Alpha dogs, p.28
Alpha Dogs, page 28
part #6 of Witness Protection Series
“Just because she feared I’d crack under pressure, that doesn’t mean she’s playing me or has some secret agenda,” Conner insisted as his eyes narrowed in anger. “You’re comparing her to a traitorous double agent. She’s not. She’s a scared, innocent girl.”
Sal sighed and shook his head. “You really don’t see it, do you?” he remarked with a look of defeat. “Answer me one question, son. The night her husband allegedly tried to kill her; did you have an alibi?”
Conner stared at Sal with some surprise. His mind was obviously reeling. “Are you accusing me of killing her husband for her?”
“No, I’m asking if you had an alibi,” he reiterated. “Yes or no?”
Conner folded his arms across his chest while glaring at Sal. “No, I was waiting at the park for her to show up that evening,” he informed him. “I waited for a couple of hours. When she didn’t show up, I became worried.”
“And you called her?”
“No, I was afraid to call her in case her husband had come home,” he informed him. “I never called her. She always called me.”
“And the night her husband died,” Sal pressed. “Did she call you? Did she call crying that her husband attacked her and what she had to do to stop him?” Sal raised his brows. “Did she beg you to come over? Did she ask you to help her dispose of the body because she feared her father-in-law would kill her? Did she tell you that she feared the police would suspect it wasn’t self-defense because of your affair?”
Conner couldn’t take his eyes off Sal. His stunned look indicated everything he asked was exactly what had happened the night Sebastian Cicco died. His look then turned harsh and angry.
“I don’t know what you’re suggesting,” Conner remarked while shifting uncomfortably. “It did happen that way. That’s the truth.”
“I’m not suggesting that you’re lying. I’m suggesting she set you up to take the fall,” Sal informed him with brutal honesty. “I’m suggesting she plotted her husband’s death weeks earlier, made amends with her cheating ex-boyfriend, and planned everything to make it look like he killed her husband in a jealous rage.”
Conner stared at Sal a moment with his mouth hanging open. He then turned defensive and immediately shook his head. “No, she wouldn’t do that,” he protested then fidgeted. “Yes, she asked me to help her remove the body when she called around midnight. I refused to do that and convinced her we needed to go to the police. It would have worked, but her father-in-law sent men to kill her before I got there.”
“No, her plan backfired when her father sent Whiskey Tango Foxtrot to her rescue,” Sal insisted while raising his brows. “They foiled her perfect plan to frame you for her husband’s murder, and she had to improvise just like she’s improvising now. Cicco said two of Sebastian’s guards were killed as well as two other men that he didn’t know. I’m betting those other men were working for Lindsey. I suspect she hired them to eliminate you so she could frame you. Unfortunately, for her, Makar’s men showed up first and killed her men. Face it, son; you are collateral damage. She only needed you around to save her ass and take the fall for what she’d done. Things went sideways, people were converging upon her, and she needed to flee. This time; we’re all taking the fall for her.”
Conner vigorously shook his head. “No, you’re wrong,” he protested. “Cicco’s men were holding her prisoner in Sebastian’s house until he could get there and torture her over his son’s death. You’re wrong about all of it.”
“Maybe I am,” Sal replied with little care. “You say she called you around midnight with the news of her dead husband, huh?”
Conner nodded.
Sal drew a deep breath then sighed and frowned. “Bad news, son. Her husband had been dead several hours by that time. Her father showed up at my mansion hours earlier expressing his concerns.”
Conner stared at Sal with a look of disbelief. He seemed uncertain how to respond.
“I’m going to offer you a word of advice,” Sal announced while raising his brows. “When and if you confront her, make sure you’re not alone with her. Because if I’m right, she’ll cut out your heart without thinking twice.”
They heard someone approaching. Sal hurried Conner behind the ball pit. Cicco, Dawg, and one of his hired men entered the playroom and looked around. As the three men got closer to their hiding spot, Sal clutched his baseball bat and was about to move out from behind the ball pit to take his shot. All three men were suddenly alerted to something and bolted across the room as if evading a predator. Dexter and one of his henchmen darted into the room and fired at Cicco and his men. Conner and Sal remained hidden behind the ball pit; although it was possible they’d be discovered if the shootout continued too long.
