Breaching the Billionaire, AR, Kobo

by Ruth Cardello

  “That’s all you have?”

  “So far. I’ll keep looking.”

  “I hope that’s it. Where is it?”

  “Second floor. The loft is the first door on the right.”

  Alethea was already sprinting up the stairs. She called to Stephan through the door.

  His answer was swift and authoritative. “Alethea, get out. The door is reinforced with a steel panel and Sliver is about to remote-blow this place. Go now.”

  Into the phone she said, “Jeremy, there is nothing on this side of the door. I don’t see how he wired it.”

  “Is there something on the other side?” Jeremy asked.

  Alethea finally answered the man she’d come to save. “Stephan, I’m not leaving without you, so forget it. How did you get locked in?”

  “We came in. We didn’t find anything and were leaving when the door slammed and locked. Sliver was keeping in contact via an intercom, but he fell silent a few minutes ago.”

  That means we have a chance. “Good. Look around the door. There has to be something that is concealing a control device.”

  “Not good,” Stephan said roughly. “The last thing Sliver said was goodbye. He said he’d enjoy watching the fireworks.”

  Although her heart was thudding painfully in her chest and adrenaline was rushing through her veins, Alethea kept her calm. All that stood between her and her goal was one measly security system. “Stephan, focus. He may or may not be neutralized by now, but you can seriously increase the likelihood of us surviving by helping me here. Do you see a box near the door? An intercom? A security pad?”

  Sounding calmer, Stephan said, “There is an intercom, but it’s not what he was speaking through.”

  “Good. Open it.”

  There was a rustle and then Stephan said, “I had to get something to pry it with, but I opened it. There is a keypad behind it.”

  Yes. Yes. Yes. “Jeremy, we found a keypad near the door. It has to open it.”

  “Or it’s rigged to the bomb,” Jeremy said dryly.

  She considered his warning, then dismissed it. “No, Sliver wouldn’t need it. He has everything at the other place. He’s not a self-destruct kind of guy. Rip out that panel, Stephan.”

  Stephan hesitated. “Are you sure? Jeremy could be right.”

  For once, just believe me. “I’m sure enough to be standing on the other side of the door while you do it. If I’m wrong, we both pay for the mistake. Rip it.”

  There was the sound of metal being bent. “Done. What do you want me to do?”

  Let it be easy. Come on. “Turn the panel over. Is there a serial number? A brand? ”

  “Yes,” Stephan said in surprise.

  Perfect. “I need you to read off all the information. Jeremy, you may have to hack, or you may find the information on a help page. How do I reset this thing?”

  Jeremy laughed a bit sarcastically. “He used a market model?”

  “His laziness is our salvation.”

  Jeremy searched, then came back on the line. “There is a tiny button. Reset it with a clip or a pen. Then type in this reset code and it should work.”

  There was a momentary silence from Stephan, and then he responded, “Looks like my pen will fit. Will this work if there is no electricity? The panel is dark.”

  Oh, ye of little experience breaking into places. “Most security systems have a small battery installed as a backup. It gives you time in case of an outage. Often not enough juice to light the panel, but enough to surge and open the door.”

  Jeremy cleared his throat. “Hey, Alethea. Before you do that. I have something I need to say.”

  Alethea took a deep breath. Please don’t ask me to waste my last few moments on earth apologizing again for being bitchy to your girlfriend. I’ve said I’m sorry already. “Yes?”

  “If you survive this, you will always be welcomed in the home Jeisa and I make together. I see now that I was just as much at fault for what happened as you were.”

  He doesn’t think this is going to work. He may be right. “I should have been a better friend to you, Jeremy. I should have been nicer to Jeisa. From now on, I’m going to be a better person. Marc is my chance to get it right.”

  Stephan cut in harshly. “Can we talk about all this after you tell me how to reset this thing? All this good-bye shit is freaking me out.”

  Jeremy guided Stephan through using the reset button and typing in the reset code, then told him to activate the door.

  Alethea held her breath.

  The door swung open.

