I swallowed past a dry throat, recognising Eric - whom I'd met at Sweet Seduction that first day, but not seen since - Ben, my shadow and Adam. I was also tremendously relieved to see Detectives Ryan Pierce and Harvey Stone there, in amongst several more faces I didn't know. If the police were on board then things couldn't be that bad, could they?
"Eric, wire her up," Nick instructed heading over to a table at the rear of the room which most of the men had been surrounding when we arrived.
Eric stepped forward, offered me a small smile and then nodded towards a table to the side. This one had a multitude of devices on it. Tiny electronic pieces, wires, cameras, all manner of things that meant absolutely nothing to me, but were obviously important to the plan. Dominic deposited me with Eric, gave him a glare for good measure, which Eric accepted with a nod and then turned to Nick and the police detectives on the other side of the room.
"What's the police doing about all of this?" he demanded, voice low and gruff.
"We're here unofficially," Ryan advised and on those softly spoken words the room fell silent and Dominic's anger blasted each and every one of us.
"What do you mean?" Each word was forced out of him.
"The Police Department would not condone an exchange, even with the security ASI can provide. We don't negotiate with hostage takers. In order for Nick to carry this off, we're remaining out of it, until the last minute, when Elliott can be cornered and taken down."
"And you approve of this?" Dominic demanded and at first I didn't know who he was talking to, but the detectives looked at the floor and everyone else seemed to sink in on themselves, so that just left Nick.
Nick's eyes met Dominic's, he looked just as pained as his brother, but no doubt for different reasons.
"She's our sister, Dom. I'd do anything."
"Even compromise my woman?" he shot back and I swear the entire room sucked in breath along with me. His woman. He meant every word and they knew it.
Nick closed his eyes for a long moment then reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose. Finally he answered.
"You can take out retribution when this is over and Katie is safe."
"You better fucking believe I will, Nicholas." The use of Nick's full name carrying obvious weight.
"I promise you, Dom," Nick went on, "I will do absolutely everything in my power to protect Genevieve. I will lay down my life to keep her safe, if need be." What?
Dominic stared at his brother, nodded once and then turned his back to the room, returning to me.
Eric had been painstakingly sewing in tracking devices in the hem of my T-shirt and cuff of my jeans as this had been going on. Somehow managing to focus on what needed to be done despite the histrionics between Dominic and Nick.
"Lift your T-shirt up," he instructed. "I need to attach one to your bra just to be safe."
At those words Dominic loomed over us both, giving Eric a glare but effectively blocking me from the room. To his credit, Eric didn't blanch or even blink, but immediately focused on the seam of my bra, sewing in another tiny tracking device, hiding it from sight or feel. Dominic yanked down my T-shirt as soon as Eric was done, making a clear statement in that one forceful, but somehow sweet, move.
"One last one in your hair tie," Eric announced.
"Really?" I asked, it seemed a bit overkill, four in total, but who was I to know.
"I always err on the side of caution, Gen," he said softly, taking my hair tie and somehow concealing a device in the weave of the band, then handing it back to me. "Right," he announced. "Tracking devices done, a couple of those act as microphones, the ones on the T-shirt and Jeans. Can't use the larger combined units on your bra or hair tie, so we just have to hope he won't strip you."
"What?" I said in a pathetically small voice. Dominic wrapped an arm around my shoulders and hauled me into his chest, the front of my body to the side of his. One hand slipped up my back soothingly, then rested on my skin at the base of my head, on my neck. It was reassuring to have that contact, but my heart had skipped a few beats on Eric's last words.
"Here's how it could play out, Gen," Nick said coming up to our sides. "We drop you off a block away from the meet, you walk the rest of the way seemingly alone, but Ben will be shadowing you. When you arrive a vehicle will approach with Katie in it. Elliott may or may not be there, but obviously someone will be driving it. Katie gets out, you get in. You drive away leaving her there, you understand? Do not wait for anything, do as they say, get in the car, and leave Katie behind."
