Charles huffed. "He just wants the jewels."
Emil took a step to his left.
"Do not move," Nash ordered. "This isn't a game. I wasn't ever a driver. I came here undercover, and I'm very skilled at using this weapon. Do not test me. Cassidy and Lena are going to survive tonight. I won't make any guarantees about the two of you unless you cooperate."
"You really want Cassidy and Lena?" Stark confusion twisted in his tone.
"I don't expect either one of you to comprehend, since neither of you values their lives over money."
Emil laughed. Apparently, this entire situation was funny to him. "Quite a bit of money, actually." He jabbed a thumb toward Lena's father. "He's paying me five million just to snatch the jewels, which means his buyer's paying him significantly more than that."
Nash fished a pair of handcuffs out of his jacket pocket and tossed them to Charles. "Put them on."
The incredulous expression on Charles's face promised no cooperation. "You don't really expect me to—"
With a wild look in his eye, Emil lunged farther to the left and snatched a gun from the open desk drawer.
Anticipating his move, Nash yelled, "Don't do it!"
Emil ignored him. He lifted the gun. And aimed at Nash.
Nash fired. Emil dropped to the floor. Deathly still.
No need to check for a pulse.
Charles, mute with shock, mouth hanging open, stared at Emil's lifeless body.
"I'm waiting," Nash said, pulling Charles's attention back to him. "Put on the cuffs." He glanced around for something to cuff Charles to. "Actually, put one cuff on your right hand and the other cuff on Emil's right hand."
Charles's eyes grew impossibly large. He tried to say something, but he just muttered.
"You heard me," Nash said.
"He's . . . he's dead."
"I know that. He'll make sure you stay put until my team can collect you later. I need to be going."
Charles looked like he was going to be sick, but he eventually obeyed.
Nash grabbed the jewels from the desk. "Sit tight. Someone will be here eventually. We're going to rescue your daughter and niece first. Not that you seem interested."
He forced his focus on exiting the study. Because if he spent one more second looking at Lena's father—who still showed no concern for his daughter's safety—he might do something he'd regret.
As he stepped into the foyer, his phone vibrated.
It was Jason.
"We have Cassidy. But—"
"You do? What about Lena? Is she still with Chester?"
"How did you know?"
"Emil's dead. His accomplice is captured. I have him in Emil's study. I have the jewels. I'm heading to North Point Beach. Chester wants to trade Lena for the jewels."
There was a pause. Jason cleared his throat.
"Okay. You're leaving out a few details, but we can talk about that later. I'll have some of Drako's security team take Cassidy back to the Mandeville. They can keep her safe there. That will free up me, Knox, and Allie to assist you. Chester has at least two guys working with him."
