Dominance Never Dies (Masters and Mercenaries Book 11)

by Lexi Blake

  “Sal?” Hutch shook his head. “Nope. My name is…”

  “She’s asking if you want salt.” At least one of them spoke a little Spanish. And Case had listened to a bunch of Mia’s stories in between long sessions in bed. When the group would sit and have meals together, she’d talked about her adventures in South America and a few of the odd things she found fascinating. Mia liked to try the local cuisines and apparently one of the customs here was putting salt on their ice cream. Hutch was not as open to new experiences as Mia. “He’s a pure sugar boy, miss. And I’m going to need you to write down that address for me.”

  His heart started to race a little. His brother was here. He could feel it.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Mia glanced down at her cell phone before picking it up. There was no way she could avoid this call. If she did, Drew would send someone after her. She might be able to dodge one, maybe two calls without her oldest brother sending in a security team, but this was his third call in as many days and he would get antsy.

  She knew most people would call him overprotective and overbearing, but most people hadn’t been forced to save their younger siblings. Whenever she got frustrated with Drew, she reminded herself that he was the one who’d seen their parents’ bodies, heard the shots that killed them. Drew had been the one who’d come to her room, lifting her six-year-old body up and holding her tight as he guided them out of a burning house. He’d been the one to figure out they’d been locked in. He’d been the one who’d broken through a window so his siblings could live.

  It’s going to be okay, Mia. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I’m going to keep you safe.

  She sighed. Yeah, Drew might remember the horrors of that night, but what she remembered was how brave her brother had been. She owed Drew everything, including being all right with his need to know she was okay. Mia flicked her hand across the screen. “Hey, Drew. Sorry I hadn’t called you back. I was sleeping. Had a crazy day researching yesterday and it went pretty late. The libraries here don’t get great cell reception. What time is it?”

  Her brother’s silky voice came over the line with the soft growl of a predator. “It’s time to explain why my airplane apparently carried three corpses in it.”

  Damn the freaking cartel. Why could no one offer good service these days? Three little bodies. It was all she’d asked. Except she hadn’t actually asked. She’d let the boys handle it. She should have damn well known that cleaning up after a couple of murders was definitely woman’s work. “It was no big deal.”

  Sometimes when Drew was quiet, there was a silent scream in the air. This time it was nearly deafening. It was a relief when he finally spoke again. “No big deal?”

  She knew her brother well enough to hear the threat behind those quiet words. “Drew, it was fine. A couple of your employees turned out to be kidnappers. That’s all. Case took care of them. I took care of the plane. And that was days ago. We’ve had zero kidnapping attempts in a whole four days. So it’s no big deal. But the Morel Cartel is getting a hearty bad review on their cleaning services. Surely there’s some kind of Deep Web Angie’s List and I’m trashing them there.”

  Sometimes the best way to deal with overprotective men was to brazen right through.

  “Put Case on the phone,” her brother commanded.

  “He’s not here.”

  There was another pause. “All right. I’ll be down there in roughly ten hours. I’m calling the hotel and sending a security detail.”

  Score one for Case Taggart and his horrible taste in lodging. “I’m not at the hotel and I’m not alone.” She yawned and stretched, her every muscle a little sore because Case believed in a certain athleticism in his lovemaking. Days of being Case’s lover had turned her into a satisfied kitten. “And you are seriously killing my buzz, big brother. I should be lying in bed thinking about how amazing this morning was, but no.”

  “I don’t even want to know what you mean by that. Mia, this is serious.”

  She put him on speaker and found her robe, wrapping it around her body. “I know, but Case and his team are working on it. I’m safe. I’ll be home as soon as the job’s done. I’ll have Case send you a report on what happened on the plane. I suspect it was nothing more than a plot to get money out of you. It wouldn’t be the first. I’m sorry it scared you. I did intend to get that cleaned, but apparently the job got screwed up. Should I be worried about the authorities? Did the airport call them in?”

  That would be a problem.

  “No, your cartel connections were quick. I tried to contact the pilot a few hours ago to ensure you had everything you needed and that the plane was getting a thorough inspection before you came home. I couldn’t get him on the line, so I called the airfield and talked to the manager. Funny thing was, he said he’d never seen the pilot I hired. He described the pilot as a pretty blonde girl who brought in a bunch of suspicious-looking men and he was worried you’re in over your head.”

  “Not at all. I performed admirably.” It had been a while since she’d landed a plane. She needed to fly more often. She was getting soft at 4L. At least she knew the bodies wouldn’t be a problem. “I’ll have Case and the team send you the names of the people who got past your human resources. They’ve already got the identity of the flight attendant and her long-standing criminal record.”

  “Damn it.”

  She felt bad playing on his guilt, but sometimes she had to use every tool in her arsenal. She moved to the window and drew back the heavy curtain, peeking out. Light streamed through but she saw exactly what she’d expected. The small courtyard had a couple of tables and chairs close to the tiny swimming pool that might or might not serve as its own unique biosphere. Ezra sat with Michael. They’d found a deck of cards and seemed to be passing the time in a leisurely fashion.

