Ultimate Kill (Book 1 Ultimate CORE Trilogy) (CORE Series) (47 page)

Jake’s strong, confident and soothing voice gave her a sudden dose of clarity. She forced her heavy lids open and met his eyes.
 

“You didn’t brand her, you violated her. And because you’re a cowardly pussy, you had to pay people to do it for you.”

Christian stood. “How dare you—”

“Yep, a pathetic pussy who couldn’t handle being rejected by a woman.”

“You’re dead,” Christian said, his tone seething with rage. “Vlad, kill him. This conversation is over.”

“Not quite,” a man called, his voice breathless.
 

Naomi looked to the door, just as Harrison stepped into the bathroom wielding one of her steak knives.

“What took so long?” Vlad asked, keeping the gun to Jake’s head.
 

“You said we weren’t sticking around after we killed Honey Badger, so I had to break into the car to get the laptop.”

Vlad rolled his eyes. “Fucking cowboy.”

“Boy scout,” Harrison said, then looked to her. His eyes widened. “Holy shit, Rose needs to get to a hospital.”

Yes, she definitely needed medical care. She knew the symptoms for blood loss and had quite a few. She also knew with proper treatment she could survive this, but not if everyone kept standing around bullshitting as if they were at a bar and not in her bloody bathroom.

“Tell Vlad to take his damned gun off my head,” Jake demanded, his eyes trained on Christian.
 

“Seriously, Vlad.” Harrison asked. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”
 

Vlad shrugged. “Honey Badger Harry’s kill.”

She shivered again. Between the cold water, her dropping body temperature and bound arms and legs, her limbs were growing as numb as her forearms. At this point she didn’t care who killed Christian, so long as the deed was done. He proved today he would never let her rest in peace until she was—

Christian’s arm shot toward the gun he’d left on the ledge of the tub. Jake lunged and knocked the gun away.
 

Vlad quickly aimed the weapon he’d held to Jake’s head at Christian. “Don’t move.”
 

While Christian held his hands in the air, Jake slid his gun into the clip attached to his belt. He grabbed a towel off the rack and pulled her from the tub. “Oh, my God,” he said, concern cracking his voice. He knelt to the floor and began drying her, careful to avoid the gashes along her wrists. “I’m calling 911.”

“No,” she said, her teeth chattering. “Not until he’s dead.”

Christian let out a bark of laughter. “You people are the pathetic pussies.”

Jake cradled her to his chest with one arm and turned to face him. “I don’t think so,” he said, reaching for his gun. In a split second, he had it trained on Christian.

“Really? How are you four going to explain this? All of you want me dead. Lover boy could have called the police before barging into the bathroom. Vlad also had ample time, but my Russian friend wouldn’t take the risk, would you? Don’t bother answering. The question was rhetorical—not that you have a clue what that means. The only reason I kept you in my employment was because you looked scary and could throw a mean punch. Too bad you aren’t mute. Because when you open your mouth you sound like a fucking idiot with your Vlad this and Vlad that. But here’s the thing,
Vlad
. I pay you very well. You redirect your gun elsewhere and I could pretend none of this happened. You’ll be able to continue to send money to your family. I’ll keep you in the country without you having to worry about being sent back home. I
know
you don’t want that.” Christian cocked his head to the side. “Yes, if I recall the Russian mafia still has money on your head.” He lowered one arm and looked at his fingers as if studying his cuticles. “I guess you shouldn’t have slept with the mob boss’s wife.”
 

Vlad’s stony expression never wavered.
 

“I can make sure you don’t go back there. Get me out of here and you have my word.”

“He’s…lying.” Naomi’s stomach cramped and she let out a groan. “Jake, wrap my wrists.”
 

Jake produced a knife and cut the duct tape. “Harrison, get some towels from the linen closet.”

“Are you people serious?” Hunnicutt asked with a sarcastic chuckle. “Rose is bleeding to death and you’re too worried about me to save her?” He scratched his chin. “In a way, that doesn’t surprise me. I usually am the most important person in the room.”

