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“I’m sorry, sir. They were on board before anyone heard them. They were in dive gear like fucking Navy SEALs or some shit. Who is this girl? What kind of family could afford an operation like that? Is she the damn President’s daughter?”
“She’s a nobody from nowhere; that’s who she is. Giselle thoroughly checked her out. A religious family from some cow town in Texas.” He turned and swiped a lamp off a table. It crashed to the ground. “She’s a nobody.”
“Well, someone went to a hell of a lot of trouble to get her back,” Rocco stated.
Nico paced and ran a hand down the nape of his neck. “I want her returned to me. This one’s special. I’ve got a guy interested enough in her to return to the next auction. I’m pretty sure I can get over two for her.”
“She overheard my phone conversation with you.”
Nico paused, jerking his head around. “What?”
“Right before I hung up with you, I pulled the door open, and there she was, standing on the other side.”
Nico shrugged it off and lit a cigarette. “She won’t know what you were talking about.”
“Don’t underestimate this girl. She may be naïve, but she’s a smart little cookie.”
Nico sat on the arm of the sofa and stared at the glowing tip of his Turkish hand rolled blend, considering Rocco’s words. “I suppose she is that.”
“She’s been asking questions. How long before she puts it all together? You can’t let her go.”
“Don’t tell me what I can or can’t do, Rocco.”
“Yes, sir.” He stepped aside, his chin coming up.
Nico rolled the cigarette between his fingers, thinking. He hated when his back was against the wall. Finally, he sighed. “I suppose you’re right this time, Rocco. What a shame. She would have brought a fortune.”
“What do you want me to do?” Rocco asked.
“I want you to find her.”
“I’ve already got the airport sealed off. It’s good you’ve kept them all on the payroll.”
“It’s expensive, but it’s a justified expense that’s made things very easy all these years, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, sir. She’s got to be on the island still.”
“Good, then she shouldn’t be too hard to find.” He looked pointedly at Rocco.
“And?” Rocco asked.
“And bring her back to me.”
“What will you do?”
“Take her for a long boat ride, I suppose. To some deep part of the sea, wrap her in a fishing net, chain it to a cement block, and throw her overboard.”
“Alive, sir?” Rocco asked.
“Going soft on me, boy?” Nico huffed a laugh. “Of course not. I’m not a monster.” He stared out the window at the blue Caribbean Sea. “I suppose I’ll strangle her first. Anything else would cause such a mess on the deck, wouldn’t it?” He met Rocco’s eyes. “Well? What are you waiting for?”
His laughter followed Rocco as he went up to get on the skiff.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The truck wound its way through the wilderness down a single lane road. It almost looked like a driveway, but it was so long, Asia couldn’t imagine that’s what it was. As they crest a small hill, a villa came into view. Only a small portion of the porch and second-floor balcony peeked out from the foliage, but the size was clear. It was massive, like its own small hotel.
“Damn, Grady. You been holdin’ out on us.” Stan gawked.
