“All right. Come on.”
As Jake led her into the darkness, the tension smothered them. There was a dangerous feeling in here, which reminded Jake of the testosterone-fueled frenzies at the crowd-control stakeouts he’d been on as a cop. This place smelled of stale fish, ground-in cigarettes, and burly men. The sleazy atmosphere sizzled off the dirty walls. Something was happening here. The abandoned crates and concrete floor seemed to be taunting him. But failure wasn’t an option.
They strode further inside, losing sight of the entrance. As they halted by a pillar, Jake gripped his gun and glanced back at Astrid. She nodded her assurance. He threw her a thin smile, hoping to let her know how proud he was. But now wasn’t the time for sentimentality. He hardened himself against the world.
Jake stepped forward and his boot crunched on broken glass. Checking Astrid was behind him again, he led her around the corner, holding his gun up and ready to fire.
He wheeled around the pillar, bracing himself to see Graves, but he stopped in shocked confusion. There was no one here – just three ornate full-length mirrors – one ahead and one on each side – showing him his reflection for eternity. Astrid crept around and halted behind him.
They made eye contact in the mirror in front of them. “What’s going on?” she whispered.
He opened his mouth to call out for Graves, but a commotion between the gap of two of the mirrors seized his attention. Emma was suddenly shoved into the center of the space, where she fell to the dirty floor, whimpering. Her wrists were tied with gaffer tape, and her nose was bleeding. She was a shadow of the young woman who Jake had met back in her hometown.
Astrid moved as if to run to her, but he grabbed her arm. “No, Astrid, it’s a trap.”
“I can’t just leave her.” She broke free of Jake’s grip and darted over to hold her sister in her arms. Jake let her go – realizing it shouldn’t do any harm. Emma started crying and telling Astrid how sorry she was, but Jake refused to be distracted by their reunion – he needed to find Graves, and he needed to make sure justice was served. The tense atmosphere sizzled in his bones.
Jake’s attention was caught by a shadowy male figure trying to creep out from behind the opposite mirror – obviously hoping Emma’s dramatic appearance would distract from him. Jake gripped his gun. It was Graves…
His heart pounded, ready for action. “Graves, freeze, it’s over.”
Graves smiled sinisterly. He pointed his gun at Astrid’s head, where she was still on the floor with her sister. “I don’t think so. You got my money?”
“Sure,” Jake lied. “Right here. Drop your gun.”
“Show me,” he said.
Jake opened his mouth to reply, but another man rushed out from behind the mirrors – Simon.
“Astrid, you fucking bitch!” he shouted, running at her.
Astrid glanced up. “No!”
Jake aimed his gun to shoot Simon, but he hesitated. Simon was unarmed – and Graves was pointing his gun right at Astrid’s head. In a split-second he realized he couldn’t risk Astrid’s life.
Simon bent to grab Astrid by the shirt, but she struggled in his arms – shouting at him to leave her alone – so different to the Astrid Simon had previously known, who he could bully and abuse. Jake rushed to help her, as Graves shouted angrily at Simon. “This isn’t part of the plan, Simon, what the hell are you doing?”
“I need her back. I want her back!”
“I won’t let you hurt me anymore!” Astrid shouted. “You’ll never get me back.”
Jake dived into the fracas as Astrid drew back her fist and punched Simon, who stumbled at the impact.
Jake was impressed. “Nice right-hook, sweetheart. But here’s how you can punch him even better.”
Jake slugged Simon hard in the face, causing him to crumple to the ground.
“I prefer this tactic,” Astrid said, pulling back her foot and kicking him in the balls.
Simon whimpered as her foot made contact between his legs.
“That works too,” Jake said.
With his last ounce of determined strength, Simon grabbed her ankle.
“You leave me alone!” she shouted. “I’m not the girl you think I am, and I’m not afraid of you anymore.”
Jake grabbed her before she could kick him again – Simon was definitely incapacitated now, but in the confusion, Graves grabbed Emma and held his gun aggressively against her head. “Stop it or I’ll blow her fucking head off – I mean it!”
