Hailey's Truth (21 page)

Hailey gave him a small smile as he stroked her shoulder.

“I also had so many wonderful years with my parents. For the most part, I was able to ignore Mother Frazier. On the days or nights I thought I couldn’t bear it a second longer, I would remember how proud my parents had been. I would remember the person they wanted me to be. It almost always helped, but I didn’t leave the Frazier house unscathed. Her words stuck with me.”

“Of course they did.”

“For a long time after I walked out their door, I was terrified I would end up a whore like my mother. On the couple occasions I did get intimate, the fear would gnaw at me. What if I liked sex too much? What if I turned out like her? I mean, what makes a person choose that lifestyle?”

Everything made sense now—her hesitation, her inability to relax. “God, Hailey.” How could he heal years of emotional abuse? She’d been strong, but she still suffered. He pressed his lips to hers tenderly. “I love having sex. If you do it right, you should. That doesn’t make me a whore. It makes me human.”

She frowned. “I never thought about it like that. It’s so simple and so true, but for some reason, I never thought of it that way.” The troubled look cleared from her eyes, and she smiled.

He touched her lips again. “I want to be with you.”

“You do? Already?”

“Hell yeah.”

She chuckled.

He wanted her lost in him, to push away her painful past he’d brought into the bed they shared.

She smiled. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For giving me this. For giving me a piece of myself back. I’ve never had anything like this before, this type of trust with anyone.” She pulled his mouth to hers and took a piece of him with her.

Trust. She trusted him, and he’d been dishonest. As Hailey wrapped her arms around him, he tried to dismiss the guilt worming its way into his conscience. He’d lied to her earlier about the man who had been watching her, bringing Project Mexico into the picture when it had nothing to do with the danger she was in. If he told her the truth now, he had no doubt she would confront her brother…that she would end up dead.

He’d always liked Hailey, had always cared for her, but as they lay twined together, her warm body arousing his, he knew there was so much more here. This lie kept her safe. He wouldn’t lose her now.

Jeremy sat at the bar, nursing his beer, his stomach clenched with anxiety. He set the bottle down, tempted to tip it back, to drain the clear glass of its dark brew. But he couldn’t afford to dim his wits now. Donte had given him and Mateo an order.

His long finger traced circles in the condensation of his beverage and his foot bumped up and down against the uncomfortable stool. The dive he sat in didn’t exactly consider cushioned seating to be top priority. He glanced at his watch, his muscles clenching tighter. Fucking A, could they get on with this already?

He’d done a lot of…interesting shit while living on the streets after he ran away from the boy’s home, but this was goddamn insane—not as bad as offing the pig, but still crazy.

He glimpsed his watch again, met Mateo’s gaze across the dimly lit room, waiting for the nod.

Jeremy took another pull of beer as he eyed their targets—dusky skin, long black hair, even longer legs, and definitely not over eighteen. The girls were
hot
. Donte was sure to be pleased—his life depended on it.

Moments later, he looked at Mateo again, catching the barely perceptible movement of his head as the ladies headed for the door. Mateo stood, throwing a few pesos next to his empty glass. He followed through the doorway into the night.

Jeremy took one last sip before he got to his feet, leaving an average tip by the half-empty bottle. He walked out, casually, carefully, always remembering to remain unsuspecting and unnoticed.

He picked up his pace as he made his way to the car. Mateo turned the ignition over as Jeremy slammed his door. “What the fuck took you so long, man? Do you want me to lose them?”

“Relax. They’re shitfaced. They aren’t going anywhere fast.”

“Relax, homie?
Relax
? You gonna find us two more bitches to take back to Donte? You’re too fucking cocky. It’s gonna get you killed.”

They drove away from the dive, surrounded by abandoned buildings and poverty. Before long, they spotted the girls, in short, tight skirts and black halter-tops, in the beam of headlights. Mateo pulled ahead of them and jerked the car to the side.

“Let’s do this,” Jeremy said, finding this assignment far more appealing than the last. He and Mateo bumped fists and got out on either side of the car.

The girls were already backing up, girls with identical faces. Fucking-A, they’d scored Donte twins, a detail he’d missed in the smog of cigarette smoke. “Where you going, lovely ladies?”