  Stephan was through it in a flash. He grabbed Alethea’s arm and they ran together down the stairs all the way to the street. Once safe, he swung her in a grateful hug that drove all air out of her lungs. Over his shoulder, she saw Jake Walton’s helicopter land on the building Marc had entered. Dominic.

  Although Marc had her phone, she didn’t contact him. She didn’t know what his situation was and she could give his location away. She grabbed Stephan and pulled him out of sight in case Sliver saw them.

  She dialed Dominic’s cell number and prayed he had it on him. When he answered, she wasted no time with pleasantries. “I have Stephan. He’s out. Marc’s inside with a likely desperate Sliver.”

  “Get Stephan back to Nicole,” Dominic ordered after a short pause.

  “I’m not leaving Marc,” she said in a rush.

  In a steely tone, Dominic said, “You did your part. Let me do mine. Now, tell me what you know about what’s going on inside.”

  She knew exactly how to make him understand her stance. “Could you leave if it were Abby up there?”

  Dominic countered with a good argument. “What you’re not seeing is that if Marc knows you’re there, he’ll feel he has to protect you, and that could get him killed.”

  No, we’re different. We’re equals in this. “I’ll send Stephan back, but I’m not leaving. I’m in communication with Jeremy and there may be a way I can help.” She motioned for one of Marc’s security men to hand over his earpiece.

  He shook his head. She waved the phone at him and pointed to the helicopter on the roof. “Trust me, your boss wants me to have it.”

  Dominic’s voice boomed out of the phone. “Give it to her before she takes it from you. We need everyone we have right now.”

  Alethea slid the earpiece in and said, “I’ll be your eyes down here.”

  The guard looked at her as if to ask, “And what was I?”

  She shrugged.

  The building was evacuated. Marc’s men had used the power outage to their advantage, claiming it was tied into a larger grid problem that could reverse-surge and potentially explode. They’d warned everyone to leave the area.

  He heard the helicopter land on the roof. He and several of his men were on the floor where they suspected Sliver was. He wanted to rush forward through the door that separated him from his target, but first he needed to know who the helicopter was backup for. He fell back around the corner and pressed a button on his earpiece. “Dominic?”

  “Yes.”

  Thank God.

  Dominic said, “Stephan is out. Alethea is your eyes on the ground. She has an earpiece now. Closed channel nine three seven. Don’t let her distract you.”

  Relief flooded through Marc. She did it. He hadn’t doubted that she could, but now he could breathe again. Marc thought about the strong woman he loved and said, “This guy is not getting away, Dom. We have him pinned.”

  Dominic was quiet a moment, then said, “Bring him to me alive.”

  “Yes, sir,” Marc said, and switched over to the channel Alethea was on. “Alethea?”

  “Yes,” she answered with an emotional burst. “I’m right here, Marc.”

  “Good work next door.”

  “I didn’t do it alone.”

  “I told you being part of a team was better.”

  “I still don’t take orders well. Dominic tried to send me back with Stephan.”

  Marc chuckled. “I c
an imagine how that went.”

  “He did make a valid point. I don’t want to divide your attention. I’m down on the street. Safe. Just close enough if you need me.”

  “Oh, I will need you . . . all night. As often and as creatively as my stamina allows. This may require revisiting our bunker,” he said suggestively.

  He heard the smile in her voice. “Seriously? That’s what you’re thinking about right now?”

  “Imagining you beneath me, above me, crying out my name as I come inside you. It’s my happy place. Are you saying you didn’t think about me before you rushed into that building to get Stephan?”

  “I did,” she admitted. “I also did a little bargaining with God. You might want to try it.”

  “What did you offer to give up?”

  “Erotica.”

  With a judgmental hiss, Marc said, “That’s a shame, but I’ll do my best to replace your smutty literature.”

  He imagined her stance, hand on hip, rolling her eyes. “Hurry up and get this guy. Then we’ll see if you can live up to all that talk.”

  “Oh, I can.”

