Page 53 of Rhys

Austin had just gotten behind the wheel, his minion jumping into the passenger seat. The engine revved and the car started to move, but—

“Do it and I swear to God, I’ll pull this trigger.”

Standing next to the driver’s side door, she was grateful John had rolled the window down when he first arrived. Something she hadn’t seen from her earlier vantage point.

At least you did me one last favor before you died.

“Keep your hands where I can see them,” she ordered both men. “Now get out of the car, slowly.”

Austin and his man did as they were told. With their hands up, they exited the vehicle without incident. Trace and the others arrived on scene, assisting both her and Rhys with the takedown.

While she kept Austin and his guy in her sight, Trace and Asher proceeded to secure their arms behind their backs with plastic ties. Greyson and Kellan kept their weapons up and at the ready as they approached the gang member who was still trying to take shots at Rhys.

After exchanging a few heated words, the man finally dropped his weapon and put his hands in the air. With the threats having been neutralized, Vanessa finally felt like she could breathe.

“Authorities are on their way,” Trace informed them.

Vanessa walked up to Austin and looked him square in the eyes. “What’s in the crate?” she asked calmly.

The arrogant ass smiled. “Not what you’re hoping, I’m sure.”

“Doesn’t really matter, anyway.” She shrugged. “We found the plans for the nuke. But as calm as you’re acting, I’m guessing whatever’s in that box isn’t it. We do know, however, that you’re in bed with North Korea, and we know you paid John Faraday to give up my asset so you could have her killed.”

“You don’t have shit,” he spat back. “My lawyers will see to it that I’m out before your bedtime.”

“I doubt that, Kenny.” Vanessa smirked. “I think you’ll find that, by the time we’re done with you, there won’t be enough money in the world to buy your way out of this one.”

“Do you know what they did?” His expression turned cold. “They killed my son.”

“Wrong. The men your son and his unit were after were the ones who killed him. Terrorists just like you, in fact.”

“They sent him over there to die!”

She stepped closer, their toes almost touching. “Your son knew the risks that came with signing on that dotted line. Now his death is a tragedy, for sure. But doing this…plotting against your own country with one of the world’s most dangerous leaders? That makes you just as bad as the terrorists who killed your son. And the worst part is, it’s not going to bring your son back.”

“Don’t talk to me about my son! Those bastards need to pay! I was going to make them pay!” Austin tried charging at her, but Asher was there to slam the restrained man back against the car’s frame.

“Don’t even think about it!” Asher put himself between her and Austin.

“You guys got this?” Vanessa turned to Trace.

“We’re good here.” He nodded.

“I’m going to go check out the crate.”

She walked over to where Greyson was carefully trying to pry open the wooden crate. Rhys was next to him, but when he saw her heading in his direction, he walked half-way to meet her.

“Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.” He gave her an assessing glance. “You good?”

Vanessa nodded. “You?”

“Not a scratch on me.”

“Son of a bitch!”

They both turned and rushed back to where Greyson stood.

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