Authors: Eric Pete

Frostbite (3 page)

BOOK: Frostbite

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The riskiest part of this plan and they’d actually come through.

With us blending in and the prince’s not wanting an international incident, they holstered their firearms then slowly retreated inside the compound to finish rounding up the other captive women ... and questioning the real satellite repair workers. But not before a couple of them smiled at the nude bodies bouncing and gyrating in front of them.

Exhausted and drained, I backed away from the still performing flash mob and bent over, succumbing to the adrenaline fleeing my body as I took a minute to catch my breath.

“Well ... you look good,” Sophia commented as she smacked me on my bare ass, bopping around as if the terror and drama of the last few minutes hadn’t even happened. And ignoring that she was standing nude in Coral Gables.

But she could get away with being nude as beautiful as she was.

“Who are all these people?”

“Students. From the U,” I said, managing to point in the general direction of the university campus on the other side of Old Dixie Highway. “I needed young, willing bodies from nearby.”

“Never knew you were a Canes fan,” she somehow joked.

“I’m not. Florida State fan,” I replied, still trying to get my heart rate under control and gasping for air. “But I’d never put their students in harm’s way,” I joked back. “Now let’s get to the clothes I stashed before the cops show up.”

Fully clothed again, I turned up the CNN broadcast with Soledad O’Brien. Another one of those specials they gave her carte blanche to host.
Black In America XII: The Blackest Ever
or something like that.

We were near the edge of the Everglades. At the Crowne Plaza by Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise. Two queen-sized beds at my request. Sophia was in the bathroom using the rinse for her hair that I’d bought along with a few sets of clothes and luggage from the mall across the street.

My plan was to lay low and fly out of Fort Lauderdale Airport tonight. If the prince was as manic about his possessions as he was about his soccer matches then unlimited wealth could be troublesome even for a plotter and schemer like me.

“How do I look, baby?” Sophia asked as she emerged from the bathroom, hair damp and body rolled into a hotel towel. Her hair was back to black now. A change from the honey blond worn by her to please the little prince no doubt. Then she dropped the towel for dramatic effect, never one for modesty. Body was still as I remembered it. Bangin’. Pussy probably as good as always.

That not-so-secret weapon of hers.

But under me she’d gained other weapons for her arsenal.

Under me.

Seeing that look in her eyes, hearing that sexy little sucking sound she makes through her teeth when she cums.

Hard not to go there considering our history.

“Need me to tell you?” I replied, taking my own path. A question for a question as I stepped aside and went toward the bathroom. Pretending to be unfazed by her.

“No. But a girl can never get too much reassurance,” Sophia said as I gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Saw her wink.

“I’m glad ... you’re okay,” I offered. I really was glad she was okay. Once upon a time I wanted to kill her myself. Almost did. But that was another time. When we were on different sides in a game in which I was unaware I was a participant.

“Don’t see you expressing your relief.”

“I got you out, right? Should be enough,” I shot back, knowing how Sophia
expressed
herself. She was kinda like a guy in terms of sex. Sometimes she just wanted it. Other times it was to serve as a distraction or relieve stress. And probably nothing more stressful than being someone’s captive for who knows how long. But sex also could be a way of apologizing.

Yet Sophia never apologized for anything.

Couldn’t start thinking that way about her.

That she was suddenly caring and considerate.

And worthy of me reciprocating.

Thinking like that cost me before.

Almost my life.

“Fuck it. Want to play the game? Fine,” she spat as she stormed over to the shopping bags gathered atop her bed. “And where have you been anyway? That wasn’t the first time I’d tried getting a message out to you.”

“On jobs,” I replied. “Thought I wasn’t needed anyway. And what kind of luck do you have? A fucking harem?”

“Long story,” she replied, avoiding the topic yet again. I could somewhat fill in the blanks, but wanted her to come clean.

A lesson for both of us.

“What happened back in London after I left you?” I inquired.

“You mean after I left
you?
” Sophia corrected me. My mouth clenched, but I quickly relented. Had taught her too much about reading micro expressions, the tiny facial tics that most people were unaware they had. But that told a whole world of information.

“Let’s agree that we had our differences,” I said.

“Sure did. You wanted to skulk around in the shadows. Like a fuckin’ Phantom of the Opera,” she ridiculed.

