Page 90 of Deadly Designs

Aja Blue started to come out from behind him, butChristian held her there with his free hand. “Stay there,” hegrowled.

“You’re a liar, Mr. Sinclair.”

“It’s your word against mine. Who do you thinkthey’ll believe? A washed-up child actor or the wealthiest man inAmerica and practically the universe, hum? I’m beloved the worldover. You are way out of your league, missy.”

“My name is not Missy,” she spat.

Presley and Kayne had picked the lock and werestealthily coming up behind Sinclair. He turned at the last second,and his gun went off. Christian spun and took Aja Blue to thecarpet as the bullet whizzed by and shattered a window.

“Get off me!” Sinclair bellowed. “Do you know who Iam?”

“You won’t do well in prison,” Presley told him.“Your fellow inmates won’t take kindly to a traitor.”

“You think I’ll spend any time in jail? I demand myphone call so I can call my lawyer.”

Kayne laughed as he pulled Sinclair to his feet. “Youcan demand all you want. We aren’t the police.”

“Who the hell are you, then? Unhand me thisinstant!”

Christian helped Aja Blue to her feet. “Are youokay?”

“I am now that Jay’s killer has been caught. Hedrugged my drink.”

Christian felt the heat of the projectile before heheard anything. He watched in horror as the bullet slammed intoHeathcliff Sinclair’s forehead, sending blood and brain matter ontoa stunned Kayne and a startled Presley.

“Get down,” Christian yelled as he covered Aja Blueagain. He glanced up to see a man in a wetsuit standing outside. Hegave a jaunty salute before diving over the side of the boat anddisappearing into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean.

“What the hell just happened?” Kayne lookedgobsmacked.

“My guess is that the Butcher of Kormu is getting ridof dead weight.” He probably had this room bugged and had someonealways watching Sinclair. Nofeshku was notoriously untrusting andhad eliminated several former business partners similarly.Supposedly.

“Christian?”

He glanced down at Aja Blue’s wide eyes. “What,babe?”

“Did I see what I thought I saw?”

He winced. “I was hoping you missed that.” To Presleyand Kayne, he said, “As much as you want to, you can’t clean upyet. You are, unfortunately, evidence.”

“Yeah, we know,” Presley groused. “This is sick, andI don’t mean that in today’s vernacular of amazingly good orimpressive. I mean that I am literally going to hurl.”

“Isn’t there enough grossness among us, Presley?”Kayne waved a hand over their saturated clothes and skin. “Pleasedon’t add barf to the mix.”

“Christian? Are they seriously talking about throwingup?”

“Yeah, honey, they’re trying to distract eachother.”

“Oh. Okay. Am I in danger from this butcher guy?”

“No. He has no reason to come after you. You pose himno threat.” And she didn’t. Christian said it out loud so Nofeshkuwould know if he was listening.

“Johnny Cash admitted to everything, from murderingJay to killing the kidnapper.”

Christian was surprised the man had been soforthcoming, but then, he probably hadn’t expected Aja Blue toleave the room alive.

The door burst open, and Mrs. Sinclair rushed insidewith Nicole on her heels, crutching furiously to keep up.

“Heathcliff? What is going on? Where is Jonas and thesecurity . . .” Her voice trailed off when she spotted what wasleft of her husband’s headless torso. Her scream practicallyshattered the remaining windows surrounding the office.

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