Chapter Eleven
After dressing for the party, Nia slipped a .22 pistol attached to a garter belt on her thigh and tucked her lock pick kit in the back bustle of her dress. She packed her C-4 lipstick, chloroform breath spray, and liquid nitrogen eye drops in her tiny beaded clutch purse with a wrist strap, hoping that made her ready for any situation to come. As she was smoothing stray wig hairs and checking her dress in the mirror, Garrett came out of the bathroom in his tux.
Nia’s heart skipped a beat as she turned to face him.
Even though he was making a valiant effort with his tie, it was still lopsided. Walking to him, she said, “Here, let me help.”
“Ah, you helped the many boyfriends in your past?” His smile was innocent, but it still raised her dander.
“No,” she spat. After some careful consideration, she decided to toss him a breadcrumb from her past, “Daddy was an award winning scientist. Before they passed away, there were many black tie events to honor him. Mom was never any good at this sort of thing.” A stabbing sensation tore through her heart. She instantly regretted her words as the memories rushed in. She attempted to keep her feelings from her face, obviously failing as Garrett’s palm lightly rested on her cheek.
“I’m so sorry.” He leaned in, planting a tender kiss on her forehead. “…about your parents and about last night.”
“Thanks.” She looked down to avoid his gaze.
“How long have they been gone?”
She inhaled a stuttered breath and whispered, “Nine years this coming August.”
Pulling her into his embrace, Garrett ran his other hand over her bare shoulders. “I guess it really never leaves us, the loss of someone we care about.”
Nia swiped the renegade tear from her cheek. “Nope, barely even gets easier with time.” Tempted to remain in his arms, she thought better and squirmed away from him. “We really need to get down to the party. There may be some information we can get out of Gentry and Shane.” She took one last look in the mirror to smooth her wig back into place.
“I’d like to say,” Garrett paused, waggling his eyebrows, “that you look amazing. I didn’t know Lexie had any nice genes in her at all. She did a great job with that dress.”
Turning to face him again, Nia quipped, “Did you not notice the mounds of aquamarine fluff I threw out?”
“No way,” he pointed at her dress, looking back toward the door for a moment before turning his wide eyes back her way. “The dress you’re now wearing was packing all that crap?”
Nia nodded and spun, allowing the gown to flare for the full effect.
“You truly are a miracle-worker.” Garrett extended his elbow. “Shall we?”
She felt a sense of peace fall over her, letting out a contended purr as she slid her hand under the crook of his arm. “Yes. Let’s.”
The party was in full swing as they entered the ballroom. A loud swing band played festive music; wait staff pushed their way through the crowd of people with trays of appetizers and drinks, the dancers overflowing into the seating area.
Fashionably late because Garrett had been looking for a breaker box or any other access to the lines that fed the solenoid deadbolt, they decided to lead people to believe they’d just been enjoying a marathon sex session. Nia had to admit, it was easier to pretend after the tenderness she’d seen in his eyes earlier.
Wrapping his arm around her, she draped herself over him and ran a hand across his chest. Nia had absolutely no problems enjoying the sculpted muscles she felt under his shirt and found herself tamping down the horny teenage girl inside. Gazing with over-exaggerated lust into his eyes, Nia was shocked to see what looked to be honest compassion and caring looking back.
Shane’s voice startled them both. “Am I to guess this is a bad time to ask for a dance? I believe I may have interrupted a moment between you two.”
Nia turned toward Shane, an impish grin on his face, and didn’t have to try too hard to blush. “We’re still kind of baskin’ in the glow here, I guess.” She returned the grin.
He bowed toward her. “Say no more. I’ll be back for a dance later, though.”
Touching his arm, she leaned toward him and whispered, “I sure hope so.”
Garrett spun her onto the bustling dance floor, yanking her back into his arms in a waltz. He breathed into her ear, “Hussey. We spent the last two hours having amazing sex and you’re ready to run into Shane’s arms just as soon as the twitching stops.”
