Playboy (The Trident Series II: BRAVO Team #4)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Gabby slowly emerged from the haze of unconsciousness, her head was pounding and her vision blurry. She blinked several times, trying to clear her foggy mind.

With a groan, she pushed herself upright, her muscles protesting with every movement as she surveyed her surroundings. The room around her was elegant, filled with ornate furniture and rich fabrics, but it was unfamiliar and unsettling.

Confusion clouded her thoughts as she struggled to make sense of everything that was happening.

“Where am I?” she muttered to herself, trying to piece together fragments of her memory.

With every ounce of strength she could muster, she forced herself to focus, to push through the haze consuming her mind.

She massaged her temples as she tried hard to remember how she ended up in this bedroom.

She recalled having lunch with Selena and them walking to the car. Gabby’s eyes widened as she remembered a car cutting them off and two guys jumping out. Memories of the incident suddenly came flooding back. She remembered fighting with the man. She was even getting the upper hand on him until he kicked her in the leg, causing her to fall and hit her head. It was then that everything became a little foggy. Whoever attacked her had to have drugged her because the last thing she remembered was being thrown into the back of a car.

She wondered what happened to Selena. Had she been hurt? Had she been kidnapped, too?

Her thoughts were interrupted when the door to the room creaked open, and a young woman dressed in a maid’s uniform entered, carrying a garment bag.

Don’t people know how to knock?

Gabby watched warily as the woman approached the bed, her expression neutral, and seemed almost sympathetic.

“Good evening, Miss,” the woman said softly, bowing her head. “I’m here to help you get ready. Mr. Escalona expects you downstairs for dinner in an hour.”

Gabby shook her head, wanting to ask a few questions.

“Who is Mr. Escalona?” she asked the maid.

The woman gave her a look as if asking if she was joking.

“You do not know who Ramon Escalona is?” the woman whispered as if she was afraid to say the man’s name out loud.

But then something clicked. That name did sound familiar. Escalona …she thought. Then suddenly, Gabby’s eyes widened, and she looked at the woman.

“Are you talking about Ramon Escalona, as in the Escalona Drug Cartel?”

The woman didn’t speak. All she did was nod. Gabby suddenly felt like she was going to be sick.

What in the hell did Ramon Escalona want with her?

As if knowing what thoughts and questions were going through her mind, the woman spoke up again.

“Mr. Escalona had you brought here because he says that you are responsible for his brother’s death.”

What? Gabby had no clue who Ramon’s brother was. It was obvious that she was mistaken for someone else.

She looked at the woman again. “Are you sure I’m the right person? I don’t know who Mr. Escalona’s brother is.”

The woman looked down at Gabby’s leg. “Aren’t you the Gabriella Allen that was involved in a boat accident?”

Gabby’s eyes widened. How did she know that? Then, suddenly, all of the puzzle pieces started to fit together.

The drug bust. Those drugs must’ve been Ramon’s. And the guys on the boat. One of them must’ve been his brother.

Oh, my God. I literally signed my own death warrant. I killed a member of the Escalona Drug Cartel family.

Her face must have shown that she now understood why she was where she was because the woman looked at her again.

“I’m guessing that you understand why you were brought here now?”

Gabby just nodded. She couldn’t muster up any words right then.

After a few minutes of watching the maid walk back and forth from the bathroom to the bedroom, she finally asked a few questions that she had on her mind.

“Where are we? And what do I have to get ready for?”

The woman looked almost afraid to answer.

“Please tell me.”

The woman sighed. “You are in Cuba. And you’ll be having dinner with Mr. Escalona.”

Gabby’s heart sank at the mention of her spending time with Ramon. Would he kill her right away? Or would he torture her first and let her suffer before putting her out of her misery?

She glanced at the garment bag, then back at the maid. “What’s in there?”

The maid unzipped the bag, revealing a sexy and very revealing baby blue gown. The fabric shimmered in the light, but Gabby felt no excitement at the sight. Instead, she felt a surge of anger and defiance.

“I’m not wearing that,” she said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest.

