The Royal Flush (Knights of the Darkness Chronicles(Book Three)) (21 page)

“He should be, Natasha told me his age,” she teased as she walked over to the passenger side of Xander’s car he opened the door for her and she climbed in.

He closed the door behind her and walked over to the driver’s side, climbing in and starting the car simultaneously. He looked at her.

“Are you going to tell me?” he asked.

“Well, I seriously doubt attempting to blackmail you would be successful, so yes, I’ll tell you,” Elise said smiling coyly. “He’s sixteen hundred and fifty years old. Natasha told me this morning that when all this is over

and she prays that all will go well, poor thing, she’s worried sick about our loved ones. You know… I admire her bravery, loyalty and selflessness. So many beings, both human and supernatural only care about themselves and have little regard for anyone el
se. It’s refreshing to meet someone who isn’t, so I can see why they love her. I’m sure she has her own reasons why she loves them.”

“You were going to tell me what Natasha said,” Xander reminded.

“Oh! That’s right. Well, the only reason I decided to tell you is because she wants to throw Darian a...” Elise giggled. “…Birthday party. Bless her little heart,” she said with a chuckle. “She’s planning on inviting you and your Pack, so it’s no harm in you knowing Darian’s age.”

Xander chuckled, the masculine sound reverberating through the air.

“His secret is safe with me.” He shifted the gears as he increased his speed along the highway. “Natasha’s gift is remarkable; to be able to see the future. I can’t imagine what she has to endure in order to help Warren solve his cases. The horrible things she must see, it’s a wonder she’s willing. I would think it’d be difficult for a person who isn’t used to seeing the atrocities one being can do to another, especially for someone as sweet and gentle as she is. ...I like her,” he said calmly.

Elise nodded.

“I do wish the three of them happiness,” she said with the utmost sincerity as she smiled to herself. She looked over at Xander. “If you don’t mind my asking, how long have you and your wife been together?”

“I don’t mind you asking. My wife and I have been together for forty years. She is my heart and soul, I truly believe that we would be life partners even if we were not wolves,” Xander said sincerely.

He pulled his car in front of his home and turned off the engine. After emerging, he assisted Elise and both walked towards the front door.

“Are you sure your wife won’t mind you crusading in the middle of the night with a beautiful female such as myself?” Elise teased.

Xander chuckled softly as he pulled his house keys from his pocket. “Believe me; I only have eyes for her, though you are beautiful.” He kissed the back of Elise’s hand gently.

She arched an eyebrow. “Okay, I’m convinced.”

Adrian opened the door for them before Xander could put his key into the slot.

“I heard everything and I’m telling,” Adrian teased.

Xander smiled. “I’m pleased to see that you are in better spirits tonight,” he commented after making his observation on his son’s demeanor.

“Oh, I’m still pissed, don’t be mistaken. But you were right, as always, there are more important matters at hand,” Adrian said. “Oh Dad, Mr. Alexander is waiting for you in your study.”

Xander thanked his son. He and Elise walked past Adrian as he closed the entrance door behind them. He turned, facing his son. “Adrian, I need to speak with you, Nagesa, and your mother in my study.” With that, he walked off towards his study with Elise in tow.

Three minutes later, Tatiana entered the study, followed by Adrian and Nagesa. Darian was sitting in one of the high back leather chairs that adorned the room. He appeared to be relaxed as he watched everyone else take their seats.

“I’ve gathered you all here because we have new information,” Xander said, he then began to tell Adrian, Nagesa and Tatiana about the event that took place that evening.

“My goodness!” Tatiana said as she placed her hand delicately over her chest. “I know that I probably shouldn’t feel this way, but I pity Jesse. That kind of betrayal from one you trusted.” She closed her eyes and shook her head sadly.

“Fuck him. If he wasn’t trying to commit a crime, he wouldn’t have been betrayed. People get greedy, Mom, that’s how it is sometimes,” Adrian said dismissively.

“Compassion, my darling,” Tatiana reminded. Adrian only shrugged his shoulder. “Why do I even bother,” she stated dejectedly.

“Because you can’t help yourself,” Adrian teased, smiling sweetly at his mother.

“Let us get back to the matter at hand.” Xander looked at his wife and son who nodded. He continued. “Now, assuming we are on the right trail and I believe we are. They are unaware of the information we now know. This gives us the advantage as far as planning our counter-attack.”

“Exactly. This leaves us an opening. Tonight, we’ll call this contact, see what we can arrange,” Darian said, the deep, exotic tone of his voice floated in the air demanding attention. He pulled out David’s silver cell phone.

“What are you going to say to him?” Xander asked.

Darian tossed him a unconcerned expression. “I’ll tell him news I’m sure he won’t want to hear and give him the opportunity to set the stage, thus giving us more ground.”

He dialed the telephone number and, lifting the cell phone to his ear, he waited.

“Yeah?” A harsh male voice answered, his tone letting Darian know that this contact was not at all pleased at the moment.

“Greetings to you as well,” Darian retorted with a hint of humor. He thickened his Greek accent adding a little more seduction to his words, making his voice sound even more foreign.

“David, you better have some good news for me,” the man demanded.

“I’m not David and I suppose we can skip the introductions if that’s all right with you, Brian.”

There was a pause.

“Who the fuck is this, and how in the hell do you know my name?!” he responded.