  “It’s all right, Drew. I’m meeting with my contact sometime in the next couple of days. I’ll be home after that and we’ll talk about it. Until then I’m going to let Case call the shots.” When it made sense for him to.

  “Case isn’t there.”

  “No, but I’ve got two bodyguards on my ass. When Case gets back, I’ll have four. Four big, strong, well-trained men and I’m sleeping with their leader.”

  “And Ian Taggart knows about this mission of yours?”

  Sometimes her brother made her feel like a lying five-year-old. “He knows where we are and that Case is helping me out. You can call him.”

  “Yeah, well he better not send me a bill. That asshole charges through the roof. I did not sign off on four full-time guards. Do you have any idea how much Taggart would bill for that?”

  Thank god. If her brother was bitching about costs, he wasn’t thinking about screwing up her life. “It’s cool. I’m paying for the whole thing with my body.”

  Her brother groaned. “I did not need to hear that.”

  She saw a man moving in the background, walking from the office toward the rear of the west building. He wore a hat low on his head and walked with slow grace. Ezra’s head came up, looking at the man, but he turned back to his card game. Drew continued to rant about not hearing about her sex life.

  The man’s face turned slightly and she recognized him.

  Tony. Tony was here. The time was now. Somehow he’d located her and this might be the only shot she had at getting him to talk.

  “Drew, I have to go. I’ll call you later.”

  “Have Taggart call me.”

  She clicked the phone off before he could ask for more. As quickly as she could, she ditched the robe and found her jeans, pulling them on and reaching for a T-shirt. She knew she should put on a bra, but there wasn’t time. She had no idea when he would surface again. They could be waiting for days. Especially since he’d very likely figured out she hadn’t come alone.

  Crap. She was going to lose him. He would sink into the background and she might not get another lead from him again. Shoes. She needed shoes. What the hell had Case done with her bag? He
was a slave to organization, apparently a leftover habit from his Navy days.

  Good in bed and a neat freak. She was a lucky girl.

  Her shoes were lined up on the floor of the closet. She’d only brought three pairs. Sneakers, flip-flops, and a single pair of killer heels she’d intended to go with the cocktail dress she’d brought hoping to get Case to go to dinner with her. She shoved her feet into the flip-flops and realized her problem. There was zero chance that Ezra and Michael would allow her to go running off after a former CIA agent.

  The bathroom. There was a window. It was a little high, but she might be able to make it. Her heart was pumping. Tony might already be gone. He might have taken one look at Ezra and Michael and fled the scene entirely. She had to shove her body out that window and pray she didn’t get stuck.

  She’d promised Case.

  Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

  She couldn’t break her word to him. Couldn’t. She’d promised Case she wouldn’t run off on her own. Mia strode to the door, grabbing the ice bucket and the key. It was time to talk her way out of the situation.

  The minute she opened the door, Fain’s head came up. Michael turned as well.

  She gave them what she hoped was a brilliant smile. “Any idea where the ice machine is?”

  Ezra stood, his jacket moving slightly so she caught a flash of metal. “I’ll get it for you.”

  Just what she’d thought he’d say. Ezra, she could handle. It was Michael Malone who would likely prove to be the hardass. Case was his best friend and partner. Lucky for her he still wasn’t moving so great at this point so she’d likely only have to deal with the man she’d hired.

  “I’ll come with you. Get a lay of the land, so to speak,” she said, striding up to him.

  He took the bucket out of her hands and started moving toward the back of the building, the same way Santos had gone.

  “I’ll hang out here.” Michael leaned back in his chair.

  She looked straight ahead as she caught up with Ezra. “I need you to be my bodyguard now, but I need you to do it discreetly and from a distance.”

  “May I ask why?” His tone was even, as though they were merely talking about the weather.

  “Because Tony Santos is here.”

  Ezra stopped. “Damn it. Did he see me?”

  They’d gotten behind the second buildings and she didn’t see Tony anywhere. “I’m sure he did. He’s probably gone, but I have to look. Please watch my back, but do it from a distance. And tell Case I wasn’t alone. Okay?”

  He set the ice bucket down. “Go. Do what you need to do. I’ll be there even if you can’t see me. I’ll follow you however I can. If he gets you in a car, stall him for a few minutes so I can follow you in a cab. There are a couple running around here most of the time from what I’ve seen.”

  She nodded and took off, jogging the direction she thought he’d go. The beach was to her left. If she took a right, she would get back to the street. Likely he’d had a car parked on that street and he was driving away and he wouldn’t call again.

  Not that he’d called in the first place. He’d e-mailed her the photo with all kinds of cryptic commands. Mia stalked past a massive bougainvillea bush. The back of the motel was covered in the glorious pink blossoms, but Mia didn’t have time to admire the flowers. No time to smell the flowers or enjoy doing touristy things with her man. No four-star hotel with a spa for her. No, she had to track down the crazy guy who couldn’t talk on the phone because everyone was out to get him.

  And yes, she knew everyone really was out to get him, but it still sucked.

  She was going to have to tell Case she’d screwed up. Again.

  “Hello, pretty girl. How about a walk on the beach?”

