Dangerous Secrets (29 page)

“Keep trying to call them,” he said, “and I will too. I’m stuck on the ferry.”

Julie hung up and kept dialing over and over. No answer from anyone. She had to warn Luke. She ran for her purse and headed for the door.

***

The Flamingo Hotel was yet another dingy dive of a place that fed drugs, prostitution, and other sordid habits. Alone in the room she was given, Gina sat on the edge of a bumpy bed with an ugly orange bedspread, pondered how well Marco knew the people at the front desk. They had treated him as if he was their boss or something.

Gina wasn’t sure what it was about Marco that made her want to please him so, but she did. Perhaps it was simply his exceptional body and phenomenal skill as a lover.

Then again, there was a distinct possibility it was their mutual love of money that intrigued her. The ruthless way his mind worked was downright evil, giving him a dangerously alluring air that clung to him like a well fitted suit.

It was downright sexy.

Tonight’s agenda was brilliant. She’d told the judge she didn’t have the journal so she’d make it up to him until she did. She couldn’t wait to see the judge’s face when … A knock sounded on the door, drawing her attention.

“Time for the show,” she whispered with anticipation dancing through every fiber of her body.

Stopping at the broken mirror that sat on top of the scuffed white dresser, she smiled at her image. Dressed in a fire engine red lingerie set complete with garters, a tiny lacy bra, barely-there panties, and spiked heels, she was deliciously ready for action.
 

The knock on the door sounded again. “Anxious,” she said with one last look in the mirror as a devilish smile tilted up her painted red lips.

Sashaying to the door she opened it and leaned on the wall in a sexy come-hither way that displayed her body. “Evening, Judge.”

Judge Moore gave her a heavy-lidded, slow perusal. When he was finished, he stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her as he maneuvered them both into the room and pushed the door shut.

“You look good enough to eat,” he said as he spread his hands around the bare cheeks of her backside and pressed her against the hardness of his body.
 

“Slow down, baby. Tonight, we’re going to play a little game.” She pushed out of his arms.
 

The judge started unbuttoning his shirt. “I like games.”

“Good,” Gina said smiling seductively. “You have to promise to follow my rules. Tonight, I’m in charge.” Gina walked up to him and pressed her palm against his bulging zipper. “You’ll be rewarded for good behavior.”

The judge covered her hand with his own making her press harder. Gina tsked. “Not yet, Judge. I won’t play at all if you don’t obey.”

He stared at her as if deciding how serious she was, and then reluctantly released her hand. Gina stepped back and leaned on the dresser. “Get naked. I want to watch.”

“If I do, what do I get in return?”
 

Her eyes narrowed, her voice hardened. “No questions, no demands. I’m in charge. Want to play or not?” The words were like the flick of a whip.

There was a long silence before the judge shoved his shirt to the ground, and then quickly toed off his shoes before stripping off the remainder of his clothes. Standing before her naked and erect, he smiled.

Gina walked toward him, stopping a mere inch from touching him. She looked him up and down, and then circled him. When she was behind him she smacked his backside. Hard.
 

He started to turn. “Hey.”

She pressed her fingers in his back. “My rules,” she warned. When he turned again she smacked him even harder. He didn’t turn this time. “Lie on the bed.”

When he was flat on his back Gina opened a dresser drawer and pulled out three scarves. His eyes widened but he didn’t say anything. Standing above him she let one of the scarves lightly trail around his erection. He jerked slightly, his eyes closing.
 

She picked up one of his hands and he reached for her with the other. She pointed at his hand. “Stop, or else.” He did. Seconds later both of his hands were tied. She straddled him, intentionally teasing him as she blindfolded him.
 

Leaning down, pressing her chest against his, her bottom against his erection, she whispered in his ear. “How’s it feel being helpless, Judge?”

He moaned. “Like I’m going to go crazy if you don’t touch me soon.”

Laughing softly, Gina moved off him. “Come back,” he said urgently.

“Soon,” she said as she moved towards the door. She pulled it open and smiled at Marco.

His brow inched up. “It is done?”

One side of her mouth inched up. “Of course.”

“Excellent.” Gina stepped back to allow him to enter. Once in the room he walked to the judge and tightened the knots on his wrists.

“Who’s there?” the judge said abruptly. “Gina?”

“Gina is here,” Marco said and watched the judge stiffen.

Even with the blindfold, his features showed fear. Though Marco had never met the judge, his French accent was an easy giveaway of his relationship to Arel.

“What in the hell?” the judge blurted out. He started to tug on the restraints.

“Calm down,” Gina told him. “It’s just a little game.”

The judge didn’t listen, bucking with panic.

“Enough!” Marco blurted and yanked a gun from his waistband. He pressed it to the judge’s temple and cocked it. “Be still or I will shoot.”

The judge froze.

“You are going to have a good time, Judge,” Marco assured him with absolute truth in his words. “You and Gina are going to play. I like to watch, it’s really quite simple. As long as you do as you are told, it will be painless.” He paused and let the words sink in. “Understood?”

Slowly the judge nodded.

“Good,” Marco said and set the gun on the end table. “Get a glass of water, and come here, Gina.”

Gina did as he instructed and then sashayed over to Marco, setting the glass on the table and pressing her body against his. “Can I warm up on you, baby?” she asked as her hand explored the ripples of muscle she loved along his shoulders.

“Non,” he said. “I’ll watch.” He pressed a strip of sweetness to her lips and she swallowed it. He gave her another. “More. Tonight is special.”

Marco handed her four strips. “Give them to him.”

She sashayed over to him and ripped off the blindfold. She wanted to see the panic in his eyes.

