Dangerous Victor: (Soldiering On #3)

by Aislinn Kearns

  “You awake?” he murmured.

  She hummed in reply.

  “I should call room service for some coffee,” he muttered, but made no effort to move.

  Radha entwined her fingers with those of his scarred right hand. “Or you could stay right here.”

  They both drifted off before he could reply.

  Radha wasn’t sure how long it was before she awoke properly, but this time reality intruded. They couldn’t stay here forever, as pleasant as it was. They needed to find out if they were still in danger and, if they were, make a plan to get themselves out.

  Radha squirmed out of Zack’s embrace and stretched, grateful for the long, deep, dreamless night’s sleep. Zack slumbered on, so Radha jumped in the shower, and then called downstairs for breakfast while she found her robe from the night before and wrapped herself in it.

  By the time Zack was awake and showered, breakfast had arrived. Zack beelined for the coffee and knocked back half the mug before he properly looked at her.

  “Hi,” he said.

  A slow smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Hi.”

  His eyes heated, and Radha felt an answering pull deep within her.

  She shook her head. “We don’t have time for that.”

  Zack raised a playful eyebrow. “No?” Her heart swooped in delight to see him so relaxed and happy. It was like something had shifted and changed since last night. They did need to talk about their relationship—about where they stood now—but there were more important things to deal with first.

  Radha cleared her throat. “I think I forgot to tell you they found two bodies at Victor’s house after they put out the fire.”

  Zack’s gaze shuttered. “Oh.”

  “I didn’t mean to sound like I blamed you. I just thought one of them might be Victor.” She tried not to think about Diego.

  His expression cleared. “Right. That would be easy for us.” He hesitated. “But it would almost feel anti-climactic.”

  She laughed. “You’re not wrong. Anyway, how do we find out if it’s him? I doubt the local news would release the victim’s name.”

  Zack shrugged. “I’ll go down to the hotel’s business centre after breakfast and Google it. Shouldn’t be that hard to find.”

  Radha nodded. “And if it’s not him?” she asked in a small voice.

  “Then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” he said firmly.

  When they’d finished breakfast and slipped back into their dirty clothes—Radha was desperate for a clean pair of underwear—they caught the elevator down to the business centre. She’d insisted on accompanying him, wanting to see with her own two eyes the evidence that Victor was dead—if, in fact, he was.

  They got some odd looks when they entered the room with about ten computers lined up down the middle, reinforcing Radha’s desire for new clothes. They ignored the other occupants and picked a computer, searching for news about last night’s fire. It didn’t take them long.

  ‘One of the victims is being identified as Victor Garrera, who has been investigated for many crimes, but never charged. Police have released the cause of death as a gunshot wound, and is being treated as suspicious.’

  All the tension left Radha’s body in a sudden rush and she sat heavily on the chair next to Zack. They shared a triumphant grin, a mix of shock and relief that it was over. All over.

  And Diego had been true to his word. He must have been the one that killed Victor to stop him following them. He’d saved them from potentially living all their lives on the run. Gratitude swamped her, as well as hope. Maybe now Diego could escape the life he’d been forced into, and live out his true potential.

  A relieved smile spread across Zack’s face. “Those kids are safe now, too. Stanley’s dad won’t have to worry about Victor coming after him.”

  “A lot of people will be safe now that Victor’s dead.”

  Their eyes met as they basked in the success. They’d won. In more ways than one.

  They kept reading, in case there was any mention that police were looking for who started the blaze. But, then, right down the bottom of the article was a small note that made Radha’s stomach drop.

  ‘The other body was burned beyond recognition in the fire, but is thought to be one of Victor’s associates by the name of Diego Johnson.’

  All the air whooshed out of Radha’s lungs as she sat back in her chair. She stared blankly at the screen, unable to process the words.

  “Are you okay?” asked Zack’s careful voice.

  Radha swallowed and turned to him. She anchored herself in his eyes, on the concern and strength she saw there.

