Page 83 of Her Dom's Secret Past

This was all bullshit.

I spoke up. “Right, I’m going in. If I don’t come out in ten minutes, you can send in the cavalry.”

“Alone?” Cooper gave me a sarcastic sneer. “I can’t allow it.”

“Sorry, mate, but I’m going in.”

“Fuck you, I don’t care who the hell you are! You are not in charge, we are.” Cooper sprayed spittle as he shouted at me.

“I’m better alone. I’ve done this more times than any of you’ve had sex.”

He gave a snort of derision and said, “Not negotiable.”

“Fine, Slick. But we do it my way.”

He jabbed me with a hard finger. “Listen, you might be a big shot back in the UK, but I don’t give a flying fuck. I’m under orders, and I have to let you come, but you’ll do exactly as I say or I handcuff you now and throw you in the back of a wagon and then conveniently forget all about you for a fucking week! Got it,Pommy?”

Fuming, I could only nod. Somehow, I had to get it through to these people. This was no game. Riley was one of the most dangerous men on the planet, and on top of that, he was insane.

“Listen up, Slick. Riley is dangerous. He doesn’t give a fuck about killing anyone, enjoys torturing. I’m pretty sure at least one of the others will be Frank Carruthers, and he’s even meaner. Likes to fuck before he kills, doesn’t give a shit if it’s a man or woman or beast. Between them, those two have killed at least fifteen and that’s what we know of. They’re wanted in the UK and on the Continent.”

I looked at the two, hoping this was getting through. Cooper nodded and I could see him take in everything I said.

“They won’t come easy. They won’t give a fuck that the place is surrounded. Their intention will be to take out as many of us as possible before they escape or die. Listen carefully. Don’t play the hero. Shoot first.”

“You one hundred percent about negotiation?”

“Won’t work. Been tried with these two before and it always ended with them getting away. Last time three people were dead and another two seriously injured. I can assure you they will simply draw this out for days then shoot their way out, if they don’t do that first.”

“The brass want us to negotiate first. If that doesn’t work, they want us to go in early first light in the morning.”

“She’ll be dead by then,” I said, my insides going cold at the thought of losing her.

“You do realize there’s a good chance she already is.”

“Of course I fucking do, Slick!” I shouted, my anger, my terror for Anabelle taking hold for a moment. “You think I don’t know what’s happening in there? I know more than you ever will. Neither of those pricks give a shit! They’ll kill her without a second thought. That’s what I fucking know and I fucking know what else those bastards will do to her before they kill her!”

I was screaming—both in fear and frustration.

“You one hundred percent sure,Pommy? You sure they won’t negotiate? You sure they’ll fight their way out if they can and take as many of us as possible?”

“A hundred and ten percent. Ring your Commissioner. I’m sure by now people in the UK would have filled him in on who you’re dealing with.”

Cooper walked away and I saw him talking to someone on a phone. Finally, he came back.

“We’ve got permission to go in.”

I noticed they had night gear on. That gave me an idea.

“Got spare night vision?”

Cooper gestured to an officer who got me a set.

“Can you cut the electricity to the building?”

“Yes, I’ve already got men ready to do that when we go in.”

“Okay. Ten minutes to get in place then your man cuts the power. We hope the fuckers don’t have any night scopes and we wrap them up quick. Can you get that garage door open once the power’s off?”