by Laura Pavlov
“Just kidnapping them for information?” I raised a brow.
He cocked his head to the side. “You weren’t kidnapped. You were taken for your own safety. You were hiding behind a bush, and my men spotted you. You obviously knew you were on to something dangerous. I wanted to get you out of there.”
“And get information from me,” I pressed, squaring my shoulders. I suddenly felt a bit more confident.
“Looks like we were both looking for information tonight, no? She’s my daughter. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for her.”
“And what happens to me now?” I asked.
“A message was sent to the Montgomerys that we would be delivering you shortly,” he said, lowering the glass partition to speak to the driver. “Head to the address I gave you.”
“You got it, sir,” the driver responded before the glass was raised once again. Joseph Capetti wore a white dress shirt and black dress pants. His suit jacket lay on the leather seat beside him.
“Where are we going?” I asked, panic surging as I spoke.
“Relax. You’ll be taken to Jack Montgomery’s apartment. You’ll receive your phone once you arrive. I suggest you don’t reach out to the police or print anything about what you heard at this time. We’ll be in touch.”
I nodded. Not knowing what that meant. Or if I was really being taken to where he said. But for some reason, I thought he was telling the truth. And it made no sense. The man had taken me against my will, trusting him was probably a bad idea. But what option did I have?
Tall trees and greenery flew by as I gazed out the window like watercolors on a canvas. Everything blurring together as the car moved. We merged onto the freeway, headed in the direction of Jack’s apartment.
At least I hoped that’s where they were taking me.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jack
My knuckles were bloody from punching the wall. I paced the length of my apartment and reached for the vase on the entry table and smashed it against the door. I needed to break something. Punch someone. Tear down the fucking walls.
“Come on, brother. You need to calm down. They said they’d bring her here,” Harrison said, his voice tentative, as he placed a hand on my shoulder. He wasn’t certain she’d be brought here either, but he was sure as hell going to try to make me believe it. We were supposed to trust Joseph fucking Capetti? The man had a reputation.
“Fuck that. We don’t even know who has her. Or why the fuck they took her.” My words vibrated off the walls of my apartment, and everyone startled.
“Jack,” Ford said, his cool voice cutting through the tension in the air. “I understand your anger. But breaking shit and losing your cool will not bring her back. Think logically. Why would they reach out to us via text if they were going to hurt her? That’s not common practice.”
“When did it become common practice to kidnap someone?” I shouted.
Our security team had been dispersed on the Labrith grounds, while we sat in a stupid van a few houses away. Edward had phoned to say that he saw a man toss Blue Jay into a black limousine but they sped away before he could get their plates.
I’d wanted to fuck up everyone inside that house. Elaine had phoned Dan to say that Monroe took the trash out and never returned.
And then this fucked up text came to Ford’s phone.
Unknown Number ~ Do not do anything. She won’t be harmed. We need information. She will be returned to your brother’s apartment in an hour. You have my word. Do not inform anyone at the party that she’s been taken or reach out to the police at this time. It is in your best interest and hers. JC
The phone could not be traced, as Edward and Calvin had used all their resources only to learn it was a burner phone. So, she was gone. And I was supposed to do what? Sit by and do nothing.
Fuck no.
“For now, yes,” Ford said, his eyes searching mine as if he understood my pain.
He didn’t. None of them did.
“I fucking told you this would happen.” I pointed a finger at Ford and turned to find Dan sitting on my couch and pointed at him next. “Both of you insisted on letting her do this. I fucking knew this was going to happen. I need to call Buck. He and Ryan deserve to know what’s happening.”
“I don’t recommend that, Jack,” Edward said, moving to stand beside Ford. He’d run security for my family for years. My father trusted him. My brothers trusted him. Hell, I trusted him. He was a retired Navy SEAL. He knew his shit. He and Calvin had been on the phone and calling in favors from every resource that they had since she’d been taken. “Ford’s correct. You don’t normally get a text when someone is taken unless they’re asking for something. They aren’t requesting money. She has something they want, and they have agreed to return her. The last thing we want to do is get in the way of that happening.”
“He’s right,” Harrison said, wrapping both of his arms around me and forcing me into a hug. “If you call her brother or father right now, they are going to call the police. What if that pisses Joseph off and he doesn’t bring her here?”
A sob escaped my throat. The desperation indescribable. Panic attached itself to me like a second skin. I wasn’t a crier. I cried when my father died, and I cried at his funeral. Those are the only two memories I have of breaking down. But now—it felt like someone reached inside me and cut my heart from my body. Gutting me and leaving me raw. My chest ached where a gaping hole grew with each passing minute.
What if she was hurt?
I knew she was fucking terrified and I couldn’t do shit about it.
Jesus Christ, I didn’t know what to do.
I wailed like a little bitch into Harrison’s shoulder. Ford’s arms came around both of us, and they just held me there. They’d always been there for me. They wouldn’t allow me to spiral right now. But I was losing it. Time was standing still.
“Jack,” Edward said as the elevator dinged letting us know the doors were opening into my apartment.
