Judgment Road

by Christine Feehan

  "Russia's loss," he murmured, his mouth against her ear. His teeth closed over that little lobe and bit down.

  She didn't try to move away, her hips swaying into his rhythm. "Seriously, Pierce, we do this kind of thing all the time. We're good at it. You could get one of us killed."

  He didn't like her thinking that. "I spent my share of time in the SEALs, baby, I think I can keep everyone alive. I don't make mistakes."

  "Then why are you dancing with me?"

  Pierce knew she was right. He shouldn't risk it, not with the stakes so high. Keys had been right as well. He couldn't be interested in a fully patched member of another club. "Your club accepts female members?"

  "Obviously."

  The tone of her voice dripped with haughtiness, and it made him smile. She was perfect. Everything he'd been looking for, but she wore another club's patch. "You ever think of ditching your club?"

  "Never."

  That was firm. He knew it was a waste of time. She was used to being heard, having a vote, knowing what the club was doing and participating. She wasn't the type of woman to be happy in a relationship with a man who wouldn't give her that.

  "We'd be good together." He persisted, knowing she was lost to him.

  "I know. Chemistry is a bitch, isn't it?" She smiled up at him.

  The song was ending and he'd have to let her go. He wanted to kiss those perfect lips, but they were working and he'd pushed his luck as far as it could go. In any case, tasting paradise and walking away wasn't his idea of smart. He walked her back to her table, noting that slight little limp she had and wondering why it turned him on and made him feel protective at the same time. He left her there and made his way back to Keys.

  "Manager told me about their casino. It's not located here, just like we thought. The casino is in the building the corporation running the clubs owns. It's located about seven miles from here, just like Anya said. Another drink and we can go. I want to wait until Lana and Alena are safely out of here."

  Pierce was happy Keys didn't say anything about his dancing with Alena. Technically, he was there to oversee the rescue--or kill them all. Those were his orders. Things went south, he was to put a bullet in each of their heads. He didn't think that was going to be as easy as Plank had made it sound. In fact, watching them work together the night before was an eye-opener. Torpedo Ink wasn't an average club. They might be small, but they were lethal. He was certain Plank recognized it in Reaper, but unsure if he'd noticed it in the others.

  "The girls are making their move now," Keys reported.

  Pierce was very aware of Alena standing with Lana, both shaking their heads when two men approached to ask them to dance. They appeared to be two carefree women moving across the dance floor toward the door, bent on having a good time at the casino.

  He didn't like that Alena was involved in any way in this business, but he had to get his head in the game. There were a lot of lives at stake.

  Reaper stared up the side of the building. It was a strange, square tower rising up four stories where the rest of the building was only two, plus the parking garage. The two women, dressed in their slinky dresses, dripping diamonds and rubies, walked right up to the front door, completely confident in their spike heels. Both waved a card at the doorman, smiling at him, Alena tossing her platinum hair over her shoulders, all flirty.

  They're in, he reported.

  Having the time of our lives, Lana said.

  Reaper could see them through the glass making their way to the elevator where the guard there looked at their card for a second inspection. Alena had tripped slightly on the carpet just past the doorman. She bent to check her heel, running her hands down one silky leg. The doorman looked at her, not to the front. Lana flirted outrageously with the guard at the elevator, distracting him while Mechanic cruised right in, disrupting all cameras with the energy radiating from his body. He wore an elegant suit and continued across the floor without pausing to aid Alena as she stood up slowly.

  Mechanic avoided the elevators. He went directly to the first door to the left of the elevators, opened it and disappeared inside. In position.

  Lana and Alena entered the elevator, rode up to the second floor where their card was checked a third time. They were let through the double doors to the much larger casino. It was in full swing. And crowded. The Ghosts were making money. The two wandered around as if looking for the right game to play.

  We're in. Cameras everywhere. Can you take them down from there, Mechanic?

  I can shut down the entire building. Mechanic was matter-of-fact. We can't tip them off. Play a little. Have fun.

