Shadow of Sin(81)

A wave of nausea burned her chest as she raised her eyes to the ceiling.

God help her, she was going to die in this house.



* * *



Caleb eased through the door, closing it silently behind him. He stayed low, unsure of what awaited. The GPS had led them to Alec’s truck, but it was the vehicle parked next to it that had concerned him. The high-powered, high-class sports car resembled one known to be owned by Vincent Matteo.

“I’m in,” he breathed, moving along the wall to the doorway on the other side. A quick look into the kitchen and he moved again, following the appliances around to the edge of the room.

“I don’t understand. Why the game, Mark? What’s the point, if you plan to kill me anyway?”

Caleb tensed as he heard Samantha’s strained voice. He peered into the living room and saw her sitting on the couch. His gaze drifted to the man crouched in front of her. Shock ripped through his system as he pulled back, pressing flat against the wall. That face, although badly scarred, had been etched into his memory.

He’d heard what Charlie had said, but deep down, he hadn’t believed it.

It seemed the past wasn’t dead after all.

“The point was to watch that bastard suffer, as I’d suffered. All those years, the beatings, the torture. It should’ve been him. I’d been very specific in my instructions as to where he’d be, yet it was me they took. It was me they threw in a hole and left for days and days. It was me that … it should’ve been him,” Mark snarled.

So, it was true. The son of a bitch had sold them out. He’d betrayed his team and his country. Caleb’s hands shook with anger as he realized his perception of that day had been way off. He’d been over and over it—relived it every night—and he’d never been able to figure out where he’d gone wrong. He hadn’t considered one of his own men would turn on him.

Heavy steps made it easy for Caleb to track Mark as he paced.

“He wasn’t supposed to be at the bar that night, either,” Mark said. “He’s always changing the game to his advantage. I’d planned it perfectly. Used your incredible predictability to my advantage. I knew you’d call for Alec to pick you up. I knew if I’d left you alone long enough, you’d feel abandoned and make the call. I’d seen you do it too many times before. It was supposed to be the beginning of the end for Caleb and all he held dear. Instead, I had to adapt. Always adapting to his whims and orders.” Mark’s steps became more pronounced as he obviously became more agitated. “His appearance that night saved his brother’s life, does he knows that?”

He does now, motherfucker. And, I’m about to change the game again.

Samantha’s response was lost as Caleb tapped a sequence against his ear, sending a message through the comm link that Mark was here, and that he had Samantha. A few more rapid taps gave their location within the house.

“Moving now,” Joe’s voice whispered through his ear bud.

“In position,” Brandon confirmed a moment later.

“In position,” Alec copied. “Let’s get her out of there.”

According to the half-assed plan they’d discussed, his brothers would cover him, one from the side, one from behind. Joe, on the other hand, would cover the front. They all understood and agreed, under no uncertain terms, they’d do whatever it took to assure Samantha’s safety.

“You’d planned to kill Alec.” Samantha asked, drawing Caleb’s attention once again. Shit. Alec would’ve heard that and he wasn’t known for keeping his cool when challenged. This time, he damned well better.

Caleb stood to his full height and turned the corner. “You won’t get another chance.” Alec swore through the comm link as Caleb stepped into the room, his arm extended to point the barrel of his favorite Beretta at Mark’s head. “Let her go.”

The gun in Mark’s hand was trained on Samantha. He shifted a few steps until he was behind the couch. Joe’s curse was soft in his ear, indicating Mark had not only covered his back, but had moved out of Joe’s line of sight was well.

“Now, why would I let her go?” Mark asked. “She’s proven to be quite the asset.”

Caleb captured Samantha’s gaze. His wild Irish beauty not only appeared unharmed, but she was as pissed as the devil on Sunday. He hoped she stayed that way. It could work to their advantage. Of course, if she’d figured out it was his fault she was in this mess, that fury was likely for him.

“You used her to get to me. I’m here. Mission accomplished.” Caleb used enough snark to get Mark’s attention centered on him and away from Samantha.