Her Very Strict Captain by Carpenter, Maggie (best book club books of all time TXT) 📗

a safehouse.”

“Short and sweet, huh,” she quipped. “That’s all you’re going to tell me? Not which agency you’re with?”

“Not at the moment, but there is something I want to mention about Dan Miller. Why do you think I put that wad of money with the tracker in his room?”

“Uh, to stop whoever is tracking it from finding me, and I assume that would be Conchello.”

“That’s only part of it,” he said, lowering his voice. “Elizabeth, when the tracker leads to Dan’s hotel room, Conchello will assume the money’s there. When Dan doesn’t report finding it, what do you think will happen?”

Elizabeth frowned, then rolled her eyes. “Ooh, that won’t be pretty. That won’t be pretty at all.”

* * *

The mood in the private jet was somber.

Sonny Conchello didn’t hide his emotions.

If he was happy, everyone was happy.

If he was angry, conversations remained muted.

No one dared smile.

Born in the rough, rundown streets of East Los Angeles, Sonny had bare-knuckled his way through life.

Now he was rich.

Filthy rich.

Determined not to become another El Chapo or Pablo Escobar, his early profits he’d invested in car washes. They were cash machines.

Then pinball and gaming clubs. More cash machines.

All the while he’d manipulated his way into celebrityville.

Actors, musicians, politicians, he didn’t discriminate.

He’d arrive at their huge homes with magic dust and a black pharmacy bag.

They treated him like a king.

He’d run into Beth at party after party.

A sparkling ray of sunshine.

He’d barely noticed her boyfriend.

Manny was always there, subdued, polite, unassuming.

Sonny had been attending an Oscar event when she’d taken him aside and asked if she could be one of his dealers.

She’d pleadingly explained she was a struggling actress, and Manny, a musician, struggled even harder.

He didn’t hesitate.

Though she’d been an anomaly in his male-dominated world, she had quickly become an admired fixture in his mansion.

She’d hosted his parties, and charmed important visitors.

Her quiet boyfriend spent his life hanging out with bands and in clubs.

He proved to be an excellent source of income.

But Dan Miller, a lowlife, but necessary LAPD cop, despised her.

She’d rejected the lanky detective.

Sonny wasn’t surprised.

With his ugly mustache, Dan was not an attractive man.

Tall and skinny, his clothes hung off him, and he did freakish things with his body.

The bizarre talent had earned him the nickname Twister.

If that wasn’t enough, he pinned back his long, kinky hair with bobby pins.

Sonny had dismissed Dan’s complaints as personal and paranoid.

Until the detective had uncovered her real name.

Elizabeth McKay.

Beth Cameron had been a mirage.

Sonny had told himself she’d changed her name for the movies.

It was common among actors.

But his doubts simmered.

Now her boyfriend was dead, and Sonny still didn’t know diddly squat.

Worse, Dan Miller had changed.

He’d always been a sour sonofabitch, but he’d become impossible to be around.

No longer trusting him, and still not sure what to do about his sparkling ray of sunshine, Sonny had placed a sports bag in the gym around the time Dan would work out. Sitting in his office and watching, Sonny had seen a couple of his soldiers notice the bag, but they’d kept walking.

Then Manny had appeared.

He’d unzipped it, closed it back up, and taken it with him.

Sonny had paced and fumed.

Though Beth’s boyfriend was a dead man, the thought of putting a bullet through her head had sent a frown across his forehead.

But it had to be done.

By him.

Quietly.

Just the two of them.

That’s when he’d received the warning call about the raid that night.

He’d changed his mind.

She and her boyfriend would die during the chaos.

Dan Miller could pull the trigger.

But Dan had messed up.

Manny had died, but not Elizabeth.

Had Dan let her slip away unscathed?

Sonny knew all too well love was akin to hate.

He didn’t know what to think, but he’d continued to track the money.

Now she was in the islands.

Though he’d sent Dan after her, he was keeping her exact whereabouts to himself.

A trap was still baited, but differently.

He’d told Dan about the theft of the money, but specified rolls of cash.

He’d said nothing about the wads.

When Dan found her, he’d find both.

Would he kill her, take the wads, and hand in the rolls?

Sonny would soon have his answer.

He’d always enjoyed spending time in the islands.

But this trip his head hurt and his heart was heavy.

And there was a whole lot more to it than just a few days of sunshine and business.

Chapter 10

As they continued to study Dan Miller’s empty hotel room, Elizabeth placed her elbow on the desk, rested her chin in her hand, and looked across at Scott. He was leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed.

“Is this what we’ll be doing for the rest of the day?” she asked. “Staring at this room and waiting for something to happen?”

He laughed out loud.

“What did I say?”

“There are other eyes watching. If anything interesting pops up I’ll get a call.”

“I should have realized,” she muttered, thinking her question had made her sound like a rookie. “I’d like to go over there myself and wait for him. Nothing would make me happier than to blow his fucking brains out.”

“You don’t mean that,” Scott said, his voice suddenly solemn.

“A part of me does. I need justice.”

“Yeah, I get it.”

“I still can’t think about it without wanting to cry,” she said, swallowing back the hot lump in her throat. “It’s just so hard to get past.”

“You haven’t had a chance. You’ve been weaving and dodging since it happened.”

“I had a couple of days to myself in that beach house before Dan showed up, but it wasn’t enough.”

“You need a mental break,” Scott said, leaning forward and taking her hands, “and I know just how to make that happen.”

His touch made her skin tingle, and his dominant skill took her breath away. The thought of being back under his captivating control brought the butterflies in her stomach fluttering back to life.

“I’m sure you do,” she murmured, “and I can’t wait to find out how.”

“It might not be what you’re expecting.”

“I like surprises, well, most of them.”

“Good to know, but I still need