Ramsey Security (Ramsey Security #1-3)(109)

"The cult didn't attack Brad until the book though," I mutter, trying to figure out what I'm missing.

"Marx could be a member of the cult," Minka suggests.

"Then why even write the book if the goal was just to kill Brad?" I ask. "He had plenty of chances before we were hired. Marx doesn't have a killer vibe, but he's definitely hiding something. He got really twitchy when I mentioned research."

"Here's an idea," Darla says quietly. "He was doing research for the book and discovered info that made him think the director was the head of the cult. He might have even found the others involved."

"Why keep it a secret? Wouldn't that bombshell have sold the book?"

"Yeah," Darla says, losing her enthusiasm.

Deep in thought, Harlow crosses her arms. "Of course, the bad guy in his masterpiece was dead which might be a bummer for readers. He also might be sued for libel by the dead *'s estate.

"Maybe we're thinking like savvy people rather than a simple dreamer like Marx," Minka says. "The twerp craves success, but the book is about Brad, and Brad will get all of the attention. If Brad was dead, Marx could write a follow-up book where he solves the mystery and gets all the attention. It would make him quite a celebrity."

Darla decides to pipe in again but only whispers, "Or maybe he never intended for Brad to get killed and it was all about gaining attention."

"Does it really matter what he intended?" I ask, feeling an angry heat in my gut. "He sent that bastard to the hotel, and the guy took a shot at us. He wasn't shooting f*cking blanks either, so Marx might as well have intended for Brad to die."

"What's our proof, though?" Minka asks, killing our sense of accomplishment.

We sit quietly and think about our lack of hard evidence. All we have is circumstantial pieces of a puzzle. Even so, I know in my heart that Marx is the guy.

"Someone told the New York guy about our hotel and floor," I point out. "No one outside of our immediate group knew that information. Not the PR company or even the local security team watching downstairs. This guy knew well enough to get a room down the hall. That wasn't a last minute move either. So it's someone in our agency or Brad, Ruth, Nell, or Marx."

"Marx might have told someone," Harlow says.

"Someone put that heart into the Houston hotel room too. Seems unlikely that Marx is accidentally telling people things and they're sharing the info with the cult. It makes more sense for him to be feeding the cult info."

"So what do we do?" Harlow asks.

"Get rid of Marx and see what happens," I reply quickly, wanting the bastard dead within the hour.

Minka sits up and tugs at my skirt. "Or we could extract info and see what he knows before we get rid of him. That's your specialty."

"It was."

"Don't tell me you're going soft."

I look at my hands, unable to imagine them drawing blood again. They only want to feel Brad's hot skin. The thought of extracting information from Marx makes me shudder.

"I don't think I can do it anymore."

Minka forces my gaze on her and away from my hands. "I can do it, but it'll be messy. Might not be very successful either."

"Something changed in me," I whisper. "I've lost my killer instinct. I mean, I want Marx dead, but when I think of doing it, I freeze up."

"I don't believe Saskia Koval goes soft after a few weeks of f*cking some hot guy."

"It's not the f*cking, you bitch," I growl, ready to punch Minka's smug face.

"Yeah, that's the scary Saskia I know and love."

Realizing she's messing with me, I admit, "I don't want to do this job anymore."

"Then quit, but not until we find out what Marx knows."

"And if I can't extract the info?"

Unable to come up with an answer, Minka only frowns. Harlow is still writing notes on the board while Darla plays a puzzle game on her phone. Staring at the other killer in the room, I wonder if I can ever pick up my extraction tools again. Do I have the stomach to tear a person apart slowly, even if it means protecting Brad?

"I know you're in a weird place," Minka says, sitting next to me on the couch. "I've gotten emotionally involved on jobs and had trouble thinking straight. I do get what you're feeling, but Marx knows the answers. He's the key, and I'm sure he'll break easy, but trusting what he says is something I can't be sure about. You know how to read a person when they're stressed for info. That's your wheelhouse, and Brad is your man. So you need to suck up those bad feelings you're dealing with and tuck them away until the job is done."

Minka is right, but I feel sick when I recall the sounds of the drill, the smell of blood, and the cries of pain. I can kill to protect Brad, but I don't know how easily I can come back from the violence. Not after knowing tenderness and acceptance from Brad. Committing these violent acts to save the man I love might end up with me losing him forever.





29


Brad

Not Going to Happen

Saskia is gone only an hour before I begin pacing. To hell with rational, I want her back at the house. She is happier here with me. I think of how emotional she's been the last few days and know she needs to return to me. I offer a path away from her life as Little Maven.