Sinful Intent

by Chelle Bliss

  It couldn’t be true.

  Did Morgan do this?

  He couldn’t have.

  He wouldn’t have.

  He said I could go.

  But he didn’t want me to go.

  Who the hell was I kidding?

  Even if he had forbidden it, I would find a way to be there.

  “Johnny, did Morgan call you today?” I narrowed my eyes as my nostrils flared.

  “Well, um. No,” he whispered.

  “Fuck. Seriously. You’re both working against me.”

  “No!” Johnny yelled. “Race, he just doesn’t want you to get hurt. I don’t know what kind of trouble you’re in.”

  “Stop.”

  “But—”

  “Johnny, I’m a grown woman. I’ve always dealt with my problems, and I’ll do it again. No one is ever going to tell me no. Keys are with the security guard. I’ll text you the address, and I drive a BMW Alpina B6. It’ll be the one with the flat tire.”

  “Race, I don’t think you should—”

  I didn’t hear the rest of his statement. I hit end on the screen, hanging up on Johnny.

  Morgan’s a fucking asshole.

  I should’ve known he’d pull some shit to make sure I couldn’t be there. I knew I could never trust a man. They all thought they knew what was best.

  I only had one thing to do. I’d call a cab and go directly to the meeting location. Fuck them all. I’d get my tape back myself and show the guys that I didn’t need them after all.

  After I’d left my keys with security, I went outside to wait for the taxi. I paced, becoming more pissed with each passing second.

  Morgan DeLuca was going to pay—right after I helped to bring Tyler O’Shea down and retrieved my video.

  I had my best friend in my purse, my Beretta PX4.

  Tyler would give me that video.

  Anything to save my career.

  I’d have to deal with Morgan another day.

  He’d wish he’d never met me by the time I was done with him.

  Just as I tossed the gun back in my purse, the taxi pulled in.

  It was now or never.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Hell to Pay

  Morgan

  “Dude, that takes balls,” Sam said as he drove to the abandoned warehouse.

  Race was far from stupid. She’d figure it out sooner or later, and it wouldn’t be a pretty sight when she saw me again.

  Race: As soon as I can get a cab. I have a flat tire.

  “I’ll pay for it later,” I replied as I stared out the passenger’s window with a knot in my stomach.

  “If there is a later,” Thomas said, slapping me on the back of the head.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, ignoring the fact that he’d hit me and replying to her text.

  Me: Do not leave the office.

  “She’ll probably never talk to you again, man.” Thomas shook his head. “You lied to her. Never mind about the tire.”

  “Yep. You’re never getting another shot with her,” James added. “Izzy would murder me.”

  “Race will get over it,” I said, shrugging it off.

  “I doubt that. I’ve only met her a couple of times, but she doesn’t seem like the type to forgive and forget,” Thomas said.

  “I’m not saying I won’t pay dearly for it, guys, but I think I can handle her.” I glanced in the backseat.

  “You like this girl that much, huh?” James asked.

  “I don’t know why, but I do. God help me,” I muttered, looking up at the roof and blowing out a long breath.

  “It’s the magic of the tough chick,” James replied as he patted my shoulder. “I know it well.”

  “I just can’t picture my cousin dealing with your bullshit.”

  “My bullshit?” He snickered, clutching his chest. “Have you met your cousin? That girl has more tricks up her sleeve than Houdini.”

  “How do you deal with her?”

  “You gotta break her.”

  “What?” I asked, turning around with my mouth agape.

  “James,” Thomas said, glaring at him, “you’re talking about my sister here. Choose your next words very carefully.”

  James slapped Thomas on the leg. “No worries, brother.” He glanced at me, lifting his chin in my direction. “We’ll talk about the ladies later, Morgan.”

  I returned his chin lift. “I’ll take you up on that offer.”

  “Five minutes out,” Sam said. “We ready for this?” He adjusted his body, gripping the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles had turned white.

