“What did you tell them?” she hissed. Though it didn’t matter—she’d been paid, she was in hiding in Mexico, and the feds already knew she’d been involved.
Proving it, however, was an entirely different matter, and almost everyone who knew anything about her was dead.
Yet now she had a loose end named Thomas Morrison.
“Nothing! I saw the writing on the wall and took Danielle and the baby to Cancún Sunday night. But I can’t run forever.”
“Not my problem,” she repeated.
“It is your fucking problem.”
She almost hung up. Except … Thomas Morrison was a lawyer. He was a smart guy, for the most part. Not on the same level as Carson Spade, but he could learn.
“I have a proposal.”
“I’m listening.”
“You need new identities. Clean, airtight. A safe house. I need a new lawyer. Someone who can build up my business, retrieve my money, clean it. I get you what you need, you work for me.”
He didn’t say anything.
“The offer expires in ten seconds. I already have two other accountants I’m looking at, and I’d rather have an accountant over a lawyer,” she lied smoothly. After Carson Spade turned state’s evidence, no one wanted to work with her, not until things settled down. But she couldn’t wait a year or more. She’d go broke, keeping Dominick’s operation running without the ability to launder her own money.
Silence.
“Five seconds.
“What do I have to do?”
“Come to me and I’ll explain everything. Bring Danielle and the baby. They’ll be safer.” Hardly. But she needed leverage.
“Fine.”
He wasn’t happy, but Jasmine’s job wasn’t to keep her staff happy. “I’m sending a pilot. Meet at the private airport ten minutes southwest of Cancún in exactly three hours. Don’t be late, or my offer is void.”
She hung up. One problem fixed, now she just had to figure out what to do with Angelo Zapelli. Whether she could use him or should have him killed.
She watched as her youngest half brother swam in the pool with Gabriella Romero. Okay, she had two problems. Jose swore up and down that Gabriella had saved his life during the RCK raid last month. And try as she might, Jasmine hadn’t found a recent connection between Gabriella and her enemies. Dante Romero was known to play all sides, and Jasmine wasn’t confident that he hadn’t set up the raid in the first place. He’d brokered the deal but swore—to her face—that his only involvement was when Sean Rogan came to him asking him to arrange trading the bonds for his brother. He’d had no idea that Jesse Spade was Sean Rogan’s son—no one did. That latter part was true. The news had shocked everyone who learned about Jesse’s parentage.
If Jasmine could get to the kid, she’d kill him just on general principles, though he’d gone into witness protection with his no-good stepfather. Traitor.
She rubbed her eyes. She didn’t want to kill a kid. People thought she was heartless—she wasn’t. She just hated disloyalty and stupidity. Carson Spade was disloyal; Angelo Zapelli was stupid.
Truth be told, this entire fiasco was Rogan’s fault. Both of them, in fact—Kane and Sean. When they were six feet under, she’d consider the slate clean.
Unless of course any of their comrades attempted to retaliate; then she’d take the war to them.
Jasmine would not be made a fool.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
It was after two thirty by the time Ryan arrived back at FBI headquarters. Lucy told Ryan she was going to take a late lunch and check on her future sister-in-law. Eden had texted her multiple times with questions and had set off the alarm three times in the last two hours.
“You know what would help a lot,” Lucy said to Siobhan as they slid into Lucy’s car, “is if you can stay and keep Eden company. I was nervous leaving her alone in the house, especially since I can’t reach Sean.”
“Sure,” Siobhan said.
Lucy waved at the guard as they exited the gated lot.
“Do you know her?”
“Never met either of them,” Siobhan said.
“Was that Kane on the phone earlier? I was trying not to eavesdrop, but I heard his name.”
She rolled her eyes. “He drives me up a wall.”
Lucy smiled.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t nothing me.” She sighed. “He gets all macho protective but then treats me like I’m an idiot. Still … Zapelli threatened Mari. I don’t know how, exactly—he had a note delivered to the group home. Kane thinks I should stay here for a few days.”