  “Yeah,” she told him with a small smile. “It’s just a bit of a shock. I loved Diego once. And he protected me when I was in there with Victor.”

  Zack’s eyes narrowed. “He also kidnapped you in the first place.” His hand wrapped around hers.

  She nodded. “Yes, and I don’t really forgive him for that. If he’d lived, I doubt we could’ve been friends. And yet I mourn him a little. More for what might have been.”

  Zack nodded slowly. “That makes sense.”

  She sighed heavily, then tried to smile.

  “Well, I guess we should get back to the real world, huh? I bet there are lots of people worried about us.”

  Zack nodded. “I guess so.”

  They went back to their room and packed up before checking out at the front desk.

  As Zack started the car, Radha turned to him. “Before we go anywhere, can we swing by my apartment so I can get a clean change of clothes? I want to burn these.”

  “Sure,” he agreed with a chuckle.

  They were halfway to her apartment when Radha brought up what was filling up her thoughts. “So, about last night…” she began.

  He tensed. “Yes?”

  She took his hand. “We’re dating, right? Exclusive and all that?”

  The tension drained out of him and he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “I’d like that, yeah.”

  She grinned. “Good. Though my parents will want to meet you soon,” she warned. She knew Zack hated meeting new people and had no idea how he’d react.

  Instead of trying to make excuses, he just shrugged. “Sounds great. I can finally taste their food, since you say it’s so amazing.”

  “You won’t mind?”

  He slanted her a glance, telling her he knew what she really asked. “As long as you’re with me, I won’t mind at all.”

  The day suddenly seemed brighter as Radha’s heart somersaulted in her chest.

  They reached Radha’s apartment soon after. Radha practically skipped inside, checking her plants as she went. They’d survived the two nights without water, but she’d have to get out the watering can before they left.

  “Nice place,” Zack commented, glancing around her tiny apartment.

  “Not as nice as yours,” she countered.

  Zack made a face. “God knows what it looks like now. It’ll take a while to fix it up, before it’s liveable again.”

  Radha stopped in the centre of her living room and turned to face him. “At least you have a place to stay in the meanwhile,” she said, indicating her apartment.

  A slow, sexy smile spread across his face. “Sure do,” he agreed, before stalking towards her. He lifted her off her feet and pressed an enthusiastic kiss to her lips.

  He slowly lowered her back to solid ground and pressed his forehead against hers, his arms still wrapped around her waist. “You do mean it, right? About us? Because I don’t think I could stand it if you changed your mind and—”

  “Shhhh,” Radha interrupted him, kissing him gently. “I’m not going to change my mind, I promise.”

  He nodded, a slight tilt of his head. “Okay.” He sounded like he believed her.

  Radha kissed him once more before going to get changed. Zack was peering at the photos on her sideboard when she returned, so Radha pressed play on her answering machine while she filled her tiny
watering can in the kitchen sink.

  What she heard she never would have expected.

  Brett’s voice sounded tinny through the speakers, and Radha didn’t have the time to think how he’d acquired her home number when he usually called her mobile. The shaking fear in his voice, the words, stopped her in her tracks.

  “Radha, you have to come help me. Some guy named Victor has taken me, and he’s telling me he won’t let me go unless you come get me. Please help me. I’m at his warehouse by the docks.”

  The message clicked dead. The answering machine continued on to the next message while Radha stood frozen in shock. The message was from her mother wondering where she was, the final one was from Jeri, voice tight with worry. Radha remembered the last employee that hadn’t shown up to work had turned out to be dead, and sympathy for her boss welled within her.

  But she couldn’t focus on that now.

  Radha stared at Zack. “He must have been taken that first night,” she whispered.

  “Maybe Victor was using him to try to lure us out before he found us.”

  Radha swallowed. “He sounded so afraid. And he’s been there two days now.”