  “You okay, man?” I asked Sam, placing my hand on his shoulder.

  “I’m pumped. I’ve been on the sidelines for a bit. I’m so excited. This shit is like the olden days.”

  “The olden days sucked,” James said, hanging his head.

  “Oh, stop with your Debbie Downer shit, James,” Thomas barked. “Everyone knows the plan, yeah?”

  “Why don’t you go over it again, because clearly we may have missed something the ten times you’ve already reviewed it with us,” James teased.

  The final minutes of the car ride were in silence. Each of us checked our equipment, removed safeties, and got mentally focused. Sam had secured permission from the owner of the next building to stash the car inside to avoid being spotted by Tyler.

  After the car was hidden, we all took our positions and waited. Sam took the roof, being our lookout, while James, Thomas, and I took our spots around the building.

  I was so nervous that I could barely focus. My heart was pounding in my throat and my palms felt slick from the nonstop perspiration that formed every time I wiped them on my jeans.

  If this shit didn’t go down right, her life could be in a shambles and it would be entirely my fault.

  I couldn’t let her take a chance with her life. She might be an adult, but like hell would I let her walk into a fire when I could put it out without her getting involved.

  I glanced at my watch and realized more than ten minutes had passed while I’d been standing here. Tyler hadn’t arrived.

  “He’s late,” James said in my earpiece, figuring out the same thing I had.

  “Let’s wait ten more minutes before we call it,” Thomas replied.

  “I don’t see anyone coming either,” Sam added.

  “Fuck,” I said as my stomach began to sink. “I bet the fucker doesn’t show.” I had a feeling I couldn’t explain. I’d felt it once or twice in the army, and typically shit went bad.

  “What do we want to do?” James’s voice echoed in my ear.

  “I think you’re right, Morgan. We’ll wait five and leave,” Thomas replied.

  I crouched down, picked up tiny pebbles, and tossed them. My mind was racing, and just standing there was making me crazy. I didn’t like the unknown.

  I pulled my phone from my pocket, needing to check on Race.

  Me: Sorry we left without you. No time to spare.

  “Men, I think it’s time to pack it in,” Thomas said.

  “Did you hear from Angel? Race said she was going to head to the office,” I said, heading toward the building we’d hid the vehicle in.

  “Meet at the truck. I’ll call Angel on the way,” Thomas replied.

  “Ten-four,” James said. “Something’s off for sure.”

  “What are you thinking?” Sam asked over the radio.

  “I don’t know, but I know something bad is happening.”

  “Thomas, call Angel,” I demanded as sweat lined my brow.

  “I’m doing it, fucker.”

  Before I’d made it to the van, he said the words I didn’t want to hear.

  “She never made it, man.”

  Bile rose in my throat and I tried my best to swallow it down. “Everyone, get your ass back here.”

  “What are you thinking, Morgan?” James asked as he appeared by my side.

  “I don’t know, man, but I think we definitely got played. There is no w
ay in hell anything would stop Race from showing up here today. I may have told her not to, but I knew she wouldn’t listen.” I tried to keep calm, but on the inside, I was crumbling.

  “We’ll find her, man.” James patted me on the shoulder. “Move your asses,” he barked into the radio.

  “Fuck me,” I whispered, shrugging his hand away. “I did this.”

  “Stop being a pussy,” James blurted. “You didn’t do shit.”

  I started to hyperventilate. “I did.” I drew in a shaky breath, pushing down the fear that started to grip me. “If she were here, I’d know she was safe.”

  “Yo!” Sam yelled as he jogged into the building, Thomas right on his heels.

  “We’re all here. Move your asses,” Thomas said, pointing toward the truck.

  I pushed the fear away, readying myself for battle.

  I’d get her back.

  I climbed into the car, feeling on edge but ready to kick Tyler’s ass.

  Who was I kidding?

  I planned to wring his neck until I choked the very last breath out of him.

