The Pawn (Shattered Series Book 1)

by Ashton, Chloe D.

  At some point, Luna had left the room, and surprisingly, Maria was already fast asleep.

  “Of course, I will,” she agreed.

  Wiggling, Meghan scooted over as she climbed on and lay beside her. Propping up on her elbow, she faced the child. To her chagrin, Meghan’s little lips quivered as her tears spilled over.

  “You want to tell me what’s going on?” she asked, speaking low as to not awaken Maria, and placed a comforting hand on her small shoulder. “Remember our pact---we can tell each other anything and everything.”

  “I’m trying not to, but I’m worried about Daddy,” she sniffed, wiping a hand across her wet face. “He’s never ever late. And he always tells me that he loves me and gives me a kiss before I go to bed. But, he’s not here.”

  She batted back tears.

  What exactly could she say without lying?

  How could she possibly reveal the sick feeling that something awful had happened?

  In the last moments, especially, a strange feeling had exuded through her and unexplainable pain resonated, she realized.

  “He and Uncle Javier had to take care of a few things, and they’ll be back soon. I promise,” she hedged cautiously, being careful with her words, and forced herself to meet her gaze. “Listen to me. No one and I mean no one is more important to your father than you. Always keep that truth close to your heart, okay?”

  “Okay,” Meghan said, lips quivering. “My Daddy always fills my heart, and I love him more than this big whole world.” Snuggling closer to her, the child looked at her shyly. “I have to tell you something, Livvy, and it’s important.”

  She smiled at her. “And what’s that?”

  “Today’s special because I figured out something big on my own--all by myself. It’s this. I want you to be my new mommy, and I want to be your little girl,” Meghan sobbed quietly. “I want you to stay with me and Daddy forever. I love you, Livvy.”

  Lips trembling, she couldn’t hold back the tears. “I love you, too, sweetheart, and I love your father very, very much. And I promise you that I’m not going anywhere. We will be a family. We are a family.”

  Overcome with emotions, the child clung to her, and together, they held on.

  Several moments later, after Meghan had fallen asleep, she was treading along the hallway that led to the living area. Upon reaching it, she found a despondent Luna sitting on the sofa with a lost expression on her face.

  “Where are they? Did Javier mention where they’d gone?” she asked, not able to hide the panic in her voice. “They’ve been gone for hours.”

  “No, I don’t know where they are,” Luna said, numbly, raising tear-filled eyes to hers. “Javier only said that they’d be gone for a couple of hours. I’ve called him several times and he hasn’t answered. And I’ve even contacted some of our closest friends here. No one has seen them.”

  “I’ve called Jarrod, too, at least a dozen times,” she whispered, gripping the front of her shirt with a trembling hand. “He hasn’t picked up either. That’s not like him at all.”

  Nearly staggering, she crossed the room.

  “Something’s wrong,” Olivia whispered, dropping to the floor before her. As she grabbed Luna’s hand in hers, the pent-up tears broke free. “I can feel it. I know you can, too.”

  Along with them, the echoing silence embraced the same truth.

  ***

  The smells and sounds of the cagey jungle…

  They were as potent as ever.

  And the cold hard ground was filled with slithering creatures of all sorts.

  Taking in a shuddering breath, Jarrod awakened with a hard jolt. Wincing, he absorbed the throbbing pain at the back of his skull. To say that it hurt like hell was an understatement, he thought, sucking in a hard breath. Not only that, the tightly coiled rope around his wrists was cutting red welts into his flesh and burned like fire. Not to mention his bound ankles.

  Just how much time had elapsed since they’d been dumped like yesterday’s garbage in the jungle and propped against the huge trees?

  He shot a fast gaze around.

  Just where were their captors?

  Cursing under his breath, grunting hard, he strained against the binds, and through a bloody swollen, badly cracked eye, he made out Javier’s slumped figure a few feet away. But, he’d had yet to come to.

  Mustering all his strength, he strained against the ropes again, but it was to no avail. They were deeper in the jungle and miles away now, he realized, sending a scattered look around. Of course, it was all to the effect of making their murders untraceable, and in these deep jungles, it was far manageable.

