by Linzi Basset
Frank didn’t miss the threat shrouded in her words. If he walked out now, he’d end up shark bait. Rebecca Lomas might have been revered as a true and fair Speaker of the House but on the other side of the coin lurked a devious and cruel mind. She wouldn’t hesitate to end his life to reach the end goal of SPEONUS—the power to rule all governments globally.
“Make up your mind, Frank. You’re wasting valuable time,” George Muller sneered. Along with David, he was the financial backing of SPEONUS as the current President of the World Bank Group but his involvement had always been as a silent leader. His second five-year term as president began a couple of months ago. It was through his guidance that Rebecca had a multi-million-dollar personal investment portfolio.
He previously served as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs for the United States and was highly trusted by the President and the House of Representatives. Muller represented the United States in international settings, including the G-7 and G-20 Deputy Finance Ministerial, World Bank–IMF Spring and Annual Meetings, and meetings of the Financial Stability Board, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. In one word, he was as dynamic as he was a powerful force in the world of finance. With him at the helm of the World Bank, SPEONUS had successfully grown their liquidity through money laundering with property shell company development and buying and selling of gold coins.
“I’m not one of your subordinates, Muller, so don’t attempt to browbeat me. I’m as much a leader of this order as all of you.” Frank seared the three men and Rebecca with a scorching look.
“Get off your high horse, Frank. No one is browbeating you but Rebecca is right. We don’t have the time for internal power struggles right now. Either we stand together or we eliminate those who create a bottleneck in achieving success within a limited timeframe.”
Frank’s lips flattened as he sat back down with a conceding look at Keith Hastings. He was the Governor General of Canada and offered the advantage they needed to merge Canada with the U.S. once they had the control. He had been the biggest shock of the four of them as ‘ghost’ leaders of SPEONUS. Of course, it hadn’t come as a surprise to find out that Rebecca had been reeling him in for years until he caved and took his position on the silent board of the Order.
At first, he’d been against leading from the shadows but had come to realize it was a well-planned strategy to have a group of leaders to continue their quest should the front leaders be compromised. Exactly what had happened with the raid that had been done on the sly and involved the Secret Service and a covert branch of the FBI, he was hardly involved with. He might not like that a woman was in charge but he had to give it to her; she was a fucking brilliant strategist.
“Very well. How do we pick up the pieces?” Frank said grudgingly.
“I wouldn’t refer to it as picking up the pieces. Our contingency plan prepared us for any interference, even losing half of our operatives and leaders. No, Frank, we do not need to start fresh; we continue where we left off.” Rebecca looked at Evans. “I want the bastard who betrayed us.”
“So do I,” Evans growled, still annoyed that an assassin had the savvy to undermine the expertise of the entire SPEONUS operation.
“I thought all our operatives and administrative personnel were personally recruited and those we selected were properly vetted?” Rebecca didn’t bother to hide the anger in her voice.
“They are and I personally made sure they dug deep into Hewitt’s background at the time,” Evans explained patiently.
“Then how the fuck is it possible that Hewitt’s cover wasn’t picked up?” Rebecca seared him with a sharp look.
“I suspect Ivanon might have something to do with that. Just in case he formed an alliance with one of our operatives, I already instructed the Cyber techs to do dark web background checks on everyone again. If anyone has anything to hide, they’ll find it.” Evans frowned in thought. “What about David Yale? He knows too much and you are in danger of being exposed if he talks.”
“All of us, not just her,” Frank snapped irritably.
“I agree with Frank,” Muller grunted. “Yale and Sheila Maddern have both disappeared after they were captured.”
“David won’t talk, you can be assured of that, but we need to find out where they’re being held,” Rebecca said. She glanced at Frank questioningly. “Frank?”
“I already tried, but the covert FBI team was only involved insofar as the actual raid was concerned. The Be Secure Enterprise bastards and the Secret Service took them into custody. Everyone is closed-mouthed and I can’t afford to push too hard without triggering suspicion. At this point, no one is trusted, no matter their position.”
“And since the Sinclairs know I was the one who kidnapped Taylor Banks during their cruise a couple of months ago, I can’t go back to the island either.”
Rebecca’s gaze sharpened on Evans. “Do you think they’re being held captive there?”
“No, it’s the one thing Stone Sinclair would never do … endanger the lives of his loved ones or the people who work for him.” Evans folded his arms. “Which doesn’t mean we can’t use that to our advantage.”
“Meaning?” Rebecca leaned forward eagerly.
“Chances are that Parker and Zeke increased the security around the island, so even if I could find the fucking place, I won’t be able to get there undetected—”
“I’m not so sure we can trust this man anymore, Rebecca. He’s been living on that island for years as a trusted employee. I find it hard to believe he has no idea the location of the place.” Frank glowered at Evans.