Looking up into his eyes, she couldn’t help but laugh. Nia shook her head, “You have such an eloquent way with words.”
Garrett pulled her tightly to him. “That’s not the only thing I have a way with.” His hand slid down her back and cupped an ass cheek, which she quickly swatted away. Giving her earlobe a quick nip, he then tipped her back into a dip as the song ended, holding her knee firmly against his hip. “What’s wrong? You didn’t shove my hand away earlier.”
An annoyed agent’s voice announced directly into their ears, “You two do realize your coms are on, right?”
Laughing hysterically, they waltzed across the crowded floor.
“We could have some fun with those guys and ignore them,” Garrett quipped.
“I think we gave them enough fodder for the rumor mill already.”
The evening flew by and Nia found she was actually enjoying herself. Well, other than the creepy Mr. Gentry. She took it all in stride since it was, in fact, the reason she was there. She’d had her doubts at first about taking on such a detailed mission when most of them had been hard pressed to last the expanse of a day. Things seemed to be going rather smoothly.
Shane was in the midst of his dance with her when he stopped and slid his Armani sleeve from his watch. “Well, looks like it’s nearly time to announce the New Year. May I have another dance later?”
“Of course.”
He bowed toward her before making his way to the stage near the courtyard doors.
Garrett immediately slid into her arms as though he’d been hovering right behind her, his face a mask of seriousness. “Are you ready?”
Releasing a deep breath, she focused her mind on the mission. Even with all of her years of experience with lock picking, the solenoid deadbolt made her nervous. She knew how to unlock it, but had never actually done it. Nodding her reply, they turned and clapped as the song ended.
Shane took the stage and pulled the microphone from the stand. “Attention one and all,” his voice rang out in the cavernous room, bringing the chatter to a halt. “We have just over a minute until the New Year is upon us. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your generous donations. Our goal has been exceeded. Renovations will begin anew in the spring.”
Applause and excited conversation filled the air for a few moments until he spoke again.
“We have ten seconds, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, Happy New Year to all!” Balloons wafted to the ground with colorful streamers spiraling down and glitter sparkling in the light as the band belted out “Auld Lang Syne”.
Garrett turned to her and touched her face, his brow raised in a silent question.
“Oh, what the hell,” Nia quipped as she grabbed his jacket lapels.
A lopsided smile was his only response as his face inched toward hers.
Their parted lips met in a sizzling kiss. For a few brief seconds, the room around them disappeared; the mission they were on was non-existent. Nothing else mattered. Nia molded herself to Garrett, clutching the front of his tuxedo with balled up fists even though his arms encircled her, keeping her close. Reluctantly, Nia ended the kiss and stared up into his eyes.
Backing away, Garrett took one of her hands in his, placing a tender kiss in her palm. “Be safe,” he whispered, turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Finding it difficult to shake off the feeling of his body next to hers, she forced herself back into character and found Shane.
His smile seemed genuine as she extended
a hand toward him. He accepted it graciously. “I thought I’d lost you for the night.”
“I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”
Besides, I need an alibi.
Just moments after they started dancing, the room went dark and chaos ensued. Panic filled screams filled the air, the once cordial crowd turning into the save-yourself mentality. People trampled others in an attempt to find a safe place to wait for civilized life to return in the ancient castle.
“Please forgive my ungentlemanly conduct. Duty calls.” He pushed her against a pillar. “Stay here until the lights return. You’ll be fine.” He took off into the darkness.
When small security lights flickered to life, casting a light glow from each corner of the room, Nia rushed toward the guarded door. She was able to blend in with the people milling about and heard Gentry barking orders, sending the guards off to fix the problem while he stood watch near the locked door. Nia slipped into the dark nook with her back to the door so she could watch for any interruptions. She pulled the lock picking equipment from her bustle and worked on the locks behind her back. The lever lock popped quickly, but she struggled with the solenoid. Panic coursed through her at the sight of shadows rushing toward the door. She sent up a silent prayer when the lock gave way just as Gentry appeared in front of her.
