Merciless (Option Zero 1)

“What is that noise?” Omar asked.

A month or so ago, she had pretended to hear a helicopter to cause havoc. There was no need for pretense this time. Havoc in the form of Asher Drake had arrived.

“That is the sound of an actual helicopter, Omar. Your time has run out.”

“How is that possible? Your phone was dismantled within seconds of your abduction. There’s no way to trace your location.”

She didn’t bother to explain the tracker to him. It wasn’t his business. She needed to spend the next few moments, or however long they had, convincing Omar to stand down.

“Listen, we don’t have much time. You need to understand something. Asher Drake is not like other men. You took something of his, and he will not come in to talk to you about getting it back. He’ll be extremely pissed.”

“My men will stop him.”

“Your men will be killed. And so will you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. He—” The sound of a gunshot stopped him in midsentence.

“Omar, listen to me. Let me walk out of here. That’s the only way to save your life.”

She thought she had him convinced. His face was three shades whiter since the sound of the gunshot, and there was the slightest sheen of sweat on his brow.

But then pride reared its ugly head. “I have several men surrounding the mansion. There’s no way he can get inside.”

“Is that what you want, Omar? Do you want to hurt him because he lied to you?”

“I just want what’s owed to me.”

The sound of the front door crashing open had both of them standing. Less than ten seconds later, Ash stood at the entrance of the room. An M16 rifle hung from his shoulder, a SIG Sauer P320 was holstered at his thigh, and a sheath with a KA-BAR knife was attached to the belt at his waist. Wearing camo pants, a long-sleeved black T-shirt, and a Kevlar vest, Asher Drake was dressed like the warrior he was.

To Jules, he was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen. To the man standing a few feet away from her, he was Omar Schrader’s worst nightmare.

His beautiful eyes roamed over Jules, and she felt the heat to her soul. Only Asher Drake could melt her into a puddle of goo in the middle of a hostage negotiation.

“You okay, Jules?”

“I’m fine.” Recognizing the fury behind his mild-sounding question, she added, “He’s not worth killing, Ash.”

“We’ll see about that.” Fury on his face, Ash stalked toward Omar, not stopping until he was right in his face. “You went too far, Schrader.”

The bewilderment on Omar’s face was almost comical. “You look nothing like Humphrey.”

“That’s the point.”

Omar backed away slightly, and Ash followed, keeping him close.

“Listen, I can see you’re angry, but you must see this from my perspective. You took—”

“Shut up and listen to me. I’m going to give you a chance. An offer few people get. If you don’t take it, you’re going to spend the rest of your life in prison.”

“I don’t know what you mean. You have no authority. How can you—”

“Just know that I can.”

A noise at the door had Omar’s gaze shifting away from Ash. What he saw caused his eyes to go considerably larger. The OZ team stood at the door. Every one of them was armed to the teeth, their expressions ranging from deadly cold to lethal. Even Jazz, who when dressed in street clothes, looked as dangerous as a kitten, looked like she could take on an army and win.

Omar swallowed audibly and asked in a wavering voice, “Where are my men?”

“Tied up and piled up,” Liam answered. “We’re ready for the last one, boss. You want me to take care of him for you?”