Ramsey Security (Ramsey Security #1-3)(68)

The perp goes limp, and I spot a pool of his blood on the marble floor. Turning him onto his stomach, I strap disposal wrist restraints on him. I hear him gurgling and suspect he's attempting to speak. Bringing my foot down hard on his knee, I again hear the crack of bone shattering.

Saskia whistles from down the hall. I drag my lifeless guy to the mausoleum-style living room where Rafael has a whimpering man on his knees. Nearby, Saskia restrains what looks like the maid.

"Where's the safe?" Rafael asks his hostage.

With a moment to think, I recognize the guy at my feet from a video of the day Darla escaped. I kick him in the balls, but he's barely conscious enough to feel it.

"Tell us where the safe is and we'll let you live, *," Rafael says.

Rafael yanks the man's head back, and I realize the shaking freak is Locke. He's smaller than I expected. His ID picture made him look younger too. He's a creepy middle-aged man obsessed with owning beautiful young women. In a few minutes, he'll be just another corpse.

"I'll show you," the maid mutters when Saskia pokes her with a blade.

Locke remains silent while we drag the three of them to his bedroom. A safe is hidden behind a portrait of who I assume was the original Rose.

I switch places with Rafael and take control of Locke. Knocking his head against the wall a few times, I pretend I want the combination. Mostly, I want the f*cker to suffer a little before his end comes.

The safe is full of cash and financial papers, but we're only interested in adding to its contents.

I kick Locke's legs out from under him, and he lands hard on his knees. I relish his pained cries. Leaning down, I whisper in his ear, "Darla says hi."

Rafael fires once into the back of Mister Pain's head. Saskia does the same to the maid. I allow Locke to think about his fate before firing my shot. While I'll never know if he suffers any guilt over his crimes, he certainly fears his impending death. The pool of piss at my feet is proof enough of that.

Once they're dead, we leave a half bag of heroin in the safe along with a few untraceable guns. Let the police think the execution was drug related. Whether they'll learn enough about Locke to believe he was guilty of taking Darla won't matter. The evidence we leave behind will muddy the investigation.

I close the safe as Saskia starts one fire at the back of the house. Rafael sets another at the front. I meet them as the house burns hotter, and we hurry towards the front gate where Manny keeps watch.

In an ideal world, Locke would suffer greatly for his crimes. We might even find the bodies of his former victims and give them peace. The world doesn't work that way, though. While the law will likely connect Mister Pain to Darla, I refuse to do the work for them. As long as they wonder if the attack was drug-related, they'll likely leave her alone. As much as I hate to think of those other Roses buried somewhere on the property, forever lost to their families, my only concern remains protecting the one Rose, who got away.





50


~~~

Darla

Share Everything I Am

Harlow sits with me on the floor, working on a new puzzle. Minka stands in the kitchen, looking bored out of her mind. I know she wishes someone else stayed behind, so she could take part in the attack.

"I thought you wanted to retire," I say, looking at her from my spot on the floor.

"I do."

"Why? You seem to love the excitement."

Minka joins us in the living room and sits on the couch. "I do love it, but I also want to have a family. I can't do that when I'm traveling the world, hunting targets."

"What kind of man do you want? Someone tough like Troy and Rafael or a nice guy like Vern?"

"I don't know exactly. I just want someone who really makes me feel."

"That's how it was with Rafael," Harlow says. "He scared the hell out of me, but I was like a moth to a flame."

Thinking about Troy, I felt a change in me the moment we met. A yearning to be stronger, so I'd be worthy of his attentions. Shelley can't understand the need, but Harlow does. I sense she's still changing for Rafael. A young woman like her has more growing up to do, and her husband gives her the safety to grow stronger.

"I just hope the man I love is rowdy in bed," Minka says, making us laugh. "I can't handle a vanilla lover."

Knowing the crack is about Troy, I give her my best bitch face. "Troy's perfect, so feel free to shut the f*ck up."

Laughing loudly, Minka claps her hands. "Look at the fierce bitch hiding in you."

"Don't talk shit about my man," I say, trying to sound tough but laughing by the last word.

My perfect man appears a few hours later. While Harlow leaves so she can reunite with Rafael, Minka disappears so quietly I never see her go. Then again, I can only see Troy standing at the doorway.

Fighting the urge to run to him, I sigh. "I didn't think you could be as perfect as I dreamed, but you're better."

"I was just going to say the same to you."

Troy locks the door and sets his bag on a table. I watch him cautiously, wondering if something's changed. Does he still love me?

"Did I mention Saskia's generosity?" he asks without approaching me.

Feeling exposed with him standing so far away, I wrap my arms around my body and shake my head.