“Have you listened to anything I’ve said?” Jasmine paced. She was acting wired—as if she had partaken in some of the illegal substances that the Flores family was known for smuggling.
Or maybe she was fueled on anger. Either way, Sean couldn’t let this woman know who he was, who his family was. She was too volatile, and even if she didn’t put it together right away, she most certainly would know Kane. If not by sight, by name and reputation.
“Have a drink.” Dominick snapped his fingers and the bartender brought out a bottle of French Cabernet that went for easily three hundred dollars a pop.
Jasmine smiled. “Thank you, Bernie, you remembered.”
“Always, Ms. Jasmine.”
He opened the bottle and poured her a glass. Dominick glanced at Sean, but Sean couldn’t read his expression.
Jasmine sipped, then pulled out her phone. She had a number on speed dial, and waited. “Carson, were you sleeping? Good. Then come down to the courtyard. We need a plan, and we need it now.” She hung up.
“I don’t need to be part of this,” Sean said to Dominick.
“And you are who?” Jasmine snapped.
Dominick reddened. “Jasmine, a word.” He walked across the atrium and Jasmine hesitated, then followed, a bit more nervous. Sean couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he was ready. He hoped. He had the exits identified, but chances were they were covered. And anyone on the landing above would have a clear target.
Shit. They had two plans—the first, for Sean to get out the front entrance, then head around to the southeast corner, on the assumption that they’d bring Kane to him. The second, if Dominick stalled or didn’t bring Kane out, Sean was to slip out a side door that Gabriella was supposed to have cleared for him. He stared at it. It was partly obscured by the bar, but she’d told Jack it would lead directly into the kitchen, and the service entrance off the kitchen would be unmanned. Sean didn’t know what Gabriella planned to do—probably kill the guard and assume Kane and crew would be blamed. But a kitchen would have knives, and Sean could arm himself.
Dominick walked back to Sean. Jasmine sat on a lounge chair, kicked off her heels, and sipped her wine, purposefully ignoring them. “My sister is justifiably angry. Your money has cleared the gate. Wait in the foyer; I’ll have my men bring your brother down the back way.” He glanced at Jasmine. Dominick hated her. It was clear as day. But she was family. Blood.
Blood always wins.
Kane had told him that over and over again.
Dominick extended his hand and Sean took it. A sign of respect that Sean didn’t feel, and Dominick could see that, but it still pleased him that Sean went through the motions. “You hope I never see you again.”
“Ditto.”
He started toward the foyer. As soon as he reached the double doors, they opened and in walked Carson Spade.
Carson stared at him and Sean pretended he didn’t recognize him, but the moment passed quickly. Carson hit Sean in the jaw. Sean was able to duck, but Carson still grazed his chin.
“Flores! Do you know who this—” Carson stopped mid-sentence and ran across the atrium.
“Carson!” Jasmine shouted. “What are you doing?”
“He’s here for my son!”
It was clear both Jasmine and Dominick were confused. But as Carson ran up the stairs, a guard emerged from Kane’s room. “He’s gone!” the man shouted.
Sean didn’t wait. He bolted. Someone fired a gun, but he didn’t know if it was at him or Carson. All he knew was that the bullet didn’t hit him.
He almost ran out the front door, but three armed men were running up the drive toward the house, so Sean went right, around to where he hoped the kitchen was, based on the intel they had.
This place was a maze, but he ran through a dining room and the kitchen was straight ahead. It was huge. There were no knives sitting on the counter, and he didn’t have time to search. He ran out the service door expecting to be attacked, but no one was there. Two steps later the yard burst alive with spotlights shining from what seemed like every corner of the house. Shouts came from everywhere. There was no place to hide.
Two men rounded the corner, guns drawn, aimed at Sean.
A small explosion shook the ground, and every light went off simultaneously—the spotlights and the house-lights. Adrenaline made his ears ring and Sean hesitated, just for a moment … what if Kane and Jesse were still inside?
Trust your brother. That’s why you brought him.
A second small explosion came thirty seconds later and propelled Sean toward the rendezvous point in the southeast corner.
Sean couldn’t see anything, but he’d memorized the layout of the house and the compound grounds. He knew exactly where he had to be. And prayed Kane was there, with Jesse.
Gunfire behind him was closer than he expected. There was no place to hide, but the shooters couldn’t see him, either. He was in the middle of a sick game of Russian roulette. Anything that hit him would be out of sheer luck, but there was still the chance that a bullet would hit the back of his head and he’d be dead, here in Guadalajara.