by Mary Peart
He looked up as Sybil came into the room. The woman looked ten years older and there were tears in her eyes. “Is she okay?” she had been standing outside the door when the call came in.
“She is going to be,” he vowed. “I am going to get her back by whatever means necessary and you can take my word for it.” With that he strode from the room leaving them looking after him.
He made his plans and going into his den, he closed and locked the doors behind him. “Marcus?”
“Yes boss,” the man was alert and Christopher knew he was wide awake.
“New plan. We are going to flash a lot of money around and corner the bastard. We are going to turn his own people against him.”
Chapter 13
They found out his name and where he came from. They questioned everyone he had been associated with and who he was friends with now. Christopher sat at his desk at home and made all the calls. The detectives had gone back to the precinct for the moment to come back later for the drop but Christopher knew the plans had been changed and he was not about to let them know that. He was getting somewhere and he had no intention of running out of time.
Sophia had spent the night away from him in some sleazy place with hoodlums who were holding her captive and that was something that was bugging him. He drank loads of coffee and apart from taking a ten minutes nap in the early hours of the morning he had not slept. He had taken a shower to revive himself and had checked up on the children to make sure they were okay and had gone back into his office. The break came at ten, two hours before the deadline.
He had told Marcus and the other men working for him to put out the word. He was offering a million dollars each with no questions asked for the location of where his wife was.
“Hello?” his voice was calm belying the quivering of his insides.
“Is this Mr. Tang?”
“Yes, who is this?”
“No names necessary. I know where your wife is and I can take you to her. Does the offer of the million still stand?”
“Of course.”
“Cash?”
“Yes and no questions asked.”
“Can you meet me downtown at Larry’s restaurant in ten minutes?”
“I can be there in eight.”
“No cops.”
*****
“Are you sure he is legit boss?” Marcus eased the nine millimeters out of his jacket and rested it on his thigh as he strapped himself into the car. Two other vehicles were riding behind them and making sure they were not followed.
“I guess we will soon find out.”
They spotted the man immediately lurking behind the dilapidated building. He was wearing a gray hoodie that covered his face and took it off as soon as Christopher got out of the car. He looked swiftly around as he approached. Christopher’s other men had parked at a distance and were watching.
“Ready?”
“When you are.”
He glanced at Marcus in the front seat and saw the gun and nodded before getting in the back. “I will direct you.”
*****
Blacks glanced at the wristwatch on his beefy wrist and noticed that the time was slowly winding down. The beautiful Mrs. Tang had drifted off to sleep and he had stood there watching her. She was one beautiful broad, no wonder her husband was so smitten, he thought with a humorous smile. Pity he could not screw her, even though she was not his type he would have liked to know what she felt like underneath him and he would enjoy roughing her up somewhat.
It was approaching eleven and almost time to make the call. Ten million dollars! He was thinking up ways to spend it.
*****
The place was far back from the road and was a broken down building that had been abandoned for years. The roof was intact and Christopher saw that it had once been a garment factory. There was no one outside.
“Are you sure this is the place?” he asked the man behind him.
“They are inside.” He said with a nod. “There are three others with him but Lou and Andy have gone to make arrangements for the getaway so there is only Blacks and Rigby inside.” There was a car parked to the side of the building.
“We need a distraction,” Christopher looked at Marcus. He nodded and went to get the other men parked further away.
“What about my money?”
“Don’t worry about it,” he looked at the man coolly. “As soon as I get my wife out safe and sound the money is yours.”
*****
The sound coming from the side of the building was terrific. “What the hell?” without thinking both men ran out of the building and found themselves staring into high powered rifles.
Christopher saw when Blacks made a move to run back into the building, no doubt to get to Sophia. “Don’t be stupid Blackwood,” he said mildly coming forward. He was not carrying a gun but he did not have a need to because the men behind him had their weapons trained on them. He cursed himself for not being more careful and wondered if Lou and Andy were coming back now.
“Your two friends won’t be coming back. They got an offer they could not refuse.” Christopher told him mockingly as he came towards him. “Where is my wife?”
Blacks thought about lying to him but noticed the expression on his face and knew he was looking for an excuse to kill him. He jerked his head towards the building. “I take it she is not hurt?” the question was mild but deadly.
“No,” Blacks said gruffly.
“Good.” He nodded to the men behind him and they came forward to secure the two men keeping their rifles trained on them while Christopher went to find his wife. He found the room where she was locked in and knocked off the cheap lock in no time. Sophia sat there looking at him for a moment and then with a cry of joy she launched herself into his arms. “I knew you would come,” she sobbed into his arms.
He inhaled her familiar scent, his eyes closed as he savored her body against his. He put her away from him so that he could look at her properly. Her hair had fallen out of the chignon she had put it in a day ago and was falling against her shoulders and her eyes looked tired from lack of sleep but she was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen! “You okay?”
