Mine Until Dawn (33 page)

“Could you zip me up?” He paused, threw an uncertain glance at the bedroom door, then at her. More sounds came from downstairs. “Hurry, please.”

 
“No tricks or I will be forced to hurt you.”

Her heart hammered in her chest and fear locked her vocal cords. She nodded jerkily.

He still didn’t move, as if unsure whether to trust her or not. Vince’s teaching resounded in her head.
Keep him distracted, then act.

“How did you know where to find us?”

He scowled. “We, uh, there was a micro-transmitter on Montague’s belt. We heard everything he told you,” he bragged. “Including your conversation after Knight found his body.”

The man still didn’t move and more grunts and thumps filtered through the door, every sound an assault on her tortured senses. Jade wanted to scream at him to hurry. It took all her effort to keep her voice calm.

“Capistrano Beach wasn’t mentioned that night.”

“But your boyfriend said
you
were going to Dana Point, and he was going to Saint-Noel.” He laughed, shuffling toward her. “As if he could enter our country without us knowing about it. We’ve spent the last two days on boats scouring these beaches, looking for you. This morning, we got lucky.
You
went jogging.”

Her heart dropped. She brought these goons to them. The contents of her stomach threatened to push out.

The man stopped behind her, gripped her dress with one hand, and shifted his gun to pull up the zipper. The gun no longer pointed at her. Jade took a deep breath, focused on her Vince and his teachings. She could do this. She had to do it.

Jade dropped her head forward, then rammed it hard into the man’s face. Pain radiated from the point of contact and disappeared, but the man howled and staggered backwards, his hand reaching for his nose. The gun slipped from his hand and skidded on the floor.

It worked. She couldn’t believe it actually worked. He cursed at her, wildly looking around for the gun. Jade dove for it, grabbed it, and turned to point it at him, her heart pounding hard. His eyes widened with disbelief, blood seeping through his fingers to his shirt.
          

“Let’s go.” Her voice didn’t ring with enough authority, but she now had the advantage and the bastard knew it. She cleared her throat and repeated the command in a firmer tone.

“Put the gun down, professor.”

The frostiness of the new voice sent a fresh dose of panic through Jade. She whipped her head toward the doorway. Yannick, dressed in black like his partner, a whip in his hand, was framed in the doorway. On a different day, she would have marveled at his features, so beautiful, almost effeminate. But his eyes drew her attention. Cold. Ruthless. Jade swallowed, her fingers tightening on the gun.

“Unless you want Knight dead in the next five seconds, you
will
put down that gun.”

He had her, and they both knew it. Jade’s shoulders drooped and she let the gun drop from her hand. “What do you want?”

“Your mother’s whereabouts. Come on.” He indicated downstairs with his head, then threw his colleague a disgusted look. “Clean yourself up.”

Jade hurried downstairs, her eyes searching the large room for Vince. Her heart almost stopped when she saw him. Tied to one of the dinning room chairs, his hands behind his back, his head slumped forward on his chest. There was blood everywhere—his shirt, his face, his pants. He looked barely alive.

“You bastards. How could you!” If she could just touch him…feel the warmth of his skin….

Ignoring the two men standing beside Vince, she lunged toward him.

A weird whistle filled through the air then something wrapped around her waist and yanked her backward. The momentum brought her body against a hard body. Jade looked down in shock to see the coiled whip around her waist. She pushed and wiggled, attempting to break free.

“Stop,” Yannick’s menacing voice whispered in her ear, his arm replacing the whip. “You don’t want me to hurt you, professor.”

Jade froze.

“I want him alert,” her captor told his men.

One of the men swung his arm and back-handed Vince on the side of his head.

“No,” Jade screamed. “Please. Don’t hit him. Not anymore.”

Jade’s voice reached Vince through the fog of pain numbing his brain. He forced his eyes to open, at least he hoped he did, otherwise he had to be dreaming. His Jade stood before him in her gold dress, glowing and beautiful. He wanted to rip the dress off her, unveil her delectable body, and make love…. Why was she crying?

Vince tried to lift his hand and reach for her, but he couldn’t move. Pain shot up his side, the jolt sending his memories crashing back. The FedEx truck, the sharp blow on the side of his head when he’d opened the door, and regaining consciousness only to be punched and pummeled into a stupor. The two bastards had taken turns at him, while the bastard Yannick watched.