Keeping to his words, Darian continued to skip the introductions, getting right down to business.

“I have your merchandise,” he said. “But I’m willing to make a fair trade. I don’t need the ammunition, what I want is money.”

“This is a fucking joke. Where’s David?”

“David is dead. I already have the hundred-thousand dollars, but I want double that amount.”

“You want another hundred grand?”

“I’m sorry, I was sure I was speaking English,” Darian said smugly. “Two-hundred thousand dollars in addition to the hundred grand I already have. Is that clear enough?”

“Crystal.”

“Good. Now, the question you must now ask yourself is; how badly do you need the ‘product’”? Darian remained calm as he spoke to the contact.

Elise gazed at him with a mixture of intrigue and a hint of lust. Xander was impressed as well, but his face was free of all emotion. Tatiana stood beside her husband and listened.

Both Adrian and Nagesa simply watched, secretly impressed as well.

“Who is this?” Brian asked once more, this time more calmly.

“That is not important. I have your merchandise, do you want it? If not, I’m quite sure I will not have any difficulty finding another buyer,” Darian threatened.

“No, no. I want it,” the man said, there was another short pause. “An extra two-hundred grand, am I right?”

“That is correct,” Darian replied.

“Fine, but I can’t get that kind of money tonight. I can have that for you by tomorrow.”

“That’s acceptable. Tomorrow evening

”

“I think I’ll pick the time and place,” Brian said, cutting Darian off.

“Very well,” Darian agreed.

“Okay, tomorrow afternoon, at two, I’ll be waiting by the abandoned parking lot where the old steel mill used to be on Torrance Avenue.” He gave Darian
the address and instructions. “Nice wide open spaces where we can see each other clearly,” Brian stated.

“Agreed,” Darian said, ending the conversation. He slipped the cell phone back into his pocket.

“I’ll talk to Natasha. I would like her to go with you. This
‘Brian’
will lead us to the others.”

“I will have my best on it,” Xander said reassuringly.

Darian nodded, rising from the chair. “May I ask this one thing of you?”

“Of course,” Xander said.

“Please watch over her. I want her to be
well
protected.”

“You need not worry, she will be well protected,” Xander said politely.

“Thank you,” Darian replied then he left.

Elise and the others discussed the situation further. Darian had obtained a face to face meeting, and with Natasha being there, a connection could be made that could possibly lead them to the kidnappers. They didn’t want to leave anything to chance.

Chapter Nine

“Mr
. Houston, we have a problem. No pun intended,” Brian, whose real name was Adam Vincent, told his boss, using his Boss’ alias.

“How big of a problem?” Richard Parker asked.

“David’s dead. Right now, I’m staring at a crime scene and the firefighters are putting out the charbroiled remains of what used to be his Viper with him still inside. But that’s not what’s important. The merchandise was stolen, the thief or thieves have the money, and now they want more,” Adam said annoyed.

“How much more?” Richard asked his voice was steady.

“Two hundred-grand.”

Richard sighed. “Who are
‘they’
and what would ‘
they’
want with
my
merchandise? How did
‘they’
find out about it?”

Richard’s voice was cold as ice and Adam actually felt a chill ripple down his spine.

“I don’t know.”

“Well, well, well, this
is
a pretty big problem. Make the drop. I want to know who these people are. Put them on surveillance, I want to know what
they
look like. Have them followed, I want to know where
they
live, do you understand?” Richard asked his tone leaving no room for disagreements.

“I understand.”

“You’ll meet Eric tomorrow morning at
Sandy’s
to pick up the money. Don’t disappoint me.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t,” Adam said. “Um, Mr. Houston?”

“What?”

“Where can I find you tomorrow to drop off your merchandise? You know, when I get it?”

“The
Esquire
Hotel on Grand, room 1238.”

“Okay, see you then.”

“Good.” Richard said ending the call.

He sat calmly in his chair, considering the new situation. “Who are these people?” he asked himself. He called Governor Andrew Wallace.

“Good evening Andrew, we need to talk,” he said once Andrew answered
the telephone.

“About what?” Andrew asked in a groggy voice.

“The two cops are dead, as was the plan. In an unexpected turn of events, however, David

George’s contact is dead. But the real problem is that our merchandise has been stolen. Now, I have the
thieves selling
our
merchandise back to us, doubling the fee, which was already doubled to begin with,” Richard said angrily.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Yes. I’ve waited until this crucial moment to play a practical joke on you. By the way, I’m being inappropriately sarcastic, must be because I’m in such a bad mood.”

“Do we have any idea who these people are?” Andrew asked, ignoring Richard’s abrasive attitude. He sat up in his bed, becoming more alert.

“No, we do not,” Richard replied calmly. “But I’m going to find out.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Brian will be meeting them tomorrow, they will be under surveillance. I want to know everything about these people. They obviously have no idea who they’re fucking with, but they’re going to find out soon enough.”

“Let me know of the outcome. In the meantime, the media is going to go into a frenzy once it gets wind of the double homicide of two of the S.U.I.T. divisions decorated cops,” Andrew said.

“Which we anticipated. I would assume you have your speech already prepared?”

“Of course I do. But I wasn’t planning on the fiasco that went down tonight.” Andrew sighed, “doesn’t matter, it may actually offer me a better explanation.”