“You’re a fucking asshole is what you are,” Harrison said, handing the towels to Jake. He raised the steak knife. “The only one who finds you of any importance is yourself. Do you not even see that?”

“Why Harry waste time?” Vlad asked. “Harry want to be hero. Now is chance. The woman, she needs saving. Honey Badger needs killing.”

Jake wrapped an arm around her, grabbed the gun he’d set on the floor and aimed it at Christian. “Gladly.”

“No,” Vlad roared. “Harry, you want this. For Mickey, no?”

Harrison’s chest rose and fell. He used his shoulder to wipe his mouth, then blinked several times. Raising the steak knife, he nodded. “Yes. For Mickey.” His chin quivered, but he clenched his jaw. “You made me press a button and kill all of those people.” His body shook and tears ran down his face. “You made me cut my twin brother. Now I’m going to cut you.”

When Harrison didn’t move, Christian laughed. “Now I’m going to cut you,” he mocked. “Again. Who’s pathetic? All of you want me dead and no one has the balls to—”

The deafening gunshot blast reverberated through the bathroom. Naomi tensed and jerked. Out of instinct, she reached for Jake, who quickly covered her with his body. Pain resonated from the wounds along her arms and shot straight to her head. Blinking away the wave of dizziness, she shook her head and looked over Jake’s shoulder. Vlad remained as he’d been, gun raised and pointing at Christian. Harrison stood a few feet from him, the small knife wrapped in a fist, his mouth gaping, his eyes also on Christian. She followed his gaze and stared at the blood trickling from the bullet hole in the center of the bastard’s head.

She turned away and pressed her forehead to Jake’s chest. His heart beat fast as he kissed the top of her head. “It’s over,” he murmured.
 

“Is it?” She looked up at him. “I’m not sorry Christian’s dead. Honestly, I wish his death wouldn’t have been so quick and easy. But he was right. How are we going to explain this?”

Vlad lowered his weapon. “Honey Badger need to shut the fuck up. Vlad grow tired of Talky Tina.”

“Chatty Cathy,” Harrison said, running a hand through his hair. “Damn it, Vlad.
I
was supposed to—”

Vlad grabbed Harrison’s arm and raised it. “With kiddy knife?”

“Enough,” Jake shouted. After he shoved his gun back into the belt holster, he lifted her in his strong arms. “Vlad, give me the gun.”

The enormous Russian turned and shook his head. “No.”

“I need to get Naomi to a hospital and don’t have time for this. Vlad, I don’t give a shit about your past or who you worked for. You cut Naomi’s ropes back at the warehouse and gave her the freedom to run. But you also just murdered an unarmed man.”

“Who slit Rose’s wrists,” Harrison said. “That’s got to count for something.”

“In my mind it certainly does, but Naomi’s right. We need to be able to explain this.”

“No we. Vlad and Harry leave now.”

“I’ve got your keys.”

Vlad shrugged. “We take woman’s car.”

“Then I’ll have to tell the FBI, because you
know
they’ll be all over this, that you two came in here with the intent to kill Hunnicutt. And they’ll believe me. That bullet in Hunnicutt’s head won’t match one coming from my gun. No matter what Hunnicutt’s done, you’ll both be wanted for murder.”

“We were trying to help you,” Harrison said with exasperation. “Now you’re going to turn us over—”

“Would you all just stop,” Naomi shouted. Her head hurt and the nausea had become worse. Her wounds weren’t life threatening yet, but they hurt like a hell. “Listen to Jake. Vlad, give him the damned gun. And Jake, give Vlad his keys.”

Jake shifted her in his arms, then reached in his pocket and tossed the keys to Vlad. In return, Vlad handed him the gun.

“Good. Now will someone please call—”
 

“Cover your ears,” Jake said, raised the gun and fired. The marble tile above Christian’s head shattered. Vlad and Harrison both ducked, then looked to Jake. “Sorry, but it’d be hard to explain how I shot Hunnicutt, with the unregistered gun I carry, without having gun residue on my hand.”

