Chapter Twenty-Nine
Cash
DAMN IT. I PUT THE woman I love in danger and let Izan escape with Lexi. I silently berated myself as I looked across the grand hall at a shaking Sabrina trying to comfort her parents while I spoke to Agents Todd and Randall, who had taken out three mercenaries before they entered the lodge. The pair had walked in with law enforcement, so no one was the wiser about who they really were. And Sabrina’s family seemed to buy that I, like everyone else in Tennessee, just legally carried a gun. They all considered me a hero and an excellent shot. They were in too much shock, under the circumstances, to think it through fully. It was a miracle that no one but Isla and her friends were dead. Two bridesmaids with gunshot wounds were being transported to the hospital, but they were in stable condition. Other than that, most guests escaped with cuts and bruises.
“You’re sure you’ve secured the perimeter and no other threats exist? Did anyone else but Lexi and Izan escape?” I growled, still angry that our agency had missed Isla entering the country and at myself for allowing that scumbag Izan to disappear. All I could think of while I was down after getting grazed by that damn bullet was Sabrina.
“We believe we’ve neutralized any threat, but the FBI is canvassing the area now,” Agent Randall answered.
“Good work. Keep me posted. Search the property again for Izan and Lexi. And I want you to stick around and guard the Belles until Izan is apprehended, or in case any of his other associates show up,” I rushed to say, dismissing them. Sabrina was making her way to me, and Agents Todd and Randall were unaware that she knew who I really was.
I met Sabrina near the last row of chairs, most of which had been knocked over. I took off my suit coat and wrapped it around her shivering body. A cool breeze drifted in from the shattered windows. “Sorry for the blood on it.”
She tightened the coat around her, gazing at my wounded and bloodied arm. “You should probably get that checked out.”
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” I kept myself from wincing, refusing to let the pain get to me. “How are you?”
She blinked in a daze. “I think okay.”
“How’s your family?”
“They’re worried about Lexi.” She bit her lip and whispered, “I think I know where she is.”
My brow quirked. “How would you know that?”
She stepped closer and held up her phone. “Well, I kinda sorta put a micro-GPS tracker in that locket I gave her.”
My first instinct was to tell her that was dangerous and scold her. Izan could have easily found it, but under the circumstances, I just smiled and kissed her. “You’re a genius.” I grabbed the phone and looked at the app she had up and running. “They’re not far.”
“I think that’s one of the entrances to the caves,” she said smugly. “I bet he’s going to get the diamonds.”
Admittedly, I’d never thought the diamonds were in the caves, but I had to say I should’ve believed Sabrina. I kissed her again, wondering if it might be the last time. “I’m going to go get that bastard. Stay here with your family. Agents Todd and Randall will be here to protect you.”
“I’m going with you,” she said indignantly.
“The hell you are. You’re staying here where you’ll be safe.”
She looked around at the wreckage as if to question the validity of the safety here. “You’re hurt, and he has my sister.”
“I’ll be fine,” I assured her.
“But I won’t be,” her voice cracked. “When you capture him, you’ll have to leave. I want to say goodbye. Please, let me come with you.” She stole her phone out of my hand. “Besides, I’m the one who found them.”
“Damn it,” I groaned. “We don’t have time to argue about this.”
“You’re right. Should I drive? We’ll need your car.” She strode off like there was no question she was going with me.
Against my better judgment, I took her hand but didn’t stop her. “This isn’t a good idea.”
“Probably not.” She kept on walking. “But I’m not leaving you until I have to. Besides, you’re hurt.”
“I’m telling you, I’m fine. It’s just a flesh wound.” It stung like hell, but I’d survived worse.
“Great, then you can drive.” She flashed me a wicked grin.
I wanted to kiss that grin right off her face and then haul her back to her parents, but she was right—if I took down Izan, I was gone. And even though it was wrong and dangerous, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to her. There was no turning off my emotions this time. And I found I didn’t want to.
“YOU KNOW HOW TO SHOOT a gun?” I opened the hatch of my car to access the secret panel with a cache of weapons, still not believing I’d allowed Sabrina to come. If anything happened to her, I would never forgive myself. And I’d have nothing to do but think about it as I rotted in prison. If this went badly, Hugh would have me incarcerated for exposing SPI.
“I grew up in Tennessee. Of course I know how to shoot a gun.”
I grabbed a GLOCK 19 and checked the magazine clip to make sure it was loaded before handing it to her. “The gun has an automatic safety system. It won’t fire unless you squeeze the double trigger.”
She grabbed the gun and, holding it correctly, pointed it toward Izan’s car near the entrance of the cave that was partially boarded up, lining up the rear and front sights. Damn, she looked hot, even though she was still in her evening gown with a hoodie pulled over it and wearing tennis shoes. There had been no time for her to change, so she’d just grabbed what she could.