Vince took a deep breath, ignored the pain radiating through his chest, and took inventory of his surrounding. There were three of them…four, including the one with a bad nose job just stepping off the stairs. Had his Jade done that? He focused on her.

“Please let him go,” Jade said. “I’ll—”

“No, let her go,” Vince interrupted her. “I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

“You had your chance.” Yannick’s voice was calm.

“I’m the only one who knows where her mother—”

“Shut him up.”

The blow to the side of his head coincided with Jade’s sharp cry, “No.”

Vince swallowed the metallic tasting saliva and forced himself to focus. He was going to enjoy ripping these goons apart. But first, he had to secure Jade’s release.

His gaze collided with hers. Raw feelings flashed in her eyes—fear, regret, but foremost, the one emotion he’d been running from and refusing to face since they met. She loved him, and would endanger her mother’s life to save his.

“She doesn’t know anything,” he said.

Jade looked away from him and turned to face Yannick. “I’ll tell you what you want to know if you promise to let him go.”

“Jade, don’t!”

“Of course, my dear.” Yannick’s benevolent voice was as false as the smile on his face.

Vince rocked his chair, a futile attempt to attract Jade’s attention. “He’s lying, Jade. Don’t trust….”

“I spoke with my mother several days ago,” Jade said louder, drowning his words. “She’s in Liseux.”

Vince noticed the glances the four men exchanged, the subtle tightening of Yannick’s jaw.
 

“Who is she visiting?” Yannick asked slowly, enunciating his words.

Jade stared defiantly at him. “Bouchard’s grandfather.”

“The general,” the two men beside Vince whispered in dread.

“Why?” Yannick’s voice was no longer calm. Its pitch was lower, menacing. When Jade didn’t answer him right away, his arm tightened around her waist. “Why is she visiting the old man?”

“I don’t—”

“To give him the statue, of course,” Vince interjected. It was obvious the general evoked fear in these scumbags. “It was part of a deal my father and the general made. The judge made the fake statue and was going to pass it off as the real thing, while he sold the real one to the general. He needed the money for his campaign.” As far as lies went, it wasn’t bad.

Yannick mulled over Vince’s answer, then pulled his cell phone and speed dialed a number. “She’s in Liseux,” he said into the phone. “The general…of course…Santa Ana? Where’s… John Wayne.” He listened, his glance sliding to Vince. “Knight? But…you owe me…what do you mean?” He was quiet for a while, his eyes glowing with anger. “Fine.” He shut his cell phone and leveled his gaze on Vince. “He’s all yours, boys. Make it…bitch.” He’d been too distracted to realize what Jade did next. She’d rammed her head into his collarbone.

Vince’s pride was short-lived as Yannick sent her flying with a backhand. She landed on the back of a sofa, a short scream escaping her. The anger exploded inside of him, feeding his desperation.

“Why don’t you take on someone your own size?” he called out as Yannick lifted his whip. “Or do you get off punching women?”

Yannick paused, turning to face Vince. “It would have been amusing to play with you, Knight and then put you out of your miseries, but I’ve more pressing matters to deal with.” He yanked on Jade’s arm and jerked her up.

“What are you? A man or Bouchard’s trained puppy? Just admit you’re scared to face me.” Yannick ignored him. “We have a name for men like you in this country. Chicken. Take me on, Yannick. Man to man. No guns or whips. Show me what you’ve got.”

Yannick’s laughter sounded maniacal. “You don’t stand a chance. What about her.” He nodded at Jade. “Don’t you care about what Bouchard has planned for her? He doesn’t want a blemish on her delectable body, he told us.” A malicious grin settle don his lips. “You see, he has an insatiable appetite for beautiful things…women, priceless jewels, antiques. It doesn’t matter whether they belong to someone else. What he wants he takes. Once he acquires them, he keeps them hidden from prying eyes for his personal enjoyment only. Your woman here,” he nodded at Jade, “should keep him busy for a while.”

The thought of that creep touching her filled Vince with rage, but he couldn’t give in to emotions. It was what Yannick wanted. Emotions led to carelessness and, in this case, it could lead to death. Dead men didn’t defend their loved ones. He couldn’t afford a bullet in the back of his head, which was what he’d get from Yannick’s men. His only chance was to provoke Yannick to a fight.