I couldn't tell if his vehemence was because he wanted to ensure Katie got free or for some other reason. But I understood what he said, Katie had to be left behind. That's why I was doing this.
"Once Katie is safe, then we up the game," he went on. "Ben will follow in his own vehicle, we'll track you both. Do not look out for Ben. Do not try to spot him, do not even think about him, ignore the fact that we are tracking you and he is shadowing you. This is very important, Gen. If they are tipped off to either fact, then things could turn bad." They aren't bad enough already? "At some point they may demand you strip your clothes off. We're hoping they're idiots and we'll get away with the devices we've placed. But idiots can be unpredictable, so at this point I'd rather they stripped you, then at least we've got a chance of predicting their next move. Do what they say, hon. OK? Strip, get into whatever they give you. Don't rock the boat. If they take all the devices we will still be following you. Ben is good, the best in fact. He won't lose you. I won't lose you. You will not be alone for long."
Dominic squeezed his arm around my shoulders, making my cheek press into his chest. I could smell his cologne from yesterday, but mainly I could just smell him. I took a deep breath in, savouring the scent, committing it to memory. I was so scared of what lay ahead, but I had to be brave for Katie. Allowing myself one moment to take in all of Dominic one last time, was all I could do to boost my courage. So I did it.
Nick watched, no doubt aware of what I was doing, but I didn't care. I was beyond caring, I was so scared I could hardly feel a thing other than pure fright.
"OK," he announced to the room when I'd had a couple of deep inhales against Dominic's chest. "We're ready."
No, I wanted to say. I was so not ready. But what choice did I have? Katie was out there, hurt and scared, because of me. I was going to be the one to fix this, with Nick's help. I was going to be the adult and face my mistakes head on.
There was something very liberating about that.
Chapter 25
Rolling Like They Do On TV
"Where's Jason?" I asked Nick's back as we all headed out to the cars beneath the ASI offices.
Nick didn't look at me when he replied, "He's tracking a lead."
I thought it strange my brother wasn't here and Nick's answer didn't seem completely honest.
"He doesn't know this is happening, does he?" I asked no one in particular.
Nick stopped beside a big black SUV with black tinted windows, I could see black leather seats through the door he held open. His eyes finally met mine.
"Dominic I could handle if I had to, your brother I wasn't so sure." His words had been spoken so softly in my ear as I went to get in the car, I was certain Dominic had not heard. I hesitated, one foot in the vehicle, one foot still out and turned my gaze towards Nick's. His face was inches away.
"I understand," I said back softly, giving him the forgiveness he didn't realise he needed until then. I saw the look of relief that crossed his face, followed swiftly by something else I couldn't quite understand.
"I promise I'll come get you," he said, louder this time. "I promise."
I nodded and got in the car.
Dominic didn't let me go for the entire trip south of Auckland. The drop off was near the Events Centre, the actual meet in the shadow of the unusual structure itself. I'd have to walk from the motorway intersection. It was exposed, so I couldn’t begin to imagine how Ben would hide himself from view as he followed my progress.
And for that fact alone, I was impressed in Brett's location choice.
I walked stiffly through the gates at the rear of the building, having left the car and a fiercely stone-faced Dominic quickly, in order not to break down. The Events Centre was designed to be viewed from the motorway itself, but access was around the back on Great South Road. The iconic structure looked best front on, from the rear it lacked presence. Simply another building in the centre of a middle-of-the-morning huge empty carparking lot.
My hands were shaking, a small tremor racked my entire frame. My bottom lip was firmly entrenched between my teeth and my chest felt tight with every single breath in and out. I don't think I had ever felt so frightened before. The fear of losing Sweet Seduction had nothing on this. Katie's life was worth so much more than brick and mortar, than a business I had thrown my entire dreams into. Doing this for her alone was enough, but I was also doing it for Dominic - and Nick.
But thoughts of Dominic spurred me on, because even if I couldn't be with him forever, the loss of his sister would have a resounding effect on him, that I couldn't possibly accept. I liked Dominic just the way he was, I didn't want him damaged by this experience, so I resolved to do exactly what Brett commanded, in order to get Katie safe. Just like Nick advised. I wasn't going to be a hero, I was just going to do the right thing, that's all.