“And you wanted to be the center of attention. All bright and shiny like the sun. A big ball of hot gas,” I shot back. “Not like I taught you. See where it got you.”

“A lot of money. Pounds, euros, lira, dollars. That’s where it got me,” she mused while removing the clothes from the bags and holding them up for inspection. I wished that she would hurry and put something on.

But she didn’t.

Just kept switching her weight from leg to leg in a rhythmic case of nerves.

“Come clean. What did you do?” I asked.

“Nothing,” she said as she held up a blouse that obscured her breasts for the barest of moments. Then she turned her back to me to dig through more clothes.

“Bullshit,” I said as I admired her silhouette.

“Okay,” she said with a false sigh, having strung me along enough to her satisfaction. “The prince’s wife. She was worried he was getting too serious with one of his many women. I was supposed get inside and do some digging. Play around. Figure out which one and let her take care of the rest. Involuntary severance.”

“And?”

“Motherfucker became too sweet on me for her. Bitch had a change of heart. Broke our agreement then snitched me out. Of course, he didn’t kill me. This shit too good for that,” she said with a cocky smile as she tapped a fingertip near her clit. “Instead, the fucker threw me in with the rest of ’em bitches and I been on lockdown since.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Hey. Ain’t your fault. The opulence suited me, but I ain’t nobody’s slave. That was some crazy shit you pulled back there to get me out.”

“Are you thanking me?” I asked.

“What if I am?”

We shared a glance as she prepared for my next move. I thought it over rather than succumbing to her blatant charms. Got ready to take a nice cold shower instead. Get my head right ... both of them. “Flight outta here leaves in about four hours. I hope those clothes fit ... and that your size hasn’t changed,” I joked as I prepared for her complaints over designer label versus store brand.

“I just hope there’s a swimsuit in here.”

“Huh?” I blurted, sticking my head from out of the bathroom.

“Oh I’m not ready to leave yet,” Sophia said, an innocent look used as a disguise.

“We should go,” I said as I surveyed the surroundings, never one to let down my guard. Not even in these kinds of surroundings.

“You don’t tell me what to do!” Sophia snapped. Inglewood was strong in every syllable as she voiced her frustration with my playing the mother hen.

But instead of being in Cali or anywhere else for that matter, we were still in Florida.

South Beach to be exact.

Poolside VIP at the W.

Sophia swatted away my hand as I reached to stop her again. Felt like old times.

The bad old times.

When, beyond the sex and chaos, we realized not much else could be there.

For I was a non-person absent a heart.

Afrojack had just finished a set this evening. Now Taio Cruz was taking the poolside stage with throngs of bikini-clad senoritas shaking and popping their asses in the cool, refreshing breeze coming off the beach below.

“Best that we go,” I said again as the bass assaulted our ears and the intoxicated crowd roared.

“After my captivity? I just want to live a little! Can a sista do that? Huh? Can a sista just live?” she hollered a little too loud for my liking, already a few too many drinks in her, before joining the other women dancing to the music.

“Which is exactly why we need to go,” I mumbled to no one but myself as I stood there, one of the few people not in high spirits this evening. I didn’t feel comfortable staying around Miami a minute longer, that danger clock steadily ticking—especially after back-to-back jobs—but couldn’t blame her for wanting to cut loose.

Besides, maybe I was being too paranoid—nerves worn from years of schemes and lies leaving me a wounded veteran. More so, it was of what Sophia reminded me. A time when I’d fooled myself into believing a fairy tale of my own creation. And wound up being caught with my guard down.

My mind flashed back to the New Mexico desert. Hot sand beneath my broken feet once again. Bullets and blood. Sweaty, out of breath, and my life hanging in the balance. The man learned to be a jackrabbit that day.

But Sophia could have her fun ... for a little while longer. I just needed to stay busy and not dwell on such things. As I brought up a secure link on my cell, I signaled to the still-dancing Sophia that I had to take a call then left poolside. She was relatively safe and in public view, so her dismissive nod was acceptable.

Down in the lobby of the W, full of free Wi-Fi signals and everything else coming at a price, I opened a communications line long unused.

U still out there? I typed, feeling a little foolish.

