Pure Vengeance

Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Natasha

“Go ahead. Ask.” I loaded the shotgun and set it to the side, then slid the knives into their sheath.

“Ask what?”

“Don’t you want to know why I have a Sarah O’Connor stash of weapons and money?”

“I’m sure you had your reasons, but I am curious about the C4.”

“It was on sale.”

“My sister looks for Kate Spade and Chanel,” he murmured. “My wife looks for military-grade explosives. It’s sexy.”

I rolled my eyes but didn’t reply.

He cleared his throat and took a drink from his plain black coffee. “Sorry. Do you have a plan?”

“Yes.”

When I didn’t elaborate, he sighed heavily. “Natasha, you asked me to give you my trust, and I did, even though I would rather die than give you up to George and his friends.”

“Keep that thought. I’m planning to use you as a meat shield.” I smirked, then added, “Those divorce papers haven’t been filed, and as your wife, I’d inherit everything if I let you and Saoirse die.”

I wished I believed my lies. Even after everything he’d done, I couldn’t let Lachlan lose his sister, and I didn’t want to lose him either.

“Would you stop?” he snapped. “For fuck’s sake, woman. Forget how much you hate me and tell me what’s going through that crazy fucking head of yours because I am losing my shit here. My sister?—”

“He won’t get to keep either of us,” I interrupted, keeping my voice calm. “See, I’m fucking tired of assholes who think it’s okay to hurt innocent people because someone they’re related to pissed them off. I’m stopping it. Now.”

To his credit, his cheeks turned ruddy, and he didn’t meet my eyes for several seconds. “And now I understand the mini urban-warfare kit.”

“Yeah. I’m not letting anyone hurt me again, and I promise to keep Saoirse safe too.”

“How are you going to stop them?” He spun and looked out the window, his tense shoulders stretching the seams of his shirt. “We can’t just shoot them. We might hit Saoirse.”

“We know some things George doesn’t. He doesn’t know about the hidden passages and access hallways for the staff.”

“How did you find those?”

I shrugged and my cheeks heated. “I used to love Nancy Drew mysteries. I got bored one day and started tapping on walls. He doesn’t know I’ve spent the last six months shooting every one of these firearms until I could pick a single leaf off a tree.”

“True, but he’s going to have guns too, and we still can’t use them until Saoirse is out of their reach.”

“Call them my plan B. Anyway, the other thing he doesn’t know is how much time I’ve spent at a mixed martial arts studio. I’m fast and strong, and more importantly, I know how to be quiet because my life depended on it when my father was alive.”

A muscle twitched in his cheek, but he nodded. “Okay. What else?”

“George doesn’t know I’m not afraid anymore.” I slid the pistol into a holster at my waist. “Unfortunately, he’s impatient. He’s not going to give us two hours, so I need to get into position.”

“Okay.” Lachlan rubbed his face, then sighed. “I trust you. Tell me what you need.”

I checked the window, making sure no cars approached before returning my duffel to the closet. “Here’s what we’re going to do.”

Lachlan

After wiping my damp palms on my pants, I checked my watch for the tenth time in as many minutes. Natasha was already skulking upstairs, waiting for me to send George, Enrique, and Matt looking for her.

I hated her plan.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t think of a better one that would allow me to protect both her and my sister. At least Natasha would have advance warning from the security app we’d installed on her phone. The proximity alarm would alert both of us the minute they breached the borders of my property.

Finn would have come up with something, but if George was to be believed, my oldest friend was gone. I’d have to grieve his loss later. Despite my worry, I couldn’t help a small smile. Natasha’s plan was probably close to what Finn would have done.

“Fuck.” In an attempt to relax, I took a few deep breaths and moved my head from side to side to release the tension in my neck.

I’d watched Natasha train with sparring partners a few times, and she rarely lost. If she could win against trained fighters, she’d be deadly against George, who was twice her age and spent more time drinking than he did in the gym. Matt wasn’t much better, but Enrique…

He might be a problem, but I had to trust Natasha was ready for him. There wasn’t another option.

My phone buzzed a warning, making me flinch with surprise. Cursing, I pulled myself together and sent a quick text to Natasha.

