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

Sonny had been eighteen. The two ambitious young men became fast friends. As time passed, and Conchello’s empire grew, he became Richard’s sole client.

Richard was the one man who knew where all the bodies were buried.

Literally and figuratively.

They were bound together by mutual mistrust, fed by anxiety. It kept their relationship in balance and in check, but Sonny worried if Richard fell victim to an untimely end, the deadly information he held would be uncovered.

Sonny didn’t have to worry about the success of his business interests. None of them would dare let him lose a penny, but once a month he’d gather them together to remind them he was their king. He could hand them pots of gold, or cut off their heads.

The meal had been no different from any other. The occasional lewd joke had provoked raucous laughter, and the conversations had been productive, but Sonny had been distracted.

California’s dark underbelly had become embroiled in gang warfare, and the emergence of a new breed of young, rabid, overly ambitious drug dealers had been bad for business. Searching out a new operational base, he’d decided on the Virgin Islands. Once settled, he planned to expand into the southern hemisphere, and possibly pull out of California altogether.

Things had been progressing smoothly. He’d even managed to keep his move under wraps—until the disastrous raid. Like a lightning bolt from hell, it had set into motion a series of hellacious events.

Manny had stolen the sports bag, but he’d been shot before Sonny could question him and recover the money.

Then Elizabeth, the young woman he’d always seen as a sparkling ray of sunshine in his shadowy, violent world, had taken the loot and bolted.

He’d also started to worry about Dan Miller. The detective had seemed preoccupied, and Rosemary had passed along a disturbing rumor. Two of Sonny’s soldiers had been killed during the raid, allegedly one of them at the detective’s hands.

With a tracker on the cash, Sonny knew where Elizabeth was, and he had decided to kill two birds with one stone. He’d sent Elizabeth to the islands where he could take his time and deal with her as he saw fit, and put Dan on her trail to test his loyalty.

The tracker revealed Dan had somehow stolen the cash and stashed it in his hotel room, then the fool had been arrested. Sonny set up plans to snatch him before he could talk, but he’d been handed over to a couple of law enforcement bigwigs. Though an alternate plan was now in place, Dan Miller had created a ridiculous amount of trouble. Sonny couldn’t wait to get his hands on him.

Then there was David Clark, the former DEA agent Jim Parker had recruited. He’d simply vanished, and now Jim Parker was suddenly unreachable.

The man never failed to answer his calls.

Never.

To top everything off, Ewen MacDonald, the tough Aussie, had turned up bloodied and beaten in the servants’ quarters after disappearing for several hours.

Dan Miller, Jim Parker, and David Clark would all be tracked down, interrogated, and disposed of, but Ewen MacDonald wasn’t so cut and dried. His story had the ring of truth.

Elizabeth, however, was another matter entirely.

He needed to learn the truth about her.

The whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

The theft of his money could not go unpunished, though if that was her only crime he knew what he would do with her.

With so much unexpected drama over such a short period of time, Sonny needed to ensure his inner circle remained trustworthy and close-lipped. The businessmen were soft. If they got wind of rough seas, they might be inclined to panic.

Picking up his fork, he clinked it against his glass.

Silence fell across the table.

“I’m looking forward to seeing you all at the party,” he began.

The men mumbled their enthusiasm and nodded their heads.

“Moving down here under the radar hasn’t been easy, but it’s finally done. My only loose end is the mansion in Los Angeles. It’s discreetly for sale. Any takers?”

He inwardly laughed at the men’s startled expressions.

“Kidding!” he exclaimed with an evil grin. “Back to the party. The house will be opened up, except for my private quarters. As usual, I’ll be hosting my VIPs there, and all of you are invited.”

As the group mumbled their delight, Sonny signaled his housekeeper standing nearby. It was time for dessert and coffee. Rosemary nodded and walked away, but as Sonny was about to say a few more words, his phone vibrated. Lifting it from his pocket and glancing at the screen, he discovered it was a text from his informer at the St. Thomas police department. His pulse ticking up, he opened the message.

Dan Miller escaped from the van transporting him to the airport. Another unidentified prisoner was shot and killed. I thought I was supposed to snatch Miller. Did I get it wrong?

“Excuse me,” Sonny said, pushing his hefty body back from the table. “I’ll only be a moment.”

Moving quickly inside, he sent a return text.

You didn’t get it wrong. Send me details. Who was the other passenger? Find Miller. Let me know the minute you have him. Any news on David Clark? For fuck’s sake, get me Elizabeth McKay! If you need help I’ll send it but get the fucking job done.

Waiting impatiently, he stared at the screen. The response finally popped up.

My guys are spread out here on St. Thomas looking for David, but there have been no sightings of him. I’ve ordered them to add Dan Miller to their watch list. The Crown Bay Marina on the other side of St. Thomas is where Dan found Elizabeth McKay with that sailing school captain. Another pair of eyes stationed there would be good.

Sonny paused, then typed his reply.

Send someone there immediately. She is not to be harmed. If anyone is with her bring them too. I prefer Dan Miller alive, but if things get rough I don’t care. Same applies to David Clark.

Yes, boss. I’m on it.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Sonny counted to ten and settled