“They don’t understand you, dumb ass.” Mateo shook his head. “Why do I get stuck with the newbies? Grab one before they decide to scream.”

Jeremy advanced on the girl hurrying away on the right. “Not so fast, honey. You’re keeping me alive tonight,” he muttered.

Crying, she clutched her sister’s wrist as they turned to run.

Jeremy grabbed her around her small waist and slapped a hand over her mouth as Mateo did the same to the other sister.

“Where you going?” He clutched tighter, inhaling cheap perfume, cheaper whiskey. “Where do you think you’re
going
? You’re coming with us.” He dragged her toward the car.

She struggled and tried to kick her foot back, aiming for his jewels.

He stopped and yanked her hair, making her cry louder against his hand. “Be still or die,” he said in poor Spanish.

When he made it to the vehicle, Jeremy opened the door. The girl kicked and punched as he shoved her inside.

The click of Mateo releasing the safety on his weapon quieted the hysterical crying. “Be quiet,” he snapped, aiming the pistol at their reluctant passengers.

“Jeremy, cuff them together, then to the seats.”

Jeremy found the cuffs in the center consul. He snapped wrists together, then hooked their other wrists to the handle on the door.

“Now let’s get out of here.”

He and Mateo took their seats, bumped knuckles. “Pretty damn smooth.”

“Not bad. Not bad,” Mateo conceded. “Let’s get back to Donte.”

Mateo pulled onto the street as a movement caught Jeremy’s eye.

A bum slipped into the shadows. “Stop. We’ve got a witness.”

“What?” Mateo slammed on the breaks. “Where?”

“Hiding over there.” Jeremy gestured with his head.

Mateo pushed closer to the windshield. “I don’t see nothin’, man.”

“He’s there. Trust me.”

“Then go take care of it.”

Fuck. Snapping up a couple of loose girls was one thing, but this killing shit was another. “You do it. I proved I could. That’s enough.”

Mateo cut the engine. “Your heart starting to bleed, homie? It takes more than one kill to prove yourself to the Zulas. Get your ass out there.”

Jeremy shoved the door open, sick of taking orders. He pulled his new Zulas-issued pistol from his belt holster, released the safety with an exaggerated flourish, and stalked away from the car. Maybe if Mateo wasn’t careful, he’d find a bullet in
his
head.

As Jeremy walked further into the shadows, he found the thin, elderly man crouched against a crumbling brick wall.

“Please, no. Please, no,” the bum begged as he covered his face with trembling, arthritic hands, crying.

Jeremy raised the gun. “Should’ve stayed out of the way. I don’t have a choice. Gotta stay alive.” He fired without thought. The man slumped forward, a mess.

Glancing at the pistol, then at the old guy and back, he nodded—much easier this time.

He secured the safety, put the gun away, walked to the car, and got in.

“You do it?” Mateo asked.

“Did you hear the shot?”

“That don’t mean shit.”

“Look for yourself.” He glared, insulted.

“Just messing with you.” Mateo laughed. “Fuck, man, you’re too sensitive.”

“Whatever. Let’s go.” Jeremy visualized yanking the gun free again and popping Mateo. His senior partner better watch his step.

Mateo started the car and drove toward the shore where the small motorboat waited to take them to Donte.

An hour later, Jeremy and Mateo were shown to an elegantly decorated office below deck. Donte stood by his well-stocked wet bar. “Gentlemen.” He inclined his head, exuding power. He poured them each a brandy. “Sit down, please.” He handed them their drinks.

“Thank you,” Jeremy said.

Donte sat in a leather chair. “I’ve personally…inspected the girls you’ve brought me. Your choices please me tonight, gentlemen. You’ve done good work.”

“Thank you, Señor,” Mateo said as Jeremy nodded.

“They are a bit…shy yet, but they will come around. All of my men work hard. They will be rewarded with fine entertainment while we are here. The ladies should suit them well. You are welcome to enjoy their company at any time.” Donte took a sip of amber liquid. “Our plans for next week are almost finalized. I will fill you in soon.” He moved to stand.

