Cold as Ice

by Allison Brennan

  But he still had his money. And that, Sean realized, had given him the ability to enact revenge.

  Did he blame Sean for Paxton’s own bad decisions? Or did he blame Sean because Sean caught him in the act? That he’d gone undercover to find the evidence to destroy him? Happily, too, and he’d do it all over again if he had to. Paxton had blackmailed him, forced him to steal for him; he’d held Sean’s past over his head so Sean had no choice. Truly, it was Paxton’s own fault for all the events that had led to his fall. Because if he hadn’t blackmailed Sean, Sean wouldn’t have had a reason to take him down.

  Except, of course, for his unhealthy infatuation with Lucy.

  “Sit,” Paxton said and motioned toward a leather chair across from his desk.

  Sean didn’t move.

  Colton put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him into the chair.

  “Do you want me to stay?” Colton asked Paxton.

  Paxton shook his head. “Please make sure that Sergio is keeping a close eye on Mr. Hunt. If he so much as sneezes, I want to know about it. And let me know the status of the investigation. I don’t want any surprises.”

  “Of course.”

  Colton left. Sean didn’t have anything to say to him right now. He didn’t think that his oldest friend could have been sucked in by Paxton’s charm and rhetoric, but he was wrong. Colton clearly admired him … why in hell he would admire this bastard, Sean didn’t know.

  Yes, you do. Paxton has always fought for the underdog. Violently, illegally, and sometimes cruelly. But his mission has always been clear.

  Colton was the same way. He’d always despised those in power who hurt those without power. Paxton had money. He probably funded projects Colton felt passionate about. Bought him off. Bought his loyalty.

  And Sean had betrayed Colton. It didn’t matter that what Sean did he did for the right reasons, that what he did was to protect Colton as much as Sean. He’d lied to his best friend and telling him he lied for his own good wouldn’t get him anywhere.

  Sean had once been the same as Colton. There were some things he did that he would never regret. Other things … Sean didn’t regret so much as he knew he’d never cross certain lines again.

  Because of Lucy? Partly. But mostly because he’d grown up. He valued his freedom too much to jeopardize it for a cause that he had little effect on. He would risk his life before he’d risk his freedom.

  “Do you know why I brought you here?” Paxton asked.

  “Revenge. A motive as old as time. I found the evidence that took you down. I would do it again if I could.”

  He sounded a lot braver than he felt. Sean recognized that Paxton held all the cards here.

  Paxton shook his head. “That hiccup slowed me down, but didn’t stop me. In fact, in many ways, I wouldn’t be where I am today without your interference. I realized that had I been successful then, I wouldn’t ultimately have changed anything. Those men were already in prison, and while they deserved nothing more than to die, it’s the predators who walk free—who slip through the broken system—who deserve my wrath. I went back to the beginning, to my original mission, and it’s served me well.”

  “If you’re so noble, why the hell are you working with a drug smuggler like Jimmy Hunt? Do you know what he’s done? Do you know who his son was? That he raped and killed dozens of women and Hunt covered it up? And yet you break him out of prison? Help him frame me?”

  “I’ve given this plan a lot of thought, and I need to destroy you as you tried to destroy me. Sometimes, we have to align ourselves with the bad for the greater good. You know that better than anyone, don’t you?”

  “I’m not letting you bait me.”

  “Bait you?” He smiled. “I know everything about you, Rogan.”

  “If you think Colton knows everything about me, you’re mistaken.”

  “Mona Hill was happy to spill everything for the right price. Long before she died, Colton paid her to find out exactly what you did that had her under your thumb. How you threatened her family. How you destroyed her blackmail business. How you used her for information. How you let her go when the police were looking for her. Cybercrime, breaking and entering, obstruction of justice … all very interesting.”

  “You don’t know everything, Paxton.” Sean wasn’t going to explain himself. Nothing he said was going to change Paxton’s opinion of him.

