Lifeline

With a smile, he heads to the driver’s side, and I watch as he drives off.

Hopefully, he can make a run for it with his family because even though Joseph’s a criminal, he’s a good guy.

Fucked up. I know.

“Where’s Joseph going?” John suddenly asks from behind me.

Turning around, I say, “His daughter had an accident.”

“Shit.” John shrugs then gives me a lazy smile. “You ready to party?”

A grin forms on my face. “Yeah. Let’s do this.”

Falling in next to him, we walk up the ramp to the superyacht that looks like the epitome of luxury with its matte black exterior. It’s sleek and reeks of money, the deck boasting with plush black furniture.

“Nice, right?” John asks as he watches me taking it all in.

“Fucking nice,” I chuckle.

“Come.” He leads me up chrome stairs that gleam in the afternoon sunlight. When the top floor comes into view, I see Sadiki and Idrizi talking with three new soldiers, Pano, Sava, and Kola, who I don’t know much about.

There are four other men, and when Zef Rama comes up the stairs and he nods in their direction, I realize they’re his team.

The four men leave the deck as Rama comes toward John. The two men hug, then Rama asks, “Is this him?”

John looks at me, a nervous gleam in his eyes. “Yes. Danny Laze. Joseph brought him in.”

“Where’s Joseph?” Rama asks. Even though he’s dressed in an expensive suit, his appearance screaming wealth, his eyes are void of emotion.

“His daughter’s at the hospital,” John explains.

Rama nods. “Is she okay?”

Hearing the question is in total contrast with the danger emanating from him.

“She might have broken her arm,” I answer.

Rama’s eyes snap to mine. Coming face to face with him has been my goal, and now that the moment is here and I’m staring one of the most dangerous men I’ve ever met in the eye, it all becomes real.

I’m here to take him down.

His gaze slowly roams over every inch of me before locking on mine again. “Laze, you’ve made a name for yourself with my men.”

I just nod.

He tilts his head, searching my eyes for something. “Welcome to the family.”

“Thank you.”

Done with me, Rama turns his attention back to John. “You know the drill. Gather all devices and jewelry.”

John nods then holds his hand out to me. “Phone.”

Pulling the device from my pocket, I place it on his palm. “Why?”

“Security measurements so Zef knows it’s safe for the bosses to come.”

Rama’s four men return with a crate where everything’s placed, and then one of them comes to pat me down, doing a damn good job of searching me for devices and weapons.

Knowing my team should have eyes on me, I’m not worried and watch as the other new soldiers are also searched, and then the crate’s dropped overboard, and the engine roars to life.

Music sounds up, and girls wearing bikinis come out with trays of drinks. After John takes a glass of raki, I also grab one.

Rama holds his drink up, his eyes touching on each of us. “To new family.”

I swallow the alcohol down, and I’m just about to take my pack of cigarettes from my pocket when Rama’s eyes lock on me. “Time for your final test.” He glances at the other three newcomers, “Follow me.”

Fuck.

John pats me on the back, not looking worried at all and sporting a broad grin. “Enjoy.”

All the men follow Rama below deck. I glance around, taking in every detail of the yacht. We’re led down a hallway, then Rama stops at a door. Opening it, he looks at Kola. “Yours.” Then he glances at John. “You watch him.”

As we keep moving down the hallway, the new soldiers are paired with someone to supervise whatever the fuck we have to do until it’s just Rama and me.

My gut starts to churn as a fear I haven’t considered surfaces.

Rama opens a door and waits for me to step inside. My eyes dart around the room, and the sight of the bed alone instantly makes my heart thunder in my chest.

No.

As if in slow motion, my gaze goes to the red leather and chrome X against the wall, and the girl cuffed to it. Then I lock eyes with her, and my stomach bottoms out. A sickening wave crashes over me, the bile dangerously churning in my gut.

NoNoNoNo.

My skin prickles, my mouth dries, and my heart fucking shrivels at the sight of JJ cuffed to the cross. Naked.

“I was told you favored this girl. She’s my gift to you.”

Christ. No.

I remain frozen on the spot, all my training and years of experience out the window in a blink of an eye. I can’t think straight enough to try and form a plan. I don’t even take in JJ’s body.

Fuck, I can hardly suck in a breath of air.

“Unless you prefer someone else?” Rama asks. “I can give this one to the other men.”