Chapter 28
Hey, Boss! You were right; he did show.”
Devon smiled. He knew that Brandon would come as soon as he found the warehouse. The boy was predictable. Well, it only made the game that much more exciting; after all, he had a plane to catch. A new life in South America waited for him, and all he had to do was tie up these last few loose ends.
Devon called out to his eye in the sky henchman, “Is he alone, or do I get to waste the girl now?”
The henchman laughed, “He’s alone, but why don’t you waste her anyway?”
Devon chastised, “Now, now, I’m a man of my word after all. Where would I be in this business if people thought they couldn’t trust me?”
Laughter flowed all around the building and through the walki-talkies. Honor among thieves and murderers did not apply to this group or their leader.
Devon spoke into the radio. “Grab him as soon as he sets foot out of the car, and make sure you get his weapon.”
Heath got out of his car slowly. He knew that he was being watched through the lens of more than one rifle. He didn’t want to give those trigger happy hit men any more of a reason to put a bullet in him.
Even though it was pitch black at this time of night, Heath could see the faint outlines of Devon’s sentries. After all, this was the type of battle he was trained for and he, like Adrian, had been trained well. He was counting on that training to save Miranda. There was enough light from a few security lights scattered around the pier for Heath to see Kevin Jansen coming toward him with a Glock 9 mil trained on his head.
Heath called out acting the part of over confident wise ass that had always been his MO around these men, “Come to inspect the goods; have you, Jansen?”
Jansen’s answer was a hard punch to Heath’s gut that doubled him over. Jansen hissed in his ear. “I don’t got to toe the line to you no more, Fed.” Jansen laughed at his own brilliance. “See money man, you got no one fooled now.” Jansen shoved him roughly against the car and reached into his jacket to retrieve his gun. Heath just stared him down. “What you want to shoot me with this? Then take it, mother fucker! Go ahead, make your play.”
Heath did nothing. He just stood there, but damn, it went against the grain. Jansen grabbed him by the shoulder and shoved him toward the loading doors for the warehouse, “Go on, you first, pretty boy. Don’t get any ideas, or that bitch of yours gets it; but hey after being with you, she might like what she gets.” Jansen chuckled over his brilliance, and Heath clenched his hands in anger. The urge to turn around and kill the fucker was almost more than he could deny, but if he gave into the urge, he would die, and so would Miranda. He had to bide his time, wait for his chance, and pray that Adrian was ready and waiting.
Jansen shoved him though the bay doors and entered behind him. The first thing Heath saw was Miranda tied to a chair across the room. The movement to her left caused him to redirect his focus. “Devon, come on out of the shadows.” Heath demanded.
Devon stepped out and placed his hand on Miranda’s shoulder. Heath saw her flinch at the contact. “Ah, yes, always giving the orders, Mr. Brandon. But you see for a man like me and for yourself as well, I imagine, the shadows are like an old friend.”
Heath remained silent.
Devon goaded, “Now come along; cat got your tongue? Surely you have something to say to this young lady.” He gestured to Miranda.
Heath still remained silent. “No, then perhaps she has something to say to you? Huh?”
Devon looked at Miranda. “Do you have something you wish to say to your lover before he dies?”
Miranda looked into the eyes that threatened her and was shocked to see that she knew them. “My God! I know who you are!”
Devon chuckled, “So you’ve figured it out finally have you. I wondered if you would put the pieces together in time.” Devon jerked his head toward Heath, “Tell him, who I am, Miranda.”
I swallowed the bile in m throat. I looked back at Heath, “I met him at my wedding. He was a friend of Flynn’s parent’s.” I glanced back at Devon and then let my gaze return to Heath, “And he is Flynn’s God Father.”
Devon laughed outright. “Damn! But you did remember me and exactly right too. Now, I’d say that we have reminisced enough so back to the present… Do you have anything else you want to say?”
I nodded, “Yes. Yes, I do.”
Devon gestured magnanimously, “Well, child, then say it.”
Miranda pulled against her bonds weakly, “I want to say it to his face.”
When Devon remained unresponsive, she murmured as feebly and beaten as possible, “Please.”