Dexter’s man took a bullet to the head, hit the jungle gym behind him, and fell against the small slide. Dexter attempted to return fire, but his gun clicked empty. He saw his dead henchman’s discarded gun just a few feet from him. Unfortunately, the sound of his empty gun had been loud enough to send Cicco and his men charging across the room. Dexter lunged for the weapon. Dawg fired his own gun, shooting Dexter in the arm while preventing him from grabbing the other gun. Dexter clutched his arm while on his knees and looked up at the men standing over him. Cicco smiled deviously while staring at Dexter.
“Well, this is a stroke of luck,” Vinny Cicco announced cheerfully. “If anyone can help me lure Lindsey out, it’s her father.”
“Leave my daughter alone,” Dexter growled as blood seeped between his fingers. “Your son tried to kill her. He got what he deserved.”
Cicco aimed his gun at Dexter’s head and glared at him. “I’d be careful what I’d say if I were you,” Cicco announced in a slightly jovial tone. “I’m in a really bad mood. It seems your little girl has pissed off some pretty resourceful people and not just me. I can’t believe you’re still defending her after all this. Have you seen what she caused? All this bloodshed?” He shook his head and suddenly chuckled. “She really pulled one over on all of us, didn’t she? I’d ask the other interested party what she possibly did to piss them off, but those boys don’t feel much like talking.” Cicco eyed his right-hand man. “Dawg, round up the boys. We have all the bait we need to get Lindsey. Her daddy’s going to help us find her.”
Dawg nodded and hurried from the playroom leaving Cicco and his henchman alone with an unarmed and wounded Dexter.
“She didn’t do anything,” Dexter protested. “Somehow you created this mess. They probably want you for the things you’ve done.”
Cicco mockingly considered the comment then grinned and shook his head. “Yeah, I don’t think so.” He suddenly raised his brows. “But don’t you worry, I intend to ask your daughter about this entire matter when I get my hands on her.” He motioned with his gun. “Now come on out. We need to find Lindsey.”
Dexter slowly stood while clutching his bleeding arm. “I won’t help you lure out my daughter,” he proudly announced. “The men I hired to protect her probably have her far from here.”
“The men you hired to protect her are probably already dead,” Cicco announced then sneered. “Along with most of my men. Now let’s go.”
Sal suddenly appeared behind Cicco’s man and swung the baseball bat. The armed man heard him, but by the time he spun around, it was already too late. Sal knocked the gun from his hand nearly breaking his arm with the bat then swung upward and struck the man in the chin. He was thrown backward. As Cicco turned, Sal knocked the gun from his hand. Cicco jumped back a step and stared at Sal with the bloodstained baseball bat.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Cicco suddenly demanded then sneered at him. “I told you what would happen if you interfered.”
“What? That you’d kill my daughter?” Sal snarled and twirled the bat. “That’s going to be a little difficult for you to do with your head bashed in.”
Sal swung for Cicco, aiming for his head. Cicco ducked the baseball bat and saw Dexter going for the gun. Knowing he was at their mercy and would probably be killed, Vinny Cicco darted across the playroom and out the door. Dexter snatched the gun and ran after him, but it was already too late. Dexter returned to the playroom as Sal attempted to calm himself from his small rampage.
“He got away,” Dexter growled then looked at his dead man with disgust. “We’ve got to get that bastard.”
“No,” Sal insisted while glaring at Dexter. “We need to keep our heads and stay out of sight. Makar will deal with Cicco. Let them kill each other. My friends will deal with whoever is left.”
“We have to find my daughter,” Dexter insisted. “You heard what he said. They’re going to find her and kill her. She’s not safe.”
“Wherever she is, she’s safe,” Sal insisted firmly. “She’s not coming out for anyone.”