“We never used to be blindfolded but Danton Hill was very careful even during the time we weren’t. He took different routes to the island every time and approached it from various directions to confuse us. I tried to keep my wits about me to be able to find the directions but in the middle of the ocean, there are no fucking markers to follow. Since someone managed to trace the coordinates of the island and sent missiles into it a year ago, they trust no one.” Evans frowned. “Strange that they never told us who it was at the time. How is it that you didn’t know about it, Frank? Especially since you are present in all the meetings involving BSE’s discussions about the work they do for the FBI.”
“You said it yourself, Evans. They trust no one. Of course they needed to keep it a secret from us. If we knew, there is no fucking way we would’ve continued with their services since the safety of our data could’ve been compromised.”
“Stop bickering,” Rebecca snapped. “We don’t have time for fucking power struggles.”
“My apologies,” Evans said but Frank Moore chose not to respond.
“What were you about to propose, Evans?” George said.
“Stake out the harbors the Sinclairs use.”
“And how would that benefit us?” Frank sounded surly. He hated that Rebecca depended on the expertise of a man who reported to him in his position as the commander of a secret black ops group. He had formed the group ten years ago with the sole purpose of using their skills for personal advancement and to keep the Order under the radar. With his history as an experienced Dom in the BDSM community, Evans had been the perfect weapon to infiltrate the Sinclair clan when their interference became a problem four years ago. Unfortunately, his confidence and skills had caught Rebecca’s eye and she’d recruited him to SPEONUS as her personal advisor and protector. The double role he played had served them well, but they still didn’t know where the island was. In that, as Evans had just explained, the Sinclairs trusted no one.
“They have a chopper at the island for their personal use, but they use different locations to collect members by boat and their women love shopping.” Evans shrugged. “I’m sure we can find a way to use that to our advantage.”
“It’ll take too long. Time we don’t have. We need to set our next strategy in play.” Rebecca snapped her fingers. “We need to find Billy Hewitt. He not
only lied about killing Taylor Banks … he’s the betrayer.”
“And in cahoots with the Sinclairs,” Evans caught on quickly.
“Exactly. We find Hewitt and you make him talk. I want those bastards to pay for interfering with our plan, Evans.”
“I’ll start searching. For obvious reasons, he disappeared after the raid,” Evans said as he handed Rebecca a drink.
She took a long sip before she responded. “No one said anything to him about our knowledge that he lied about killing Taylor Banks, right?”
“No, but she was found in the SPEONUS operation bunker the day of the raid. He’s not stupid. He knows we’re onto him, and if he’s as smart as we believe, he would realize we know he’s the one who ratted out our location.”
“Of course, you’re right.” Rebecca stood up to start pacing. “He’s an assassin and the only reason he joined our ranks was to screw us over.” She smirked. “I want to know why.” She glanced around the room. “I watched the CCTV footage of the raid. Hewitt did his best to get Sheila Maddern out but in the end, it appeared it was about saving himself. I guess he saw us use the escape pod and he left the same way. Why is that, do you think? If he truly works with the Sinclairs and the Secret Service, why hide and run from them?”
She finished the drink and held it out for a refill.
“There’s more to this than him being a double agent and screwing us over. I want to know what it is. Check if the coded Sat phone we gave him still works and set up a meeting with him.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Evans hedged with a concerned frown.
“Billy Hewitt is first and foremost an assassin, Evans. Something in his recent past changed that. Find out what it is and get me leverage before you set up that meeting. He owes us … he owes me, and believe me, he’s going to fucking pay.”
Chapter Nine
Parker’s Lighthouse Restaurant, Long Beach, California …
“I’m sick and fucking tired of your constant complaining, Rita.” Drake Lambert's eyes flashed with anger; his body taut with the effort to contain it.
Rita Bowen shrank in the chair as she took note of the change in him. It wasn’t noticeable to others, but she’d been subjected to his bouts of rage often enough to recognize the signs. Soon the inability to think clearly would follow. The rational Drake would be offline, replaced by the primitive one who reverted to his usual violent habits. His opinions would disappear, along with his ability for nuance and emotional generosity. She looked at his hands which had curled into fists but since they were in a public place, he’d keep them firmly by his sides. It was his words that would now do more damage than pummeling her ever could.
It was times like these she regretted the mistake she’d made with Shane Sinclair. Yes, she’d been furious that he’d kept his true nature from her and although she’d had masochistic tendencies before they got married, he’d scared the shit out of her with his sadistic ways in the beginning. That had been child’s play to the deviant games she’d been subjected to with Drake—the ones that had completely changed her into a female sadist like him. It had been the one thing her husband couldn’t forgive her for—cuckolding him with one of the Doms from Club Seduction in Hollywood, especially once he found out how long she’d been having an affair.
