Dangerous Beauty: Part Three: This is War (80 page)

Nathan, Carter, and Mickey burst into laughter.

Carter nudged Kyle’s side. “I don’t look like a child.”

Chuckling, he shook his head just as they made it to the car. “In Nathan’s shirt, from a distance, you looked like a child ghost.”

“You’re a fucking idiot, Kyle,” Nathan laughed.

“Boss,” Ryan shouted behind them. “Boss, wait up!”

Nathan turned to the urgent call and spotted Ryan running to them.

“Is there a problem?” Nathan asked.

“No,” he answered, out of breath. “Well, yeah there’s a problem, but not with this. It’s the house, there was an attack—”

“What!”
Nathan and Carter screamed at the same time in horror and devastation.

“My babies, Nathan,”
Carter cried hysterically.
“We have to get them now!”

“Get in the fucking cars!” Nathan roared to the men as he quickly grabbed Carter’s hand.

“No, wait!” Ryan yelled quickly. “Shit, I worded it wrong. Not the main house, the safe house. There was an attack at the west safe house, but Lucca didn’t let them pass,” he corrected. “The main house is fine. The battle was ten miles from the gate, which is still being heavily guarded.”

Nathan and Carter stared at the man with blank expressions before they both lunged at him, desperate to beat his fucking face in.

Kyle held back Nathan, and Mickey held back Carter.

“What in the fuck is wrong with you?”
Nathan shouted.

Ryan jumped back as Carter nearly got out of Mickey’s hold.

“You scared the shit out of us, Ryan,” she screamed.
“Why would you say it like that?”

“Why didn’t you lead with
the kids are safe?
” Nathan shouted. “You made us think our kids were hurt.
My fucking kids, Ryan!”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry, boss.” Ryan threw his hands up in surrender. “I wasn’t thinking. I’m still hopped up on adrenaline from the fight that’s all.
Please, have mercy …”

Carter and Nathan stopped attempting to attack the man and turned away, fighting to regain their composure and calm themselves. Carter squatted down to the ground, covering her face with her hands, while Nathan turned his back and pressed his face against the car to collect himself. After they both were calm, Carter stood and Nathan turned back around.

“Start thinking before you speak to me, Ryan,” Nathan said through clenched teeth. “I don’t expect that kind of thoughtless fucking stupidity from a man in your position.”

Ryan nodded emphatically. “Of course, boss, I apologize. And I’m sorry to you, too, Mrs. Salerno. I didn’t mean to cause you both panic—”

“Wait, wait,” Carter said firmly, capturing their attention. She rushed to the middle of the street and stood still.

Nathan frowned at the action. “Carter, what the hell—”

“Listen, honey” she whispered. “Listen.”

Nathan walked out to the middle of the road and stood next to her. He lifted his hand in the air, effectively silencing the men behind while he listened closely along with Carter. Thankfully the rain had calmed and nearly come to a stop; it only took a moment for him hear what Carter was talking about.

“What the hell?”

“This makes no sense,” Carter whispered. “They attempted to kill us, why would they be coming here?”

“Maybe to see why they’ve heard no word from their men,” Nathan replied.

They couldn’t see the vehicles in the distance yet, but they could hear them getting closer.

“Do you think they want to finish the job?” she asked. “Kill us?”

Nathan shook his head. “Silas wouldn’t gain anything by killing you. That’s what I don’t understand about this attack in the first place.”

“You don’t think it’s him?”

“No, I don’t,” Nathan admitted. “I’m interested. What about you?”

Carter looked up at him and nodded. “What do we do?”

Silently, Nathan narrowed down the many possible reasons of the attack until he pinned pointed most logical reason. He then went over a million different scenarios in his head, but only one proved to be the best option in ensuring the safety of Aleksandr and Maksim.

He held tight to Carter’s hand while he gave instructions to his men. “All of you, load up and leave. Now. The enemy gets nowhere near my home. Carterina and I will return soon enough.” Nathan knew the protests were coming from Mickey and Kyle before either of them said a word. All it took was a look to silence them. “Don’t hesitate. Do as say or suffer consequences for questioning me. Leave!”

Every man immediately complied. Quickly, they loaded in the cars and drove off in the path toward the west safe house. Nathan and Carter remained, and watched closely until a line of vehicles became visible.

“What are you thinking?” Carter asked him softly.

Nathan briefly closed his eyes and released a long breath. “I’m thinking that Silas may have recently made a few enemies that have mustered up the courage to seek revenge for something he’s done to them.”

She shook her head. “But that makes no sense. Who would bother in Silas Steele’s affairs? Who would have the courage to go against him like this?”

“You said that you, your mother, and Gabriel were Silas’s obsession, not his family’s. You told me that when Silas held you in captivity Aziz was trying to convince him to release you because they were fighting a losing war. Neither Aziz nor the entire Steele clan wanted that war. They didn’t care. Their only worry was most likely the effect it had on their money. The day I spoke to Silas on the phone, he said he’d lost interest in his lifestyle. He wanted his wife and children back because being the Steele family leader no longer pleased him. The moment you granted him contact with his grandchildren you gave him something that meant more to him …”

“You think he left them?”

“I know he left. Not only did he leave, he took all of his shit with him.”

His words made her shake her head in disbelief. “You actually think he left them all with nothing?”

“Everything was his, Carterina. He was the mastermind of the entire operation. With him came the lifestyle they all became accustomed to, and with him it left. They’re pissed. Killing the objects of Silas’s affection as revenge for his desertion is a satisfying punishment don’t you think?”

“Those people worshipped him, Nathan. Would they not be too frightened of his repercussions for such a plot against his family?”