  “It didn’t take long to piece together all the information from Mona and what happened with Jimmy Hunt’s criminal network. And because you kept in touch with Mona, it was really quite simple to set her up so she’d call you when she saw Elise. It all worked out wonderfully—except that the police took too long to arrest you. They had to be gently steered in that direction, but once they found the gun and bloody rag, it was a slam dunk. Just in time for us to arrange the transport. And the rest is history.”

  “The authorities will figure it out,” Sean said. “No one is going to believe I killed Mona Hill, not when the evidence comes out.”

  “The evidence shows that you did. The prison break, which is clear that you orchestrated, is proof of your guilt.”

  “You’ve lost your mind.”

  “Do you realize that since Lucy met you, she’s been in danger dozens of times?”

  “She’s a federal agent. It comes with the job.”

  Paxton slammed his palm on his desk so hard and fast that Sean involuntarily jumped. “No! She’s in danger every day of her life because she’s married to a Rogan. She was in danger in New York looking for your cousin. She was in danger in Mexico because of your brother Liam. She was shot in the back because of your brother Kane. And do you think I forgot what happened in New York when you were trying to destroy me? She was kidnapped because of you and your crimes. Do you think you’ve cleaned out all the skeletons? Do you think that your family can keep her safe?”

  It dawned on Sean that Paxton had been watching him and Lucy for years. He knew far too much about things he shouldn’t know—like what went down with Liam in Mexico. They had kept that information close to the vest. Paxton had to have people in the know. Maybe even someone close to Sean.

  Sean absorbed what Paxton was saying. This was about his relationship with Lucy? Paxton was twisting everything … even though there was a kernel of truth in what he said. “Do you think you can keep her safe?” Sean said, sounding stronger and more confident than he felt. Because he couldn’t escape the sick feeling that he was missing something. “That Lucy would even want you in her life? After everything you did to her?”

  “Lucy is a strong, vibrant young woman. I’m so proud of her. She’s only made one mistake in her life, and that was marrying you. I thought for certain when she learned that you had a son by another woman that she would realize you have always been, and always will be, unworthy of her. Alas, she was smitten.”

  Sean didn’t respond. Didn’t know if he could. When he learned about Jesse his fear was that Lucy wouldn’t be able to get around the fact that he had a son—especially when she was unable to have children. But she had, and she loved Jesse.

  “Killing Mona Hill was plan B,” Paxton continued. “Colton, as good as he is, was unfortunately unable to execute plan A—which would have had you arrested for cybercrimes. He was impressed with your home security.”

  “So because Colton wasn’t good enough to frame me for a cybercrime, you jumped into bed with a predator to frame me for murder. Lucy is going to figure it out.”

  “It won’t matter if she learns the truth, because you’ll be out of her life. Permanently. And she’ll always have doubts about you. Added bonus.”

  “Then why didn’t you just hire a sniper to kill me?”

  “Because I want her to doubt you. I will destroy you in her eyes. The groundwork is already laid, it’s only a matter of time. Oh, she might tell everyone she believes in your innocence, that she believes in you,” he said with a flippant wave of his hand, “but when you disappear and leave a trail all over the world … she’ll doubt.
She’ll think you are running, that your freedom is more important to you than anything, including her. And she’ll choose more wisely next time.”

  “You’re sick.” Sean had no idea how he was going to get out of this. “You’re working with Jimmy Hunt. They kidnapped a federal agent—Kane is missing and I know Hunt’s behind it. You did that? You helped Hunt with his vendetta against my friends and family, all so he could frame me for killing Mona Hunt?”

  “He doesn’t realize it, but Hunt is as good as dead. Sean, really, do you think I would let him walk away from this? I just need him a little while longer. His network is … extensive and valuable.”

  “My brother has done more to rescue women and children from sex trafficking than anyone in the last ten years, he’s stopped more drugs from coming into the U.S. than any other individual, and you’re letting Hunt kill him? What does that make you?”

  “You don’t have faith in your brother, do you?” he said. “It was a risk I was willing to take, and I’m confident that Kane will find his way out of it. He’s quite resourceful.”

  “He will hunt you down and kill you.”