I stood under the external steel skeleton of the building, right beneath the peaked point before the front doors. I felt dwarfed by its thick red poles, none of them offering protection from the elements, simply an architectural statement and nothing else. I always thought they looked impressive from the motorway, whenever I'd driven past, but I'd never been this close before. And right now, I couldn't spare a thought for any of it, because a dark green van had approached.
Lofty was at the wheel, so no Brett, but at least I knew this was him and not some unknown King character. Brett, despite having proven I barely knew what he was capable of until recently, was definitely the better devil to be dealing with right now. The van rolled to a stop within feet of me, Lofty's steely gaze on mine and then flicking all over the place, no doubt looking for the trap. I forced myself to stand still, to not shift guiltily or glance around for Ben.
Finally he must have decided it was safe, because he climbed out of the driver's seat and came around to the side sliding door. He slid it open and reached inside, dragging something out as though it was nothing more than a pile of rags.
My stomach lurched as I recognised the skirt she had on. It was the one Katie had been wearing the first time I met her at Dominic's house. I let a shaky breath out, wanting to run to her side as Lofty unceremoniously dumped her unconscious body on the concrete beside the van door.
"Katie," I whispered on a broken note.
"Get in the van," Lofty demanded, stepping over Katie's unmoving form towards me. "Now, bitch!"
I jumped at his harsh tone and half stumbled, half ran to the van. I hesitated briefly next to Katie, trying to determine if she was alive and breathing or not. But Lofty wasn't having any of that, he reached out and grabbed my upper arm painfully, and practically threw me into the back of the van. The door slammed shut and he was around the front and in the side of the vehicle before my eyes adjusted to the darkness.
He tore out of the parking lot - making me tumble sideways inside the empty rear of the vehicle - and headed towards the motorway on-ramp, within seconds we were heading further south, out of Auckland at an alarming speed. I could only hope the cops would pull him over, but knowing my luck, I was on my own. Hopefully with Ben in tow at least.
"Strip," Lofty commanded from his front seat.
There was nothing between the back and the driving compartment. I could reach through and make him lose control of the van, force him to pull over, knowing Ben and Nick would be there within seconds. I took a deep breath in to prepare myself, Katie was safe, I just needed to get myself safe now.
"Bitch!" Lofty repeated, then unbelievably turned a gun on me over his shoulder. A gun. I'd never had a gun pointed at me before. I froze like a deer in headlights. "I will fucking shoot you, if you don't do what I say. Now, strip! Everything too, bitch. I want you naked."
"You can't be serious," I whispered, unable to stop myself despite Nick telling me to just do whatever my captors say, to not rock the boat. "Have you got something else for me to wear?" Somehow my mouth was able to engage, even if my body couldn't right now.
"Overalls in the back," he reluctantly grumbled, clearly unhappy I'd asked and obviously compelled to provide the information, I was guessing on Brett's command. Brett was a dick, all evidence confirming that, but he also wouldn't want me to be on show for anyone, Lofty his trusted side-kick or not.
I bit my lip and stripped out of my clothes as quickly as I could manage, my back to Lofty in the front of the van. I knew he could see me. I knew he was watching, but I didn't have a choice with a gun pointed at my head. I briefly wondered how good a shot he was, and then dismissed testing that. The back of the van wasn't big, for all I knew bullets could ricochet in here and I'd get hit no matter what. I didn't want to be hit by a bullet, so I stripped - everything as per instructed - and swiftly pulled the disgusting looking blue-grey overalls I found in the corner on.
Lofty made a grunting sound when I turned around to look at him. We were well south of Manukau now, heading past Drury I think.
"Chuck 'em up front. All of 'em. And don't try any funny business. I will shoot you," he semi repeated.
