“Argos!” Lucy shouts at him probably annoyed that he’s being a dick.
He shakes his head, “Sorry, was just checking something. So, Tanner’s informed me that the building that Luis owned was used as a brothel, we missed it. They were young girls, high on drugs and beaten. They’re on the way to the hospital and CPS have been called.”
Fuck, how the hell was this missed? “Have they cleared the area or are we going to have to wait here all night?”
“Cash!” Lucy cries, “He thought he was doing the right thing.”
“Well he didn’t and the longer we sit here the likelier we’re going to be seen. I want to have the element of surprise for this asshole and having Argos not think things through has almost cost us that. We’re close to the end, we don’t need anything to fuck this up. So, use your head,” Even though I’m talking to Lucy the last part is directed at Argos. This has been one hell of a long road and complacency isn’t an option, it’ll get us all killed.
“There’s only the crime scene guys left. You’re good to go. I’ve got eyes inside the house too, you’re looking at thirteen men inside and the six that are outside. Each window is covered, they have rifles waiting to take anyone out who gets close. Then there’s the four that are guarding Raphael inside the house. Two outside his room and there’s two inside with him. It’s going to be hard getting to him, but it won’t be impossible.” He’s redeeming himself, ever so slightly.
“Best possible route into the house? Something that will keep me undetected?” I see his grimace, “There isn’t one, so it’s guns blazing huh?”
He begins to smirk, “Best way to do it, shoot the fuckers and they won’t know where the shots are coming from.”
I smile, “You up for this?”
“Hell yes! These fuckers aren’t going to know what’s hit them.” I don’t think I’ve seen Argos so happy to shoot people. “I have an idea that’ll have them confused as to where the shots will be coming from.”
“At least one of us does, I was planning on just shooting them before they shot me.”
“That’s why I’m the brains and you’re the brawn!”
“Okay Genius, it’s time to get this show on the road,” I look at Lucy who’s wringing her hands together, “You stay behind me at all times. No matter what,” I wait for her to respond.
“Yes, I will also do as you say as soon as you say. I promise you Cash, I’ll do everything you tell me.” She looks at me with tears in her eyes, “I need this to be over with, I want some sort of life for our baby, one that doesn’t include us looking over our shoulder.”
“I promise you, once this is over, me and you are hitting the beach for a fucking long time.” I lean over and kiss her, my lips hard and heavy against hers, knowing this could be the very last time.
“I’m holding you to that!” She says against my lips.
“When you two are finished, we have some asses to kick,” Argos interrupts us, the fucker really needs to get laid. “Let’s go,” He’s out of the car and rounding the trunk, he’s in a rush and I hope to fuck his head’s in the game.
I get out and grab the rifle from the trunk, along with four pistols, ammo and a few knives. I pack them all into the duffle I brought along with us, knowing that we may need it.
“Keeps your eyes and ears open. I’ll see you on the other side,” I tell him as I pull him to me.
“Stay safe,” He’s worried and there's nothing anyone can do to ease that. He pulls away and grabs Lucy. “Look after him,” She nods, tears running down her face. “Let's get this fucker.”
Lucy does as I ask, she stays behind me as we make our way down towards Raphael’s hideout. Argos is coming from the west as Lucy and I come from the east. I pull Lucy into the massive hedges, they run along the east side of the property, no fencing to stop anyone gaining access. Stupid; his mistake is my gain. From this position, I can take out his bodyguards one by one. Silently.
I wait and see how they operate, each one walks past at four minute intervals, it gives me plenty of time to get rid of them one by one. The first one is due in one minute and thirty seconds. “Lucy, you need to stay still and not make a sound, okay?”
She nods and I move further towards the property through the bushes, waiting for the guard to come. I'm not waiting long and as soon as he's in my sight, I lift my pistol with a silencer and shoot. He's down, I rush over to him hearing a squeaking sound from Lucy but I ignore it and pull the fucker into the hedge with us. I do the same with the next five, fucking too easy, way too easy.
“Outside guards are down. You're up.” I talk quietly into the mic, informing Argos that it's his turn. He’s going to run distraction.