“Yes, but all it takes is a convincing promise of protection and safety to motivate a lust for revenge. A new leader was able to fuel their desire to pursue revenge for Silas’s actions.”

Carter inhaled a slow breath as realization flashed through her eyes. “Aziz. But that means Silas left Aziz to …”

“… go with your father.”

“Holy shit,” she muttered. “Why didn’t he tell me Silas was with him?
Shit.
”

Nathan shook his head. There were probably many different reasons why Robert hadn’t told Carter that Silas was with him, but they had no time to go over them. They needed to prepare for what was coming next. “Is it all coming together?”

“Yes it is,” she whispered, turning to look at the nearing vehicles. “What the hell are we going to do when they get to us, or God forbid shoot us from a distance?”

Nathan frowned. That wasn’t going to happen. “They aren’t going to kill us, Carterina.” When she furrowed her brow in confusion, he put the final piece in the puzzle for her. “They’re going to hold us to get Silas’s attention.” It was the only thing that made sense after a botched assassination attempt. Go for what you want, then kill the hostage. Desperate criminals did it all the time.

“Like what … hold us for ransom or something?”

“They think that’s what’s going to happen, but events most likely aren’t going to play out the way they hope.”

“Why do you say that?”

Nathan shook his head. “No time to explain, baby. We need to make a plan. First things first, I need you to remain calm when they try to kill me.”

“What—”

“Just listen.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face the cars. “You know that thing you did to Giovanni Mancini?”

“Yes …”

“Do you think you can do that to an army of your biological father’s men?”

She turned to look at him with wide eyes. “Make them stab themselves?”

He rolled his eyes. “Of course not, Carterina. I mean obedience.”

Carter shook her head. “You want me to take leadership of the Steele clan? Nathan … that’s ridiculous. I can’t do that.”

“Manipulation is in your blood. Silas Steele and Anastacia Stone are masters at the shit, and you’re their daughter. Aziz is not a leader. He fears your father, he fears you and your mother, and most likely Gabriel. He can put on a brave face in front of them, but face-to-face you can make him sweat.”

“There are many elements involved in manipulating a human being’s mind, Nathan. It’s a skill that requires me to do things that you may think are just plain crazy. I’d either have to appeal to the person’s deep sadness, or go to extensive lengths to pull the individual into a state of complete madness …”

“Do it. Whatever you have to do, just do it.” He didn’t care what it was as long as they got the results they needed.

Carter stared at Nathan with an impassive expression as the bright lights from the vehicles shone between them when they came to a stop in front of them. They had heard the opening of many car doors, but they didn’t look away from each other. They kept their eyes locked, immediately slipping into one of their silent conversations.

“Pardon me … dear caterpillar.”

When his voice sounded, the expression on Carter’s face went dark and her head snapped in the direction of it.

“Why hello, love,” the English accented man said tauntingly.

Nathan looked over to the man advancing toward them with a frown. A light brown-skinned male with Asian features came to stand in front of them with a smug smile on his face.

“You survived,” he chuckled. “I must say, I had no idea you were so crafty. This is a far cry from the pathetic, drug addicted—but beautiful—seventeen-year-old girl I met in St. Louis.”

Nathan straightened, immediately catching on to who was standing in front of them.
Well, well, well …
A small smile appeared on Nathan’s lips. He was positive that God must’ve been pleased with something he’d done because he just given him a very generous gift. For two long years since Nathan had learned of this pervert’s sin against his wife, Nathan had prayed for a chance to have Cole Steele within his reach. This moment meant a lot to Nathan … this chance … this kill.

Carter took a step toward the man, catching Nathan’s attention. Her head cocked to the side and she narrowed her cold, hazel eyes on him. “Do I look like the seventeen-year-old girl you preyed upon all those years ago, Cole?”

Cole gazed down at her, the smug smile never leaving his eyes. “No,” he whispered, shaking his head. “You’ve changed, caterpillar.” He put up one finger. “However, there is one thing that’s still the same about you.”

“And what would that be?” Carter asked.

Smirking, he took a step forward. “The weak, helpless look … it’s still in your eyes. You’re still just a lost little caterpillar, desperately searching for somewhere to call home. You should be happy I took you in, took pity on you … made you mine.”

The deep, deadly growl that shook Nathan’s chest was a primal response to the man’s words that he had absolutely no control over. Never in his life had he wanted to kill a man so much. Ripping Cole apart would be effortless for Nathan—enjoyably easy—but as much as he wanted to, he knew it wasn’t the right time yet. Soon enough, though, the stage for the perfect torture scene would be set for just them two. Nathan could hardly wait for the moment.

“You’re a piece of shit Cole” Carter said with a shrug of her shoulder. “Happiness was something I never felt when I was with you …”

“That’s bullshit—”

“Where is your sister?” Carter asked, cutting off his angry words.

“She left” he spat. “Who the fuck is that standing next to you?”

Carter’s jaw clenched. “He’s my husband. Don’t do anything stupid Cole. That last thing you want to do is piss me off—”

Cole ignored her, turned an uninterested look to Nathan’s direction and waved a dismissive hand. “Kill him,” he ordered the men behind him.

One of them raised a gun and aimed it at Nathan. All he could do was smile at the bastard.

“Enough!” Carter yelled, effectively capturing their attention. “Don’t be a fucking coward. If you want to play the role of our father I suggest you act like you at least have
half
of the brain he has.”

Cole immediately turned a glare to her when she spat the words.
“Excuse me?”

She ignored him and went to the man holding the gun, snatching it from his hand when the man froze at her advancement. “There will be no killing my husband,” she said to the men firmly. “This place is a crime scene that will be found by authorities very soon. I suggest we all leave now. Take me and my husband to the actual mastermind of this attack. I know for certain it couldn’t possibly be this idiot …”