Heath felt his heart burst into a million pieces. My God what had they done to her? She was broken; even if he got her out of here, she was broken. He shook with his rage.
Devon looked pleased with the surprising turn of events. “Adams, Grayson come down from up there and flank Brandon. We don’t want him getting any ideas.” When the men had shifted their positions, Devon untied Miranda.
“Up, up, my dear.”
Miranda tired to stand but fell back into the chair. She looked up at Devon with pleading in her eyes, “Can you help me? I can’t feel my legs.”
“Of course, how silly of me, child; you’ve been tied up in that chair all day. Damn inconsiderate of Heath to leave you there alone like that.”
Miranda sniffled as if she were crying, “Yes, it was.”
Devon gently supported her under her arms and began to walk her slowly over to face Heath. Each step was truly agony, and she let the emotions play across her face. She hated to give Heath pain, but she knew the show was giving her what she needed, freedom and time.
They came to stand directly in front of Heath and the other guards. She fell back against Devon, and he caught her, completely oblivious to the fact that she pulled a knife from his pocket.
“Go on, Miranda; tell him what you want to say.”
Miranda hesitated.
Devon, not so gentle now, shoved her forward. She fell into Heath’s arms and buried her head in his neck and sobbed. The men enjoyed her display so much they missed her slip the knife into Heath’s pants pocket. He felt the weight of it drop into his pocket, but he showed no emotion. Instead, he pulled her back from him and held her face in his hands. He pleaded with her. “Please forgive me, Miranda. I never meant for this to happen to you. I’m so sorry.”
Miranda let the tears flow down her checks. What was the point in trying to separate real emotion from fake? She looked him in the eye, “I love you, Heath.”
Devon pulled her back out of Heath’s grasp, furious that he had been denied a bitter diatribe from her. He yanked her around to face him. “You are so weak! It disgusts me! It is time for you to die.” He pulled his gun and aimed it at her forehead; Miranda closed her eyes. She could be strong as long as she did not have to watch. Then she heard it. Police sirens sounded out in the night. They were coming closer! Please hurry she prayed.
Devon tensed. “So you did not come alone after all, Brandon. It seems that I have underestimated you. No matter, you have underestimated me also.”
Devon signaled Jenson for the walkie, “Tomas, take them out.”
No answer, “Tomas?”
Still nothing. Devon looked at Heath, “Johnson.”
Nothing. Devon continued to call on his soldiers, and no one answered. Finally, he threw down the walkie and demanded of Heath, “What have you done?!”
The sirens were coming closer; just another minute and they would be there. Devon looked at Jenson, “Go. Take care of them. You know what to do.”
Jenson headed for the doors at a run; over his shoulder he called “Yes, sir.” All eyes were turned to watch him as he ran out of the bay doors, and all eyes saw his head explode from his shoulders.
Devon screamed in frustration, “No! How is this possible?” The police cars pulled to a stop outside the bay, their lights flashing red and blue like beacons of lib
erty.
The two men behind Heath were restless. They started to back away from the main door looking around for an exit. Devon looked at them in derision, “Stop moving. Stand your ground.”
The men paid him no heed and turned to run, but they were not fast enough. Devon fired off two shots in quick succession, and both men fell down dead on the concrete floor.
Miranda tried to stifle a scream, but a broken sob escaped her despite her best efforts. Heath made a move as if to give her comfort and felt the press of cold steel in his ribs. “Oh no, hero, stay where you are,” hissed Devon.
Heath froze. This was far from over. Lives still hung in the balance. The uniform officers were circling the building cutting off any means of escape. Devon, still holding Miranda in his grasp, dragged her back away from Heath and into the shadows. He could just make out their forms in the darkness. Devon’s gun was still trained on him; he could feel its weight.
Heath had to keep him talking, “What are you going to do, Devon?”
Devon’s answer was sickeningly simple, “Kill you,” he said and then he fired.
Miranda’s scream pierced the air, and then there was another shot. Heath closed his eyes in horror even as he fell. Miranda! He had not been able to save her. That was his last thought before the blackness came.