by Mia Knight
Gavin reloaded his gun and walked outside to see if there was more work to do. Unfortunately, his men had already taken care of everything. Those that thought they were safe in these cabins were now strewn across the sand. His men knew the drill and were already loading the bodies into the SUV to be transported to be buried in the desert where they would never be found.
A man at his feet moaned. Gavin looked down and saw that the man had been shot twice in the gut, a painful way to die. When he saw Gavin, his eyes bulged and he made urgent, terrified noises. Gavin crouched as the man tried to edge away. Gavin pulled out his knife and yanked the man’s head to the side to examine Santana's brand—a skull tattoo with the number twenty four in roman numerals on his throat.
“I’m gonna need this,” Gavin said, tapping the tattoo with the tip of his knife.
The man tried to push his hand away. Gavin restrained him with ease and got to work. By the time his phone rang, the man was dead and he held a dripping slice of skin with Santana's brand on it. He grabbed a switchblade and pinned the piece of skin on the outside of the cabin. If more men tried to take refuge in these cabins, they would know he wasn’t far behind.
“Yeah?” Gavin said into the phone.
“I unscrambled the numbers. What are you looking for?” Z asked.
“An incoming call that came in at around nine or ten this morning.” An hour or two before the attack.
“There was a call at ten oh one. It’s a prepaid phone, not registered to anyone.”
“Give me the number.” Gavin wrote the number on the wall in blood. “Got it.”
“The caller was at the hospital that was attacked when he made the call.”
Gavin closed his eyes to rein in his beast. “And which hospital is Stark’s mother at?” He waited, but already had a sneaking suspicion that he knew the answer.
“Same hospital. She’s on the fourth floor.”
Was it just by chance that Stark had been visiting his mother at the same hospital where they were having an event? “I’m gonna make a call, try to pinpoint his location.”
“Will do, sir.”
“How is everything with the surveillance tapes?”
“Scrambled.”
“Good work.”
Gavin hung up with Z and glanced at the bloody numbers as he plugged them into his phone. As the phone began to ring, he walked back into the silent cabin so the caller wouldn’t hear the groans of the dying.
The line picked up, but no one spoke. The silence stretched.
“This is Gavin Pyre.”
He thought he heard an indrawn breath on the other end, but couldn’t be sure.
“You fucked up today. I’m coming for you.”
The line went dead. Gavin stood in the middle of the cabin for a moment to get his bearings. There was a fine trembling in the hand holding the phone.
Gavin called Z. “Did you get his location?”
“He’s at the hospital.”
Adrenaline fizzled in his veins. The monster inside of him roared with the need to end this fucker. He swallowed his need to mutilate the dead bodies and washed his hands before he walked outside. He slid into his car and didn’t have to signal for a group of men to follow. Six men stopped what they were doing and loaded into an SUV.
Gavin headed back to the city. There was a firestorm taking place inside of him. Fury burned a hole in his gut. When he was gutting Santana this morning, the man claimed he didn’t know the identity of the Phantom. Gavin figured he was telling the truth since he started Santana’s death by cutting his fingers one by one. If Eli Stark was part of this mess, he might be the key to finding the Phantom once and for all.
Gavin strode into the hospital with his men following at a discreet distance. The lobby was filled with cops, reporters, medical staff and concerned family members who were still trying to figure out what happened this morning.
Gavin took the elevator to the fourth floor. As he strode through the corridor, he approached two cops. Their hands edged towards their weapons. Every cop in the state recognized his face. The dirty ones knew exactly what he was capable of while the other half suspected and dreamed of being the one to bag him. Too bad they had never been able to pin shit on him until the money laundering charge. He had been at such a low point that he hadn’t acted swiftly enough and had to serve time or let them dig deeper and possibly find evidence of first-degree murder since he hadn’t been in his right mind at the time. Gavin looked them boldly in the eye, daring them to do something. They didn’t.
He glanced into rooms as he passed. Most patients were asleep. Some family members eyed him suspiciously, but he was gone before they could ask what he wanted. Hospital staff rushed through the halls despite the late hour.
Gavin opened a door without knocking and leaned in, expecting to see a sleeping patient. Paul Vega sat up in bed, papers scattered over his sheets and a laptop on his tray table. He looked over the top of his glasses at Gavin. The light from the screen illuminated the hatred in his eyes, which he didn’t bother to conceal.
Gavin stared at him. What the fuck? The fact that his lifelong enemy was a patient at this hospital was too convenient. Was this the only fucking hospital in the city?
“Fuck off, Pyre,” Paul growled.
Gavin glanced back at his men. “Find Stark’s mother. Two of you stay with her. The other two sweep the hospital floors and see if you can locate Stark.”
Gavin stepped in and closed the door behind him. “What are you doing here, Paul?”
“What the fuck does it look like? I have pneumonia.” He took off his glasses and glared at Gavin as he advanced across the room. “You’re not allowed in here.”
“I’m allowed anywhere. No place is off limits. I thought after I fucked you up in your office, you’d realize that.”
It was true that Vega looked like shit, but his frail appearance didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous.
