stopped, his gun pointing at her head so the guard could see. “Hey amigo, pass this lady’s phone to us. The boss said to clear out all her belongings. Call in to the kitchen and tell them to get rid of her stuff there too. Her name is Honey Bolder.”
The guard nodded but held up his hand. “I’m coming with you. Slater is covering the gate now. You can drop me off at the warehouse. Boss wants as many of us there as possible for the delivery.”
Sage’s groan came through and Honey’s instinct was to hit the gas. Unfortunately, the guard walked in front of the vehicle and stopped her from making the impulsive move.
He got into the seat behind her. The tension in the car tripled. “The boss wants you to get rid of this one? What a waste.”
“Yeah.” Sage’s voice was suddenly different. A mean quality had entered that resembled the other man’s. “I know a good place for a body to disappear.” Playing his role, he held the gun to her cheek. “Don’t even think about making any dumb moves. You go where Naz directs, or I’ll make you suffer before you die.”
Pretending to be afraid was no longer necessary. She was terrified. This Naz character looked like any humanity he’d been born with had dissolved, leaving the husk of a man with no morals or compassion.
Taking his directions seriously, she turned when he gave the order and stepped on the gas when he got tired of her slow pace. Feverishly, her brain kept spinning ideas of how she could stop the evil, but nothing came to mind. She’d just have to play along. Thank God, Sage had revealed his true feelings. She prayed she could believe him.
Once they came to the industrial district, Naz gave her directions to pull over behind a dark building that was surrounded by a bunch more.
“You coming?” He spoke to Sage.
“Like to but can’t. Boss said to get rid of this one right away. I’m not about to ignore orders.”
“Best not to. Okay. I’ll go the rest of the way on foot.” He stepped out of the car and surprised them both by pulling Honey’s door open. Flippantly, he leaned in and yanked her loosened hair, forcing her face close so he could grind his mouth on hers. Meanwhile his hand groped at her chest, searching for a way into her shirt.
She tried to slap him away, but the steering wheel was a huge disadvantage. Her hand finally got loose, and she scratched at his cheek only to have him punch her more than once. He moved so fast it took them completely by surprise.
A sudden barked order from Sage stopped the abuse. “Hey, Naz, you want I should keep her somewhere for you to enjoy after the delivery?”
Naz backed away after another hurtful squeeze, his expression registering gloom. “Nah. She’s a good looker. But the boss gives the orders. You better do what you’re told.”
“I will. But before I do, I might have to look after business for you,” Sage jeered, pointing the gun at Honey now frozen in disbelief. “Want I should take pictures?”
Naz grinned evilly. “Fuck you.” Suddenly, they heard shots ringing out in the distance. “Shit. Gotta go.” Naz slammed the door and Honey watched him pull out his gun as he headed in the direction of trouble.
Seconds later, just as she had the car in gear, she saw a man wearing an FBI vest step out from his hiding place ahead of them but with his back turned. Naz lifted his arm to take aim. Without a moment’s hesitation, Honey slammed her foot down on the gas pedal and struck Naz, propelling his body into the air, making his aim go wild. He flew about ten feet, landing closer to the cop.
With the headlights on, it highlighted the action. The man she saved had turned to look in their direction. That’s when she saw his face. Like in a slow-motion movie every second seemed amplified. The sound of the blow. The instant when a choice gave no room for indecision. Her heartbeat pounded making her pulse jump wildly. Recognition took a bit longer. It didn’t click in until the man started in her direction.
Luke?!
My God, it was him.
In shock, her head dropped to the steering wheel, shuddering at how close he’d come to dying. Everything else tuned out for seconds until she finally heard her name muttered hurriedly. “Honey. Christ. He’s coming this way. We’re in for it. Go into reverse. Let’s get the hell away.”
“No. It’s okay. I know this man. He won’t hurt us.”
“Maybe not you, but he’ll arrest me.” Panicky now, Sage wrenched open his door as if to run and Honey grabbed at him, trying to hold him. “No. It’s Luke. If you run, he’ll think you’re one of them. I’ll tell him you’re with the catering group and Naz imprisoned us both. Trust me.”
Sage stopped and looked into her eyes. “Chica… you screwing with me?”
“No. I promise.”
By now, Luke had approached the car, standing in the headlights, his gun aimed toward the windshield at the driver. “Throw out your weapons. Then get out of the car slowly. Hands where I can see them.”
Sage did as he was told but after Honey opened her side, she knew her legs wouldn’t hold her up. So she called out instead. “Luke it’s me, Honey. Sage is my friend. He saved me. Don’t hurt him.” Then she passed out cold.