Jagger smirks, his pearly white teeth showing as he does so. “Yeah, I don't think so either but after all the shit that's happened; Juan finding out we had his cousin deported and someone finding out about Mia and Lacey.” He shrugs. “There has to be rat. We’ve a snitch in the ranks.”
“Jagger, if there's a snitch it points to five people, they’re the only ones that know about Mia and Lacey. Those five people are my dad, Tina, Barney, Martin, and you. Do you really think my dad's going to be a snitch? Do you believe Tina would put her daughter in danger? Put Lacey in danger?” He shakes his head. “So that leaves three... You, Martin, and Barney. Which one is it?” I ask and his eyes widen, before anger fills them. “Yeah, you get what I'm talking about. There's a snitch and it’s someone very, very close to us.”
“Barney.” He growls. “It has to be with everything that happened with Lacey. What is it, pay back?” The look on Jagger's face tells me that he's not even going to give Barney a chance to explain himself, he's going to go in all guns blazing.
“Give the man a chance to talk. It might not be him, Jag.” I can’t believe I’m the one being reasonable. “Yes, he did Lacey wrong but haven’t we all treated a woman badly?” Jagger gives me a look, one that tells me that he hasn't. I scoff. “Yeah. Because you are a saint.” I reply sarcastically. “Wasn't it you that kissed that bitch only hours after Sarah left your bed? Jag we’re not good men, hell we’ve never claimed to be, but when it comes to our women we treat them with respect. We show them what they mean to us. It's taken us a while to get them back, we never got the chance to do that properly before they were snatched from us. We’re not going to let that shit fly!” I growl, all my pent up anger is bubbling on the surface. I’ve been fighting it back, keeping myself in check because letting it loose won’t help anyone. Especially not Mia.
“It's time to talk to Barney.” I give Jagger a glare. “Just a talk Jag, he may not be the one.” I laugh, fuck me, when did I turn into my father? Before this I would have flown off the deep end. I’d have knocked anyone who stood in my way out, and yet someone has taken my girl and I'm being diplomatic.
Jag huffs like a child. “Fine, we'll do it your way, Boss,” he says as if he’s humoring me. “But that fuck says one thing, I’m slitting his throat there and then.”
I laugh. He’s preaching to the choir. If Barney does say anything to make me doubt him in the slightest, I’ll kill him myself. “For the past three days this city has realized who is in charge. People are quaking in their boots just like the old days. I’m not letting up, not until Mia is home. Until she's by my side. I don't care how many people I have to kill, I don't know how many people are involved in this. I don’t care. Each and every single one of them is going to feel my wrath. You don't touch what belongs to me.”
Jagger laughs, “Yeah boss this city has bled. They know who's in charge, no doubt about it. Shame that the people who have your girl don't know it. They're in for a world of hurt, and I'm looking forward to dishing it out.”
“You're a sick fuck, Jag, but I like the way you think.” I smile and nod my head toward the door. It's time to leave, time to talk to Barney. There’s something about him that I’ve never fully trusted, but I can't say for sure if he's the one who's on this. However my gut is telling me that he isn’t part of this. I can't explain it, my guts never wrong.
Walking out of the office, I notice Martin standing in the hall, his eyes glance between Jag and I. “Everything okay?” I ask.
“Nothing new to report, Boss,” he responds. “Barney just called, he’ll be here within the next hour.”
I raise my brows. I don’t believe in consequences, and this is one hell of a one, especially as Jag and I were just talking about him.
“Tina won’t stay in Hidden Hills any more, she wants to be close to the action.” He reaches into his pocket and takes out his cell.
“Action?” I growl. “Action? Like this is some sort of fucking movie.”
He sighs. “You need to relax, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just meant that she wants to be close to you so she’d know as soon as there was news. Barney said that she’s spent the past three days in bed crying. Your dad has had enough and they’re coming to stay here in San Francisco.”
I nod. “Thanks for the update. Find Carina, I want her found. How one fucking woman can escape over twenty men is beyond me. Bring her to me by the end of the night.” I walk past him and toward the exit, I need to make a phone call.
“Careful with her, Martin she bites.” Jagger laughs as he follows behind me.
Climbing into my car, I wait for Jagger to get in. Turning on the engine, The Bluetooth takes a while to connect but as soon as it does I dial Barney.
“Boss.” He answers immediately.
“Want to tell me why you’re updating Martin and not me?” There’s no mistaking the directness of my tone. I’m pissed and the threat that’s keeping my anger locked up tight is starting to fray. Jagger looks at me, he knows that I’m on the edge of offing anyone who gets in my way.
“Boss….” His voice hesitant, “He called me. I told him that we were on our way. I’m twenty minutes away.”