Sal cast a look at Conner. The young man wanted to comment but frowned instead. Perhaps a few of Sal’s words sank in for the first time.
“I’m looking for my daughter,” Dexter announced and ran from the room.
Chapter Forty-four
The faint sounds of gunfire from deep within the ship were sporadic; indicating the worst of the war was winding down just a little after seven o’clock that evening. Both sides were running out of ammunition as well as men. Lindsey remained close to the corridor wall on deck three while attempting to keep a moderately fast pace. She reached a juncture in the corridor and paused briefly to look at the ship’s map. She needed to turn right, and that would take her to the employee’s area, which would eventually lead to the cargo hold and freedom.
Lindsey flattened herself against the wall and peered around the corner before making any sudden movements. Horror crossed her face when she saw the once elegant corridor strewn with more than half a dozen dead men. The gold-colored carpet was now covered with so much blood it was impossible to see the original color and pattern beneath it. The blood from the dead men had soaked the entire stretch of carpet leading to the employee’s stairwell. There seemed to be blood everywhere, including the walls, the plush sofa, and even a few spatters on the ceiling. Lindsey couldn’t tear her eyes away from the gruesome sight. She drew a deep breath, collected her emotions, and nervously entered the horror show that was once an elegant corridor.
As she approached the first dead man, she couldn’t avoid stepping in blood. The carpet squished beneath her feet, which was almost enough to make her gag. She couldn’t help but stare at the first two dead men she passed. The larger caliber bullets had torn through their heads leaving gruesome wounds and exposing skull and brain. In some cases, their bulletproof vests protected them, but even their vests weren’t enough for shots taken at close range. Despite seeing several assault rifles on the blood-soaked carpet, she didn’t touch them. In her eyes, the weapons were massive, intimidating, and far too much weapon for her. She then saw a semiautomatic holstered and attached to one of the dead man’s belts.
Lindsey hesitated, drew a deep breath, and delicately removed the handgun from his holster. She seemed almost afraid he’d leap up and grab her, although by the missing part of his skull he was almost certainly dead. She held the gun a moment and sized it up while placing her finger on the trigger. Being she never held a gun before; she was apparently clueless. She fiddled with the safety, uncertain of its function. Lindsey placed her left hand on top of the barrel and tugged on it since she knew it was supposed to make that cocking sound in order to function.
In the movies, all guns made that cocking sound. As she attempted to pull the slide back, her finger tightened on the trigger, and the gun fired narrowly missing her foot. Lindsey let out a startled cry and jumped with surprise. She released the gun, allowing it to fall to the blood-soaked, carpeted floor with a dull thud. She trembled slightly then quickly reclaimed the gun that now had blood on it from the floor. She held the gun in her hand with her finger on the trigger but made certain she didn’t apply any pressure.
With how easily the gun discharged, it seemed a wonder more people didn’t shoot themselves in the foot. She heard the sound of movement on the deck above her and was alarmed by the sound. Whoever was on the deck above seemed to be moving awfully fast. For a moment, she wondered why. She then eyed the gun, and it dawned on her. They heard the gunshot. Lindsey gasped and hurried through the minefield of dead bodies for her only exit. She could now hear movement coming down the stairs in front of her. She quickly turned and ran back in the opposite direction, no longer thinking about the soaked carpet beneath her feet.
Lindsey ran back for the connecting corridor and rounded it. She saw four of Makar’s men running for her. They aimed their weapons but didn’t fire, since she was the prize they sought, and they needed her alive. Lindsey cried out with surprise, aimed the semiautomatic in their general direction, and repeatedly pulled the trigger. As the bullets rapidly fired from the weapon, the gun seemed to bounce within her hand, and she unloaded the entire magazine at the four men. All four men had crouched down to avoid the gunfire. Not surprising, the bullets struck the walls and the ceiling but never came close to any of the men.
When the gun clicked empty, Lindsey continued to pull the trigger, uncertain why it no longer fired. When she realized she was out of bullets, she gasped with alarm and spun back for the connecting corridor. Six more of Makar’s men were only a few feet from her with their weapons aimed. Lindsey could do little more than stare helplessly at them. The first man raised his hand radio.
