by Piper Stone
I headed back into the bedroom, shoving my feet into my shoes then peering out the corner of the blinds. There was no additional sign of her. I stood in front of the hidden room for a few seconds before reaching behind the picture and turning the knob, allowing the door to slide open. At least I had an escape if someone tried to break in.
I walked to the doorway of the kitchen thinking that if anyone attempted to break the glass, I would definitely hear it from the location. Now all I had to do was wait.
Rafael had been gone almost two hours. While he hadn’t mentioned where he was going, I doubted that he’d allow me to stay alone if he had to go an extreme distance. Everything would be fine. He’d simply take me to another safe location.
Then another.
And another.
What if there wasn’t a way to feel safe again?
I moved the Glock from hand to hand, playing out every detail since I’d arrived in this country. Everything seemed to stem from the sex trafficking ring that I’d almost been forced into. The wrong place at the wrong time.
Groaning, I closed my eyes briefly until a moment of lightning shot into my mind, my entire body tingling. Wait a minute. Wait a fucking minute. I was still shaking as I took long strides back into the office, fighting once again to unlock the little drawer while flipping on the light. I no longer gave a shit who knew I’d been snooping, jerking at the false bottom until I was able to grab the picture.
Him.
Fuck.
Why hadn’t I noticed before?
I ripped at the back of the frame until I was able to yank the photograph itself under the light. I wasn’t wrong. A wretched instinct crawled into my system as I jerked open every drawer until I could find a pen. I flipped it over, writing on the back.
Maybe my asshole stepfather was useful after all. The note would remain even if something happened to me.
I took several deep breaths, turning off the light and placing the picture under the keyboard with only a portion remaining in view. I prayed to God I was wrong.
In the next several minutes, I checked every window, peering outside. While I didn’t catch sight of her, I knew Angelina was hovering somewhere. Waiting.
Watching.
Anger swelled within me, burning into my very soul. I could barely calm my nerves or my rage. When I heard a sound, I bristled, backing against the hallway wall, the Glock firmly planted in both hands. I’d been right. Some asshole was coming to take me away.
I heard nothing for a few seconds then a knock on the door. My entire body began to seize, my legs shaking to the point I was fearful of crumpling to the floor. I counted the knocks. Three. The pause forced me to suck in my breath once again.
Two. Knocks.
A flood of relief washed into every cell and aching muscle as I moved quickly toward the door. I hesitated even though I had my hand placed on the console. After taking a deep breath, I took another chance. I had to know. “Who’s there?”
“Savannah, it’s me. Please open the door. We need to leave.”
I’d know the beautiful tone of his voice anywhere. I was close to hyperventilating as I disarmed the system, biting back a moan as I unlocked the door.
There was no wait for me to open it, to allow entrance. That was taken from me, the door kicked in.
And his face. My God, his face.
“Savannah...”
Chapter Seventeen
Rafael
“Pecados de nuestro padre,” I muttered under my breath, my thoughts firmly locked on Savannah. I’d made several mistakes during the last few days, one of which had been leaving her alone. I heard the screech of the tires as I rounded a curve. I was still a full ten minutes out, long enough that I’d signed her death warrant.
I could feel the heat of Montego’s gaze. “Sins of our father. Do you think your father has anything to do with this?”
“We all pay the price for what has occurred in the past.” We’d been too careless in our actions, falling into moments of entitlement during the last few years. That had allowed this bullshit to occur. Trusting Don Piero, or the others, had been a terrible mistake. Greed made any type of friendship null and void.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he chortled.
“Fuck. Fuck!” I slammed my hand on the steering wheel, unable to calm my rage.
“You should have allowed me to drive, boss. You’re in no condition,” Montego said offhandedly.
I snarled as I tossed him a look, realizing he could have had no way of knowing what the fuck was going on, or so I wanted to believe. Just how far into the core of soldiers the betrayal went was yet to be determined. Everyone would be scrutinized, loyalties questioned. I had no other choice. And those who failed the test would be exterminated.
I took another corner sharply, allowing my adrenaline to continually push me forward. Jorge had collapsed, falling into a coma-like state before he could explain his last words.
And I’d allowed him to live.
If there was no Alviro Calleja, merely a trumped-up image to enable our organization to buy they had enough muscle to crush us, then why the fuck were there reports that Los Charlines soldiers had seized the Port of Valencia’s shipments fifty miles off shore?
No. Jorge had either been sent as another warning to throw me off or he’d been sacrificed like Manuel for the cause. Calleja did exist, the beast now rearing its ugly head, the true identity of the man prepared to take over easily. I was sick at not following my instincts about the Don.
The moment Montego had burst into the room, a debilitating chill had slithered down my spine. I had to face the fact that Jorge’s accusation had thrown me into an entirely different realm, although I knew there was still another hand to be played.
The call to my father had gone unanswered, further waving a red flag. A man like Sanchez Santiago believed his reputation kept him safe from predators. My gut told me his number had just been pulled, requiring me to dispatch soldiers to his estate. At least Dartanian was on the way to Valencia where I would soon follow, hundreds of our soldiers already in position. If Piero was in charge, the bastard wasn’t going to get away with hijacking our shipment.
