A Little Harmless Rumor (12 page)

D
el arrived that afternoon
, his grim expression told Randy he wasn’t too happy about the situation. It seemed that no one was happy about the situation, but Del’s mood had soured since last night.

“How’s my sister? She didn’t have an issue with Cat, did she?” Sean asked as he showed Del into the office. Del tensed.

“No. She stayed at my place.”

Sean stopped in the middle of the hallway. Del ran into him.

“Fuck, Kaheaku.”

Sean turned to face Del. Randy had to hold back the laugh. Sean was in complete big brother mode. He settled his hands on his hips and gave Del a mean glare. The task force commander didn’t blink.

“You want to run that by me again?” Sean asked, the question seeping out from between his teeth.

Again, Randy was enthralled with seeing the way Sean reacted to news about Emma. It was sweet, and when he got Alpha on another apparent Alpha, well, it was fucking sexy.

Del shook his head. “Your sister didn’t want to stay with Cat. She didn’t even want to get out of the pickup.”

That brought Sean’s temper down a bit. “Did she have a meltdown?”

Del shook his head. “No.”

“What happened at your place?”

Del blinked. “She slept. In fact, she fell asleep in the pickup, and I had to carry her into my condo. I estimate she slept about fifteen hours.”

Sean sighed as he turned and started back on his path to the home office.

“Emma suffers from insomnia. When she crashes, she can sleep like the dead.”

“Tell me about it. I thought she would barely weigh anything, but carrying dead weight like that is never easy.”

“So, what do you have for us today?”

“Your sister has a GPS device she claims is undetectable.”

Sean smiled and Randy saw it there, saw the love and admiration for Emma. Randy was still getting used to the idea that there was this other side to Sean. But, if they were going to be part of Sean’s life, then both he and Jaime needed to accept Emma as part of Sean. There was no way Sean was going to let her go, and Randy was happy for it.

“If she says it is, then it is,” Sean said.

Del handed him a manila envelope. “There’s a burner phone and the tracker in there. She said it should fit on your tooth. Something about how you knew what that was all about. Then she insulted me.”

Randy chuckled. “On purpose?”

Del scowled.“ Yeah. There are only so many times a guy can get called a Neanderthal before he gets pissed. Like I have never seen a tiny device before.”

“Where is she now?” Randy asked.

“At my headquarters downtown, where I am heading. I’ve already talked to Micah Ross about the situation.” Sean gave Del an irritated look, but the lawman was apparently accustomed to ignoring volatile people. It was one thing that always made for a good leader. “Get pissed and get over it. He has a world-class security system, and he brought in Conner Dillon to work tonight. You wanted backup, I got it. Plus, none of it looks connected to you. No flags because I did all the setting up. No one else in the club knows; and if there’s an issue, Micah’s telling them they had a problem with employee theft.”

Sean nodded, apparently accepting it. “Emma’s going to stay there?”

“Yes. I told her she was going to sit her ass there until everything was over and Letov was in custody…or whatever.”

Well, that told Randy one thing. Del didn’t have an issue if Letov was assassinated. Lord knew the only reason Letov had survived all these years was because he had stayed in hiding.

“The headquarters is only ten minutes away from Rough ‘n Ready.”

“How do you know that?” Randy asked. “Are you a member?”

“First, this is
my
island. I know where big rollers go when they are in town and want a taste of the lifestyle. Secondly, no. Even if I wanted to, with my job, it makes it almost impossible. Add in the fact that I had to pick up Kaheaku’s drunk ass the other night so he didn’t kill himself or someone else on his way home, so I know where it’s at.” He looked at Sean. “Micah will keep us attuned to what is going on at Rough ‘n Ready. Dillon is making sure we have access to the live video.”

“Are we sure this is a good idea? It’s a weekend night and should be very busy,” Randy said.

“Yeah. Emma has hacked into some of his computers, and there is someone posted there looking for me. We can control this area, so it will be best.”

“Well, my job is done now. I get to go find your sister.”

“Wait, what? I thought she was at headquarters.”