  In a more serious tone, Alethea asked, “If you have to switch back to the other channel, I’ll understand. I can radio them if I see anything.”

  “No,” Marc said. “Stay with me through this, Alethea. You’re not my distraction. You’re my strength.”

  “I will kill you if you die today,” Alethea said seriously.

  Marc laughed and signaled his men to surround the door. “I’m not going anywhere. I finally have something to live for.”

  From below, Alethea could hear what was going on, even if she couldn’t see it. She heard the crash of the door as they broke it in. She heard the light footsteps of the men as they likely dispersed through the apartment. She held her breath.

  Marc’s voice rang out, “Sliver. The game is over. You might as well come out. There is no escape route we haven’t covered. Unless you decide to jump to your death out a window, and even then, I have someone to catch you, because we’d want you alive.”

  Marc was brilliant.

  A promise like that always lured a cockroach out.

  A second later a nervous male voice said, “I have your friend trapped next door. All I have to do is touch this button and he and half that building are gone. Tell your men to put down their weapons.”

  Marc laughed harshly. “The only reason you didn’t just get a bullet through your head is because Stephan is long gone. So go nuts. Click away.”

  “How—” He stopped, then said, “Luckily I have this building rigged as well. Was that Dominic’s helicopter that landed above? He’s here, isn’t he? Probably just outside the door. Too afraid to confront me himself. That’s fine. All I have to do is press this button. If you shoot me, I’ll still have the chance to take you all with me. You lose.”

  Alethea spoke spontaneously. “He’s bluffing.” Then her stomach flipped painfully. It was one thing to risk her own life on a hunch, but this was Marc. What if I’m wrong? She’d never played it safe in the past. Never. But she suddenly understood why people surrendered. The life of someone you loved resting on your decision was a terrifying responsibility. She wanted to tell him to give Sliver whatever he wanted. Let him by. Let him have the helicopter. Do anything it takes to get out of there alive.

  But that wasn’t an alternative she could live with either.

  None of them would ever be safe. He’d come back stronger, nastier, and better prepared now that he saw how they worked together.

  No, it ends today.

  Alethea said, “He’s a coward, not the type to kill himself. And he never thought we’d get this far. He didn’t plan for this.”

  Marc said, “Understood.”

  And that was it.

  He trusts me.

  Oh, God, don’t let me be wrong.

  I can’t lose Marc.

  I love him.

  If you spare him, I’ll . . .

  I’ll . . .

  She looked down at her feet and imagined her extensive collection of stilettos. “I’ll wear flats from now on,” she whispered aloud. There. It may not be much, but if there is a God, He’ll understand what it means to me.

  Marc asked, “What did you say?”

  Sliver repeated his threat. “I said, have them drop their weapons or I’ll blow us all up.”

  “Not you,” Marc said impatiently. “Alethea?”

  Alethea said, “I love you, Marc. I thought I didn’t need anyone, but I need you. I want to go to sleep next to you. I want to wake up to your overly happy morning personality. Come back to me. Marry me. Today. Tomorrow. Just don’t leave me.”

  Clearing his throat, Marc said, “I’m sorry, but no.”

  “No?”

  “No, you don’t get to propose to me. I have the whole thing planned out in my head.”

  Marc waved a finger in a circle and then pointed to Sliver. Men from both sides moved in. Sliver dropped the remote and tried to run, but there was nowhere to go. They pulled his arms behind him and raised him up onto his tiptoes. With a grimace, Marc watched a wet area spread down the man’s cargo pants.

  Sliver said, “This isn’t over. It’ll never be over. Even prisons have Internet—and something beautiful called parole.”

  Marc leaned in and snarled, “Oh, how cute. You think we called the police? I almost feel bad for you. You’ll soon wish you had rigged this place. You don’t fuck with a man’s family. You don’t threaten his children.”

  Sliver went to say something else but Marc instructed someone to stuff something in his mouth. Whatever he had to say, there wasn’t a man there who wanted to hear it.

  He was half hauled, half carried to the roof of the building. Jake took one look at his soiled pants and said, “Do we have to use my helicopter?”

