Page 2 of Jake

“Finished fucking around? There isn’t any way out, you’re coming with me.”

Resigned to the fact I had no choice, I didn’t fight, instead allowing him to lead me towards a black sedan that sat idling a short distance away.

The man threw my suitcase onto the tarmac, pushed me into the back seat of the vehicle, and climbed in beside me. Another man, equally as large, was behind the wheel in front. He shifted the car into gear and drove away from the airport.

Neither man spoke and I instinctively knew it was pointless to ask questions. I settled my head on the back of the seat and watched through the window as we travelled through the town of Rabaul and headed into the mountains.

Fucking great, my body will never be found.

I was disappointed I wouldn’t have the opportunity to get to know Natalie better. When I’d first met her a few days earlier, I’d been smitten with the gorgeous woman who had curves worth drooling over. After we’d shared dinner with my brother, Connor, and his fianceé, Tania Bonello, I’d escorted Natalie to her room at the hotel she was staying at in Popondetta. She’d invited me in, and we’d talked for hours. Thinking back, I wished I’d taken the opportunity to seduce her. I was pretty sure I’d never get the chance now to find out what it was like to fuck her into the mattress.

The driver continued on, and it was at least half an hour before he turned the vehicle off what passed for a road and onto a track.

Elephant grass brushed at the windows as it encroached onto the well-concealed dirt path. We’d travelled about two hundred metres when a pair of black iron gates forced us to a stop. The driver spoke in Pidgin into a speaker, and the gates swung inwards, allowing us to pass through.

Another twenty metres or so, and we entered onto a gravel quadrangle, in the centre of a compound similar to ours back home in Popondetta. From what I was able to see, it was less than a quarter of the size of ours. Heroin poppies dotted the hillsides behind the buildings.

The driver drew the car to a stop outside a white painted, two-story colonial-type house and shut off the engine.

Goon Two slid from behind the wheel while I was manhandled from the car by Goon One and pushed towards a man who stood on the steps of the building.

It was all I could do not to burst into laughter despite the dire situation. The man resembled an Italian version of a cartoon colonel. He was dressed in a white suit with a leather strap taking the place of a tie at his throat. His hair was more grey than black, as was his goatee, and he appeared to be chewing gum, or it could have been the more popular—betelnut. He stepped forward as I was pushed again and stumbled.

“Alifi, astenersi dal spingere i nostri ospiti in giro.”

White Suit’s voice was gruff as he disciplined his man. Goon One, real name, Alifi, released his hold, but not before giving me a hard push and sending me to my knees in the dust.

“Alifi!” White Suit shouted before offering me a hand, which I refused, instead opting to climb to my feet unassisted.

White Suit thrust his hand forward. “Mr Masterton, welcome to my home. Please forgive the behaviour of Alifi. He has a tendency to become a little enthusiastic.

I grunted and refused to shake his hand. “Who the fuck are you, and what do you want?”

“Oh, forgive me, Amico. My name is Romano Russo. I am Don of the Bellezza Italiana Cartel here in Rabaul.”

Fuck, things just got a whole hell of a lot worse.

Hang on… when the fuck did another cartel set up shop on the small island. And why hadn’t I been informed about it by one of my contacts?

“First of all, I am not your mate, and you still haven’t answered my question. Why the fuck am I here?”

White Suit, I didn’t have enough respect for the arsehole to think of him as a Don, made a sweeping motion with one arm towards the building.

“Please, join me inside for a drink, and I’ll explain.”

“Nah, I think I’ll just get your driver to take me back to the hotel and we’ll forget we met.”

White Suit laughed. I didn’t think what I’d said was that funny, and hey, it was worth a try.

The laughter died, replaced with a menacing expression and a low, deadly voice of command. “You will join me inside for a drink before you retire for the night as my guest. I have festivities planned for first thing tomorrow morning.”

Why did I think the festivities were going to revolve around me? Somehow, I suspected, while they might be festive for White Suit and his goons, it was highly unlikely I’d feel the same way.

When Goon One stepped up behind me and gave me a push, I decided there was no choice but to follow White Suit into the building.

***

I didn’t take a lot of notice of the home; I was too busy checking out another four goons who stood waiting inside the entrance. They were equally as big as the two behind me and stood with their legs slightly spread, arms crossed. If looks could have killed…bit over the top, in my opinion. Were six huge goons really necessary to keep me in line? I was good, a black belt proponent of Jiu-Jitsu, but not that good.