What Are You Afraid Of? (The Agency #2)(105)

“You used me,” he breathed, launching himself forward as a misty red fury clouded his mind. He’d allowed this man to be his most trusted disciple. He’d chosen him to be the last to die. A place of honor. And how had he been repaid for his kindness? Betrayal. “You bastard.”

If Ronnie had been in his right mind, he would have just shot the traitor. But his anger consumed him. He desperately needed to feel his fist crushing into Baylor’s smug face.

“It’s about damned time,” Baylor muttered as he easily dodged Ronnie’s wild swing and reached to wrench the weapon from his hand.

Then, with an expression of sheer triumph, he pressed the muzzle to Ronnie’s temple and pulled the trigger.

Oddly, Ronnie felt nothing. There was a bright flare of light, followed by a distant sound of thunder. Like a storm was approaching. Then his knees went weak and the world was painted black.

Wrapped in a peace he’d never experienced in life, he fell to the floor.





Chapter Twenty-Six


Carmen slapped her hand over her mouth, muffling her scream as she watched Ronnie sway and then tumble onto the cement floor.

Eventually she’d have to deal with everything she’d seen and heard since waking in the warehouse, probably with the help of some nice therapist. Ronnie and his crazy belief he was her half brother. Baylor’s cunning treachery. The Kill Club. And the sight of Ronnie lying dead just a few feet away.

But for now, she couldn’t give in to panic.

Instead, she peeked around the edge of the cart, watching as Baylor tucked one of the guns into the waistband of his slacks before he reached into his pocket to pull out a disposable lighter.

“I know you can hear me,” he called out, clearly speaking to her and Griff. “You might as well come out. Unless you want to be burned alive.”

With a casual gesture he leaned down to touch the flame to the floor, which was covered in the turpentine he’d spilled. Fire danced toward the nearest stack of boards.

Griff reached out to grasp her upper arm, tugging her toward the aisle behind them. Blood rushed in her ears as she bent low and followed behind him. Then she silently cursed. She hadn’t counted on the fact that her legs would’ve stiffened up while she’d been crouched behind the cart.

Before she could warn Griff, she was stumbling to the side and slamming into the metal rack. It was enough to jolt a box of nails off the shelf. It hit the ground next to her feet, busting open.

In the silence of the warehouse, it sounded as loud as a bomb going off.

Carmen clenched her teeth as horror spread through her. She’d exposed their presence. Nothing she could do about that. There wasn’t anywhere to run. And nowhere to hide.

But even as she resigned herself to the inevitable, she abruptly realized that she could make sure Griff had the opportunity to escape. Not giving herself time to consider the consequences, she straightened and walked directly into the small clearing.

Baylor pivoted to face her, his gun pointed at her as his gaze darted over her shoulder.

“Ah. There you are, sweet Carrie,” he drawled, trying to hide his fear behind a smug bluster. “So kind of you to join me.”

She curled her lip in disgust. “You bastard.”

Circling the edge of the small fire that was thankfully producing more smoke than flames, he moved toward her, his gaze continuing to search the shadows behind her.

“Where is Griffin?”

She shrugged. “He got out through the loading dock.”

Baylor released a harsh laugh. “You’re not dealing with an idiot. I know your lover would never abandon you.” At last reaching her, Baylor wrapped an arm around her neck and stepped behind her, as if hoping to use her as a shield. Spineless coward. Then he pressed the muzzle of the gun to her temple. “Come out or I’ll put a bullet through her head,” he commanded in a loud voice.

“Don’t,” she instantly called out. “He’ll kill both of us anyway.”

Baylor’s arm tightened around her neck. “You should have stayed on the farm.”

A distant part of her knew she should be terrified. This man might be her cousin, but there was no doubt he was truly insane.

For now, however, she was just so damned angry.

This lunatic had used, abused, and murdered anyone who crossed his path. And for what? Ego? Greed? Perverted lust?

“So you could steal my inheritance?” she demanded, her voice harsh with scorn.

Behind her, she could feel Baylor stiffen. As if she’d managed to strike a nerve.

“It belonged to the family, not some spoiled little brat,” he snapped.

“Don’t you mean that it belonged to you?”

“I run the business.”

She released a sharp laugh. “Does Uncle Lawrence realize he’s no longer CEO?”

He used the arm around her neck to steer her toward the edge of the clearing, pressing his back against the nearest rack. Obviously, he realized that Griff was nearby with a gun pointed at his head. And that the second he had a clear shot, Griff would put a bullet through his brain.

Which meant he couldn’t kill her, right? Not as long as he needed her to protect his own pathetic life.

“I’m the future,” he boasted. “With me Jacobs Hardware can become a worldwide corporation.”

“You’re as delusional as Ronnie,” she charged.