CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
When Alexa kept trying to climb Rowan like a tree, Rowan picked her up and carried her into the large house. Hacienda, maybe? The house looked old and stately from the outside. Stucco exterior, red clay tiles on the roof. The stranger on the plane hustled her and Alexa into the house before she could take a close look at her surroundings.
Inside, the air was cool and the furnishings reminded her of movies and pictures she’d seen of Spanish homes. Again, she wasn’t allowed to linger and absorb the view. She longed to slow their progress. A glance at Snake Skin told her that move wouldn’t be accepted with humor or grace.
The stranger led her and Phillips to a closed wooden door. A sharp rap on the panel with his knuckles and the door opened.
Rowan’s eyes widened at the sight of the linebacker-sized man who scanned her, then Phillips. He snapped out something in Spanish to Snake Skin. The man who’d met the plane scowled, then said to Phillips. “No weapons allowed in here.” A sly grin curved his lips. “Except ours.”
“I’m not going unarmed,” Phillips protested.
In the blink of an eye, Linebacker pointed a gun at Phillips. He wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger if Phillips continued to object to surrendering his weapons.
Snake Skin searched Phillips and pocketed the gun he found before waving Linebacker aside. “Look at it this way, Phillips. You have us to protect you.” As though he’d said something hilarious, the two men guffawed. Clearly she was missing some vital clue to the conversation. Phillips looked as confused as she felt.
Linebacker stepped back, his gun still pointed at Phillips. “He’s waiting. Only you and the woman and kid.” A sneer at Hard Hands. “Your man waits in the hall.”
Snake Skin dragged Rowan into the plush office. Alexa burrowed even closer, burying her face against Rowan’s neck. She wished she could do the same. She had a bad feeling about this meeting.
Behind a massive teak desk sat a man with a patch over one eye, a long scar running down his cheek. Over his black shirt was a shoulder holster with large gun. Were the gun and holster a normal part of his attire? Probably, she decided. His career choice was downright dangerous.
The man’s gaze drifted down her body, making Rowan shudder in revulsion. His attention shifted to Phillips. “I don’t like surprises, my friend.” His voice was almost a purr.
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“We all have choices. Some make wiser decisions than others.”
Oh, boy. Rowan picked up the clear undercurrent from Patch. Danger and raw fury. Didn’t Phillips see the danger? What did he need, a flashing neon sign?
She scanned the room for an available exit. Bars covered the windows and Linebacker blocked the door with his body.
Something bad would happen. She felt it down to her bones. Not knowing what else to do, Rowan inched away from Phillips, closer to the outside wall. A cushioned chair looked like the best option for shelter. She had to protect Lex with whatever was available, including using a chair to shield her from direct view.
Snake Skin noticed her edging deeper into the room. Rowan motioned to the chair. Her response was a slight nod though he shifted position to keep her in sight.
Looked like Snake Skin wouldn’t stop her sitting down with Lex. Rowan crossed to the chair and sat on the edge of the seat.
“Why are you here, Phillips?” Patch’s cold gaze remained fixed on his quarry though Rowan had no doubt he was aware of every move she and the others made in the room.
“It’s Maxwell.”
Oh, man. Rowan covered Alexa’s ears, knowing where the conversation was headed next. She didn’t want her niece to learn of the deaths of her parents from Patch or Phillips.
“He’s dead and no longer of importance to me.”
“Yeah? He should be. The idiot kept a record of our transactions. All of them, Garcia.”
The boss stilled. “And you are only now telling me of this problem?”
“I was handling it.” Phillips slid a hatred-filled look toward Rowan. “The problem should have been resolved a few hours ago, but the woman ruined everything.”
“Your problem was Maxwell’s fault, then this woman’s? You blame everyone but yourself.” Garcia turned his gaze to Rowan. “Who is she and why did you bring her to my home?”
“This is Rowan Scott, Maxwell’s sister-in-law. She has the records. Or at least she did. I instructed her to turn them over to me. She refused.”
Not exactly the truth. Rowan frowned.
A dark eye narrowed at her. “Where are they, Ms. Scott? You would be wise to hand them over to me,” he said gently.
Somehow, the false gentleness was more terrifying than harsh behavior would have been. This man would shoot her and Alexa if he thought their deaths were necessary to protect himself and his business enterprise. “I don’t have them.”
“Tell him who has them, Ms. Scott,” Phillips snapped.
What choice did she have? Ironic, considering the point Garcia had made to Phillips. Again, her priority was keeping Alexa safe. She believed Brent wasn’t far behind her. She had to. To believe otherwise would destroy her hope. Besides, Phillips already knew Brent’s name. She prayed she hadn’t made a mistake and traded Brent’s life for theirs. “My boyfriend has the records.” She leveled a cutting glance at Phillips. “This man shot my boyfriend and kidnapped me before he obtained the records.”
“I see.” His gaze dropped to Alexa. “And the child? Why is she here?”
“A pawn in a deadly game.”
“Indeed. Did you kill Ms. Scott’s boyfriend, Phillips?”
“I…I don’t know. My men shot him in the chest, then grabbed the woman and brought her to me.”
“So now a trail leads from the records to Ms. Scott and her boyfriend to you.”
“I didn’t know he had them.”
“What is this boyfriend’s name?”
Phillips swallowed hard. “Brent Maddox.”
Garcia’s jaw clenched. “Fortress Security’s CEO is her boyfriend?”
A quick nod.
“You are indeed a fool, Phillips.” He stood slowly. “And I do not conduct business with fools.” He grabbed his gun from the holster, aimed at Phillips, and pulled the trigger. Between one breath and the next, Phillips’ protests stopped and he dropped to the floor in a heap, a bullet hole dotting his forehead.
Fighting not to throw up and scare her niece even more than she already was, Rowan averted her gaze from the fallen kidnapper and made sure Alexa didn’t turn around to see what was going on. “I’ve got you, Lex,” she murmured into the girl’s ear as her niece started to cry softly. “I’ve got you.”
“Drag that garbage out of my office,” Garcia ordered Linebacker. “Then bring someone to clean up the mess.” His lips curled.
The big man hurried to follow his boss’ orders. Once Phillips’ body had been removed, Garcia turned his attention to Rowan. “Now, what am I to do with you and the child, Ms. Scott?”
“Let us go. You don’t want to keep us.”
Garcia tilted his head. “Why not?”
“Trouble will follow us.” Trouble named Brent Maddox. “You know Brent will come.”
A grin stretched the man’s lips. “That’s exactly what I’m hoping for. It’s time to dispose of my greatest enemy.”
Greatest enemy? Goosebumps raced over Rowan’s body. Garcia was setting a trap for Brent and his operatives, and she and Alexa were the bait.