Harlequin Intrigue June 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: To Honor and To Protect\Cornered\Untraceable (14 page)

“Be reasonable. He's a child.”

“Would you rather I let him go right here in the swamp?”

Based on what Drew had seen, it wouldn't be much of a hardship for Andy, but he kept that opinion to himself.

“Well?” the leader demanded.

“All of us.” Addi sent Drew an apologetic look as the men tossed them a line and tied their small boat to the attack boat.

He knew she'd weighed the decision and he murmured reassurances as he kept Andy tucked by his side. None of them, not even Andy, said a word as they were towed through the swamp to a dock and transferred to a big black SUV waiting there.

Chapter Fifteen

Drew reviewed the limited options as the SUV barreled down the road in the direction of New Orleans. The driver, weaving in and out of traffic, clearly wasn't worried about the authorities intervening.

Drew had the second transmitter in his pocket, but his hands were cuffed. The crew was well armed. Drew recognized the semiautomatic pistols in each holster and assumed the men were more than proficient. So far the five-man team had shown a disturbing level of efficiency and a cold calm that only cranked up Drew's adrenaline response. He was now certain that last night's seeming inept work by these guys had been about ensuring that Addi was captured alive.

He reminded himself that he'd survived hell once already. Nothing Everett dreamed up could be worse than what Drew had endured as a POW. Yes, there was more on the line beyond his own life, but he would not cave to the fear of failure.

He didn't know Craig Everett beyond the little insight Addi had shared, but the man had been given an excellent strike team. Casey would be very interested in this development.

The city came into view and Drew waited for his opening, knowing it would be a narrow window. With a clear path to a weapon, he could flip the whole scenario to their favor. Every fiber of his being was braced to save Addi and Andy from whatever Everett had planned.

He and Addi had been cuffed at the wrist with plastic zip ties, but Andy's hands were free and the boy was buckled into the seat between them. Drew wasn't naive enough to believe that minor concession was a positive thing. Everett was working for someone connected and ruthless.

The driver slowed down as the traffic got heavier. Drew leaned over Andy's head. “Whatever happens,” he murmured to Addison, “whatever they do, don't tell them anything.”

Her eyes welled with unshed tears, but she gave him a smidgen of a nod.

“We'll get through this. All three of us.” He bumped his elbow against Andy's shoulder in a small show of assurance as the driver turned down a narrow alley between two warehouses.

Drew believed Casey and his team of Specialists had to be closing in. Thinking anything else would erode his confidence. He ran through a mental checklist of the details Addi's former fiancé didn't know about her. His men might've found them in the bayou, but not because of Everett's knowledge of her past.

Had to be that leaky contact. Had to be, Drew thought again. Everett wouldn't have wasted time searching for Addi around her college haunts if she'd told him her real origins or given him any indication how much she valued her family roots.

The car slammed into Park and the driver cut the engine. Drew decided not to dwell on the obvious concern that their captors weren't hiding location or faces. He'd cheated death plenty and intended to keep up his winning record now that he had two amazing reasons to stay alive. The men in the front seat climbed out and the back doors opened a moment later, flooding the vehicle with bright morning light.

Drew hopped down, hiding his trepidation behind a cocky squint. “Nice place.”

“Shut up,” the driver said, pushing him toward the nearest door.

New Orleans was a fine town, but this grimy industrial area wasn't the sort of area preferred by a man like Everett. This seedy environment was, however, just the sort of place Drew could navigate with expertise. Places like this lurked in the shadowy corners all over the globe, always controlled by the man with the most money and biggest weapons.

Gang graffiti decorated nearly every rusting surface. Drew wondered how much Everett's men had paid, in dollars or blood, to gain temporary control of this area. The ripe scents of trash, grease and stale fuel stained the thick, humid air. Drew hoped to turn his unfortunate affinity and experience with this kind of place into an advantage. Surely the powers that be would grant him that much, giving him a chance to create something good from the sorry remnants of his career.

“Where are we?”

Andy's small voice sliced right into Drew's heart.

“I'm not sure,” Addi said, “but we're together.”