“She is. I am just not sure where in the building she’ll be. I left her with Elle in autopsy. Emma seemed very interested in dead people. She’s still mad because I wouldn’t let her play on our computers.”

Sean’s lips twitched. “Emma is interested in every damn thing. She has a mind like a sponge. And, she never forgets anything she sees.”

Del hesitated before he stepped through the front door. “Her experience with the Tsunami?”

Sean nodded as his smile faded. “She remembers every damn moment. It’s why she doesn’t sleep well. That and all the energy drinks.”

Del nodded. “Stay safe. All three of you.”

Then he slipped out the door.

“He’s kind of…”

“Abrupt and different, yeah. But that’s what they needed for Task Force Hawaii. Plus, when they named him last year, he had no connections on the island.”

They wandered out to the pool. Jaime was sitting there watching the beach, but Randy knew her mind was not on the subject in front of her. She still wasn’t happy with the situation.

“That seems kind of…well odd.”

Sean shook his head. “No, they needed an outsider to take over. At times he has to investigate HPD. Makes it harder if you are related to half of them. Which, you know on this island is about anywhere you go. Everyone is related to everyone else in some way.”

Randy nodded as they both watched Jaime.

“She’s worried,” Sean said.

“That’s her job. She worries, you plan, I keep you two from killing each other.”

Sean turned and looked at him. “Sounds like we all fit together.”

Randy leaned closer and brushed his mouth over Sean’s. “We definitely do. And if we had a doubt before, I think we proved that over the last couple of days.”

Sean gave him a fleeting smile before it faded. “I guess I need to go talk to her.”

Randy shook his head. “Just go sit with her. That’s all she needs.”

Sean started walking then stopped. “Are you coming?”

“In minute,” Randy said. “You go.”

Sean nodded and walked over to her. He sat down on the lounger next to hers and said nothing, but he took her hand in his. Randy sighed, happiness filtering through him. The dreams he and Jaime had been talking about for the last few months might just come true. Once tonight was done, they would be able to move on and be happy. And that is all any of them wanted.

T
he moment
they walked into Rough ‘n Ready, Sean started having doubts. It was Saturday and it was packed. And the truth was, he had moved away from the lifestyle, finding some pleasure in the act, but he’d distanced himself from playing. Right now, all he cared about was Randy and Jaime, and he knew it would take them awhile to figure out just how they moved on from where they were. Although, they had pretty much worked those things out through the last couple of days.

Micah Ross, one of the owners of the club, wandered over to them. Native American, well over six feet, and what most people would call the ultimate Dom, people moved out of his way as he maneuvered over to them. By the time Micah reached them, Sean could feel heat crawling up his neck. He was starting to remember bits and pieces from his last visit a few nights ago. If Micah wasn’t a friend, Sean would probably have been banned from the club.

“Nice to see you’re here…and sober.”

His humor had a warning edge to it. He glanced over to the bar and saw Ross’ wife Dee was working. “No problems tonight. Promise.”

He looked past him to Randy and Jaime. “So, you found him?”

“Yes.” Jaime’s answer was rude and curt. Damn, the woman was usually one of the best field operatives. The fact that she couldn’t seem to keep her tongue in control in public was a bad sign.

One eyebrow rose. “And apparently, you’re still working things out.”

Sean shook his head. “Kind of crowded tonight.”

“Don’t worry. Del called, explained that you needed a private table. You get the owner’s table tonight.”

They followed him. He gave Dee a wave as they walked past the drink area. Since alcohol had been banned about a year ago, Sean must have been lit when he showed up the other night. He was damned lucky he hadn’t killed someone on his way over to the club.

He noted a few familiar faces as they followed Micah through the throng. The club had always appealed to him on so many levels, especially the furnishings. It was an expensive club, and it showed as they walked through. When they arrived at the circular booth, Micah leaned down and pulled the table out.