And this time, Savannah would be by my side. So fucking help me God.
“If you ask me, I don’t buy the crap coming out of Jorge’s mouth. Why the hell did he betray us, all of us?”
That was the real question. “He will get what’s coming to him.”
“I’m surprised you allowed him to live.” He sucked in his breath. “I meant no disrespect, boss. I’m just surprised.”
“As I said, Jorge will be punished; however, I’m not finished extracting information from him yet. I will find every player involved.” There was a chance I had no taste for vengeance at this point, especially given I had no doubt Jorge knew a hell of a lot more than he’d offered.
And what Savannah had said. Choices.
I had them, too many to make sense of.
Montego shifted in the passenger seat, his hand firmly planted around his weapon. While my decision to bring him meant the safe house location had been breached, I had no way of knowing what I’d walk into. If the security had been breached, an ambush planned, backup was needed.
What I couldn’t move past was Jorge’s reaction, the fear in his eyes and it wasn’t because of what he knew I was prepared to do. There was something being held over his head.
The last five minutes seemed to take forever, my fury encroaching on madness. I roared into the entrance, idling within feet as I studied the landscaping. If the area had been breached, the carefully designed foliage would have been destroyed, which was exactly what I intended on doing.
“What the hell is this place?” Montego asked, leaning forward.
“A taste of paradise.” I roared the Ferrari through the cultured vines and lush plants, hissing from the need to do so.
When I jerked the car to a stop only feet away, I heard Montego’s words of exclamation.
I wasted no time f
“Go around the back, Montego. Check the shoreline and the back deck,” I instructed, knocking twice more. “I want to make certain no one breached the perimeter from any direction.”
“Will do, boss.”
My throat felt constricted when there was no sound, no attempt at answering the door. There was also no time to waste. The second the handle turned, I kicked in the door, moving quickly to the doorframe, the weapon in both hands. I darted my head inside, quickly scanning the perimeter as I listened for any kind of noise, my eyes falling to the broken vase that had once been on the small table. I stepped inside, shifting from left to right before glancing at the security system. It had been disarmed.
She’d opened the door to someone.
I bolted into the house, moving from room to room. When I walked into the kitchen, the stench of stale, nearly burnt coffee assaulted my senses. The moment I turned off the maker, I noticed the pair of binoculars. What in the hell? I walked closer, glaring down at them as another round of adrenaline kicked.
I walked by the hidden room, glaring at the wide-open space, my instincts crawling like snakes all throughout my body. Something was very wrong.
Then I headed to my office, confirming what I already knew. Someone had been searching; the closet door open and contents of the desk gone through. With no sign of a vehicle, was it possible that Savannah had left of her own accord, deciding to run after all? What was the point of the binoculars? Snarling, I lowered my weapon, shoving it into the holster before storming closer to the desk.
What the hell had she been looking for?
“Boss, there’s evidence of a boat. Couldn’t have been long ago given the tracks in the sand.” Montego was out of breath, his face pinched.
Fuck.
The picture frame caught my eye, which meant she’d pried open the drawer. She’d be unable to make any sense of the information in the envelope, various codes indicating offshore accounts. However, why the fuck had she removed the photograph? I looked closer, knowing there had to be a damn good reason. Seeing the corner of the picture, I tugged it from under the keyboard. Why would she remove it in the first place?
When I turned it over, I realized why. She’d left me a message.
The painting I mentioned. The guy in the middle is the purchaser.
The erotic painting she’d told me about. Why would it be important for me to know who’d purchased it?
They were the only words written in black ink, yet as I flipped the photograph back over, my blood began to boil.
* * *
I had no doubt Savannah had seen someone outside the windows. Whatever training her asshole stepfather had given her had certainly included some form of surveillance tactics. I only hoped what he’d taught her would help keep her alive.
Betrayal was something that came with a bitter taste, this time the wretched copper tang of blood.
Savannah was unexpected in several ways, including her level of intelligence. The note had told me exactly what I needed to know, including how to find her. While the young girl at the galleria had been terrified of providing any information, she’d finally come through with flying colors.
Especially since I’d purchased a spectacular piece for myself.
I stood in the shadows of the house, not entirely surprised at the beautiful country setting. I’d parked far enough away my vehicle could be seen from the cottage, twelve of my other soldiers following yet keeping their distance. While I hoped this would go peacefully, I would do what was necessary in order to get Savannah back.
The afternoon sun was just beginning to wane, creating a stunning setting as I walked closer. The baying of sheep in the background only added to the quaint ambiance. While I wore my holster, a second clip of ammunition in my pocket, the gun remained in position.
I only had to rap on the door twice before I heard heavy footsteps.
Coming face to face with him was far more difficult than I’d imagined.
“Dartanian.”
His eyes held surprise, his smile wry. “Very impressive. I can’t wait to hear how you figured it out. Certainly, Jorge would never say anything. He knew exactly what would happen to his family.”
