Dirty Dealers Read online

  Two arms like steel bands fly around my waist, and I’m jerked into the dark open mouth of the van.

  “NO!” I scream, but my hands slip off Ava’s waist.

  For a moment, I’m suspended in thin air with only the man’s arms around me. I flail, trying not to let my feet hit the speeding asphalt below. My hand makes contact with what feels like bungee cord as I’m dragged into the van and thrown against the opposite wall.

  He doesn’t give me time to react, he’s back out the door, leaning into the brilliant space of light toward Ava still racing at the same speed on her Vespa. The SUV behind her is forcing her to keep the pace. As fast as he grabbed me, the man whips her off her scooter. Her scream is loud and strong, and tears spring to my eyes. Just as fast, they’re back, and she’s flying at me with her arms flung out like a starfish. She lands on top of me, and I roll with her until we’re both in a heap on the floor of the strange vehicle.

  The three vehicles slow, and I hear the Vespa continue speeding forward on its trajectory before flying off the side of the cliff. It’s not long before the sound of an explosion echoes from behind us.

  Ava and I are sitting on the floor of the strange, square-shaped vehicle clinging to each other. Our arms are around each others’ waists, and I can feel her straining, trying to see anything.

  “What’s happening?” I say in her ear.

  She rises on her knees, and her head moves forward and back. “The three vehicles are lined up. We’re in the middle.”

  The centrifugal force tells me we’re racing around the curving road of the cliff. “They’re taking us to him. Then we’ll find out if this is going to work or not.”

  Heartbreak

  Kass

  I’m sitting on a rubber mat covering the floorboard with Ava right at my side. Our arms are around each other, but we’re equally defiant.

  Truthfully, she might be a bit more defiant than me.

  “Isn’t this a pretty sight?” Blix’s tone immediately makes me shudder. He’s using his torture voice, which means his humanity is completely shut down. “Ava Wilder… The rumors do not exaggerate. You’re as beautiful in person as you are on the lips of beggars.”

  I feel her jerk away. “Don’t touch me,” she hisses.

  His laugh makes my skin crawl. “We have a stop to make. Then we’ll see how serious your husband is about getting you back.”

  “The king doesn’t negotiate with terrorists,” she says, and I admire the confidence in her voice. I wish I wasn’t so fucking afraid, but I know what he’s capable of.

  Every now and then the vehicle we’re in will jerk to the right or left, and we take a little tumble before quickly righting ourselves on the empty floor. It smells like the inside of a gym.

  “You’re being very quiet, Kass.” Blix is at my shoulder, but I don’t move. “What could possibly be going on behind those empty eyes?”

  My jaw tightens, but I don’t answer. Nothing about me is empty, but I’m not about to feed the monster.

  Ava is another matter.

  “Aren’t you the brave man, picking on a blind girl?” So much hatred is in her voice, I’m afraid for her.

  “I’m the man who decides if you live or die. I’d suggest you shut the fuck up.”

  Ava’s about to respond, but my arms tighten around her waist. I turn my head toward her ear and barely speak the words. “Stop talking.”

  She tenses, but I know she understands my meaning. Our plan hangs on Blix believing he’s beaten us; that we’re too weak and afraid to retaliate. And while I don’t believe Blix will actually kill Ava—at least not until he gets what he wants—her taunting might provoke him to hurt her. I’ve seen it too many times… him sending messages coupled with body parts.

  Silence closes around us like a shroud. The vehicle stops, and Blix moves in close to my ear. “Time’s up, Kass.”

  His breath is like tiny bugs crawling on my skin, but I hold steady. I don’t have the same level of confidence about Blix sparing my life. I’ve delivered the goods, but he knows I’m compromised. I’ve already tried to kill him once and failed.

  The metal door behind us slides open, and Ava and I both scramble forward. Taz is outside the door. “Everybody out,” he says.

  We don’t move. I don’t move because I’m not sure where to go or what I’ll be stepping into. Ava is having a hard time letting go of her innate defiance, but I clasp her hand in mine and scoot us toward the opening. Taz has never shown any compassion for my blindness. Thankfully, instead of taunting me, this time he only turns and walks away.

