Sweet Dreams Boxed Set (197 page)

Blane forced a smile, giving her an awkward pat on the back. “That’s great,” he said, gently disengaging from her hug.

Kade was already handing her a card. “Be sure to send us the birth announcement,” he said. He glanced at Blane and must’ve read the murder in his eyes, because he changed the subject real quick. “So what happened after Tommy showed up to save the day?” he asked her.

She shrugged. “Me and Tommy left. I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

Blane heaved a sigh. This was going nowhere. “Okay. Well, good luck and we’ll just be on our way.”

He headed for the door, but she stopped him.

“Oh wait! I do remember something!”

Kade and he both turned back.

“There was this guy. He was Asian—Chinese maybe—he was talking to you when we left,” she nodded at Kade. “I remember thinking it was weird because he had four security-types with him, all huge and in black.”

Péng, Blane guessed.

“Thanks, that’s helpful,” he said. “Take care of yourself.”

“And don’t forget to let us know about little Blane, Jr.,” Kade added. Blane shoved him none too gently out the door.

“Let’s get out of here, Mannie,” he said once he’d squeezed back into the car.

Mannie obliged, stepping on the gas. The car took longer than it should have to speed up, the additional load of Blane, Kade, and Ray weighing it down.

“Should I get out and push?” Kade asked.

“Fuck off. It gets good gas mileage,” Mannie retorted.

Blane worked the wedding band off his finger and pocketed it. “We’ve got to get rid of Ray,” he said. “I’m sick of sharing space with a corpse.”

“Time to go visit his partner,” Kade said. “He owes me money. Hope we can get past his security while toting a dead guy.”

“What guys are you talking about?” Mannie asked. “The same ones you were trying to get away from at Cirque?”

Blane remembered now what Mannie had said about how they’d met him. “Yeah, maybe,” replied. “Did you see any of them?”

Mannie nodded. “Yeah. There were four of them, tracking you guys.”

That jived with what Amy had said about the number of security guys flanking Ray’s partner.

“So maybe not the best idea, to go there if we were running from them last night,” Blane said.

“We don’t have a choice. Why were we at Cirque de Soleil anyway?” Kade asked, frowning. “I hate shows.”

“You weren’t really
at
the show,” Mannie said. “It was after and the cast was hanging out, chilling. I think LeeAnne had a thing for you.”

“LeeAnne was there?” Kade asked. “No shit?”

“You
know
someone who works at Cirque de Soleil?” Blane asked. “Really? How?”

Kade shrugged. “I know a lot of people.”

“She’s our lead choreographer,” Mannie said, near reverence in his tone. “And damn good at what she does.”

“Yes, she certainly is,” Kade agreed emphatically.

Somehow Blane didn’t think Mannie and Kade were talking about the same thing.

“We still don’t know where the device is,” Blane said. “Though obviously you were using it last night.”

“Which is weird because I gave it to Ray. So why did I have it and why was I using it?”

“That must’ve been where all the money came from,” Mannie piped up. “In your room. Your winnings. Though I still don’t know how you got away with winning that much money without them knocking on your door this morning.”

“If they do, they’ll find a pretty pissed off goose,” Kade said, pulling out his cell phone. His grin abruptly faded as he swiped the screen, his expression turning grim. “Shit.”

“What?” Blane asked.

“Found out what happened to Liz and Brandy.” Kade handed the phone back to Blane.

On the screen was a photo of the two women. Both were bound, their wrists and ankles tied, and gags in their mouths. Still wearing the cocktail dresses from last night, they looked unharmed, but scared.

“Who sent that?” Blane’s voice was sharp.

Kade’s reply was succinct. “Péng.”

Chapter Five

They pulled up to a tall office building, the rays of the setting sun were blinding as they reflected off the glass. The name of the company was prominently displayed in glowing blue neon letters.

Mannie parked in one of the many vacant spaces. Though it was a weekend, there were still quite a few cars in the lot.

“Online gambling is open twenty-four-seven,” Kade said. “But without the free drinks.”

“What do you want to do with him?” Blane asked, nudging Ray. “Bring him in?”

“Might as well,” Kade said. “But let’s not say he’s dead just yet. How about…really hung over?”

“A pulse is required for hung over,” Blane replied, his tone dry.

“No one’s going to check his pulse.”

