The Men with the Golden Cuffs (Masters and Mercenaries #2)(109)

“Dumb bitch, do you know how long I’ve wanted to do this?”

A masculine voice chuckled. The back room was littered with shelves and stacks of boxes. He couldn’t see who was talking, but he was almost certain he recognized the voice. Brian Anderson. He pointed to the southwest, where the voice had come from. Moving on silent feet, he stalked through the warehouse-like room toward the voice.

“Fuck you, Anderson. You’re not going to get away with it. Someone will figure it out.”

That wasn’t Serena. Bridget. Fuck. How was Bridget involved? She sounded hurt, her voice resonating with pain.

“I’m smarter than you, smarter than my dumbass wife who had to go and f*ck up my business. I used to be respected. Now we’re a laughingstock. No longer. I’ll get Lara’s money and Doyle will take Serena’s. Good-bye, Bridget.”

Jake found the right row of boxes. He sent Adam to the other side with a quick nod of his head. They’d worked together most of their adult lives. Jake didn’t even have to look to know Adam was doing what he needed to do. With Adam backing him up, Jake could simply move into place.

Brian Anderson stood over Bridget, a knife in his hand. The knife was a medium-sized kitchen knife, and it looked like he’d already used it on her. He prayed Chris had called that ambulance because they were going to need it. But even as he moved into place, one question pounded through his gut.

Where was Serena? He didn’t see her. Where the hell was she?

If she was dead, he would tear through them all. Brian, Doyle, that motherf*cker who had been planning to use her. He wouldn’t stop until they were all buried in the ground.

“Put the knife down.” He didn’t really want Brian Anderson to put the knife down. He wanted to shoot him, but he needed to know where Serena was first.

Anderson gasped and started to turn to run, but Adam had cut him off.

“Jake?” Bridget’s voice was a tortured moan. “You have to save her. I think he took her outside. I couldn’t see. I…please help her.”

Jake never took his eyes off Anderson, who was visibly shaking. At least Bridget thought Serena was alive. “The cops are on their way, Bridget. So is an ambulance. You just hold on. You’re going to be able to testify against this *.”

A sad little laugh came out of her mouth. “That would be good research, right?”

“I can’t go to jail.” The knife in Anderson’s hands shook as he looked from Adam to Jake and back again. “I didn’t do it. It was Doyle.”

“We just caught you red-handed, dumbass,” Adam explained. “Now tell us where Serena is and you might get off with attempted murder.”

“He won’t. He killed Lara. He killed his wife. He’ll go down, and thank god we’re in Texas.” Bridget sounded a little drunk. “Death penalty, buddy. Enjoy your rape time before they shove a needle in your arm.”

Jake cursed because he saw the minute Anderson made his decision. He turned to Adam and hefted the knife. He took a single step before Adam pulled the trigger. The knife hit the floor with a clatter just seconds before the agent’s body slumped down.

The door that led inside opened, and Ian stormed in, his Glock at the ready. “Serena?”

“Bridget. And apparently Lara’s here somewhere, but I don’t think she made it. I’m sorry.” Jake started for the back door. Bridget had said they took her out the back.

“I am, too.” Ian knelt by Bridget. “Go find your girl.”

Jake’s blood nearly froze when he heard a muffled scream. “Help me!” a feminine voice was calling. Serena.

Adam kicked the door open, and Jake followed him into the alley. Serena’s shoes had been kicked off in the doorway.

“To the right,” Adam said.

Jake stood beside his partner. Serena was halfway down the alley. She was laying there, her brown hair all that Jake could see of her face.

A man stood over her, his back to Jake, but Jake had been in the military and then private security for far too long to not recognize the stance. Jake couldn’t see the gun, but he knew what was happening. Doyle Brooks was going to win over his wife the only way he possibly could.

Jake raised his gun and fired, Adam doing the same.

Doyle’s body jerked and then he fell to his knees, the gun dropping from his hand. He fell on top of Serena.

Adam got to her first, calling out her name and dragging that bastard’s body off hers.

Jake dropped to the ground. She was bleeding. God, there was so much blood. How much of it was hers? He touched her face, terrified of moving her body. “Serena, baby? Baby, are you okay?”

Adam checked Doyle Brooks to make sure he was gone and then joined Jake, his hand cradling Serena’s. “Serena, damn it, you can’t die. Tell her, Jake. You’re her damn Dom. Order her not to die.”

Her lips curled up slightly. “I love a bossy man.”

Her eyelids fluttered, and she went limp.

Jake heard the sirens coming and prayed they weren’t too late.





Chapter Twenty-Three


“I’m ready to kill someone. Get me a f*cking computer.” Adam paced, his stomach in knots. Five hours. It had been five hours since the ambulance had taken Serena away, and all anyone would tell him was that she was okay.