The maid sighed, her eyes filled with pity, but also fear. “I’m afraid you don’t have a choice. You have to wear this dress for dinner. And we need to get you ready as Mr. Escalona does not tolerate lateness.”

Gabby clenched her fists, trying to keep her emotions in check. But then she thought of another question. “Can you tell me how long I have been here?”

The woman hesitated before answering. “You’ve been here for two days.”

Gabby’s eyes widened in shock. Two days? Her mind raced, thinking about her family and Playboy. They must be worried sick. Were they looking for her? Did they know it was Ramon who took her?

“Is there any way I can speak to Ramon before dinner?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

The maid shook her head. “I’m sorry. Mr. Escalona is not to be disturbed. You will see him at dinner. Now, please, we must really get you ready before you’re late.”

Gabby took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. She had a feeling that if she was late to dinner the poor maid would also feel Ramon’s wrath.

“Fine, I’ll wear the damn dress. But I want you to tell Ramon that I need to speak with him as soon as possible and that he better not be late.”

The maid nodded, looking relieved. “I will pass your message on. Now, please get ready.”

As the maid helped her into the dress, Gabby’s mind was already working on a plan. She needed to stay sharp and find a way to escape this nightmare. Ramon may have her trapped for now, but she wouldn’t give up without a fight.

Once she was dressed, the maid stepped back to admire her work. “You look beautiful.”

Gabby stared at her reflection in the mirror. Surprisingly, she did look pretty. The baby-blue looked gorgeous against her skin. The dress was a little more sexy than what she was used to wearing. It had a plunging neckline that formed a “V” and stopped just above her navel. The minscule material in the top barely covered her breasts. And that was saying something because she wasn’t blessed with huge boobs. She should be thankful she saw the maid set down some double sided body tape. The back was completely open, and the bottom was poofy with a high slit in the leg that nearly came up to her hip. In other words, she would be showing a lot of skin. But the one thing she did love about it was that it had pockets.

She felt a mixture of anger and determination. “May I have a few minutes alone before I go downstairs?”

The woman nodded. “There are guards stationed outside your door. They will bring you down in ten minutes.”

The maid left the room, closing the door softly behind her. Gabby took a deep breath. Her mind was racing with thoughts of what this evening would bring. But there was one thing for sure she knew…she had to find a way out.

She walked over to the window and looked out. There were a lot of clouds, adding to the darkness as nightfall was setting in. The room she was being held in was high up, so climbing out the window and jumping was out of the question. Plus, it looked like there was a major storm heading their way.

A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. She thought about ignoring it, but knew that if she did, it would only cause more problems. She might as well see what the bastard had planned. She would definitely be keeping her eyes wide open.

Gabby followed behind two guards while another two followed her. She almost made a sarcastic comment about her being too strong that she needed four guards on her. But she chose to stay quiet, at least for now.

She was glad that she didn’t have to wear heels with the dress. Since her injury, the only type of shoe she has worn is tennis shoes.

They came to the top of a grand staircase. As they walked down, she saw a man standing at the bottom, looking up at her. She could only assume that he was Ramon.

As she got closer and was able to get a better look at him, she was surprised by how young he looked. He also wasn’t bad looking. Too bad on the inside, he was as ugly as ugly could get.

“Ah, it is good to see that you are functioning,” he greeted her. Well, if she wanted to call that a greeting.

“I suppose that is how it works when I’m not being force-fed drugs.”

Oh, yeah. She found out from the maid that they had kept her drugged for the past two days. No wonder she felt so hungry.

He smirked before turning toward the small bar and pouring two glasses of wine.

He tried handing one to her, but she just looked at it before glancing back up toward his face.

“No, thank you. I’m not thirsty.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Suit yourself,” he said, walking over to the dining table and placing the glass down in front of the place setting, which she assumed was hers.

“Please, have a seat,” he said, motioning to the chair.

She hesitated at first, but one little eyebrow raised from him had her feet moving.

“You look beautiful, by the way,” he told her as his eyes traveled the length of her body.

