Chapter Thirty-One
Madison
I have one shot at this, and when Moon discovers what I’m doing, there will be hell to pay. I can’t think about that. The plan is in place and all systems go. It’s too late to turn back, or so I tell myself.
“Caleb,” I tell my bodyguard and driver. “We’re going on a slight detour. Take us to Cartwright’s service.” Cori stares down at her phone pretending my request isn’t strange in the least.
Caleb eyes me through the rearview mirror. “Your husband will have my balls.”
More than a year ago, when my former bodyguard decided to take time off to have a baby, I made an agreement with Moon. I didn’t want anyone guarding me, but he insisted. He won that round and I won the right to be the boss of Caleb without Moon’s interference. Though I wanted another female, Caleb and I established a working relationship that suited us both and it doesn’t feel like my husband is keeping tabs on me. The bottom line is Moon might pay Caleb’s paycheck but he answers to me and will do as I say within reason. Cartwright is pushing reason, but Caleb follows my direction.
The bigger problem now is we have a car full of Moon’s heavily armed men following us and our original destination was EE. Cartwright’s office is not on our way. As soon as we make the next turn, the men behind us will notify Moon. I have a reason prepared for the oral argument I’ll give him. I’m not a good liar and I needed to preplan my excuse before I give it to Moon. He’s on edge and this won’t go over well, but I need to pacify him. He needs to remain at the house for as long as possible and not interfere.
It sucks that I need Cartwright. He’s a weasel who beats women and took money for the death of the two of the women who worked for him. With my newfound quest for blood, it will be hard not to shoot his ass myself. When this is over, I may do just that even though Alex says he’s going down.
Cori and I exit the car as soon as we pull into the parking space in front of Cartwright’s office with Caleb close behind us. My cell rings and Moon’s name appears on the screen. I’ll call him as soon as I put the fear of God in Cartwright and get what I want.
We enter and bypass the secretary, heading straight back to Cartwright’s hole, leaving her sputtering behind us. The front door chimes and I know Moon’s men are close behind, so when I enter Cartwright’s office with Cori, I give Caleb a look. “Keep the lions at bay, I’m armed and will shout if I need you.” I close the door in his face.
“What the hell?” Cartwright says. His face is red when he stands from his desk. He was probably masturbating. I pull the gun from the holster at the back of my waist and level it on him. “Show me both your hands or I’ll blow your balls off. They’ll be a bigger target than your fucking tiny dick.”
His hands go up and he plops his fat ass back into the chair. “I dealt with your husband. What the fuck do you want?”
Cori walks around the desk and grabs his ear before he understands her intent. He’s unused to women with bigger balls than him. Her injured hand is in a sling, but that doesn’t stop her. “Fucking respect. You’ll give it or I’ll fucking bite your goddamn ear off.” She leans in and sniffs the appendage she’s holding. Even I believe she’d snap her teeth and spit out a bloody ear. It’s nice to see the old Cori back in action. She’s more bloodthirsty than before, but her scathing demeanor that I love is also front and center.
“Oww,” Cartwright yells while reaching for his ear. Cori turns slightly, still holding his earlobe between her fingers and digs her elbow into his ribs, stopping him. I lean over the desk and place the barrel of my gun against his forehead. “I need a favor and the word ‘no’ coming from your mouth is not an option. We’ll leave here with you alive once I have what I came for.” His eyes are wide and spittle slides down his double chin. His expression says we have his attention. Too bad, I would shoot his dick and balls off just for shits and giggles. I press the gun a little further into his face so he knows I’m serious. “Call Fernandez and tell him you have a new girl you can send for his needs. Arrange it for this afternoon.”
“Who the fuck is Fernandez?” he sputters.
“You know him as Diego.”
The light dawns. “Your husband will kill me.”
My laugh is filled with disgust. “I don’t see my husband holding a gun to your head right now. You’ll be dead long before he gets his shot. You have two seconds to pick up that phone. Tell Fernandez I’m back at Elegant Escorts too.”