He avoided Jade’s glance. “It’s over between us. Our relationship was meant to be temporary anyway.” Jade gasped, the sound piercing his heart, shredding his soul. He couldn’t afford to look at her. Not now. The look in her eyes would weaken him. “So? Want to give a dead man a sporting chance?”

A grin crossed Yannick’s face. “Why not. I’ll be right back.”

“You’re not coming back. Afraid to lose in front of your men?”

A primal change came over Yannick, like a wild mustang itching to run wild and do what came naturally. He beckoned one of his men, the one with the broken nose. “Take her to the car. This won’t take long.”

Vince couldn’t stop himself from watching Jade as she was led away. Her head held high at a regal angle, her back straight, yet he knew the man was hurting her arm, leaving bruises on her delicate skin.

I’m so sorry, my love.

As though she’d heard him, she turned her head and their eyes met
 

He’d expected tears, anger, or maybe fear. Instead he found himself staring at eyes filled with…nothing. Blank. Lifeless. The light that had shone inside her was gone, extinguished by his deliberate and callous words.

CHAPTER 24

Vince braced himself when Yannick moved behind him. A crack of a switchblade knife and his bound hands were free. He wiggled his numb fingers, trying to infuse life into them. Standing up was a struggle, his ribs hurt like the devil, his head pounding. His gaze touched the door where Jade had disappeared. If the idiot with her touched a hair on her head….

Yannick’s men shifted the furniture to create an open area, then settled near the kitchen counter. Their nonchalant stances didn’t fool Vince. They’d fill his body with lead in a heartbeat if their boss gave the order.

“Let’s finish this, Knight.” Yannick moved to the center of the clearing, rotated his head, and bounced on the balls of his feet.

Vince started circling him, attempting to relax. His fingers tingled as the circulation returned, but the evasive footwork he usually did without thought took more effort. Pain shot through his chest with every breath.

One second Yannick was bouncing on his feet, the next he was flying toward him. Vince barely avoided the jab to his injured ribs, parried, and aimed at the crease of his right arm. Yannick recovered fast, and went for a vulnerable spot on Vince’s knee with a sweeping back kick.

Vince intercepted the kick with a well-aimed jab at his upper foot. Instead of going down, Yannick spun on the wooden floor, stopped, and rushed him, this time aiming for his neck.

It took all Vince’s effort to parry a flurry of lethal jabs the man directed at him. One drove him backward, landing him against the patio glass door. Gasping, he shook his head, sweat trickling into his eyes, fear clawing at his senses. He wasn’t going to last, not at this rate. His injuries slowed him down, while Yannick, faster and lighter, seemed unstoppable. Losing wasn’t an option.

Jade.
 
Jade needed him.

Vince took deep breaths, felt the change in the flow of energy deep inside of him. He hadn’t known what it felt like to really love another person until Jade. His qi shifted from his chest and pooled lower in its rightful place below his belly button. For her, for their future, he had to control this fight and determine its outcome.
  

Calmness slid through his body and settled in the core of his being, the pain in his chest now a dull throb. His body started to function as one unit, inborn movements and reflexes restored. A few jabs found their marks, but Vince absorbed the pain. He feigned a backward stumble, saw the grin spread on Yannick’s face. So sure of his victory, Yannick lowered his guard, and came after him all cocky. Vince swung his left palm inward, blocking the punch, then continued down, then up, and with sudden thrust, went for his groin.

Yannick shrieked and dropped on the floor, the center of his energy destroyed. Vince staggered backwards to the glide and click of guns cocking. He lifted his head to stare at Yannick’s men.

A rustle came from behind him, followed by a soft, “Get down.”

Vince hit the floor hard, adding more bruises to his already battered body. Two shots rang out, so close together they sounded like one. Then there was silence. He stayed down, breathing hard, expecting the sting of a gunshot wound. No sting, but his body switching from battle mode to normal made him acutely aware of his every injury. Furtively, he lifted his head, noted that Yannick’s men were no longer standing.

“You have a right to remain silent, you piece of…,” Eddie Fitzgerald recited a more colorful Miranda rights, cuffing Yannick and even chaining his feet together. “You alright, Knight?”

“I’ll live.” Vince sat up, every inch of his body throbbing, unconsciousness threatening to suck him under. “Jade.” He lurched up.
           

