Page 96 of Captured

“It nearly broke him. I’ve never seen anyone slip into such darkness in my life. But things are different now. Because of you.” He allowed a smile to cross his face. “He’s not a good man by anyone’s standards, but he’s not a monster either.”

“I’m not sure what to think any longer.”

Rico was even more reflective. “Just know what he told you about the contract on your life was correct.”

“Then why didn’t he do it other than some crazy need to stalk and abduct me? Isn’t he used to killing anyone he’s paid to kill?”

He walked toward the bed, sitting down as if the man had a heavy weight on his shoulders. “No. Bad men who honestly, at least in my humble opinion, deserved the fate they received? Without a hesitation. And no, it was never about the money but about trying to appease the demons inside of him.”

“Who were these men he killed?”

“Warlords who had no qualms about killing women and children, child traffickers, brutal mafia leaders, even two serial killers. He was hired by the CIA to track those two bastards down, although that will never be admitted in public.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“Not in the least. Talon’s services are in demand. He is damn good at what he does. He goes in and out of a country without being noticed, handling the job within hours.”

“Does anyone know his real identity?”

“Other than his most trusted men and his two brothers? Maybe one or two people in the world. He made certain no one knew who he was. He wasn’t necessarily proud of the path he’d chosen, Emily. And don’t tell him I told you that. However, he was well aware his skills were needed when there was no other choice.”

I was shocked at hearing Rico lay it out as if it was a normal profession. Serial killers? Human traffickers? I hadn’t thought about what he’d done in that manner. “Do you think he can ever put the demons to rest?”

He shifted on the bed, able to lock eyes with mine, this time smiling as I continued to brush my finger across the photograph. “With your love and support, he can.”

“I don’t know if I can love him. I mean…” I thought about the reason he’d left the island. “Did he kill my father?”

“Is that what you wanted?”

I should say no immediately, but I couldn’t. “I honestly don’t know. Maybe I’m more like Styx than I wanted to admit, just like he told me.”

Rico chuckled. “You’re alike in the ugly pasts you were both forced to endure as well as the lust for enjoying life. I’ve witnessed the connection you two share. It’s real. But you’re no killer and I think Styx really isn’t either. That’s something else you maybe shouldn’t tell him.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying he brought justice to your mother’s murder without laying a finger on your father. He didn’t need to.”

“How is that possible?”

He reached into the pocket of his jacket, pulling out a few folded pieces of paper. “He has many connections, including the current chief of police, who was the detective handling your mother’s unsolved murder. However, at the time, the evidence Chase Baxter brought to the prosecutor didn’t seem to matter. But it does now. It would seem instead of killing your dad, Styx mentioned what he knew to a reporter in Boston. The rest is, as they say, history.”

I glanced at the news article and wasn’t certain how I felt. Or if I should feel anything. “What does this mean?” I knew what it meant. It meant my father was going to pay for his sins.

“Your father will be arrested and face a trial. Incidentally, Styx didn’t kill anyone on this trip. He simply tossed a rock into the glass houses a couple families lived in and stood back, watching them shatter to the ground.”

Maybe that’s what he’d do with my gilded cage.

“That’s because of your influence,” Rico added.

I glanced into his eyes then down at the copy of the article before handing it back to him. “Thank you for sharing this with me.”

“You’re welcome.” He stood and backed away. “I shouldn’t tell you this because I know Styx wanted to surprise you but he’s on his way home. He should land in about an hour. Just don’t tell on me or he’ll be pissed.”

The rush of excitement coursing through me was crazy. I was hot and tingling all over.

And I needed a hot shower. Ugh.

“Thank you for the warning and I will never say a thing. However, I think I’ll get freshened up.” I placed the photograph in exactly the same position on the soft velvet, giving a nod of reverence to what I hoped would eventually be a beautiful memory and slowly closed the drawer. It was past time to move into the future.