  “No one is going to know I’m part of this. Oh, maybe they’ll think Hunt did it because you stole his money, or maybe they’ll think Hunt was getting revenge over his son’s death, but there’s nothing to connect him to me.”

  Paxton’s phone vibrated. He read a message, typed, and a moment later Colton walked in. He handed Paxton a phone, and he listened to something. As he listened, his face reddened and the vein in his neck twitched. He handed Colton back the phone and said, “Bring him to me.”

  Colton left.

  What the hell happened? Sean didn’t dare speak, not right now. Paxton was furious about something—and Sean didn’t want to take the brunt of his wrath. At this point, all he needed was to find a phone and call Lucy or Rick or JT and tell them Jonathan Paxton was behind this. They’d start investigating. They’d find him.

  Sean had to find a way to escape. The longer he was here, the more danger he was in.

  He could pick the shackles, but he needed access to something narrow, slightly flexible, and strong.

  The grounds were patrolled by armed guards, there were cameras everywhere—Sean had noticed them coming in.

  He might find a way to take down the security from within.

  If he could get out of his shackles and find a computer hooked up to the network.

  If Colton wrote the security system, Sean could break it. Colton was good, but he was basic. He never thought outside the proverbial box. Colton’s strength was in planning and gathering information.

  Which meant that Colton would know that Sean would try to get to a computer. Find a way to lock him out.

  He might not have a choice. If Sean were creating a secure system, he would have a dedicated, closed security system that wasn’t connected wirelessly. Only phone lines or T1/T3 cables backed up by a dedicated generator in case of power outage. Wireless systems were the easiest to hack. For home security it wasn’t a problem for most people; for businesses or bad guys, they’d want the best security—which meant completely dedicated systems.

  Sean had to find the main security hub. Which was most likely in a secure room. Guarded, with cameras.

  But he had to get out of the shackles first.

  While he thought about his limited options, he watched Jonathan Paxton. Though he appeared to have calmed down, he was still angry—his jaw remained tight and he had an almost desperate look in his eyes. Then he stared at a photo on his desk for several minutes and that seemed to calm him down. From where Sean sat, he couldn’t see the image.

  Then the door opened and Paxton rose from his desk.

  Sean risked turning slightly in his chair so he could see who had entered.

  Jimmy Hunt. He’d showered and changed. Overused cologne filled the large room.

  “Mr. Hunt, I have a favor to ask,” Paxton said, his voice deceptively calm. Sean’s veins turned cold at the sound.

  “Anything, you know that,” Hunt said, gesturing to nothing specific. “We’re partners.”

  Paxton smiled, and Sean realized he was setting Hunt up for something. And Hunt couldn’t see it. How had this man run a criminal empire for so long?

  He was out of the country. His sister Margaret ran the day-to-day operations … and Nicole … and they were both smarter than Jimmy Hunt.

  “Would you please tell Mr. Rogan what our arrangement was?”

  Hunt looked confused. “I don’t understand.”

  “When my associate Colton approached you last year at Victorville. What did he ask?”

  “Umm, he said he worked for someone who could get me out of prison when the time was right.”

  “And?”

  “And I just had to testify that I hired a hit man to whack a low-level drug dealer.”

  “In exchange for?”

  “Freedom … oh, and you’d help me get revenge on the Rogans for killing my son and wife.”

  “Exactly. Later, when we finalized the arrangement, I had a condition.”

  When Hunt didn’t say anything, Paxton prodded, “I simply want Mr. Rogan to know that some people are off-limits, right? That certain people are protected?”

  “Oh, yeah. Right. No one can touch Lucy Kincaid.”

  “Yes. That’s right. You do remember.”

  Hunt smiled.

  Paxton didn’t.

  He pressed a button on his phone.

  Hunt’s voice came through.

  “I’m not, sweetie. I’m just worried because I’m your father. I need you to be safe.”

  “I am, Daddy. I wish I could kill Lucy, though. I really will do it; I won’t play with her like Donnelly. Wham bam, dead.”

