Page 27 of Deadly Intentions

I knewthe moment I stepped into his office… I knew I was in trouble. Javier Costa sat in the darkened corner with his leg crossed casually over his knee. Dr. Brooks shut his office door and engaged the lock. My head swiveled between the two men as Dr. Brooks pulled out a chair for me to sit in.

“Catarina.” He sneered, propping himself on the edge of his desk. “I see you’ve lied about your name on your employment paperwork. What ever should I do with that information?” He glanced toward Javier and smiled. “What do you think, Javier? Should we report her?”

“I think we could find something more useful than getting her in trouble.” He leaned forward, dropping his leg to the floor. “Tell me, Miss Anastasi. How much would your brothers pay to have you returned in one piece?”

I attempted to stand, but Dr. Brooks shoved me back into the seat. “Not so fast.”

“You’re crazy threatening me with my family right outside the door.”

“They let you come back here. Obviously, they don’t believe I’m a threat or one of them would have followed you in here.”

My heart pounded relentlessly against my chest. Fear trickling into my veins as the reality of my situation washed over me. “What are you going to do with me? As you’ve pointed out, they are right down the hall.”

“There is more than one way out of this hospital, Catarina. Surely you’re not that daft.”

Javier stood and held his hand out to Dr. Brooks, who, in turn, pulled something out of his desk drawer. My eyes widened at the sight of the syringe.

“Hold up. You don’t need to do something rash.” I held my hands up in defense and started easing backwards.

Javier moved to my side. “We can’t take a chance on you screaming as we walk out this door.”

The prick of the needle made me gasp. A slight burning from the contents he’d pushed into me slithered down my arm. My head became muddled as the sedative he filled me with wreaked havoc through my blood. I stumbled into the chair, unable to control my body. Javier grabbed my upper arm and tugged me against him. The blunt end of his gun jammed into my ribcage as he held me upright.

“Now.” He jerked me toward the door. “We’re going to walk out of here and you’re not going to make a scene. You got it?”

My head bobbled as I fought to stay conscious. Javier opened the door, motioning for Dr. Brooks to step out first. As we followed behind him, my eyes connected with Harley’s. She was standing with her mouth agape in shock. As she started to turn and call out, Javier’s gun lifted above her head and came down with a hard thud.

I whimpered as her body crumpled onto the floor. Blood pooled beneath her skull, covering the floor in a crimson tint.

“Harley.” I slurred, trying to go to my friend. Javier yanked at my flesh, tugging me down the hall toward the rear stairwell. I prayed she wasn’t dead. The guilt of bringing danger here made me sick to my stomach.

Dr. Brooks pushed the door open and held it for Javier to drag me through. My mind was losing its battle to stay awake and as we burst through the exterior door into the sunlight, I gave in to the drug lulling me into a sleep coma.

The last thing I saw was the trunk closing over my body, throwing me into darkness.

sixteen

DONNY

“It’s takingher an awful long time with Dr. Brooks.” Vincenzo glanced at his watch. “Where’d that nurse go? Maybe she can go check on her without raising suspicion.” He stepped into the doorway and glanced around. “Something's wrong.”

His words spurred me into action, and I pushed past him into the hallway. “Why’d you say that?”

“Where’s the other woman? Shouldn’t she be coming by to check on patients? It’s been over thirty minutes.” Massimo joined us at the threshold of the door as he questioned Harley’s whereabouts. “Vin’s right. Something is off.”

Antonio moved away from Michael. “No. You stay with him. Vin—" Massimo pointed at me “—you and Donny go check down the hallway. That’s the direction Dr. Brooks and Catarina went. I’m calling Drew. I want him here in case we need to beat the shit out of someone.”

Vin and I started our way down the hallway. It didn’t take long to figure out Catarina was in trouble. Harley laid on the floor outside what I assumed was the doctor’s office, unconscious and bleeding. Vin bent down and checked her pulse.

“She’s alive.” He checked her over before lifting her into his arms. “Search his office. I’m going to take her down to Michael’s room. We’ve got to keep this quiet. We don’t need the police involved.”

I stepped into the office and scanned the enclosed space. Nothing seemed out of place, but my eyes zeroed in on the discarded syringe. One of them must have dropped it when they took her out of the hospital. They’d been smart enough to drug her, because Catarina wouldn’t have gone willingly. Seeing as she’d killed one of Javier’s goons, he had enough foresight to ensure her compliance.

I sifted through the doctor’s drawers, not finding anything. I hurried back to Michael’s room. Vincenzo had pushed a gurney into the room and laid Harley on top. He was on the phone, but glanced up when I stepped in. I shook my head, telling him I’d found nothing to indicate where they were.

“He drugged her to get out of here.” I muttered, moving to stand beside Harley’s still frame.

Massimo pushed through the door, Drew close on his heel.

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