  It was called Dead Man’s Hill for a reason, he noted without humor. But, he sure in hell didn’t plan on dying.

  Not just yet…

  The darkness bathed the jungle, but the moon was their ally as it shone some light within it. Shadows and obscured shapes, strangely grotesque, danced across the mossy floor. They loomed at different angles, slashing along and from the huge jungle trees.

  As the birds cried out overhead, he looked up.

  In a huge black mass, they circled together before scattering in a streamlined formation towards a new destiny. As they did, the jungle leaves shuddered, sending a flurry of them to the ground. Like green gems, they peppered him, falling across his bloody, soiled clothing.

  Ignoring the throbbing pain at his temples, he fought to remember their last moments. There’d been a struggle in the cabin. But, the captors had managed to gain the upper hand.

  For miles, at gunpoint, they’d been led like sick, wounded dogs into the thicket of green, lush vegetation. Again, taking advantage of another opportunity, he and Javier had put up a fight, only with it leading them to this moment.

  From across the way, Javier groaned as he stirred, and then, jerking against the tree, he became alert.

  “Hey, you alright?” Jarrod breathed, sucking in a deep breath.

  Even in the darkness, Javier’s wince was visible. “Yeah, and you?”

  “Never been better,” he said roughly. “And we, my friend, are going to have to pit those two son-of-bitches against each other if we want to live. It’s our last shot.”

  “Where in the hell are they?” Javier asked, looking around. “They can’t be that far.”

  As if on cue, they heard rising voices in the distance, and already it seemed that the captors were heavily embroiled in an argument.

  “They’re not far off,” he warned, sending a sharp gaze to his left, and while he couldn’t make out anything, it was clear that they weren’t within earshot.

  He bit back a violent curse. “We walked right into their trap.”

  “And we’re about to set the deadly trap now,” Javier said in turn, shifting on the ground. “Keep your eyes and ears open. When you spot them, get my attention.”

  “I hope that you have a plan because at the moment, I don’t have one,” he muttered, frowning as Javier wiggled closer to the tree. “What are you doing?”

  “The son-of-a-bitches were so eager to jump that they didn’t bother to check my back pocket. My dear friend, Thompson is going to come to our rescue.”

  “Thompson?” he asked, and the relief surged through him. “You mean the marksman pocket knife that you’ve been carrying around since your naval combat days?”

  “The one and the only,” Javier bragged, squinting in the darkness, and obviously, he’d located the weapon since a wide grin split across his face. “Yes! I’ve got it. I’m about to prove that all those years of secret military combat weren’t for naught.”

  “If there were ever a time to prove it, it’s now,” he muttered, straightening against the tree. “Our very lives depend on it.”

  The voices edged closer.

  “Well, speak of the devils. Here they come,” he said lowly, spying their approaching figures, a short distance away. “While you and Thompson work your magic, I’ll distract them. Unfortunately, at the moment, all I have to offer is sharp wit and cun
ning edginess.”

  “Often times, those very attributes are deadlier than any blow,” Javier whispered fast, edging closer to the tree, and thankfully, the darkness masked his quiet movements. “Play them up, Sabatino. We have to make it out of here alive.”

  “Don’t worry. Only two people are going to make it out of these jungles. But, it won’t be them.”

  The wide bushes parted as the captors pushed through, and stopped amid the small clearing.

  “Well, well, well. It seems that our pigeons have awakened,” Clint smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes, and positioned the pistol close to his body. “Are you boys up to more fun?”

  Standing at the captor’s left side, Tomas snickered before sparing a glance at Javier. Then, crossing the space, he moved to him before kicking his shin. “Nothing more than a begging fool, now are you, Javier? Guess it’ll be up to me to deliver the sad news to Luna. Old girl is about to become a grieving widow.”

  “You’ll regret this,” Javier vowed, staring up at Tomas. “I swear on my life that you will.”

