The Rainmaker: Jake: A Von Larsen Crime Family Novel

by Piper Page

  All too soon we realized the docks weren’t going to be our main target—too risky. They would have armored trucks and heavy firepower waiting there. Instead, plan one would be by sea. We would try to intercept all ships heading to the dock around one forty-five to two A.M. If we missed it, we would have men on standby to go for plan B, attacking the docks head on.

  Halfway through, I couldn’t concentrate. I kept thinking of Allie.

  As Santiago put away the map, folding it and then placing it back into the drawer, he smirked. I muttered under my breath because I knew he noticed my absentmindedness.

  “Distracted by something?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow.

  I crossed my arms and kicked back. “No idea what you’re talking about.”

  “You offered only small suggestions. You’re usually arguing with Luca on strategy.”

  “He had good ideas today,” I said.

  Santiago laughed. “That’s how I know you’re lying. You would never say that.” He crossed over behind me, making me swivel around to the door.

  “Don’t let her distract you too much.”

  I glared at him as he left.

  Like he had any right to patronize me. Santiago had three bullet holes in him from when he’d gotten too distracted by some hot foreign pussy.

  Not that I was distracted. She was my captive, which meant she would be staying locked up in her room. After we stole and sold the diamond, like they suggested, she would be set free. Never would I see her again.

  Like it should be.

  I walked back to my room with stress beating down on my shoulders. My muscles had tightened painfully after that talk, especially thanks to the comment from Santiago. He’d been right. We couldn’t afford to let this opportunity slip by, and I couldn’t try to fuck that sweet girl in that bed down the hall.

  I’d done terrible things in my life. Some would say irredeemable. If I got involved with that virgin, I would destroy her.

  Returning to my punching bags, I beat on them with my fists until I lost my breath. I fell back onto bed, completely exhausted, a dull pain swallowing my whole body. For now, I could sleep, and I would take the opportunity to shut off my consciousness and hope that when I woke, my head would be in a better place.

  Chapter 5

  Allie

  * * *

  Another day in paradise.

  I woke with my body stiff and sore. I’d been counting the days, and I immediately had a big, fat Wednesday show up in my head at my first thought.

  How long until they busted me out? Someone had to be coming for me, right?

  I uncurled the covers from underneath my neck. The room might be small, but they kept it air conditioned, even having an adjustable thermostat. I reached for the remote and switched it higher. I’d had it cool during the night so that I could cuddle under the blankets.

  It made me feel safe, especially in this place.

  I gazed around me, saw nothing of use, and then crawled deeper in bed. I lay thinking about back home, elaborate fantasies flowing one after another. It culminated with the President getting off the phone with my dad and telling his commanders that they needed to send in everything they had in order to save me.

  Someone knocked on the door. I pushed the blanket away and sat up as Marta entered.

  Seeing Marta, my mouth would instantly water. She’d trained me well by bringing me delicious meals for breakfast, noon, and night.

  “Good morning,” she chirped. Her sunny attitude had dug into me.

  I shrugged it off at first, because she gave me things. But on the third day, I couldn’t let her leave without questions—delicious waffles or not.

  “I’ve got waffles today. The chef, he’s loving how he gets to cook American food for you.”

  At least someone was winning out of all of this. It struck me funny that they had a personal chef in whatever compound this was. Who knew what lurked beyond my four walls.

  I snatched the plate and fork from her. Before I took a bite, I set it down. They’d fed me enough where I had the strength to push food away.

  “He’s a monster,” I said.

  Her eyes narrowed, and then Marta gave me a one-sided smile. “Who is?”

  “You know who I’m talking about. Santiago. I saw him slice a man’s throat. He’s got me trapped in this room. He’s the monster I’m talking about.”

  She frowned, but said nothing, gazing back at me.

  “I don’t see how you can support him. You’re helping a murderer. He’s a bad man, an evil man. I don’t think that’s like you. You have to see it.”

  Marta sat down at the edge of my bed. “He has a good side. A very good side. He might look threatening on the outside or be forced to do violent things once in a while, but he lives by a code, and he cares about the little people in the world. The little people like me.”

  I wanted to vomit. I visibly gagged.

  Marta shook her head.

  “He must have kidnapped you and is keeping you hostage. There’s no way you can believe that. You must be a slave like me.”

  She laughed, right in my face. It felt like being buried under a ton of bricks.

  “Don’t be silly, I’m no slave. I’m here on my own.”

  “Why? Why would you be here?”

  “Because Santiago saved me.” She clasped her hands together. I expected a beam of light to pass over her she was so sunny. “I was working for a bad man. A truly evil man, who did whatever he wanted whenever he liked. He had no soul, and he killed, and raped, and kidnapped. Did unspeakable things. Santiago freed me from that man.”

  I shook my head, and Marta challenged me. She bobbed hers up and down in pace with mine.

  “Santiago is kind to women and the less fortunate. Just like his brothers are.”

  Brothers? How many brothers? I leaned in closer, practically licking my lips for more juicy details. The more info I got, the better my case against them would be once I got out.

  Because I would get out. I needed to cling onto hope.

  “He is very good to women,” she said.