  The car ride was a whirlwind.

  Thomas and James were on the phone with contacts, gathering intel and trying to find someone willing to hack into the phone records to try to pinpoint her location. I tried to text her and call her again, but she didn’t respond or pick up.

  Even if she were livid with me, she would have texted me back. I’d made it pretty clear how worried I was and that she was in grave danger, but nada. No reply from Race.

  “She isn’t responding,” I said after the fifth text.

  “I got a guy working on her location,” James said, flipping the phone in his hand.

  “We’re just about there,” Sam called out, moving his face closer to the window, sitting forward and ready to go.

  When James’s phone rang, the car grew silent. “Hit me,” James said as he stared at me.

  Please let her be okay.

  “Got it. On our way there now,” James said before disconnecting the call. “Last known location was her office. After that, the signal goes cold. Someone turned her phone off.”

  “Motherfucker,” I growled as I punched the dashboard.

  “Stay calm, man,” Thomas said, grabbing my shoulder.

  “Easy for you to say.” I closed my eyes as my chest tightened. “I need to find my woman.”

  “Listen, we’ve done this shit more than once. We always get the girl back. Always,” Thomas said in a calm, even voice.

  “It’s almost an inauguration of sorts around these parts. Angel was kidnapped and Izzy was abducted. Somehow, they’re still alive and breathing.”

  “What the fuck?” I asked, jerking my head back. “What the hell did you guys get me involved in?”

  “Life isn’t always pretty,” James replied, giving me a shrug.

  “It happens when you live your life on the edge, Morgan. You wouldn’t be so upset if you didn’t have feelings for Race.”

  “Fuck you! I’d still be pissed off that we were duped,” I shot back.

  “Yeah, but it stings because you fucked up and you like the girl. I promise we’ll get her back,” Thomas said, staring out the window, surveying the parking lot as we pulled in.

  Before the truck came to a stop, I opened my door and hopped out, using the extra speed to run toward the doors.

  I could see Johnny’s truck in the distance near Race’s car. She’d called, just like I’d assumed, but where the fuck was she?

  “James!” I yelled, stopping near the entrance as the guys climbed out. “Go see if Race is over there by her car.”

  He nodded, jogging away quickly.

  “Excuse me, sir?” I asked, trying to catch my breath as I ran inside.

  “Yes?” the portly security guard asked as he rose from his chair.

  “Did you see a blond woman leave here about thirty minutes ago?” I leaned on the desk, ready to push off and run.

  “Do you mean Ms. True?” he asked as a smile spread across his face.

  “Yes,” I snapped as my jaw stiffened.

  “Why, yes. She was waiting outside for a taxi last I saw her,” he replied.

  “Did she get in a taxi?”

  His lips bunched as his forehead drew down. “I don’t know, sir. I didn’t pay attention.”

  “Fucking great,” I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut.

  “Find her?” James asked as he jogged through the doors.

  “She isn’t here,” I replied as I made tight fists, trying not to punch something.

  “Not outside, either.”

  “Fucking hell. We lost her,” I said, starting to pace.

  James touched my shoulder. “Come on, man. Let’s go to the office. We’ll find her.”

  “We better,” I whispered.

  I wasn’t done with Race True.

  This wasn’t how we were supposed to end.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Darkness

  Race

  Darkness surrounded me.

  I lay there frozen, unable to see, as my eyes were covered by something.

  My bones ached, my head throbbed, and I couldn’t move. My hands and feet were bound, my torso strapped down, leaving me unable to so much as wiggle.

  What the fuck happened?

  The only sounds in the room were my labored breathing and the sob that was about to burst from my throat.

  It all came flooding back to me.

  The flat tire.

  Waiting outside for the taxi.

  Tossing my gun in my purse.

  And then… I gasped for air. Then the attack.

  I hadn’t seen it, but I’d felt the blow to my jaw as the pain radiated across my face. As I’d grabbed my chin, I was struck in the head. As the world had gone dim, my knees had crumpled and I’d fallen to the ground.