  “With a threat like that I’ll have to offer her more than my condolences,” Tomas winked. “Not to mention being a surrogate father to sweet Maria---”

  “I’ll see you in hell first,” Javier vowed.

  Across the way, he gave Javier a silent warning.

  Relax…

  With a deep chuckle, Clint hauled Tomas away. “Now, now, don’t taunt him in his last hours. Maybe he does deserve a little reprieve. He’s not as much as a wise-ass like his partner here, right?” Clint muttered, swinging a sharp look at him. “As for you…You deserve nothing, especially after your antics in the cabin.”

  “Oh, are you meaning the part where I almost killed you?” Jarrod warned, his voice deadly and low. “I should’ve finished the job then.”

  This time, it was Javier’s chance to pass him a warning glance, and he conceded by looking away.

  “No one lays a hand against me---no one!” Clint shouted, cocking the gun, and aimed it towards him. “You’re lucky that you’re still alive. But, I intend to live up to my promise of fucking you up, pretty boy. Ah the oxymoron, there shall be natural beauty in my actions, but pure ugliness in the result.”

  Tensing, he returned the assassin’s bold stare. “We’ll see about that.”

  Turning away from him, Clint swung towards Tomas. “Did you make sure that the shack was clean? No prints left behind or any trace of our good fellas, here? The cleanup better have been good.”

  Staying silent, he watched their exchange with interest. Apparently, there was already a breakdown with their allegiance, one that was flimsy at best.

  And that’d certainly work in their favor…

  Staying silent, he watched the captors.

  “Did the best that I could, considering the circumstances,” Tomas complained with a deep whine, spreading his hands out. “How long are you going to keep ragging on me about it? It was your lame-brain idea to go all psycho on them while we were there.” He blew an exasperated breath. “Don’t know what you’re complaining for. Who’s doing all the leg work? I’m the one that lured them both there so that you could kill them. And since I’ve done more than the job originally called for, I want a bigger cut.”

  The annoyance showed on the assassin’s face and in his voice. “What?”

  Bingo, he thought silently, eyeing the captors.

  Time to intervene…

  “Surely, Tomas, a man of your caliber won’t fall for this SOB’s scheme so easily. Are you that stupid? While you look it, I hardly think that you are,” Jarrod interjected, arching a brow. “Do you really think that he’s going to pay up or let you live? Come on, man, think. You’ll be an accessory and accomplice to cold-blooded murder. Once this gig is done, he has no further use for you. You’ll be just as dead as we’ll be.”

  Face pinched in a frown, Tomas mulled the words over.

  “Don’t be a damn fool and listen to him,” Clint ordered, fighting to hide the exasperation in his voice. “He’s trying to trip you up.”

  “No. Sabatino’s right.” Narrowing his gaze, Tomas eyed the assassin. “How do I know that I can trust you?”

  The pointed question was like striking a match, igniting another verbal match between the captors. Momentarily forgetting them, voices rising, the captors sparred with vicious venom, making him wonder who’d lose control first.

  He passed another look in Javier’s direction, and upon meeting his gaze, received a subtle nod from him in return.

  In the darkness, his machinations weren’t even noticeable, and Javier’s poker face was probably the best yet.

  With that knowledge, he added more fuel to the verbal fire. “How much did he offer you?” Jarrod inquired, inclining his head in Clint’s direction. “Bet it’s not even a fraction of what he’s going to get for the job.”

  Frowning, Tomas crossed beefy arms along his chest. “Not that it’s any of your damned business, but, we’re splitting the $100,000, 50/50---”

  “$100,000?” he scoffed, and then laughed. “Hate to break it to you, buddy. But, you’re getting played like an all-day sucker, and big time.” He nodded in Clint’s direction again. “This old cat’s making more than a hundred grand. I’d say that he’s shorting you the real deal which is $500,000.”

  “You’re lying,” Tomas accused, but then, his eyes flickered uncertainly before landing on Clint. “Isn’t he?”

  “Of course, he’s lying. I told you that he’s only trying to trip you up,” Clint reasoned. “Don’t listen to that bastard---”

  He slipped a fast glance at Javier.