She ignored the compliment and sat down.

He took his seat at the other end of the table. At least she didn’t have to sit too close to him.

“You know, it’s custom to thank someone when they give you a compliment.”

Gabby chose to ignore him again. Instead, she scanned the room, looking for things that she could use as weapons. He had a lot of little statues that she was pretty sure were made out of solid bronze and marble. One hit to the head with one of those could kill someone.

“I assume that after speaking with my maid, you know why you are here.”

Gabby’s body froze. Shit! Had the maid told him? Or did one of the guards outside the room eavesdrop?

She didn’t want the maid to get in trouble. But she also wanted to address his statement.

She looked at him from across the table. “Your brother’s death was not my fault. The way I see it, he hit me. And second, he shouldn’t have been anywhere near that sub. If he had stayed away and not tried to play hero, your precious brother would still be with you today.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “You don’t want to push me, Ms. Allen. I have a reputation for not tolerating recalcitrant people.”

She gave him a sarcastic smile. “My bad. I wasn’t aware.”

What in the hell was she doing? She was basically giving him all the reasons to kill her right on the spot.

A man dressed in a tuxedo walked through a door carrying two trays. He set one down in front of Ramon and then placed the other one down in front of her.

When the lid was removed and steam from the steak, potatoes, and veggies hit her nose, she felt her stomach rumble. She was starving. But at the same time, she was afraid to eat anything out of fear that it had been poisoned.

She made no move to eat anything.

“You do realize that sitting in front of you is the best cut of meat you’ll ever get a chance to taste,” Ramon said, interrupting her thoughts.

She looked at him from across the table. He picked up his glass of wine and took a sip, making sure his eyes stayed on her over the rim of his glass.

His comment couldn’t be further from the truth. The best cut of meat she had tasted was Playboy. “Holy shit! Where in the hell had that thought come from?” She felt her face heat up and knew she probably looked like a tomato.

Maybe he won’t notice, she thought. Then, she lowered her head and started to cut up her food, acting as if she would eat it.

“I’d love to know what just went through that pretty little head of yours.”

Okay, maybe he did now. Why lie? She was going to die anyway.”

She placed her fork and knife down and stared at the bastard across from her wishing she could wipe the smug arrogant expression off his face.

“You're right. I was thinking about something. Something very naughty.”

He smirked and raised his manicured brow as if saying, “Do tell.” The bastard probably thought she was fantasizing about him.

Running her finger around the rim of her wine glass, she held his gaze.

“I was thinking about my boyfriend, and his big slab of meat that I’ll have my hands on as soon as your ass joins your brother in hell.”

Ramon’s smile dropped from his lips in an instant. His fork clattered against the fine china. He wiped his mouth with the white napkin before throwing it down and standing with such force that he almost knocked the chair over. He rounded the table quickly and was on her. His large hand gripped her neck, and panic started to consume her. His eyes were wide, and filled with malice. His nostrils flared as he stared wildly into her eyes. The tightness in her chest became almost unbearable.

“Didn’t your mother ever teach you that it wasn’t polite to insult your host? And that in doing so could land you in extreme trouble?”

Oh yeah. She had definitely hit a nerve. But if she was going to die, then she was going to go out with a bang. She was going to prove to this monster that she wasn’t afraid of him. And by no means would she ever bow down to his demands.

His grip tightened around her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe, but she wasn’t about to show weakness. She stared back at him, letting him know that he wouldn’t break her.

Just as she thought he would succeed in killing her, one of his guards rushed into the room.

“What part of ‘I don’t want to be disturbed,’ don’t you understand?” He barked at the man, who looked scared as hell for daring to go against an order.

“I’m sorry, sir. But we lost contact with Ruben. He radioed in that he was looking into a possible breach on the east side of the property. However, mid-way through the communication, we lost contact with him. Now nobody can get a hold of him.”

He released her neck, and she felt an instant relief. Gabby took a big breath but then began coughing. Her throat burned.

“Find Darwin and have him go out and look.”

He lowered his head. “Sir, nobody can find Darwin either.”