She lowered the gun. “Let’s do this.”
If I wasn’t in love with her before, she would have just sealed it.
“Don’t go rogue on me,” I teased her.
She smiled. “Sorry, I’m nervous.”
“Good. You need to be. Stick by me, and if anything goes wrong, get the hell out and call the police. I mean it this time. There is no saving me.”
“I can’t promise that. If I can save you, I will.”
I clenched my fists and jaw. “Sabrina, this isn’t a game. Innocent people already got hurt today. And people died.” The thought she could have been one of them sickened me.
“I know,” she whispered. “I watched you get hurt trying to save my sister. I refuse to watch you die, especially if I can help you.”
As infuriating as her words were, they meant the world to me. “You’re maddening.” I grabbed her hoodie and pulled her to me, capturing her lips for a moment that we didn’t have to spare.
She pressed her lips urgently against mine before murmuring against them, “I love you.”
“Ditto. Let’s go.” I released her, grabbed my backpack full of gear, and shut the hatch.
“According to what I looked up on the way over here, this cave is under construction. It used to be open for tours, but they found some new ‘big’ rooms and an underground waterfall. They are currently building more paths and adding additional lighting,” Sabrina informed me as we crossed the cracked parking lot, deserted save Soren’s car.
I did a quick scan of his vehicle as we passed it to make sure no one was in it. “Since your GPS tracker doesn’t work underground, we can’t be sure where they’ve gone. From what I remember of your grandfather’s map of this cave, even before the discovery of the new rooms, there were two paths to follow.”
“Did you memorize those maps?”
I tapped on my head. “Near genius, remember?”
“Color me impressed.”
“Don’t be impressed with me yet.” I was still kicking myself for this situation. It should have never come to this.
“I’ve seen you without your shirt on. I’m very impressed.” She grinned.
I appreciated the lightheartedness she added to the serious situation.
We passed the booth where I assumed people would pay to enter the cave. It had a cracked window, and the red paint was peeling. There was a sign on the entrance of the cave that said, Danger. Do not enter. It was too late for that.
Sabrina closed her eyes and steeled herself.
“If you want to wait in the car, you—”
“I want to stay with you,” she cut me off.
“Okay. Make as little noise as possible. And listen to me at all times.” I tried to drive that point home.
“I will, as long as it doesn’t endanger you.”
I held back my disagreement. “You are infuriating.”
“I know.” She smiled. “Now let’s go save my ungrateful sister and get those diamonds.”
I grabbed my low-beam flashlight and clicked it on. “Stay close to me. This won’t emit much light. We don’t want to announce that we’re here.”
She nodded.
“And remember, if you take a shot, make sure it hits your target. We don’t need bullets ricocheting against the cave walls.”
“Got it.”
“All right. Let’s go.” I climbed over the busted barrier and helped Sabrina over. We were immediately hit with a damp and moldy smell with a hint of sulfide. On the upside, it was warmer in the caves than outside. Not like it was balmy, but mid-fifties was doable.
I took a moment to listen for any signs of Izan and Lexi before I risked shining the light in front of us, gauging where we should go. According to Sabrina’s app, they had arrived at the cave an hour ago. There was no telling how far they’d trekked inside or when they would come back. The dim light revealed some of the incredible stalagmite formations, but I was more interested in the fresh drops of blood on the stone path leading to the left. I pointed them out to Sabrina.
“Lexi,” she whispered.
“It might not be hers,” I tried to comfort her. More than likely, they were both bleeding after the shower of glass that had come down at the rehearsal. How Sabrina had come out of it with only a few minor cuts was a miracle. Regardless, at least we knew which way to go.
As we headed down the path slick with moisture, the air thick with humidity, I had to wonder if Lexi had come down here willingly or if this was going to be a hostage-type situation. I prepared myself for either scenario. Lexi had to be feeling things, knowing that Izan wasn’t who he’d claimed to be. I just hoped she had enough sense not to fall for whatever story he was trying to sell her—or worse, try to escape. There was no telling what he would do if he caught her.
Every little sound, from the trickle of water to the crunch of the rocks under our feet, made Sabrina jump. I knew she was trying to be brave, but she was obviously terrified. It was the first time in my life that I was terrified too. But it was for her, not for me.
The low light barely pierced the deep darkness, so it was slow going. My arm began to ache more than I would admit to. I’d stitch it up myself when this was all said and done.
Sabrina held the gun with one hand, and with her other, she held my shirt. My phone vibrated violently in my pocket. No doubt Ivy wanted to know where I’d disappeared to. I was already thinking up a cover story as to why I’d taken Sabrina into the cave with me. Sabrina had texted her parents to say we just needed some time alone to process what had happened. Her parents believed I was shaken up after shooting and killing Isla and her friends. While it ate at me, I didn’t regret it. Ivy was going to be ticked about all the legwork she would have to do to cover up my name in the police reports, but she might forgive me if I got the diamonds and the FBI apprehended Izan. Maybe.
