Page 119 of Storm Warning

Nathan paled and broke out in a heavier sweat. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I swear.”

“You bet it won’t,” Andre said right beside his ear. “If it does, I will kill you. Am I being clear enough, Berkley?”

“You can’t threaten a federal law enforcement officer. I’ll have you arrested.”

“Try. I’ll be happy to explain to the arresting officers how you sent a hitman after Riley, and I’ll have witnesses to corroborate my story.”

Nathan swallowed hard.

“Now, let’s try this again. Why did you want to talk to Riley?”

“I’m not the one who wanted to bring her in. Cowan demanded that we talk to her.”

“I’m losing my patience, Berkley. Why did you want to bring Riley in?”

“To find out what she knows about Obsidian Storm.”

Now they were getting somewhere. She kept her gaze locked on her computer screen, typing a bunch of gibberish since she couldn’t concentrate, and waited for Andre and Elias’ next move.

“I can answer that for her.” Andre tightened his grip on Nathan. “Nothing. Do you know why that is, Berkley?”

He shook his head.

“Riley hasn’t been a government asset in two years. She works for another group and had no knowledge that Obsidian Storm was rebuilding until a few hours ago. You wasted your time if that was your only aim.” Andre was silent for a beat. “But I don’t think that’s all you wanted. Am I right?” He emphasized that point by bearing down on another area of nerves higher up the shoulder.

This time, Nathan’s screams of agony didn’t stir her sympathy one bit. Andre had been right. After all she did for them, Berkley and Cowan had planned to kill her as a reward for her loyalty to The Company. Jerks.

Five minutes later, Andre eased up. “What was the plan, Berkley? What else did you and Cowan plan to do?”

Tears streamed down his face as his body continually shuddered in reaction to Andre’s work. “K-k-kill her.”

“Why?”

“She killed a person important to the Storm.”

“Garcia?”

Nathan’s head jerked up. “You talked about a classified mission, Riley? Are you crazy? That’s against the law.”

She laughed. “Oh, that’s rich coming from you. I told my friends what they needed to know to make an informed decision about whether to remain in my vicinity. Apparently, being around me isn’t safe. Know anything about that, Nathan?”

He stared. “You’re breaking every rule I taught you about how to interrogate prisoners.”

Elias smiled. “Maybe you’re not as good as you think you are. Let’s get this party back on track. So, Berkley, you sent assassins after Riley to kidnap her and bring her to you. Where was Rutland supposed to take her?”

“I don’t know, I swear. That was Sam’s part in the plan.”

“And what was your role?”

“Kidnap her.”

Another beat of silence, then, “And you farmed it out to someone else?” Elias shook his head. “You couldn’t stomach the idea of kidnapping and terrifying a woman who had been nothing but loyal to you for years. This is how you repay her? Dude, you are pathetic.”

Andre adjusted his hold on their prisoner. “What about Cliff Carter?”

Nathan lowered his head. “Same deal. He was to kidnap Riley and bring her to us to interrogate and kill.”

“What about tonight? You’re lurking in the trees like a Peeping Tom. How do you explain that?”