  Sean recognized Elise’s singsong voice.

  “Not now. But later. I promise, when everything dies down, you can do it.”

  “You really promise?”

  “Yes.”

  Paxton ended the recording. Hunt waved his hand. “I was just telling her what she wanted to hear. If I didn’t tell her she could kill that bitch, umm, the fed, she might have done it anyway. She’s young and reckless. But I promised you we wouldn’t, and you can trust me, Jon. I’ve done everything you wanted, and then some.”

  Jonathan nodded. “Just so we have that straight.”

  “We do, we do. I know the terms. I’m not going to blow this. It’s too important, for both of us.”

  “Yes, it is.” Jonathan smiled. “Thank you again for all your help.” Jonathan extended his hand to shake Hunt’s.

  Sean knew what Paxton was going to do before he did it.

  While holding Hunt’s right hand, he flipped a butterfly knife that was concealed in his other hand, and stabbed Hunt in the gut all the way up to the hilt. Then he twisted the knife, pulled it out, and jabbed it back in at an angle, again twisted the hilt.

  Hunt’s mouth moved, but he didn’t—couldn’t—speak.

  “You were never going to walk away, Mr. Hunt. From the beginning, I was looking forward to killing you. I wanted to wait, because I needed a few more things from you … but you threatened my daughter, and I cannot have that.”

  Daughter.

  Sean felt the blood drain from his face.

  He leaned over so he could see the lone photo on Paxton’s desk.

  It was of Lucy and Paxton, at an event years ago, when Lucy volunteered for Women and Children First.

  Paxton had lost his mind.

  Chapter Forty-four

  HOUSTON, TEXAS

  It was after nine Saturday night before Michael Thompson was finally brought down to the interview room.

  The tipping point was that Paxton was not at his estate in New York. According to his staff, he only visited periodically, and hadn’t been there in months. They claimed not to know where he was, and gave the authorities a cell phone number they used to contact him. Rick called the number himself; it was disconnected. He was having Kate run a search on the number, but dou
bted they’d uncover anything of value without a warrant—and right now, they had no cause for a warrant.

  Jonathan Paxton could be anywhere in the world. He had the money and contacts to disappear.

  Thompson was barely six feet but walked as if he were taller, unlike most other prisoners, who seemed defeated to Lucy. He had a sense of peace surrounding him, as if he were comfortable with his fate.

  Maybe he was.

  If Lucy was right, then Thompson’s mission—to rid the world of sex offenders—was so righteous that even the possibility of his death didn’t faze him. In fact, he would be considered a martyr by many. And if she was right, he would never turn on Paxton, just like she told Rick.

  He was a true believer. Like Sergio Russo, no one would be able to convince him that killing sex offenders was immoral or wrong. He would insist that the law against it was corrupt, that he was justified in his actions.

  Megan stood and said to the guard, “You can take the handcuffs off Mr. Thompson.”

  “It’s against protocol.”

  “I’ll take responsibility,” she said.

  The guard complied, and motioned for Thompson to take a seat. He did. Megan extended her hand. “Mr. Thompson, I’m Supervisory Special Agent Megan Elliott, and this is Special Agent Lucy Kincaid, with the FBI. Thank you for agreeing to speak with us.”

  At the mention of Lucy’s name, Thompson looked at her. She didn’t know what she expected, but it wasn’t this—a look of reverence was all Lucy could describe it as.

  Megan caught it too, nodded at Lucy, then sat down.

  Lucy extended her hand. “Mr. Thompson,” she said.

  He shook it, held it a second longer than necessary, but he didn’t scare her. “It is very nice to meet you, Agent Kincaid. Agent Elliott.”

  He sat straight in his chair and looked at them with a serene, attentive expression. “What can I do to help you?”

  Lucy had already told Megan that they couldn’t offer Thompson anything in exchange for turning in Paxton. Thompson would die before he betrayed the man who gave him his mission. What they wanted was first confirmation that their theory was right; second, any hint as to where Paxton might be—and information about his plan with Jimmy Hunt.