They both turned to where Graves was holding the struggling Emma against himself.
“Please don’t hurt her!” Astrid shouted.
Jake shrugged. “It’s okay, Astrid. Go ahead, Graves. Blow her fucking head off.”
Astrid’s head whipped around. “Jake, what the hell are you saying!”
“He won’t do it.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because Emma’s on his side.”
Astrid’s mouth fell open in shock. She breathed heavily, still trying to get her breath back from the assault on Simon. “What?”
“Right, Emma?” Jake asked.
Astrid turned to gaze at her little sister. Shocked silence reverberated off the walls as they waited for her answer.
Emma’s rigid frightened demeanor softened and Graves released her from his grip. She stepped away, reverting to the troublemaker Jake had previously known before. “Clever, detective Quinlan.” Emma said.
“What’s going on?” Astrid asked. “Emma… you’re Graves’ accomplice?”
Guilt flashed over Emma’s face. “Just give us the money and we’ll leave.”
“There’s no money,” Astrid said. “What are you doing? You faked your own kidnapping with these two scumbags?”
Emma opened her mouth to explain but, before she could speak, Graves grabbed her again, actually hurting her now and making her struggle. “Cole, what are you doing?”
He pushed her to the ground and pointed his gun at her. “If there’s no money, then I have no further use for you, Emma. As much fun as it’s been… And after I’ve taken care of Emma, I’ll kill you too Astrid.”
“Please…” Astrid stuttered. “Neither of us have done anything wrong.”
“That’s not true!” Graves shouted, suddenly furious. “I’ve promised my technology to some Russians who are keen to sell it on their arms black-market. And other militaries around the world want it too, including the Iranians. If I can’t deliver, my life’s at stake, and you convinced the Quinlans to quash my project. All I wanted was for you to approve it – was it really that hard?”
“But it’s not safe…”
“You’re such a fucking do-gooder. Why couldn’t you do as I ask? You’ve fucked up my project, you didn’t bring my money… and didn’t I say no cops?”
Graves glanced angrily at Jake.
Jake loved these kinds of protracted speeches – it gave him time to think… to plan. “I’m no cop,” he said. “I don’t need to worry about obeying the law, and I’m not afraid to shoot you. So drop your weapon and let Emma go. Right now. Or I’ll blow Simon’s head off.”
Jake directed his gun at Simon. Simon flinched, cowering. “No, please!”
“Why should I spare your life?” Jake asked. “Astrid’s told all about the shit you put her through. So killing you would really be my pleasure.” He turned back to Graves. “You kill Emma and I’ll kill Simon.”
Graves snorted. “Why would I care if you killed Simon? He’s of no use to me.”
“Because he’s still got something you want… the dirt on Astrid. The diaries… it all makes sense now – Simon’s involvement in all this. You bribed Simon to get the diaries from Emma, because he wanted some dirt on Astrid – because she was about to discredit you.” He flicked his glance at Astrid. “You don’t realize how much power you have, sweetheart – how much you’ve always had.”
“I was just doing my job. I don’t make the rules.”
“No. But you’re inc
orruptible. Unbribable. Graves knew that, so he sought out your sister instead. He’d obviously heard how corruptible she is.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Emma said, tears welling in her eyes. “I didn’t know it would end like this.”
“What?” Jake said. “That he’d double-cross you and use you as collateral damage?”
Emma whimpered on the cold floor. Jake pointed his gun dramatically at Simon. “I’m not afraid to kill him,” Jake said. “It would be my pleasure. Astrid, Emma – cover your eyes.”
He fired the trigger, simultaneously moving his gun so that the bullet smashed into the huge mirror behind Simon, shattering it into smithereens and making Simon roll onto his front for cover. Graves recoiled from the blast, so Astrid – who’d covered her face at Jake’s instruction – raised her own gun and shot Graves in the shoulder, pinning him to the mirror behind him, and cracking it down the middle. Jake sped over and pulled Graves to his feet, then punched him hard – taking his gun away and kicking him in the stomach to wind him while he was down.