  Reaper watched as Keys and Pierce presented their card to the doorman. Keys was the number one player they needed inside. His gifts held the key to their success, which was how he'd gotten his road name. Reaper detested that it was Pierce with him. Keys needed backup he could count on. They'd argued long into the night and most of the next day, but Plank had insisted Pierce accompany them into the club and then into the building where they were positive Sylvia, Plank's wife, was being held.

  "Nice building," Keys commented to the doorman. His voice softened. He looked directly into the man's eyes. "I've put up a few, but this design is incredible. Any chance I could look around on this floor before going up?"

  The doorman hesitated. Couldn't look away. He shrugged. "Knock yourself out. It's all offices down here. They've all gone home for the night." He pointed to a security guard standing at the end of the hall, and the man jogged to him. "Show them around the floor."

  The guard nodded. Clearly, he'd been bored, and showing two wealthy strangers in dark suits around was better than standing there trying not to fall asleep.

  Keys walked slowly, making a show of looking up the walls to the ceiling every few feet while Pierce engaged the guard in small talk. They made the entire circuit of the lower floor before the guard escorted them to the elevator.

  Keys stepped inside. She's not in the parking garage or the lower floor. She won't be on the casino floor, but I'll make the circuit just to be safe. I'll have to get up to the third floor.

  He and Pierce circled the outer rim of the gaming tables. They spotted Lana at the card table and Alena at the slot machines. Both appeared to be winning small pots, nothing too big yet. They couldn't draw undue attention until--and if--they needed the distraction.

  She's not on the second floor. I need to get up to the third.

  Reaper and Absinthe approached the building. Absinthe smiled at the doorman and showed him a map as if lost. The two talked for a moment, and then the doorman nodded several times, took the map and left the building, going straight to his car. Absinthe could plant ideas as well as extract information.

  Now, Mechanic. Start shutting things down, Czar ordered from his vantage point across the street. He was up high, running the mission like he normally did, Preacher stretched out with his rifle, ready to protect his crew from a distance.

  The lights in the building flickered. Came back on. A few seconds later they flickered a second time and then dimmed. Cameras off, Mechanic reported. I'll take out the elevators after you're up to the third floor, Keys.

  Copy that, Keys said and sat down at a slot machine next to the elevator.

  "What the hell are you people doing?" Pierce demanded. He sat at the machine next to Keys. "I thought we were looking for Sylvia, not playing games."

  The dimming of the lights hadn't slowed down those in the casino. Alena was moving to the craps table, and Lana was sitting in on a high-stakes card game.

  "Be patient. An operation like this takes time. We're getting into position and spreading out, looking for her. If you're having too hard a time, you can wait outside."

  Pierce glared at him. "I can't see that you're doing much beside wandering around," he said. "You might clue me in."

  Keys sighed. "I know she's not on the lower floor, the parking garage or here on this floor. Mechanic is messing with the lights and shutting down the cameras a
few at a time so they think the glitch is in the wiring. Absinthe and Reaper will be taking the elevator with us to the third floor. We're waiting for them."

  "Every door on the first floor was closed. How do you know she isn't down there?"

  Keys shrugged. "I don't know how to explain it. It's what we do. We . . . sense . . . things."

  "You did this in Russia?"

  "We were schooled in Russia, trained. Since we were children."

  Pierce studied his face for a long time. Then he finally nodded. "What's next?"

  "They're on the way up now." Keys rose casually, collected his money and sauntered toward the elevator. Pierce kept pace with him.

  The doors opened and Keys and Pierce stepped inside. A roar went up in the casino, Alena's laughter contagious. A crowd rushed to the tables where she was winning throw after throw. The guard turned his head toward the sound of the crowd and the elevator doors closed, taking them up not down. The arrow on the outside of the door simply didn't light up, nor did the numbers above the elevator.

  Reaper regarded the two men. "Mechanic's keeping the pressure on. Lights, cameras, things moving on and offline. We have to hurry though. Someone's bound to call it in soon and we can't take the chance that anyone holding the woman gets nervous."