I gathered my clothes up and threw them on the front passenger seat, then watched as he sifted through, clearly making sure I'd given him every item I'd been wearing. Then he simply chucked them out the open side window. I numbly looked on as items of the outfit I'd been wearing flew through the air in swirls and twists of fabric, to land on the side of the motorway in the dirt behind us.
"Might as well get comfortable," he grumbled. "Long way to go."
I curled up in a ball in the back, knees to chin, arms around my calves, as far from Lofty as I could get, and watched him place the gun between his thighs. Easily accessible if I made a single move toward the front of the van. I focused on breathing, on praying that Katie was all right and on the fact that Lofty hadn't demanded I take my hair tie out. I was unharmed, unrestrained, I'd get my chance. I just had to wait for the right time.
Two hours later we pulled to the side of the road on the south side of Hamilton, after making several turns and twists in the city itself, a path obviously designed to lose anyone who could be following. Another van was waiting for us as we approached the service area. Our van door was slid open even before Lofty put on the handbrake and then Brett was standing right there. I couldn't begin to catalogue the number of differing hateful emotions that rocketed through me at the sight of my ex. I despised who he was and what he had done.
I wanted him dead.
If I could have reached that gun still lying between Lofty's thighs, I would have, and I truly believe I would have fired a bullet in the centre of Brett's head.
Katie. Just one word, was all that was repeating in my head.
"Hey, baby," Brett said cheerfully, I just glared. "Gotta get a move on and swap vehicles, but this next one's nicer. You'll get a seat and all."
I kept staring, but didn't move an inch.
"Come on, baby, move your arse, we gotta get going in case any of those dicks are following."
"What did you do to Katie?" I asked softly, but the softly was me fuming mad. It wasn't weakness, it was pure anger and rage. And I directed it all at Brett.
"Baby, we don't have time for this," Brett answered, clambering up into the back of the van to grab me. He reached out and swiped at my hand, but I moved further away.
His demeanour changed immediately. Gone was the cheery, happy-to-see-me Brett, in its place, someone entirely else. His eyes narrowed, his mouth formed a snarl and in one forward motion he backhanded me across the face, damn near breaking my nose again, but connecting with my cheek bone instead.
I cried out, unable to stop my reaction to the pain which lanced right through my skull. My hand came up to cup my throbbing cheek, tears pooling in the corner of my eyes.
"What the fuck, Brett!" I shouted at him.
"Don't piss me off, Genevieve. I'm already on edge seeing as you've been fucking some lawyer prick behind my back." What? "You think I wouldn't take it out on your arse? You deserve a fuck load more than a slap. And once we get where we're going, I'll make sure you never think of that fancy-ass lawyer ever again. I'm gonna wipe him from your mind, Gen baby. But don't. Piss. Me. Off."
He lurched forward and wrapped a hand around my ponytail, then half dragged, half wrenched me out of the back of the van. Through the tears and shooting pain from my hair almost being torn out - as well as my cheek hurting like fuck right now - I prayed my hair tie would remain in situ. All the while trying to stop a sob from slipping through my lips. Brett had been a lot of things in the time I had known him, but he had never laid a hand on me in anger. Through the piercing and throbbing pain, my mind was reeling at this new turn of events.
I struggled, because despite what he'd just done, this was still Brett. And I couldn't see him killing me, shooting me to make a point. He might hit me again, but the way I saw it, I'd rather fight with my last breath than go meekly. I was not his. I hadn't been his for over a year. And I was never going to be his ever again. So, I fought. I punched and kicked and screamed and raked my fingers down his cheeks. And then Lofty stepped in and grabbed my legs, while Brett held me under the armpits and they tried to carry me to the other van.
Luck must have been on my side, because the van was parked a fair distance away. They hadn't planned on me struggling like a lunatic. And my mouth was free so I let them have it. Every swear word I'd ever heard I hurled at him. I screamed bloody murder. There were no other cars in the service area, but the sight we made on the side of the road surely had some of the drivers flying by calling the cops. And I knew, because he'd promised, that Nick was nearby with Ben. If I delayed getting in the next vehicle it might give them enough time to catch up.
Sweet Seduction Sacrifice Page 26