“But you’re interested enough to look for him?”
“Well, come on, Chica, he’s one gorgeous hunk.”
“That he is and my name is Peyton, Dancer.”
“Chica suits you better.” Ava smiled at the server as he placed her pizza in front of her. The aroma that filled her nostrils made her mouth water. “Come on, are you gonna help out a girl’s ovaries?”
Peyton’s laughter triggered Ava’s.
“Parker is single and unattached,” Peyton said with mirth still rife in her voice.
“Where can I find him?”
“Hmm, well that’s a tricky one. I’m afraid I can’t divulge personal information about my future brother-in-law.”
“Come on, Chica. Give me a hint at least.”
“You’re asking too much, Dancer. The Rothmans are very private.”
Ava sighed. “I understand. It was a long shot but it was worth a try.”
“On the other hand … you and Parker … it does have a certain appeal. Hmm … let me think about it. There might be a way … as long as you can keep an open mind.”
“My mind is as wide open as the ocean, Chica. You don’t have to be concerned. I understand the need for privacy and would never divulge any information you give me to anyone.”
“I know that. Give me an hour. I’ll get back to you.”
Ava felt excitement racing through her at the prospect of finding Parker Rothman. A smile hovered on her lips as she bit into the pizza. It had never tasted as decadent.
She had just walked back into her apartment when Peyton phoned.
“Talk to me, Chica.”
“First of all … how do you feel about the BDSM lifestyle?”
Ava was slightly taken aback but quickly realized that if Parker Rothman was in the lifestyle, his older brother probably was too.
“I’ve been involved in the lifestyle for the past eight years.”
“Perfect! If you’re serious about Parker, pack a bag for at least a month and book a flight to Miami. Contact me once there and I’ll tell you how to find him.”
Chapter Five
Medio Cay, a private island in Guantánamo Bay in Cuba … two weeks later.
“There you are, my beauty.”
He lined up and stared down the straight line of the steel arrow into the beady eyes of his target. He was undetected; upwind too, therefore he knew this was going to be an easy kill. His body was relaxed, his arms and shoulders formed the perfect "T,” even though he’d been holding the position for a long time. His split finger hold on the arrow didn’t waver as he moved along with the wild boar in the distance. He drew back the already taut string a little further, to increase his accuracy and dampen the effect of gravity coming off the slight breeze that picked up from the ocean.
He relaxed his finger on the bowstring and released the arrow. He didn’t wait to watch as it spiraled through the air to embed itself between the eyes of his target as he made his way toward the carcass.
He never needed to … because he never missed.
The life of a sniper was a lonely one. A rogue sniper turned highly paid assassin, even more so. No one knew that better than Billy Hewitt, a former Commander of the Green Beret.
He loved weapons … all kinds and all types. Had since he was a little boy. His father had spurred on his interest against his mother’s protests; he was an excellent shot by the time he was ten years old.
Over time, he’d perfected his skill but was at his happiest when he was in the thick of the bush, hunting for food with his trusted bow and arrow.
In typical assassin style, even his choice of hunting equipment was top of the range. The Obsession Evolution 6 compound aluminum bow was custom designed to his specifications and perfect for hunting animals … and humans.
Billy strung up the dead boar and hooked the rope of the crudely made stretcher over his shoulder.
“Heavy fucker, aren’t you?” he grunted as he began the trek over the rough terrain toward the hill on the south side of the island.
As the owner and one of two inhabitants of the island, he controlled the number of animals roaming about and only hunted for food they could consume. The boar would last them months. He’d purchased the island from the Cuban authorities years ago … or rather, he’d blackmailed them into selling it to him … but registered it under a different name. They were only too happy to comply, knowing all too well the dangers the feared assassin posed to all of them. He had information that could ruin them but that wasn’t what had prompted their compliance. They were terrified that they would become his next target.
The luxurious cabin was hidden from view by huge palm trees that circled the island. However, the lookout he’d added allowed him a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view all around. No one could approach his place without him knowing. It had been an expensive exercise but he’d installed satellites and security systems with cameras that warned him should any of the alarm sensors around the island be triggered.
His clients knew to keep his identity a secret but he’d been involved with criminals for far too long not to know the risks involved. At some point, someone would rat him out. As confident as he was to always be under the radar and that no one knew where to find him, he made sure he was prepared for the unexpected … at all times.
“That’s a big motherfucker you got today, master.”
Billy smiled at the mammoth black man as he threw down the boar at his feet. Mongo Sanusi originated from Nigeria. They had met during the time Billy was still a Commander of the Green Berets. He had led a team on a secret mission to the African country to eliminate a terrorist group who had posed a threat, not just to the U.S., but to their allies as well. Mongo had saved Billy’s life during an extremely violent encounter with the local militia, who had been harboring the terrorist leader and his soldiers they’d been deployed to eliminate.
Years later, Billy returned for a vacation to a neighboring country to enjoy the African wildlife and found out that Mongo had been caught by the militia. They had sentenced him to a life of servitude and torture for the role he’d played in exposing the terrorist. He rescued him and since he’d already been discharged from the military, he’d offered him a hand of friendship and a new life. Mongo had readily accepted, seeing as the militia had killed his wife and child to punish him. There was nothing left for him.
“I’m not your master, Mongo. I told you, my name is Billy.”
“Yeah, I know what your name is, but to me, you’ll always be the man who saved me from a fate worse than death. For that, I’ll be forever grateful and serve you as the master of my destiny.”
“Even though I’m not as noble as I was when we first met?”
“I learned morals mean shit in this world. You do what you need to survive. The fact that you enjoy what you do, is for you to live with. As far as I’m concerned? I’ll help you wherever I can, as long as I never have to kill anyone or meet your targets.”
It wasn’t a new topic; nevertheless, Billy continuously tried to involve Mongo on a more hands-on basis in his missions. He had drawn a line from the first time they had the discussion. For the past eight years, Billy had been unable to change his mind.