Change of Harte (Harte, #2) (Harte Series) (15 page)

‘You can’t go there, Nathan, if all this crap you’re saying is true. That’s as close to goddamn suicide as it gets,’ Shelly argued, putting her hand on Nathan’s shoulders. ‘Please, Nathan. Don’t go there. I know I’ve been pissy with you. But I’m asking you not to go. Please, for me.’

‘I’ll go with you,’ Eva said shakily forcing the words to come out. She caught eyes with her best friend knowing she was breaking her heart.

‘Eva, did you hear what I just said? Guys like that don’t mess around.’

‘Maybe Julian is a guy like that.’

‘Do you really think that?’

Eva shrugged. ‘I dunno. Right now, I have no idea what I think. All I do know is my father is dead and my sister is a hooker, for Christ’s sake. And Julian knows a hell of a lot more about all this than I do. It’s time to grow up and stop running away from my problems.’

‘Great timing, Eva. That Latino boyfriend guy…if he scared you over the phone, that’s nothing to what he’ll do in real life. Eva, don’t you get it? If they find out who you are, they will kill you.’

‘You watch too much CSI, Shelly,’ Nathan interrupted.

Shelly glared at him with a look that warned him to shut up, and if Eva wasn’t scared to the point of wetting herself, she might have laughed.

‘She’s my sister, Shelly. I should have helped her sooner. I have to help her now.’

‘Nathan, please? Talk some sense into her. Please? Both of you think about what the fuck you are doing.’

Nathan pulled Shelly into his arms and kissed her. ‘I love you, Shelly. I really, really do.’

Shelly crumpled to a heap on the floor. ‘Nathan, don’t do this. Don’t fucking do this,’ she wailed.

‘Tell Julian I’m sorry I missed the flight,’ Eva said. ‘I’ll fuck him over later.’

‘That’s just it, Eva. If you do this, there will be no later.’

Eva rushed back and bent down to hug Shelly. ‘I love you, Shelly. But I love my sister. I’ve abandoned her once. Please don’t ask me to do it a second time.’

‘Eva, wait. Don’t you want to know the full story?’ Shelly called after Eva as she reached the door.

Eva turned around.

‘I did. I wanted to know more than anything. But maybe there was a reason Julian kept me in the dark and never let me get too close. I thought I couldn’t handle this shit.’

‘Eva, please…’

‘Julian always says I surprise him. Well, he’s about to get the surprise of his life.’

‘Eva, it’s not what you think. This isn’t about a game,
the
game. He finished playing as soon as he fell in love with you. I thought you could see that?’

‘I can’t see anything right now other than how fucking scared I am. I am scared that I might lose the one chance I have to see my sister again. Scared that something really awful is going to happen. And most scared that I’ll find out Julian is really, somehow mixed up in all of this, and if he is, I’ll never forgive him. Not this time. Not for this. This is too big, I hate him.’

‘Eva, you don’t really mean that,’ Shelly interrupted, shocked.

‘I do. I really do.’

‘He’s changed you, you know. Look!’ Shelly scurried to her feet and was in front of Eva in a second. She tapped Eva’s chest with her fingertips. ‘We’re in the middle of the worst shit ever, and you’re not even crying. I’m falling apart, but you’re calm. You’re stronger. You’re better. And that’s all because of him.’

‘I know,’ Eva said. ‘And I’m so fucking scared that something will happen now and I’ll never get to tell him that how much I hate him doesn’t even begin to compare to how much  I love him because of all of it.’

Shelly grabbed Eva’s hands in hers and held tight. ‘Then stay here. Wait for him. Tell him all that.’

‘I don’t need to tell him. He already knows. This is Julian goddamn Harte we’re talking about. He knows fucking everything.’ Eva tried to laugh, but it was choked back by a huge lump in her throat.

Eva studied her best friend’s face. Shelly’s confident words were contradicted by the lack of colour in her cheeks. Her skin was as pale as the stonewashed airport walls and her eyes were clouded over by a combination of fear and exhaustion. This was a game none of them ever wanted to play.

‘I have to get out of here.’

Chapter 33

‘Sponge Bob,’ Julian said into the receiver of a payphone near the gates of Central Park.

