Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
His last memory was getting on the plane.
Salem glanced over himself again. All right. He was still wearing the same clothes he’d worn onto the plane and so were Roman and Alexei.
That was good.
“They must have taken my laptop,” Roman said, studying the handcuff around his wrist as though he could figure out a way to free himself. “What are we going to do? Where do you think we are?”
“It’s all right. You wiped your laptop, right?” Salem asked.
“Yeah, before I got on the plane,” Roman replied.
“Good. Now, we just have to figure out where they are holding our girl and get to her.” Somehow.
“I’m guessing we’re on Pinky’s island,” Alexei said. “He has several as decoys. This could be his main one. It’s warm and humid. And only those closest to him would know where it is.”
Suddenly, a door opened and Salem caught a glimpse of the landscape outside. Although it was semi-dark, he could make out some palm trees. And Alexei was right, it was warm and humid.
Maybe this was some sort of storage hut. There were no windows so that would make sense.
A good-looking man walked into the room, switching on a light.
Fuck.
Motherfucker.
How? How was it this man? There had been no clues. Sure, they’d known Pinky was likely Irish. Or that he misled people into thinking he was.
But this . . . this hadn’t been on their radar.
“You!” Alexei said, sounding shocked. He tugged at the restraint around his right arm, the chain straining as he attempted to free himself.
Jesus.
“All along it’s been you? Why? Don’t you have enough money and power? You have to go stealing more?” Alexei demanded.
“You know, I was very close to trusting you with my identity, Lyoha,” Pinky replied calmly. “To letting you into my close circle. But I am glad I never did it. Otherwise my plans could have very well been ruined. And I have big plans.”
Standing before them wasn’t just Pinky, the criminal mastermind. Standing there, was the favored candidate to become the next Taoiseach or Prime Minister of Ireland.
God.
The irony was that he had promised to sort out the high crime rates that were plaguing Ireland at the moment.
Then it went off in his head like a lightbulb.
“It’s you, isn’t it?” Salem said with sudden understanding. “You’re supplying the weapons to the gangs in Ireland. You’re creating the issue so you can come in and solve it. But there would be no issue without you.”
Fuck.
Why hadn’t anyone considered that already? Well, no one would suspect someone like Patrick O’Connor of being the infamous Pinky.
This was so much worse than he’d thought.
“Now, would I do that?” Pinky said. “Well, yes, it seems I would. Create a problem, then fix it. It’s the biggest con there is. And a way to make you beloved to everyone.”
Fuck.
This was a huge mess.
“Why are you so interested in Escana?” Salem asked. “Is it just about their natural resources? About their wealth and power and having it for yourself?”
“It was in the beginning. Although there’s always been a personal aspect to it. I remember the kings when we were at university. They were Gods. Everyone flocked to them, loved them, despite their perverted ways. It was sickening. My father used to go on and on about how sick they were with what they did to women.”
Had his father tainted his view of them? If he ever got out of here, he was going to have Roman look into his father.
“I also hate being thwarted. I do not like to lose. I had my way in. Jeric would have been my puppet; I would have been the power behind the throne and have had access to all that wealth. They had to pay for ruining my plans.”
So it was partially about revenge and jealousy, but also about the need for wealth and power.
It twisted people.
But he wondered if Riordan knew what his brother was up to? Was he in on it? It was hard to believe that Riordan had them all fooled.
However, Mark Roberts had.
“Riordan Orr is your brother,” he said.
“Half-brother,” he corrected. “I’m so sorry that you had to work so closely with him. Such an uptight bastard. He’s never liked me, you know. We have the same father, but we’re so very different. His mother didn’t abandon him like mine did. She took him away and raised him to be weak and pathetic. But don’t worry, I’ll soon put him out of his misery. He’s on my list.”
Salem breathed out a sigh of relief. So at least Riordan hadn’t had anything to do with Pinky.
“Where is Tamsyn?” Alexei snarled. “You kidnapped her to lure us here, so let us see her.”
“Oh, is that what you think? Hmm, I knew I was forgetting something.” Pinky turned and knocked on the door.
Mark Roberts walked in, but Salem barely took him in despite his anger toward him. His gaze immediately went to his girl.