“What do you mean you can’t find Darwin?” Gabby could hear the frustration in his voice.

“It means exactly what I said, Sir. Nobody can find Darwin.”

While Ramon was preoccupied with the guard, Gabby used the distraction to slide the steak knife into the pocket of her dress.

Ramon swung around toward Gabby. His eyes landed on her, and he looked like a lunatic. She also saw fear in his eyes.

He pulled a gun from his waistband and aimed it at her.

“Stand up.”

When she didn’t listen and stayed glued to her seat, he screamed at her.

“I fucking said to stand up!”

Gabby stood, her heart pounding in her chest, but her face remained stoic. Stay calm, and play along. Ramon grabbed her elbow roughly and pulled her behind him as they walked down a long hallway.

She made sure to keep her one hand pressed against her dress so Ramon wouldn’t feel it through the fabric.

When they got to a door at the end of the hall, he pushed it open, pulling her inside with him. He quickly locked it.

She scanned the room. It had low, soft lighting and was filled with dark wood furniture and towering bookshelves.

Her eyes darted around, searching for something—anything—to use to her advantage.

She could feel the tension rolling off Ramon as he checked the windows, and his gaze kept falling nervously to the door every few seconds.

He spun around and leveled his evil eyes at her. “I should have listened to Ruben and never brought you here. I just should have had Tyson put a bullet in your head when he had the chance to,” he hissed.

Gabby knew when to stay silent. And now was the time to do so. Ramon was beyond angry. And he was scared. She wondered if someone actually did breach his security. Could it be Playboy? Or was it a rival cartel looking to overtake him? Her mind was racing with thoughts. The knife in her pocket felt like both a lifeline and a risk. She had one shot, and it had to count.

Ramon’s temper flared as he paced, his hand gripping the pistol he carried.

Suddenly, he spun around and aimed the gun at her. Gabby didn’t flinch, but her heart pounded faster.

Just as she thought he was going to end her life right there, the wind outside picked up, and something struck the window with a loud thunk , rattling the glass.

Ramon glanced toward the window, distracted for just a second. But it was long enough for her to make a move.

In one swift motion, she pulled the steak knife from her pocket and lunged, driving it deep into Ramon’s side. He let out a guttural yell, stumbling back, but the blow wasn’t fatal. His eyes, wide with shock, quickly turned murderous.

“You bitch! ” he roared, clutching his side. Blood seeped through his fingers, but instead of slowing him down, it only seemed to enrage him more. He grabbed her by the throat, shoving her against the wall with brutal force. Gabby gasped, her vision blurring for a moment as her head hit the wood paneling.

“Do you think this will stop me?” Ramon growled, tightening his grip. “I’ll kill you here and now.”

Gabby struggled, clawing at his hands, as the air left her lungs. She kicked her leg out and caught him in the shin, but he barely reacted. Just when she thought she might black out, the lights flickered once, twice—then went out completely, plunging the room into darkness.

The storm was starting to pick up strength, wreaking havoc outside, but inside, the sudden darkness was her salvation.

Gabby didn’t hesitate. With Ramon momentarily disoriented, she reached down and quickly detached her prosthetic leg. The hiss of the release mechanism was lost in the chaos as she swung it upward, catching Ramon across the head with a dull thud .

He grunted in pain, releasing her neck as he staggered back, dazed by the blow. Gabby didn’t stop. She swung again, harder this time, hitting him squarely in the face. The impact sent him reeling, and she could feel the weight of the prosthetic in her hand like a weapon. She continued to swing, hitting him, blow after blow.

◆◆◆

Playboy crouched behind a line of dense foliage as Roman’s estate’s lights flickered in the distance. The air was hot and heavy with the incoming storm. The wind, already fierce, whipped across the compound, rustling leaves and carrying with it the unmistakable scent of the ocean.

Playboy’s radio crackled in his ear as he surveyed the scene with his team. The dark clouds overhead churned, threatening to unleash their fury on the ground below.

“Window’s closing fast, boys,” Derek's voice came through, low but clear. “We get Gabby out now, or we don’t get her at all.”