I bristled yet remained quiet, refusing to be goaded. I’d been completely wrong about Don Piero as well as utterly blindsided.
“Hmm... All right. Would you like to come in, brother?” He glanced over my shoulder, obviously scanning the perimeter.
I said nothing as he allowed me inside, the scent of baking bread wafting into my nostrils forcing me to hold my breath.
And my anger.
My own brother had built a life of his own outside of the realm of the Santiago legacy, working for years to create a powerful following of his own. The opportunity when the patriarch of the Los Charlines had been killed too enticing for him to pass up.
Then again, I had no doubt he’d had a hand in the old man’s demise.
“I have to give you credit. I didn’t think you had it in you,” I said quietly as I studied the layout. I knew the type of cottage well, a single hallway leading to two rooms and a bath, a cellar underneath the kitchen normally used as a pantry. I had no doubt at this moment the stone and concrete facility was being used as a cage.
“To lead? To actually find a life of my own?” Dartanian moved toward the fireplace, retrieving the drink he’d obviously been nursing.
“To think you could hide under the radar.” I’d been right about my father. Fortunately, my soldiers had arrived before both he and my mother had been murdered, the men sent pledging loyalty to Calleja, also known as Dartanian Santiago. I’d had a long discussion with my father, calming his anger. I’d also been able to make certain switches, all of which would cut our losses tremendously.
I hadn’t been entirely surprised when he’d told me that the other Dons had suspected Dartanian’s involvement, which was the real reason for the meeting behind closed doors. While he hadn’t wanted to believe in the information that Don Piero had provided, he’d handled his own discovery, putting two and two together. He’d even allowed me to place my brother in an important position, likely in hopes of turning Dartanian around.
They say blood is thicker than water, but greed is stronger than loyalty or honor.
He laughed, wagging his finger. “Which put your skills to shame, brother. I left several clues over the last year that you simply ignored. Your arrogance brought you to this place.”
“What place is that?”
He took a sip of his drink, closing his eyes as he swallowed the amber liquid. “As we speak, every one of the ships that you believe to be protected is about to be boarded, commandeered as the sailors would say. While I hate the fact there will be a significant loss within your ranks, I’m certain you can find some basic thugs who will follow you like a lap dog. Just like you expected me to do.”
“You’re really that angry with me or simply the birth order?” I asked as calmly as possible. A tremendous sadness had swept inside, threatening to shut me down. What was worse was that I’d had my doubts about Dartanian for years, his loyalties never seeming to lie with the family. I should have followed my instincts.
Lifting his glass, he polished off his drink, actually tossing the crystal tumbler into the fire. The sound of smashing glass made his eyes glisten. “You never wanted to be king, Rafael, but Father kept pushing you when I was right there willing to take the helm.”
It was no point arguing with him. That would serve no purpose. “Where is Savannah?”
“Ah, yes, the girl. Haven’t you told me on several occasions that allowing a woman into your life isn’t necessarily the best thing for business?” He wiped his mouth as he walked closer, eyeing me with disdain. “I see you can’t take your own advice. She is unharmed if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Why did you choose her? Of all the women in this country, why an American girl?”
“Because the moment you saved her life in that dark alley, killing one of my best men, I finally was able to see that you had a weakness. After all the years of being around a perfect brother, a man with unquestionable loyalty and dedication, I witnessed a halle-fucking-lujah moment. You have no idea how overjoyed I was.”
I nodded, noticing the bar on the other side of the room. He followed my gaze. “May I?”
“Help yourself, brother. At least you know it won’t be poisoned.”
I took my time, my eyes scanning every inch of the room as I poured straight scotch, swirling the liquid before taking a sip. The bastard was actually watching me with amusement. I glanced at the painting over the bar, admiring the stunning and very vivid colors, the depiction of a beautiful naked woman being spanked inspiring on several levels. “What a beautiful painting. You certainly had balls purchasing it yourself.”
I heard a catch in his breath. “I was curious as to why you’d fall prey to a woman. I admit Savannah is beautiful in every way. I’m curious. How did she recognize me?”
“She didn’t, at least not until she happened to see the photograph taken with Javier a few years ago. You remember, the one taken at the French Film Festival?”
“Ah, yes. We had a terrific time on that trip. One big party.” He looked away, taking scattered breaths. “It was a shame what happened to Javier. I honestly didn’t want him to die, but simply to leave the family business.”
“You are a true monster, Dartanian.”
Another smile crossed his face as if I’d given him a compliment. “I am but you must remember that Father taught us well. I debated what to do with Javier’s wife and children but even I can’t sink that low. Don’t tell Jorge that. He served me well. I’m certain you took out the trash for me since I leaked that he’d been helping me of his own accord. Perhaps I’m not the monster you believe me to be.”
My fucking God. I had no idea that he was as truly evil as he was. He’d been the quiet brother, unassuming and studious. We’d all been blinded by him. “You must know that Gilly and the children are protected, Dartanian. I realized sooner than you think that I couldn’t trust anyone. Gilly is in an undisclosed location enjoying the time of her life.”
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