Page 33 of The Unseen
N ICOLE SLEPT DEEPLY, LULLED BY THE SOUND OF THE RAIN ON THE roof and the warmth surrounding her. It was dawn Wednesday morning when she awakened, her eyes opening slowly, taking a moment for awareness to settle in.
She was cradled in Lucas’s arms, her head against his shoulder. His eyes were closed, his body relaxed in sleep, his breathing deep and even. She had never been held by a man this way—as if it were completely natural, as if she belonged there.
Her heart jolted. She had never allowed herself to get this close to a man, to trust a man the way she trusted Lucas. She was falling in love with him—and that was something she could not do.
She had Sean to think of and the terrible trouble he was facing. She had Rachel’s health and uncertain future to worry about. And Belle Reve. The family home was her heritage. She had to fight for it against men like Phillipe and Christian Villard.
Even against unseen forces.
Lucas stirred beside her and she realized his eyes were open and watching her.
“I should get up,” she said.
“We should both get up,” he said, kissing the side of her neck. “I’ve got to get to the center.”
But neither of them moved. Nicole realized she didn’t want to leave the bed, leave Lucas’s arms. She wanted to stay right there forever.
She tossed back the covers. “You’re right, we have too much to do.” She bolted from the bed and headed for the shower. Turning on the water, she waited a few seconds, then ducked beneath the warm, misty spray.
She had just shampooed and rinsed her hair when the shower door opened and Lucas stepped in behind her. He had the most gorgeous body—all lean, corded muscle and wide, solid shoulders. Just looking at him made her feel hot all over.
He eased her back against his chest, reached around her for the soap, lathered his hands, then slid them over her body.
A soft moan escaped, and Nicole arched her back, giving him better access. His clever fingers caressed her breasts, then moved lower, stroking and teasing, arousing her as it seemed so easy for him to do.
“Put your palms flat on the wall,” he whispered in her ear, pressing his mouth against the nape of her neck.
Imagining his intentions, Nicole bit back a moan and did as she was told. She felt him behind her, gripping her hips, pulling her against him, sliding deep inside.
Pleasure tore through, hot and fierce. Her back bowed as he began to move, slowly increasing the rhythm. Heat enveloped her, tightened her insides, until a fierce rush of pleasure sent her spinning into climax.
Knowing how to please her, Lucas continued, driving deep, his hands sliding over her—teasing, stroking, and moving in rhythm to his body.
Shivers erupted on her skin, along with a fresh rush of pleasure.
Nicole cried out as she came again and Lucas followed, both of them shaking with the force of their release.
Turning her into his arms, he held her as they spiraled down.
The water was growing cold when he stepped out of the shower. Quickly toweling himself dry, he wrapped her in the folds of a fresh towel and kissed her.
“I’ve got to go. Josh will be outside by now. I’ll talk to Sean and see you tonight.”
Nicole said nothing. She was getting in deeper with every passing second. She knew Lucas was attracted to her. He wanted her and she wanted him. But love? He was probably still in love with Marie.
Her stomach rolled at the thought.
Dressing quickly, she grabbed a cup of coffee and headed into her studio. She needed to start another painting, something more cheerful, one of the bright-colored landscape paintings she was known for, something besides the dark images that seemed to be haunting her lately.
The rain was still falling. She would paint from memory today. It might not turn out to be her best work, but with luck, at least it would keep her entertained.
Standing in the sidelines of the basketball court in the gym, Sean saw Coach striding toward him.
“We need to talk,” Coach said. “Come to my office before you leave for work.”
Sean nodded. “Okay.” Nerves filtered through him as he watched Coach disappear out the door. He collected his gear, prepared to leave for his after-class job at Dave’s Home Supplies, but headed instead to Coach’s office.
He knocked, saw the door stood partly open, and walked inside.
“Close the door and take a seat,” Coach said.
Sean sat down on the edge of one of the padded metal chairs in front of the desk. “What’s going on?”