I hang up pissed that Martin has just lied to me. With each minute that passes, I’m beginning to doubt everyone. I know that it's not going to be long before I start doubting Jagger. One of my men is a rat and I'm going to find out who it is. Right now, my main focus is on finding Mia. Once I know that she's safe and at home, I'll then focus on dealing with anyone who is a rat or hasn't stood beside me while this shit has gone down and there's quite a few.
"Boss, what the fuck?" Jagger says, his voice vibrating with anger.
I put the car into drive and the engine revs. "That's what I'd like to know too." Pulling into the road, my foot presses on the gas, my hands tightening on the steering wheel. "Jag, I'm so close to offing everyone and starting over."
He laughs but I'm being serious. I don't trust anyone and I'd rather start off from the beginning. "Hudson, you can't do that." His tone full of humor, "but I agree, I don't trust any of those fucks, not anymore. I'm just fucking glad that Sarah and Allie are in New York."
"If this shit continues, I'll do it."
"Hudson, I'm your best friend, have been since we were kids. I know you, you're holding on but you're close to the edge." I turn to glare at him, what's he getting at? He rolls his eyes. "Look, what I'm saying is, whatever happens, I have your back. Whatever you need me to do, I'll do. Mia's yours and that means she is ours. We're going to get her back, Hudson."
This is why he's my right hand man, my best friend. The man would do anything for me and, in turn, Mia. My hands begin to shake, "Jag, all that I keep picturing is what he's doing to her. I can't stop it. Is she hurt? Then what’s happened to her." I'm unable to keep the fear out of my voice.
"Hudson, we're going to find her and if she’s hurt, we're going to rain a world of hurt on whoever has done it. I'll be there to dish out a few hits too." A smile forms on his face but I don't feel like smiling. Mia is in the hands of some bastard and right now I feel helpless.
"Tell me, Jag, who do you believe has Mia, honestly?" I ask, I have my suspicions but something will come to light and then I begin doubting what I think.
A heavy sigh escapes him. "I thought it was Barney."
"Thought? You don't think so anymore?"
“No, I don't think so anymore. Especially after that phone call with Barney. Something is not sitting right with me though, Hudson.” He shakes his head. “I mean, why is Martin lying? Why is Barney being so secretive? And why the hell has your dad not contacted you? Fuck, why has Tina not contacted you? The woman's daughter is missing and she hasn’t called you to find out if there's any news. So yeah, I don't know if Barney is responsible. I don't think he is but then again I could be wrong. This is a fucked up situation, one that I can't wrap my head around.”
He's right it is a fucked up situation, and trying to find out who has Mia is like trying to find a n
eedle in a haystack. Nobody knows anything. Whoever has her, must have a lot of backing. Or they’re keeping it very close to their chest. Meaning they don’t trust anyone with this information. That’s what I reckon has happened. That it’s someone quiet and unassuming. I need to find out who can keep something so quiet, my men talk worse than gossipers in the salon getting their hair done. That’s why my mind is fucked, I can't work out who it is, and all I can focus on is finding Mia. But for me to find her I have to know who it is. It’s a vicious circle, one that is never going to end.
“I tell you one thing, Jag, I find it funny timing that Tina and Dad are coming back now. I mean Mia has been gone three days now and they’ve not been involved at all in trying to find her and all of a sudden they decide they want to find out what's happening. It doesn’t sit right Jag.” There’s something about Tina I do not trust, fuck even my Dad's a piece of shit. The way they've gone about everything that's happened since Mia’s been missing has proved to me that they don't care about their kids. They’re both all about themselves.
“You’ll find out in twenty minutes, Hudson, but you’re right something has definitely happened. Why else would they be coming here? I feel as though we’re out of the loop, and it isn’t a great place to be. I guess when they get here you'll be having two conversations; one with your father and one with Barney
“Yep.” I say popping the P, “and I won't be going easy on either of them. I don’t give a fuck that he’s blood, Mia is mine and the fact that she's missing and he's not done a single thing to help pisses me off. He's never going to change, he’s still an asshole. Thing is, if it had been the other way round, even if I hadn't known who Mia was and Tina was missing. The fact that she's my dad's wife, that my dad loves her means that I would have moved heaven and earth to find her for him. ” I don't know why I believed he was ever going to change? Stupid me, I should have known better. Mom was right, Dad only wants what's good for Dad, fuck what anyone else wants.
“I know you would, Hudson, I also know that if it was me in the position you are in, and it was Sarah that was missing, you'd you doing everything in your power to find her. We are going to find her. I can't promise you when, but I can promise you that we will find her.”
“I'm going to start with Barney. You're right he’s secretive and I want to know why. I want to know what the fuck is going on. If he doesn't have Mia and Lacey then why is he being so weird? Why is he taking secret phone calls? Why did he not ask to be swapped? I mean he slept with Lacey and yet he doesn't seem bothered that she's gone. That doesn’t sit right with me. My men do not treat women with such disrespect, you sleep with a woman you treat her right, not the way Barney’s gone about it. Lacey’s different.” I’m seething, Barney’s in for a shock when I get to him.