Playboy’s heart pounded in his chest. This wasn’t just another mission for him. It was Gabby—his Gabby. But as much as his mind screamed to rush in, his training kept him grounded. He had a job to do, and panicking wasn’t going to help anyone.

“Cutting the power now,” Tink whispered into his mic.

Suddenly, the compound plunged into darkness, and like clockwork, his team sprang into action. Jay Bird, Aussie, Nails, Snow, and the others began taking out guards with swift precision, their silenced weapons cutting through the night with deadly accuracy. Playboy stayed low, following close behind Derek as they edged toward the house, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

A crackle came through the earpiece again—this time Nails. “Got eyes on Gabby. Southeast corner room. She’s not alone. Ramon’s in there with her.”

Playboy’s stomach twisted. He clenched his jaw, willing himself to stay focused. Stay calm. Don’t lose it now. He couldn’t afford to lose his cool, no matter how much fear surged inside him. Gabby wasn’t just any hostage—she was the woman he loved.

“They’re talking, but whatever she’s saying is pissing him off,” Snow added, a hint of tension in his voice.

Playboy’s grip tightened on his rifle. He was ready to take out Ramon himself, but they had to be smart about this. “Jay Bird, Aussie, set the explosives as a decoy. Let’s get this done,” Derek ordered.

Seconds felt like hours. The sound of the wind roared louder, masking the faint footsteps of his team as they approached the main house and got ready to move in. The explosives detonated in the distance—an orange flash lighting up the sky as more guards ran toward the chaos.

“Go, go!” Derek barked, signaling the infiltration team.

They moved swiftly, breaching the entrance of the mansion and clearing room after room until they neared the southeast corner. That’s when they heard it—Gabby’s scream.

Playboy’s blood ran cold. Without thinking, he surged forward, throwing his shoulder into the door as Derek kicked it down. Weapons raised, they stormed inside, ready to gun down Ramon.

What they found wasn’t what they expected.

Gabby was half-leaning against a desk, with her prosthetic leg clutched in her hands like a weapon, as Ramon lay sprawled out on the floor in a twisted mess of blood and broken bones. He was clearly dead. His skull caved in from the force of the blow.

Playboy froze, staring at Gabby, disbelief and awe washing over him in equal measure. “Gabby?” His voice cracked, relief flooding him at the sight of her alive and—well, very much in control of the situation.

She looked up at him, a wicked grin spreading across her face despite the exhaustion. “Took you long enough,” she muttered, tossing the prosthetic leg onto the desk with a hollow thud.

Jay Bird let out a low whistle, eyes wide as he took in the bloody scene. “Hell of a way to take someone out, Allen.”

“Yeah,” Aussie chuckled, nudging Nails. “Who needs a weapon when you’ve got a leg?”

Tink stepped into the room, a slow grin forming on his lips as he looked from Ramon’s body to Gabby. “Well, looks like you saved us the trouble of taking him out ourselves. Nicely done, Allen.”

Gabby wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, still catching her breath. “I think I need a new leg. This one has seen better days.”

The room erupted into laughter, tension easing as the danger subsided.

“Alright,” Derek said, “we need to move. That storm is rolling in, and our ride’s about five minutes out.”

Playboy didn’t waste a second. He crossed the room and lifted Gabby up into his arms. She gave him a grateful, tired smile before looping her arms around his neck and letting her head rest on his shoulder.

The team moved swiftly through the compound, racing against the wind and rain that began to pelt them as they reached the extraction point. The helicopter was just touching down, its blades kicking up sand and debris. Playboy tightened his hold on Gabby, shielding her as they made their way to the bird.

Once inside, with the roar of the helicopter’s blades drowning out everything else, Playboy felt the knot of fear and tension finally unravel in his chest. Gabby was safe.

As the chopper lifted into the stormy night, taking them to the safety of Tink’s private base to ride out the hurricane, he held her close. For now, the storm could rage on outside, but in that moment, with her head resting against his chest, everything felt right again.