“Kane was the anonymous tipster, wasn’t he,” Lucy said, more a statement than a question.
“He planned on telling you—”
“I know, he doesn’t want me to feel guilty that I screwed up the investigation.”
“You didn’t. You had no choice.”
“Noah and I both knew a judge could throw out our search as illegal.”
“But you saved Mari’s life. You saved all those women. I’d rather let one asshole go free than have nine more women dead.”
Lucy concurred. She and Noah had discussed what they’d done and even were questioned by ASAC Durant as to the search that had been thrown out by a judge. In the end, she and Noah agreed that the search had been a gray area, but saving those women was a priority.
Next time, however, the result might not be what they wanted.
Truth be told, Lucy was surprised that Zapelli was still alive. When Kane learned that Zapelli had sold Mari and Ana as sex slaves two years ago, Lucy thought for certain Kane would assassinate him. Lucy had no feelings on the matter. She wouldn’t have felt any guilt or remorse for Zapelli’s death, though she wouldn’t want Kane to risk himself for that weak-willed asshole.
“He cares about you,” Lucy told Siobhan.
“Kane? I know. That’s why he makes me so mad. I know he cares about me. I love him. He’s arrogant and demanding and a borderline bully and completely selfless and honorable and brave. He thinks he’s not good enough for me or some such nonsense.”
“He spared Zapelli because you asked him to.”
“Kane told you that?”
“Educated guess.”
“He’s angry that I asked him to. I didn’t think Zapelli would have the guts to threaten Mari.”
“It could be a hollow threat. Kane will straighten it out, you know that.”
“I just wish he wouldn’t push me away.”
Lucy smiled as she pulled into her garage. In the year that she’d gotten to know Kane, she’d already seen a change in him—especially after losing a kidney. He was slowing down, like Jack had done after he got married a few years ago. Maybe Siobhan was just as big a reason for that as anything else. Kane had been a lone wolf for so long, he was getting tired of being alone. Lucy saw it, recognized it. Before Sean, she didn’t think she’d ever be truly intimate with anyone—for different reasons than Kane’s, but the result was the same: closing everyone out and protecting yourself.
It wasn’t a fun life.
“Forget Kane. I’m just thrilled I get to finally meet Eden. I know next to nothing about her.”
“You know that Kane and Eden and Liam had a big falling-out years ago.”
“He’s Kane,” Siobhan said as if that were explanation enough. “Lucy, Kane has a solid moral code, but it’s not like everyone else’s. He doesn’t forgive mistakes.”
Lucy didn’t see that, but she understood why Siobhan did. “Kane takes the world on his shoulders,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s a heavy burden.”
“Exactly!” Siobhan grabbed her overnight bag and got out of the car. “You know, he adores you.”
Lucy laughed. “I don’t think Kane adores anyone.”
“Okay, how about he’s really happy—as happy as a man like Kane can be—that you’re marrying Sean?”
“I’m glad.” Sean and Kane had grown closer over the last year, and Lucy was pleased that the
ir relationship was on solid ground. She had a feeling that Kane needed his family more than he would admit. The Rogans would never be the Kincaids, but they were finally coming together.
Maybe Eden extending the olive branch was exactly what the family needed to forgive whatever happened years ago. There had been a time in Lucy’s family when Jack wasn’t welcome in the Kincaid house. She never learned exactly why—Jack wouldn’t discuss the details—but it revolved around a decision Jack made while in the military that their father had opposed. Two strong, stubborn men who wouldn’t back down from their beliefs. Lucy loved them both and was relieved when they came to a truce.
She opened the door that led from the garage into a small room off the kitchen. She didn’t hear the familiar beep of the alarm, and when she turned to check the security panel she noted that the alarm was turned off.
She wasn’t surprised. She’d briefly spoken to Eden while driving back from Austin and she’d seemed frazzled.
Lucy reengaged the alarm out of habit. She didn’t believe for a minute that Angelo Zapelli would come after her or Siobhan. But until Kane confirmed that the Flores cartel was decimated, she didn’t want to take any chances.