  "I can sweep the third floor fast. Just watch my back, I won't be scanning for trouble."

  "I've got you," Reaper assured him. He didn't look at Pierce. He knew why the man was there. He'd been in Pierce's position all his life. He was there to kill them all if things went bad. Savage usually guarded Czar if Reaper didn't, but Ice and Storm were outside keeping all escape routes open and guarding their president. Savage was tracking Pierce, his entire focus on taking him out if the man made a move against any club member. Pierce hadn't spotted him, not with Reaper so close.

  The doors opened, and when Pierce went to step out, Keys held him back, shaking his head. Absinthe stepped out while Reaper kept the doors open. A security guard turned toward them in surprise and Absinthe spoke to him very quietly. The man handed over his gun and pointed toward a door. Absinthe walked him to the door, spent a few moments there and then closed the door, leaving the guard inside.

  Keys stepped out and started down the hallway, doing just what he'd done when he'd been on the first floor, looking at each closed door, his gaze going from floor to ceiling. It took time to clear the floor, but he shook his head and they were back in the elevator.

  No luck on the third floor. We're in the elevator. Lana, you're up for the distraction. Mechanic, we're headed to the last floor, Keys reported in.

  I've got you. Cameras are off. No lights. The lights up there are so dim, they'll be lucky to see you step out, Mechanic assured.

  Czar, Alena won a shit-ton of money. Do we get to keep it?

  What do you want it for? There was suspicion in Czar's voice.

  Lana's laughter was a bright spot in their grim world. We're getting you and Blythe another child for your birthday, Czar. You need another little boy running around giving you fits. And I can't wait to see Blythe's face.

  You can't buy children, Czar said, relief pouring into his voice.

  There was silence. Not one of the members of Torpedo Ink addressed that. Reaper pressed his lips together. Trust Lana to bring it up when they were running a mission.

  Lana? Suspicion was back. The rest of you are in on this. What the hell is going on?

  No one spoke for another few seconds so Reaper stepped up. An Internet sale of a young boy. Code stumbled on it. We bid on him. Can't track him. Code and his friend are on it, but so far, the signal is bouncing all over Europe and the United States. We want to get the winning bid, get the kid free and shut them down.

  Czar growled, letting them all know he was going to kill them when they got home.

  The elevator doors opened and this time Pierce stayed to the back, allowing Absinthe to step out. Reaper was ready with his gun, as was Keys. The first moment when a guard saw Absinthe was the most dangerous. He went straight to the guard, striding with great authority and confidence. This guard was more resistant to Absinthe and in the end, the Torpedo Ink assassin slit his throat and gently lowered him to the floor.

  Keys hurried out of the elevator. She's here somewhere. There's tension on this floor. Fear. I can feel all of it. He didn't wait for the others, he simply hurried down one side of the floor, his gaze moving from floor to ceiling. He stopped abruptly and pointed down a hallway. She's there. On the left, third from the last room.

  Reaper moved close to Keys and signaled to Pierce to take the other side. Weapons were drawn. Reaper wished they'd brought Steele with them. He was a good doctor and if the woman was in bad shape, he could fix her up fast enough to get them out of there quickly.

  Guards in both rooms on either side of her and one room across, Keys reported.

  How many?

  Keys paused just to the left of the first room. He held up four fingers and pointed to the first door. He looked at the door across from the woman's room and held up five fingers. The room on the other side had three men in it. The woman's room was last. He stared at the door for a long time. He held up two fingers.

  They're raping her. She's bleeding. Cut up. She's fighting though.

  Reaper stood in front of the room with the five men in it. He was going to have to be accurate and fast. They didn't want to tip off the men holding the woman hostage. Absinthe took the room with three men in it. Keys, the first one with four. Pierce went to stand with Reaper. Reaper indicated he take the left and Pierce go right. Pierce nodded he understood.

