Tested: The Dark Necessities—Dalton's Tale #3

by Felicity Brandon

  Finally, freed, Delilah flexed her hands in front of her, her chin lifting at the sound of her lover’s name.

  “Dalton? Where is he? Is he okay?”

  “He’s still in the hospital, and I hear it’s pretty serious.” Lauper walked back toward the entrance, collecting the blanket that had been draped around Delilah when she’d first inched inside his apartment and offering it to her. “Here.”

  “Thanks.” Delilah’s brows knitted, but she grasped it. “Do you think Hyland has gone yet? We need to get to whichever hospital Dalton is in straight away.”

  Lauper shook his head. “That’s not the plan, Delilah.”

  She threw the blanket around her shoulders, wrapping it around her body like a towel. “What?” she snapped. “What does that mean? If you really work for Morrison, get me the fuck out of here!”

  “Not yet.” His voice was calm, despite the rising tension in the room. “Saul wants you to stay put for the time being.”

  “To stay put?” Delilah practically screamed the words at him. “What does that mean?”

  “Calm down.” Lauper raised his palms in what he hoped was an unthreatening gesture. “Saul has to see the bigger picture here. I know you understand that, Delilah. You’ve dealt with guys like this as long as I have.”

  Delilah pressed her lips into a hard line. “What the fuck?” Her voice was little more than a whisper. “He can’t just expect me to stay with Hyland. Does Saul know what the fuck he’s doing to me?”

  Lauper exhaled. “I’ve told him what I know. Why?” He edged closer. “He’s not doing anything I don’t know about. Is he?”

  A flicker of hurt flashed in Delilah’s gaze. “You mean, is he taking what he wants?”

  “Yes,” Lauper concurred. He had seen Hyland in action with numerous women, and Lauper knew the kind of guy he could be, but he’d believed Hyland when he’d said Delilah wasn’t his type. He’d assumed she’d be safe from his predatory intent. “Yes, that’s precisely what I mean.”

  “No, thank God,” she muttered, clutching the ends of the blanket together at her chest. “I’ve never been so happy to repel someone before, although that doesn’t mean he won’t change his mind.”

  “He won’t,” Lauper assured her. “Not now he thinks I’m fucking you. If Hyland was going to try it on, he’d have done so before he brought you here.”

  Delilah’s eyes fluttered at his assertion. “So, what’s Saul’s plan?” she wondered aloud. “Just to leave me to rot while Dalton fights for his life?” Her tone was cutting. “Because honestly, that sounds like a pretty shit plan.”

  “No, that’s not it. It’s just I can’t be the one to break you out. I can’t break my cover. I’m too important to The Syndicate to let that happen.”

  Delilah sighed, shaking her head. “And what about Dalton? What about me?”

  “Dalton is being well looked after, and there’s a plan to break you out, too. We just need to bide our time and wait a few days. That’s why I played so hard for you. We need Zander to believe I’ve truly put you through your paces and need you for the rest of the week. We need him onside. Which means he’ll never suspect a damn thing, and you’ll be safe from the clutches of morons like Lombard and Starr long enough for Saul to get you out.”

  Delilah lifted one hand to her temple. “I don’t like it,” she started. “I don’t trust Zander. He could change his mind in a heartbeat, and I’ll be fucked.”

  Lauper snickered. “What’s to like?” he asked. “It’s a shitty plan in a shitty world, but it’s about all we’ve got right now.”

  “I could make a run for it now?” she countered, glancing toward the door. “You can say I gave you the slip. Just tell me which hospital Dalton is in and I’ll—”

  “No way, Delilah.” Lauper stepped between her body and the exit. “If I lose you, Hyland will never trust me again. I’ve been undercover for years. I won’t let you ruin what I’ve built.”

  “Easy for you to say,” she spat, stomping her bare foot against the worn carpet. “You’re not the one being treated like a fucking animal. You’re not the one in a fucking cage.”

  “I know, I’m sorry.” In a way, Lauper was. “It’s not a perfect plan, but it’s Saul’s plan, and it’s the one we’re sticking with. I’ll speak to him again later, once you’re safely returned to Hyland, and ask for an update on Dalton. I can let you know tomorrow.”

