CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
ELIO
“The Gravedigger?” I lean forward and look at Ali.
“You know him?”
“He kidnapped me twice.”
“I remember,” Bernard confirms. “But twice?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Cyrus Deveraux used to be Tobias King’s second in command, but things went south between them when Tobias killed Cyrus’s son, Taye.”
“How does he help us?”
“We make him a proposal. No man in this world hates Tobias as much as he does. If he came back to hurt Saint, it means he still wants revenge. We give Tobias in exchange for Saint when this is all over.”
“And what do we get in return?” I ask.
“His soldiers. Three of us can’t rescue Saint on our own. We need help. Weapons. Comms. He gives it to us. We give him Tobias.” Ali explains.
“And if he refuses our offer.”
“Let’s hope he doesn’t.”
“How are we going to locate him?” I ask the hard questions.
“I have eyes on him as we speak. He comes to a certain high-end restaurant by 5 o’clock.” Ali says. “Saint hired me for a private investigation. I watched him for weeks. I know his routine.”
“It’s 2 pm. If we leave now, we can get to him.” I say.
“This isn’t the time to be reckless. We have to be strategic.
” Ali springs to his feet, and I give him a nod.
He’s been in this world longer than I have, and he definitely knows more than I do.
“Right. I’ll make a call.” Ali heads toward the door.
Almost at the exit, he stops and looks over his shoulder.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” he asks.
“Yes.”
There’s no doubt.
He nods sternly and leaves the kitchen for the living room.
“Is everything okay with you?” I look at Bernard.
“I’m feeling better.”
“What about you?” His eyes flicker to my stomach. “I’m sorry I wasn’t competent on the night of the attack.”
“Not your fault. My uncle was a professional hitman. I’m sure he used the element of surprise.”
“No one has ever tried to protect him as you have.” He points out.
“He means a lot to me,” I murmur. “You should understand that. You and Ali.”
He laughs.
“You love him, don’t you?”
“Very much.” He rests his hand on the table. “I have worked as Saint’s driver and personal bodyguard for years. If you’re willing to risk everything for him, then I bet he’ll do the same for you.”
I nod.
“I made the call. We’ll get him here in the evening.” Ali announces as he enters the kitchen/dining hybrid.
I leave Ali and Bernard to spend time together and retreat to the bedroom to get some rest. I eventually fall asleep and wake up the following morning.
As I get off the bed, the rumble of a car engine pierces through the silence and sends my senses on high alert.
I don’t waste a second. I bolt through the door and appear in the living room.
Stepping onto the porch, I take in the black SUV parked in front of the premises.
Tall, lean-muscled, with shaved hair and dark shades of sunglasses resting on his flat nose.
He steps out of the car. He wears a dark leather jacket and dark jeans.
He smiles as they close the gap between them, embracing each other. “What’s up, man?”
“All well.” Ali smiles. “You’ve got the package?”
“All tucked away in the boot.” He grins, eyes sliding to me. “Who’s that?” He gestures toward me.
“My boss’s friend.” Ali sighs and looks at me.
“Hey, Elio. This is my partner in crime, Spencer.”
I lift my hand and wave at him with a full smile. “Hi, Spencer.”
“Nice to meet you.” He moves toward the bonnet.
The storage compartment clicks mechanically and slides upward.
Both men stare into the car for a while before they haul the blindfolded man from the car into the living room.
I follow behind, and my body buzzes with a nervous feeling.
Spencer and Ali hold him down and tie him to a metal chair.
Spencer pulls a cigar from his pocket and squats in front of him with a sarcastic smile.
“Wakey, wakey.” He grins widely and lights the cigar with his lighter.
My heart thrums in my chest at the gesture, which reminds me of Vincent Bishop. Spencer pats the man’s cheeks gently, then rises to his feet. He pulls off his jacket and settles down on the couch. “It’s been a long drive.” He blows smoke from his mouth.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t do that here. Bernard’s sick, and I don’t like it.” My jaw clenches as he looks at me.
“Okay. Okay.” He tosses down the cigar stick and stomps it with his boot.
Ali enters the living room and loses the blindfold, and he hands it over to me.
“Elio, can you help in the kitchen?” He walks around the man and lifts his face.
It’s him. I remember seeing him stand in the corner while his soldiers tortured me.
He clenches his fist and aims for the man’s nose, knuckles colliding into his face as his head jerks backward and his eyes fly open.
A sharp, curdled grunt scrapes out of his throat. His head falls backward, and it takes him a good measure of time to look up at Ali. He laughs, an odd sound of disappointment. “If it isn’t my stalker.” Thick blood oozes down his broken nose.
“You don’t have to break him.” I cross my arms, and Ali looks up at me.
“I told you. Kitchen now.” He commands.
“No, I’m staying, and I’m asking questions.”
Ali sighs in defeat and shrugs. “By all means, show us what you’ve got.” He steps aside whilst I take his place.
I had, after all, witnessed several interrogations.
Cyrus inhales sharply, eyes sparking recognition as his smile slowly fades. He recognizes me. Of course, he does.
“Remember me, right? Auction house at Queenstown. The warehouse. The Greyhouse.”
“How could I forget?”
“Have you seen your friends?”
“I had a plan, and they decided to do something entirely different.”
“Hmm. Did it include leaving me for dead?” My brow lifts. He looks away, and my hand flies to his jaw, gripping over the grey stubble so tightly that he looks at me. The man wasn’t young. Probably in his late fifties, but overall, he was fit and strong.
An agonizing breath escapes through my teeth. I straighten up and look down at him.
“Why did you hire this man to bring me here?”
“Tread lightly, old man. I’m a sniper. I could have easily killed you if they wanted you dead.” Spencer asserts and leans forward.
“You’re wasting your time. Besides, my soldiers will figure out I’m gone soon enough, and they’ll come for me.”
“I’ll be waiting.” Spencer giggles.
“I want something from you, and you don’t have a choice.” I walk around him, forcing my trembling hands to my sides. “You worked with Tobias King most of your life. You knew the man. You knew what he did to your son, what he took from you.”
“Don’t speak about my son.”
“Tobias gave the order to kill your boy. Saint might have pulled the trigger, but Tobias gave the order. You could have kill Saint at the Greyhouse, but you didn’t. You let us both live. You want Tobias. I can help get you to him.”
He doesn’t utter a word. Being on the other side of the line, holding all the cards, makes me feel powerful. Now I understand what it feels like to be a King. To give the options of the bargain. To watch and wait for the captive to make a choice. To be the one with all the power.
It’s sensational.
I wait.
And like a moth dancing to a flame, he gives in.
“What do you have in mind?”
“I need to break into the Red Vault.”
“He’s really good at this.” Spencer whispers to Ali.