“I’m sorry, Tasha. For everything.”
“This is going to be over soon. No matter what happens, it ends with me.”
Chapter 10
Tasha sat in the back of the limo that Dash had sent for her. She was relieved that he hadn’t personally come to her apartment. Carlo sat across from her in the backseat staring at her body. The dress sure did show off her abundant breasts. She could hardly breathe the fabric clung tight to her abs and thighs. She knew she looked really good and she wondered how she would avoid Dash trying to touch her more intimately.
As the car pulled to the front of the club, someone was there to open the door and offer her a hand. It was one of the bouncers.
“Good evening, miss. The boss is expecting you,” he told her, and Carlo placed his hand on her lower back as he guided her past the waiting crowds of people. As she entered the club, she glanced around, almost in a fog, her fear consuming her. But then she saw someone she recognized. Agent Riker. She quickly looked away as Carlo guided her toward the back hallway and private rooms. She didn’t know why, but she felt a little better knowing that Riker was there. But ultimately, she knew that she was on her own.
As they approached Dash’s office, two men exited the room and they didn’t look happy. “He’s here. We’ll take him and bring him around the back way,” one of them said. As she paused, Carlo pushed her.
“Hey.”
“Mind your business.” He knocked on the door four times and then entered the room. There stood Dash, dressed in a fancy suit, looking debonair and confident. He was adjusting his cuffs when he looked up and locked gazes with her. She stood still and he nodded to Carlo who exited the room, closing the door behind him.
Dash licked his lips and eyed her body over. “You’re stunning. Too fucking gorgeous to show off.” He sounded like he was reprimanding her. She felt her belly quiver and she lowered her eyes and clasped her hands together.
“Come here,” he ordered and she slowly took the few steps closer to him. “Look at me.”
She raised her head up and stared up into his eyes. He looked angry, aroused, stunned. “This dress, this body, is too much. No one will be able to concentrate on anything but you.”
“Carlo and Ink said that it was perfect. I’m sorry—”
He shook his head, reached out, and ran his hands along her hips, up her ribs to her breasts. He cupped them and she gasped, almost pulled away but knew she couldn’t. “Dash, please.” She closed her eyes and he gave her a shake.
He stared down into her eyes. “We’re going to talk more about this shyness, this insecurity around me, later. You’re going to a business meeting with me. I have some close friends who want to meet you. We have business to discuss, Tasha, and I expect you know well enough to not open your mouth about anything you hear.”
She swallowed hard. “I thought your business wasn’t any of my business?”
He grabbed her wrists with one hand and held them behind her back. He used his other hand to grip her face, and she felt the pain, knowing her jaw would be bruised.
“This is a step in the trust direction you mentioned. It’s where I see how committed you are to me, and this relationship. No matter what these men ask of you, you do it, you accept it, and you keep your mouth shut.”
“What are they going to ask of me?”
He caressed his palm down her chin and jaw and long her throat, then straight to her breast. “Whatever they ask, you do it.” He leaned down and licked along her breast. She gasped and then he pulled her against him and kissed her lips.
“You are delicious. Very soon, we’re going to be together day and night.”
Hands shaking, she knew she needed to play her role. This could be the chance she needed to learn about this big deal and end this chaos.
She reached up, as he held her gaze with his intense dark eyes and she caressed his lips.
The move touched him. She saw it all in his eyes. The eyes of a killer, a manipulator, a lying, murderous bastard who thought he had full control of her. When he caressed his hands over her ass, giving them a squeeze, she held his gaze and knew without a doubt that stopping him from taking her sexually was coming fast.
“Let’s meet our guests.” He guided her toward the door, a hand on her hip as he escorted her to another room, a private one. As they gathered around a dining table, she eyed the large, sharp steak knives and fancy place settings. It took more courage and determination she ever had to not pick up one of the knives off the table and use it. She stared in disgust as she was introduced to JJ LaCosta, and Vincent Carbanero. Her father’s killers were all in one room, at one table, and accessible. Could she pick up the knife and kill them all?
That thought stirred something dark and scary inside of her. She wasn’t a killer, but if faced with her life or theirs, she knew what she had to do. Slowly she moved the knife closer to her plate and wondered if it were sharp enough.
* * * *
“Is this the agent, Melanie?” James yelled as he held her up off the floor by her hair. Melanie was in so much pain. She was bleeding, bruised, had a broken arm, broken ribs, and could hardly see from her swollen eyes. She cried out, snot dripping from her nose.
“It’s all right. Melanie,” Agent Riker spoke, as he knelt on the ground while Carlo held his arms behind his back. His face was beaten and battered. Melanie knew that Dash ordered this. He found out about her talking with the agent, but Melanie was trying to protect Tasha. She had no idea that Tasha was working with the agents to put all these men behind bars. To learn that they thought Melanie was weak and couldn’t handle working undercover angered her. She had always been a disappointment to her parents. Even when she met James, her father told her that the man wasn’t good and why would someone so wealthy and attractive be interested in her. She hadn’t realized he was trying to scare her away from James. It was too late. She could do this. She could give her life for her cousin, for her father and mother.
“Answer me!” James yelled and backhanded her to the face. She fell backward.
