Burned Hearts (19 page)

Was it possible Tom hadn't told Wayne a single thing, assuming Wayne was the orchestrator of the latest events? Had Tom rallied to our cause in ultimate loyalty to Dane and Amano? And because Dane had gotten the FBI to find Tom's wife and daughter? Could I consider Tom an ally as I tried to shake down Wayne?

My head spun a little, but I held tight to the possibility that this could all work seriously well in my favor.

This notion gave me a shot of courage—and adrenaline. If Wayne didn't know about me and Dane marrying or that I'd had Amsel, then my son was safe. So I pushed the envelope.

“We discovered the chink in the security armor when you blew up the Lux,” I said.

He made a menacing tsking noise. “Such a shame. All that money invested, and the hotel never even opened.”

“Nor did the one in Vegas that you worked construction on, which is currently being dismantled.”

“Just a hotel.” He shrugged a shoulder.

“Sure. Like it was just a Web site you took offline, security wires you cut on Lux property, a bug you planted in my office, a rattler you put in the stairwell, scorpions you dropped from the terrace, onto me.” I thought back to that night and rage built within me as it had when I'd revisited the harrowing episode with Kyle. “Have you ever been stung by a scorpion? Fucking hurts, like a Mack truck has just run over that particular body part.”

“I'm not that careless.” There was cunning in his eyes. Was he on to me?

“Why the attacks on me, specifically?” I demanded in a quiet voice. “Even the fire you set in the media room—I was the only one in there at the time.”

“I heard the whole thing was caused by a leak.”

“Someone created that leak in the pipes. Then punched a hole in the wall above live outlets when I was inside and the door was stuck shut.”

“You really ought to pack up your toys and move along, Ari. You can't play with the big dogs. You've been a vulnerability all this time. A liability. A weakness for Dane.”

I did another mental rewind. When had I last seen Wayne? Did he even know Dane was alive, or was he speculating? Speaking in general terms to see what
he
could glean from
me
?

I tried to recall what Tom had said that morning in the estate kitchen, but the fact was, I'd been so scared, I really wasn't sure what specifics had been discussed, what pertinent information divulged.

So I took a wild guess, banking on Wayne not knowing Dane had survived the blast. “That's not really a problem now, is it?”

“Don't blame me that you ended up with nothing.”

“You lousy son of a bitch. You can't really expect to just walk away from a reign of terror. You blew up a goddamn hotel. People died.”

“Boo-fucking-hoo.” He glared at me. “Do you really think I was going to be Vale's bitch after everything I learned at the Lux, after all the shit I pulled off that no one could pin on me?
Still
can't pin on me? I was able to bypass Vale after his massive fuckup. Go directly to his dad and tell him I'd finish the job. And I did. No more 10,000 Lux. No more Dane Bax.
Boom.
”

My jaw fell slack. The air rushed from my lungs. I couldn't breathe.

But then I realized my ace in the hole.

I glared at Wayne, hoping to evoke his anger—I had a feeling I'd need it to get to the heart of the matter. To make the exact words fall from his mouth that would secure this confession.

I said, “So Bryn Hilliard is pulling your strings. I thought you were smarter than that. Because now you're
his
bitch.”

There it was.

Fury flashed across Wayne's face. “I am a
master
at what I do. And guess what? When those idiots who wanted back into the Lux—Bryn included—get their balls nailed to the wall because they were too stupid to cover their tracks and the FBI and IRS caught up to them, I'm going to take my millions and drift away. Disappear into thin air.
Poof!
”

He was beyond sinister and insidious. He was evil. Chillingly so.

But also delusional. That was
his
weakness. I wouldn't be dumping
Breaking Bad
so quickly.

“You're missing some marbles, Wayne, that's for sure. First, those ‘idiots' will point fingers at the person who actually planted the bomb. They'll want to take you down with them. Second … have you watched the news lately?”

He eyed me suspiciously. “I don't have time for the bullshit on TV.”

“That's too bad. Because that hotel you worked at in Las Vegas—overseeing some of the construction—was about to implode because it was so shoddily built. Except that suddenly it became a crime scene.”