Drew didn't turn, picturing mother and son holding hands as Everett's men pushed them into the dreary interior of the warehouse. Two cars were parked near a wide garage door. Three battered couches and an oversize flat-screen television made up a seating area in the far corner. The windows of what might have been a supervisor's office were covered with peeling black paint. An odd mix of industrial equipment was scattered around the space, but the stack of crates along one wall looked too new to be anything but valuable.

Drugs or guns. Drew hoped like hell this gang was the gunrunning sort. He could hardly beat the crap out of this crew with drugs. He needed a weapon.

The office door opened as they approached and out stepped Everett, looking preppy in a short-sleeved polo shirt, creased khaki slacks and loafers; Drew understood Addi's comment about polish and charm. It wasn't hard to picture them as an attractive power couple, able to give Andy every advantage. Drew wanted to bloody that smug face beyond all recognition.

“Addison, so good to see you again.” Ignoring Drew, Everett reached for her hands, hesitating when he saw she was cuffed. “That's ridiculous. Take those off.”

The driver shook his head. “Not recommended.”

Drew smothered a grin, remembering how Addi had clocked the other man when he'd grabbed Andy with too much force.

“She won't hurt me,” Everett insisted. To Addi, he said, “This can be over in minutes. A few answers and you and Andy can be on your way.”

The driver made a snorting sound as he sliced through the zip ties binding Addi's hands. Whatever delusions Everett was under, Drew knew they weren't supposed to survive this meeting.

As soon as her hands were free, Addi slapped Everett across the face hard enough to knock him back a step. The red handprint bloomed instantly across his freshly shaved cheek. Drew wanted to crow with pride.

“Told you so,” the driver muttered.

“Screw you,” Everett said to the driver. “Keep these two under control.” He shoved Addi toward the office. “I just need a few minutes.”

Drew knew she wouldn't break, yet it took all his willpower not to make eye contact as Everett led her away. Neither Everett nor his men could know how invested he was, or they'd kill him where he stood.

* * *

A
DDISON
HEARD
C
RAIG
close the door behind her and she rubbed her elbow where his hand had dug hard into her arm. In all the time she'd known him, he'd never shown a ruthless side. Oh, she'd known he was a formidable force in a financial negotiation or conference room, she'd known he kept fit, but he'd never demonstrated this dark edge. She supposed that was why the truth of his illegal dealings had been such a shock.

He shoved her into a cold metal folding chair and leaned back against an old metal desk, folding his arms across his chest. “Let's do this the easy way,” he suggested. “Tell me what you think you know and who you've told about your theories.”

“What theories?”

“This isn't a game or a courtroom, Addison. You ran away from home flinging accusations at me.” His quiet, unflappable tone strained her composure. “It's been expensive tracking you down and I intend to make sure the investment was worth it.” He reached out, running a fingertip across her sunburned cheek. “You forgot the sunblock.”

She refused to flinch. If he was focused on her, Drew could get Andy out of harm's way. Getting that sunburn while her men had been fishing might be the last truly happy moment of her life. She wouldn't let Craig cheapen it. “How did you find me?”

He shook his head, his eyes hard as stone. “I'll ask the questions. You'll answer them.”

“And then you'll let us go,” she said, refusing to make it a question. Though he nodded she wasn't buying it. She wanted to rail, to shout and scream that he wouldn't get away with any of this. Not after what he'd done and what she assumed he would do in the coming moments.

“Addison, who have you talked to?”

“No one.” Technically it was true. Talking to Drew didn't count, as he was officially “deceased” and she hadn't shared any details of Craig's activities. She'd sent emails and one snail mail package as insurance. Her stomach clenched as she realized that insurance would be used if Craig had his way here.

He blew out a heavy sigh. “You're wasting my time. I wouldn't have been arrested unless you blew the whistle on me. You're the only one who had access.”

She pulled on the composure that had served her so well through depositions and negotiations during her legal career. “I don't have any idea what you mean.”

Craig leaned forward, his lips twisted in a menacing grin. “Why did you run from home?”

She nearly blurted out the “adventure” answer she'd given to Andy, but she didn't want to divert Craig's attention. “There was a death in the family. My presence was requested.”