“I’d rather we talked somewhere else, but there just isn’t time. I’ll be blunt. It looks like the only way out of this mess for you is to cooperate with the police.”
Sean’s stomach lurched, tightened. “If the men find out, they’ll kill me.”
“We aren’t going to let them find out. Here’s the way it’s going to work.”
Coach laid it all out. As soon as Sean received instructions from Mickey, he would text Coach on a burner phone. Coach would relay the message to the Baton Rouge cops working the case. They knew some of the men involved: Mickey, Ollie, and Bruno.
“I don’t think Bruno’s the guy at the top,” Sean said. “What do we do about that?”
“I’m sure the police are hoping one of the men caught up in the sweep will be willing to make a deal.”
“They think one of the guys will rat on the rest of the people involved?”
“I’d say that’s the plan.”
“What if it doesn’t work?”
“The cops know you’re innocent. They know you were forced to cooperate. Whatever happens, that puts you in the clear.”
Sean blew out a breath. “I guess that’s something.”
“Unfortunately, there’s going to be consequences. It’s the only way the whole scenario is believable.”
The knot in his stomach went tighter. “What kind of consequences?”
“You’ll probably end up with an extended sentence here at the center. I’ll do everything in my power to make it as minimal as possible. Unfortunately, it looks like it’s the only choice we have.”
A few more months at the center. He had friends who would still be here. If he could end all of this, it wouldn’t be so bad. “You think Nicole will be okay?”
Coach’s jaw flexed. “No matter what it takes, I’ll look out for Nicole. You can count on that. We just need to make sure you’ll also be okay.”
Their gazes met. There was steel in the depths of Coach’s dark eyes. Sean thought Lucas Devereaux was falling for his sister and he would do whatever it took to protect her. But he was also concerned for Sean’s safety.
Everything inside him settled. He could do this. It was easier knowing he had people who cared about him.
“I think they’ll call tonight or it could be tomorrow,” Sean said.
“The sooner, the better. More time to set things up.”
Sean nodded. “I should go. I don’t want to do anything out of the ordinary.”
“You’re right. The less contact we have from now on, the better.” Coach rose from behind the desk, walked around, and handed Sean a burner phone. “I have one, too. I programed my number into yours. Put this one somewhere safe and text me as soon as you have something to report.”
Sean just nodded. His stomach felt shaky. One thing he had learned at the youth center, no matter how young or old you were, the decisions you made would determine the rest of your life.
He hoped he’d be able to survive his previous bad decisions.
And that they wouldn’t end up getting his sister killed.
Lucas was back at Belle Reve that Wednesday night, sitting with Nicole in the living room of the carriage house, when he received a text from Sean.
The plan was in motion. Tomorrow night, Sean would sneak out of the center an hour after lights-out and make his way to a spot two blocks away.
Mickey Dugan would be waiting. Mick would drop him at Casino Rouge Chateau, where an exclusive reception was being held for participants and bidders at the car auction taking place there on Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday.
Participants’ and bidders’ personal autos would be parked in a special section of the parking garage, protected by cameras and security guards. For a few brief moments, a distraction would lure guards away and cameras would shut down.
Drivers, armed with digital devices, would enter the structure, start their vehicles, and exit the garage, heading for their assigned rendezvous points.
Unfortunately, drivers wouldn’t receive the drop site information until just before they arrived at the casino.
Lucas felt Nicole’s presence behind him, reading Sean’s text over his shoulder. “I’m so worried about him. Anything could happen.”
“I don’t like it, either, but there’s nothing else we can do.
” He turned and cupped her cheek. “I’ll be staying in town tomorrow night.
After the police pick Sean up, you and I will be the first people they call.
Starting from different locations, we’ll arrive at different times in two separate vehicles.
No reason to connect us. Josh will be here.
He’ll stay to watch out for Rachel after you leave. ”
Nicole just nodded.
Lucas’s jaw clenched. He’d be glad when tomorrow night was over. He prayed God would keep all of them safe.
It was happening. Sean rode in the passenger seat of the old Toyota Mick Dugan was driving.
