5. Aiden #2
“Maybe if you give us the right answers, I’ll let you play.
” He turns to look at Cort, his eyes hard, his meaning clear.
“But if you don’t, you’ll get the answer you were looking for when you asked that question.
So, unless you want this place to haunt your dreams, I strongly suggest against testing the fuck around and find out theory. ”
Braking as I turn onto the long driveway, I catch Cort’s eyes in the side mirror. He doesn’t look good. Not that he did to begin with, but he’s back to looking like he did when Silas first brought him to my house.
We both know he’s not leaving this place without learning the truth about what happens to those who dare to cross the Doyle family. He may walk out of here alive, but he won’t be the same man.
Silas whistles when the guard station comes into view. “Interesting. Guess my father doesn’t want the wrong person showing up today. Let me do the talking.”
A group of armed men greet us, surrounding my Jaguar, weapons trained on Silas and me. Ignoring their menacing faces, I roll down my window, feigning unconcern. This isn’t the first time I’ve had a weapon pointed at me, and it won’t be the last.
What they don’t realize is that I have men on them too.
Even Silas doesn’t know that. My earlier comment to Pauly wasn’t just information. It was a signal. Be ready.
The reckless driving wasn’t done just to be an arsehole. It was a distraction. Something to keep both men with me focused on me instead of the vehicle that slipped in behind us after we passed Oxford.
It worked.
The coded buzz against my leg confirms it. Everyone is in position.
Marty, Ryan, and Teddy are positioned on the far side of the complex. I hate relying on her guards, but we need the manpower. Lane dropped them off shortly after he passed us.
Just because I’ve never been on this side doesn’t mean I don’t know the layout. I’ve done my research.
The place has one hell of a security system. It’s locked down, but not everywhere. Some areas are deliberately left without cameras. Trent’s way of keeping certain transactions off the record. His clients pay well for that kind of discretion.
The lack of security cameras benefits more than just the sick fucks here. It works for us too.
Human guards are only as good as the man behind the weapon. And men like us know how to move without being seen, blending in so as not to draw attention. And later, when all hell breaks loose, there won’t be cameras around to capture our faces.
The trio is hidden in the tree line, each with a perfect view, prepared to take a shot when the time is right. That’s how we work, how we’ve always worked, and what our text exchange before we left London was all about.
Trent may be expecting us, but I have no idea what brought him here.
That bothers me. Especially with the shit that went down last night while he had me doing his dirty work.
For all I know, he had a hand in Isabel and Alma’s abductions.
The men who took them worked for him at one time. That alone raises a huge red flag.
Then there’s the brooch. The sealed envelope. Too many loose threads.
My gut tells me it’s all tied together. I just don’t have proof yet. Soon though, and then I’ll be done playing his games.
The man aiming his gun bends to look inside the car. He starts to say something, then freezes when he spots Silas next to me. He wasn’t expecting him.
Guess Trent didn’t bother relaying the message that we were coming. That will work in our favor. Silas can pull rank as the warlord. These men fear him as much as they fear his father.
“Orders are that no one is allowed in.” A nervous swallow tells me he understands how dangerous it is saying that to the man next to me.
“Open the fucking gate.” Silas lifts the gun he drew as we were pulling up. “Now!”
“But your father—”
“Are you a fucking idiot?” I fix the man with a glare. “He will shoot you. That’ll set those dipshits off, and suddenly we’ve got a bloodbath at the gate.”
Leaning forward slightly, I let my next words land. “You’ll be dead, so it won’t matter to you. But I really don’t want to explain that mess to Trent when we get inside. And knowing him, he’s likely to revive you, and then shoot you again himself just to make a point.”
The twit gains an ounce of clarity and steps back before he motions the others aside. “It’s Silas, let them through.”
One brave guard breaks protocol and speaks up. “Shouldn’t we still inspect the car?”
Who the fuck are these morons at the gate?
“Be my guest,” I say flatly. “Just don’t be surprised when he shoots you too. He’s been itching to kill someone all afternoon.”
His eyes widen as I relax back in my seat like none of this bothers me.
Truth is, I want to get out of this damn car so we can get this over with. This is the last place I want to be. I’m this close to breaking my cover and putting a bullet in every one of them so I can do what I actually need to do. Go find Isabel.
When the brave piece of shit doesn’t make a move, I shift the car into drive. “That’s what I thought. Now move before I run you over.”
The window rolls up with a satisfying whir, and the second there’s enough space, I floor it, not afraid to mow down any tosser who gets in my way.