  He threw the proposal out as an olive branch, hoping it would be enough to appease the fiery redhead. There was a tense stand-off for a long moment, Delilah’s scowl growing as the realization of what Saul wanted dawned on her. After a protracted silence, she eventually sighed.

  “Make sure you tell Saul how shit this plan is.” Her tone was scathing. “I want out, Lauper. I want out of Hyland’s web.”

  “I know. I’ll tell him.”

  “And Dalton.” Delilah’s voice broke as she forced out the name. “Make sure you get a message to Dalton.”

  “He’s unconscious, darling,” Lauper reiterated. “I don’t think he’ll hear—”

  “I don’t give a fuck,” she snapped. “Get a message to him. Go via Connor if you need to.”

  Lauper nodded, that could work. “Okay,” he answered, searching his place for a pen and a scrap of paper. “Write it down, and I’ll make sure Connor gets it.”

  Chapter Five

  Connor Reilly

  Present Day

  Connor was glad Molly was dozing when Saul called, requesting his presence. The last few days had been intense, and not only did Molly need the rest, but he was pleased to have the chance to speak to Saul alone. It was dark by the time he wandered past Hilary’s vacant desk and knocked on the door.

  “Come.” Saul’s weary voice greeted him, and Connor flung the door aside before sauntering into the office.

  Saul’s lips curled. “Your usual understated entrance, my old friend?”

  “Right.” Connor laughed. It had been a few days since he’d managed that. “How are you, Saul?” He took the chair on the other side of Saul’s desk, leaning in to hear the answer.

  “I’m better now that Dalton’s awake.” Saul’s response summated the way Connor was feeling, as well.

  Seeing his brother open his eyes and converse had been the greatest relief of his life. It even managed to dwarf the joy he’d experienced when Molly had returned to England, and that was saying something.

  “Me too,” he agreed with a smile. “And he’s desperate to get out of there. Molly and I had to basically bribe him to stay tonight.”

  Saul rolled his eyes. “Same old Reilly family,” he replied with a sardonic tone. “But I guess it’s a good sign. It means he’s feeling better.”

  “Yeah, he seems better,” Connor agreed, ignoring the quip about his family. After all, Saul was pretty much family himself. “He’s desperate for news about Delilah, though. Do you know anything more from Craig?”

  Saul’s body straightened. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” he started and reaching into the top drawer of his desk, revealing a pale envelope.

  “A ransom note?” Connor’s voice was sarcastic, but for one moment, he considered the possibility he might be correct.

  “More like a love letter.”

  Connor’s brow knitted. “From Hyland?”

  Saul shook his head with a laugh. “No, not from fucking Hyland.” He snorted. “From Delilah—to Dalton.”

  Connor’s gaze widened. “Ah, that makes more sense.”

  “Right. This came via Craig. Apparently, Delilah insisted he take it. He tells me she wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

  Connor grinned. That sounded just like the Delilah he’d met, and that was also a good sign. Delilah was tough, and if they could get her out from Hyland’s clutches soon, she might even survive whatever ordeal she’d been forced to endure.

  “I’ll give it to him tomorrow.” Connor reached for the envelope, running it between his fingers before he tucked it inside his jacket pock
et. “Hopefully, it will keep him going.”

  “Right.”

  “How is Delilah?” Connor asked, knowing that would be his brother’s first question in the morning. “What’s the latest?”

  “Craig is running out of time.” Saul’s expression conveyed how serious the matter had become. “There’s only so long he can convincingly feign an interest in her, and Hyland is desperate to pimp her out. We need to act soon.”

  Connor blew out a breath. “So, what’s the plan? We burst in there and take her?”

  Saul stretched his head back against the black executive chair. “I’m not sure that approach will achieve our aim,” he stated flatly. “Think again.”

  “So, what then?”

  “We’ll make a play for her, but marching into enemy territory isn’t the answer. Last time one of us did that, someone got shot, and we’re lucky it wasn’t one of our guys.”