“Bull.” Craig leaned back. “You don't have any family beyond your son.”

“That isn't true.” Mama Leonie was family. Nico was family. Bernadette and Professor Hastings were family. Maybe not by blood, but some bonds went deeper, some roots were stronger. She didn't expect a money-grubbing sellout like Craig to understand that.

“Answer me!” Craig shouted. “Who else have you told?”

She shook her head. “No one.”

Craig grabbed her shoulders, shaking her hard enough to make her teeth clack together. “Addison, cooperate.” The chair rocked back when he released her with a violent shove. “Answer my questions now or I can't protect you.”

A chill of fear skittered down her spine. She didn't fight it, embracing it instead and using it to hold her ground. “I have nothing to say to you, Craig.”

He stared at her for another long moment, then moved around her chair and tapped twice on the door. In the interminable silence, she heard the squeak and scrape of footsteps in the warehouse coming closer to the office.

Two men hauled in Drew and tied him to a chair at the other end of the room. Addison felt a wave of dread. Her hope of him saving Andy fizzled and died. Her son was alone with these terrible men. She had to find a way out of this nightmare or her dream of a family would be crushed again.

“Who is this?” Craig demanded.

My heart. My love.
“A friend,” she said, hoping to protect Drew.

Craig snorted. “Here's how it will go, Addison,” he began. “I'll ask you a question. You'll answer me, or your
friend
will suffer. Is that clear?”

“We don't know anything about your problems,” she replied. Drew didn't want her to talk, so she wouldn't talk.

“We'll find out, won't we?”

She kept her gaze on Craig, not risking eye contact with Drew. If Craig discovered this was Andy's real father, if he discovered how much she loved him, Drew would pay. And he'd already been through more than any person should endure.

“Why did you run from San Francisco?”

“I came out here to help a family in need,” she replied honestly. She and Andy were a family, and they'd definitely needed to get away from Craig.

Craig raised a finger and one of the men behind Drew came around and punched him in the belly.

She closed her eyes. “That was an honest answer.”

Craig bent over, bracing his hands on his knees to look her in the eye. “They are going to rig a battery to your friend and electrocute him for every lie you tell me.”

“Craig, this is insane. I can't help you.”

He gave another signal and suddenly Drew's body jerked and seized. Addison's resolve faltered.

“Don't talk, Addi,” Drew rasped as his body recovered.

“Addi?” Craig turned on his heel. “You told me you despised that nickname, that it was weak.”

“Is there a question in there?”

Craig flung an arm toward Drew. “Who is he to you?”

“My best friend,” she said as her heart raced on with more of the truth she would never share with Craig.
My heart. My should-be husband. My son's father. My soul mate.
She'd been delusional to believe she could be satisfied with bland contentment when she harbored all this passion for Drew. Alive or dead, no one else had meant the same to her. Or to Andy.

“I was your best friend. We were supposed to be on our honeymoon now.”

“With blood money!” she shouted, furious.

“It all spends the same,” Craig said with a slimy smirk. “You can't judge me, Addison. I know who your clients are and how you ‘negotiate.'” He mocked her with air quotes.

“I never traded innocent lives for personal gain!”

“No?” Craig signaled and Drew's body started quaking again.

“Stop it!”

“Tell me who you've told.”

“Don't talk!” Drew whispered between electricity-induced spasms.

Addison wouldn't dishonor Drew by giving in now, no matter how much it hurt her to watch him suffer. “We'll get out of this,” she promised.

“You want out of this? Tell me the truth!”

Addison shook her head.

Craig scrubbed a hand over his mouth and closed his eyes. “Get the boy.”

“No!” Drew and Addison shouted at the same time, but Craig's men were already moving, dragging Drew away.

Tears streaked down her face. “You can't do this,” she cried out. “He trusts you.”

“Your choice,” Craig said as Andy was led into the office. “Whatever happens now is on you.”

Andy's eyes were wide as they led him to another chair out of her reach. “Mama?”

She blinked away the tears, determined to be strong for her son. “Don't worry. We'll be out of here soon.” As long as Drew was breathing, as long as her heart beat, they would see that Andy survived.