Chapter 30
El Diablo looked even gloomier at sunrise, deserted by its rowdy, shady crowd. There were a few cars parked close to the door, and one man outside, probably on guard. Being Finch, she wouldn’t have come here alone and without protection. Being Zoe, she was stupid enough to do exactly that. Or maybe desperate enough.
She parked the Aston Martin, locking the doors, even though it wouldn’t make any difference if someone in this neighborhood wanted it bad enough.
Head held high, she took a few steadying breaths and squared her shoulders. She would be damned if she’d show any weakness now that she was so close to her goal. Walking past the doorman, ignoring him really, Zoe entered the bar, now dark and silent. Shadows moved, and a few lights came on, enough to see at least ten men present, but nowhere could she see Finch.
With fragile resolve, Zoe examined her surroundings and was about to turn away and leave when one man came forward. She recognized him immediately. He was the Hellhound she had seen, the one who brought her flash drive to Finch. He was his usual slimy self, and it wasn’t a wild guess to believe he hadn’t showered since the last time they had met.
“Zoe Somersby.”
Ever so slowly, the men advanced like a wall around her. “Hellhound. I’m here to see Finch.”
The thin man nodded and jerked his head. She followed him deeper into the bar, to an empty table.
“If this is a joke, I’ve heard better ones.”
The Hellhound grumbled and started installing a laptop on the table. It took a few minutes, but when he turned the screen toward her, Jamieson Finch was on the screen.
“Miss Somersby. Again, a rare pleasure. Please sit.”
“I prefer to stand if you don’t mind.”
“In fact, I do mind.”
One of the goons behind her took her arm and twisted it until she sat.
“Well, you are as obedient as ever, no surprise there. What does surprise me is the fact that you have completed your assignment. I’ve received the pictures you sent me, and I have to say how astonished I am by your commitment. You must love your brother very much to risk prison for him. And not love my son at all.”
“I never loved Archer.” A lie that burned her tongue but reinforced her deception.
“Very few women would sleep with a man without getting emotionally involved. At least you had fun. I do approve.”
“I’m not here to get your approval. I completed my end of the bargain, I’m waiting for you to hold up yours.”
Finch smiled broadly on the screen. “You thought I was a man of my word? How naive of you. It seems that your unique talents would be very useful to me.”
Disgust filled her mouth. “As if I would ever work for you. You are deluded.”
“Oh, I never thought it would be so easy or simple, my dear. You have a fiery spirit. Too bad it needs to be broken.”
The men shifted behind her. “And how do you intend to do that?”
“Behind you are men very eager to serve me. I will spare you the details to keep the surprise, but when they are done with you, what’s left of Zoe Somersby will beg to serve me.”
The hungry pack of creatures closed around her and it was time to use her ultimate trump card.
“Well, before the fun starts, I have one last thing to say.”
“And what would that be?”
She slid her hand into her pocket to retrieve a small data card. “I may not be the best at spying, but with you thinking me that stupid, you left pretty obvious traces to follow.”
His face was blank again. “Is that a threat, Miss Somersby?”
“I wouldn’t say a threat. More like a guarantee. In my hand, I have the entire data copied from my cell phone. The same one you used to send me your delightful messages and pictures, with all the data tracking it back to you. You will also find the videos and sound clips of our conversation at The Langham, as well as the audio of our conversation at dinner.”
“Lying doesn’t become you.” But by the sound of his voice, something told her he somewhat believed her.
