Page 11 of Demented

It didn’t take long,after disposing of the driver, for Andreas to slide into the backseat and straight into Lazarus’ trap. Lazarus locked the doors as he pulled away from the club. Andreas stared at his phone, ignoring someone he no doubt felt was below him. That worked in Lazarus’ favor. He waited until they were in a secluded area before switching on a signal blocker, making it impossible for Andreas to call for help.

Lazarus pulled to the shoulder of the road.

Andreas’ chin shot up. He blinked at the sight of Lazarus. “Where is Gerard?”

Lazarus smiled. “He’s indisposed. We need to have a conversation.”

Andreas did everything Lazarus expected. He tried to make a call. When that didn’t work, he tried jumping from the vehicle. The door wouldn’t open. He didn’t focus on Lazarus again until he recognized there was no escape. His eyes flashed with rage. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

“Exactly.” Lazarus leveled his gun at Andreas. “Who do you work for?”

Andreas looked confused. “I’m a money manager. I work for a Fortune 500 company.”

Lazarus rolled his eyes. “Don’t play dumb. I want to know who ordered the hit on Cutler Maine’s husband.”

Andreas blinked some more. “The CIA agent? No one.”

Ah, he wasn’t quite as oblivious as he claimed. “No one? I find that hard to believe since I found his attacker stabbed to death with a note telling us we were square. That doesn’t sound like no one.”

Andreas made a helpless gesture. He dropped the act of being oblivious. “I’m being genuine. No one ordered a hit. That’s exactly why his attacker ended up dead. He stepped out of line. I won’t be joining him by betraying anyone. Not that it matters. I know what you want and I can’t give it to you. I legitimately have no idea who pulls the strings.”

Lazarus’ eyes narrowed. “I call bullshit. Everyone says you’re second in command. You don’t get that close and not know who you answer to.”

Andreas leaned forward, showing an insane lack of fear. “First off, ha. I’m no one. It’s my job to manage the money of several outlandishly rich men. It could be any one of them running this town. Secondly, I don’t want to know. They say Rico had over a hundred stab wounds. I’m not going out like that. My job is above board and I intend to keep it that way, but you’re a goddamn fool if you think anyone’s money is clean. I’ll be damned if I worry about where a single penny comes from that’s crossed my desk.”

He was convincing, but something still didn’t feel right. “You’re telling me you know absolutely nothing? That sounds a lot like I have no reason to keep you alive.”

Andreas looked worried for the first time. Lazarus could practically see him searching his brain for any detail that might save him. “People call him the dragon. Apparently, he has a terrifying temper. I’ve never heard a name beyond that. If anyone knows, though, it’s—”

The glass next to Lazarus exploded. Before he had time to recover and react, he was dragged from the SUV. Something thick covered his face, making it hard to breathe and impossible to see. He couldn’t fight. Lazarus tried, but it was obviously more than one guy. No one made a sound. Even as Lazarus fought for his life, there was complete silence. His body slammed into a rough surface. Handcuffs clicked around his wrists, binding them behind his back. In no time, he was in a vehicle and on themove. Lazarus tried using his teeth to move the material from his head. Unfortunately, it seemed to be tied—like a sack with a drawstring around his neck. He was trapped. All Lazarus could do was wait for his chance. Then these men were dead. He didn’t take prisoners.

Lazarus tried memorizing every turn. Unfortunately, he was disoriented. He lost count of turns and track of miles. Instead, Lazarus focused on surrounding sounds when he was dragged from the vehicle. He heard the ocean. Lazarus half expected to get tossed into the water and left to drown. Instead, the sound drowned away as a door opened and closed. There were no unfamiliar sounds or smells. They headed down—possibly to a basement or storeroom. He didn’t struggle. Lazarus needed to conserve his energy. He was bound to a chair. Either the torture would start soon, or his abductors would reveal themselves. Either way, he needed his strength. Lazarus had to get home to Noir. He couldn’t let him down.

Ajax didn’t join Noir’s driver to pick him up. Noir was grateful for the quiet. He had a pounding headache and just wanted to get home to Lazarus. As always at these events, the food had been too heavy and the conversation shallow. Noir wanted to take a shower and curl up in Lazarus’ arms. These events weren’t often, but they were draining. He needed Lazarus to soothe him.Noir’s life left him mentally exhausted. He had to get back to his happy place.

Noir stepped inside to find the house quiet as the dead of night. Ajax appeared in an instant.

“We have a problem.”

A sick feeling settled in Noir’s gut. Had his worst fears been true? Did his guards catch Lazarus cheating? A pain sliced across his chest. He couldn’t handle that. Ajax’s dour expression had his heart rate kicking into high gear. He took a breath. “Tell me.” Even he heard the exhaustion in his voice.

“Emil and Bendt followed Lazarus, as you requested.” Noir’s throat swelled. It was his nightmare coming to life. “He kidnapped Andreas and questioned him.” It was sad how relieved he was. “Obviously, Andreas would never betray you, but the men were forced to intervene to prevent Lazarus from killing our top guy.”

Oh no. A lump rose in his throat. “What did they do?” There was no missing the barely suppressed rage in his voice.

Ajax motioned for Noir to follow. They headed downstairs. Emil and Bendt stood off to the side, looking like they feared Noir’s wrath, as they should. In the center of the room, Lazarus was bound to a chair with his head covered. His chin lifted as Noir stepped fully into the room, almost as if he recognized Noir’s footfalls.

Noir swallowed the bile rising in his throat and hardened his heart. Ajax dragged a chair across from Lazarus for Noir to sit. Noir sat and stared at Lazarus. There had never been any chance of avoiding this forever. Noir took a breath and gave Ajax a sharp nod.

Ajax ripped the hood from Lazarus.

Lazarus looked furious until he fully focused on Noir. His fury turned to open confusion. Noir watched his expression shift through every emotion before hitting realization and stopping at barely suppressed rage.

Noir motioned for the guards to leave them. No one questioned his order. Everyone knew he was the most dangerous person there.

Noir took another deep breath. “I didn’t order a hit on your friend.” That part was important. No matter what else happened, Noir needed Lazarus to know that much.

“So I’ve been told.”

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