  “We’ll go get him. Right now,” he reassured her. “The threat’s over, since Victor is dead.”

  “Are you sure?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Maybe Soldiering On can provide backup? Just in case.”

  He shook his head. “No, I’d need to swing by the office to see if they are still dark, since Duncan can’t contact me. But even if there are a few guys left behind to guard Brett that don’t know Victor is dead, I should be able to take them easy enough.”

  Radha hesitated a brief moment, exhaustion washing over her. Would it never be over? Or was this truly the last thing they would have to do before they could finally start rebuilding their lives—together?

  They were back in the car and travelling towards the docks within minutes.

  “I’ve only got one clip of bullets left and one block of C4,” Zack told her.

  “Are you expecting trouble?” Radha asked.

  He slanted her a look. “After what we’ve been through recently, it seems the safest course.”

  She offered him a faint smile.

  “How do you know where we’re going?” Radha asked suddenly as he turned down a street by the docks, moving unerringly forward.

  “I came here when I was looking for you,” he said simply.

  Radha’s heart thudded in her chest. It occurred to her that that was who Zack was—a quiet protector. It came naturally to him. And she loved that about him. Loved him.

  The knowledge settled over her like a favourite blanket, comforting and warm.

  “Zack?” she said, intending to tell him. A flutter of anticipation began in her belly.

  “Hmmm? Oh, we’re here.” He pulled up across the street from a large remote controlled fence. She could see through the bars that made up the fence into an empty concrete area surrounded by huge warehouses. The space with uncanny in its stillness.

  She pulled her mind away from Zack, back to the more important things.

  “Why is it empty?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “It’s Saturday.”

  Radha blinked. “Is it really?”

  He laughed, and they exited the car. The gate wouldn’t open when they pulled on it, but Zack was able to snake his arm through and press the button on the inside of the fence. It slowly opened with a creaking groan, and Zack and Radha slid through the gap before it had opened a quarter of the way.

  Their footsteps echoed across the empty space as they strode past empty warehouses. Radha kept glancing over her shoulder, expecting an attack at any moment. She kept reminding herself that Victor was dead, but the eerie silence kept his ghost hovering at the edge of her consciousness.

  “Over there,” Zack said in a hushed whisper, pointing to a black SUV parked near a warehouse that looked no different to any of the others.

  They made their way in that direction. Anxiety tightened Radha’s throat, her heart thundering with fear of the unknown.

  “Something’s wrong,” she said.

  “I feel it, too,” he murmured back. His hand closed around his gun and tugged it free from the waistband of his pants.

  They reached the door to the warehouse. It was flimsy corrugated iron, so he put an ear to the door, listening.

  “Anything?” she whispered.

  He shook his head.

  Slowly, carefully, he cracked open the door and poked his head around it.

  He paused. “Brett?” he asked. Nothing.

  He opened the door more fully, revealing a dark warehouse with wooden crates dropped haphazardly through. Zack stepped inside the gloomy space and Radha followed.

  The loud report of a gun exploded near them. The breath got knocked from Radha’s lungs as Zack slammed into her, covering her with his body as they hit the ground behind a crate.

  Zack raised his gun and shot back the instant they hit the floor, making her head ring from the noise.

  Radha blinked, trying to find her bearings. Small streams of light poured in through the wall, and she realised they were the bullet holes, right where her head had been.

  She choked out a sob, pushing at Zack’s shoulders to get him off her, struggling to breathe.

  “Stay down,” he ordered with a hiss as he peered around the crate, trying to see the shooter.

  Another deafening blast from a gun sounded, and Zack flinched back. Footsteps casually made their way towards their meagre cover.

  “Are you hit?” Radha asked on a gasp, her voice shaking.

  Zack shook his head. “But it was close.”

  He was still pressed against her, covering as much of her body with his as he could manage.

  A smug voice floated from the darkness. “So, my little trick fooled you, did it?” Brett’s voice had changed from the doofus frat boy, into a cunning man. How could she have been so blind? He must have been Victor’s inside man all along.