Oh, my God. He was taking the blame. “Jake,” she gasped. “I don’t want the FBI coming after you for this.”

“The only thing they could get me for is owning an unregistered weapon.”

“So does this mean you’re letting us go?” Harrison asked, taking a step toward the door.

“Only Vlad.” Jake glanced to her and she caught the regret in his eyes before he turned his attention back to the men. “Sounds like he’s been running for a long time. I’d rather see him keep running than sent back to Russia.”

Vlad nodded and released a deep sigh. “Vlad would die.”

“And I won’t?” Harrison threw his hands in the air. “They’ll give me the death penalty. Once it’s made public, my name will become a synonym for terrorism.”

Jake set Vlad’s gun on the ledge of the tub and, still holding her, reached into his pocket. “Naomi told me Hunnicutt forced you to detonate the bombs,” he said, sitting them next to the gun.
 

“But I helped set up the signals to the detonators. At the time, I thought we were setting up security devices. If I’d known they were bombs, I wouldn’t have taken the job with Mickey.”

Jake dialed 911 but didn’t hit send. “And you were the one who made sure someone would figure out where the signals were coming from.”

“Yeah.” Harrison stood straighter. “I had to find a way to stop Hunnicutt.”

“You were a victim in this, too,” Naomi said. “Why did you come here?”

“To bring you the laptop and tell you where the last three bombs were located.”

“You did the right thing.” Jake thankfully sent the call through. After he spoke with the police dispatcher, he pocketed the phone. “Give yourself up and I’ll do everything I can to help you.”
 

“Vlad agree. Harry not fugitive.”

Harrison’s face contorted in confusion and fear. “I don’t want to go back to prison.”

“Harry rather spend life running? Not good. Vlad know this well.”

“I do, too,” Naomi said. “Do right by yourself, Harrison. Trust us.”

“I…” Harrison dropped the knife, shoved both hands through his hair and held them at the back of his head. He looked to Vlad. “So this is it.”

“This it.” Vlad moved for the door. “Police on way. Vlad must go. Now.”

“Wait.”

Vlad stopped.
 

“Why did you kill him?”

Turning, Vlad gave Harry a sympathetic smile. “Harry think he a murderer because Honey Badger make him blow up bombs. Vlad has killed many before. Harry no murderer and no killer.” He took a step and placed a hand on Harrison’s shoulder.
 

Harrison’s eyes filled with tears as he nodded. “Thanks, man. You better go before the cops come.”

Vlad shook Harrison’s hand, then pulled him in for a quick bear hug. “
до свидания друг.” He stepped back and waved. “Good-bye, friend,” Vlad said, then disappeared around the corner.

Naomi used the towel around her wrist to wipe her eyes and nose. Jake held her tight and kissed the top of her head. “Police and ambulance will be here any minute. Let’s get our story straight.”

PART IV

For last year's words belong to last year's language

And next year's words await another voice.

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

—T.S. Eliot

Chapter 19

Marymount Hospital, Brunswick, Georgia
 

7:38 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time

JAKE PULLED A chair next to Naomi’s hospital bed and stared at her beautiful, sleeping face. She’d been out of surgery for several hours, and had awoken briefly about fifty minutes ago, then had promptly fallen back to sleep. Between the anesthetic and everything that had happened this week, he hoped she’d sleep for the next twelve hours. Her body and mind needed to heal.
 

His heart aching for her, he smoothed the hair away from her face. Knowing Naomi, she’d never overcome the guilt, but, with time, he hoped she’d be able to move forward and learn to love life now that she was finally free of Hunnicutt.

A soft rap at the door had him turning. “Ian,” he said quietly and rose from the chair. “What are you doing here?”

His boss stepped into the room and looked over Naomi’s sleeping form. “How is she?”

“Two hours of surgery and eighty plus stitches later, her radial artery and her median and superficial radial nerves are repaired. The doctor says she’ll be able to resume most of her regular activities in about four months. In the meantime, she’ll need physical therapy.”