Radiant Surrender (CSA Case Files Book 6)
Read Radiant Surrender (CSA Case Files Book 6) Online
Authors: Kennedy Layne
Tags: #Mystery, #Thriller
RADIANT SURRENDER
CSA Case Files, Book Six
Kennedy Layne
Copyright © 2015 Kennedy Layne
RADIANT SURRENDER
Copyright © 2015 by Kennedy Layne
Kindle Edition
E-Book ISBN: 978-0-9908860-5-1
Cover art by Sloan Winters
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
Dedication
Jeffrey—our love becomes more radiant every day.
Lorraine Lutes—thank you for your encouragement throughout my younger years. An author couldn’t be more fortunate than to have had you as their English teacher.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
G
avin Crest paused outside the Hotel Ivy’s very expensive penthouse suite entrance, wanting to be anywhere but at this door that was bound to lead him straight to the ninth circle of
Dante’s Inferno
. Ryland, one of the most lethal hired assassins in the country, was waiting inside with what was most assuredly a self-important arrogance that only served to perpetuate his aura of privilege. It was enough to make any man want to react violently; however, taking on a man like Ryland alone in his own environment was the last mistake such a fool would ever make. The man caused grief and devastation to many lives and he sure as hell shouldn’t get to dictate the upcoming events—yet that was exactly what was about to happen.
Rapping on the door a bit too hard, Crest pushed aside the weight of rage and loathing that compressed his chest as tight as any fist. This wasn’t a time for emotions and he would do well to remember that. Ryland was a highly intelligent, incredibly dangerous, very insightful and ultimately calculating individual. Underestimating him in any fashion would result in an incalculable amount of destruction to everything Crest had managed to build. He was not even remotely worth an ounce of trust, regardless of this
helping hand
he seemed to be offering. Anyone who dealt with him should have a clear mind to detect any trace of deceit that was bound to be in play. This man served no one but his own interest. Every word that was about to be said had some hidden meaning. Crest stretched his neck slightly to ease the tension as he smoothed the lapels of his suit jacket and waited for one of his trusted agents to answer the door. He glanced up and looked into the Bosch Hi-Res dual optical/thermal imaging security camera his team had installed just above the right hand corner of the door.
“Were you able to get Jessie to a secure location?” Kevin Dreier asked as he pulled the door open wide. He stepped aside for Crest to enter. Kevin wore a black pullover shirt and jeans that only emphasized his imposing frame. The sight of him alone would scare most individuals, but they weren’t dealing with just anyone. Crest crossed the threshold and immediately noticed that Ryland wasn’t on the lower level of the penthouse suite, so he turned his attention back toward Kevin who was still speaking. “The team is assembled at the offices and waiting for a SITREP.”
Crest waited for Kevin to close the door after looking both ways down the corridor before responding. The penthouse had been reserved and occupied before the FBI had a chance to realize what was happening right under their noses. It was doubtful that they were even aware of Ryland’s involvement with Crest Security Agency, but one could never be too careful. Crest had made sure that a two-man team from his pool of his agents had been assigned to Ryland twenty-four seven. One of his personal team members was paired with an augment hired from a very discreet, highly trained security specialist manpower group that Crest tapped when the need arose.
Gavin had spent years cultivating the right team members for CSA and he was proud of every individual selection. They took specialized cases, although the majority were received from government agencies. It gave them access to some very expensive and interesting collections of so-called tools of the trade. It seemed that the last couple of years their caseloads had been dominated by civilian assignments and this next one was to be no exception. It quite literally hit home.
“Jessie is safe for the moment, but by the end of the day I’ll have something more formidable established.” Crest crossed the stylishly carpeted floor, ignoring the sitting area that was elegantly decorated with art sculptures and cherry-wood furniture. He focused on the stairs that led to another level and the assumed location of his target. “What has our
guest
been doing while I was out?”
“Making my life hell. I don’t appreciate all the off-the-cuff remarks about the team. With that said, I made sure to eliminate all electronic communications paths so he has no contact with the outside.” Kevin reached into his back pocket and handed over Ryland’s cell phone, which Crest knew would lead them absolutely nowhere. It was a burner phone that could easily be thrown away with no hindrance to Ryland’s operation. “All hard lines have been deactivated, all perimeter windows have high frequency tremblers active on them, and Connor is doing everything he can to calm Jax and the masses. Whatever is going on, you’ll have to tell them soon or you’ll have Taryn somewhere inside this building with a listening device routed through the HVAC ducts.”