He couldn’t risk making that call on his mobile right now. It was all very two-thousand-and-one, but he’d run out of credits on his pay-as-you-go piece of crap. And like a dodgy thriller from the same year, the phone box he now found himself in was a potential coffin with a view. His eyes scanned all corners of the street. He looked at his watch. It had been fifteen minutes since he’d made the drop off. That was about ten minutes too long to still be anywhere near Central Park.

‘We’re going in as soon as you’re in the clear,’ the voice on the end of the phone replied. ‘Cameron would be proud. You’ve finished what he started. You’ve done good, kid.’

‘Almost finished, Hammond,’ Julian said. Eva’s beautiful face come to mind.
Almost, almost.

Julian hung up and stepped out into a crowd of people. Moving a few paces forward in a convoy of strangers and back again. Staying central to a bulk of people was imperative. He knew there were cops dotted in the buildings overhead. Operation Sponge Bob wasn’t over yet. Not until his arse was the hell out of there.

Eighteen minutes. Julian paced. And paced and paced. There was a loud bang. Someone screamed. A woman, a child maybe. Julian spun around, and suddenly, he didn’t have enough eyes. He sighed to the edge of needing to vomit. A cyclist had crashed into a hot dog stand—it wasn’t Da Luca trying to blow his brains out.

Twenty minutes. Twenty long minutes. Julian spotted Anthony in his car just in front of the plaza. Julian sandwiched himself between a group of Korean tourists, pulling oversized suitcases behind them. They were obviously checking in to the hotel, and they were perfect get-out-of-there-alive sized camouflage to lead him right to the door. He jerked open the back door of his car and slid across the seat with an exhausted sigh. 

‘Go. Go. Go.’

Anthony revved the engine and swerved around a convoy of parked cars. ‘Fucking hell, Mr. Harte. I need a raise for this shit. You had me worried stiff. Is it over?’

‘It’s over, Anthony. The feds are moving in as soon as they see us drive away.’

‘Well done, Mr. Harte. Well done. And Mr. Andrews’ body?’

‘It’ll be a week or so, but they’re flying him back to Ireland.’

‘Oh, that’s very nice of the state.’

‘It was a condition in his release agreement with Hammond. Clever old bastard knew he was going out. He just needed a few loose ends tied up.’

‘And you, Mr. Harte? Have you loose ends still.’

Julian cleared his throat. The conversation was over.

‘Eva’s at the airport, ready to fly,’ Anthony said.

Julian’s eyes narrowed. ‘They haven’t taken off yet?’

‘Not yet. Any minute now, though. But if we hurry, we could catch them.’

‘No. No waiting,’ Julian growled. ‘I want my plane the hell out of here. What the fuck is the delay?’

‘Fuelling, sir. And the snow was causing some problems.’

Julian inhaled sharply and rolled his eyes behind his closed lids. ‘Just let me know when she’s airborne, okay.’

‘Of course, Mr. Harte. So, do I still head for the airport or have you somewhere else in mind, sir?’

‘We’re stopping by the cop station first. That loose end you mentioned; there’s a pint-sized big sister who needs to hitch a ride.’

Julian caught Anthony’s big toothy grin in the rear-view mirror.

‘Eva will be over the moon, Mr. Harte, won’t she?’

Julian smiled, but he didn’t reply. He relaxed back against the leather seat, dropped his head back, and stretched his arms across, behind the headrests. His body was heavy; he’d gone an unhealthily long time without proper sleep. His eyes weighed closed.

Chapter 34

Julian was irked when Shelly’s name splashed across his ringing phone. Firstly, it meant Eva still wasn’t in the air, and secondly, it meant drama. If it were something important, the pilot would have called himself. But against Julian’s better judgement, he answered.

‘What?’

‘You fucking bastard. You sick prick. What in the hell, Julian. Just what in the actual hell.’

Lack of sleep was really torturing him now. Julian’s beyond cool exterior was on the brink of meltdown. He’d never shouted at a woman in his life, but Shelly was pushing him to his breaking point. He moved the phone an arm’s distance away from his ear, and he could still hear Shelly screaming.

‘You fucked her, didn’t you?’

‘Yes.’