  Three. Two. One. Reaper counted off for the others, pointed to Pierce. They went in together, using silencers. Reaper shot three of the five. Pierce shot the other two and managed to get a bullet into one of Reaper's men before he hit the floor. They heard the sound of bodies falling from the other rooms, then silence.

  "You're efficient," Pierce commented. "I'll give you that."

  Took out their guards. Going for the woman now, Reaper reported.

  Hurry. Mechanic can't hold them off forever. Lana. Alena. Be ready, Czar said.

  Reaper didn't wait. He went through the door, gun out, firing almost before he saw the exact position of each of the two men. He did it instinctively and took the man in front of Sylvia through the back of his head and the man behind her through his left eye. He fired a third and fourth time, taking the one in front through the base of his skull and the second man through his throat. He'd fired all four bullets before either man could recognize they were already dead.

  "Don't let her scream," he told Pierce.

  There was so much blood on the woman from the tiny slices the two-man hit team had made in her skin. Same exact MO as the men comin' to cut up the Mayhem president's wife. What the hell, Reaper? Did we miss a school somewhere, because what are the odds that these men all use the same method?

  To her credit, Sylvia didn't scream or make any sound at all. Her gaze jumped to the men and then to Pierce. He wrapped his jacket around her and then lifted her into his arms. She was slippery with blood, but he held on to her. She gasped in pain, and her entire body shuddered.

  "I'm sorry, Sylvie," Pierce whispered. "We have to go now. Fast. I know it hurts, but we don't have a choice. We're taking you home, honey," he said softly.

  She nodded, buried her face in his shoulder and tried to make herself smaller.

  "She good?" Reaper asked. "We've got to move."

  "She's good. She's Plank's old lady," Pierce stated firmly, as if by declaring that, it would tell Torpedo Ink she was good to go.

  Have the package, we're on the move.

  They formed a tight group with Pierce and Sylvia in the center, hurrying toward the elevators. Mechanic had the door opened from his position on the first floor and they all pushed in together.

  We're in. Lana, Alena, be ready. Reaper all but shoved Pierce toward the back of the elevator, so that they formed a solid wall of protection in front of the pair.


  In position, Lana said.

  In position, Reaper reported.

  The elevator doors opened and both women stepped inside, turned and rolled small devices that had been put together hastily from the contents inside their purses onto the casino floor. They'd already positioned more of the small devices throughout the entire floor as they'd walked through it.

  The elevator doors shut and they were heading down fast to the first floor. They exited the elevator as the first explosion shook the building. Screams came from up above them.

  "Mostly smoke," Keys assured Pierce. "We go out together. Stay in the middle with her. Steele's in the van. He's a doc. He'll tend to her there."

  As they made the exit, Lana and Alena peeled off to get their car in the parking garage. Keys went to the right to hop into his car. He was picking up Preacher, who would leave last. Ice, Storm and Czar were in the truck. It was just at the entrance to the parking garage, in position to cover them if something went wrong. Steele was already in the van waiting. Doors open. They leapt in and moved away to give Steele and Pierce privacy to work on Sylvia.

  Transporter was at the wheel and he had the van moving before the doors were all the way shut. The truck fell in behind him. Lana and Alena's BMW followed behind the truck and Keys took up the rear with Preacher.

  "Nice operation," Pierce said to Reaper, once Sylvia had been convinced to take the pills Steele had provided. He kept his eye on the Russian doctor, but the man seemed to know what he was doing and handled Sylvia carefully.

  "Not our first," Reaper said.

  "I noticed. Where did you learn your skills? I've got training, but you were practically going in blind. You still hit your marks, kill shots, every fuckin' one."

  "You killed the two you had."

  "I took a little more time," Pierce said. "Where'd you train?"

  Reaper shrugged. "Russia. We went to the same school."

  "Must have been a hell of a school. Military?"

  Reaper stayed silent for a long time. Pierce looked at him steadily through the silence, clearly expecting an answer.

  "You could say that." It said nothing, yet said volumes.

  Pierce got it. He nodded slowly. "All those scars, you get them in that school, or after?"