U alive? came a response after a long pause. Part of me wished no reply had come. While another part welcomed the once customary banter that I shared with Lorelei Smart, the young woman on the other end of the exchange.

Appears that way, huh? I typed back.

Yeah. It’s you. Cocky mofo still. No one else knows to reach me this way. Been years. What up?

Relax. Just saying hi.

Hi then. No dirt to sell? You were the best. I miss those days.

Even the way it ended?

W/ u showing up at my job and threatening me? Yeah. No worries. U were under a lot of pressure. People gunnin 4 u. & I didn’t help matters.

True. But I spared u. Anyway. Things good?

Yeah. Website goin strong. Peeps gettin the goods 4 me. Not like u, but ...

There was a pause where I thought we’d been disconnected. Or that she was busy ... distracted with something more pressing than a man of the shadows who was no longer so invaluable. Then she continued. No longer @ FedEx. U really helped put 4Shizzle on the map w/ ur product, she typed, referring to her Internet gossip site that rivaled TMZ and Media TakeOut these days. Of course, it was nothing to sneeze at back when I would share some of my dirt for side change. But then I found myself her subject rather than source. All of us pawns in a plan to eliminate me because of what I’d discovered about a famous rapper and his sexual preferences.

Ur welcome, I replied.

Where u at these days?

Can’t say. U know that, I typed as I came upon a wedding party gathering outside one of the ballrooms. Wealthy Cubans mingling with a smaller family that looked to be Dutch based on their taste in clothes, accents, and body language. Had some brief dealings with them across the pond while Sophia and I were passing through Belgium. They liked to play all leisurely, but were dead serious when it came to business.

I don’t know what Lorelei said next for something else suddenly drew all my attention and focus. My turn to be distracted by something more pressing than a gossiping Web blogger no matter how cute and intelligent she was in reality.

Talk l8r, I hastily typed as I switched my phone to a special camera mode. While pretending to view a webcast or something, I angled my phone upward and maneuvered the zoom feature on something dead ahead.

Three rather stoic men had entered the hotel lobby and stopped near the front desk. Rather than staring exposed with my mouth agape, I cautiously backed up, letting the ever-moving wedding party wind around me like a writhing field of human camouflage. The suit I wore was more casual than the male wedding guests’, but was sufficient for me to blend in.

“Fuck,” I gasped, feeling more stupid than ever for giving in to Sophia.

It was hard not to recognize the largest of the three visitors to the W this evening. The sumo in the finest of tailoring from the prince’s compound drew more than just my set of eyes with his imposing girth. New arrivals at the hotel were literally keeping their distance, making the hotel staff curiously nervous. When we’d escaped into the flash mob earlier today, I was more than a little pleased knowing there would be no more run-ins with him.

Ever.

Y’see, I knew his type when I saw ’em.

Man like that was an obsessive professional. Determined to make up for a failure, real or imagined, with no regard for his life. Or the lives of others.

Now, he’d coincidentally shown up here with backup? As much chance as one of Diddy’s artists having success beyond their second album.

I stepped out of the crowd, moving a little closer, confident that I wouldn’t be recognized. In the hotel driveway, just outside the revolving door, a long black Audi with diplomatic plates waited. Turning back to the three inside with me, I noticed two of them held something about the size of a cell phone.

Tracking devices.

So, not a coincidence.

Quickly popping into a nearby leather chair, I pretended to check my watch. The large leader gestured for the other two to stay together on the ground floor—presumably to cover any escape—while he followed his signal to the upper levels. As he lumbered up the marble stairs, I was glad to have him away, but knew our reunion would be coming shortly.

If I survived what I planned to do down here.

Oblivious to my being a mere arm’s length away, the remaining two walked by, heading toward the wedding party where I’d previously stood. I quickly sprang to my feet, getting a better look over their shoulders at one of the tracking devices. I recognized the model. Made in China. Not the most accurate in this type of environment, but eventually they could find a stationary target.

Even if that target was shaking her ass up at poolside.

With that knowledge, I decided to make my move and eliminate the closest threat. Despite my preference for being hands-off, there was no time. No plot or plan for a situation like this.

Just dive in and get my hands dirty.

“Are you with the bride’s or the groom’s party?” I asked as I raised the pitch of my voice to an annoying level, circling around and overtaking the two of them. I intentionally entered the space of the one with the tracker. Watched him palm it out of sight as he reacted to me with disgust.