In spite of his exhausted state, Shelly’s shocked gasp at hearing the exact answer she attacked him for was really rather satisfactory. Of course, Julian was referring to Eva, Shelly really needed to be more specific with her questions.

‘You sick bastard. You think it’s funny, don’t you.’

‘I’m not laughing, Shelly. So, unless you can read my fucking mind, how do you know what in the hell I think?’

‘I know you, Julian.’

Julian shook his head and closed his eyes; this conversation was irritating. He didn’t wish to entertain Shelly’s bullshit any longer. ‘Get your arse on the fucking plane, Shelly.’

‘Like hell I will, I’m not flying on my own.’

Julian pulled the phone back to his ear immediately—suddenly Shelly had his full attention. ‘Where’s Eva?’

‘Gone to find her sister who you dumped when you were finished using her.’

‘Dumped?’ Julian spat.

‘Oh, don’t play the shocked card with me, Julian. I know what you’ve been up to. You know I’ve always really liked you, even when you broke all the girls’ hearts at work. But this is a step too far.’

‘Dumped her where?’

‘What are you asking me for. Okay, Julian. You can stop with the games crap, okay. You’re not going to twist this.’

‘DUMPED HER WHERE? Shelly answer the fucking question.’

‘Vertigo, of course. Where in the hell else?’

Julian’s brain felt like it spun a full three-sixty in his head. ‘Shelly, Shelly, listen to me,’ Julian barked, cutting across Shelly’s high-pitched ranting. ‘Has Eve gone to the club?’

‘Yes. And I’m only telling you because I’m worried about her. You need to tell your co-owners of whoever the hell is there to leave her and Nathan alone.’

‘Turn around, Anthony. Turn. Around. Now. Go back to Vertigo.’

‘But Mr. Harte…’

‘Now, Anthony.’

‘My co-owners? Jesus, Shell. These guys aren’t businessmen. Melissa isn’t there. She’s with the cops. I stole her. These guys are pretty pissed.’

‘Oh, God.’ Shelly voice was a dull whimper now. ‘They won’t hurt her, will they?’

‘Not if I get there first.’

Chapter 35

Eva stood behind Nathan on the sidewalk watching with a knot in her gut as their cab drove away. Something about the near silent street felt claustrophobic. Like all the buildings might close in around them and trap them. Breathing was a conscious effort. If she didn’t think about it, she might suffocate there on the cold cement.

She watched as Nathan closed his fist and tapped on the tightly shut door. It was still early, far too early for anyone to come and open the door. Part of Eva secretly hoped it was far too early for anything to happen other than call another cab and get the hell out of there.

Nathan knocked again. Nothing. The logical part of Eva wanted to suggest they’d waited long enough—it was time to go. But the tiny, irrational, hopeful part of her worried that her sister was on the other side of that door and begged her to shut up and wait for Nathan to knock again. He did.

The door creaked open to reveal a huge guy with a shaved head. Eva stepped forward to stand beside Nathan. No one spoke for a second. Finally, Eva cleared her throat.

‘Hi,’ she said extending her hand.

The man in the gap of the slight open door looked at her hand like he wanted to bite it off. He didn’t shake it. She pulled her hand back shakily and stuffed it into her coat pocket.

‘We’re looking for Melissa Andrews,’ Nathan said, surprisingly calmly.

‘And you are?’ the scary tight haircut man said.

‘I’m her sister.’ Eva tapped her chest.

The man smiled to reveal a couple of missing teeth and one shiny gold one in front. He opened the door wider and stepped back. Nathan stepped inside first and Eva followed so closely behind him that she was almost stepping on the backs of his shoes. The man slammed the door behind them. Eva jumped and a tiny squeak escaped her lips. The man walked down the long wide corridor. He took a walkie-talkie off his hip and mumbled something about visitors. He mentioned Eva’s first name without her introducing herself. Eva was certain that wasn’t a good sign.