  She turned and there was the man she’d met six months before. After the debacle at Sanctum, she’d taken the assignment to write a story on human trafficking. Tony had been working, trying to find the daughter of a friend of his. He was a slender man, not much taller than herself, but she’d seen Tony fight. His lack of muscle belied his lean strength. He was also pretty mean. The man could bite with the best pissed-off Doberman. “I thought I lost you.”

  He started walking slowly toward the beach. “I thought I told you to come alone.”

  She felt herself flush as she followed him. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. You’ve finally got some sense.” Tony walked slowly, avoiding the super sandy part of the beach. Though he was dressed casually, no one would likely mistake him for a guest at the various beach parties going on around them. Makeshift canopies dotted the beach and cars pounded out various rhythms, all leading to one big party.

  Tony looked out of place, his darkness skittering the edge of the light as if slightly afraid of what the sun might do to him.

  “Were those two men with Taggart?” Tony asked.

  She decided honesty was best with Tony. He was calm for now, but she saw the way his left hand fisted and relaxed, fisted and relaxed. He was always on the edge. It was sad, but he sometimes reminded her of her brother Bran. “Yes. How do you know Case?”

  Tony chuckled. “I don’t. I know his oldest brother by reputation only. So you’re sleeping with Taggart the third? I have to number them to keep them straight in my head. The DNA runs true in that group. Whoever is following us is good. I can’t see him. I can feel him though. He needs to stay away. I would hate to have to kill someone on this lovely beach.”

  She looked around but she couldn’t see Ezra either. He did blend in. “He won’t approach us. He’s just making sure I have someone watching over me. It wasn’t my choice.”

  “Ah, then the Taggart cub is the one with the good sense to protect what belongs to him. Tell me something. Did you like my gift, pretty girl?”

  His gift. The picture of Theo. “I did. It’s very important we find the man in that picture.”

  “The youngest Taggart. The one who died. I’m sure now he knows there are some things worse than death.”

  The words sent a chill through her. “Do you know anything more?”

  “I know they’re still here. Still in the city.” Tony stopped, turning and staring out at the beach. “They’ll make a move soon. They stayed too long in Argentina and it almost cost them.”

  “Cost them? The authorities almost found them?”

  He chuckled, but it was a hollow sound. “Oh, no. The authorities can be handled easily. Trust me. In a few days, the Gringos bandits will be found and put in jail, and soon after they’ll disappear and no one will speak of them again. The wheels are already in motion.”

  “I can’t let Theo go to jail.”

  “It won’t be Theo or any of the actual robbers. They’re far too valuable, but the organization that their mother works for likes to keep things neat and clean. If the actual Gringos were captured, there would be many questions. Questions about why former soldiers, decorated men, loyal men, would give up their lives to rob banks in South America. There would be questions about why none of the men remember their families. There would definitely be questions about the drugs in their systems. It’s what she didn’t plan for.”

  She. “Hope McDonald?”

  “Of course. She’s a brilliant doctor. Truly if her mind wasn’t warped, she might have done great things.”

  “She’s a sociopath.” Mia always got a little sick when she thought of the woman.

  “Yes,” Tony agreed. “She was born with a genius level IQ, but no conscience whatsoever. No empathy for anyone. I often wonder if she thinks she’s normal. Do you ever read fiction?”

  “Of course.”

  “I like it,” Tony said with a nod. “I read as often as I can. It takes me out of myself. I tend to enjoy thrillers and mysteries. I always wonder though. I wonder about the villains. We see one side of stories far too often. One point of view. We’re trained that way, to see what is in front of us. To see what the author of our lives wants us to see.”

  This was pure Tony. He went off on philosophical ra
nts, but if she tried to pull him back, he would get angry. She’d learned it was best to let him follow through. He would get to the point eventually. She was on Tony time now. That meant she could be standing here on this beach talking to him until the sun went down or a bug could fly past his nose, he would decide it was actually a drone, and he would go back into hiding in an instant. “That’s probably true. We see things through the filters of own experiences. It’s hard not to.”

  What did any of this have to do with Theo?

  “I suppose so. That’s Hope McDonald’s problem. She doesn’t see that she’s the villain of the piece. She thinks she’s the hero. It’s why they almost caught her.”

  “Who?”

  “The factions who would like to take what she has. There are many. I suspect she thought her patrons would protect her. In some ways, she’s a bit like a naïve child. She thought things wouldn’t change, that she could control them.”

  “Are you talking about Kronberg?”

  “I’m talking about the men who control Kronberg, and the men who control them, and so on. I’m talking about anyone with a desire to gain power with the single press of a needle against a soldiers’ skin. Think about it, pretty girl. Think about what she can do. Our armies tend to be limited by the consciences of our soldiers. What if you could wipe that nuisance clean? What if you could build entire armies of men with loyalty to no one but the one who controls the drug?”

  “I don’t understand everything about the drug. I read some articles, but they were all theoretical.”

  “Because we should be many years away. The things you read about, the future tech, it’s all here. It’s all hidden. Those articles are a way to pave the road to the future, but make no mistake, the powerful of this world already enjoy luxuries and weapons you can’t imagine.”