“Crest, good of you to stop by.” Ryland’s smooth voice carried down the stairs and Crest did his best not to show his disgust. The suave and distinguished man descended one step at a time, enjoying his entrance. There wasn’t a black strand of hair on his head that was out of place or a wrinkle in his Italian designer dress pants. His perfectly starched white buttoned-down shirt was rolled up at the sleeves and in his hand was a tumbler with two fingers worth of Glenlivet twenty-five year old single malt scotch whiskey. He continued speaking as he walked down the staircase. “It seems I’ll have to rough it here for a while until the concierge can manage to find a bottle of my preferred liquid refreshment. Regardless, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. It is rather difficult when the voices carry so well. I don’t know what more I can say to Jax Christensen that will alleviate his fears. I have no intention of harming anyone within CSA, including their significant others.”
Crest wasn’t one to believe the flippant word of an assassin who killed purely for money, but there was something in Ryland’s tone that contained a hint of sincerity. Knowing that this conversation was going to take up much of the next hour, if not more so, Crest walked past the staircase where Ryland stood on the last step and went directly to the side table where a decanter of the scotch whiskey was set. He already knew it was a twenty-five year old Glinlivet, as it was his own preferred brand of scotch rather than Ryland’s blended Crown Royal XR. Crest anticipated the smooth full-bodied flavor with a slight smile. He wanted to believe that he had nothing in common with a paid assassin, but Crest could certainly respect the man’s refined taste and would reward Ryland with his desired beverage if he so earned it.
“I’m sure you can understand where Jax might find that hard to believe.” Crest poured more of a three finger serving of the smooth brown liquid before sliding the stopper back into its crystal home. He currently had five main team members employed at CSA along with numerous outside contracts. His core group had all been affected in some way by Ryland’s hand. “You did take a contract on his wife. Jax and Emily aren’t so forgiving. As for the rest of the team—well, let’s see. You left a dead body outside of Connor Ortega’s residence, shot at Lach McKinnon, played mind games with Taryn Sisal, and came relatively close to ending Ethan Chambers’ life. I think the only member of my team who has escaped unscathed from your ministrations is Kevin—which is why he’s the one guarding you at the precise moment. He’s not tempted to kill you while you sleep, at least no more than I am.”
Crest lifted the tumbler and took a healthy drink before turning on his heel. Ryland was smart enough not defend his own actions, nor would he. The man felt that every decision he’d made was the appropriate result for whatever mission had been in hand. The one fact that he was one hundred percent correct in his assumption was that Crest would have continued to hunt him down until he was either in federal custody or dead. Either outcome would have been acceptable.
“You wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t verified the information I supplied you with,” Ryland said, gesturing toward the sitting area. Crest didn’t move, but instead waited for Ryland to take a seat first. He took the chair positioned diagonally from the couch, crossing an ankle over a knee and presenting a relaxed presence when it was nothing of the sort. Crest recognized the wing-tipped shoes as the same exclusive Italian designer who’d designed the man’s suit. “So now we can get down to the dirty details.”
“We’re not starting any negotiations until you tell me who gave you this information.” Crest walked around the brown leather couch and unbuttoned his suit jacket before sitting down on the far side, using the arm to rest his elbow. Kevin stayed posted by the door with his second team member remaining upstairs. They remained in contact constantly via a standard ear wig and wrist mic setup. Each heard everything the other did without exception. Both were giving Crest and Ryland the breathing room needed to conduct business. “We both know that anyone privy to this type of intelligence wants something in return.”
“You sent an agent down to Texas to investigate and uncover my past. You didn’t think there would be some type of retaliation?”
“From you, yes.” Crest studied Ryland and wasn’t surprised by his calm demeanor. Whatever the man was holding close to his chest must be damned good. Crest didn’t like being kept in the dark and by the time he left here this evening, he’d see to it that he had every piece of information there was to be had. “From an outside source that shouldn’t have had access to that type of information…not so much. Who is it that you’re in bed with?”
Crest was just as patient as the man in front of him. Savoring the whiskey, his thoughts briefly went to Taryn Sisal who was the comms intel specialist for Crest Security Agency. She’d had the unfortunate luck of discovering that she’d had a personal connection with Ryland during the initial investigation. Her half-sister was also the half-sister of Ryland, although the woman was now deceased. The familial link between the two should technically have been severed, but Ryland seemed content to let that string dangle. Crest would have found a way to cut that thread had Ryland not involved Jessie Miller. Thinking of her now made the acid in his stomach churn.