“He smells.”

Kade pulled off the cardboard tree that hung from Mannie’s rearview mirror and tossed it at Blane. “Rub this on him. He’ll smell piney fresh.”

Kade checked the gun he’d taken from Tommy, ejecting the magazine and examining it before knocking it back in. He tucked it into the back of his jeans while Blane climbed out.

“How many shots you got?” Blane asked.

“Seventeen.”

Somehow, they managed to get Ray up and out of the car, bracing him between them again. Mannie elected to stay behind.

“I just want my audition,” he said, giving Kade a hard look. “So you’d better be thinking of how to make that happen.”

“Don’t threaten me, munchkin,” Kade retorted.

“Don’t insult your ride, douchebag,” Mannie shot back.

A grin flashed across Kade’s face, then was gone.

“Just keep the Purple People Eater fired up and ready to go,” Kade said. Blane adjusted Ray’s sunglasses, leaving the neck pillow behind.

There were two security guards inside the lobby and they descended on Blane and Kade like flies.

“Bringing the boss-man home,” Kade told them, flashing a grin. “Rough night, if you know what I mean. But I swore I wouldn’t tell. What happens in Vegas…”

“Mr. Péng is looking for him,” one of the guys said. “Take him to the twenty-fifth floor. His office is there. I will inform Mr. Péng that he has arrived.”

“You got it.”

Blane felt their eyes on his back as they headed for the elevator, which thankfully was empty. Kade hit the button for the correct floor. Neither of them spoke, keeping their eyes straight ahead. Both men were aware there was a one hundred percent chance that a camera was recording them.

The elevator dinged and they hauled Ray down the hall to a huge office with his name on the door. Maneuvering around the desk, they finally flopped him down in the executive chair with its back to the windows lining the wall.

Kade arranged Ray’s arms on the chair and repositioned the sunglasses.

“That’ll have to do,” he muttered, swinging around as the man who had to be Péng walked through the door.

“It’s about time you got here,” Péng said. He was flanked by two men in dark suits. “I hoped the photo of the women would provide an added incentive.” His accent was thick but his English impeccable. He glanced at Ray. “Did you think I would forgive you double-crossing me, Raymond?”

“Ray had a little too much to drink,” Kade said. “He’ll have to take a rain check on that, but yeah, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t want to double-cross you.”

“I saw what that device can do,” Péng said. “Your demonstration last night was quite effective, though I am not pleased that you are tripling your price.”

Tripling?
Blane thought, but he didn’t look at Kade, preferring to keep his eyes on the security guards.

“An investment that’ll bring you ten times that when the casinos have to shut down their slots and spend months, maybe years, rebuilding their technology,” Kade said.

“Perhaps,” Péng said. “But thirty million dollars is a lot of money.”

Holy shit. As if it wasn’t a big enough shock that Kade’s fun “challenge” he’d done on a lark was worth ten million, now it seemed he was shaking down a dangerous man for thirty.

“So your counter-offer was to…kidnap our dates?”

“You acted in bad faith and upped the ante, if you will pardon the expression.”

“Where are the girls?” Kade asked.

“You can have them back once I have the device,” Péng countered.

“What if I’ve decided not to sell?”

“Then the ladies will be forfeit.”

Blane kept his mouth shut, listening to see what Kade’s move would be.

“We just met them last night,” Kade said with a careless shrug. “I don’t give a shit what you do with them.”

Blane stiffened. That attitude wasn’t going to fly with him.

“Then I’ll just have them taken care of now,” Péng said, nodding at one of the guards who whipped out a cell phone.

“I’m guessing the cops will be wanting to know why two women disappeared inside one of your clubs, though,” Kade continued. “You do own the Lucky Seven, right? I mean, I know Ray here’s the front man, but your name’s on all the paper. I bet they’d have some uncomfortable questions.”

Péng stared at Kade for a moment, then waved a hand at the guard on the phone, who immediately ended the call.

“So are we at a stalemate, Mr. Dennon?” Péng asked. “Because I don’t take threats very well.”

“Then we have something in common.” Kade’s voice was like ice. “If you want the device, then you’re going to pay me twenty-five million.
And
I get the girls.”

“Fifteen and you get one girl.”

“Twenty and both.”

“Done.”

“See?” Kade asked with a thin smile. “I knew we could work it out.”