  Ava takes the lead once we’ve reached the edge of the van and steps out into the cool, damp air. I hear her shoes crunch on gravel, and I slip my foot forward, feeling for the ground. If the sun were out, I’d be able to discern more about my surroundings, but as it is, I take Ava’s arm when she offers it. The best course of action for both of us right now is to play like meek little lambs.

  “Get inside.” Blix shoves me forward, but I hold onto Ava’s arm, dragging her with me.

  A noise like a quiet growl comes from her throat, but I tighten my fingers on her arm. Keep steady, Ava. The air inside the structure is as cold and damp as the air outside, and I can tell by the sounds of the wind the roof is missing. It’s darker in this place, which doubles my handicap, and it smells earthy and old like rotting wood.

  “It’s an abandoned mill,” Ava says close to my shoulder. “It’s completely empty except for us.”

  Heels click on the stone floor approaching us rapidly. My arm is seized in an iron grip that causes me to gasp. “This way,” Taz says, ripping me away from Ava and pulling me behind him.

  I stumble and do my best to stay on my feet. My hip strikes a wooden object that scrapes loudly across the floor. Taz continues dragging me faster, and I wave my free hand, hoping to ward off any more collisions.

  “Duck,” Taz orders.

  I’m confused, and he doesn’t give me time to process before my head slams into the stone wall. White light flashes behind my eyes, and pain splinters through my head.

  “Oh!” I shout. Tears sting my vision, and I reach up to stop the bleeding.

  “I said to fucking duck,” Taz jerks me forward, and I almost miss the step down into the small room. Water is at my feet, small puddles on the floor.

  I can’t stop crying, and I feel the warmth of blood running down the corner of my eye, down my cheek. I reach up again to hold it. It isn’t a large cut, but I know from experience facial wounds bleed profusely.

  “Tie her hands.” Blix is in the room, and I jump at the sound of his voice.

  Taz turns me roughly, shoving my stomach against what feels like a solid piece of wood. I’m able to steady myself against it. It’s some sort of desk, but he grips my elbows, yanking my hands behind my back.

  My insides shudder, causing my shoulders to collapse forward. Taz has my wrists behind my back, and he quickly loops the rope over them, pulling the knot so tight, it’s biting into my skin. I can tell by the echoes of his footsteps we’re in a very small room.

  I’m in darkness, waiting for what happens next. My mind keeps pulling up Logan’s face, but I push it away. I want him so badly, I can barely breathe. If only he could save me. If only I could let him know where we are. It’s too late for that now. For five seconds, I allow myself to mourn the loss of him. I allow myself to be comforted by the warmth of our memories. Another set of footsteps joins us, and that moment is gone.

  Feet shuffle, the noise of a body being thrown forward and hitting the stone floor joins us. A deep Oof! comes from the person who hit the floor.

  “Why are you doing this?” My eyes fly open at the sound of his voice. It’s Cameron!

  “Cam?” My voice is shaky and high. “Are you okay?”

  “Kass?” He moves fast as if he’s sitting up, and all at once I hear the sharp smack of fist hitting face. Again he lets out a grunt and falls against the wall.

  “Don’t get up,” Taz snarls.


  “Don’t hurt him!” I shout.

  “Scan her.” It’s Blix again.

  Taz is at my side, and I hear a high-pitched noise moving around me. It starts at my head, and I can tell it’s a wand or gun—something like airport security would use. It’s a steady humming around my shoulders, over my arms. He pushes me back and runs it down the front of my body, over my waist, at my ankles. Shoving me forward again, he comes up the back of my legs to my thighs, and when he reaches my waist, it lets out a shrill squeal.

  “What’s that?” Blix’s voice snaps.

  Taz moves it around my lower back to the right, nothing. To the left, another shrill squeal. He drops the gun on the desk in front of me and feels all around my side. I have no pockets, and he grips my waistband, ripping it down.

  “Oh!” My stomach tightens. “What are you doing?”

