Page 57 of Desire Me
Saint glanced over at King’s words and watched as a dark SUV—not too expensive, not flashy enough to draw attention—approached along the street before turning off at the four-way that led out of the neighborhood. Dain cranked the Expedition and followed.
At the main road, rather than turning left toward food, they turned right, then right again just beyond a mostly empty strip mall that contained several long-gone stores, a karate studio, a start-up church, and, in the center, a now-defunct RadioShack. The electronics store happened to be located so that its back exit butted up against the corner of their target home’s back fence. The team they were after used that empty building for all comings and goings except food, which he guessed they thought wasn’t a suspicious activity and so wouldn’t be part of any inquiry by the authorities if it ever came to that.
Now Saint’s team would use their out against them.
Dain parked the Expedition just around the corner of one end of the strip mall. Each man exited the vehicle after checking to make sure their weapons and vests were concealed beneath their thick jackets, decorated with fluorescent stripes indicating they were part of a work crew. King retrieved cones and signs from the truck, and Remi and Saint grabbed survey stations on tall tripods, adding to their credibility. King set his equipment out before the four of them disappeared behind the strip mall where prying eyes couldn’t see them.
Eli had scouted for cameras behind the building and found nothing obvious, but that didn’t mean there was something less than obvious, so they’d decided a blitz attack was best. After propping the survey equipment against the base of the fence, each of them hopped the fence into the backyard of the house next to their target. They hugged the fence line until they reached the back edge of the second house, then jumped the fence again into their target’s yard.
By the time King had brought up the rear, Remi already had the bathroom window jimmied. Just big enough for each man to slide through, although with the coat and vest, Saint got caught up for half a second before a tug from Remi inside and shove from Dain outside pushed him through.
“That window was their first big mistake,” Saint muttered, rubbing his aching shoulder.
“And not their last,” Remi answered, voice a low rasp. He gripped the doorknob, waiting until King began his entry through the window before advancing. No way would all four of them fit in the bathroom, bigger window or not.
One step into the hallway, Saint caught sight of one of their targets already rushing to meet them, just not the one Saint wanted. He let Remi have the fucker and kept advancing.
Casey Lonergan rounded the corner at the end of the hall, no more than three yards from Saint. Their eyes met, and Saint felt everything inside him go quiet. No questioning. No doubt. Only silence as he hit the floor in a forward roll and knocked right into Lonergan’s legs before the other man could react. With his feet shoved out from under him, he nose-dived forward over Saint’s back. Saint came up smoothly onto his feet and turned just in time to see Dain land a boot on the man’s back where he lay facedown, then whip out a set of zip ties to secure Lonergan’s hands. Behind the pair, Saint could see Remi already had his man hog-tied with a gag in his mouth.
“Efficient—just the way I like it,” King said, surveying their work from the doorway into the bathroom.
“Better be,” Remi said, voice gravelly with exertion. “No telling when their friends will be back.”
Dain had their man secure. Saint grabbed the guy’s bicep and pulled him to his feet none too gently. “Won’t need much time. Where’s the kitchen?”
Following Remi’s directions, Saint marched Lonergan through the dining area and into the kitchen with its old pine cabinets and peach laminate countertops. He pushed their captive into a chair and let Dain shove the guy back when he attempted to stand. A quick search through the drawers and he had the supplies they’d need.
Lonergan’s eyes were narrowed on Remi when Saint stopped in front of him. That steely gaze transferred to him.
“Remember me?” Saint asked. The team had been following Rae; they’d have seen the man she went home with.
No surprise on Lonergan’s face. “Where’s the woman? Tell me and we’ll make this easy on you.”
Saint laughed. “You’ve already done that.” He leaned close enough to catch the acrid scent of sweat, though not close enough for a headbutt. “I don’t think you’re in any position to ask the questions here. You’re in the position of answering, though.”
“The rest of my team—”
“We’ll be long gone by the time they get back with your KFC, Lonergan.”
Lonergan went for the headbutt despite the distance. Saint straightened quickly, bringing his knee up to connect with the man’s face. A howl erupted as blood spurted onto the man’s legs.
Saint shook his head, “Like I said, answering, not asking.”
“That’s going to make it even harder to breathe when you use those,” Remi said, a jerk of his head indicating the towels and pitcher of water waiting on the island.
“It is.” Saint stared into Lonergan’s eyes.
The man blinked back tears from the nose blow and glared right back. “You think I can’t hold my breath through a single pitcher of water, asshole?”
“You mean that?” Saint hooked a thumb over his shoulder toward the island. “That’s just for cleaning up. That,” he said, jerking his thumb toward the sink where King was attaching a short hose to the faucet, “is what I plan to drown you with.”
Saint had to give Lonergan credit; he wasn’t pissing his pants yet. A tinge of regret flickered behind his ribs. He really had no desire to water board anyone, but for Rae… They’d all agreed they didn’t have time for a beating to work. Maybe, somewhere deep down, he could see this as an act of mercy. At least he wouldn’t be drawing out the agony too much.
“King?”
Saint’s teammate passed him the end of the hose. “Ready when you are.”
He nodded. “Dain.”