They hadn’t spoken three words since Sean had climbed into the vehicle.
As the car rolled along, he spotted the lights of Casino Rouge Chateau up ahead.
Still some distance away, Mick pulled off the road into a dark grove of trees, beneath a cluster of low-hanging branches.
It was a moonless night, rolling, flat-bottomed storm clouds blocking the stars. A light mist was falling, making the roads slick and treacherous. He could handle the roads. They were the least of his problems.
“I’ll see you at the drop site,” Mick said.
“I’ll be there.” Sean cracked the car door and climbed out of the Toyota.
“Don’t screw up.” The car drove away and Sean started walking toward the garage, careful to stay in the shadows. He was right on schedule, the digital key Mick had handed him riding in his pocket.
As soon as Mick had given him the drop site location, Sean had managed to text the information to Lucas on the burner phone without being seen. He prayed the message had been received.
Dressed head to foot in black, a black balaclava over his head, Sean waited in the darkness outside the parking garage until he heard the distant clang of a fire alarm going off at the far opposite end of the multistoried casino-hotel complex.
The lights in the garage went off, the signal for him to move, and he raced inside. He had memorized the layout. Even in the dim interior lit only by emergency lighting, he knew where to look for his target. He spotted the car in a back corner and couldn’t suppress a thrill of excitement.
“Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster.” He grinned. “Sweet.” As he hurried toward the car, he noticed movement from the corner of his eye as three other black-clad figures spread out over the garage.
In less than a minute, Sean was in the car, the engine fired up, the wheels rolling toward the exit. No one tried to stop him. He pulled out of the garage onto the street and hit the gas, careful not to squeal the tires—a definite temptation—and followed the instructions he had been given.
He saw no sign of the other stolen cars, figured they had each been given a different route to their drop locations. He kept his gaze watchful and his speed under control. He just wanted to get the job done and get his life back in order.
His heart began to pound when he spotted a patrol car parked at the side of the road, red and blue lights flashing.
Instead of driving straight past, he made a turn, changing the route, carrying him out of sight, and hit the gas.
The rush of speed was like a drug. Adrenaline flooded his veins as he drove farther and farther away.
He had to force himself to brake and bring his speed back under control.
Once more driving the designated route, he turned the Lambo down a little-used dirt road, tossed the burner phone out the window, and just as in the past, he spotted a big Lyons moving van, or what had been painted to look like one.
A ramp placed at the rear provided easy access, and another car, a beautiful Ferrari V12 coming from a different direction, drove up the ramp in front of him. Sean followed.
Worry slid through him as he climbed out of the stolen vehicle, and the other driver did the same. He was shorter than Sean, but beefier, also dressed in black. They headed for the rear of the van and wordlessly moved down the ramp.
Where are the cops? His palms were damp, his pulse hammering.
As he walked out of the van, he saw the hulking figure he recognized as Bruno standing next to the driver’s-side door. Mick stood next to his old Toyota, parked not far away. Sean headed in that direction. Still, no cops.
His worry shot up. Suddenly his heart jerked at the sound of sirens cutting through the night. Swooping toward them from all directions, police cars, with their flashing red lights, surrounded them.
“What the fuck!” Mick roared.
Sean roared right back. “You bastard! What’s going on, Mick! You said this was all arranged!”
Police cars screeched to a halt and doors flew open. Uniformed officers scrambled out, guns drawn and pointed in their direction. “Down on your knees! Hands on your heads! Do it now!”
Sean dropped to his knees and clasped his hands over the back of his head. Mick dropped to the ground beside him. The Ferrari driver did the same. The van door opened and the driver got out, hands on his head.
Bruno was the last man standing, a look of burning fury on his butt-ugly face. Sean didn’t see the gun that seemed to magically appear in Bruno’s hand. At the staccato blast of gunfire, Sean dove to the ground. A hard jolt against his skull and a burning sensation told him he had been hit.
Sean’s breath hitched. He thought of his sister and prayed Lucas Devereaux would keep her safe. Then everything went black.