  Now Blix is with us. I catch the halo of a light being shined on my body. “Fuckers,” he mutters. “Have you got your knife?”

  “Wait!” I’m breathing fast. My entire body is shaking. “What’s going on? What are you doing?”

  Blix is back up at my face, speaking close. “Don’t act stupid with me.”

  My entire body is shaking, and I scream when Taz touches my skin. “I’m not acting! What is it?”

  “You didn’t know you were bugged?”

  I don’t know what that means. Bugged? Flying through my thoughts, one thing stands out in my mind. “The vaccination!” I say, just as the pain rips through my skin.

  “NO!” I scream trying to pull away.

  “What are you doing to her?” Cameron demands.

  Blix shoves my upper body down on the desk so hard my cheek bounces off the wood. He lays across my back so I can’t move as Taz cuts through my skin roughly, not caring if he hurts me.

  I scream again.

  “STOP!” I hear my brother shout.

  “Shut up,” Blix presses his forearm against my cheek, grinding my face into the wood.

  Tears flood my eyes. Warm blood runs down my leg, and the pain causes my knees to buckle. “Please stop,” I beg. My face is hot. Snot is on my nose and in my mouth.

  “Got it.” Finally Taz stops.

  More pain rips through my side as he jerks my pants up, over my injury without even covering it. My body goes instantly lighter as Blix rises off me. He takes the thing Taz dug out of me and slams a piece of paper in front of my face. I slide off the surface, collapsing all the way to my knees then my butt, leaning against the front of the desk on the opposite side of my injury.

  I can’t stop crying.

  “Kass? You okay?” Cam’s voice breaks with worry, but after that manhandling, I can’t seem to pull it together.

  With a sharp bang of the knife, Blix steps away from where I’m leaning. “That will give him something to think about.” He moves around the small area. “It seems I have too many hostages. Get rid of that one.”

  He goes to the door and leaves us alone. I hear the shuffle of leather, and I know Taz has taken out his gun.

  “ME!” My voice is sandpaper, but I manage to push myself up. I’m leaning forward in the darkness in the direction I know he’s standing. “Let it be me!”

  I hear him cock his weapon, and I brace myself for the impact. I wonder if he’ll kill me all at once, or if it’ll take some time for me to die. The loud POP! makes me scream and fall back.

  I wait… nothing happens. No impact. It’s silent. He didn’t shoot me.

  My world crumbles all around me, and I fall forward onto the wet floor screaming at the top of my lungs. “NO! NO NO NO!” I scream until my throat is raw. I scream to fight back the spiraling agony shredding my insides. I scream because all of the mistakes I’ve made have led to this.

  I scream because if he didn’t shoot me…

  Cameron is dead.

  Discovery

  Logan

  My eyes spring open, and I sit straight up in the bed. Despite the overcast skies, I can tell I’ve overslept. I had intended to be back at Kass’s apartment before ten. Grabbing the white plastic clock off my nightstand, I see it’s after eleven.

  Dropping the device, I jerk back the covers so hard, my sheet rips at the corner. I hustle to the shower, spinning the dials and stepping to the toilet to take care of my morning wood as the water starts to warm. I make quick work of cleaning up, using my hands and not even bothering with a washcloth.

  All told, I’m out of my apartment, on my bike and headed to Kass’s place in less than twenty minutes. Mist hangs in the air, and I’m glad I didn’t waste time with the blow drier. My hair is already hanging in damp waves around my face when I reach my destination.

  Pulling straight up to the front, I decide I’m going to level with her. I’ll tell her I’m keeping an eye on her and ask her straight out what she knows. She’s got to start trusting me at some point, and I feel more confident than ever today is the day. She can’t get her brother back without help, and I’m the man to help her.

  Swinging off my bike, I stride up to her door and hit the buzzer. Several moments pass as I wait for her voice to crackle through the ancient speaker. I study the building’s façade. Ironic how colorful it is, considering she isn’t able to see it. The thought sends an ache through my arms. I miss holding her. I want to lift her against my body and carry her into the sea, let the salt-water wash away our past then make love to her. I press the buzzer again a bit longer this time.

