Page 94 of Shadow of Doubt
Kane flipped down the heavy-duty hasp and settled an equally strong padlock on it, then tugged.
Brooklyn sagged with relief. Not only had she done her job, but Kane had locked the enclosure, which meant he didn’t think anyone was going to toss her in with Sumo right now. But then, he had no idea of Luka’s plan, right?
If Luka hadn’t arrived, what would Kane be doing with her? Would he torment her with the thought of being consumed by a jaguar so she was even more terrified by the time it occurred? Sounded like something he would do. Especially if he was super confident that no one could find them.
“We’ll head back to the house, now,” Luka said. “First to give the two of you a chance to tell me where my missing item is located.”
“Not happening.” Kane tried to cross his arms but winced and let them fall.
“No worries.” Luka grinned. “It’ll also give Sumo time to work up an appetite again. Then we’ll come back here, and your girlfriend will be the main attraction.”
“I can hardly wait.” Kane grinned.
She obviously didn’t share his sentiment. She could wait and would use the time to pray and try to figure a way out of this deadly situation.
23
Brooklyn had sat on the couch in the dark and damp living room for an hour under the watchful eye of Rocco while Luka hung outside making phone calls. Kane was seated on the far end of the sofa, not at all looking worried. Well, he should be. If he didn’t give up the missing item, Luka would torture him until he did.
“What does Luka want from you?” she asked.
“Ah, yes. That.” A snide grin crossed his face. “When Matteo came to stay with me, he happened to have a flash drive with their client information on it. Enough info for me to either steal their business or turn it over to the police and have them all arrested.”
“And which one were you going to do?” She looked at Rocco to see his reaction. A muscle jumped in his cheek, but nothing else. Was he going to go tell Luka that Kane admitted to having the drive, or did Luka already know for a fact that Kane had it and was simply refusing to give it to him?
“Don’t look so worried.” Kane leaned back and lifted his arm on the back of the sofa as if he hadn’t a care in the world. “I’m not saying anything they don’t already know. They knew Matteo hadit, and I would’ve been foolish not to search him. We all know I’m not foolish.”
“Aren’t you? Because look at the position you’re in. Only a foolish man would end up about to be executed by a big organized crime boss.”
Rocco snorted. Apparently he found that funny.
Kane not so much. He slammed a fist into the arm of the couch and glared at her. “Talk about foolish. You’re about to be fed to Sumo if I don’t talk, and you’re insulting me. I would call that the ultimate in foolishness.”
“Really? I think the ultimate would be to believe that you wouldn’t put me in Sumo’s enclosure anyway, even if Luka wasn’t in charge here, regardless of what I do or say. It’s your plan to get revenge for me leaving you.” She drew in a ragged breath. “Also foolish? You bragging about me being your girlfriend when I hadn’t seen you in years. Why do that? What was the point?”
“Stupid small talk to gain Matteo’s trust. All my time is spent on the web, so I couldn’t think of anything else to say. And I don’t regret it because Luka found you, and here you are. Ready to feed Sumo.” He rubbed his hands together. “If that’s a result of foolishness, then I’ll be as foolish as you want me to be.”
“Where did you hide the drive?” she asked.
He eyed her. “As if I’d tell you. And if I did, I sure wouldn’t do so in front of this goon.”
Rocco widened his stance, stomping a foot when he did. Hewasa goon, but apparently he didn’t like being called one.
The door opened, and Luka strode in. “You ready to talk?”
Kane lifted his chin. “Nope.”
“Then she’s toast. “
“Can I help?” Kane asked.
“You’re bluffing.”
“No.” Kane’s expression turned hard as if wearing a stone mask.
Luka looked at Brooklyn. “I’ll give you one last chance to tell me where it is.”
“I wish I knew so I could end this all without anyone getting hurt,” she said, though she knew he would never let them live, even if they gave up the drive.
