by james
pointed towards him with the gun, and said close to his mother’s head, “Do you know
your son has killed people, Mrs. Kinncaid?”
His mother’s eyes locked with his, but he looked away.
“Like you?” his mother asked.
Ian closed his eyes and snapped in Czech to Elianya, hoping his parents would
stay out of it.
“What? Don’t want them to know how you carried out hits?” she asked him in
turn. Then in English. “Killed for profit. Killed because he was ordered to and, I dare say,
in some cases simply because he felt like it.” Behind Darya she stopped again and put her
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 216
hands, one with a gun, the other with detonator, on his daughter’s shoulders. “Did you kill
my guard I left behind?”
He only stared at her.
She laughed. “Such a hero.” Shaking her head, she said, “That was always your
problem, Dimitri. Or should I call you Ian?”
He didn’t answer and she continued.
“I wanted you. But you thought you were too good for me. No man rejects me. No
man. And then you ruined it more by creating all that trouble for my business.” She
leaned down and kissed him, bit his lip until he bled. He pulled back and thought about
hitting her. He could probably get the detonator away, but if he didn’t….
Quinlan hadn’t moved.
His mother kept looking from one to the other to the body on the floor.
“Let them go,” he said.
Elianya shook her head. “No. And why would I?” Those dark eyes flashed. “I
want you to suffer. So who goes first?” She stepped behind his brother and grinned, then
his mother, tapping his mother’s temple with the 9 mm, then his father. He could have
sighed as she left Darya out.
Her husky laughed blacked the room. “Your daughter here will be coming back
with me. I can make a lot of money off of her.”
Something in him snapped and he simply stared at her. And stared. The edges of
his vision cleared, sharpened, focused. He stared even as he felt the blessed coldness
seeping over him, the ice that preceded the action. He calmed his breathing, felt his heart
slow.
He didn’t blink, didn’t look away from the woman.
She blinked and took a step back. “Well,…” She shook her head. “You should
decide.”
Ian took a deep breath and stood. She flinched. Good. And she took another step
back, even better.
“You’ve taken my guns, Elianya,” he said, his voice low and cold. “Surely you’re
not afraid of me.”
Her chin jutted up. He wanted to get her away from them. Away from his parents,
his brother and sure as hell his daughter.
“I fear no man.”
Staring at her another moment, he said, “You will.”
She cocked a brow. “I doubt it.”
He only smiled.
Elianya frowned, motioned with the gun the people on the couch. “I haven’t got
all night. First? Well, it should be one of your parents since if I blow your brother….” She
laughed again. “You see what I mean. Then it would be over for everyone.”
* * * *
Rori decided to hell with this. She quietly ran down the back stairs to the kitchen
where Becky hummed and slammed stuff into bowls. She took one look at Rori and
startled. “What are you about, then?”
“Shh … and stay in here.” She started out the door then turned back. “I mean it,
Becky. Do not come out of this kitchen for any reason or you just might get someone
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 217
killed.”
Rori drew her gun and hurried towards the living room.
Outside the hall doorway, she saw John crouched low and holding his gun. He
shook his head at her.
A bomb. A detonator. A gun. Five hostages.
But the woman didn’t know who she was. She smiled at John, hurried back down
the hallway and outside. At least she still had her coat on. She ran around the front of the
house. Shoved her gun … coat pocket and shoot through it? Or leave it at her back and
pull it?
Well, if at back, it could be seen. Of course it would be hard to miss either way.
Bloody hell, she shoved it in her waist at the small of her back and pulled her shirt
out.
She opened the door and slammed it, muttering. “Bloody ass animals. Bambi
would just have to run in front of me. First the rabbit, then the damn deer.” She turned the
corner and gasped. “What the bloody hell is going on, then?”
Ian glared at her.
“Ah, the little wife.” She motioned with her 9 mm.
Well damn. Woman should really try a different gun.
Rori stepped cautiously into the room. Play the stupid wife.
“What’s going on? Ian?” she put a quiver in her voice.
Elianya Hellisnki was beautiful, those large slanted eyes, jet black hair, a body a
centerfold would envy. She motioned with her gun for Rori to come closer. Detonator in
one hand, gun in another.
Rori walked up to the woman, trying to act afraid. Not that it was too bloody hard.
If they all made it out of here alive, she had several things to say to Ian She and the
woman stood on this side of the couch. Ian as well, but closer to Jock who also stood
now, but on the other side of the sofa.
“I’ll give you any amount of money you want,” the old man told her.
Elianya laughed. “Oh dear man, I could buy out your entire operation. I don’t need
your money. What I want, is your son to beg me.”
Ian looked at her, his hands up as he tried to put himself between her and his
family. “You want me to beg, Elianya. Then I’m begging. Please let them go. You don’t
need them. You want me.”
She smiled. “Say it again.”
He gritted his teeth, the muscle ticking in his jaw, his eyes as cold and merciless
as Rori had ever seen them. “Please.”