  Connor sighed. He’d heard all about the trouble Dalton had caused when he’d strode into Hyland’s terrain to save Delilah from Morley.

  “It’s much easier to exploit them when they’re on the move.”

  “On the move?” Connor smiled. “That sounds familiar.”

  Saul met his gaze. “Indeed. Of all of us, you understand what I’m talking about. We planned your breakout to perfection. We knew exactly which route the van would take, and we were ready.”

  “But busting me out of custody is one thing,” Connor concluded. “Doing the same from Hyland’s lot could prove trickier. They’ll be armed—you can be sure about that.”

  “That’s true.” Saul’s expression was pensive. “But we’ll still have the element of surprise, and if we play it my way, we keep Lauper in the clear. He’s worked years to gain Hyland’s trust, and I don’t want to fuck that up.”

  “Okay.” Connor leaned back in his chair. “Do we know the route Hyland takes when they take Delle to Lauper?”

  “Yes,” he answered. “We’ve been tracking it for the last few days, and it’s always the same.”

  “And the timing?”

  “Broadly identical.” Saul propped his elbows against his desk. “Lauper has done a good job of persuading them he’s desperate for Delilah, so they get her to him as early as they can—around eight in the morning.”

  Connor’s brow rose. “Nice.”

  He shook his head at the things Hyland thought Lauper would be doing to Delilah in the hours that followed, but the irony that he, too, was once that sort of man wasn’t lost on him. Molly had changed him for the better, and he’d never forget that. If his brother felt even a fraction of the passion for Delilah, Connor did for Molly, he had to be on board with Saul’s plan.

  They had to get Delilah back.

  “So, when do we do this?” Connor’s thoughts flitted back to his brother, still lying in a hospital bed. “I promised Dalton I’d get him out tomorrow.”

  “I don’t think Delilah can wait any longer than that.” Saul closed his eyes at the realization. “Lauper tells me he has her tomorrow, but after that, he can’t guarantee anything. We have to move, and it has to be first thing tomorrow.”

  Connor’s gut clenched. “Dalton won’t be happy about it. I mean, he wants her out of there, but now he’s awake, he wants to be part of it.”

  “He’ll understand when he finds out all the details.” Saul’s voice conveyed confidence, which Connor wasn’t sure he shared.

  If it was him and Molly being threatened by an odious bastard like Zander Hyland, he would want to be part of the cavalry. There was no doubt about that.

  “I already have a team in place.”

  Saul’s remark distracted Connor from his private musing.

  “Men who respect Dalton, who’ve worked with him before and want to help.”

  “Who?”

  “Kenny and Mitchell for starters,” Saul replied. “Plus, Marks and Wallace. I assume you’ll be involved?”

  “Damn right, I will.” Connor’s response was immediate. If Dalton couldn’t be there to help Delilah, he would have to be. “How many men accompany Delilah on her travels?”

  Saul pressed his lips into a hard line. “It’s varied,” he admitted. “Hyland went along for the ride on the first day, but since then, Lauper tells me it’s only been two or three.”

  Two or three of Hyland’s thugs?

  Connor jostled that thought around in his head.

  “Five of us will be able to handle that. Where are you thinking of hitting them?”

  “That’s a tougher question.” Saul leaned forward toward Connor. “The route they take is right through the city. There’s nowhere isolated, we can wait to jump them. This is going to have to play out in the middle of fucking rush hour.”

  Connor scowled at the thought. “Great.”

  “I know, but there’s no choice.”

  “I know.” Connor lifted his hand to his temple. “Somehow, we’re going to have to keep this clean.”

  “Too right, you are. No bystanders can get caught up in this shit, Connor. We’ve managed to stay under the radar of the law for years. We keep our papers up-to-date and throw a few selective commissioners a bribe every few months, and that does the trick. Bringing a gunfight to London in the middle of the Thursday rush hour would not be well received.” He smiled and shook his head. “The cops get upset about that sort of thing.”