Nathan and Eva sat waiting on an oversized dark purple sofa, which Eva suspected doubled as a bed. Looking around at curtained areas, overhead mirrors, and vending machine filled with sex toys, Eva become more and more certain that this was not your average dance club. Eva’s heart hurt thinking of her sister in a place like this night after night. This wasn’t Julian’s style. This was tacky and seedy. Julian liked sex, but not like this. Not sick, degrading bullshit. The gravity of where they’d just put themselves slowly resonated with Eva. If Julian wasn’t involved in this place, they had no voice of reason. Eva looked around again. A far corner was dark and painted black, there were not curtains. Chains hung from the studded ceiling. A buffet of BDSM equipment was on display. Heavy-duty stuff and some of it didn’t even look like it had anything to do with sex, more torture like stuff.

‘Nathan,’ Eva whispered, drawing his attention back from also scanning the walls. ‘I think we’ve made a mistake. We need to get out of here.’

‘What about Melissa?’

‘I think we need to call the police. This is serious shit.’

Nathan took out his phone and quickly snapped some photos.

‘Evidence,’ Nathan said before Eva asked any questions.

‘Okay, good. Now, let’s go.’

‘Leaving already,’ a voice filtered through the distance. ‘But you just got here.’

‘We...erm…’ Eva stuttered.

‘Something came up,’ Nathan said.

Eva grabbed his hand, and she could feel him shaking. She wanted to run.

‘Now, now, I’m sure whatever it is you can reschedule.’

‘No, can’t, sorry. It’s very important. We’ll call back later,’ Nathan continued, backing away. His grip on Eva tightened to the point to cutting off her circulation; she didn’t dare try to loosen it.

‘So like your big sister, Eva.’

Eva stopped moving. There was a long exaggerated pause. Nathan was tugging on her hand, but she was stuck to the spot.

‘Maybe you’re not in such a hurry after all, eh, Eva?’

Eva could barely breathe. It was as if his words were huge, strong hands wrapping around her throat and crushing all the air out of her.

‘I’ve had a lot of visitors recently. Your friend Mr. Harte was here recently.’

Nathan tugged hard. Eva stepped back with him, slowly.

‘Just yesterday, actually. He took something that belonged to me, Eva.’

The man was making eye contact with Eva. She wanted to look away, but she was afraid of what he might do if she did.

‘Do you think that’s fair?’

Eva shook her head.

‘I didn’t think so, either.’

‘He gave her back,’ Nathan said sheepishly.

‘No. No, he didn’t. But it’s okay. It’s all very okay. I’m not the type to get annoyed. My cardiologist says it’s bad for my blood pressure. And my mama, God rest her beautiful soul, always told me you don’t have anything if you don’t have your health. Wouldn’t you agree, Eva?’

Eva nodded. Either this guy was completely out of his mind or that was a subtle threat.

‘You’re in great shape,’ Nathan said.

Mickey’s whole face turned sour. Maybe Nathan had said the wrong thing. It certainly felt that way.

‘I like to play chasing,’ Mickey said. ‘It’s good exercise. Do you play chase, Eva?’

Eva’s eyebrows pinched. This guy’s tests were nothing compared to Julian’s. Eva could do this; Julian had taught her how to be strong even at the hardest times. She just had to show no fear.

‘I don’t play games,’ Eva said, hoping this asshole didn’t know as much about Julian as he was trying let on.

‘I’m disappointed to hear that, Eva. I really thought we could make this a little fun. You’re not leaving me with a lot of choices here. Looks like we need to get straight to business.’

Eva looked over her shoulder. The ogre-sized skinhead was standing directly behind her, with his arms folded across his chest. A curtain was pulled across the entrance to the hallway that led back to the main door. Another four or five men, all with the same barber, appeared from various shadows around the walls.

‘What do you want,’ Eva asked knowing this situation was past the getting away point.

‘You’re the one who came to visit me, Eva. So I think I should ask you that question.’

‘I want my sister,’ Eva spat.

‘So, do I,’ Mickey replied through his teeth. ‘Like I said, Mr. Harte took something that belonged to me.’

‘He still has her?’ Eva looked at Nathan who pulled a wide-eyed face.

Oh, fuck
. They’d really messed up.

‘Okay, well it seems there’s been a mistake, then,’ Nathan said, once again taking Eva’s hand. ‘We’re sorry to have disturbed you. All of you.’ He spun around and smiled at the mob behind him.

