“I have to assume the worse. She did have a gun, but they didn’t hear a shot. They saw a flash. Susanna was always prepared, and she said to open the safe if anything went wrong. Since she’s not on her way here with Alexa and Sally, then this is the next step.”
“Y’all need to start explaining things to us so we can help. She’s in danger, or from what you’re saying, Susanna could be dead,” Monte stated.
“We’ll explain everything to you,” Elise told them, and the women began to share their stories about how they met Susanna, how she’d saved their lives, and what little they know about her past.
* * * *
The sheriff and Monte were shocked at the information and even more so that their woman had been through so much and was on the run. These women needed protection. The kind of protection Monte provided for special clients and government officials. If Susanna had confided in them sooner, they could have intervened and helped her. They had so many connections and means of help it would have been possible to assist her and her cousins.
“What do the papers say?” Monte asked as Ava handed them over to them. “There’s a will. She split her share up between her cousins and the rest of us, plus she left everything to all of us split evenly,” Ava stated as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“She’s not dead. She just can’t be dead,” Juliet cried.
Monte headed over to the computer on the desk. He pulled out his cell phone as he gave information to someone he knew about the names on the papers. Susanna had incriminating information, detailed and witness accounts of dealings and murders committed by both this guy named Brook and this other guy named Casper. As he spoke to his connections in the government, an update came through about Brook. He jotted down information and looked at his brother.
“What did you get?” BJ asked.
“Brook is dead. He was found shot on an abandoned street a few blocks from the train station in Dallas. She has to be alive, and this Casper guy is really bad news, too. He’s wanted for questioning on numerous cases the CIA is working on. This information Susanna wrote down is evidence against him. She’s got enough information here to lock him away for life as well as his associates,” Monte stated.
“Damn, Monte, this guy Casper could have her right now.”
Ava gasped.
“What? What is it?” Monte asked her, and she looked at the others.
“He’s the one who hurt her. He left those scars on her body,” Juliet stated, and Monte and BJ looked at one another, both filled with anger.
“Well, he isn’t gonna hurt her again. Let’s get on this now. Call who you need to, Monte, and let’s get our woman.”
Chapter 11
The goon tied her hands behind her back then got out of the back seat of the limo to sit up front with the chauffer. She stared at Casper, the pompous bastard, as he looked her over from head to toe. Her shirt was ripped, the collar hung low to her chest, and her legs were scratched up from tackling Brook. At least he was dead and her cousins were safe now. He wouldn’t be bringing Alexa and Sally back to their dad and uncles.
“You look good, Susanna. Despite the dirt and plain rags you’re wearing.” He zoned in on her breasts, and she felt the chills run through her body.
She would love to tell him that she couldn’t say the same about him, but the asshole looked good. He looked just as charming and handsome as the day she’d met him. Money could buy a lot of things. She’d learned that fast, and it helped her to get away from him. But now, she needed to focus on Alexa, Sally, and the others. She hoped they followed her orders.
“Come to me.” He told her as he sat with his thighs parted, wearing expensive dark dress pants, a blue striped button-down shirt with real diamond cuff links attached to solid white cuffs. The pinky ring, thick, gold, and covered in diamonds, tapped against his knee. She knew that stance, that look in his eyes, and the way he sat there waiting. She knew in her mind and remembered the consequences of not going to him immediately. She also remembered the feel of that ring cutting her skin, abrasively bruising her inner thighs when she didn’t respond fast enough.
“Now!” He growled at her, making her jump, but she didn’t move. That was the old, Susanna. The one who had to obey in order to make her plan of escape. There was no need to follow his orders now. Alexa and Sally would be safe and well taken care of just like the others. She swallowed hard as she thought about Monte and BJ. At least they had Saturday night and Sunday morning.
“This will cost you.”
“No it won’t. I’m not your subordinate little slave anymore, Casper. I left that life behind me when I left you.”
He reached for her and pulled her forward across the carpeting. Her knees hit the floor, and her chest fell between his thighs. With her hands tied she couldn’t brace herself against the fall.
He yanked her up by the ponytail.
“That is what you think, Susanna. One call, one fucking call to your uncles and you’re dead.”
Her eyes widened in shock. The bastard knew how terrible they were and how much she feared them just as she once feared him. She needed to be smart. She couldn’t lose her temper, and she couldn’t give in to his threats.
“If you do, then you’re giving me up anyway, so what does it matter? Either way I’m as good as dead.”
He grabbed her face between his hands and tilted her face up toward him. She cringed in pain. He pressed his thumbs against her cheeks and brought tears to her eyes, but she wouldn’t cry.
“You’ve been in my dreams every night since you left me, Susanna.”