  Dominic glared at his friend. “I’ll buy you a new one.”

  Jake shook his head sadly. “This one has good memories, but whatever. I guess we have to do what we have to do.”

  Sliver was pushed into the helicopter.

  As they watched him being taken away, Jake said, “I feel like we should say something to him.”

  “What the hell would we say?” Dominic growled.

  Jake shrugged. “I don’t know. In the movies there is always a parting remark. Maybe you should punch him or something.”

  Dominic raised an eyebrow and shook his head. “I wouldn’t be able to stop, and I told Abby I don’t kill people.”

  Nodding in understanding, Jake asked, “So, what are you going to do with him? We can’t take this to the police.”

  “I called Rachid. I told him we were overnighting a package to him. He said Najriad has a wonderful penal system. There is a plane gassed and ready to take Sliver there now. He’s going to the same place Rachid sent his brother’s shooter.”

  Jake frowned pensively. “I can’t imagine that man is still alive.”

  Dominic shrugged. “Plausible deniability. What happens in Najriad stays in Najriad.” He nodded at the pilot and they backed away from the wind of the rotors.

  Once the roof was quiet again, Jake said, “I don’t think you have to worry about Abby with this one. She’ll be glad it’s over.”

  Dominic closed his eyes for a moment. When they opened, they were shiny with emotion. He turned to Marc and held out his hand. “Thank you, Marc. I owe you for this. You tell me what you need and I’ll make it happen.”

  Out of the corner of his eye Marc saw a blur of red hair rush him. He braced himself, but still had to take a stabilizing step back when Alethea launched herself at him, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him wildly. For a few moments Marc forgot where he was and simply savored the shared passion. Finally he broke from the kiss, not putting Alethea down, and said to Dominic, “I’m taking a short vacation. You won’t hear from me for a couple of days. I’ll write up a report when I come back. Mind if I borrow one of your toys?”

  Dominic and Jake exchanged a look and Jake shrugged. �
��At least he asks.”

  “Fine,” Dominic said gruffly. “Call Marie, but I don’t want to know the details.”

  A siren in the distance warned that someone might have seen the commotion and called the police. Dominic and Jake left the roof with the rest of their security.

  Marc and Alethea stayed for one more long kiss, leaving at the last moment before the police arrived. Hand in hand they bolted down the stairs, out of the building, and to a town car and driver he had waiting near the rear exit.

  Once inside the vehicle, Marc took out his phone and Alethea stopped him by laying a hand over his phone. “Don’t call Marie.”

  “She’s the gatekeeper to his three-hundred-ninety-foot yacht. Have you ever seen it? We could take it out to his private island or wherever you want to go.”

  “It doesn’t feel right.”

  His stomach clenched painfully. In the thick of the danger, had she spoken hastily of feelings she didn’t really have for him? He’d seen that in the thick of war. People clung to each other while fighting for survival, but that bond was situational and often didn’t hold up in the calm that followed. All he knew for sure was the depth of his love for her. If she needed more time, he could give her that. It wouldn’t be easy, but her happiness was what mattered to him. “Which are you uncomfortable with? The yacht, or running off with me?”

  “Involving Marie,” Alethea said, and looked away. “The ladies and I didn’t exactly part on good terms. It’s time for me to admit that Lil and I are living very different lives now. I don’t fit into hers any more than she wants to be a part of mine. I didn’t want to see it, but maybe it’s time to let that friendship go.”

  Marc hugged her to his side. He felt her pain and sought the words that would show her how wrong she was. “After today, I’m sure those women would forgive you anything. You saved Stephan and very likely the lives of whoever was next on his list. They’ll love you.”

  Alethea shook her head. “No, they’ll be grateful. They may even be nice to me for a short time because of this, but then we’ll go right back to where we were before. Because at the end of the day, they can’t accept me as I am. I can continue to fight with them, or I can accept the reality of the situation and focus on those who do.” She laid a hand on his cheek and brought his mouth down to hers. “You.”