“Um, excuse me, Señor,” Jeremy spoke up. “I’m wondering if I might ask a favor.”

Donte raised an eyebrow, took his seat again. “What favor do you ask?”

“I’m having trouble with someone—someone who has the potential to cause our organization big problems.”

Donte swirled the brandy in his glass. “Oh, and who is this?”

“His name is Austin Casey. He’s a bodyguard who’ll be working with Project Mexico. He’s already here and very nosy.” Jeremy’s eyes narrowed as he remembered Austin shoving him to the ground, telling him to treat Hailey right.

Donte opened a drawer, pulled out a file. He set the manila folder on his desk, opened it. A slew of photos lay inside, many from the resort. “I believe many of these pictures are of your Austin Casey.”

Jeremy swallowed as he saw picture after picture of Hailey: on horseback, jet ski, walking the beach with Austin, dancing with Austin, dining with Austin, kissing Austin. “Yes, the man in all these photos is Austin.” Jeremy continued through the photographs, slowing as he studied several close-ups of Hailey’s beautiful face. A flicker of guilt surfaced, but he quickly squashed it. As long as he played by the rules, Hailey would be safe.

“Your sister is a stunning woman, Mr. Kagan.”

Jeremy’s met Donte’s stare. What was he getting at? “Yes, she is.”

“She smiles a lot, laughs a lot. She intrigues me. I would like to dine with her here on my yacht.”

Jeremy thought of the girls in a room down the hall, who were being used as the yachts personal whores.

“Just dinner, Mr. Kagan. You will join us, of course, and Austin Casey will be warned—very sternly. You will bring me your sister on Thursday night, and I will make sure Mr. Casey understands he is to mind his own affairs.”

Jeremy licked his lips. “I was thinking maybe we could just kill him.”

“Death is not always the best option. Making someone pay until they wish they were dead is often better, especially when the person in question is a highly decorated member of the United States Navy’s SEAL Team Six. We can’t afford media attention during this early stage of our operation, Mr. Kagan; his murder would certainly bring it.”

“Yes. Thank you.” A good beat-down would have to do.

“I look forward to Thursday.”

How the hell would he get Hailey here? They weren’t even speaking. How was he going to get Hailey away from Austin? “I’ll do my best, Señor Rodriguez.”

“You will do better than your best, Mr. Kagan. I will have dinner with your sister Thursday evening.”

“Yes, Señor.” More orders—but these he would follow without argument.

Donte got to his feet. “That will be all.”

Jeremy and Mateo stood as well. Mateo opened the door. Two armed guards flanked the exit, with two more at each end of the hallway.

As Jeremy wandered toward the stairwell, he heard the faint whimpers and pleading of the girls through the door.

“Ah, it sounds as if our new ladies are enjoying another round. Please, gentlemen, enjoy yourselves.”

Mateo grinned. “Thank you, Señor.” He opened the door and walked in, eliciting a scream from the girl he’d grabbed.

“Do you not want to join in the fun, Mr. Kagan? This is part of my gift to you.”

He’d guilted women into sex before, had lied, said he’d loved them to get them in the sack, but he’d never actually gone this far. “I’m thankful just to have Austin taken care of.”

“I’m a generous man. I will take care of Austin Casey and allow you to enjoy the pleasures of my new entertainment. They will only be here for a little while before we ship them off to one of our brothels.” Donte opened the door for him.

“Thank you.” With little choice, Jeremy stepped inside.

The prisoners were tied to the bed, crying. Mateo’s pants were down around his ankles as he readied himself to enter the girl Jeremy had shoved in the car. “Dive in, Kagan.” He grinned, then plunged in. “Oh, yeah, y
eah
. I love my job. Come on, Kagan. Get your dick wet. Unless you’re not cut out for this.”

Jeremy unbuckled his pants as he made his way to the other option, slightly ashamed, but more than that—excited. She was so fucking hot.

The girl crawled backwards. “No, Señor, no,
por favor
,” she begged.

“You lucky bastard. You got yourself a fighter,” Mateo puffed out. “I’m having a go at her next.”

Jeremy pulled on her trembling legs, bringing her forward, taking another step down the path he’d chosen. Whatever he had to do to stay alive, right?