“Let me kill Abigail and bring the children back here. Once she can see them and know they’re safe, I’ll go back to New York and force Sacha to tell the truth.”

“Such ambition,” he said, motioning her to sit. A young woman came in from the yard totally naked and knelt next to the chair. It seemed a programmed response, but there was no smile as she put her hand in his lap and touched him through his clothes.

Did he even have any sensation below the waist with his spinal injury? Another naked woman came in from another room with a comb in her hand and started smoothing down Fredrick’s hair. How many more of them were there? “Not ambition, Fredrick, loyalty. I failed her in that restaurant, but it won’t happen again. Just give me the chance.”

“Go, and don’t disappoint us again.”

She was glad to get out of this house as yet another naked woman came out and fawned over Fredrick. They were probably from one of the clubs and were there to remind him of the virile man he once was, but Nina would rather shoot herself than be subjected to this daily humiliation. “Believe me—I won’t.” Once she’d killed Casey and Abigail, she was going to follow Linda’s example and get out of this fucked-up existence. “I won’t.”

✥ ✥ ✥

Sabana and Shaun sat in Cain’s office at home and appeared eager to leave after she finished telling them what she wanted them to do. “You’re invisible while you’re there. Do you understand that?”

“Yes,” they said in unison.

“Sabana, I’m trusting you with this.” Cain stared intently at the woman she’d come close to putting down for her attitude and actions. Sabana had a hard time following orders, but she seemed to be getting better as she spent her days watching over Hannah.

“We’re taking two other people, and I’ll be in touch with Lou the whole time. I’m not making any moves unless he okays them. You won’t be sorry for trusting me to do this.”

“Okay, get out of here, and drive safe. Don’t forget to put on the Florida plates when you’re out of Louisiana.” The two guards were leaving for Miami in search of Nicola or anyone associated with her. Once they found them, she’d ordered them to do what anyone would do with a wounded animal beyond salvation. You put them down. All she needed was someone she trusted to tell her it was done.

Lou hugged both of them good-bye and spoke softly to them before they walked out. It appeared his relationship with Sabana was still ongoing. “Colin is waiting, boss,” he said once they were alone.