His jaw worked for a moment. I'd thrown him for a loop. He said, “I knew they were bringing down the hotel. What's the crime?”

“You really are a moron of epic proportions. A sneaky moron, but a moron nonetheless. While disassembling the tower that can no longer stand on its own and will topple over and kill thousands of tourists and wipe out some of the Strip workers discovered bodies in the concrete pillars.
Bodies.
” I gave him a knowing look. Time for
my
full-court press. “All three were ID'd. They used to work at the Lux, right at the time you signed on. One of them happens to be your brother, Xander. Or should I say,
used
to be your brother.”

His head jerked back and he stumbled away from me, reeling. That was my brass ring!

I inched toward him. “Yeah, good in theory hiding the bodies in thirty stories of cement. Until those thirty stories have to come down.”

“Shut up about my brother, Ari.” His tone was ominous, foreboding. His jaw tightened. His shoulders bunched. His fists balled at his sides.

But I kept at him. “What happened, Wayne? Was Xander on to you at 10,000 Lux? Did he know how you were sabotaging the resort so it couldn't open? Did he know you were working for the investors who'd been cut because they were corrupt? They turned to Vale Hilliard to come up with a plan to cripple Dane—and Vale hired you to do that dirty work. Xander knew, didn't he? So did Jess Nichols and Mike Donaldson. How? Did they help you, or did they just catch you in the act? Are you really not as brilliant as you think?”

“You fucking cunt!” he erupted. Heads whipped in our direction. Price leapt to his feet but didn't move in.

I felt the clock ticking down. I was about to lose Wayne. He'd storm off. This was my one and only chance, so I went full throttle.

“You killed those three men—your brother included. Why? Because you didn't cover your tracks as well as you'd thought you had?” I demanded, plunging in the knife. “Then you helped Vale kidnap me and you blew up 10,000 Lux—for the money? Or to prove you were better than Vale Hilliard—a billionaire by heritage? While you're a nickel-and-dime loser.”

“He was a waste of a goddamn trust fund!” Wayne bellowed.

Around the periphery, I saw men—general bystanders—starting to move in, cautiously, apparently ready to jump to my aid but not sure at what point to intervene. Probably wondering if Wayne and I were just having a lovers' quarrel over losing money at the casino. Wayne looked crazed. Likely what gave my would-be heroes pause.

And, clearly, Price was waiting to see how far this would go. What other information I could pry from Wayne. Not a comforting thought, though at the same time
I
wanted to see how far I could take this.

“Was it even Vale's idea to plant that bomb at the Lux?” I asked.

“Right. Like he'd think of that? He was a pussy,” Wayne hissed. “Plain and simple.”

“You could have killed about forty people that night.”

“Do you think I care?”

“Of course not. You'd already murdered three. What's forty more?”

“Or forty-one?” he demanded cryptically, under his breath, as he glared at me.

I choked on fear.

“Hey, pal.” One of the guys who'd just handed over his ticket for the valet to bring his car around finally decided enough was enough. “Why don't you back off?”

“Why don't you mind your own goddamn business?” Wayne shouted.

Then his hand shot out and he grabbed my upper arm, tight, jerking me to him.

My heart stammered.

“You are just too stupid for words,” he told me in a low, menacing voice.

“Ari,” I heard Kyle in my ear. “What the hell is happening?”

“Big, bad Wayne Horton thinks he's going to whisk me out of here and properly dispose of me,” I taunted. Against my better judgment. Yet I had to tip Kyle off without giving away the fact that he was listening in.

Still, panic seized me. But I only had one chance to finish this.

“You actually killed your own brother.” That seemed to be Wayne's most vulnerable spot, so I twisted that knife.

“Yes, you dumb bitch,” he seethed in his quiet tone. “I killed my own fucking brother.” He leaned in close. “You're next, pretty girl.”

A part of me wondered if there was still a card left to play.

What could it be?

Barely breathing, I managed to say, “You think this will close the loop. Complete Vale's botched mission. Then you can vanish with whatever money you've collected, as you mentioned. But that's not going to happen. You won't get very far, what with all of these witnesses.”