“Forget it,” The judge bit out through clenched teeth. “I’m not taking that.”

Marco picked up the gun and held it to his head again. “The drugs will make you feel good. The gun, I assure you, will not.”

The judge took the drugs.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Luke reached the stairs, his coat concealing a variety of weapons and the journal. He might have to get rid of most of them, but he was banking on keeping at least one. He headed through the entry gates and then down the stairs to the train terminal where there were nothing but concrete beams and benches.

Footsteps sounded behind him and he turned to find Hendrix coming down the stairs with a gun in his hand and with three other men following him. “Move to the concrete pole and put your hands on it.”

“You’re Dragonfly,” Luke said. “I should have known.”

“Should have, would have, could have,” he said. “But you didn’t and I can shoot you and get away with it, so I suggest you move.”

Luke pressed his hands to the concrete wall, and two men came to stand on either side of him. One searched him and handed off his four guns and two knives, before grabbing the journal.

The men backed away and Luke turned to watch Hendrix set the journal on fire and then throw it onto the tracks. “That was easy,” he said brushing his hands together. “I thought you Walker brothers were good?” He shrugged. “Guess not.”

“Was it the money that turned you, or were you always like this?” Luke asked.

“Money, power, more money. It makes the world go round.”

“The missing agent–”

“She got too close. Hell, she was sharper than you Walkers. She had to be dealt with. Just like you.”

“And my brothers?”

“Will never know I was involved.”

“Ouch,” a familiar voice said. “Don’t pull so hard.”

Luke’s blood ran cold at the sound of Julie’s voice. She appeared on the stairs, being pulled forward by another one of Hendrix’s men.

“Look what we have here,” Hendrix said as she was shoved toward him. “Nice taste, by the way,” he said looking her up and down and flicking a taunting glance at Luke. “Perhaps I can sample the goods before we do away with her.”

She didn’t react, as if she knew it would please him. Her eyes met Luke’s. “I figured out it was him, and I tried to warn you.”

“Better late to the party than never,” Hendrix said and winked. He walked towards her, stopped directly beside her. “You certainly will liven up this little party. How should we get started?”

“Touch her and you die,” Luke promised, his voice low, lethal. “You’re dead anyway, Hendrix.”

Hendrix gave an exaggerated laugh. “I hardly think you’re in a position to be making threats.” He looked at his watch. “The next train will be here in five minutes.” He called over his shoulder. “Pull the car to the exit.”

“Luke,” Julie said. “There’s something I should have told you and I didn’t.”

“Shut up!” Hendrix said, and cut a look to the man holding her. “Deal with her.”

The man slapped her. Julie yelped with the pain, and pressed her hand to her cheek.

Hendrix smirked at Luke. “Come and get me.” He pointed to a guard. “Tell Marco the journal was destroyed before we could get to it. Make it convincing.”

“All this so you don’t get in trouble with Arel over that damn journal,” Luke said. “You really are a sick man.”

Hendrix laughed. “I am what I am, and that’s smarter than you.”

The wind picked up as faint sounds of the approaching train humming through the tunnel. “Let’s go,” Hendrix said to the men, and moved towards the stairs.

One of the men holding guns on Luke motioned for him to move forward. Hendrix and two other men were already headed up the stairs. The odds just improved. That left Luke with his guard and Julie’s to dispose of. The trick was making sure Julie was safe.

The subway car was approaching. Luke’s guard shifted his eyes toward it, and gave Luke the opportunity. He grabbed the man, covered his gun hand with his own, and fired on the other guard. Before he ever hit the ground, Luke had turned, taken the gun fully from the man he still held and put a bullet in him, too.

Luke pointed the gun, surveying the area for anyone else. “Grab the other gun,” he ordered Julie, “and if in doubt, use it.”

The subway car came to a stop and Luke rotated around to point his weapon. Jesse came out, his gun raised, and fired at the stairs. A man rolled down the steps, his gun falling to the pavement.

“That’s close to even,” Luke said. “But you aren’t there yet.”

“Close is better than nothing,” Jesse said, joining Luke. “Where’s Hendrix? He disappeared on me.”

“He’s Dragonfly,” Julie said, “and how do we get out of here?”

“Everyone okay down there?” Royce shouted from above.

“All clear,” Luke shouted.

“Batman has arrived,” Blake said, appearing on the stairs, two guns in his hand. “Hendrix is dead. Three others in custody. Two others escaped.”

Royce followed Blake down the stairs. “How is it you lost your phone again?”

“We have the same phone, brother dearest. He grabbed mine. And in case you didn’t notice, that’s what warned us about Hendrix before it was too late.” Sirens screamed above ground. “The cavalry has arrived.”

Luke went over to Julie, who was staring at the dead bodies, the gun still in her hand. “You okay?” he asked, removing the gun from her hand.

She nodded, lifted her gaze to his. “I love you.”

“What?” he asked, shocked by the sudden confession.

“I love you and I should have told you before now, and I don’t want to risk ending up like them and you never knowing. I love you.”

He shoved the gun into his coat and wrapped his arms around her. “I love you, too.”

She blinked. “You do?”

“Yes. I do.”

Murphy rushed down the stairs. “Arel’s house is cleared out and we just got a call from a motel a few blocks away. The judge and Julie’s secretary were found dead.”

Blake scrubbed his jaw. “You really know how to mess up a romance novel moment, man.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Julie was exhausted by early morning when she, Luke, and his brothers returned to the Walker apartment. The questions had been many, the answers not as easily found as everyone wanted. The missing agent was most likely dead. Gina and the judge were dead. Arel had disappeared along with every known operation he’d been involved with that the task force had known about.