She felt his grasp on her ankle as she attempted to roll further. He pulled her back toward him and dropped all his weight on top of her, his knees coming down on her chest. She gasped for air, her vision blurred. “It seems I win again,” he growled.
She held up her right hand, feigning distress as she moved her off hand behind her back feeling for the ruby-studded handle of the knife Aimee had given her. “I’ll let you go, please don’t.”
He reared back to plunge his blade downward, but she was quicker driving her blade upward and into his chest, straight into his heart. “Your sister said to say, hello,” she growled. With a final thrust, she drove her blade into him all the way to the hilt.
He dropped his blade as his hands gripped the ruby-studded handle, his eyes wide as he saw what she was holding. “How did you—”
She reached up and twisted the knife. “It looks like I win. Game over.”
His body collapsed on top of hers.
Before she could muster the strength to move, she felt him being dragged away. Through blurry vision she saw Fletcher standing over her. “Grab his phone,” she mumbled.
62
Stitched up, Sin thanked Deb and tried to stand. Her head spun, and she fell back down.
“Whoa,” Troy said. “You’ve suffered a major concussion among your other injuries. You’re not going anywhere.”
“He’s right,” Deb said.
“Just get me some ice and help me sit up.”
Troy helped her to a chair. Frank, patched up, sat next to her and smiled. Danny entered the room and eyed her in amazement.
“What the hell are you all looking at?” Sin said.
“Danny gave us a blow-by-blow of what transpired between you and Onyx,” Frank said. “We’re all a bit amazed you’re alive.”
“Not me, Boss Lady,” Garcia said. “I never had a doubt who would walk out of that room.”
“I’m glad at least one of you had a little faith,” she grunted.
Fletcher laughed. “I rushed back in case you needed any help, but I arrived a bit late.”
“I’d say you arrived just in time,” she replied. “Where is Carmelita?”
“She’s resting comfortably in the next room. She keeps asking for you,” Deb replied.
“I’ll go see her in a minute,” Sin said. Looking about the room, she remembered Onyx’s other captives. “Did any of you find Savio and Sawyer?”
“Yeah,” Marcus answered. “They were tied up in a shed on the far end of the property.”
“Where are they?”
“I have them in the room with Carmelita,” Deb said. “They’re severely dehydrated. I have them hooked up to fluids, but they’re conscious.”
“Have they said anything?”
“I tried to question them,” Frank said, “but Savio refuses to speak until his attorney is present. Sawyer swears he’s innocent and will only speak to you.”
Sin looked at Deb. “Can they be moved?”
“I suppose.”
“That’s probably a good thing,” Frank said. “The owners of the yacht club aren’t too happy about our makeshift triage unit.”
“What did you tell them?”
“As little as possible. I just flashed my creds and told them it was a government emergency. I’m sure they’ll be happy to get back to normal.”
She nodded, her head pounded, reminding her not to do that again any time soon. “Fletch, put Savio and Sawyer in the Hummer but leave them cuffed. We need to move out.” She then turned her attention to Frank. “Did you notify anyone about what happened here?”
“No. It’s not like this was an official takedown. I’m not sure how to spin this.”
“Good. I’ll tell you how to spin this. You’re going to head back to Washington and lay low until you heal enough so you don’t raise suspicion. You were never here. Then you’re going to play dumb. If asked, you’re gonna say that you went straight back to Washington after you left the Keys.”
“Okay, but why?”
“Because this mission, official or not, isn’t over. We still don’t know who masterminded this entire thing.”
Everyone just stared at her but said nothing.
“I don’t think I can ride, so someone is going to have to ride my bike. I’ll catch a ride with Tiffany, and we’ll meet back at the airport on Southern Blvd.” She looked at Garcia. “My keys are in my backpack.”
No one moved.
“Did I speak gibberish? If I did, I’ll repeat myself, if not, move out.”
63
Back at the airport, Sin thanked Shea and his men for all their help. “I’ll call Sterling and see if I can get you a ride home,” she said.
“Nah,” he said, “we haven’t been on a long ride in a while. I think we’ll take the scenic way home.” He held up his hand before she could say anything. “Don’t worry, we won’t wear our colors. Just a bunch of guys on a trip.”
She shook their hands, thanking each one before they headed out.
With just her team left, she said, “I can’t thank you all enough for what you did. I’ll make sure none of you are reprimanded for leaving your posts.”
“We’ve been thinking,” Fletcher said.”
“About what?” she said, looking at all the smiling faces.
“About our lives, our jobs,” Fletcher said. “We’re in this until the end. Then we’ll decide what we’re going to do.”
Sin smiled. “In that case, let’s get Savio and Sawyer back to the Johnson Place. I’ll question them there.”
During the ride south, Carmelita dozed on Sin’s shoulder. Sin buried her face in Carmelita’s hair, inhaling the smell of comfort. Even through the sweat and dirt, the jasmine permeated her nostrils. She closed her eyes and slept.
She woke as they approached the Seven-mile bridge in the Keys. “Tiff, head to the house on Tumbleboat Key.”
Upon their arrival, Sin woke Carmelita. “Madre, we’re home,” she whispered.
Carmelita rubbed her eyes. “Why are we in Tumbleboat?”
“I want you to stay here until the repairs are made to the Johnson place. I’ll have Tiffany stay with you until I return.”
“Where is Maria?”
“I sent her to stay with Becca at the White House until everything is over.