I pushed my brothers aside and charged the elevator as the doors opened and Monroe stood there. Eyes swollen. Lips trembling.
A broken little bird.
I rushed her, taking her into my arms before pulling back and running my hands all over her. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
“No. I’m okay,” she said before she broke out in tears and I wrapped her in my arms. Her legs gave out and I scooped her up and walked to the couch, settling her on my lap.
Everyone gathered around us but kept their distance while I spoke to her. “Where were you?”
“I was in a car with Joseph Capetti and one of his guys.” Her voice trembled, and a sharp pain settled in my chest.
“Did he hurt you?” I asked, tucking the hair that broke free from her ponytail behind her ear and stroked her face.
“No,” she whispered. She was definitely in shock over what had happened, as she wasn’t saying much.
“What did he want with you?” Harrison asked, bending down to face her.
Ford ran his hands through his hair and paced the room. Dan’s gaze locked with mine and I saw the guilt there.
She let out a long breath. “I went to take the trash out for Elaine. I overheard a conversation between Governor Labrith and his girlfriend.”
“What were they saying?” Ford asked as he stopped to face Monroe.
Her body stiffened and I wrapped my arms around her tighter.
“His girlfriend is someone we know. It’s Sabrina.” She turned to look at Dan, whose face completely paled.
“My admin? Sabrina Callahan?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I knew she was seeing someone, but I never imagined it was Professor Labrith. They were talking about this plan to take down the governor.”
Monroe went on to explain exactly what she heard. How they planned to place enough drugs in her room to put her away
for a long time. How Sabrina was going to make the anonymous call to the police early in the morning and Professor Labrith would be sleeping down the hall. This was a plan that had been premeditated and well thought out. The man was working with drug dealers and going to set his own wife up for a crime she didn’t commit.
“Jesus,” Ford hissed. “Who the hell does that?”
“Sick motherfuckers,” I said, dropping my head back against the couch. “And you filled in Joseph on what you heard?”
“Yes. He said not to call the police, nor to print anything in the paper at this time. He said he’d be in touch.” She shrugged.
“I recommend doing exactly what he says. He’s not going to allow his daughter to be set up on drug charges. If for any reason he doesn’t step in, and she gets arrested, we’ll go to the police at that time.” Harrison squeezed Monroe’s hand. “And he’s been upfront with us at this point, so I think we let this play out.”
She nodded. “I agree.”
“So now we fucking wait,” Ford said, as he pulled Edward aside and spoke to him quietly. I didn’t even try to make out what he was saying, because I didn’t give a fuck at this point. She was back with me, and that’s all that mattered.
“I’m really sorry, Monroe,” Dan said, running the palm of his hand over his face as he moved to stand in front of her.
“This is not your fault. We had no way of knowing Sabrina was involved, or that Professor Labrith was a complete monster.” She buried her face in my neck.
“Well, I don’t believe in saying I told you so—but I fucking told you so,” I said, and Monroe smiled and pushed up to look at me. I heard my brothers chuckle and Dan even forced a smile, but the man was riddled with guilt. I’d let him off the hook in a few days. I wasn’t there yet.
“You were right. I’m sorry.” She placed her hand on my cheek.
“I’m fucking sorry I couldn’t stop it. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. It was terrifying. He never seemed threatening, and he did tell me he was going to bring me here—but my mind still raced with every horrible scenario. I’m just so tired.”
“Out. Everyone out,” I shouted, pushing to my feet with her in my arms.
Ford rolled his eyes. “All right. Edward is going to have two of his men stationed downstairs just as a precaution.”
“Love you, brother,” Harrison said, clapping me on the shoulder. “I’m sorry, Monroe. Love you, girl.” He kissed the top of her head.
Her eyes welled with emotion. “Love you, too.”
Dan apologized a dozen more times before I all but pushed him out the door. Ford paused in the doorway and Monroe pushed against me to drop her to her feet.
“I’m really sorry for putting you in this situation,” my brother said, pulling her into his arms. “I’m glad you’re okay, because you’re family now. And this one wouldn’t survive if you weren’t okay.” He thrust his thumb at me.
“Thanks, Ford,” she whispered before stepping back into my arms.
He nodded before walking out the door.
“Bath or bed?” I asked, as I guided her toward the bedroom.
“Bath.”
I turned on the hot water and stripped her of her clothing before doing the same with mine. I stepped in and guided her to settle between my legs.
“I was so scared,” she said, her voice so low I barely made out the words.
I ran my fingers up and down her arms as I tried to comfort her. “Me too.”
“You were all that I thought about.” She flipped over on her stomach to face me.
“Yeah? What’d you think about?”
“How much I love you. And the thought of never seeing you again…” She paused and shook her head.
“Hey, you’re here. You’re safe. I love you so fucking much.”
She rested her cheek on my chest and we sat in silence as we both processed all that had happened tonight.
I was so fucking thankful she was okay. And back in my arms.
Exactly where she belonged.
The following morning, we woke up to a slew of texts and phone messages.
