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“What do you want, Damian?”
“I want the boy.”
The boy? AJ?
Alex’s gaze darted between Damian and Stone, as a whirlwind of emotions kicked up in his chest. His mind scrambled, grasping for every puzzle piece in sight. The arrival of Stone—Stassi’s mansion—and AJ?
None of it made sense. Discomfort settled over him, logic and reason eluded him. Instead, he focused on a movement in the far corner of the room, the blue-gray satin appearing from just behind the panel.Madison?
“You don’t have to do this, Damian,” Stone’s voice resonated through the room, his words heavy with resignation and regret. “I’m dying of cancer. I’ll be dead within a year.”
“You know, I thought your death alone might be enough,” Damian agreed, nodding. “I mean, you’d retired. Your protection would be a fraction of what it was. And eventually, you popped that head of yours out of the dark—like a prairie dog on an empty field. When your path kept crossing Alex Drake’s, I wedged my way in.”
“But Ari vouched for you,” Alex pointed out, stretching out their conversation in an attempt to buy his wife some precious moments. Whatever she was up to, attempting it in a dress the size of a hot air balloon was likely a one-way ticket to a bullet to the head.
“He did,” Damian replied. “I almost felt bad shooting that Greek oil magnate between the eyes before dumping him into the sea.”
Alex shut his eyes. That’s why Ari hadn’t returned his calls.Fuck. Ari was a good guy. He had a wife and kids. He didn’t deserve this.
Damian continued. “I really thought I’d have to do the same with you and your wife—after I gained your confidence, of course. But I needed to find Stone.” He turned the barrel of his gun back to Stone. “Then, like a miracle, my prayers were answered. You land in my fucking lap at Mrs. Drake’s baby shower. I nearly killed you on the spot…”
Stone took a few shuffled steps toward the fireplace, hands in the air. “Why didn’t you?”
“Because when you knelt down and held that photograph—cradled it with reverence and care—I knew. I knew he was important to you. I knew you cared for him.”
“He’s an innocent child. Leave him alone,” Stone ordered, commanding the authority and power he once held.
“Oh, I can’t do that. Not after the way you took Niko from me.”
Stone shut his eyes in regret. “Your brother was set on killing millions. His death wasn’t my intention.”
“But you killed him anyway,” Damian spat, his voice bitter with hate. “Didn’t you?”
Alex focused on Madison. She rolled a small item towards Jordan, still snoring blissfully.Hell, what did mom give her? Rhino tranquilizers? The item was the size of a bullet. It landed at Jordan’s shoe, as a small, near imperceptible cloud of smoke billowed from the device.
“Why do you want the boy?” Alex cut in, his voice loud. He had no idea what his wife was was up to. He could only trust that somehow, someway, she was working with Stone.
And Madison could always trust him.I’ve got your back, baby.
Damian’s eyes locked on Alex’s, sinister and gleaming. “You don’t know, do you?”
“Know what?”
“He’s the key, Mr. Drake. The key to demolishing everything Stone and his minions ever created. He’s…” Damian’s brow pinched. “What’s that smell?”
A guard sniffed the air and stooped to collect a discarded device at Jordan’s feet. Quick as a whip, Jordan’s boot cracked against his skull, out cold. Stassi moved like lightning, blade slicing the second guard’s gun-arm, weapon thudding uselessly to the floor.
Alex, eyes locked on Damian, sprang into action. Stone, with speed belying his size, hustled Jordan and Stassi towards Madison, anxiously gesturing at a hidden wall panel.
Alex’s knuckles crunched into Damian’s face, folding him fast. But guard number two was quick, retrieving his fallen weapon, lining up his aim.
With a deadly shot echoing, a bullet skimmed Alex’s ear, the hidden passage his target. He dove into the concealed passageway just as gunfire broke out.
He hit the floor. The door slammed shut. Silence.
Everything went dark.
CHAPTER29