“Get out of my way,” he uttered as he surged forward with his mission. He actually assisted me by shielding my hands from his associate. When he tried to blow me off, I struck him with a straight hand directly in the throat. His eyes bulged as he realized his airway was suddenly constricted and my hand in it—pun intended. But he was unable to speak. As he keeled over, I feigned trying to catch him, sure to guide his head into the nearby wall while on the way down. Everyone thought he’d suddenly fainted, which I played to my advantage.

“Somebody get help!” I yelled as I gentled cradled my unconscious victim to the floor. Luckily, I looked far different enough for his associate to not recognize me from my earlier rescue of Sophia.

“Get away from him!” his associate, a no-nonsense type who reeked of blind loyalty, yelled as he gestured me aside. The crowd from the wedding party had gathered round and was overwhelming the conscious one with their incessant chatter. Just as I palmed the tracking device I’d separated from its user and silently withdrew.

Don’t know why I bothered looking down at the tracker as I bounded up the stairs. I already knew where I was going with such haste. Just didn’t know the hows of Sophia being tracked.

Or why one lone escapee was so important.

Up top, Taio Cruz was thanking everyone for the energy tonight. Probably missed a pretty good show, but I’d been busy downstairs with one of my own. Didn’t take long to spot the mountain moving through the crowd and to quickly shadow him. But he reached the end of his journey all too soon on the edge of the pool. He stood behind an oblivious Sophia, her back turned as his tracking device showed a steady, affixed color. No longer blinking.

Taking a final deep breath, I launched into a brisk jog, bumping other guests as I picked up my pace, rushing headlong into stupidity. I slammed into him from behind, intent on him falling over, but it was like ramming a tree trunk. When he turned around to take a wild swing at whatever irritation had just run into him, I ducked. Before his eyes could fully focus, I sidestepped behind a partygoer only to reemerge at his two o’clock. With a swift, hard sidekick, I drove my foot downward into the side of his knee.

The tree trunk finally budged, grimacing in pain from a buckled knee. When his eyes ignited with recognition of me, I smiled for some hellish reason, further stoking the fires. Something to piss him off and maybe take him off his game. When the mad bull charged, I drove the palm of my hand upward into his nose. Eyes tearing beyond his control, he grabbed at his face, trying to catch my withdrawing hand in the process, but I tugged myself free.

Sophia had finally come back to reality, seeing the spectacle taking place right behind her. I caught a glimpse of the fear etched on her face. Still didn’t know how they were tracking her, but we could deal with that later if we made it out alive.

“Run!” I silently mouthed to her. Then like a futile Don Quixote with short-term memory, I rammed the large sumo yet again. Weakened somewhat, his body yielded more than I expected. Or maybe it was his plan, as my momentum drove me into him to where I was unable to regain my balance. Nor pull back.

The two of us plunged into the pool, a big splash resonating on the rooftop as screams rang forth all around us. This time, his grip was unyielding as it clamped onto my sport coat, not allowing me any wiggle room as the other hand took hold of my throat.

As bubbles floated up before my face, I began to panic. Air leaving my lungs, as I now realized he was fast and fluid for his size. And that he could probably swim better than me. I kept trying to kick free, but he was unyielding and weighed me down like an anchor.

Tried to roll once and hoped that we’d separate, but he held on. Even delivering a punch in my eye as I tried to come up for air. I gagged and coughed as we splashed about, considering my options. A knee strike did no good without balance and too much blubber to penetrate. His grip only tightened as his advantage increased. As I felt myself getting lightheaded, I did the only thing left to consider.

I brought my hands up over his face and inserted my thumbs into his eye sockets, pressing as hard as I could.

I imagined what I thought to be a scream. Maybe from him. Maybe from somebody still foolish enough to remain at poolside during our frolic of death.

But like I said. I knew his type.

Even if blinded for life, he wasn’t going to let go until I no longer posed a threat.

When I could no longer feel my fingers or tell if they were effective, I knew he’d won. My legs no longer kicked. Body was going in slow motion now as delirium overcame me.

At least Sophia had gotten away.

Knew that girl would be the death ... of... me... .

BOOK: Frostbite

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