They’re here.

I heard. Phones on silent now. You know what to do.

I still hate this plan.

I still don’t care.

“God, I should spank you,” I muttered as I silenced my phone and slid it into my pocket.

Steeling myself, I went to the door and opened it, then waited for a black SUV with tinted windows to park at the head of my driveway.

Christ, could they be more cliché?

I folded my arms across my chest and waited as George got out of the front passenger seat and strode toward me—without my sister.

“Where’s Saoirse?”

“Where’s Tasha?” he countered, smirking at me.

He was clean-shaven, with light brown hair and watery blue eyes, and reminded me of an elementary school bully who forgot he wasn’t ten anymore. And like most bullies, he needed just one person to make him stop.

I was self-aware enough to include myself in that description. Natasha had been the one to stop me.

“You’ll see her when I see my sister.”

“Stupid bastard.” He pulled out a gun, making me arch a brow.

“I should remind you that Finn wasn’t the only member of my staff who would like nothing more than to bury you in a shallow grave. Don’t think that will end if you shoot me.”

“You’ll still be dead.”

“And you’ll still be charged with murder. You were stupid enough to pick my own house to make the exchange, and there are cameras everywhere. Aside from that, once I… convinced Natasha to behave, she gave me all the evidence I need to put you away for a very long time.”

I took a few steps toward him, but stopped when I smelled body odor mixed with the sour reek of cheap bourbon. “Once you give me my sister, you can take Natasha off my hands, and I destroy all that evidence. Do we have an agreement?”

“Fine, asshole.” He glowered at me, then turned toward the SUV and shouted, “Bring the girl here.”

Matt and Enrique dragged Saoirse from the vehicle, and, holding her upright between them, brought her to George.

Fuck. She looked barely conscious, and I had to force myself to remain still when I spotted the bruises on her arms and legs. I recognized the floral print sundress as one of her favorites, but it was torn and spotted with blood.

“Gentlemen, I understand that a woman occasionally needs chastisement, but if you touched her inappropriately, the deal is off.” I cocked my head at Enrique, then smiled. “Of course, Enrique there is young enough. Guess I could marry her off.”

“No.” George sneered at me. “Your bitch of a sister is fine. We’re saving ourselves for your wife.”

“She won’t be my wife for much longer. I got what I wanted, so I don’t give a shit what happens to her.” I shrugged and pretended I believed my own words when every atom of my body screamed in denial. “I already have signed divorce papers. There might be a few spots of her blood on them, but my lawyer won’t care.”

“Where’s Tasha?” George pushed past me, then spun and pointed his gun at me. “If you’re trying to double-cross us?—”

“Please.” I led them into the living room and poured myself a glass of scotch. “You’re doing me a favor. My sister got taught some manners, and I’ll be rid of my unwanted wife. Drop Saoirse in a corner somewhere.”

When Matt and Enrique let her fall to the floor, I crouched next to her and carefully touched her cheek to make her look at me. She opened her swollen eyes and blinked. Careful of my movements, I shook my head almost imperceptibly and whispered, “Shh.”

“And? Where is she?” Enrique asked, his brown eyes glittering with avarice.

“Up the stairs, turn right. Last door at the end of the hall.” I tossed him a key ring. “She’s in a cage under the bed.”

As Enrique trotted up the stairs, George laughed and slapped me on the back, forcing me to unclench my hands before I ripped his throat out. “Perfect place for that little cunt.”

“I thought so.”

I offered George a drink, which he, of course, accepted. Five minutes became ten, then fifteen as I kept up my end of the conversation and tried not to imagine what Enrique would do to my beautiful Natasha if her plan didn’t work.

Then again, if it hadn’t worked, Enrique would have brought her downstairs already.

Frowning, George glanced at the clock over the mantle. “What’s taking him so long?”

After taking a sip of my drink, I shrugged. “Well, she was naked. Guess he’s getting the party started, but I’d prefer he not fuck her in my bed. Get her out of my house before you have fun with her.”

“Damn him. I told him to wait.” Glaring at Matt, George added, “Go upstairs and tell Enrique to put his dick away. It’s time to go.”