Page 59 of Innocent Salvation

“What is it?”

“Why did you dismiss your security before coming up here with Seb and Snow?” Bás angled his head in question and something that hadn’t felt important was suddenly imperative. “And why is this place not teaming with police after two of your security details were killed?”

“I wanted privacy.”

Bás stood shaking his head. “No, I don’t think so. I think you and Henri planned this together. You knew Snow would come and you dismissed your team from the room, leaving only two outside for Henri to deal with. I think you and Henri re-kindled your affair when you helped him fake his death.” He walked closer with every step, making her step back. “I think you hate Jean-Claude for landing you with a parasite like Patrick and you wanted some fun. Tell me, Dominique, did you plan to kill Jean-Claude and Patrick, or just Jean-Claude?”

“You know nothing.” Her anger cemented her guilt, as did the way she looked at Seb as she spoke.

“Except Henri didn’t know until Jean-Claude told him that Sabine wasn’t his blood and now you have two men who hate you. Or three if you count the son you were going to betray.”

“How do you know?”

“We aren’t a bunch of fucking amateurs, Dominique. Watchdog found all the emails.”

“I just wanted the excitement back in my life.”

“Uh, boss, an email just got sent to Sebastian.”

Seb and the others rushed over to Watchdog and a feeling of dread pooled inside him like lead tied to a helium balloon. Watchdog clicked the link and a video started playing, the sound was turned off, but the image was clear. Snow was tied to a hook in a bare room, her feet barely touching the ground, her shoulder joints extended with all her weight on them. Her clothes had been stripped so she was just in a black thong and a lace, strapless bra. Her hair covered her face as it hung low.

The tension in the room was still as they watched Henri walk into shot carrying what looked like jumper cables with a sponge hanging from it, the drips of water falling to the ground. He wanted to look away, not sure he could endure what would happen next but unable to let Snow face this alone even though he knew she already had.

With a smile for the camera, Henri held the sponge to Snow’s skin. Her body bowed, contorting in pain as the current from the battery at his feet went through her. Seb didn’t need sound to hear her screams, his fingernails cutting into his palm as he clenched his fist to stop himself from punching it through the monitor.

Bein pointed at something to the left of the battery. “Fuck me, is that a car alternator?”

Bás swore viciously. “Yes.”

“I don’t get it.”

“A car battery on its own, even on wet skin, will hurt but not to the degree Hollywood would have you believe. But if you add an alternator, it pumps the amperage up to a degree that’s unbelievably painful and oftentimes deadly.”

A whimper from behind him had Seb spinning in fury at the woman who’d orchestrated this. “Well, you got your excitement. So tell me where Henri has taken Snow.”

“I don’t know.”

Sebastian pounced, his hand grasping her scrawny throat and squeezing as fear lit her features and he became a man he didn’t recognise. “Don’t fucking lie.” His hand flexed and he knew he’d happily squeeze the life out of this bitch if it meant saving Snow.

“There’s a cellar in our first apartment in Montmartre. I bought the building in Jean-Claude’s name.”

Sebastian released her, as she gasped, rubbing her throat and sucking in air as she glared at him.

Bás walked behind Watchdog, looking over his shoulder at the screen. “Have the police secure Jean-Claude and Patrick. I suspect they’re targets as Dominique wouldn’t want any witnesses left after tonight. Reaper, you, me, and Bein will go to the apartment. Watchdog, you stay here and keep an eye on Dominique until we get back and can explain this to the authorities.”

“What about me? If you think for one second I’m staying here, then you don’t fucking know me.”

“This is a delicate op with an unstable man. You could get killed.”

“I’m fucking going with or without your approval.”

“Fine, your funeral. Just don’t get any of us killed.” Bás glanced at Reaper. “Give the action hero a gun.”

Reaper approached and handed him a handgun. “You fuck this up I’ll shoot you myself.”

“Fair point. Just get her to safety. I don’t care what happens to me after that.”

Reaper nodded and they headed out the door. He hadn’t lied. He didn’t care what happened to him after tonight. The only thing he cared about was making Snow safe.