At the sound of gunfire, the cops piled in, rushing over to arrest Simon and Graves. Jake shouted instructions at them, then he ran to Astrid and pulled her into his arms. “You okay, my love?”
She nodded. “I think so.”
“You did great, babe. I’m so proud of you.”
Astrid threw him a smile of relief, then she turned to check Emma was okay. But she was crying – crumpled on the floor – so Astrid crouched down with her.
Jake surveyed the scene, as the excitement buzzed all around – rights were being read, and cops were shouting at Graves, Simon, and each other. He stood over Emma and Astrid. “Emma, I should tell these cops that you were involved in this.”
Astrid stood up, leaving Emma strewn on the ground. She placed her hand on Jake’s arm. “Please… she’s sorry. She didn’t mean –”
Emma’s face suddenly contorted and she cried out in agony. Jake wheeled round to see that Simon had broken free, grabbed a gun, and shot her in the shoulder.
Shocked silence gripped the room. Simon held the gun toward Emma with shaking hands. “I’m going to kill her,” he shouted. “And then I’ll kill Astrid!”
Jake held up his hands to placate him, but two cops behind leapt forward and slammed into him, tackling him easily to the ground, where they disarmed him and put him in handcuffs. Jake ripped off his shirt and pressed it against Emma’s gushing shoulder. She was wailing in pain. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
“I think that’s enough penance for you,” Jake said. “Astrid, call an ambulance… She’ll be okay. I’ve had personal experience of a bullet in the shoulder. It hurts like hell, but she’ll recover.”
Astrid grabbed her phone and called the first responders, who arrived quickly and removed the bullet from Emma’s shoulder right there in the disused warehouse. She was taken away to the emergency room, but the paramedics assured Astrid she’d be fine. Astrid wanted to go with her, but the police who’d arrived with the paramedics wanted to ask Jake and Astrid some questions, so they stayed to answer them in a blur.
Eventually, the police said they had enough information for now, and Jake and Astrid found themselves alone in the warehouse.
They gazed at each other. The tension swirled between them – full of relief, love, and pumping adrenaline. The warehouse walls seemed to exhale – glad it was all over. Astrid burst into laughter. “Jesus, that was…”
She shook her head and trailed off. Jake wrapped her up in his arms. “You did amazing. Your sister should be okay. How do you feel?”
“Shattered. Like those mirrors.”
He cupped her chin. “It’s true that the old Astrid is shattered in pieces. But now the new Astrid can emerge from behind the smeary reflection, and shine.”
She chuckled. “Very eloquent. I feel new. Shiny.”
He gazed at her beautiful face and felt his affection soar. “You look it.”
Astrid opened her mouth to reply, but Daniel wafted inside – now the danger was over. “Well,” he said. “All’s well that ends well, huh?”
Jake smiled. “I guess so.”
“But there was just one more thing,” Daniel said, delving into his jacket.
“Oh yeah?” Jake asked.
“Yeah.” Daniel pulled out his gun. “Hand over the treasure map.”
Jake sighed – this guy just didn’t take no for an answer. “Not in a million years.”
Daniel pointed his gun at Astrid. “Give it to me now, Jake. Or I’ll kill her.”
Astrid stood firm, not even flinching. Jake was so proud of how far she’d come in such a short time.
“Why do you want it so badly?” Jake asked. “You don’t even know how much money’s buried there.”
“I don’t care,” he said. “I just want to beat you.” He glanced at Astrid, and realized she was still holding her gun – but it was pointing down at the floor.
“Drop it, Astrid,” Daniel said. “And get your hands where I can see ‘em. You shoot me, I’ll shoot you quicker.”
Jake nodded. “It’s okay. Do as he says.”
She lowered her gun to the ground and put her hands up. “This is a mistake, Daniel.”
“The only mistake you made was getting together with this guy.” Daniel stepped toward Jake, still directing his gun at Astrid. “Give me the map, Jake. No fucking about with me this time, or I’ll blow her head off. I will do it. It’s just the three of us – no witnesses. I’ll say it was you who killed her.”
