“Look, Bishop’s coming. We can either prepare or just take our chances.”
Georgio straightens his tie. “I hate this man. I want him dead.”
You and me both. “There really is no other way,” I tell him. I stand from my chair, moving about the room. “We can all do nothing, wait for Bishop to find us, and then hopefully we can kill him.” I want to add ‘again’ to the end of the sentence. Because I’ve already killed Bishop once, and I can honestly say when I’m face to face with that motherfucker again, there won’t be any almost killing him. This time, I’ll get the job done.
“Why can’t we just go find this guy and kill him?” Georgio asks as he bangs a fist on the table.
“Sir, please. You pay me for security. I’d appreciate it if you’d let me do my job.”
“You’re suggesting I let you kidnap my daughter and take her to an undisclosed location for who knows how long.”
I smile. “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m suggesting. I’ll be taking Mia from New York tonight. So make sure everything is set, and don’t let your daughter know. We need to control the flow of information, and I don’t need her running off to tweet about it or do whatever it is young women do.”
“You take good care of my Mia or I’ll have your head.”
I don’t break eye contact. “If anything happens to Mia, then I’m dead already.”
Georgio pats me on the back before I go over the plan a few more times with him. There are so many details to handle, and we sit around the table for a while making sure every t is crossed and i dotted.
When I finally leave my office, I’m exhausted. And even though it’s late, I know I have shit to do.
I hop into the backseat of my black Range Rover and Leo, my driver, pulls away from the curb.
“Take me to Mia’s. Everything’s set.”
“Sure thing,” Leo says. “The plane’s ready to depart.”
Perfect.
Everyone knows about my—full of luxury and security—private island off the coast of Dubai, including Bishop, so I’m taking Mia somewhere else.
By this time tomorrow, I should have Mia and myself settled somewhere safe and hidden.
Everything’s already set up. Somewhere Bishop would never look for me.
And I own the perfect place. A complex hidden away in one of the Azores Islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Off the coast of Portugal, the Azores is a string of nine islands. Sure, three of the bigger islands are hot spots for tourists, but some smaller ones have little hidden alcoves where people don’t ask a lot of questions.
I plan on taking Mia right away to the small island of Pico to hide her away from the world.
I have a complex on the west side of the island. Away from prying eyes, with a wall taller and stronger than the Great Wall of China. A squad of my very best men are preparing the property for our arrival. I don’t think I’ll have any issues or unexpected visitors anytime soon.
I have calculated everything, so there are no loose ends.
When I get to Mia’s skyrise apartment building, the place looks quiet. The street’s calm and I sit in the car for a moment, watching.
I know you’re out there, motherfucker. And I’m not afraid of you.
Georgio’s worried, and I get it. Yet, I’m a master at breaking into places, even though the men who guard Mia are my men. I run her security detail, so it’ll be a cinch breaking into the place.
Yet, it doesn’t matter who is guarding Mia, I could get through anything. I can work my way around anyone. I had an excellent teacher. My friend, Xavier Stone, taught me every nuance about security systems… and how to bypass them.
Plus, I’ve got a ton of muscles and can kick the ass of anyone who crosses my path.
I glance over my shoulder, making sure I’m the only one out here this late at night. Usually, a loving couple or gang of kids pass by every once in a while, but not tonight. Tonight I’m utterly alone, and I like it that way.
I make my way up to Mia’s building, nodding to the doorman who’s also on my payroll, and dip into the lobby and into the elevator undetected.
On Mia’s floor, I approach my men, sitting at their stations.
“She asleep?” I ask Jude, the man in charge.
He nods. “I believe so. Been in there all afternoon.”
“Good.” Jude opens the front door with his key and I step into the foyer. The penthouse is silent and I’m happy I can do this when Mia’s asleep. It makes it easier and less messy.
Like a ghost, I drift across the apartment toward the kitchen, and up the back staircase which leads to the master bedroom. This will be a quick in-and-out job, as long as Mia comes quietly. I hate that I have to abduct her this way, but I can’t let Bishop know my plan. If he knows I’ve taken the girls, or am behind any of this, he’ll be one step closer to finding us.