“I have a lot of work to do, Pyre.”
Gavin stopped beside the bed. “Restful day?”
“No thanks to you,” he said sourly. “You must have a death wish to kill Santana. You stirred up a hornet’s nest and don’t have the manpower you’re going to need.”
In his youth he endured many of Paul’s futile attempts to wrench the title from his father. Despite the fact that his father and now he had thrashed Paul soundly, Vega still didn’t respect his authority, which made his fingers itch for his knife. When he asked his father why he didn’t just kill Paul, his father said, “Better the devil you know.”
“You’re losing your hold on the city, Pyre,” Paul said quietly. “Why don’t you just give it up?”
“Give it up to who?”
Paul gathered his papers and began to stack them, rapping them on the tray table to straighten them out. He was nervous. Gavin eased closer and saw his body tense.
“You know something, Paul?” he asked and made sure his voice was light and pleasant.
Paul studied his papers as if the information on it were more important than their conversation. “I’m too busy running my practice to delve into the underworld.”
“Yet you knew I got Santana. How?”
“I have my sources.”
“You’re lying to me, Vega,” Gavin said.
“I don’t owe you shit. You told me you’d find the crime lord who murdered Rafael and you haven’t.”
“I will.”
Paul scoffed. “He’s too powerful. You’re in over your head. He’s giving us—”
Paul stopped, but it was too late.
“You’re joining the man who murdered your son?” Gavin asked.
Paul bared his teeth in a snarl. “I either join or end up like Manny. He’s rewarded me, offered me more than you fuckers ever did.” Spit flew as his emotions got the better of him and rage made him reckless. “How many can you kill? You think your name will protect you? You have nowhere to turn. Manny and Vinny are gone and he’s already carved up that pretty wife of yours. Who next?�
Gavin wasn’t aware that his body moved. He didn’t hear the laptop and papers crash to the floor when he wrapped his hand around Paul’s throat or notice Paul’s hand scrabbling over his suit. He wasn’t aware of anything until he saw Paul’s glazed eyes staring up at him. He was dead. The fact that he didn’t remember strangling Paul to death should have alarmed him. It didn’t. One less enemy was a plus in his book.
The door opened. Gavin whirled and saw Steven Vega in the doorway, leaning on a cane. Before Steven could do more than register that there was a man standing over his father’s bed, Gavin had him pinned to the wall. Steven Vega’s eyes were wild with panic as Gavin squeezed his skinny neck. Steven wriggled like a fish on a hook with tears in his eyes. He was so pathetic that Gavin’s beast retreated in disgust.
Gavin tossed Steven on the ground. He landed on all fours and cowered.
“Your father’s dead,” Gavin said.
For a moment Steven didn’t seem to hear him and then his head snapped up. He stared at Gavin and then struggled to his feet and limped to his father’s bed. Steven’s hands hovered over his father’s face.
“He sided with the man who took my place,” Gavin said. “You know anything about that?”
Steven shook his head without looking away from his father. A tear slid down his cheek.
“I should kill you,” Gavin said.
Steven’s thin body went rigid.
“If you’re smart, you’ll stick to the courtrooms and not get involved in the underworld like Rafael and your father.” He paused and added, “If you don’t, you’ll meet the same fate. You understand me?”
Steven didn’t move.
“Yes or no?”
“Y-yes,” Steven whispered.
Gavin walked into the hallway and saw one of his men standing outside of a room. He approached and told his man about Paul Vega. His guard immediately set off to take care of the paperwork and whatever else was needed.
Gavin walked into Maureen Stark’s hospital room. A lone sunflower perched in a vase on the table. Gavin gripped the bedrail and leaned down to examine her. She had a shock of white hair, was on the heavy side and bore no resemblance to Eli.
It had been nearly three years since Eli’s mother went into a coma, yet he hadn’t pulled the plug. The bloody trail he left in the wake of her attack was proof that he had feelings for her, but his unwillingness to let her go revealed his depth of devotion and love. The hospital bills were hefty and backing up fast. Is that why Stark betrayed him?
Images of his own mother passed through his mind. She was soft-spoken, gentle, and affectionate. He thought of Lyla and Nora and turned away from the bed. His guards were watching him, waiting for orders.
A crime lord couldn’t afford to have a heart.
“Get rid of her,” Gavin said as he walked past them and left Maureen Stark behind.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lyla
Lyla sat on the floor with her back against the couch as Nora lay on her back and played with her toys. Beau sat beside her. She absently scratched his back as she tried to make up her mind. She glanced at her watch and then around the room before she typed in Jonathan’s number. He could have changed it in the past two years, but... She dialed and put the phone to her ear. The phone rang four times. She wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or worried and then...
“Hello?”
Lyla let out a long breath. “Jonathan?”
“Lyla, are you okay?” he asked immediately.
She dropped her face into her hand. She wasn’t sure what she was. “Yes, I’m okay. Are you?”
“I’m back in Maine.”
“You still live in the same place?”
“Of course.”
She bit her lip. “Jonathan, you can’t stay there. I tried to talk to him, but...”