She nodded clasping his face, her eyes going over it hungrily. “I am now.”
“Let’s go home.” He said huskily, swinging her up into his arms and heading outside.
“Deal with everything and call the cops,” he told Marcus briefly pausing to look at the men on the ground.
“Right boss,” he saluted Sophia with a smile and went to work.
*****
He kept his hand on hers as he drove home; every now and then glancing at her to make sure she was okay. She had fallen asleep soon after he had started driving. He was going to make sure nothing like this ever happened again.
He saw his phone ringing because he had put it on vibrate so as not to disturb her and when he realized it was Detective Carmichael he ignored the call. Time for all that later. He was going to take her away for a few days to recover. The children were not due back until the end of the week so they had a little time. He ached for her, ached to be with her but they both need their rest.
Sybil met them outside as soon as the vehicle pulled up at the front door. Sophia was still sleeping so he went around and opened the door, gently releasing the belt and lifting her into his arms, so much precious cargo. She did not open her eyes put her arms around his neck and snuggled against him.
“You did it,” Sybil whispered with tears in her eyes as she looked at her sleeping daughter.
“Was there any doubt?” he whispered back as he moved past her.
He took her upstairs and put her gently down on the bed wondering if he should take off the clothes she was wearing. He decided to leave her like that and pulled the sheets over her. He sat there watching her for a while until he felt the slight dizziness in his head and realized that he had not eaten since yesterday. With a final look at her he left the room leaving the door slightly ajar so he could hear if she
wanted him.
Madge had prepared lunch and the food was on the table. Sybil was in the living room area nursing a cup of tea. “Care to join me?” he asked as he descended the stairs and saw her sitting there.
She nodded and followed him to the table where he pulled out a chair for her to sit, before going to the other end of the table. They ate in silence before she asked: “She was not hurt?” They both knew what she meant.
He shook his head no. He poured himself some orange juice and felt the food energizing him. He had not slept except for the ten minutes he had allowed himself and he did not feel sleepy. “He was not that stupid.”
Sybil found herself studying unobtrusively. She had watched during the entire ordeal and had noticed his iron clad control and knew he would have stopped at nothing to get his wife back. “Did you – I mean is he-“ her voice tailed off as he focused his piercing gaze on her.
“Are you trying to ask me if I killed him Sybil?” his brows rose as he looked at her.
“I guess I am,” she said with a shaky laugh.
“I wanted to,” he said with a shrug. “He touched her when he grabbed her and for that I wanted to slit his throat.” He noticed the shiver at his words. “She was not hurt in any way so there was no need and besides there would have been too much paperwork and I just wanted to take her home.”
“I knew you loved her but I never saw how much until now.” Sybil said with a shake of her head. “She is fortunate to have someone like you.”
“I am the fortunate one.”
*****
Sophia woke up three hours later to find him sitting on one of the couches with a file in his hands. He looked up immediately when he heard her stirred.
“Christopher?” her voice was husky from sleep.
“Baby,” he put away the file he was perusing and came to her swiftly. “How are you?”
“I am okay. Have you slept?”
“Not yet,” he pushed away the tendrils of hair from her face that had been clinging there. “Hungry?”
“Starving,” she admitted. “Can we talk?”
“First you eat and after that a shower. The talking can stay for later.” He told her firmly. “Your mother is downstairs and I am sure she will want to see for herself that you are really okay. I am going to go and make some calls and I will send up some food for you with her.”
“I don’t want you to leave yet,” she pulled on his arm.
“Later baby,” he murmured but he could not resist as she pulled him down towards him.
“I thought I would never see you again,” she closed her hands around his neck tightly bringing his head down to hers. He took her lips in a kiss restraining himself as her tongue touched his. With a groan he deepened the kiss, his mouth moving over hers hungrily. He dragged himself away from her, his breathing ragged.
“You need food.” He muttered and left the room swiftly.
*****
“Oh honey I was so scared!” Sybil put the tray on the table and hurried to hug her daughter to her tightly. Sophia had showered and had put on a simple floral dress. She had spent the time scrubbing from her heavy thick hair and her skin to get rid of the smell of the little room where she had been held.
“So was I Mom,” she said soberly returning the hug. She sat on one of the couches and her mother brought the food over to her. Sophia had no idea she was so hungry until she saw the food before her.
Madge had sent up all of her favorites: fried chicken extra crispy, potato salad with hard boiled eggs and her mother had baked pecan pie. There was a large slice on a separate plate for her. She ate and they talked. “I was very careful not to show my fear so that he could use it against me,” she smiled slightly. “I guessed I learned that from Christopher.”
“Your husband worked tirelessly and even when I was sleeping and the detectives were taking a nap he was still up trying ways and means to get you back,” Sybil shook her head and clasped her hands in front of her. “When the man asked him for ten million dollars he did not even flinched but agreed and asked to speak to you. I had a feeling he would have paid any money to get you back.”
