“I’m sure you can handle it. Or stick around for the rest of the night. I have plenty of room.”
Sean wasn’t positive he was joking.
There was some commotion in the foyer and Sean jumped up.
“Sit,” Dominick ordered.
Sean tensed. He complied, only because he needed to give Kane more time. Two more minutes.
The doors opened into the atrium. A striking woman with dyed honey-blond hair walking in heels that could kill a man strode through the cobbled floor right over to Dominick. Jose was behind her along with another man-Alberto, most likely-who had his arm around a young blonde carrying a baby. The girl couldn’t be more than twenty, and she looked physically sick.
Sean recognized all of them from Siobhan Walsh’s photos. This woman, the one Lucy suspected of selling black-market babies, was Jasmine Flores.
In that moment, Sean put it all together. Carson Spade’s urgent trip to Mexico came the day after Marisol de la Rosa left her baby at the church. Jasmine moved all the girls out as fast as she could, suspecting what? That Marisol would go to the police? Or maybe the fear came after Siobhan Walsh started asking questions. They would know that if the FBI was involved, they might be able to burn a few of their shell corporations, so they’d need their accountant and lawyer-Carson Spade-to create a new set of corporations. And because they wouldn’t trust him-no one wanted to be working against the clock when the FBI was breathing down their neck-they wanted to keep an eye on him. It would also be easier for Spade to set up bank accounts from a home base in Guadalajara than from a home base in Los Angeles.
There’s no way that Carson told Dominick that Madison had sent Sean down here… in fact, Madison didn’t tell Carson who she’d sent because otherwise Dominick would never have agreed to this meeting.
Unless it was a trap.
Sean watched the Flores family carefully. They weren’t overly concerned with him; Dominick was focused on Jasmine.
But he spoke his first words to Alberto. “Take the girl and your kid to your suite. I’m in the middle of a business transaction, and they’re a distraction.”
Alberto sneered at Sean, but he was focused more on the blonde. “It’s a boy, Dom. The first Flores heir.”
Dom was more than a little angry, but he said, “Congratulations, Alberto. We’ll arrange for the christening next week.”
“Marcus,” he said. “Marcus Alberto Donald Flores.”
Dom glared at Alberto until he walked up the stairs opposite from where Kane was being held-or had been held, if all had gone well.
“I’m not happy,” Jasmine said.
“Can we discuss this in the morning?”
“No. Where’s Carson?”
“I assume sleeping. It’s after one in the morning.”
“Wake. Him. Up.”
“He’s set up a parallel structure, moved all the money, shut down the compromised corporations, and I verified the funds were transferred. What is the fucking problem, Jasmine?”
“The fucking FBI is the fucking problem, Dominick,” she snapped. “Some bitch photographer turned over her photos to the FBI. Including one of me. They didn’t have a photo of me! Until now.”
“They don’t know it’s you.”
“They will. You know people won’t keep their fucking mouths shut. It’s just a matter of time. They raided the law office this afternoon. They’ll eventually trace the companies to me. My name has been clean for years. Why do you think I kept the King name?”
“Your name is Flores; it’s never been clean, so don’t play the innocent card, Jasmine.”
“And then I land here after a horrific flight and get a call-Lance is dead. So is his entire team. The fucking FBI found both houses where we stashed the girls after I had to shut down the safe house. So not only did I lose my investment, I have no fucking staff!”
“Jasmine, we have company, calm down.”
Jasmine turned to Sean and scowled. “I don’t know you.”
“And,” Dominick said, “you won’t see him again after tonight. I had Flora prepare the Rose Suite for you. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
“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.