Pulling Lucy into my arms, we wait. I hear three shots fired in rapid succession. It's time to move. Grabbing the guns, I load up as two more shots are fired. “Five men down. They've scrambled. I'm making my way around back to block them off.”
That leaves seven more in the house including Raphael. These fuckers are going down quicker than I thought. “Two fleeing out the back.” Argos tells me as two come running out front.
I fire at them and as per usual hit them dead center. They fall down like a ton of bricks. “Two more down.” I inform Argos.
“Make that four.” I can hear the smile in his voice, we’re close to the end. I smirk, three left. “I'm making my way inside, I'm guessing the two guards that haven't come running are the ones who were in his room.”
“How about we go and see huh?” I'm enjoying this, the thrill has me buzzing. Turning to Lucy, her hands gripping my jacket. “You doing okay?”
“Yes. It's almost over.” So much hope in those words. “Argos is waiting for us.” She nods her head towards the front door of the house.
“Ready?” he asks, a grin on his face. Seems like I'm not the only one enjoying the thrill.
“Let's do this. Where are they?” I bite out. Desperate for this to be over with.
“Upstairs, second door on the right.” He reloads his gun and raises his eyebrow waiting for me to move.
Lucy's grip tightens on me as we make our way upstairs. I don’t hear movement and wonder if Raphael will be a coward and hide or will he be a man and stand tall as we burst through the doors?
I reach behind me and grab Lucy’s hands, “Stand with Argos.” She instantly does as I say and Adam pulls her behind him. Lifting my gun, I aim it at the door as I lift my foot and kick the door down.
I watch as it splinters to pieces. The two remaining guards have their guns up and start shooting before I can get a shot off. I'm quick on my feet and dodge the bullets. Looking over at Lucy and Argos, worry etched on both of their faces, winking at Lucy the worry eases slightly as she shakes her head.
“Ready?” I mouth to Argos, nodding he moves Lucy from behind his back and to stand against the wall, so she's out of the way of the gun fire.
He holds up his fingers, 3..2..1.. as his last finger goes down we move as one. Guns raised we start firing as we enter the room. I aim at one of the guards and I hit him with the third bullet I fire. Looking around I'm trying to pinpoint where the hell Raphael is. I spot the desk in the corner of the room, the chair is turned around facing away from the mayhem in the room.
The other guard fires at Argos and he returns the fire hitting him as he does. The guard goes down but he's still alive, I walk further into the room and over the guard’s body, firing a bullet into the fucker’s skull.
“I have underestimated you.” Raphael spins around in the chair. I aim my gun at him. I'm not fucking around, he's caused so much pain in our lives. “Mr. Hades, you have been a formidable opponent. One that I didn't expect.”
“You've been a fucking asshole and it's going to be my fucking pleasure to put a bullet in you. To be able to say I killed both the St. Clair brothers will make me happy.” I grit out, wanting to end this fucker.
He smiles, “I'll die happy knowing that I've killed one of you,” his eyes are looking behind me.
&nbs
p; Pulling the trigger, his eyes widen as the bullet hits him. I watch him fall onto the desk, there's absolutely no denying it. Raphael is dead. Relief surges through me, Lucy is safe. It's a bit anticlimactic, I don't know why, I think I expected more from killing him.
Turning around my eyes are drawn to Argos. He’s leaning against the wall his face a pale gray color, covered in a sheen of sweat. I frown, what the fuck is wrong with him? Walking over to him I notice his hand is covering his chest, blood pouring out between his fingertips. “Adam?”
He sinks to the floor, not saying a word. “Lucy!” I shout, taking my jacket off and balling it up so I can use it against his wound.
I hear Lucy's gasp and she's falling down beside me. “Argos?” she croaks, she's choked up with emotion.
“Lucy call Tanner, tell him Argos has been hit, we need him.” She searches through his pockets trying to find his phone. “Left pocket,” I tell her and as soon as she gets it, I lift Adam and start making my way down the stairs. I can hear Lucy on the phone as I reach the front door.