“Makar, we have her,” the man announced while grinning. “Deck three.”
“I’m on my way,” came the response.
§
Lindsey sat on the dusty, leather bench seat in the waiting area just inside the deck three dining room. Two men armed with assault rifles stood over her making certain she didn’t move while four men kept watch over the dining room. The two-story dining room with a cathedral ceiling contained elegant chandeliers now covered in cobwebs. The main dining room had enough seating for two hundred people at small, four-person round tables. The chairs were neatly placed beneath the tables as if the dining room had been completely cleaned prior to abandoning ship.
The remaining four men stood just inside the dining room’s main entrance and kept watch out the open doors. Makar and another six men in his party of mercenaries entered the dining room. Makar’s eyes immediately settled on Lindsey. He grinned proudly when he saw her. He finally had his much sought after prize. Lindsey nervously coiled back on the bench seat.
“Lindsey Cicco,” Makar announced almost cheerfully. “I’m so glad you remember me. Who would have thought our brief encounter would have me chasing you from Colorado to the East Coast?” He chuckled in an unsettling manner. “Certainly not me.” His jovial smile faded. “I would have put a bullet in your head if I’d have known you’d be this much of a pain in my ass.” He suddenly grinned then chuckled. “It must have come as a great surprise to Sebastian when he discovered you’d betrayed him.” Makar then considered the comment and raised his brows. “Oh, wait. That’s right. You killed him, didn’t you?” He shook his head while chuckling. “You’ve been very busy pissing off people. Is there anyone left who doesn’t want you dead?”
“The team my father hired will save me,” she boldly announced with some arrogance. “They’ll tear you and your men apart.”
“I could be mistaken, but I think they collected your remaining crash survivors, made off with my helicopter, and left with the Coast Guard.”
Lindsey stared at Makar with renewed horror at the possibility that he was telling the truth. Was it possible they had actually abandoned her? Her arrogance quickly returned as she straightened proudly on the bench seat.
“They wouldn’t do that,” she insisted and even managed a tiny, weak smirk. “They wouldn’t double-cross my father like that.”
“Why’s that?” he asked with a humored look. “Do you think you’re the only one allowed to double-cross influential men?”
Lindsey stared at him but didn’t comment.
Makar laughed at her then removed his hand radio and spoke into it. “Helicopter two,” he announced into the radio. “We need immediate extraction. Rendezvous on deck nine by the pool.”
“Copy that,” came the static-filled response.
“You said they stole your helicopter,” Lindsey practically protested.
“My dear, I have more than a few helicopters nearby,” he insisted. “My fleet is scattered from here to Costa Rico.” He grinned and laughed. “See? You really did fuck with the wrong man, but I’d rather you figure that out while I’m torturing you.”
He motioned to his men. They grabbed Lindsey and pulled her from the bench seat.
Chapter Forty-five
Six of Makar’s men led the way along the interior corridor on deck nine with six bringing up the rear. Makar remained with Lindsey between the heavily armed men while keeping his semiautomatic aimed at her and a firm grip on her wrist. She protested his grip several times but was met with violent jerking. As they stepped onto the outer deck, several shots were fired, forcing them to retreat into the corridor. Makar pulled Lindsey into the nearby panorama lounge. The six men bringing up the rear entered with them. The lounge had a wall of shattered windows facing the pool, which was the rendezvous with Makar’s extraction helicopter. Makar eyed the shattered wall of glass exposing the pool deck.
Cicco and his remaining army of nearly a dozen men appeared by the glassless doors and filtered into the lounge while firing at Makar’s men. Makar pulled Lindsey to the floor with him just behind the circle bar in the middle of the lounge. Cicco’s men bolted behind several larger pieces of bullet-riddled furniture. The rest of Makar’s men entered the lounge while keeping their weapons aimed at the corridor doorway. They managed to shield themselves from the weapon’s fire coming from the lounge before the pool deck.