‘I don’t do angry, Eva,’ Mickey said, unnervingly calmly, ‘but I am owed something, and in the spirit of fairness, that something must be repaid.’

Nathan shook his head. ‘Money, you want money.’

Mickey laughed. A deep throaty rasp like he had something caught in the back of his throat. ‘Take a look around, my friends…’ Mickey stretched out his arms and spun on the spot. ‘…do I look like I’m hurting for a few dollars?’

‘Well, what then?’ Nathan asked.

Eva really wished he hadn’t said that. She knew the answer and now Nathan had just given this monster the perfect opportunity to demand it. Mickey glared at Eva. His pristine white teeth glowed from the confines of his exaggerated smile.

‘I’m a family man myself. Three kids, I have. Family is important, is it not?’

Eva nodded. The men from the shadows were drawing closer.

‘Sisters. Ah, it’s a thing of beauty, such a close relationship.’

‘We’re not really that close,’ Eva said. ‘I haven’t seen her in a long time.’

‘You’re too modest, Eva. Not really that close,’ Mickey mimicked, ‘and yet here you are, risking your life to come find her. It’s almost poetic.’

And there it was, the one thing that Eva knew since she stood on the sidewalk outside, but was too tied up in her mission to admit. She was risking her life; she was stupid and ignorant. And she’d trusted everyone except Julian. Now, she was going to pay for it.

‘You’re no longer needed,’ Mickey said. His eyes briefly flicked toward Nathan but were back on Eva before she had time to draw a breath. ‘Get out.’

‘Eva,’ Nathan called, fear scribbled in the lines of his face.

Eva shook her head. He couldn’t help her, and she suspected that he knew it, too. Micky’s eyes narrowed and flicked toward the door. The two men nearest Nathan placed a hand on each of his shoulders, crushing him by an inch or two instantly. His legs buckled as he struggled to remain upright under their heavy presence as they marched him away. He looked back at Eva, mouthing something. She couldn’t make it out. Her eyes were blurred with a dizzy panic.

The original skinhead, who seemed to be Mickey’s favourite, whispered something into his boss’s ear. Eva tried hard to evaesdrop, but she couldn’t make out a word.

Temper ignited in Mickey’s eyes. ‘Wait,’ he called to the men escorting Nathan. He tapped two fingers against his lips and moved his hand back as if he was about to blow a kiss.

‘I don’t like big mouths,’ Mickey said. ‘I so much as sniff a word about this in the press or online, and I know who to hold responsible.’

It was such a weird out-of-context thing to say, Eva thought. But before she had time to think much more about it, one of the men nodded and the other bent his arm and rammed his elbow against the back of Nathan’s head. Nathan fell to the ground instantly and didn’t move again.

Mickey turned his attention back to Eva; his eyes were calmer now. Like watching Nathan fall had somehow abated this angry fire.

‘It seems your friends like to play games, Eva. And our Mr. Harte likes to win.’

The words ripped through Eva’s body like hundreds of knives shredding her into tiny pieces. Was that what the skinhead whispered? Of all the things Eva thought he might have whispered, she’d never even dreamed she’d hear something so familiar. So familiar and so truly terrifying in its possible meaning.
Oh God, oh God.
She really hoped Julian could win this one. Eva shook her head.

‘Eva, don’t lie to me. How are we ever going to be friends if you tell lies?’

Eva rolled saliva around her mouth. She wanted to spit in his face.

‘Your boyfriend had a little surprise waiting for my men today in Central Park.’

‘He’s not my boyfriend.’

Mickey punched the air. Eva was certain if she spoke again, the next one would hit her face. Mickey moved closer to her. His hot, sticky breath was falling on her face. She wanted to pull away, but she knew that he’d grab her. The fire was back in his eyes. She had to cooperate. She couldn’t think fast enough.

‘I don’t like surprises, Eva. I’m a little upset right now.’

Her mind was racing, but all she could think of was Julian. How she’d been so quick to judge him because her friends told her to. She’d been fooling herself for the past six months. She was just as weak and stupid as ever. She’d failed Julian’s challenge to become stronger. The only time she was strong was when she was with him. He made her better. It had just taken her all this time to realise that. She ached for him now.