“Fucking bitch,” he says and reaches for his cell phone.
Cori releases his ear and slaps him across the face with enough force to turn his head. “Watch your fucking mouth,” she says and grabs his other ear before he recovers from the slap.
“Okay, okay.” He looks at me. “The only condition I have is that you tell your husband I did this under duress.” His head is twisted sideways because Cori didn’t move when she grabbed his other ear.
“Make the call,” I say and move my finger from alongside the barrel of the gun to the trigger. As an officer, we trained to always have our finger along the barrel and never on the trigger unless we intended to shoot. My training holds true and I’m more than ready to shoot. I slowly step around the desk and my aim lowers to his crotch.
He uses speed dial, which pisses me off to the point that I almost fire. “Diego, it’s Cartwright,” he says. “Something’s come through and I have another bitch for you.”
His face scrunches up when Cori adds pressure to his ear. “I can deliver her today. If you don’t want her, she’ll go to the next-highest bidder.”
The bastard lied to Moon. He took the money knowing what Fernandez would do to those two women. Cori has murder in her eyes and I’m sure my expression is identical. I resist the urge to squeeze the trigger, but it’s not easy.
Cartwright nods at whatever Fernandez tells him. “Text me the address at three and I’ll have her there. You might also like to know that Moon’s bitch is back at the escort service.”
He ends the call and tosses his phone on the desk. “Are you satisfied? He wouldn’t give me his location yet. I’ll call you at three.”
I lean over and pick up his cell phone, my gun still pointed at his dick. I press the button to activate it and a code is required. “I’m taking the phone and I’ll need your pass code.”
“You can’t take my phone.”
I lift my eyebrows and smile.
“7, 6, 9, 1”
I enter it and the phone unlocks.
Cori releases Cartwright’s ear and reaches into her sling where her gun is hiding. She pulls it and shoots him in the leg. The explosion hammers the room and Caleb slams his body against the outer door. The second slam propels him through and Moon’s men follow with guns drawn.
Cartwright is screaming on the floor, flopping around like a fish. I walk over and kick him in the stomach. While he’s trying to draw air into his lungs, I squat beside him. “I’ll kill you if you aren’t out of here today. If you’re spotted in Arizona, New Mexico, or California, you’re dead.” I change the direction of my gun and shoot his other leg. Ignoring his screams, Cori and I walk out followed by our entourage.
We have huge grins on our faces when we stroll by his secretary and back out into the heat. Caleb holds the car door for us and I scoot all the way over so Cori can slide in. Caleb takes the driver’s seat and pulls out of the parking lot. “Moon will probably kill me but that needed to happen,” he says with his own grin.
“I couldn’t agree more. Please take us to EE. We have a busy day ahead.” He has no idea just how busy.
He turns onto the main road and my cell rings. I look at the screen and see my husband’s name.
“What the hell?” Moon demands when I answer.
“Cori and I had unfinished business with Cartwright. We’ve decided we no longer want competition. He’s alive, but out of the picture.”
“Madison,” Moon says after a few deep breaths.
“Moon,” I say, exaggerating the middle of his name like he did mine.
“Do you have any more unscheduled plans that I should be aware of?”
“This detour wasn’t unplanned, so you’re safe.” It’s not a lie. Unfortunately, he may never forgive me for what we have planned next. “I love you.”
I receive silence for at least fifteen seconds. “You’re causing me ulcers.” He makes me wait a moment before he says, “I love you.”
“I’ll be home for dinner.”
Anger is still clear in his voice. “I may spank your ass.”
“Promises, promises,” I whisper and end the call.
Cori gives me a look and I give her a very slight nod. The first part of our plan was a success. Melina, Sofia, and Celina will need to work their own magic for the rest of the plan to succeed, but I have faith they can pull it off.
We’re finished waiting around for Fernandez to strike. It’s our turn now.