Page 31 of Secrets

“Don’t be coy with me, Mrs. Robicheaux. Every visitor has to sign in to the prison, and you all were there long enough for me to do a little research. You are an interesting group of people. My question is, why the hell are you talking to my son?”

“And my answer is none of your fucking business,” said Kari.

“Watch your tongue with me,” snapped the woman.

“Or what? You’re nothing I haven’t dealt with before, lady. You try to come for me, my team, or Jay, and you’re going to unleash hell on yourself. Whatever games you’re playing with the Dyatlovs and all the others will end so fast it will make your head spin.”

The woman just stared at her, a slow smile creeping up her face.

“I’m impressed. Most women cower in front of me.”

“I’m not most women, and I never cower.” She looked around Kari to eye Nathan and Miller, their arms folded across their chests.

“I wouldn’t cower either if that was standing behind me,” she smirked.

“You seem to be doing just fine with the hired guns,” said Kari, ignoring her statement. “But let’s back up. Why don’t you tell me why the world thinks you’re dead and yet here you are?”

“Mix-ups happen,” she shrugged. “My ex-husband thought it would be best for the children if I were dead. I didn’t want children to begin with, but as it turned out, Jay was a good one to have. That boy is talented. The problem is, he’s only controllable if I have Millicent.”

“That won’t happen,” said Nathan, taking a step forward.

“Oh, I assure you, I will get my daughter back, and I will get what I need from her. You can have the rest.”

“Lady, you’re not listening. You won’t live long enough to even wave at your daughter,” said Miller. The seven men behind her moved closer, casually displaying their weapons to the team.

“Puh-leeze,” scoffed Nathan, showing his two handguns and two knives. “Did you think we’d be without weapons?”

“You weren’t wearing those in the prison,” she frowned. Nathan only smiled. “Still, we outnumber you.”

“Do you?” smiled Kari. “You really should be better at observing your surroundings.”

Slowly, Beatrix stared at her surroundings. Two extremely tall, large men were behind the reception desk. Three more men were standing near the elevators. Four more were scattered behind her own men.

“This will be a blood bath if you decide to pull your weapons,” said Katrina. “I’m betting on our team against yours.”

“Your team,” she sneered. “Just who the fuck is your team? I know you’re part of a law firm, but what damn law firm has a team of mercenaries behind them?”

“Mercenaries?” laughed Nathan. “She called us mercenaries.” There were echoes of laughter and chuckles.

“You won’t win this. I will find my daughter, and I will get what I want. She will be forced to appear at Jay’s trial, and she will never leave the courthouse.”

“You really are full of yourself, aren’t you? Listen, Bea-tricks,” smirked Kari, emphasizing the syllables of her name. “You won’t get your way in this. Not even close. I’ve been doing this a lot longer than those idiots you convinced to take the case before. Not only will Millicent live a happy life, so will Jay.”

“He’ll never go free! There is more evidence against him than any man since John Wayne Gacey. He will die soon or die in prison. Either way, he will never be free.”

“Well, stranger things have happened, Bea-tricks.”

“Stop saying my name like that,” she sneered. “Why are you so insistent about this? Why are you helping him?”

“Oh, we’re just good Samaritans,” smiled Nathan. She lifted a hand as if to slap Nathan. A hot breath passed over her neck, and behind her, she heard a deep baritone voice.

“Uh, uh, uh,” said Tailor. “You touch that boy and you’ll draw back a nub. I guarantee it.”

“No. No, you’re not just good Samaritans,” said Beatrix, staring at the men. “It won’t matter. You have no idea who you’re up against.”

“Sure we do,” said Katrina. “The Dyatlovs, the Mackenzies, the Morgans, at least three motorcycle gangs that we know of, and of course, two cartels that we’re aware of.”

“We’re not done,” she seethed.

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