Elianya motioned with the gun. “On your knees.”
His eyes met Rori’s and in them she saw his anger, his fear, his love. He dropped
to his knees.
Oh God.
Rori stood closest to the door, Ian stood almost directly in front of his father who
thankfully remained on the other side of the couch. Elianya between Rori and them.
Kaitlyn and Darya were still on the couch and Quinlan moaned in the chair.
“Oh my Gawd,” Rori drawled, looking closer at Quinlan. His chin almost at his
chest, sweat dripping off his forehead “What is the matter with him?”
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 218
It drew the woman’s attention from Ian and she glanced at Rori then back to Ian.
“Is she really your wife? I didn’t figure she was your type, darling.”
Rori jerked. “Darling? You’re calling my,” she said, stepping closer. “My
husband, darling?”
First priority was the bomb. She’d leave the gun to Ian.
“Yes.”
“My husband.”
Elieanya looked slyly at Ian. “You didn’t tell her about us?”
She looked from one to the other. “Us? What the bloody hell is she talking about,
Ian?”
Rori strode over to him, letting her anger at the woman, boil over to Ian. “Us?”
Ian shrugged. “It’s not what you think?”
“Not what I bloody think? T
hink?” She took a deep breath, braced her feet. Ian’s
eyes flashed and she whirled on Elianya. “Did you sleep with my husband?” she willed
tears to her eyes.
Elianya shook her head and laughed. “Yes. Several times and several ways.”
“You bitch!” Whirling back to Ian she cried. “And you … you … how can I ever
trust you to--” She kicked straight back, dead center the woman’s chest and grabbed the
woman’s wrist, twisting it until Elianya dropped the detonator into Rori’s hand. She
tossed it over her shoulder to Ian.
As Elianya bought the gun up, Rori pivoted and kicked again, but the woman had
turned. Elianya looked at Ian, then passed him.
As Rori tried to kick her again, pulling her gun free, Elianya leaned to the side,
aimed and shot.
Rori heard Ian’s shout, but didn’t turn. She kicked the woman under the chin,
Elianya’s head snapping back, the gun shooting to the ceiling, even as she aimed her own
at the fallen woman.
* * * *
The sting of the bullet bit into Ian’s shoulder. He slammed into his father, taking
them both to the floor.
His eyes met Jock’s and all he saw in his father’s eyes was pain. God, no.
“Ian?” his father whispered.
“It’s okay, Dad. It’ll be okay.” He tried to roll off, but pain bit into his chest and
his vision wavered.
“Ian? No. No. No.” His father’s voice sounded warbled.
The detonator. He felt the box in his hand and prayed to God he hadn’t
endangered them.
“Dad…,” He hissed through the pain burning in his chest.
* * * *
John ran into the room. “You’re as bad as Ian is.” He kicked the gun out of
Elianya’s hand. She was out cold.
Rori took a deep breath and turned. Kaitlyn was on her knees on the floor. Rori
didn’t see Jock or Ian. She hurried over and saw Kaitlyn was kneeling next to the fallen
men. Ian was lying atop his father, a hole in his back and Jock shaking his head,
muttering, “No. No.”
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 219
“Oh, Jesus.”
Rori leapt over the couch, even as she heard the rip of tape from across the room.
“Ian hit?” John yelled.
Rori pushed Kaitlyn aside and turned Ian over. No exit wound. Bloody, hell. He
moaned and glared up at her. “If you ever, ever do anything so fucking stupid again, I
swear I will have your ass.” He hissed an inhale through gritted teeth.
She was so relieved tears stung her eyes. “Stay still.”
“Rori!” John yelled.
“Yeah, Ian’s hit, but I don’t think too bad.” She prayed it wasn’t lodged in his
lung or worse. Bloody hell, she couldn’t think.
The sound of a helicopter chopped through the air. Thank, God.
“Detonator,” Ian muttered.
She looked in his hand, he’d caught it and still held it cradled in his palm.
Jock pulled himself up and knelt over his son.
John came over and looked for himself. He helped roll Ian onto his back, felt his
vitals.
Mrs. Kinncaid was looking at Rori from Quinlan’s side.
Rori smiled slightly. “I think Ian’ll be all right.”
For a second, Kaitlyn’s eyes dropped to Ian on the floor, before focusing on
Quinlan again. Her hands slapped his face. “Come on, Quin! Damn it! Damn it! Someone
get this damn thing off my son!”
“Mrs. Kinncaid,” John said. “A bomb squad is coming. I’m not touching that until
one arrives. I don’t care for anything to go wrong. When help arrives, and a bomb squad
is coming, tell them Quinlan’s overdosed on a type of Ecstasy and Roofies. A chemical
blend of both. He’s your more critical.” He slapped Ian’s good arm. “This bloke here will
be just fine.” To Ian he said. “I won the bet.”
“What bet?” Ian’s mouth was white lined and hard, his lips thinned.
