The Relic Runner Origin Story Box Set, Ernest Dempsey [summer books TXT] 📗

Dak die at my hands, or die on the sidewalk like a street urchin."

She inhaled sharply through her nose and forced another sip of coffee down her throat. "He won't lose."

Fourteen

Madrid

Dak sat uneasily at the bistro table within the confines of the courtyard. Surrounded on three sides by dark sandstone walls, he felt like a trapped feral animal. He did his best to remain calm, but it was a vain effort.

Meanwhile, Will sat a few feet away in another chair, sipping on a red wine provided by their host. The vintage apparently came from the estate's vineyard. The bottle lacked a label, further signaling the homemade nature of the drink.

He appeared to be enjoying himself, leg crossed over one knee, looking around and admiring the scenery.

It was beautiful here. Dak had been struck by the same thought. The rolling hills of forests stretched out away from the vineyards surrounding the Villa estate. By all counts, Dak should have felt a moment of relief sitting there in the shade, inhaling the dry, warm air.

But he couldn't relax, not when he knew Nicole was being held captive by his nemesis. He shuddered to think about her condition, how she was being treated. He hoped his read was correct on Bo, that the man wouldn't stoop to other lows. The possibility was always there, though, and it was that sliver of potential that caused Dak's anxiety to run wild.

He also felt a touch uncomfortable in the confines of the mansion, even though they were seated outside.

Dak had never been around much money. He'd saved up what he could and stashed it away to keep safe in case of… emergencies. He'd used some of that during his mission of vengeance, but there was still plenty left if needed, and now that he knew where he was going—where the final act would play out—money was the last of his concerns.

The biggest was how to take down Bo and save Nicole, especially in the confines of her apartment. It wouldn't be that simple. Dak knew as much, but he didn't know Bo's angle, and that needled at him.

"Hello, gentlemen," a new voice said from behind.

Dak and Will started, the latter nearly spilling wine on his lap.

They turned and stood slowly as an older man approached. Dak sized him up within two seconds. The man's thick, black mane looked as if it had been painted with thin strokes of gray. The same was true of the dense mustache over his mouth. The dark eyes witnessed to a life well-lived, full of wisdom, love, joy, but laced with concern. He wasn't short nor tall, but somewhere in-between that gave him a level of comfort as he walked, knowing that he had to look up or down to few.

"Señor Villa," Will said. "Thank you for meeting us on such short notice."

"Of course," the old man replied with a genuine smile. He embraced Will and slapped him on the back. "It's been a long time since we've spoken."

"Yes, sir. It's been a minute."

"Is that what the kids are saying these days? A minute? I recall it's been more like two or three years since you tried to convince my daughter you were worthy of her attention."

Will bit his lower lip, bracing for the onslaught he knew was coming.

"You tried to date his daughter?" Dak asked, temporarily loosed of the bonds that wrapped him in anxiety.

"It wasn't like that," Will tried.

"Oh, so my daughter isn't good enough?" Diego Villa cocked his head an inch to the left and winked at Dak, who was enjoying watching his friend dig himself into a hole.

"He said she was kind of weird," Dak prodded, essentially dousing the fire with jet fuel.

"What?" Will's eyes widened. "I did not say she was weird. And besides, she's with someone else now. Right?"

Diego's face turned to stone as he stared at Will, holding his guest's gaze with an icy grip. "You know what? Come to think of it, she is."

Will sighed. "That's what I thought. And it wasn't a couple of years ago, Señor. It was like seven years ago."

For a second, Diego had let down his guard. Then he feigned offense. "You think to correct me in my own home? The place where I gave you sanctuary?"

Will looked off into the distance at nothing specific, then nodded and dropped his head. "You do this every time.  You know that, right? Make me feel guilty?"

Diego's tight scowl flipped back to the friendly grin again. "Sí. I know. And it makes me laugh every time."

Will held back for a breath, then started laughing with the older man.

"Please, my friend. Sit down. Sit down," he repeated, motioning to the chair.

There were no bodyguards, no security detail scoring Diego around his home. Dak knew there were some in hidden places, but the two he'd seen weren't watching the interior of the property. Their eyes were focused outward, scouring the landscape beyond for a potential threat.

"You must be Dak Harper," Diego said, extending a hand.

"Yes, sir." Dak gripped the proffered hand for three seconds, then let go. "Thank you for meeting us. Will says you can help us. I hate to be a bother."

Diego shook his head vigorously. "No bother at all," he said and put up his hands. He sat down next to Will while Dak took his seat. The morning sun climbed into the clear sky to the east, peeking up over the wall.

The Villa family mansion was a formidable home, built like a small castle, its U-shaped design only left the western end open to sprawl out into the vineyards. Still, the way Diego dressed in a pair of linen slacks and a light blue linen shirt, he gave the impression that he preferred to live life simply.

Other than his dangerous lifestyle working intel, Dak thought.

"You're lucky you caught me here when you did. I have some pressing matters and I fear I'll have to return to Ecuador soon."

"This must be a difficult place to leave so often," Dak sympathized.

Diego's