“Oh my gosh. Charles Labrith and Sabrina Callahan were arrested this morning and charged with drug possession and intent to distribute,” Monroe said, holding the black silk sheet up to her chest as she stared at her phone screen.
“What about the governor?” I asked, pulling her closer to me as we both sat with our backs against the headboard.
“It says there are no charges against Melissa Labrith as she’d checked into a hotel late in the evening. She’s cooperating with the police to make sure justice is served.” She turned to face me.
“He works fast. Karma’s a bitch, huh?” I asked.
She chuckled. “Guess who broke the story?”
“Who?” I asked.
“Brett Waters from CBS. He has a pretty good contact at the police department.”
“Are you upset that you didn’t get to break it?” I pushed to my feet and reached for her hand, leading her to the bathroom.
“Not even a little bit. This isn’t the kind of story that I’d want to tell. There is something about her, Governor Labrith, that I really like. I hope she recovers from this. And I think Professor Labrith really is dealing drugs. It sure sounded like it. I doubt he’ll get out of this. And I still can’t believe Sabrina is his accomplice,” she said, reaching for her toothbrush as Pussy leaped onto the counter to get closer to my girl.
“Well, it sounds like they’re getting what’s coming to them. What did I tell you about jumping up on the counters, Pussy? I don’t like it. Get off,” I said, staring the fat bastard down.
“I think if he could, he’d flip you the bird right now,” she said, breaking out in a fit of laughter when my cat didn’t budge.
I wrapped my arms around her and tickled her sides. “Is that so? Well, he’s about to be really pissed off when he realizes we’re getting the hell out of here. Seven days on the beach and the only pussy I’ll be thinking about is yours.”
Her head fell back in laughter. “You are so crude. Well, I’ll be thinking about you, Pussy. We’ll miss you. I saw you stocked up on treats and toys for him. I think you’re all talk, Montgomery. You’re going to miss him.”
“Sarah will take good care of him. Maybe she can train the bastard while we’re gone. How are you feeling this morning?”
“Like I was hit by a truck yesterday,” she said, shaking her head. “I still can’t believe everything that happened. I’ve never been so ready to get out of here.”
I wrapped my arms around her and kissed the top of her head as I held her close. “Good. I told the pilot we’d be ready in thirty minutes. Get dressed.” I slapped her on the ass and turned to get dressed myself.
A few minutes later she had her bags at the door. “You ready, Montgomery?”
“I was born ready, Little Bird.”
Chapter Thirty
Monroe
After seven days at the beach with Jack, I was struggling to get back into the routine at work. We had a private villa on the ocean, and we swam, we ate, and we laughed. Oh, not to mention the hot sex on the beach, in the villa, under a palm tree, and in the water. I couldn’t get enough of this man, and it only intensified the connection even more.
The office was still buzzing with talk of Sabrina when we returned. She’d lawyered up and claimed to be a victim. Word on the street was that she’d hired a hefty priced attorney and her parents were footing the bill. Professor Labrith was pretty much dead to rights, as Sabrina gave him up immediately, and agreed to testify against him in exchange for a lighter sentence. Governor Labrith had been hounded by the press but had yet to speak out. My chest tightened every time I thought about her. Becks told me that Lyle had been beside his mother since the story broke, and Tabi had even met her a few times over the past few days. I ho
ped that meant she was going to be okay.
My office phone buzzed, and I picked up.
“Hey, Talia. What’s up?”
“Um, Governor Labrith is on the line for you.” She didn’t hide the giddiness from her voice.
“Thank you.”
I clicked over to the line currently blinking with the waiting call. “Governor Labrith?”
“Hi, Monroe. I understand we’ve met? At the party?”
Shame all but engulfed me. “Yes. I’m, um, I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. You didn’t report what you saw. You didn’t go public about finding me and my aide in a closet crying,” she said. “So, I was hoping you and I could sit down. I’d like to give you the exclusive. You know, my side of the story.”
My hand landed on my chest and I tried to calm my racing heart. “Really? Yes. I would like that very much.”
“Great. I’m ready to put this behind me. Can you meet me in an hour?”
“Absolutely.” I pushed to my feet and tried to control my breathing.
“You’ll need to come to my house, as the press has set up permanent residence outside my gates. Security will let you in when you arrive. No cameras, please. Just you.”
“No problem. Thank you. I’ll see you soon.”
I yanked my office door open and sprinted down the hall to Jack’s office. He wasn’t there. I made my way to the conference room, which was floor-to-ceiling glass walls. I could see him speaking to a group of people I didn’t recognize. His gaze landed on mine and he smiled. Butterflies swarmed my belly, per usual, because apparently, I was a sap these days. I waved to let him know it was nothing important, and turned to head back to my office.
“Hey, get back here, beautiful.”
I laughed before turning around to see my gorgeous boyfriend standing there, tall and strong, dark gorgeous hair and whiskey-colored eyes. But Jack Montgomery was so much more than just a good-looking guy. He was brilliant and kind. Thoughtful and generous. Sexy and commanding. Sometimes it felt like God had looked down on me and taken notes on everything I was missing in my life and delivered him in this perfect package.