  “Oh, is he?” I rattled my handcuffs. “Then why is there one locked up in his bed?”

  She turned away.

  I leaned forward more, until it hurt. I could feel Marta’s resistance shake. If I could get her to understand my desperation, she might help me.

  “He needs to do bad things sometimes,” she said. “But he always has his reasons. This is a dark part of the world that he travels in…that most of us travel here, and some things he needs to do aren’t pretty.”

  “I’m one of his noble sacrifices?” I asked.

  She groaned. “Don’t be so dramatic.”

  I snorted with derision. “I’m the one being dramatic here? Sorry, I don’t think I’m being too dramatic.” I rattled the bedpost again with my handcuffs.

  “This might be an everyday occurrence to you,” I said, “But it’s not every day where I’m kidnapped in a foreign country and forced to stay for an indefinite amount of time.”

  Shit, she turned her back again, and her feet began to pull off the floor. I went too far. I let my frustration speak, when survival hinged on Marta understanding my pain.

  “Wait, I’m sorry. I’m grumpy. You got me,” I said.

  She smiled back at me, her feet finding the ground once more.

  Yes.

  I tried to hide my reaction. She took in my state and hard lines developed on her otherwise unshakeable face.

  “This isn’t normal for me.” A pause. “This isn’t normal for Santiago, either.”

  There we go. I locked eyes with her. I tried to mentally force my feelings onto Marta, like I could just thrust this big ole pile of emotions on top of her. I tried my hardest. She ran her hands down her flower dress, removing all of the wrinkles.

  I let her keep thinking, until she shook her head. There, I’d gotten her!

  I could’ve leapt for joy if it wouldn’t mean being stuck in bed for all eternity. I saw myself
on a plane today, flying back home. I would never look at another beach again without getting nauseas. Take me somewhere cozy with nothing to do and a Netflix subscription. I’d be happy for the rest of my life. I swore at that moment I would.

  “You shouldn’t be kept here like this,” Marta said.

  My great persuasion skills had completely turned her around, because now she looked ready to cry with me. Her jaw trembled and she ran her fingers over her lips nervously.

  “I don’t know what I should do, though,” she muttered.

  “Take the handcuffs off me. I’ll be fine. No one will know it was you.” Before she even agreed, I repeated, “Thank you,” to her over and over. My heart was ready to leap out of my chest.

  I would leap into her arms and cry against her shoulder, if she took those handcuffs off me, that was.

  Marta nodded, but didn’t make a move.

  “This place is heavily guarded. I don’t know if you should leave. You could get caught and then you will be in even bigger trouble.”

  “I’m willing to take that chance,” I pleaded with her.

  My eyes must’ve looked crazed. I imagined they were bloodshot, my pupils huge like on drugs.

  “Okay,” she said, hopping up. “I will give you one chance to leave, because I can’t stand seeing you like this.”

  “Fuck yes, do it. Thank you,” I shouted a little too loud. I bit down hard on my bottom lip. Hard enough to draw blood.

  Marta pulled out a key ring from her pocket. It struck me odd that Santiago would give her one. She dropped the key next to me in bed. Immediately my fingers itched to grab it.

  “It’s safer to stay in bed,” Marta warned me. She gave me this look that told me I’d better throw the covers back over my head.

  Seeing the keys there, if she told me there was a firing squad outside my door, I’d still probably try something.

  “Thank you,” I whispered to her as she headed to the door.

  As soon as she shut it behind her, I took the key and unlocked my left hand.

  I groaned with satisfaction, and also from the ability to move my wrist. I shook it madly to get the blood pumping like normal. It had become awfully stiff from being stuck in a single direction.

  Marta footsteps carried off down the hall.

  Creeping close to the door, I waited near it, my ears opened up to hear any sounds outside. Nothing. There was no decision to make. My mind had already been made up.

  Survival instincts took over. I moved like I was floating, like I was not really there but watching someone else in a movie. I carefully opened the door and stuck my head outside. Once again, no one.

  I crept down the long hallway. The floors were all fine wood and the walls plain white. Music played from behind me, and voices chased at my back. I would keep moving ahead, away from the voices.

  See ya later, big guy. I can’t wait to see your face when the police raid your shithole.

  Somewhere, they’d have a way out. I passed more doorways in this long hallway built like a hotel. A few of the rooms were open, but I never looked in, instead I kept trucking. They must’ve only seen a blur passing by, and if not, I bet girls walked through there often.

  I came to a door with a big crimson S on it, which I assumed could only be Santiago’s. Instead of moving faster, I stopped and listened, picking up running water.

  It would be hell trying to escape without a vehicle. And I’d seen exactly where Santiago placed his keys. I wrapped my fingers around the doorknob and gently turned.

  He hadn’t locked it.

  For the first time in a long while, I honestly smiled from ear to ear.

  I would be getting out of here with his car, driving into the sunset with a big middle finger pointed in their direction. It was going to be glorious.

  The door opened slowly without a creak. I opened only enough where I could peek in at first. The first thing I saw was his jeans hanging off a chair only a few feet away. I stuck my head in more, and that was when I saw the shower in the corner of the room.

