Zara was certain it was Nonny’s presence that kept the men in the bar from continually hitting on them, because, as promised, the GhostWalkers stayed away from them. She liked knowing Gino was close. She liked having him close because ever since Pascal and Blaise had singled her out from the other women, she’d been uneasy.
Pepper was the sensual one. Cayenne was sexy as hell. Bellisia was exotic. Zara knew she was pretty, but with the other three women there, especially given Pepper’s allure, it didn’t make sense to her that the two Cajuns had both made a point of talking to her. She was very happy when the brothers left about an hour before closing.
The women danced and laughed and drank until Delmar was ready to throw everyone out because they hadn’t noticed it was well past closing. Lights and laughter spilled out of the bar as they exited together. Nonny was all no-nonsense, stepping into the boat and reaching back to help Zara. Zara was a little tipsy, but the buzz felt good. She took Nonny’s hand and stepped aboard, feeling very proud of herself for not falling into the water.
Bellisia started to board the boat, but ran back to fling herself into Ezekiel’s arms. He and the others were saying good night to Delmar, up on the bank by the bar. Cayenne had jumped into Trap’s arms the moment he exited the bar and he had her pinned against the outside wall, hands and mouths all over each other, oblivious to anyone else. Wyatt curled his arm around Pepper’s shoulders while he talked to the bar owner.
Zara blinked rapidly, trying to find Gino. “Is he still inside?” She murmured the question aloud, not really expecting Nonny to answer it. Part of her wanted to get off the boat and go find him. Was he upset because, like the other women, she hadn’t jumped him when he came out of the bar? That odd flutter in her stomach worsened. She widened her search pattern, although she didn’t see how he could have gotten in front of them without her knowledge. Her radar was usually very good at telling her where he was.
She took a long slow perusal of the surroundings while they waited for the other women. The Huracan Club was located fairly deep in the swamp, where most authorities would never bother looking. The building was located up above the river on the highest part of the bank, with the swamp reaching for it every moment. Trees and brush crept around it and spread out on three sides as far as the eye could see. In front of it stretched the canal. Boats tied up to the pier and then the occupants had to climb the stairs carved into the bank to get to the bar.
Something moved just for one moment in the heavier brush on the right bank. A face appeared, peering at her. It was so fast she thought she might have made a mistake, but it looked like Blaise. She stared at the moving leaves, her stomach dropping. There was no breeze.
“Nonny, I think the Comeaux brothers are spying on us,” she whispered, turning her back to the swamp just in case they might see her lips move and know what she was saying.
“I believe you’re right, Zara,” Nonny said. “Why don’t you step back onto shore real casual-like. Take my hand, I’ll help you.”
Zara glanced toward the bar and stiffened. Men in dark clothing emerged from the interior and spread out. Each of them carried an automatic weapon. More came out of the swamp on either side of the canal, all training their weapons on the women in the tight circle the GhostWalkers had formed around them.
“We’re not lookin’ for trouble,” the leader said. “It’s a job. We’re to bring that one”—he jerked his chin toward Zara—“to a plane waiting at one of the private airstrips. Man’s payin’ us bank. Too much to pass up. One woman for all the others. You can afford to give up one.”
“Who would that be?” Ezekiel asked. “Who’s paying for her?”
The man shrugged. “He said he wanted her to know I was delivering her to him. Zhu. Bolan Zhu.”
Zara’s heart sank, but she’d known the moment she saw them pouring out of the bar. She would never be able to prove it, but she was certain the Comeaux brothers had led them straight to her. It wasn’t like outsiders knew where the Huracan Club was. Only locals knew. And the way wasn’t easy, with lots of twists and turns. One had to access it by the waterways. Outside mercenaries—and these men certainly were mercenaries—would never have been able to find it on their own.
“My wife is pregnant,” Wyatt said. “I’d appreciate it if you’d allow the bar owner to take her inside while we work this out. I don’t want her to have a miscarriage. She’s very sensitive.”
Pepper shook her head and tightened her hold on his arm.
“Can’t do that for you, man,” the leader said. “All the more reason for you to cooperate.”
“Pepper,” Wyatt said. “I want you to get behind me. Close your eyes, baby, and keep them closed until this is done. You’re pregnant, and I don’t want you getting a brain bleed with all the violence surrounding you. Delmar, would you mind making certain my wife stays put? Just stay close to her.” Wyatt pointed to a spot right behind him and waited until Pepper reluctantly did as he said, Delmar moving with her.
Zara caught movement as Cayenne stealthily made her way up onto the roof and disappeared into the darkness. Bellisia had inched her way closer to the embankment. She was above the canal and with one turn and a dive, she would be in the water and gone. The mercenaries would never be able to find her, or if they did, they wouldn’t live through it.
She counted five at the bar and three on either side of the canal. It occurred to her Malichai was unaccounted for as well. She reached for Nonny’s hand and the older woman took hers immediately and pulled her close, wrapping her arm around her.
“Stay very still, Nonny,” she whispered. “They’re up to something.”
The words had barely left her mouth when something screamed. It was a male voice, the sound haunting, in agony, filling the swamp, quieting the drone of insects and croaking of frogs. Stillness settled over the swamp as, shocked, everyone turned toward the sound. It had come from the right side, where three of the mercenaries had been, covering them all from the distance with their weapons. Now, no one stood there.
She glanced to her left, icy fingers creeping down her spine in spite of the oppressive heat. The three men who had been on that bank were gone as well. Her breath hitched in her throat. Vaguely, as if a long way away, she heard a splash and a grunt. She turned back to look at the five men surrounding the GhostWalkers. Four of them lay on the ground, one hung from the roof, his body swaying macabrely. She realized that agonized scream had been a diversion, allowing Wyatt, Ezekiel, Trap and Cayenne that moment to kill the five mercenaries who had come to take her back to Bolan Zhu.
She didn’t realize she was shivering until Nonny wrapped her arms around her. “You’re all right, Zara. The boys took care of it.”
“What do they do with all the bodies?”
“Someone comes. Zeke calls and they send someone out. Mostly we don’t ask those questions. Delmar will keep his mouth closed. He’s a good man and hard as nails when he has to be. These men are outsiders …”
“I thought I saw Blaise Comeaux in the swamp just before the mercenaries came out of the bar.”
Nonny sighed softly. “I wouldn’t be surprised, but if he was there, I hope he scoots on home fast because your man is loose in the swamp. I would guess anyone out there is in danger.”
She shivered again and rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “I want to see him. I need to know he’s all right.”
Nonny gave her a smile. “Child, your man is safe. Never fear that. He’s doing what he does best. I need to get you home now.” She lifted her head and signaled to her grandson. “Wyatt, I need to get these women home.”
Wyatt kept his arm around Pepper, keeping her head against his chest as he walked her toward the boat, shielding her from the sight of the men dead on the ground. Cayenne trailed after him, Trap by her side. Ezekiel hurried down to the water, peering all around it as if he could spot his wife.