“I am
exceptional
at disappearing.”

He had me on that one. But he didn't know about my insurance policy—Kyle and the FBI.

“I'll admit that you're a slippery little sucker. Yet you made a huge mistake losing your cool just now.”

Agent Price brandished his weapon and was raising his arm to take aim at Wayne and likely demand he release me when Kyle suddenly rounded the corner of the building and said conspiratorially in my ear, “Go for the knee, Ari.”

I was at the perfect angle, partially aligned alongside Wayne. Without a second thought I raised my foot and slammed it against the outside of my captor's leg. With all the rage he'd incited within me from day one.

“Fuck!” Wayne yelled in agony.

“Sucks to blow out a knee, doesn't it?” I ground out, recalling Kyle's stance on that particular injury.

Wayne called me all manner of colorful names—but also lost his grip on me. He staggered from the solid hit. Only momentarily, though, because Kyle launched himself at Wayne and tackled him. Kyle had Wayne on his stomach with his hands behind his back in no time flat. Quite impressive.

Agent Price now pointed his gun at Wayne's head, whose face was plastered to the sidewalk as he continued to wail over the damage I'd inflicted.

With sufficient angst—and a dose of his own warranted arrogance—Kyle said, “Meet our friends from the FBI, motherfucker. You're under arrest.”

I continued to stare at Kyle, rooted where I was, my eyes popping, my heart thundering. Agent Johnson's SUV came barreling toward the porte cochere, horn blaring. He drove up onto the walkway, skidded to a halt, and jumped out. I remained paralyzed by the lightning-quick convergence. And the fear gripping me.

Kyle glanced my way. “This FBI shit is
insane
.” His handsome face lit up.

“Oh, no,” I said as I slowly shook my head, more fear clawing at me. I still couldn't pull in a decent breath. “Don't get any ideas.”

“I kinda like it,” Kyle told me with a grin, adrenaline practically glowing in his vibrant blue eyes.

“All right, honorary Agent Jenns,” Price said dryly. “You can let us take over from here. Thanks for the backup.”

I was finally released from my shocked state.

Backup? Ha!

Kyle had just kicked my ass.

 

chapter 11

Home life left much to be desired when you were in the doghouse.

Amano didn't speak to either of us. Kyle and I exchanged
oh, shit
looks, and I found myself pacing in the foyer, stealing glances at the front door, waiting for Dane to burst in. I kept Amsel close by. Mostly in my arms, even when he squirmed a little and wanted Rosa. Or his bassinet. Like he could sense my tension and understood I deserved to be in the hot seat. As I'd suspected all along, he was going to turn out to be one intuitive Bax.

I knew that, in addition to the risk I'd taken, Dane would be angry that Kyle had been the one to save me. Ironic, really, because not so long ago it had been Kyle who'd felt bested because Dane had always heroed up whenever it came to me being in tricky situations. Starting from that first night we'd met, when the snake-tat guy had grabbed me. Dane had swooped in without a moment's hesitation. He literally refused to let anyone hurt me.

Which made my little confession scenario with Wayne an even more challenging endeavor to justify.

Kyle went about his daily routine, monitoring the grounds physically and via the iPads. He chatted it up with Agent Price from time to time, which did not go over well with Amano. Or me. Something we silently had in common.

I worried the FBI was recruiting Kyle. I'd been concerned not too long ago that he might consider the Secret Service, given how into all of this intrigue and danger he'd become. I didn't like the idea of him being in the line of fire with either agency. But I had to admit, he demonstrated skill and steely resolve in a way I admired.

Still, I didn't want him continuing the dicey lifestyle we'd all fallen into. We'd had way too many close calls. Even our planned run-in with Wayne Horton had turned precarious.

If Dane found out—

Ugh.
What was I talking about?

When
Dane found out.

Rosa was under fire, too. She'd unwittedly played along when I'd stashed diapers and other baby paraphernalia. She'd told Amano they needed a grocery run. They'd taken Amsel with them. That was when Kyle and I had slipped out.