“I really need to use the bathroom,” Siobhan said. “I didn’t want to ask Ryan to stop.”
Lucy pointed to the short hall that led to the laundry room and a half bath. “Down there. I’ll find Eden and then we’ll have lunch. I’m starving.”
Siobhan rushed down the hall.
Lucy put her purse on the kitchen counter and started down the wide, tiled hall that bisected the house. She was about to call out to Eden when she heard voices coming from Sean’s office.
Sean’s car wasn’t in the garage; someone else was here with Eden. That irritated Lucy—it wasn’t being a good guest to invite people over without asking your host. The stray thought sounded so much like her mother in Lucy’s head that she almost laughed.
The door was ajar and Lucy could see Eden sitting at Sean’s desk talking on her cell phone.
“Inconvenience is part of life, Dante,” Eden was saying. “Everything is in motion. We’ll have the bonds shortly, and then we’ll be there … Hardly. He’s not here, which is a good thing … Yes, I know, but we have a backup plan, Liam is on it, we’ll be in Tampico before you can say—”
Eden swiveled and saw Lucy. “I’ll call you back.” Eden closed her flip-phone.
“What’s going on, Eden?” Lucy asked, her anger growing. Eden wasn’t here to mend fences.
Eden shrugged.
“Just business.”
Dante. Lucy knew of only one Dante—Dante Romero, who had helped Sean rescue Kane last month. And bonds … Sean told her he’d put bearer bonds that belonged to RCK in his safe. She hadn’t thought twice about it.
Eden wasn’t here for the wedding. She was here to rob her family. Lucy was furious that Eden had so blatantly used her. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be here right now. When Sean returns, I’ll have him contact you.”
“Lucy, you don’t understand.”
“I understand that I should never have left you here alone.”
Lucy didn’t think Eden could hack Sean’s computer, but perhaps she had some of Sean’s skills.
She talked about the bonds …
Lucy glanced at the wall where a beach mural hid the safe. Easy enough to find.
“Sean doesn’t like anyone using his office,” Lucy said firmly. She motioned for Eden to leave.
Eden stood, frowning, obviously upset and angry. What did she have a right to be angry about? She brushed past Lucy. “I don’t know what Noah has told you, but you can’t believe anything that man says.”
Noah?
“Noah Armstrong?”
Eden turned around, standing in the doorway of the office. Lucy could see her thinking, plotting, scheming. “Well. That changes things. I assumed he would have told you he came by to chat this morning.”
Lucy hadn’t spoken to Noah since he left this morning, before she and Ryan went to Austin.
She was missing something, but right now she didn’t want to turn her back on Eden. She didn’t trust this woman, Sean’s sister notwithstanding. She pulled out her phone and brought up her contacts. Hit “Noah.”
Eden moved out of the doorway. Lucy followed.
“Hey, Lucy!” Siobhan called from the kitchen.
Movement to Lucy’s left distracted her and she turned her head slightly. A man stood there and for a split second she thought it was Sean, then a cool mist hit her in the face. She put her hand up to wipe it away and the man sprayed her again. She dropped her phone and reached for her gun, but her hand felt numb and her vision blurred.
“Run, Siobhan!” she shouted as loud as she could. Her head was spinning.
He sprayed a third time and she fell to her knees, her hands up in defense, but her muscles felt thick and her eyes hurt. Different than pepper spray. She was completely disoriented.
She tried to warn Siobhan again, but all that came out was a gasp. She heard Siobhan’s voice; it sounded far, far away …
“Catch her,” she heard Eden say, and then all was black.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Run, Siobhan!”
Siobhan was coming out of the kitchen when she heard Lucy shout. She looked down to the far end of the hall and saw a man and woman on either side of Lucy as Lucy fell to her knees.
The man hovered over her and Siobhan ran toward him.
“Leave her alone!” Not for the first time in her life, Siobhan wished she carried a gun.
The man caught Lucy before she fell to the ground, then turned and rushed toward Siobhan.
He looked familiar. Very familiar, though Siobhan had never met him.