“Where is she?” Eddie yelled from behind him.

Shouting her name, Vince raced to the door and yanked it so hard it bounced on its hinges. There was no car outside, just groups of people, vacationers and beach bums, talking in whispers and staring toward the gate, where several squad cars were parked. There was a yellow tape around the guard’s booth. For one stunning moment, his mind went blank and he forgot to breathe,.

“Where’s my cousin?”

Eddie’s words snapped him back. Vince couldn’t speak. He was dizzy with fear, cold with pain. Anger burnt so deep he wanted to howl. He raced past Eddie and Yannick and into the beach house. Yannick’s men had fallen on top of each other, their eyes blank, blood dripping from holes in the center of their chests. He grabbed his black leather jacket and reached inside the pocket for his car keys as he hurried back outside.

“Knight,” Eddie yelled.

Vince didn’t pause on his way to the car. “One of the men was supposed to watch over her out here.”

“Where did he go?”

Yannick laughed. “You’ll never find her.”

Vince wanted to wipe the smirk off his face. He jerked his car door open instead. “John Wayne Airport. I overheard his conversation with Bouchard.”

“We’re taking my car, Knight. The SUV by the gate. I’m driving.”

“No.”

The detective glared at him. “We’ll do this my way or no way at all. I want to get her back as much as you do.”

Vince ground his teeth. “Fine.”

Eddie nudged Yannick toward the gate, almost causing him to trip on the chain around his ankles. “You want to have another heart attack, slime ball? Be my guest. I’ll make sure it’s permanent this time.”

Vince cursed under his breath and headed straight for the SUV. He didn’t want to talk to the cops or the paramedics. He’d burst the stitches on his old wound, but there was no time to deal with it. He slid in the passenger seat, fuming. He wished he could just take off, and hunt down Bouchard on his own. No rules or questions asked. The way he’d always worked.

“Is that the bastard who killed my man?” a tall officer asked Eddie.

“Yes, sheriff.” Eddie pushed Yannick forward. “The other two weren’t so lucky. They were gunning for me. Another one left earlier with a hostage…a young woman. They’re headed for John Wayne Airport to rendezvous with their boss on his private jet. Renard Descartes Bouchard, the ambassador of Saint-Noel.”

“What car is the man driving?” the sheriff asked.

“A black Nissan Armada,” a boy around fifteen yelled out from among the bystanders.

The sheriff nodded at him. “Thanks, son.” Then he faced his men. “Put an APB on the Armada. Alert airport security about the jet. You two,” he pointed at two officers, “call the M.E. to take care of the bodies in the house and transport this man to our precinct.” He took Yannick by the arm and led him toward his men.

“You’re all wasting your time,” Yannick said with a laugh. “I have diplomatic immunity and the jet, like our embassy, is under our sovereignty. No one can board or search it.”

The sheriff gave him a cold smile. “You want to bet?”

“Your state department will have your badge and—”

“Take him in,” the sheriff cut him off and handed him to one of his men, then he turned to Eddie. “Let’s go, detective. I want the other man in my custody, too.”

Eddie didn’t argue with him. He hurried to his car, turned once to make sure Yannick was locked in the back seat of the police car, then he slid behind the wheel.

A paramedic tapped on Vince’s window and yelled, “Do you need medical attention, sir?”

Vince shook his head. “Can we go now?” he asked Eddie.

The detective didn’t answer him, just gunned the engine and took off after the sheriff’s siren-blasting squad car.
    

“You know all this commotion will only take away the element of surprise. Bouchard will know we’re coming.”

“You want to tell that to the sheriff?” Eddie asked. “He’s pissed enough as it is.”
 

Understandable since Yannick killed one of his officers. “Yannick did have a point, though. You guys or the airport security can’t search Bouchard’s jet. I can.” He threw the detective a look from the corner of his eye. “I’m going in, Eddie. With or without your permission, I’m getting her out.”

There was a brief silence. “You love her, don’t you?”

“Isn’t it obvious? If the bastard touches her….” The thought turned his insides into ice.

“I think you need to worry more about her arrhythmia than that creep touching her.”

Vince scowled. “Her what?”

“Her heart problem.”

Vince’s breath caught in his chest. The past rushed back, haunting and frightening. The helplessness and fear during his mother’s attacks, the relief and resentment afterwards. Not his Jade. Not the woman he meant to spend the rest of his life with.