“Where is it?”

“You really think I’d have it on me?” Kade asked. “Please. It’s somewhere safe. Give me until midnight and I’ll have it for you.”

“That’s a long time,” Péng said. “How do I know you’ll keep your word?”

“For twenty mil, I’ll keep my word. And the girls are to be untouched.”

Kade glanced at Blane and by mutual agreement, they headed for the door.

“When will Ray wake up?” Péng asked, a grimace of distaste crossing his features as he stared at Ray’s slumped body.

“Maybe for the Second Coming,” Kade said. “He’s dead. See you at midnight, Péng.” Then he and Blane were out the door and gone.

***

“How are we going to find that thing when you have no idea what happened to it?” Blane asked. “Those girls’ lives depend on you giving that thing to Péng.”

“I’m not giving him shit,” Kade said. “Even if I had the thing, I wouldn’t, because as soon as I did, he’d kill us all.”

“What?” Mannie shrieked. “Kill us? Are you shitting me? I didn’t sign up for that!”

“Chill,” Kade snapped. “No one’s going to get killed.”

“But you just said—”

“I know what I said. But I know Péng’s type. He won’t let us walk away.”

“Then what’s the plan?” Blane asked.

Kade was looking at his phone. “I’m really hoping whoever took this picture is a dipshit,” he replied.

“What?”

But Kade ignored him, doing something on the phone.

“Where am I going?” Mannie asked. He was driving aimlessly down the Strip, the neon lights of Las Vegas burning gaily all around them. They stopped at a light and a horde of tourists crossed the street, a menagerie of different sizes, shapes, colors, and ages. Some were dressed in shorts and T-shirts, others in jeans, and others in clothes that could only be worn either in Vegas or in a strip club.

“Here’s where we’re going,” Kade said, reading off an address.

“Where’s that?” Blane asked.

“It’s where they took the picture of the girls. Location services can be a real privacy problem if you’re not careful.” Kade’s lips twisted in a smirk as he glanced at Blane.

“Nice work,” Blane said. “Let’s check it out, but we’re going to need firepower if they’ve got them under guard.”

“Yep.”

Mannie gripped the wheel a little tighter at the mention of “firepower,” but didn’t say anything.

It took longer than Blane liked to get through traffic and to the address. They drove by slowly when they saw it.

“Indoor skydiving, base-jumping, and rock climbing?” Blane asked. “You sure this is the place?”

Kade double-checked his phone. “Yeah. I’m sure. The coordinates are an exact match.”

“Kind of a weird place to hold hostages,” Mannie said. “They own this place, too?”

Kade shrugged. “No idea. Maybe he outsourced this. Either way, we can’t go in there with one gun and seventeen bullets.”

Seeing the place jogged a memory for Blane. “I think I can help with that,” he said, pulling out his phone. “A buddy of mine, a SEAL, started this business out here I think. People pay to shoot a bunch of military arms at his ranch. He’s got all kinds of shit. Maybe he could help us out.”

“Give him a call.”

To Blane’s relief, Bill remembered him. They’d been on different Teams, but had crossed paths occasionally.

“I’ve got a problem,” Blane said, not wanting to divulge too much over the phone. “I need a favor. A down range kind of favor.”

“Anything for another SEAL,” Bill said. “And if you’re going down range, I probably have what you need. Come on out.”

Chapter Six

Bill’s ranch was thirty minutes outside the city limits. Kade was uneasy as they got out of the car. Military types were a bit too close to law enforcement for him to be one hundred percent comfortable. But Blane knew this guy, so Kade would trust his judgment.

“Man, it’s been a while,” Bill said with a wide smile when they knocked on the door. He wasn’t as big as Kade thought he’d be for a SEAL, his build leaner and narrower than Blane’s, though he stood at about the same height. Bill shook Blane’s hand and slapped him on the shoulder. “Come on in.”

“Time flies when you’re up to no good,” Blane replied, stepping inside the simple ranch-style house. Bill and Blane both chuckled. Kade rolled his eyes. Male bonding. Not his thing.

“This is my brother, Kade,” Blane said. “Kade, this is Bill Stiles.”

Kade forced his lips into a smile and shook Bill’s hand.

“It’s good to meet ya,” Bill said, a southern accent coloring his words.