  More time passes, and still no response. A hint of worry nudges my insides. “Where are you?” I say, stepping to the side and looking around.

  She doesn’t drive, so I can’t use a car to let me know she’s here. Taking out my phone, I pull up the app Freddie installed and look for the dots. Only the yellow one lights up, and it’s nowhere near here. It’s east of the city in what looks like the cliffs. My brow lines, and I’m about to punch up Freddie’s number when the metal door scrapes open. It’s the old man.

  I take two steps toward him, and he glares at me. He’s dressed in a different tweed suit this time, but his wool driver’s hat is the same. His short-legged dog is wearing a small Burberry blanket on his back.

  “It’s you,” he snarls through a thick French accent. I’m happy to speak French to him, but I never get the chance. “I know you from the papers. You work for the king.”

  “Oui,” I say, offering our native tongue.

  He doesn’t take. “The other one she let in is bad. She’s going to get us both killed.”

  Ice is in my chest. “What other one?”

  “His eyes are dead. His heart is dead. I lock my doors. All the locks.”

  My jaw clenches along with my fists. “When did he come to her?”

  “Her first night. Then again…” His face is lined like a tree trunk. “I was hard with her. I shouted and told her not to let any man in. I let you in, but she doesn’t listen.”

  And to think I discredited this guy. “Did he come last night?”

  “You were here last night.” He tosses his thumb over his shoulder. “Out back, watching.”

  “I’m trying to keep her safe.” It’s as much as I can give him at this point.

  “The queen was here this morning. They left together.”

  I waste no time contacting Freddie now. “Thank you, sir,” I say, but he’s not finished.

  “She cries too much.” I pass my hand over my mouth, unable to answer him. Still, he continues. “Get her to where she doesn’t cry so much.” He takes a step away then pauses. “Henri would like that.”

  “Henri?” I glance around.

  “Allons, Henri!” He gives the leash a little flick, and his dog perks up, happily following his owner as the old man shuffles up the street in the direction of the café.

  For a moment, I’m lost in thought. I had completely misjudged this old man, believing he jeopardized Kass’s safety with his carelessness. Now I realize he’s seen everything. He’s had his eye on her from the beginning.

  I can’t lose time
on this. For now, I have to reach Freddie. My finger slams down on the green dot to place the call.

  “Logan!” Freddie’s voice is breathless when he answers. “I lost her.” He’s shaken for the first time since I’ve known him. “Them. I lost them both.”

  I’m on my bike, switching the phone to Bluetooth and inserting a headphone in my ear as I kick the motorcycle awake. “Tell me what happened.”

  “They left together… on Ava’s Vespa—”

  “Shit,” I exhale, twisting the handle and roaring the engine as I start down the winding street. “Where were you when they were on Ava’s Vespa?”

  “I was right behind them. I was with them the whole time.”

  Freddie’s an experienced guard. He’s been with me since the days I was training in Morocco. His specialty is technology for a reason, and I blame myself for this screw-up. The only reason Freddie was guarding Ava was because I wouldn’t leave Kass’s side.

  Until last night.

  “We’re in a situation of increased danger,” I say, doing my best to keep the fury out of my voice. “You don’t let them choose such an insecure method of transportation at a time like this.”

  “They were only riding… having coffee… looking at flowers.” He sounds legitimately stunned. “They rode into the mountains, and before I could stop them they were surrounded.”

  Fire is in my chest. “Who was it? Did you get plate numbers?”

  “I took photos with my bike’s camera. I have to get back to the palace and analyze them, run them against our databases. We can still find her on GPS. Kass’s implant is functioning. I’m heading to the palace now. I’ll send you the location.”

  “Don’t waste any time.” I’m doing my best to maneuver the crowded streets, but it’s got me at a snail’s pace. “Where were you exactly when you lost them?”

  “She turned off at Route de la Turbie. They were on the Boulevard d’Italie climbing into the cliffs when they were surrounded. I was completely cut off.”