They settled in the booth, Jaime sitting in the middle. He had been back there a few times. The high-backed booths had a great view of the premiere play room. It was the one Micah and Ethan would have occupied on a regular basis, but now that they were married, he knew it didn’t happen that often anymore. He scanned the gathering looking for anyone who stood out. Most everyone fit in, but that was the problem. If the person Letov sent for him understood the lifestyle and knew how to dress, they would blend easily.

A sub he knew stopped by the table.

“Evening, Liz,” he said with a smile.

The sassy transplant from the East Coast grinned. “Evening. I heard you put on quite a show the other night.”

“Yeah.” He noticed Randy and Jaime studying the respiratory therapist. While they were both members, they did not come to the club that often. In fact, they rarely spent time in Hawaii. “Liz McChesney, meet my friends Randy Young and Jaime Alexander.”

She smiled and her blue eyes twinkled. “Nice to meet both of you.” She turned her attention to Sean. “I take it you aren’t here to play tonight?”

He shook his head. “No, sorry.”

“Well, if you change your mind, I’m over there with some friends.” She pointed to a table with several women, who apparently were watching the byplay.

He leaned forward and brushed his lips over her cheek. “You know I will.”

She walked off, gaining more than a few glances from some of the Doms.

“She’s kind of bold for a sub,” Jaime said, watching the woman walk away.

He shouldn’t be pleased that she was so jealous, but he couldn’t help it. It was nice to know that she still got upset. She had always been a woman who could control the show of her emotions. It was one of the reasons it made Jaime so good at undercover.

“First, she is very good once you get her in the room. The woman has a thing for being spanked by anything from a crop to a cat ‘o nines. You know I don’t like wimpy subs. Just not my thing.”

He leaned closer and looked down at her outfit. He had almost called off the entire operation. The tight black knit halter-top dipped low between her breasts.

“Eyes up here, Sean,” she said.

He looked up with what he hoped was an angelic smile. “Besides. I know one woman who likes to play a little, and she is definitely bold.”

Her lips twitched. “Yeah?”

Randy shared a smile with Sean and scooted closer to Jaime. “Yeah, definitely.”

The waitress returned with the drink order, and they spent their time watching some of the scenarios. If he hadn’t been so on edge about the situation, they would not have lasted long. They did their best to pretend to be interested in the performances for the night, but his gut was telling him there was something very, very wrong. It seemed like something in their plan was off.

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

Jaime did not like the idea. It was easy to see from her reaction. She frowned at him and opened her mouth to argue.

Randy leaned closer and she snapped her mouth shut. He tossed him a thankful glance, then headed toward the bathroom. He was stopped three times before he could make it to the hallway that lead to the back.

“Mr. Kaheaku,” someone said from behind him. He turned but someone stepped up and zapped him. A force of electricity coursed through his body as he staggered. Pain filtered through him, and every nerve ending in his body felt as if it were on fire.

He blinked as his vision wavered. His attacker was wearing a leather mask, so there was no way he could make out who he was. The man said nothing else, but he held up a phone. There was a video of Lassiter, strapped to a chair, his usually styled hair a mess and his face beaten and bruised. Blood stained his shirt, and he looked like he had lost a few pounds.

“Mr. Lassiter sends his regards.”

“Sean, don’t listen to them. They only want to get you here to kill you,” Lassiter said. “Get Jaime to safety.”

It was then Sean realized it was real time and not a video.

For his troubles, Lassiter was given a right hook by whomever held him captive.

“Stop. I’ll go.”

He stepped forward, but his attacker shook his head. Sean opened his mouth to argue, but he was hit with the stun gun again, and everything went black.

J
aime had
to fight the urge to follow Sean when he left. Randy had been giving her worried glances, and she didn’t blame him. She hadn’t been this nervous about anything since she first picked her first pocket. To make matters worse, the crowd seemed to swell with each passing moment. It made sense. It was high tourist season, and it was a weekend. Rough ‘n Ready was the only club in Honolulu. They had to be crazy to think this was a good idea.

She took a sip of her water and started to watch the clock. Five minutes since he had disappeared, and she was ready to crawl the walls. Everything was irritating her, including Randy.

