Page 22 of Stone
“Fine,” Gray answered as if for both. “What else do you need?”
I took a huge swig of my drink while I thought about it. “I’ll send you a list.”
CHAPTER 6
Paris, France
Stone
“Hey, buddy. We need to stop meeting like this.”
I heard Kage’s voice first before I noticed him inside the bar. Laughing, I approached, noticing Maddox had also arrived. It looked like I was late to the party.
“Yeah, we do. How long has it been?” I joked. “Oh, yeah. Six months. How’s the new life?” I asked Maddox as I grinned. At least I’d managed to help him save the only woman who could put up with his sorry ass.
“Life is fantastic. The ranch is up and running. You should come see what we’ve done with the place.”
“I’ll take your word for it. I prefer every day being sunny and warm.” As soon as a waiter approached, I ordered a whiskey. At this point, one drink wasn’t going to make or break things.
“Hawaii. You lucky dog, you,” Kage said. He scanned the bar after the waiter had left, leaning in on the bar top table. “Is everything still a go?”
I’d spent a full eighteen hours immersed in learning everything I could about Matis Garnier and his operation as well as studying the layout of the man’s compound. I pulled a copy of the blueprints from my jacket, spreading it across the table. There was no one within earshot of where we stood, although I wasn’t worried about being overheard.
While I’d been privy to certain information thanks to the CIA, what had been provided didn’t solve a mystery I’d created in my mind. Why Bradford’s daughter? There were plenty of other rich goons Matis could have easily set his sights on. He had to know a sledgehammer would be brought down on his head since he was playing with the goddamn vice president of the freaking United States.
In my mind, all the pieces didn’t add up, but it wasn’t my dog and pony show.
“Locked and loaded,” I told them, meaning I’d brought enough weapons with me to start a war, Interpol providing the clearance I’d needed. I’d flown in myself, the plane one of my first purchases. “This is the layout. From what the infrared provided, it’s likely Daniella is being kept in this room. Third floor at the end of a long corridor. There’s an old tunnel system that might or might not be secured leading directly inside. Otherwise, the place is wired for sound. At least twelve guards provide security at all times.”
“Twelve, huh?” Kage asked. “Four for each of us.”
“And more inside,” I added.
“Good enough odds,” Maddox teased.
Shrugging, I folded the paperwork as the waiter brought my whiskey. “We have no choice. We will rescue her.”
Maddox and Kage exchanged quick glances, Maddox leaning in. “You never got over Daniella.”
Both men had heard me talk about her on several occasions during the first couple of years. Until the letters had stopped and she’d finally changed her number. And until the one fateful call I’d regret for the rest of my life. The loss of contact had nearly driven me into a tailspin. I’d done my best to put the past behind me. It seemed karma would prefer torturing me yet again.
“How could I?” She was the light to my darkness, something I would never forget.
“What happens when we rescue her?” Kage asked.
“I made arrangements for a safehouse. We’ll remain there until Interpol cleans up the mess. They’ll move in as soon as she’s in the clear.”
“What about the ransom? From what I read about Matis Garnier, he’s not a patient man.”
“No, he’s not,” I admitted. “While I wasn’t privy to details given my lack of clearance, from what I was told, arrangements have been made. The drop-off is supposed to occur in one hour. Matis likes to collect the money himself.”
“Which means as soon as the bag is in his hand, a call will be made to kill and dump her body.” Kage half laughed.
“Yep. Now we know our timeframe. Hopefully, they’ll catch the fucking bastard right then and there.” If not, I had half a mind to hunt him down myself.
Maddox lifted a single eyebrow. “What then, buddy? Assuming we’re successful.”
I took a long swallow of the whiskey before answering. “Then I take her to DC for a reconciliation with her father. Remaining in Paris won’t be safe at least for the time being. Then the two of you can return to your happy lives.” In my mind, I’d failed her once. I would not do it again. Did I sound jealous? Well, fuck, yes. Because I was. There was no denying I’d been lonely or that the peace I’d fought so hard to achieve was crumbling around the edges.
