“Jason, show her to housekeeping.”
“Yes sir.”
“Un momento.” Abuela pretended to catch her breath.
Wolf grinned as the old woman played her part to a tee. After a minute, Abuela stood with the assistance of one of the guards and grabbed her purse, leaving behind the pack of paper with the cell phone hidden inside.
Char’s impromptu surveillance, using burner phones, was inspired genius. They cut out a section of paper and taped the phone camera against a small hole in the pack. Now they could see what Drake’s security could see.
“First part down.” Wolf smiled at his companions in the van.
“Abuela did an awesome job positioning that hidden phone. The view is better than I expected. Let’s see what Iris, Trip and Marisol are doing.” Char leaned in to better see the screen on the iPad.
Ella
Drake brought me to the middle of nowhere to kill me. He knows I tried to get Bastian’s help. Ella white knuckled the armrest.
“Stay here,” Drake insisted as a van pulled up.
Four of Drake’s goons got out of the van dragging another man with them. Ella stared at the struggling man in disbelief.
“No, no, no,” she cried as she scrambled for the handle on the car door. “Wolf!”
What is he doing here? Oh god. What are these animals going to do to him?
Ella rushed toward Wolf, but Drake snatched her up. Ella struggled to get free of his grasp, then froze as the flash and thunderous roar of a dozen shots filled the night.
The first bullet struck Wolf in the chest, and he recoiled from the blast. She reached out as the second shot made him jerk. Ella heard herself scream, as she desperately willed the bullets striking Wolf in rapid succession, to halt. But she was too slow. Her curse had no trouble moving the tiny projectiles, but it couldn’t turn back time, or make her respond fast enough to keep them from ripping into the man she loved. Ella watched the blood spread on Wolf’s chest as he dropped to the ground, and something inside her snapped.
They killed him. In an instant Ella’s whole world exploded.
Oh god. What’s Wolf doing here? No, no, no.
The fiery flash from the muzzle of the gun lit the night. The shots echoed off the surrounding rock. But they weren’t half as loud as the scream that ripped from Ella’s throat, as the bullets struck Wolf, over, and over, and over, as the nightmare replayed again, and again, and again.
“Chase,” Drake barked as he stalked into the room. “Has there been any change?”
Ella jerked awake, then stilled. The vile man’s voice pulled her from one nightmare into another.
“No. She’s still passed out,” Neck tattoo replied. “I’m kinda surprised she hasn’t pissed herself.”
“Well, the bitch better enjoy her little nap, because when she wakes up, we’re going to discuss what she did to my fucking car,” Drake growled.
Ella didn’t know what Drake was complaining about. Considering his tone, and how she felt, she must have wreaked major havoc. Ella wished she could remember the retribution she dished out, but all she could remember was Wolf collapsing as blood covered his chest. Ella repressed a sob at the memory.
Oh, Wolf.
“Speak of the she-devil,” neck tattoo said from nearby.
Ella’s breath froze in her chest.
No sense pretending to sleep.
Ella didn’t have the energy for it anyway. Plus, since Chase had made the comment about the bathroom, Ella had to go. She opened her eyes and slowly sat up. She was sore down to her bones. Ella gingerly got up off the sofa.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Drake demanded.
“To the bathroom, unless you want me to ruin your Persian rug,” Ella replied curtly, as she glanced down at the carpet that likely cost a small fortune.
Ella didn’t bother to wait for a reply. She turned and wandered to the bathroom. If Drake had anything to say to her, she didn’t hear it. She was past caring any more.
Ella finished and washed up. She stood with her hands braced on the sink staring in the mirror. Her dress was dirty and tattered. Her hair was a mess. Dark circles under her bloodshot eyes, made it look like she hadn’t slept ever. Ella didn’t recognize the reflection looking back at her. She felt empty.
They killed him.
A tear slipped down her cheek, followed by another. She hadn’t known Wolf long, but she’d fallen for him hard. Try as she might to resist the force that drew them together, Ella found herself hopelessly in love with the man. He was the only one, beside her sister, who knew who she truly was. And now he was gone. Ella hung her head as the terrible realization washed over her.
“I’m getting out of here. Dead or alive.” Sadly, Ella was having a hard time caring if it went one way or the other.