“Settle down. He’ll be back in a second,” he told her as he sipped his water.

“You always just want to let things go.”

“Of course, and you and Sean are the planners. Makes things easier.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but she saw Micah making his way through the crowd. The look on his face left her blood cold. He was watching the crowd like he was looking for an attack. He was always a man of few words, and he always seemed to be on guard. But tonight, there was something different in the way he looked around the club.

“We have a situation. Come on,” he said, not waiting for them to comment. She slid out of the booth and followed him to the back of the club and up to the office. It was hard to keep up with his long strides, and people kept trying to stop them to chat. Randy set his hand in the small of her back and guided her through the crowd.

When they reached the top of the stairs and stepped into the room, she was stunned. She had expected a small room with some monitors. She did not expect all the cool colors or the fabulous sofa. Of course, that probably had more to do with Dee than Micah.

A stern-looking man was there, along with another man, who looked vaguely familiar. They sat in front of several monitors and seemed to be going over footage from the club. If her blood was cold before, it was iced over now.

“Jaime and Randy, meet Conner Dillon and Devon Stryker.”

Of course the second man looked familiar. He was one of the richest men in the world, along with being married to the infamous Ali—the woman from Sean’s past who did not like Jaime. Both men nodded, but did not look away from their duty.

“Ross, I think they took him out that side door. I told you to get rid of that,” Dillon said. She knew of him because their professional world was small. He was also former FBI, and someone she not only respected but also admired.

“It is a fire regulation, Conner,” Micah said shaking his head.

“What?” Randy asked.

“They took him,” Micah said.

Everything seemed to freeze in that moment, and the air backed up in her lungs.

The burner phone Del gave them went off. Randy answered. “Okay, you have a hit on where they are going?”

He listened as Jaime’s heart raced out of control.

“Okay. Send them as you get them. We’ll go on your command.”

“Clothes are in the back room. You can change here.”

“No, we need to stop them.”

Randy grabbed her. “No, we need to let him get to where they are taking him. You know Letov isn’t here. And you know he had your father. You know that was Sean’s plan. We need to follow it, or someone will get hurt. Sean or your father.”

She closed her eyes and counted backwards from ten. Then opened them. Randy studied her for a moment longer, kissed her, then released her. “Hurry up. We need to get on our way.”

She nodded and went into battle mode, as the men discussed the situation and the direction of the GPS tracker. Jaime knew the only way to get through this was concentrate on the job.

As soon as they had Sean and Royce back, then she could fall apart. Right now, she thought about making Letov cry, and making sure she could take a video for Emma.

T
hey were headed
out of the city via Likelike Highway when Emma called.

“Where are you?” she asked over Jaime’s phone.

“Put it on speaker,” Jaime said. Randy had told her to drive because she was much better at it than he was. He clicked on the speaker.

“Where is he, Emma?” Randy asked.

“It looks like they’re headed to Kahuku,” Emma said over Jaime’s phone.

“Fuck.” Randy knew the area, knew it wasn’t easy to handle at night. Hell, it was one of the reasons the military trained there from time to time. The terrain was a bitch.

“What?” Jaime asked, not taking her eyes off the road. It wasn’t busy this late at night, but the higher elevations of Likelike got rain, and left the roads slick.

“Lots of jungle. At least, that’s the way it looks,” Emma said. “And they are already there, which means they flew that way.”

“Wait, I think I have it,” a voice said.

“Who the bloody hell is that?” Jaime asked, as she sped up to get around a slow moving minivan.

“It’s Adam. He works with Del, who has the coordinates too. He’s probably about ten minutes behind you.”

“What were you saying, Adam?” Randy asked.

“Kahuku has a lot of forest area, but the road they are taking leads to one house. A compound really.”

Jaime shook her head. “Only in Hawaii. A compound in the middle of the jungle.”

She took an exit, following the directions from the phone.

“You need to wait until Del gets there. He said that several times,” Adam said.

“Okay.”

Jaime grabbed the phone and cut it off.