“I don’t know who he is.”
“He’s the agent you contacted to rat out our operation,” James yelled at her.
“No, no, I didn’t call or contact anyone.”
“Then how did they find out about Mary Ann, and about Avalon?”
She cried, the pain becoming too much for her. “Avalon was an agent, too,” she revealed and James looked shocked. He turned around and hit Agent Riker in the head with the barrel of his gun. Agent Riker fell to the floor.
“This isn’t over, Melanie. Dash will decide your fate.”
* * * *
Tasha couldn’t believe how freely they talked about their business dealings in front of her. She was kind of impressed with their ability to evade detection for so long. They apparently had a casino set up that was built with hidden rooms, fully functional for illegal high stakes gambling, prostitution and drug dealing. They had plans for another casino that would also have hidden rooms, soundproof behind walls of real rooms that were manufacturing drugs and other paraphernalia.
She found herself asking questions, and Dash didn’t stop her but instead leaned back and listened to her, seemingly enjoying it.
“So even the building inspectors, the construction people, materials crews, everyone has to be tight lipped or turn their heads as these fake rooms are being built. That’s amazing.”
Carbanero chuckled as he took a sip of his scotch. “It sure is, darling. You’re going to be a part of it, from what Dash has explained.”
She looked to Dash. “Me?”
Dash placed his arm over her shoulders and leaned back in his chair. He held her gaze. “In a week, we leave for AC for good. You, me, the crew. James is staying on here to handle Borderhouse.”
“Dash, what about my mom, my friends?”
His eyes darkened and the other two men started a conversation amongst themselves.
He held her gaze. “Our life together starts completely next
week. Your mom will be well taken care of. You can visit her when I say.”
“Dash, I—” She lowered her eyes and he gripped her cheek. She gasped.
“You worried about your friends? Maybe those firefighters who kissed you?” he asked, his grip so tight she felt tears reach her eyes.
“Dash.”
“Don’t Dash me. They want you. They want what’s mine. I can get rid of them in a snap.” He clicked his fingers together. She jumped. “One fire, and I can take them all out.”
“No, Dash, please. It’s not why I’m questioning you. I’m just not used to being taken care of. I’ve had to take care of myself for a long time. You’re about to whisk me away to some fantasy lifestyle.”
He reached up and caressed her cheek and chin. “Not a fantasy lifestyle, but one you deserve. You’ll have more than you could have ever dreamed of, Tasha. Jewelry, a penthouse, designer clothes, spas, your own security team. I’m taking care of my girl, and that’s final.”
He leaned forward and kissed her lips. She reached up, cupped his cheek and kissed him back. When they parted he smiled.
“Thank you. I don’t know why you chose me when there are so many other women to choose from.”
He gripped her chin giving it a little tight shake. “No other woman compares to you. Not ever.” He looked her lips over and was just about to kiss her again when James arrived.
James leaned down and whispered into Dash’s ear. She heard Melanie’s name and the word agent. Her heart hammered in her chest.
“Get up.” He pulled her up and he excused himself from the room. She noticed a few women walk in, and Carbanero and LaCosta rubbed their hands together and smiled.
The moment they were in the hallway he was dragging her down toward his office.
He was pacing back and forth as she stood by his desk shaking.
“Dash, what’s wrong?” she asked, and he stepped toward her and then stopped himself from striking her as he placed his fists by his side. He was wild and angry.
Carlo walked in. “Where do you want me to leave the body?”
Tasha gasped and covered her mouth. Dash stared at her as he spoke. “Burn it up. Leave it somewhere where Engine 19 will respond. I want guys, snipers shooting at them when they arrive.”
“No. Oh God, Dash.” She stepped toward him and the backhand came out of nowhere. She flew back hitting the desk, grabbing her cheek.
“And Melanie?”
“Drop her on her father’s doorstep. Maybe that will teach him not to cooperate with the feds.”
“Melanie.” Tasha said her name and Dash struck her again. He pulled her up off the floor and started hitting her. In her ribs, her thighs, her eye, and cheek. She was screaming for him to stop. She fell to the floor and he kicked her. She wrapped her arms around his leg and cried, begging him to stop because she couldn’t take it any longer. He roared in anger and then stopped. Dash went from cool and calm to violent and psycho in a flash. He was sick. Insane. Where the hell were the feds? Weren’t they coming? Couldn’t they storm the building or something? The room fell completely silent except for her whimpering and his heavy breathing.
He reached down, grabbed her by her upper arms, and pulled her up and onto his desk. He shoved her dress upward against her thighs and stared at her. Even he cringed at the damage he did.
“Are you talking to any feds?” he asked. She shook her head.
He gripped her upper thighs under her dress against her skin. He squeezed his thumbs into her groin. “Dash, please stop it. Please tell me what’s going on. Why are you acting like this?”
“You don’t know?” he asked, and she shook her head.
“Your cousin is working with federal agents to bring my entire operation down. Your uncle has been doing the numbers, scamming the system for us for years. I’m so close to accomplishing my goals. I won’t let anyone stand in the way, Tasha. Not some little whore, not some two-bit accountant, not some nosey detectives, and not my woman.”