“No one can control him. That’s why that guy tranquilized him.”
Lyla froze. “You saw?”
“Yes. You’re in danger, Lyla.”
He had no idea. “So are you. I’m so sorry—”
“I shouldn’t have interfered in your life. You left me for my own good. I realize that now.”
“I don’t know what he’s going to do, Jonathan.”
“Did he hurt you?” he asked sharply.
“No.”
“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”
“How?” she snapped and then her spine snapped as she sat up straight. “You’re not going to go to the cops, are you?”
“Would that do any good?”
“Probably not.”
“Then I’ll handle it.”
Her gut clenched. “I want you to keep in touch with me. I have to make sure...”
“Make sure I’m breathing?”
“Call me everyday, morning and night.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I don’t care!”
“Lyla, calm down.”
“How can you be so cavalier about this? You saw him yesterday.”
“I did.” A pause and then, “I’m worried about you.”
“You should be more worried about yourself.”
“I never imagined you were hiding something like this.” He sighed. “That’s life. Sometimes you’re stupid enough to fall for a girl who used to date a crime boss. That’s the luck of the draw.”
“This isn’t a joke.”
“I know,” he said, sounding more sober. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Call me when you go to work and when you come home.”
“Isn’t he monitoring your phone?”
He had in the past. It’s why she hesitated to call Jonathan, but she couldn’t handle the suspense of not knowing whether he was alive or not. “He has more important things to do.”
“If you say so.”
“Call me when you get off work,” she ordered.
“Yes, ma’am. Stay safe, Lyla.”
“You too.”
Lyla hung up and dropped her face between her knees and took long breaths. Jonathan was still alive. She hadn’t been able to sleep after Gavin left. How could she after the things he said in the basement?
The front door opened and her head rose. She straightened when Marcus appeared. She rose, alarmed.
“Is something wrong?” she asked as he strode towards her.
Marcus didn’t stop until he wrapped his arms around her. She was stunned and then she hugged him back.
“Marcus, you’re scaring me,” she said.
He pulled back and set his hands on her shoulders. His eyes were troubled.
“I know what happened at the hospital yesterday,” he said.
“Oh.”
Of course he did. How could Gavin be MIA at Pyre Casinos without Marcus’s cooperation? It surprised her, though. Marcus seemed too strait laced to know everything that Gavin did on the side. Apparently, even Marcus wasn’t what he seemed.
“Are you all right?” He pulled back and scanned her.
“Yes, I’m fine. Is that why you came?”
“Yeah, Blade briefed me and I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
That was beyond sweet. After what happened yesterday, his concern was like a balm on her raw nerves. Fighting for her life had become a regular occurrence, but Marcus treated her like a fragile flower and she liked it.
“I’m okay. You’re so sweet for coming out here.”
“Of course,” Marcus said simply as if his arrival was nothing out of the ordinary. “Blade said Carmen left the hospital before the shooting started?”
“Yes.”
“And she’s safe?”
“Uh, yeah. Did you want to—?” She pointed upstairs, but he shook his head.
“No, I just wanted to make sure everyone was fine.”
He looked down at Nora who screamed in delight at nothing in particular. He knelt beside her in his flawless suit and grinned at her.
“You’re a happy girl, aren’t you?” Marcus asked and Nora’s eyes lit up. “You’re going to drive your daddy crazy, okay? I’ll teach you how.”
The front door opened again and Lyla tensed, expecting to see Gavin and was stunned when Alice and Janice waltzed in.
“Oh my gosh!” Alice shouted and rushed forward.
She hugged Lyla and rocked her from side to side while she babbled fervent apologies.
“I’m so sorry! What are the chances that some gangsters would choose to come into that hospital to battle during our event? I’m sure Mr. Pyre is furious. I’m scared to check my emails. He can’t fire me over this, can he? I heard the authorities still don’t know why the gang members were there, but there were two incidents, one in the new Pyre wing and one in the parking garage.” Alice pulled back and scanned Lyla. “Are you hurt? Are you okay? Do you need to talk to someone?”
“No, I’m okay.” Their arrival was like a breath of fresh air, clearing out the doom and gloom hanging over the fortress.
“Are you sure?” Alice insisted. “Sometimes people can be traumatized by the sound of gunshots or what could have happened.”
If Alice only knew... “I think I’m going to be fine.”
Alice squeezed her arms and stepped back, only to notice Marcus holding Nora. Worry disappeared from Alice’s face. She hopped and clapped her hands.
“I never got to hold her the other day. Oh my God, she’s adorable! Give her to me, Marcus!”
Janice came forward and also gave her a hug. “I’m so sorry about yesterday. Although it was truly unfortunate, we got even more positive publicity for the Pyre Foundation so...” Janice bobbed her hands as if they were scales. “No one was seriously injured except for the hospital director. Did you hear?”
Lyla suppressed a vivid image of the director lying in a pool of his own blood. “Yes, I did.” Lyla felt as if there was a hole burning in her chest. Knowing the cause of the shooting and playing dumb was absolute hell.
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