“Which of us would get shot next.” John looked at her, his eyes hard. “Roth is
bad. I think one of the bullets caught his lung.” Leaning over Ian he said. “I’ve got to go.”
Ian nodded. “Call me.”
Rori glanced over her shoulder to see Darya scamper off the couch and wedge her
way to Ian. She put her hand on his and said, “Papa.”
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 220
CHAPTER THIRTY
Elianya Hellinski looked at the man who was slipping into a wet suit. He slung the
SCUBA tanks onto his back.
“Let’s talk about this.”
He stopped and looked at her, his dark brown eyes devoid of mercy. “I’ve
dreamed for years what I’d do to you. But I thought this was fitting. And unfortunately, I
don’t have time for more.”
She pulled against her wrists, looked down at the bomb strapped to her chest. “I
didn’t mean --”
He whirled and leaned down low into her face. “You meant exactly that, Elianya.
You murdered children. You’ve hidden that fact. You profit from their pain.”
“You don’t want to do this,” she said, lowering her voice.
His eyes were hard and unforgiving as she’d never seen them. “I’ve never wanted
anything more.”
Somehow she’d get out of this. Without another word, he walked out of the cabin
and up the steps.
She had no idea where they were, only that they were on a boat. He’d told she
could scream all she wanted and no one would hear her.
Something banged on the deck and she wiggled again. She was not about to die.
Not now.
She heard the splash.
God. Her heart slammed in her ribs. He wouldn’t really do it. He wouldn’t.
She didn’t know how long she sat there. That was all it was. Just a terror. Tell her
it was a bomb and horrify her.
He’d loved her once too. He wouldn’t kill her.
More time ticked away. Elianya strained against her bonds, but there was no give.
She took a deep breath.
The world exploded.
* * * *
Jock paced the confines of the waiting room. Kaitlyn was down the hall laying
down in one of the empty rooms. It was either that or he and the boys were going to have
her admitted. She had been acting off all damn evening, not that he could blame her.
When Aiden said they wanted the nurse to check his blood pressure, Jock had said
fine, worried himself. His blood pressure was fine, surprisingly. Kaitlyn’s on the other
hand was up. She was stressed and more upset than he’d ever seen her. The doctor finally
just administered a sedative. He knew he and the boys would pay hell when she woke up
in the morning. So be it. There was too much right now, he couldn’t worry about her too.
If she wasn’t going to rest on her own, then, they’d simply force her body to rest for her.
He raked his hands through his hair and checked the clock again. He had stayed in
the room with Kaitlyn until he knew she was out, then he’d started to walk the halls.
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 221
It had been hours. Hours and still he didn’t know for certain how either of his
sons were doing. The doctors said they were both doing fine, but both were hooked to
more machines and wires…. Neither had awakened yet. Everyone was more worried
about Quinlan. Without a doubt.
God. He sat in one of the
chairs, glad no one else was around. The boys were
somewhere, their wives… Kids.… Parents were supposed to protect their children.
His heart slammed in his chest.
Quinlan had coded when they’d reached the ER here. Jock’s hands shook.
Goddamn it! He swiped his eyes and took a deep breath. But they’d managed to bring him
back and flushed his system. Jock didn’t know how or care how, the fact his son was
alive was all that mattered right now.
And Ian….
Jesus. When that bitch had come in and waved the gun around, the bomb strapped
to Quin….
He propped his elbows on his knees and held his head in his hands. He knew that
woman wouldn’t have thought twice about shooting any of them. Hell, she’d aimed at
him. At him. Jock had seen the satisfaction in her demented eyes as she’d pulled the
trigger and then….
Ian. Ian had slammed into him and he’d known, known the second that damn
bullet hit his son, felt the thumping impact, heard Ian’s hiss a breath.
And fear had sucked all the air from his own lungs, all the feeling from his
fingers. For seconds he couldn’t move. All he saw were those eyes he’d passed to his son,
staring back into his own.
Dad. Ian had called him dad and it had been a long damn time since he’d heard
that word from that boy.
It’s okay, Dad. It’ll be okay.
Well, it wasn’t okay Okay was not kids taking bullets for their parents.
He took a deep breath and wondered where he’d gone so wrong. Why couldn’t his
sons find happiness without pain and danger stalking them? He’d joked with Kaitlyn it
was because of her grandmother’s curse on their children. But honestly, he’d never put
stock in the old woman’s angry epithets. Though now he wondered if his children truly
were cursed as she’d yelled all those years ago--that his and Kaitlyn’s children would
have to fight hard to find peace and happiness in love. Whether or not the woman affected
them all, his children fought hard for what they had.
He didn’t want them fighting this hard. God, not this hard. His fingers dug into his
skull. One son shot trying to save him. And the other still unconscious.
Please, please, please, let them be all right, he prayed. Please Please.
Jock startled at the touch on his wrist. He looked up and into Darya’s blue,