  I had been so consumed by my anger toward Morgan that I hadn’t been aware of my surroundings.

  It was my fault I was here.

  I began to cry.

  “Hello?” I whispered, so low that I barely heard it myself.

  I held my breath, waiting for a reply, but heard nothing in response as tears streamed down my cheeks.

  I need to take slow breaths and keep myself calm, I told myself over and over again.

  I couldn’t do it.

  Who the fuck could keep their wits about them in a situation like this? Seriously. I’d like to think I was pretty levelheaded, but right now images of Texas Chainsaw Massacre kept playing over and over again inside my head.

  Pulling at the restraints, I started to hyperventilate.

  My heart beat so furiously that it was all I could hear.

  A door opened, making me freeze.

  “Ah, you’re awake,” said a woman from a distance.

  I held my breath, waiting for my heart to explode as her heels clicked against the floor.

  “Can you help me?” I whispered, remaining still.

  She cackled, slapping the bottom of my feet. “Silly Race.”

  I tried to flinch, but I couldn’t move an inch. The tender flesh stung where her hand had landed.

  “Please. I’ll do anything you ask,” I said, my voice strained.

  “You know, you’re not as light as you look.” She dragged her fingernails up the side of my leg, leaving fire in their wake. “Always the perfect skinny bitch with perfect tits and never a bit out of place.”

  I gasped.

  I knew the voice. The acidic tone was one I’d heard before.

  Natasha.

  The coworker I’d thought I was friends with.

  She had to be Tyler’s wife.

  “Where’s Tyler? Did he put you up to this?” I asked, trying to swallow but not finding enough moisture to make it possible.

  “You think you have everything figured out, don’t you?” she snarled in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “Tyler was never behind this, darling.”

  Wait. What?

  “You’ve been the one sending me mes
sages?” I asked as my stomach turned.

  “Your hired goons didn’t figure it out, did they? They pegged my husband all along.” She dragged her nails down my arm, pressing harder than she had on my leg.

  The skin had started to break, but I bit my lip. “Let me go, please, Natasha,” I begged through gritted teeth as I tried not to scream.

  “Don’t be a silly girl, Race. I’ve got you right where I want you.” Her heels tapped against the floor as she took three short steps away from me.

  The sound of metal clinking in the background put my senses on high alert. “I’ll do anything.”

  One step.

  Two steps.

  Three steps.

  “You don’t get it, do you?” she purred in my ear.

  “Tell me. I’ll make it right.” I turned my head toward the sound of her voice, trying to see through the dark material covering my eyes, but I saw only darkness.

  “There’s nothing you can do,” she said calmly.

  “I thought we were friends,” I whispered, fighting back the tears I knew I couldn’t wipe away.

  Cold metal touched my cheek, the sharpness of the edge biting into my flesh. “We were friends.”

  I stilled.

  “Until I found Tyler watching your video.” Her warm breath skidded across my face. “I thought he loved me, but it was never me that he had been thinking about.”

  “But you’re his wife.” Nothing like stating the obvious to a crazy person as she held a knife against my face—no doubt I was thinking about as clearly as she was.

  “I am, but you’re the one he thinks about when he touches himself. Not me!” she yelled in my ear, making me flinch.

  “But I—”

  She pressed the blade deeper into my skin. “Keep your fucking mouth shut! Imagine how my heart shattered when I walked in on him. He sat there, moaning as he watched you on the screen and pictured you doing those things to him.”

  I gasped.

  “It’s you that he fantasizes about. You’re the one he makes love to. I knew it, but I didn’t believe it until he said your name in his sleep.”

  “Natasha, I never ever knew Tyler. I swear I had no idea.” My breath caught as the blade slid under the blindfold.

  Squinting, I tried to focus my eyes as the material fell to the table. I blinked, trying to clear the tears away.