  “You don’t say.” Connor met his eyes again. He more than understood the implications of getting on the wrong side of the law, having spent endless weeks at Her Majesty’s pleasure after he’d taken Molly. He had no desire to see the inside of a police cell again.

  “We’ll keep it clean.” His voice was solemn. “Let’s take a look at the route, and we’ll figure out the best possible place to swoop.”

  Saul reached for a pile of paperwork at the edge of his desk. “Here.” He handed Connor the first sheet, turning it over to reveal a street map of London. “The route has been marked in red, and I’ve highlighted the best possible locations.”

  Connor cast his eyes over the map, the anxiety in his chest tightening. This was going to be even more difficult than he’d initially realized. The city was packed with roads and buildings. Wherever they chose, there would be bystanders in the vicinity. There was no way to get around that unless they deferred the plan until Sunday morning when the streets were traditionally quieter. But Lauper had made it clear—Delilah didn’t have that long.

  He blinked down at the sheet of paper, blowing out a breath. “Okay, this is going to need thought. Can you get the other guys here, so we can go over the detail?”

  Saul’s lips curled. “Sure thing.” He reached for his cell phone, punching in a few digits before he selected the contact he wanted. “Give me ten minutes, and they’ll be here.”

  “Fine. Get someone to bring some bloody coffee. It’s going to be a long night.”

  “Yes, boss.” Saul’s tone was sardonic, and Connor lifted his chin to find him smiling.

  “I’m sorry.” Connor shook his head. “It’s just—I hadn’t expected all of this tonight.”

  “I know, and I know with Dalton and the last few days, you’re knackered, Connor.” Saul put his cell phone down on the desk between them and met Connor’s gaze once more. “Listen, if you’re too tired for this after all of that, I get it—everyone will understand.”

  “No way.” Connor was resolute. “There’s no way I’m not going to be in on this.” Dalton needed him, and after everything, Connor owed his big brother. He was doing this.

  “What about Molly?”

  Connor’s brow furrowed. “What about her?”

  “Don’t you think she might wonder where you are if you’re here planning this all night, then expediting it first thing in the morning?”

  Connor let go of the breath, he hadn’t even realized he was holding on to.

  “Right.” As usual, Saul had a good point. “I’ll text her now to explain. She can go and placate Dalton tomorrow until this is all sorted.”

  He r
esisted the urge to add the word hopefully to the last sentence, but it had flitted through his mind. Of all the plans he had worked on for The Syndicate, this had to be one of the most tenuous.

  “Okay, message her while I call the guys. The sooner we get this resolved, the better.”

  Connor rose to his feet and pulled his own phone from his pocket. Striding toward one of the large, panoramic windows in Saul’s office, he flicked the device on while Saul made the first call.

  Hey, kitten.

  Connor tapped the text message out in front of the night-time cityscape. Some people thought London was beautiful lit up like this, but Connor had never been one of them. He saw it for what it was—a polluted shithole, full of insignificant people. Nothing about the place impressed him, and after all these years, he doubted it ever would. He longed for the rural isolation of his little house, where he’d taken Molly in the beginning. Connor had loved that house and the independence it had given him, but those days were over. Now that he had Molly to think about, staying within the comparative sanctuary of The Syndicate in the city was the most sensible way, much though it pained him.

  Glancing down at his cell, his fingers flew over the keys as he typed out the message. It had to be enough to reassure her he was alright. The last thing he wanted was Molly to do something impetuous and turn up in the middle of the fray tomorrow morning, but equally, it had to convey the gravity of the situation and the fact he needed her to handle Dalton.

  Saul has a plan to rescue Delilah tomorrow morning, so I’m in his office working on it with some of the guys. I don’t know if I’ll make it back to you tonight. He sighed at the bleak idea. Regardless, I need you to go see Dalton first thing. Reassure him and keep him company, but don’t let on about the plan. He’s not strong enough to deal with this yet.

  Connor’s gaze scanned over the lines of the text.

  Thank you, kitten. I love you, and I’ll see you very soon.

  He hit send before he could overthink the issue. The message was fine, and Molly would understand.

  She would have to.

  Chapter Six