  “Why did you go to all the trouble, Brett? It’s over,” Zack called out. “Victor’s dead.”

  The other man laughed, taking his time strolling over to their hiding place. “That fool? I don’t need him. Do you really think he could’ve run this whole operation from his fortress? I was the brains. You’ve done me a favour, really. I’m sure I could convince his gang to accept me as a new leader.” His voice was thoughtful as he mused on his future plans.

  “Anyway, whatever I do, you two need to die so you don’t break my cover.”

  Radha’s heart lurched. Icy tendrils of fear clutched at her heart as blackness hovered at the edge of her vision. She needed to breathe, but didn’t seem to be able to draw a proper lungful of air.

  Zack pressed closer, his lips brushing against her ear. “Keep him distracted and talking.”

  She nodded, and Zack slowly, silently moved backwards.

  She searched her sluggish mind for something, anything to say to him. Inspiration struck. “Brett, how did you know we were onto you and Victor at the casino? Why send those men to Zack’s house?” The raid felt like a lifetime ago. In a way, it was. Radha was not the same person she had been then. She’d changed, for the better. She was braver now, and she could conquer this, too.

  “Anton said Zack had been watching him, so he had to go, just like Louis. You were an added bonus, since you happened to be there that night. It was obvious you two were working together. You were hardly subtle.” Scorn dripped from his voice.

  Zack had disappeared, but no more gunshots sounded. She had no idea what he had planned, but had to keep protecting him.

  “What about Louis?” she asked. Brett’s footsteps stopped, and Radha strained her ears, trying to place him in the room. Her heart thundered with nerves.

  “Well, he cottoned on to my little scheme. He had to go. It was stupid of him to trust me, to let me into his home. But we all make mistakes.”

  Radha shuddered as the meaning of his words hit her—he’d p
ersonally killed Louis, was gloating over having done so.

  “Why didn’t he come to me?” Radha asked, more to herself than to Brett. Tears hovered in her eyes at the thought of Louis’s final moments at the hands of this man—a man he’d considered a friend.

  Brett made a dismissive sound. “He thought maybe I’d got in too deep with someone. That he could help me, since he’d been there. He didn’t want me tarnished with the same brush.”

  The footsteps started again; close, so close, to her hiding place.

  “Anyway, once you two die in a murder-suicide pact—no one will question a Vet going off the deep end over a woman he can’t have—then Jeri will be forced to promote me to Head of Security. I can step up operations, and she’ll be none the wiser. It’s perfect.”

  Radha whimpered. A figure loomed out of the darkness above her. Brett, his eyes bright with unholy glee, stared down at her. He raised the gun, then frowned as he must have realised Zack wasn’t there.

  He turned as an explosion ripped through the far wall, an engulfing wave of heat blasting them.

  “Fuck!” Brett yelled.

  He took two steps towards the fire, face a mask of horror. Radha sat up to get a better view of the burning warehouse. White powder drifted through the air, burning to cinders as sparks of fire caught the particles.

  Cocaine, Radha’s brain supplied. An entire warehouse of product was going up in flames.

  She coughed, and it reminded her that she had to get out. Smoke filled the space fast. Thankfully, she was still near the door, and Brett was complete distracted watching his plans disintegrate as his profit went up in smoke.

  But Radha couldn’t leave without Zack.

  She crawled towards the door and opened it, sucking in the fresh air. Then, she turned back towards the blaze. Where was Zack? Was he okay, or was he frozen somewhere in the flames, his mind taking him back to when he was first burned?

  She took two steps into the warehouse, and there he was, emerging from the smoke like an avenging angel. Her heart kicked in her chest, and relief and love washed over her.

  “You won’t get away with this!” screamed Brett, aiming his gun towards Zack. Brett pulled the trigger, and Zack dived behind a crate, firing back as he soared through the air.