Quickly tucking the picks back into her bustle, she flung her hands around his neck and exclaimed, “Oh, thank God! I was petrified.” Resting her head to his chest, she maneuvered him right outside the alcove against the wall and purposefully rubbed her breasts against his chest with each over accentuated inhalation. Adrenaline took over as she watched Garrett slip along the wall on the other side of the alcove. Gentry started to turn his head in the same direction, so she captured his mouth with hers. Stale tobacco, heavy garlic, and a myriad of other awful tastes invaded her mouth along with his thick, jutting tongue. Bile rose in her throat. She fought back the vomit that tried to follow suit. She watched in her peripheral vision as Garrett disappeared through the door she had unlocked. Nia backed away from Gentry, breaking the desperate bond of his kiss. She forced a smile and framed his face with her hands. Leaning her forehead against his, she whispered, “I guess I got caught up in all the excitement. Please forgive me.”
“Forgive you? It was my pleasure.” He slid a hand onto her ass, evoking very serious thoughts about squirting him with her “eye drops” just for fun. “Would you like to sneak away to my suite with me?” As the words left his mouth, God answered her prayer and the lights popped back on.
“Oh, goodness,” backing away from him, she wanted nothing more than to vomit on his shoes. Instead, she put a hand to her throat and produced her best innocent eyes. “I have to go find my Stephen now that the lights are back on. Thank you very much for helping a damsel in distress.” She fanned her face with her hand as she backed away. Turning away from him, her mouth dropped open, her tongue protruded, allowing herself the gag reflex she’d repressed. Unfortunately, Shane walked in front of her just as she did, his forehead crinkled in speculation.
Quick on her feet, she patted his arm and whispered in his ear, “Ever get one of them curly hairs stuck in your throat?”
Backing away, a look of shock replacing his confusion, he muttered, “Would you please excuse me?”
“Of course, I’m meeting my hubby back at our room now to ring in the New Year private like anyhow,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he disappeared back into the crowd.
Beaming at her cleverness, she made her way back up the stairs. To cover Garrett’s absence, she waited in their room for his instructions via her ear communicator.
Pacing the floor, she muttered to herself, “I hate this.”
She pressed her earpiece. “Any word on other channels? Anything?”
“No, and you were told to keep your com set to listen only,” an unfamiliar voice chastised.
“This is exactly why I hate being the decoy. Waiting is awful and knowing there’s nothing I can do about it is even worse.”
Another man from the surveillance team broke in, “If the perp liked tall hairy men, I’d have gladly stepped in for you.”
Nia chuckled, “Thanks, I think.”
As time wore on, she glanced at her sparkling watch. It had been more than thirty minutes. She broke protocol by pressing her earpiece again. “Van Deren, you’re killing me here.”
There was only silence in response.
Butterflies filled her stomach as she resumed her attempt at wearing a path in the carpet. Pushing her communicator again, she said, “I’m going to figure out a way to get down there myself. Are there any complaints from surveillance?”
“Hold your mark, Brooks. We can have…”
Garrett’s voice broke in. “I acted alone. Toni is innocent and knows nothing about this.”
“Who are you talking to?” Nia asked.
Silence.
“Van Deren? Talk to me, please,” she begged. Tears welled in her eyes, as she braced herself against the door. A scuffling noise filled her ear.
“No!” Garrett yelled. A single gunshot soon followed.
Nia dropped to her knees at the sound of Garrett’s moans, the tears now streaking down her cheeks. A loud shriek of mechanical interference forced her to yank her earpiece out. She fumbled with the tiny mechanism; it fell to the floor.