After what seemed like an hour, we heard Lexi’s voice in the distance and the rush of falling water. “I just want to go home.”
I killed the light and grabbed Sabrina’s hand.
Sabrina squeezed with all her might. “This might be a good time to mention I’m afraid of the dark,” she said in the quietest of whispers. “I feel like I can’t breathe.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes.” Sabrina didn’t hesitate.
“I’ve got you. Just focus on our connection. I know it sounds pointless, but close your eyes and take steady breaths in and out. I swear on my life I won’t let anything happen to you.” Never had I spoken truer words.
“I told you. I will make you a happy woman.” Izan’s fake accent was gone. “Choose anywhere you want to live in the world, and I’ll make it happen. Now that I have the diamonds, I’ll buy you an island if you want me to.”
“You’re not who you said you were,” Lexi cried.
“I love you,” Izan shouted. “That’s all that matters.”
We needed to get to Lexi. Izan was losing his patience and Lexi wasn’t falling in line. And I needed to get those diamonds.
“Carry these,” Izan demanded.
“No!” Lexi cried.
“We need to move,” I whispered urgently, afraid Izan was going to kill Lexi. “Keep ahold of me.” I placed my hand on the cave wall and used it as our guide, slowly, slowly edging toward the sound of the water, Lexi crying, and Izan trying to convince her that he loved her.
Sabrina bravely followed me. The fact that she trusted me so implicitly didn’t go unnoticed.
We came around a bend, and thankfully Izan had battery-powered lanterns lit around the base of the pool that the waterfall poured into. We were at a good vantage point, being higher up. Unfortunately, though, we had a clear view of Izan pointing a gun at Lexi.
“Don’t make me hurt you.” Izan’s voice shook.
Sabrina’s eyes went wide with panic.
I whispered low in her ear. “I need you to stay up here and be my backup. Can you do that?”
She nodded.
“I’m going to go down there. If anything happens to me, take this.” I reached into my pocket and handed her my phone. “Press this button here and it will connect you to my handler.” My phone had unreal service coverage. “She’s a piece of work, but she’ll help you.” I kissed Sabrina’s cheek. “If you have to shoot Izan, don’t miss.”
“Okay,” her barely-above-a-breath voice shook.
I watched Sabrina take aim at Izan before I headed for the steps carved into the side of the cave that led to the pool below.
“Don’t hurt me,” Lexi begged. “I love you,” she was smart enough to say.
“I love you, mi amor. Now grab this bag. You are a wealthy woman now.”
Cautiously, I took each step, careful not to slip on the wet surface. When I made it to the bottom, I drew my gun and aimed it at Izan’s knee, knowing it was best to bring him in alive. To keep Sabrina’s family safe, we needed the name of who he was working with in New York. But if I had to, I would eliminate him.
“Okay. I’ll do whatever you say.” Lexi bent down to grab one of the four bags lying near the pool of water.
I took a step forward to make my move, but in an unfortunate twist of fate, one of the lanterns went out, and it spooked Izan. He turned at just the wrong moment and saw me closing in. He didn’t hesitate to take a shot, and neither did I. My aim was better than his, and I hit his knee. Izan crumpled. Unfortunately, his bullet ricocheted, and the fragments struck my shoulder and collarbone, forcing me down.
Sabrina screamed and ran down the steps.
Lexi ran toward her sister, but Izan refused to let her get away that easily. He sat up and fired a shot at her, missing. Sabrina stood in front of me and yelled, “Lexi, jump in the water!” before she fired off a shot and hit Izan. I couldn’t tell where the bullet struck, but he fell back.
“Oh my gosh! I just shot someone.” Sabrina lowered her weapon, shaking.
Yeah, she did. Damn, she was sexy in her hoodie and evening gown.
“Sabrina,” I managed to say through the pain. “Make sure he can’t get up and get his weapon.”
“All right. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I lied, leaning against the cave wall, feeling as if someone had shoved a hot iron poker through me. I felt a little better, though, when I watched Lexi emerge from the water, grab Izan’s gun, and point it at him.
“You don’t mess with girls from Tennessee,” Lexi shouted.
“You got him?” Sabrina called.
Lexi gave her a thumbs-up.
Sabrina dashed to my side. “There’s so much blood.” She took off her hoodie and applied pressure to the wound.
“Now might be a good time to push that button,” I struggled to say, knowing that if I survived, I could very well go to prison. There was no way now to keep it from the agency that Sabrina knew exactly who I was. But all I cared about was making sure Sabrina was safe.
“Cash. Cash. Cash,” Sabrina cried. “I love you.” They were the last words I heard.