“I know,” she said with a small smile.
“You went through hell baby girl but I have a feeling he was right there with you.”
*****
She spoke to Lorna later in the day as well as Amelia. The newspaper had gotten wind of the whole situation and it was in several newspapers and on the internet. The police had taken Blacks and Andy into custody and had called to ask when Mrs. Tang could come in and make a statement. “Not right now,” Christopher told the detective in an inflexible voice. “My wife has been in a terrible ordeal and she needs some rest.” Even Jeremy had called to find out if she was okay.
“I suppose now you have become a celebrity,” Lorna asked her teasingly. She had been overseeing the big bookstore while Sybil was with Sophia but promised to come and see her the next day. It was Thursday and the children would be coming home on Saturday morning. Christopher had wanted to pull them away as soon as Friday but Sophia had persuaded him to let them finish. “I don’t want them to know what happened.”
“You don’t think they are going to find out?”
“When and if they do then we will discuss it but not before.” She had told him.
“That’s a celebrity status I could very well do without.” She had told her friend dryly.
“The bastard did not hurt you did he?”
“He was quite a gentleman actually,” Sophia said dryly. He mother had finally left for her home claiming that she had to go and see to Lauren and Jeremy and the child. “And Mathew wants to know what’s going on.”
“I am happy for that,” Lorna’s voice was relieved. “I hope Christopher pulled his tongue out or cut off his balls.”
“You are as bad as my husband,” Sophia told her with a shake of her head. “I am sure he wanted to kill the guy.”
“Can you blame him?”
“No,” Sophia said truthfully. “He has been up and refuses to get some sleep. I am going to try and see that he does.”
*****
She found him in his study. He had not been to the office since Sophia had been taken and he had told her she would not be going back for the rest of the week. He was standing at the window looking out. It was a bright and sunny June afternoon and the gardeners were out raking the grounds and pruning the hedges. It was almost dinner time but she was still full from the brunch that had been served. “I thought you would take a nap.” Her voice sounded behind him.
She saw him stiffened but he did not turn to face her as he answered. “I have too many things to do.” He said brusquely.
She came further into the room and put her arms around his waist. “Why don’t we do it together?”
“Later.”
With a sigh she moved in front of him forcing him to look down at her. She had blown her hair out and put it in a loose braid at the side of her neck. “Talk to me baby, please.”
“I am busy right now Sophia, we will talk later.” He put his hands on her arms making to put her aside but she would not budge.
“You have been telling me that since the early afternoon and I am afraid I am not going to accept that now.”
“What do you want from me Sophia?” he gritted.
“You have not slept and you will not talk to me. I need to know what you are going through baby.”
His hands tightened on her arms. “You want to know what I am going through? Your mother called and told me that you had not reached the store and I knew it as much as I know you are standing here that something had happened and I froze. I wanted to tear the place from corner to corner to look for you and when I found out you had been kidnapped I blamed myself. If anything had happened to you-“ he broke off and to her shocked surprise he fell to the floor in front of her and buried his face in her lower body holding on to her tight as the sob shook him.
Sophia was shaken to the core of her. He was strong and had foug
ht to get her back, doing what he could and had stayed strong the whole time but now he had broken down before her. He had been holding himself so tight and now he had let go. She dropped to the floor in front of him and held him close to her as he let go. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his head into her soft neck.
She waited and held him to her, pushing her fingers through his thick dark hair and waited until he regained control of his emotions. Without a word between them he allowed her to take her in the bedroom where she helped him to undress and get into the bed beside him.
She turned off his phones and pulled up the sheets over him and wrapping her arms around him. She watched as his eyes closed shut and his breathing evened out as he fell asleep. Sophia watched him as he slept, his surprisingly long lashes shadowing his strong jaw. He looked so peaceful, she thought and shivered as she thought about the horror they had been through in the past couple of days.
Even in the midst of the fear she had been feeling she had known without a shadow of a doubt that he would come and get her. She remembered laying on the lumpy cot when Blacks had left her after making the video of her and thinking about him and what he was doing. She had comforted herself by remembering his arms around her and had fallen asleep with him on her mind.
She lifted her head and looked down at him. A lock of raven dark hair had fallen onto his forehead and she lifted a hand to push it aside. He was so handsome, this man who had come into her life and taken over and made her feel as if she was a queen. He had shown her over and over again how much she meant to him and how he would do anything to keep her safe.
It always amazed her how much he allowed his emotions to show when he was around her, not caring who saw it. She bent her head and placed a gentle kiss on his brow and snuggling up beside him she drifted off to sleep.
*****
Detective Carmichael studied the man sitting opposite him in the interview room. He had been drilling him for the past two hours and apart from saying that he wanted something to drink he had kept his mouth closed. He had gotten the call from one of Christopher Tang’s men to tell them that they had the kidnappers in custody and that Mrs. Tang was safe and her husband had taken her home.