Her mind switched into agent mode, she grabbed her 9mm Beretta from her bag and reached for the door. Before she could open it, she heard male voices in the hall. Sliding against the wall to the side, the door burst open next to her with two armed men barging through the gaping entrance. Dropping to her knees, she elbowed the closest man in the hamstring, plunging him to the floor. She dug the spike of her shoe into his gun hand causing him to release it. Kicking the gun away, she jumped back to her feet and slammed the heel of her hand into the other man’s nose, instantly breaking it. Bright red blood gushed over his mouth as both hands covered his face, giving her a chance to escape into the cold night air. Kicking her noisy heels off, she sprinted barefoot down the outer stairs into the inky darkness of the courtyard. Pebbles, rocks and other sharp objects dug into her feet. She pushed through the pain toward the doorway to the parking garage. All she needed was to make it to a vehicle so she could get to the surveillance van. Without a way to communicate with them, she felt this was her best chance at backup. She spied the lighted doorway and darted toward it.
An arm shot out in front of her, smacking against her chest and flipping her flat onto her back. A foot slammed down on her wrist forcing her gun from her hand. The air was knocked from her lungs. She rolled over and jumped to a crouching position, trying to sweep kick the unknown assailant. Another set of arms assaulted her; one gripped her neck, yanking her off the ground, the other pressed cold steel against her temple.
The familiar stench of stale tobacco and garlic invaded her personal space with his words, “Going somewhere?”
“I was runnin’ away from two big mean guys who broke my door down. What do you want from me?” Forcing tears to her eyes and punctuating her words with a staccato breath, she felt his arm loosen a bit around her neck.
“Honey, I just came from your room and saw what you did to those big mean guys. Your husband told me you were innocent. I have to say that I had wanted to believe him. Unfortunately for you, my men’s battle wounds say otherwise.” His arm squeezed around her neck again and lifted her off the ground.
Fighting for a breath, Nia grabbed his arm with both hands trying to reach a pressure point or budge his arm from her trachea. Flailing and kicking at his legs, she wished she hadn’t ditched her Manolo’s and could drive a spiked heel into his kneecap.
Setting her on her feet, lessening his grip just enough for her to breath, Gentry shoved the barrel of the gun harder into her temple. Through gritted teeth, he spat in her ear, “Give me one reason I shouldn’t shoot you right here.”
“Please let me see Stephen.” Re
al tears rolled down her face.
His maniacal laughter rang through the courtyard. “That would be my pleasure.”
Keeping his arm firmly around her neck, Gentry dragged her sideways, paying no regard to her bare feet, or the gun barrel scraping and digging at her temple the entire way. He pulled her through gravel, uneven ground, and broken glass toward the ballroom, just as Nia figured. No one was there as they entered the room still littered with brightly colored balloons and confetti.
As they reached the nook, the same thug who tried to yank her arms out of socket was guarding the door. His face contorted in a haughty expression. Spitting at her as she walked by, he announced, “I knew you wanted through this door earlier, you little bitch.”
Using both hands to hang from Gentry’s arm, she planted one foot against his upper leg for leverage, the other snapping out and slamming into Mr. Cocky’s crotch. As he fell to his knees moaning, she couldn’t keep the sneer from her face. “Oh yeah, well, I knew you weren’t wearing a cup, you dumb prick.”
Gentry’s laughter returned as he pulled her along through the door and down the open stairwell. “It almost pains me to have to do this to someone so spunky.”
Even though she was gasping for air, Nia found herself in awe of her surroundings. What must have been the dungeon in the castle’s first days was now an open, cavernous room. Stone pillars braced the floor in even spaces throughout. A ledge ran along the bottom of the wall across the entire expanse with random holes divoting the floor and wall. The only structures within the depths were a small metal cage standing in front of a makeshift wooden booth.
As Gentry shoved her inside the cage and locked the door, he answered the question rambling around in her muddled mind, “We keep this cage here for our less willing participants.”
She tried to stand but slid through cool, thick liquid on the floor and fell against the rough bars. Barbs tearing through her skin, she looked down to tend her arm. The dark red puddle of blood she was standing in caught her attention instead.
Secrets of the Sapphires Page 8