“We’ll meet you there,” she's crying while she's talking to Tanner but she's not in shock which is the main thing. She grabs a set of keys off the side table and rushes out of the door and opens the SUV door for me.
I put Argos in the back and Lucy jumps in with him. “Where is Tanner?” I ask as I get in the driver’s side, putting the car into drive we take off.
“Outside the hospital. He said it would be quicker that way,” I take a deep breath as I drive at full tilt needing to get to the hospital. “Cash, is he going to be okay?”
I don't answer her, things don't look good. Fifteen minutes later I arrive outside the hospital, tires screeching as I do. Thank fuck Tanner’s waiting for us with a team of doctors.
The SUV doors open and they get Argos out, Tanner staring at me constantly. “I'll keep you informed,” He tells us as he closes the door and walks into the hospital where the doctors have taken Argos.
Taking one last glance at the door, I put my foot on the gas and drive off, Lucy silently crying in the back as we leave Argos in the hospital.
Epilogue
Lucy
One year later
Smiling as I watch Cash coming out of the sea, that view is never going to get old.
“Doesn’t your daddy look so handsome?” I look down at Annabel, as she plays under her sun umbrella.
She giggles and that sound warms my heart. I know Cash can hear it to as he moves closer to us. Because his eyes go soft, as they do every time Annabel smiles, laughs, or does anything. Our daughter has her badass daddy wrapped around her little finger.
The past two years have been the worst, but also the best all rolled into one. My life was at risk every day, I had to look over my shoulder basically waiting for someone to grab me again. But all at the same time I met a man that I love so much, and have a daughter who is my world. I never thought of what could happen if things worked out for us, everything I thought ended bad. But like Cash kept telling me, trust him, and I did. I trusted him with my life right from day one, and I don’t regret anything.
“And what are we smiling about Mrs. Taylor?” Cash leans down and gives me a kiss, then rolls over to lie down next to Annabel.
Once everything was finally over, we left Washington and came here to Costa Rica, We got married after only having been here a week. It was small and that’s all I wanted; what we wanted. Hearing him call me Mrs. Taylor is weird, it’s taking a while to get used to, because Cash has always been either Cash or Hades; never Mr. Taylor.
“I’m smiling, because my husband is so sexy.” I turn my head to the right and give him a wink.
“And I wake up smiling every morning, because you’re lying next to me,” Cash pulls me down with him as he lies down.
“No,” I squeak, “You’re getting me all wet.”
A lazy smirk forms on his face, “It’s not the first time.”
I gasp, “Cash.”
“Dada.” Annabel calls him and he’s instantly up and over to her. “Da.” She points to the sand and I smile, she wants Cash to build sandcastles with her. This is their time together and I leave them to it, enjoying the bond that they share.
Cash
Sitting on the couch watching a movie with Lucy, we got Annabel to sleep an hour ago, rustling of the bushes has my body tensing.
“Cash.” Lucy whispers, her face pale.
Putting my finger on my lips so she knows not to say anything, I grab my gun from under the table, giving her one last look before walking to the door.
I can hear footsteps walking up the path, whoever it is; they’re loud on their feet. I open the door slightly and stick the barrel of the gun through the crack.
“For fucks sake, put the damn gun down.” He says with a sigh, he’s use to this.
Opening the door wider, I smirk. “Fuck, what the hell have you been eating?”
“Fuck you; I came here to tell you we’re back in business.”
My smirk turns into a smile, “Fuck yeah!” That gets a smile from him, “But you’re going to have to lay off the Big Mac’s.” I joke, and his eyes narrow. “Time to go home?”
Adam nods, “Hell yes, it is! Hades and Argos are back in the game.”
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Acknowledgments
Jessica Davey and Cheryl Freeman, for your constant feedback and being so supportive of us and this book!
Erin Toland for editing this book! Girl you are amazing!!!
Ronda Patrick and Trisha Reynolds for proofreading for us.
Dawn Doyle, this cover is amazing and I’m so grateful for you to have designed both covers for us.
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