Page 4 of Jake

CONNOR

Popondetta

Oro Province

Papua New Guinea

1980

The previous day

It had been a long couple of days while we took care of the men who had almost brought our business to its knees, and I found myself missing Tania a great deal. Although we’d spoken on the phone, I’d been too busy to head into town and spend time with her. My dick stood tall, merely thinking about the woman.

Without giving Semu facts about the disappearance of Alphonse and Naiho—he couldn’t tell anyone what he didn’t know—we asked him to spread the word that the men had betrayed the cartel and that it was more than likely the reason behind their mysterious disappearance.

Father had been concerned about events but stated he was confident in my ability to take care of things as they arose like I’d been doing over the years. We’d had several incidents that had required attention, but nothing as serious as what had happened this time. We’d avoided a bullet by the skin of our teeth, and I was grateful for the loyalty Semu had shown. He’d be well rewarded in his upcoming pay packet.

I’d decided to have the afternoon off, and it was a little after one when I dressed in a pair of khaki-coloured slacks and a green polo shirt. I was taking my lady out for a late lunch and looked forward to an energetic fuck when we returned to the hotel. The time had also come for me to confess that I had fallen in love with her.

As I headed for the door, the phone in my living room rang. I debated whether or not I should answer but then wondered if it might be Tania.

Snatching up the headset, I spoke.

“Masterton.”

“You have twenty-four hours for you and your brother, Quinn, to meet me in Rabaul, or you will not see your brother, Jake, alive again.”

The line went dead. A cold chill spread down my spine. Jake! Someone had my brother and was threatening his life. I needed to get to Jake… now!

I started making calls. The first was to Logan. He and Daly had arrived back from Rabaul less than an hour earlier. The arsehole who’d called had timed his call to coincide with our plane returning to Popondetta, leaving Jake completely alone. Logan advised he would contact Daly and then call Herias Nobilumo to arrange the use of his private airstrip. We didn’t need anyone at Rabaul airport noticing the heavily armed men that were about to storm their island.

The next call was telling Quinn to get his arse to my house. Waigi and Mala were tasked with the job of rounding up twenty men and ensuring there were enough weapons loaded on the plane before we left Popondetta. If Jake was alive when we reached him, there was no doubt a doctor would be needed, so I called Barry Vincent, our long-standing and loyal family doctor. He agreed to meet us at the plane with the equipment he’d most likely require.

The last call was the hardest. It was to Father.

“Connor. Hi sweetheart. What a pleasant surprise.”

“Mum, I need to speak with Father; it’s urgent.” I fought to keep the fear from my voice.

“Everything okay, son?”

“Mum, please.”

There was silence for a moment, and Father’s voice, filled with concern, came down the line.”

I got straight to the point. “Dad, someone has Jake and is threatening to kill him.”

My father exploded. “Who the fuck is the idiot who has laid their hands on a Masterton?”

“I don’t know. Jake is in Rabaul, chasing up contracts. I didn’t recognise the voice on the phone, and he didn’t mention his name.”

“I’m coming up there; I’ll have Sean ready the plane. Allowing for the three-hour drive to the airport, readying the plane, and filing a flight plan, I estimate we should be in Popondetta sometime shortly after midnight.”

Relief at Father’s words washed over me. It wasn’t that I doubted my ability or competence to deal with the situation, but Don Masterton Snr was a powerful man and well-known for his quick and deadly revenge. Whoever had Jake had made a catastrophic mistake by crossing our father.

“Thanks, Dad.”

I explained about my plane and the preparations in place.