“Pipe down, backseat driver!”
Jett rolls his eyes at us and continues. “Adams has reached out to local PD on Long Island. This is going down quick and dirty. They already have a team assembling to raid. Turns out ‘market’ is code word for auction.”
“They’re going to auction her off?”I nearly fly into the front seat as Kayne slams on the brakes.
“Let’s hope we get there before that happens. The Feds have been investigating Nino for quite some time. He’s good. Lays low. Knows how to fly under the radar. They haven’t had enough evidence to arrest him but have had him under surveillance for months. If this goes right, a lot of people are going away.”
“Just away? I was hoping for dead.”
“There’s always that option, too.” Kayne leers in the rearview mirror. Motherfucker is always thirsty for blood, and right now, I’m thankful for that.
We pull into an underground garage, and Kayne comes to a screeching halt in front of the elevators. Endeavor owns property all over the world that doubles as office space or apartment buildings. Each is equipped with whatever an agent or operative might need at any given moment. Like a helicopter and heavy artillery.
We take the elevator to the roof, me swaying on my feet the whole time. Kayne and Jett eye me worridly but are smart enough to keep their mouths shut.
Waiting for us on the rooftop helipad is a souped up Eurocopter EC 155. That probably means little to most people, but to me, it’s a thing of beauty. Top speed of 200 mph and a range of up to 530 miles. The only thing more fun to fly is an Apache attack helicopter.
“I want to fly.” I stare at the machine starry-eyed.
“I’m glad you still have a sense of humor at a time like this.” Kayne hits me on the back. “Strap in and hold on,” he says in all seriousness.
I don’t have the energy to argue with him, even though we both know I’m the better pilot.
I sink into the leather seat as Kayne communicates with air traffic control, and the blades start to spin. The sound has a calming effect. It always has.
“All right, ladies and gentleman,” Kayne’s voice sounds deeper through the headset. “Estimated flight time thirty-five minutes.”
“You’re definitely the lady, Jett.” I lay my head back on the seat, close my eyes, and chuckle.
“Blood loss has made him a comedian,” Jett snarks as we lift off.
“I’ve always been a comedian.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” Kayne laughs melodramatically. We banter most of the way there, the two of them knowing I need the distraction. Knowing I need to keep my mind off what may be happening to Tara so I don’t go completely and totally insane.
I BARELY REGISTER SLADE RIPPINGoff my clothes. Barely register him stringing each of my limbs to the posts of the four-poster bed. My head is still swimming from the hit I took, but when I regain my awareness, I stir with a fright. “What the fuck!” I try to move, but I’m tied too tight, my toes barely touching the ground. I’m stretched spread eagle, the ropes rapidly cutting off the circulation to my fingers.
Slade switches on a bedside lamp and inspects his handiwork in the dim light. It only illuminates one-quarter of the room, but it’s enough to see his face and the darkness in his eyes.
“All tied up with no place to go,” he taunts me as he walks around the side of the bed and settles behind me. He growls low and guttural in his throat. “So pretty. So . . . flawless,” he muses, running one finger down my spine. “Your skin, I mean. The rest of you is still a sleazy whore.” He slaps me hard on my ass.
“Ah!” I cry out from the sting. “Why are you doing this?” The ropes creak as I try to move.
“Why?” He leans in from behind me. “Because I can. Because I need to. Because pain and suffering are the only things that truly get me off.”
I screw my eyes shut and shake from his use of the words pain and suffering.
“You’re supposed to be CJ’s friend! You saved his life! You don’t have to do this!”
“Yes, I do.” He slides all my hair over one shoulder. “I was a different person back then. Trying to hide who I really was. Trying to pretend the monster inside me wasn’t real. But I was only fooling myself. Grow up around monsters, and it’s only inevitable you become one.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“I tried not to believe it either, but here we are. Saving CJ’s life was the last decent thing I did.”
“So you’re going to ruin that by hurting me?”
“I’m not just going to hurt you, sunshine. I’m going to destroy you. I’m going to make you scream, fuck you until you’re raw, and then slit your pretty throat.”
