Chapter 27

Ghost watchedthe video feed intently, his eyes fixed on the phone’s small screen. The grainy image flickered and danced, but he could see the fear etched on the mechanic’s face, the way his shoulders slumped in defeat.

Javier would pay for this. Hard.

“What was it that couldn’t wait?” Lars Stenberg stomped his way into his own office, red-faced and furious.

Ghost quickly pocketed his phone and planted his hands on the man’s desk, as if claiming ownership. Which he would do when the time was right. After he finished cleaning up Javier’s stupid mistake.

“The next shipment’s coming in early. You’ll need to meet the ship Thursday.”

The man’s fat lips pressed together. “There’s no need to check the cargo on deck. I don’t like being that exposed. Just have them load the container and we’ll check it here.”

Ghost dug his fingers into the thick wood. Exactly the kind of stupidity he couldn’t tolerate any longer. “You might be okay handing over a million in cash without seeing the merch, but I’m not.”

“Then you check it.”

His fingers twitched, but he forced himself to leave his weapon in its holster at the base of his spine. All in good time. “How about we do it together?”

Stenberg shifted from foot to foot, his large belly swaying. “Fine. But we need to come up with a new system.”

“Agreed.” Stenberg wasn’t going to like the change, though.

Sending that tip to the FBI from Stenberg’s computer had been a genius move. One more tiny thread tying Stenberg to Goshiro. The two figures who’d shoulder the blame while he stole the whole operation.

And disappeared.

The older man flapped a hand at him. “Can I have my desk back now?”

He pushed away from the desk and headed for the door. “I’ll see you at the dock in two days. Eight a.m.”

“Hmmm.” The man pretended to ignore him. A lame power move.

And yet another reason Ghost looked forward to what was coming.

For now, he needed to keep Stenberg believing that things were rolling smoothly.

Good thing he excelled at hiding his feelings.

On the way back to the car, he contemplated how to handle Javier’s disaster. Show mercy, or revenge?

Maybe he’d let Javier’s reaction dictate the next step.

The minute he exited the warehouse, Javier fired up the engine. Ghost slid into the vehicle and pinned the kid with a hard look.

Javier tapped out a rhythm on the steering wheel, right eye twitching. “You were right,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “The dude’s friends haven’t called the police yet.”

“They’ll trace the call any second. Then they’ll make a play for him.”

Javier’s eyes widened. “Should I double the guards? Get ready to take them out?”

He shook his head. “I wanted them to trace the call. They can have him.”

Javier’s jaw dropped, his face a mask of shock and disbelief. “What? But why?”

“Because that was a stupid thing to do.” He let the raw anger bubble up now. Let it spice his voice. Instill terror. “I told you to stay back. Watch and wait.”

“But he was just sitting there.”

The urge to shoot Javier in the face warred with his need to remain calm. Javier deserved to die, but Ghost might yet have some use for him before the end. Still, this couldn’t go unpunished.

Ghost thrust out his hand. “Give me your gun.”

Hands shaking, Javier unholstered his pistol and handed it over, grip first.

He took his time checking it out, noting the round in the chamber. Javier waited silently, hands digging into the steering wheel, ready to flee. Or crumble.

Ghost savored the sharp tang of sweat wafting off his second in command. Slowly, lovingly, he raised the weapon, sighting in on Javier’s forehead. “I should end you.”

Javier’s Adam’s apple slammed from the bottom of his throat to the top again, over and over.

Once Ghost sensed the man was at his breaking point, he bent his arm, pointing the weapon at the roof. “One more chance. One. Next time, you won’t walk away.”

Javier slumped in his seat, and pressed his hands to his chest. His mouth worked, but no words came out.

Message received.

“Did he see any faces when you took him?”

“N-n-no. We made sure of that. He can’t ID any of us.”

“Good. Then the guards should walk away. Let his friends come. Those guys are SEALs. The real deal. Let them come get their guy, and they’ll disappear. No harm done. This time. Anyway, I have another job for you. Something way bigger. One last detail before the beautiful finale. We need the woman. We need Avery Ellis.”

Javier nodded, his face now a mask of determination. “When do you want me to get her?”

His smile widened, his eyes glinting with a cold, cruel light. “I’ll let you know.”

Javier’s eyes gleamed with a fierce, predatory light. Every ounce of terror morphed into determination. Excitement. Exactly the way he wanted the kid, hot for action and ready to do whatever it took to get the job done. To save his own skin.

Only a few more pieces needed to fall into place and he could pull the trigger.

Bait and switch. Bait and switch.