“I didn’t know about any of this, I swear.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the handkerchief. He stared into her eyes and then dabbed it against her bleeding lips. She gasped, feeling how swollen her lips were getting. Her cheek and jaw throbbed, even her eye. She hurt everywhere.
“You better not be lying to me, Tasha. I’ll kill your mother, your friends, your uncle, and Melanie, and then I’ll kill you.”
The tears rolled down her cheeks and she cried, but she needed to play her role the best she could right now or he would know she was lying.
“I know nothing, Dash. I’ll do whatever you want me to do to prove it. This is all so crazy. I told you that I wasn’t right for you, that you could do so much better. God, Dash, oh God, I think I’m falling in love with you.” She lowered her head, crying her eyes out from the pain, the hatred she had for this man. She needed to stay alive. She needed to warn the others before her friends and the men she loved got hurt or killed.
When he abruptly pulled her into his arms against his chest and squeezed her tight, she knew she bought herself a little more time, but this had to end or she would die next.
Chapter 11
“What the fuck? Is that gunfire?” Chief Martelli yelled out as Engine 19 responded to a warehouse fire and what seemed like gunshots going off around them.
“Someone is shooting at us!” Ace yelled and all the men ducked down behind the fire trucks as more police arrived on the scene.
“Call everyone back to the trucks. Their safety is priority,” the chief called into the radio. Ace yelled for Eddie and Lance to pull back.
* * * *
“What the fuck is going on?” Lance asked Eddie.
“They said shots fired,” Eddie yelled to his brother as they dropped the hose just as numerous pinging sounds hit the metal next to them.
“Oh shit, someone is shooting at us,” Lance yelled. Eddie ran alongside his brother. “Fuck!” Lance hollered out and fell to the ground, tripping right before the safety of the truck. Eddie and Bear pulled him to safety. “Are you okay? Is everyone okay?” the chief asked them as more shots echoed around them and the sound of bullets hitting the fire trucks filled the air.
“We’re good, Chief,” Bear responded.
“Not entirely,” Lance said. They turned to look at him taking off his turnout coat. His arm was bleeding. He knew he felt a sharp stinging sensation as they ran. He’d never experienced anything like this before. Someone shot him.
“Oh fuck, you were shot.” Eddie reached for his brother.
“It’s just a flesh wound.” Lance sat down and leaned against the large tire of the truck. More sirens echoed in the distance and the sound of gunshots disappeared entirely.
“What the fuck is going on?” Tyler yelled out in frustration as he looked at his brother.
“I don’t know, but no one is putting out that fire until the vicinity around us has been cleared by police,” the chief said as Sheriff McCurran pulled up onto the scene. He had his cell phone against his ear and he looked angry and panicked.
“Is everyone okay?” Jake asked immediately, noticing Lance. “Fuck, you were shot?”
“I’m all right. It’s just a flesh wound. Can we start putting out the fire?” Lance asked.
“You’re not going anywhere!” the chief yelled at his son.
“Let the deputies clear the scene and make sure it’s safe. When all this is over, the three of you are coming with me,” Jake told them.
Eddie approached Jake. “Jake, what’s going on?”
“I’ll explain everything later. Someone who loves you just saved you, your brothers, and the rest of Engine 19’s lives.”
* * * *
Tasha disconnected the call. She called Jake immediately and then the agents in charge. Jake said that he got to the scene of the fire and it didn’t seem like anyone was hurt but he’d just arrived. Her worry was over—her friends, and of course Tyler, Eddie, and Lance were safe. She got the call that th
e deputies caught the shooters.
She was grateful that Dash let her go home alone. He received another call just as he was reaching under her skirt while making her press her hand against his crotch. She thought he would force himself on her right there in his office but he didn’t. Carlo came in and something was going on. She shivered just thinking about how close she came to getting raped. He would have forced himself on her right there over his desk. She felt like throwing up. She could still feel his hands on her and smell his cologne. She wanted it to be over. She couldn’t go on anymore and face Dash again. She prayed the feds caught him.
As she walked painfully to her room, her phone rang.
“Hello?” she answered.
“They’re safe. Lance was hit by a stray bullet though.”
“What? Oh God, is he okay? Please tell me he’s okay.” She cried as she collapsed to the floor in her bedroom.
“Just a flesh wound, Tasha. What the fuck is going on? Are you out of this shit now? How the hell did you know about the shooters, the body in the fire?”
“I heard Dash give the orders. I had to make sure that Engine 19 was safe. There’s so much happening right now. The agents moved in to make arrests. Dash and the others are on the run, but the agents are hot on their trail.”
“Tasha, do you know about Melanie?” he asked her and she cried.
“They hurt her badly.”
“She’s in the hospital. They placed her onto the bottom of the driveway at her parents’ house.”
“Oh God.”
“Are you okay? You sound funny.”
“A lot went down tonight. I need to rest.”
“Did he hurt you?”
“I need to go.”
“Tasha, you need protection, you need your friends. I’m calling Thor now.”
“Please, Jake, I don’t want anyone to see me.”
“That bad? He hurt you that fucking badly?”
Hearts on Fire 3: Tasha (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 12