  Done, Javier mouthed silently.

  But, what’d be their next move, especially since they were so close?

  It’d have to be efficient and fast…

  “Think about it,” Jarrod interjected, looking at Tomas again. “A high-profile mafia kingpin intent on murdering a billionaire… Do you actually think that he’s only going to offer up $100,000? Again, you can’t be that stupid. He’s playing you.”

  Clint’s eyes shot daggers. “Shut the f---”

  “It’s true, isn’t it? That’s why you don’t want Sabatino to talk,” Tomas said accusingly, tightening the grip on the handgun as he faced Clint. “You are trying to get most of the cut.”

  “Hell, man, I was going to save that as a surprise,” Clint reasoned, flicking a subtle glance at Tomas’ handgun. “But, of course, he had to ruin it. Just a short while ago, Addison’s informants dropped an additional $400,000 into the account. I was going to mention it after we offed these two.”

  “And the $100,000 that we were already splitting, you said that it was close by.” Tomas aimed the gun fully at Clint. “Take me to it. I want my cut now, and then later, I want what’s due to me from the rest. My job’s done here. You can do whatever in the hell you want with these two. I don’t care.”

  Of course, Clint was the master manipulator, he mulled, watching the different emotions ranging across his face. And the assassin realized fully that he was dealing with an amateur wannabe hit man.

  “Are you sure about that?” Clint asked, arching a brow, and then purposefully sighed. “Come on, man. Put the gun down. This fool is just getting you worked up because he’s scared for his own life. Let’s take a walk. Okay?”

  A smooth criminal, no doubt, he deduced again, taking in the assassin’s cunning machinations. Unfortunately, Tomas was too inept at knowing that he was about to become a murder victim.

  “I hope you don’t take me for an idiot, Clint. I have some leverage against you. Those details, I will share with you and Addison. I’ll hang both of you SOB’s up to dry if you try to con me. Besides, how do I know this Addison fellow even exists? It could be someone that you’re making up. I want to talk to him myself, right now,” Tomas said, waving the gun as he spoke. “Then, we’ll be straight on the cut and everything else.”

  Bingo…

  Opportunity time, he mulled, passing Javier another secretive
look. Again, their mutual nods were unnoticeable.

  “If you insist,” Clint shrugged innocently. “But, there’s no cell reception this far in, and we’ll have to walk back a few---”

  “I don’t care!” Tomas snapped. “Let’s just do it.” He passed a look at him and Javier. “What about these two fools?”

  “They’re hogtied, so they’re not going anywhere. We’re good.” Shrugging, offering a false smile, Clint faced the other captor. “If you’re that intent on talking to Addison, let’s go. Lead the way.”

  “No. You lead the way,” Tomas instructed, pointing the gun at him. “That way, I can keep an eye on you. Try anything and there will be consequences.”

  With a quiet look, Jarrod eyed the criminals. It was apparent that a death was imminent, especially since both men were on edge. But, if he were a betting man, he’d place his wager on Tomas meeting an untimely demise.

  “Damn dude, why are you acting like this? Alright, we’ll do this your way,” Clint muttered, raising his hands innocently, though he was anything but. Yet, he was already turning away, venturing toward the beaten path again. “The sooner we take care of this side of business, the better. Who knows, maybe we can become partners after this. I’m thinking long term, man. It wouldn’t take many hits for us to benefit.”

  “It’s definitely something that I’d consider,” Tomas added, following behind him. “Perhaps we can run that idea by Addison to see what he thinks. If not, there are other cats that need professional hit men. And I’ve wanted to leave this forsaken island forever. So, I’m game.”

  Tense, Jarrod watched as the men veered down the path, and when they were out of clear sight, he summoned Javier with a quick nod.

  The silent directive was enough to send Javier into action. With one swift cut, he freed the bondage from his ankles and then scampered across the ground.

  “This has been one helluva day, hasn’t it?” Javier breathed, slicing the rope from his wrists with one swift cut. “We can never say that we haven’t had our share of adventure. But, this one ranks at the top of the scale.”