She should’ve known he would react the opposite to what she’d wanted from him. He was a man of high morals and integrity and always demanded the same from those he chose to bring into his life. The attempt to play on his guilt for not warning her he was a sadist Dom before they got married had backfired, especially since she’d chosen an even worse one to play off against him. He’d seen it as a betrayal of the commitment she’d made to him as her husband and her Dom, which of course it had been, but she’d been so confident in her ability to manipulate him, she’d thrown caution to the wind. In the end, the love she believed he had for her didn’t survive.
In retrospect, she should’ve known better. Shane might have lied to her but his love for her had been real. She’d only realized it when she’d seen the hurt in the depths of his eyes when he’d caught her in a sadistic fuck scene with Drake—something she had always denied him. It had been the one thing he couldn’t forgive … breaking the bond of exclusivity she’d signed with him. She’d destroyed his trust and since she’d done it deliberately, she was the only one to blame. He had walked out of the room without saying a word. By the time she got home the next morning, he was gone … along with all his belongings.
No matter how hard she’d tried to make contact with him, he’d refused to talk with her. The one time he’d answered his phone, he’d made it clear he wanted nothing to do with her.
“Talk to my lawyers, Rita. You and I are over … by your choice.”
Those were the last words he’d spoken to her. Their prenup meant she’d walk away with nothing, not a penny. That he’d given her millions in the wake of her betrayal had left a bad taste in her mouth and made her feel even worse.
It seemed unfair that no matter how much she strived to be the woman her conscience demanded her to be, it would keep taunting her with failures. Each time the regrets of past mistakes reemerged she would diligently analyze them again, hoping that this time her mind would be satisfied with the self-professed remorse, but it never was. Like an unforgiving specter, it would be back every time to haunt her all over again.
Regret always came too late.
She had been the driver of her own destiny, the one who destroyed a future that, at the time, had been bright and filled with love and respect. If only she’d been satisfied with that and not wanted more ... but no. She had to listen to him, this man who solely destroyed her entire life … who had wasted all the millions Shane had left her until there was nothing left.
Now, she was right back where she’d been when Shane had found and saved her … on the edge of despair. Broken, damaged … and poor.
“Aghh!” she gasped as Drake caught her hand and squeezed hard. She blinked as she looked at him with pain-filled eyes. There was a time where she was the driver of his sadism. Where she had guided his actions and what he did. All of that had changed because she’d made the wrong judgment call. She’d believed she knew him and that he wanted only her in his life. How wrong she’d been! “Let go! You’re hurting me.”
His lips curled into an evil grin. “I know, little darling, but then, you should know better than to let your mind wander in my presence.” His grip tightened. “Right?”
“My mind didn’t … owww!” she whimpered pitifully as it felt like he was about to snap every bone in her hand. “Right! You’re right. I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“It better not.” He flung her hand aside to gulp down his drink, gesturing at the server for a refill. “The money's almost gone, Rita.” His brows drew together. “It’s time to fill up our coffers again.” He stretched out his legs leisurely. “To be clear … for you to bring in the dough.”
“What do you mean it’s all gone? Last month there was still …” Her voice drifted off as his eyes turned dark. He owned a sought-after architecture firm but he had one flaw—gambling. That’s where all her money had gone. Always at the table, playing that one last hand. The lucky one that was going to change their lives. He was wealthy by his own right, but they lived off her money. He never used a cent of his vast fortune, part of which he inherited from his grandfather.
Fucking bastard!
With the money Shane had given her, they had a life of riches and still would be living in luxury if he hadn’t wasted every penny at the casinos. He was the reason they were destitute again and now he expected her to—
Her mind froze at the implication. The suspicion was confirmed at the pleased smile on his lips, the way his nose twitched in anticipation of her exploding with indignation. It took a mammoth effort to suppress the desire to scream and claw at him. She refused to give him the satisfaction. Not here … in public.
“I’ll approach my agent to see if the
re is a role so I can make a comeback.”
Drake’s bellowing laugh echoed inside her mind. She cringed as he pinned her in place with a belligerent glare.
“Don’t be obtuse, little darling. You know exactly what I’m talking about. We need money now, not six or twelve months down the line. Besides, you’re old as fuck. The only role you’ll get is as a bystander at minimum wage.”
The insult rolled over her. It didn’t hurt anymore … at least not as much. She knew she was still beautiful, but years of booze and smoking were now starting to take their toll. It took a lot longer and thicker layers of makeup to hide the wrinkles, but at least she still had a tight and desirable body. It was the one thing she was very proud of and he couldn’t take it away from her.
“Forget it, Drake. There is no way Shane will give me another penny.”
“You won’t know until you ask.” He leaned forward. “And you will ask, Rita.”
“I haven’t spoken to him since that night he caught us at the club and that was twenty-six years ago, Drake. He shunned every effort I made to talk with him for years thereafter. What makes you think he’ll bother with me now?”
“Because you’re gonna do it face-to-face.”
Castle Sin … two days later …
Walk away! Walk away. Goddammit, Alexa, walk away! Don’t you fucking dare go down that hallway. No! Turn around, get the fuck out of there!