“Fuck that.”

“Jaime.”

“No, do you think now that they have my father
and
Sean in one place that either of them have a chance of living? They don’t. Hell, we’ll be lucky to get there before they kill Royce. He’s served his purpose.”

“You don’t know that. There are other things going on here that neither of us know about.”

“Yes, but if we assess the situation and it looks bad, then we go in. Fuck waiting for anyone else.”

Randy was quiet for a second, then he nodded. “Okay.”

He knew it might be the worst decision of his life, but he couldn’t even comprehend waiting there, holding his dick in the wind while Del made his way over. Letov was known for torture, but more than most people knew about torture. He was a man who had been trained in it. A man who knew how to keep a subject alive just enough to cause them pain. By the time he was done with people, they were happy to die. He couldn’t wait for Del or anyone else. It would be them.

“We go in.”

He sent up a prayer, then started looking over their weapons. Nothing short of their own deaths would stop them.

S
ean woke up
, choking on water. He blinked, his mind trying to come to terms with where he was. The room was dark, but he could see Letov there, his two henchmen behind him. Then he noticed another figure in the chair beside him. It was Lassiter.

“It’s about time you rejoined us, Kaheaku.”

Sean tried to move his arm, but found both of them tied behind him. “If you wanted me awake, you should have had your men zap me.”

Letov stepped closer, and now Sean had a good look at the man. The last few years had not been kind to him. He had aged at least three years for each one that had passed, and he was bloated. It was easy to see he had been excessively drinking. But his eyes…they told him the most. This man had nothing left to lose.

He knew Jaime and Randy would be there soon, so he just had to hold on until then.

“You always had a smart mouth.”

“I don’t believe we’ve ever met.”

He didn’t look at Lassiter right now. He wasn’t even sure if his old boss was still alive. But, if he was, he was just hanging on. Sean needed Letov concentrated on him and not Lassiter.

“No, but I have read your reports. Especially the one where you killed my son.”

Of course he had. The man had his greasy fingers into so many different organizations, it wouldn’t have been hard to bribe someone for the report.

“Oh, you mean the one where you sent your son to die so you could fuck with me?”

He knew the hit was coming, but he hadn’t expected that it would be so fast and so fucking hard. Letov backhanded him with such power; the chair almost fell over. Sean blinked trying to focus.

“You bastard. You dare say such things about my son?”

He backhanded Sean with his other hand. This one hurt even more. Fucker. Trying to fight the bile that now seemed to be permanently stuck in his throat from spewing forth. He needed to get the man close enough so he could trip him as soon as he had a chance.

“Your son was a fuck up. A big one. Who calls attention to himself when he knows he has his quarry in his sights. Your son did, and that’s why he’s dead. Of course, you’re probably the one who insisted that he go on the mission.”

That pushed him over the edge. He punched Sean with such force that his chair did topple over this time. Letov took the time to kick him in the ribs a few times, and the fucker must have had steel-toed boots on. Each time he landed a hit, Sean felt as if he were being torn apart.

Sean didn’t move after the assault. At first he couldn’t. Pain vibrated through his body. When he had fallen, the wind had been knocked out of him.

“You know they won’t miss him for long, sir,” one of the other men said. His voice was heavily accented, and Sean remembered it from the club.

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

“Sir, Michael is correct. We should kill them both and just be done with it. It is not safe here.”

Sean opened his eyes, and saw the look on Letov’s face the second before he picked up a pistol and shot them both in their heads. Neither man expected it, for they didn’t even try to move.

“Thank God. They were getting on my nerves.”

He squatted down and grabbed Sean by the hair. “Now, it’s time we have a little fun before the end.”

When he stood, he grabbed Sean and righted the chair. It took considerable effort, since the man wasn’t in that good of shape. Letov then went to his table where he had kept the gun and unrolled a pack. Various sharp instruments caught the dim light from above. But that wasn’t what caught Sean’s eye. There was what looked to be a bomb on the far end of the table. The fucker had much worse plans than Sean had ever thought.