“Liam?” she said. She started backing up.
“Did Lucy call you Siobhan? You’re Siobhan Walsh?” He smiled warmly. “Wow, I love your work. You have an amazing eye.”
She walked backward all the way into the kitchen, looked around for Lucy’s gun—it wasn’t with her purse.
“I’m sorry for this drama, but we’re on a deadline, and I knew Lucy wouldn’t cooperate.”
He was closer, had something in his hand. Gun? No, it was a small spray bottle. He sprayed it toward her, but she ran.
“Siobhan—please, this doesn’t have to be difficult.”
He caught up with her quickly, grabbed her arm, and turned her around. She spun, hitting him square in the jaw.
“Damn!” He was irritated but didn’t sound angry.
Her phone was ringing. Where had she left it? The bathroom. She tried to run, but Liam grabbed her again, pushed her into the center island, and handcuffed her. He was so smooth and fast she didn’t realize she was cuffed until she heard the click.
“Honey, I don’t want to hurt you, so please calm down. Wrong place, wrong time.”
Liam was shorter and leaner than both Sean and Kane, but he had hidden muscles. Siobhan was strong, but she couldn’t break away from him.
Eden walked into the kitchen. “I cannot believe this.”
“Sean is going to have your head if you hurt Lucy,” Siobhan said. Why hadn’t she made a run for the security panel?
Because you have no idea how it works.
But if she broke it, it would call the cops, right?
“We’re not going to hurt Lucy,” Liam said. He turned to Eden. “Lucy heard too much.”
“I know, dammit!”
“But it’s okay.” Why did he sound so calm? This whole situation was a mess.
“None of this is okay. We were supposed to be in and out.”
“Trust me. Just don’t say anything else, Sis.”
Eden was frazzled, but Liam was very calm. He ushered Siobhan back to Sean’s office—right past Lucy’s unconscious body in the hall—and sat her on the couch. Eden followed. “Stay, Siobhan,” Liam said.
“Is she okay?” Siobhan asked.
“She’ll be fine,” Liam said.
Siobhan d
idn’t like the look on his face. This wasn’t a Rogan she knew.
She began, “If—”
“Don’t talk. Okay, Siobhan? I don’t have the time.” Liam turned to Eden. “This is actually even better.”
“I don’t believe you. This is fucked.”
“Calm down. You are never this jumpy on a job.”
“Because this is Sean. Our baby brother.”
“We’re almost free.” Liam walked back over to where Lucy lay and carefully dragged her body into Sean’s office. Eden removed a large mural—a beach scene—from the wall and revealed a safe. Liam picked Lucy up, staggering under the deadweight, and Eden put Lucy’s hand on the biometric pad.
At first nothing happened. Then the small red light turned green and Liam smiled.
He gently put Lucy down, making sure that she didn’t hit her head, and opened the door.
“They’re here,” he said with both awe and relief.
“Let’s go.”
“First things first, Sis.” He sat down at Sean’s desk and started writing on a piece of stationery. “Might slow things down a bit. Might not. But we need time.”
* * *
Noah couldn’t drop everything because Eden Rogan wanted some damn bonds that Sean had in his safe. Where was the legitimate government business? He and Abigail Durant had been in and out of interviews all morning and afternoon. Ryan and Lucy were in Austin serving a warrant. Noah didn’t work for RCK and he refused to take orders from Kane Rogan.
Kane made him as angry as Sean used to. But still, Noah knew Eden, and she was up to something. As soon as he could break free, he would.
“Agent Armstrong, I don’t think you heard anything that last candidate said.” Abigail stacked the papers in front of her. “Fortunately, he was our last candidate for the day and I didn’t particularly like him, so we don’t need to discuss it. We do need to discuss why you’re preoccupied.”
This was why he didn’t like the influence RCK had over Rick Stockton—if that’s what he could call it. Noah liked and respected his boss, but where did Rick’s loyalties truly lie? When the FBI and RCK were on opposite sides—as Noah was certain they had been in the past and would be in the future—what did Rick do?
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