Page 48 of Brazilian Surrender
He frowned. “I doubt it.”
“I may be ethical, but not if my life is on the line.”
His shoulders sagged a bit, and he watched her with interest. Keep talking. “How can you convince me you’re not lying?”
The doorbell rang.
Instinctively, she screamed. “Help. Please!”
Mark clocked her, pain spreading across her cheeks. She tasted the blood dripping from her nostrils.
With shaky fingers, Mark grabbed the duct tape from her lap and motioned to seal her lips again. A huge bang had her turn her face to the entrance, even though she couldn’t see it. Someone had just slammed her front door open.
Within seconds, Mark grabbed a knife from the drawer and held it against her neck. She sucked in a breath, trying hard not to move and let the air out slowly, so the knife wouldn’t bite into her flesh.
…
Jaeger raced up the stairs of the Marine Park building, glancing from side to side to make sure he didn’t miss O’Brien on his way out. He’d worry about paying Jeb, the neighbor who tipped him off, later.
Right now, his goal was to get to Sean O’Brien as quickly as possible—and force him to reveal the identity of his boss, even if he had to knock out his teeth. One by one.
A rush of excitement moved through him as he approached the door.
He’d deliver the culprit to the police, and to Camila. He’d ensure her safety and peace of mind. He would do those things, and the thought brought him a sense of impending triumph.
Jaeger knocked on the door of the same apartment he’d visited with Camila. Once. Twice. He reached into the inside of his jacket, his fingers sliding over his holster. He was about to kick the door open and snatch the gun, when the door opened.
A cute little boy stared at him, smiling. Oh shit. O’Brien’s son.
Fear gave way to the thrill of chase. Whatever happened, he didn’t want to hurt this kid—or to injure his father in front of him. A woman rushed behind the kid, mumbling something about not opening the door to strangers.
The lady with red hair. “Oh. You again,” she said, after a sigh of annoyance.
“I need to speak with Sean O’Brien,” he said, walking inside and forcing the woman to step back. The kid remained, watching him, holding his stuffed lamb. His gut curled into a ball of sorrow. That boy had to be about Trevor’s age when he died.
“I don’t want any trouble,” she said, tilting her head in the direction of her child. “And I never invited you in. So unless you’re a undercover cop and have a warrant or something…”
“Daddy is working,” the little boy said.
Working. What kind of lie had the creep created for his kid? Jaeger nodded, and looked the kid in the eye with a reassuring smile. Then, he gestured for them to stay back. He couldn’t afford wasting anytime. “Don’t move, please. I just need a word with your father,” Jaeger said.
The sound of powerful footfalls rang in his ear, and Jaeger followed it, to find Sean O’Brien sliding down the window to the emergency exit. Not this time.
His heart rate quickened like he’d just started running the New York City Marathon. O’Brien’s bald head disappeared out of view, which compelled Jaeger to cross the living room in a couple of long steps and jump into the kitchen. Groaning, he quickly recomposed and followed O’Brien down the metal staircase.
“Stop,” he said, reaching for his gun. Shit. He pointed it at O’Brien, but he didn’t have a clear shot. The man moved quickly, and the couple of flight of stairs between them didn’t help.
Jaeger upped his pace, and when O’Brien reached the ground, Jaeger launched himself into him, clocking him with the gun.
O’Brien’s head turned to the side, and for a moment, he seemed disoriented. Jaeger took advantage and slammed him against the red bricked wall, giving him another blow to the other side until blood leaked from his nose.
“Why did you go to my apartment?” Jaeger said, his breath labored but his voice steady. He kept his hands clutching O’Brien’s collar, to make sure he wouldn’t go anywhere.
“I wanted to see what you knew about that lady’s case. Duarte,” he said, in between breaths.
“Who paid you?” Jaeger asked.
O’Brien shook his head. “C’mon, man…I have a family.”