Jake realized he had no choice, so he reached into his jacket and pulled out the precious map he’d been protecting all this time. He handed it to Daniel with a sly grin, because when all was said and done, he knew he didn’t really need it anymore.
Daniel grabbed the map with a triumphant smile on his smug face, then he walked backwards toward the exit, holding his gun aloft – pointing it at Astrid.
“Bye bye, losers,” he called out as he reached the door. Then he turned and ran.
Jake stepped over and hugged his beloved. “You okay, sweetheart?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I guess it was inevitable that Daniel would double-cross us.”
“I know.” He pulled her close, relishing the fact that his prize was right here in his arms. He gazed mischievously into her eyes. “Hey, you still wanna come on that treasure hunt with me?”
“But the map… Didn’t Daniel just take it?”
“You think I don’t have a back-up?”
“You’ve memorized it?”
“Sure I have.”
She laughed excitedly. “All right. Come on then. I can probably stretch to a little more adventure with you, before retreating back to the quiet life for a while!”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Astrid called her parents and told them to get to the hospital to be with Emma as soon as they could. They sounded frantic, but somehow Astrid had never felt so alive. The world was an amazing place, full of adventure, and Jake had triggered her sense of fun. And he was so handsome and sexy!
They headed back to the car, and Jake rolled down the top, then they set off after Daniel with the wind blowing in their hair. Astrid’s excitement whooshed through her like the autumn breeze through the trees.
“We’re heading back to New York,” Jake said, raising his voice against the wind. “The treasure’s buried near where I grew up.”
“What if Daniel gets there first?” she asked, fishing her hair out of her mouth. “He’ll steal it.”
Jake glanced at her with determination on his face. “Not while I still have my strength. He’s not stealing my legacy.”
Astrid smiled, trusting him completely. She gazed at him with her eyes full of love and excitement. He took one hand off the wheel and wrapped his arm around her, so she leaned across the center console and got comfy against his strong body.
Jake held her tight as they cruised down the highway toward their next adventure. At one point, when they were nearing the interstate, Jake spotted
Daniel’s car, and he overtook him, making Astrid laugh. But Daniel managed to edge in front, then he sped off in the fast lane.
“I wish I had my Ferrari,” Jake said.
They drove at high speed after Daniel for a couple of hours, down wide highways and over steel bridges. Astrid had never felt so exhilarated. Being with Jake was such a thrill. This was the most fun she’d had since she was a child. The highways made her feel energized and alive – but eventually they hit New York State, left the freeway, and drove toward a smaller town via a two-lane road.
Jake drove them into a secluded area, which was hilly with a river running through it. Astrid had never been here before, and she hadn’t realized the location of the treasure would be so pretty. The green hills looked stunning framed by the bright blue sky – with the warm yellow sun oozing down on them lazily. There was no one else around, but Daniel’s car was already parked – abandoned in a field so he could set off on foot to the location on the map.
“Where is he?” Astrid asked. “Are you sure this the right place?”
Jake pulled the car up beside Daniel’s and cut the engine. “Definitely. He must’ve wandered off. I bet he was confused by the river. Come on, sweetheart.”
He grabbed a tire iron from the trunk, then they held hands and ran to the place where Jake said the treasure was buried. He kissed her passionately, making her laugh, then he started to dig. The earth was crumbly and easy to move, so he quickly dug down a few feet – eager to uncover the treasure he’d been waiting for, for so long.
Anticipation swept through Astrid. “Your destiny’s right here, Jake.”
“It sure is, sweetheart.” He threw her that playful grin she loved so much. She opened her mouth to speak, but his tire iron clunked against something metallic buried deep in the ground. Astrid could barely contain her excitement as Jake pulled out an old metal locker – measuring roughly one foot deep and long. He rattled the rusted padlock, then grabbed his gun and blasted it open.
Anticipation seized Astrid, sending prickles of tension up her spine.
The Billionaire's Secret: Billionaire Obsession (Tycoon Billionaires Book 5) Page 18