“Hey. Are you okay?”

Eddie’s voice came to him as though from afar and Vince realized he was pressing against the dashboard with a fisted hand. He dropped his hand, tried to control his breathing and rearrange his thoughts. The blurry cars on the highway came into focus.

“You didn’t know.” Eddie sounded surprised. “As a child she used to get attacks a lot, which turned out to be the side effect of the meds she was on. In college, she stopped taking them and took control of her life. Now they’re few and in between. She tries to avoid situations and things that can trigger them.”

 
“Like what?” Vince asked in a hollow voice.
   

“Caffeine, alcohol, unexpected shock to her system or emotions.”

Vince sucked in a deep breath, recalling hair-raising moments they’d found themselves in. She’d gone out on limb to help him with this investigation and all along she had a heart condition? Her actions now made sense. Like her refusal to drink alcohol after the break-in at her house, being the only woman sober at her cousin’s party, only drinking decaf. At the club, when she’d found him cut up and bloodied, she must have had an attack.

The sound of his cell phone saved Vince from cursing at himself for not questioning her or pushing her for answers. He pulled it from his pocket and snapped it open. “Yeah?”

“Sweetheart, where are you?”

His aunt was the last person he wanted to speak with. He hadn’t meant to tell her about what happened at his apartment a few days ago, but she’d seen it on the news and called him for answers. Once they spoke, she’d insisted he stop the investigation and go home.

“I’m still here in California, Aunt Della. Can we talk later? Now’s not a good time.”

“Oh, but I’ve wonderful news about your father. He’s regained consciousness.”

“That’s good.” He couldn’t master enough enthusiasm, not even for her. It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy. He just had his own problems to deal with. “I’m glad he’s okay.”
         

“Now you don’t have to go to St-Noel to find Estelle and the statue. Your father can deal with her. I told him what you’ve gone through trying to locate that statue and he can’t wait to talk to you. Today. I think he’s really sorry for the past and your little misunderstanding.”

Unbelievable. After all these years, she still wanted to bring them together.

“I can’t see him, Aunt Della. Not right now.” Eddie changed lanes and followed the sheriff’s car off I-5 and onto I-405 North. They were getting closer. “Let’s talk later, okay? I’ve got to go.”

She sighed. “I guess that means you’re still going after Estelle. I’m sorry I pulled you into this, baby. Call me when you get back from Saint-Noel.”

Vince snapped shut his cell phone and pushed in its holder. He loved his aunt, but not even for her would he put up with his selfish father. Right now only one thing mattered, and that was Jade. Getting her back. Telling her that he loved her. Planning a future with her. He hoped she loved him, prayed she didn’t buy that crap he’d sprouted just before Yannick’s man led her away. She was his future. With her by his side, he’d fight whatever demons plagued him, past, present, or future.

Vince bit back the thoughts as they entered McArthur Boulevard and approached Terminal Roadway. Jade had better be alright or there’d be hell to pay.

***

 
Jade woke to a constant drone, silk against her cheek, and a funny taste in her mouth. There was a vaguely familiar scent in the air. She struggled against the fog in her head and opened her eyes.

She took inventory of her surrounding—blue satin comforter on the bed, plush, white carpet, cherry cabinets with gold-plated handles, and state-of-the-art entertainment system. The windows were a dead giveaway. She was on board a plane.

Bouchard’s jet? It would explain the scent. He’d worn the same cologne the night of the party. Where were they going? How long had she been out?
 

Her heart beating hard and fast, Jade sat up. A dizzying feeling washed over her and she dropped her head between her knees. She took deep breaths and listened to her heartbeat. An arrhythmia attack right now would be disastrous. No, she couldn’t afford to weaken.

A sigh of relief escaped her. Her heart beat hadn’t gone off course, but numbness on the right side of her neck had her reaching out to touch the spot. She felt the slight bump and remembered the prickle of a hypodermic needle. What had that creep shot into her?

Instead of waiting outside, Yannick’s man had pressed the gun to her side, ordered her to get in the driver’s seat and drive. With tears streaming down her face, Jade could barely see the road. Twenty minutes later, after speaking with someone on his cell phone, he made her pull over. It was nowhere near John Wayne Airport, she’d noted before he grabbed her head and pushed a needle into her neck.