  There was no mistaking that this was his bedroom. It was dark, with only lights on in the shower. The steam covered the walls and for a split second I saw a form inside. My attention darted around the room, to the weight lifting equipment to the massive bed with its iron frame.

  I stepped inside. One foot, then the other. One foot, then the other. Until I got to the chair. There were no creaks, but when I turned back around after grabbing the keys, I lost all courage.

  It was like someone with vertigo looking down the Empire State Building. The door simply seemed too far now.

  I jerked my head back, and what I saw in the shower, planted me firmly. The steam had lightened, allowing me to see all of Santiago’s body. And what a body it was. I’d never seen a more perfect form of my ideal man, the man who I always dreamed of taking me.

  His muscles were bulky, yet defined, and not overboard. He looked capable and powerful. Soapy water trailed down the indentation of his chest, streaking over his ripped abs. It kept going, leading me down, not like I wasn’t heading there.

  That cock blew me away. I gawked at it, so plump and full, yet not hard—at least I didn’t think so. By the size of it, it might as well have been, compared to other men. It was thick and his pubes trimmed, his balls heavy and round.

  I wanted to grasp it in two hands and squeeze. Cherish it. Savor every inch.

  My tongue swirled against my lips, and that was when I caught myself.

  There would be time to fantasize about him later.

  Right now, I needed to get the hell out of there.

  With his keys in my palm, I took the dangerous steps back to the door. I reached it, and then I was flying down the hallway to escape.

  Chapter 6

  Santiago

  * * *

  Did she just gawk at me in the shower?

  I grinned to myself and couldn’t help stroking my hard cock. When I heard her sneaking toward the room, it had started to get hard, and now it stood at full mast, pumped full of hot blood. It felt super sensitive when I stroked it once.

  Maybe I should’ve been angrier, but I wasn’t. I expected her to leave. If she didn’t try to escape, I would question her courage. It turned out she had more balls than I expected, because as she left, she stopped by my room and took my keys from my jeans pocket.

  That I hadn’t planned on.

  It was also why I couldn’t hide my grin—and why it kept widening.

  I needed to stop fooling around before she escaped. I didn’t turn off the shower because I wasn’t sure how far she’d gotten. If she heard me turn it off, she might’ve made a run for it. I stepped quietly out.

  For whatever reason, I took a towel and wrapped it around me. I thought maybe if I admitted that I knew she peeped at me, she might get embarrassed and shut down. Allie would definitely be in a great mood after I stopped her escape plans and revealed that I’d known about them all along.

  She needed to be taught some discipline. If Allie were to stay here, she needed to know she couldn’t escape, so I got Marta to help me.

  Marta loved me and my brothers. We’d done a lot for her. So she was more than willing to help.

  Towel tied around my waist, I speed walked down the hall in the opposite direction. I walked through the kitchens. We had one cook on duty then, who dropped a plate when he saw me scampering through pretty much in the nude.

  I blazed past him now since she couldn’t hear me. Once out the back door, I raced on hardened feet from years of having no shoes as a young boy. If it were hot coals, I could’ve done it, but I ran on soft grass. I stopped at the door where I knew she’d try to escape.

  “Hi, princess,” I said as soon as she swung open the door.

  Just when she thought she’d escaped, there I towered over her, blocking her path to freedom. Allie screamed and started to turn, but I already caught her by the waist and lifted her up to my chest.

  She weighed nothing to me. Screaming, she pounded
at my back. It was a dull, burning pain, but nothing I couldn’t handle as I thrust open the door again and carried her back to my room.

  “Let me go, you bastard,” she screamed, and then really got me when she used her nails.

  She dug in and ran them along my back, from the burn marks on my left side all the way up to the top of my neck. That’d leave a mark. Thankfully, I’d gotten to my room and I tossed her down onto my bed before she could do more damage.

  “That hurt,” I grumbled as I circled myself and patted it down, like a bee sting.

  “Good, it was supposed to.”

  Allie jumped off. She started to swerve back and forth to try to find an opening, but I held my arms out. With my wingspan, I covered a lot of the room.

  “You’re too damn big, this isn’t fair.”

  I laughed at that and thought I saw a twinkle in her eyes, but I must’ve been mistaken, because the next second she grabbed the nearby lamp and threw it at me. It didn’t work like in the movies. Since it was still plugged in and she had a weak arm, the plug caught and it crashed to the floor at her own feet.

  My laughter continued.

  “How did you know?” she screamed, undeterred, as she rushed me. Her fists pounded against my chest, but like before, she hurt herself more than me.

  I let her get a few hits in before I grabbed her wrists. I forced her to see my threatening glare. I watched as her courage melted, and then poof, it was gone. She went limp against me so I tossed her back onto the bed.

  She wouldn’t cry this time, but she still rubbed her forehead and let it fall in defeat onto her palm.

  “How did you know?” she asked again, this time quieter.

  “Marta.”

  “She lied to me,” she realized and perked up. Allie shook her head in anger. “I can’t believe she lied to me. She said you saved her, and I thought she was lying. That has to be a lie, doesn’t it?”

  “It wasn’t a lie,” I said. I reached down, picked up the lamp, and placed it back gently.