“Yes, Lacey’s different, she's family,” Jagger says adamantly. “Hudson, you’ve got you and Mia who are like a love story, you both belong to each other, it’s clear for everyone to see. Your parents are married to each other, then you have Sarah and Lacey who are Mia’s sisters, and then you’ve got me and Barney. It's weird, Lace is a sweetheart, she really is and she doesn't deserve the shit that Barney has brought down on her. He too hasn’t even asked if we have any news about where they are.” He shakes his head in disbelief, his voice full of disapproval
“I get that you can sleep with a woman and realize she's not the one for you, but you still don't need to be an asshole about it. All I need is a couple of minutes with Barney and I'll find out exactly what's going on with him.”
Jagger laughs, “A couple of minutes? I say you aren't even with him thirty seconds and he'll be bawling like a baby.”
I smile and my foot pushes down on the gas pedal harder as I pray that the talk with Barney will give me some information.’
Four
Hudson
I swirl the amber liquor in my glass as I wait for the door to open. The television is off and I'm shrouded in darkness, everything that's happened over the last few days has been re-playing over mind as I wait for Barney, my dad, and Tina to walk in. Martin hasn't called and I'm taking it that he's not found Carina yet. Martin and Barney have been with me since the beginning, neither have motive as I've never done anything to them, yet both have had plenty of opportunity. They’re both acting suspicious. Either that, or I'm losing the plot completely and taking everything they do and scrutinizing it.
One thing is for sure, one of my men has Mia. There's no doubt in my mind, not anymore. I’ve thought about it so much these past three days, and talking to Jagger I just cemented the fact that what I believed in the beginning is true. Now I know for sure, I need to find out how they knew where they were going to be. Mia never told anyone. The usual person I'd go to, to find this shit out would be Martin. That isn't going to happen, not when I suspect him. I need to find someone else who's good at hacking.
The door opens, the sound of heels clinking against my floor just as the light comes on flooding the room with brightness. "Jesus, Hudson, why are you sitting in darkness?" Tina asks and I turn to see her placing her hand on her chest like she's a rich socialite. She’s certainly living up to the money my dad has. The fancy house, the spontaneous vacations, I think as I hold the purse strings now that shit’s going to stop.
"It's my house, I can do whatever the hell I want. If I want to sit in darkness, I will. What are you doing here?" My tone clipped, they’ve not asked if they can stay here, they’ve just assumed, that's not going to work. I’m not putting up with them here.
"Son, where do you think we're going to go?" Dad's his usual abrupt self, thinking that because he’s my dad he can do as he pleases. No, not after everything that has gone down these past few days. The fucker hasn’t done anything to help me find Mia, he just sat in his fancy fucking house and waited.
"A hotel, motel, hell there's even a hostel. Take your pick." I tell him not even looking at him. "Barney," I say getting to my feet, "Follow me, we need to talk." I get up off the sofa and walk toward my office, footsteps sound behind me and I don’t look behind me to see if he’s following me. If he isn’t, he’ll regret it.
"He can't be serious?" Tina's shrill voice sets my teeth on edge. "Harrison, are you going to let him throw us out? Where are we supposed to stay?"
I don't bother turning, "I don't care. Anywhere but here. Now get the fuck out of my house." I know I'm being harsh, but they deserve it. Neither my dad nor Barney say a word. When I walk into my office I go behind my desk, taking a seat I switch on the light beside me. It only illuminates a little bit of my office but enough to see Barney's face. His eyes widen, although he sits up straight in the chair. His body language is saying he's confident, whereas his eyes are saying anything but.
"Do you know why you're here?" I keep my voice even, I'm not certain that he's the one just yet. He's done a few suspicious things, things that have got my mind spinning. He's got this time now to prove that he's not the man that has done this, if he has this is the last conversation he's ever going to have.
He shakes his head. "No boss, I don't."
I clasp my hands in front of me as I lean forward, keeping eye contact with him as I do. "Want to explain to me why you stayed in Hidden Hills instead of helping find Lacey?"
I watch with amusement as he grinds his jaw, he's thinking about what to say instead of spewing whatever he's thinking, no doubt it's to tell me to fuck off and mind my own damn business. But I'm the boss and he's being respectful.
"Honestly, Boss, I don't think I'm in the right frame of mind to be helping. I'd be more of a hindrance than anything else."
That's not what I thought he'd say. I hide my shock, my face is even. It's why I'm a fucking amazing poker player, I have no tell. "Why is that?"
He shakes his head. "How do you do it?"
"Do what?" I ask, I have no idea what the hell he's talking about.
"How are you so calm? Mia's gone and you're so..." He pauses and I glare at him. "You. It’s like your acting as though it doesn't af
fect you, but it does. How do you do it?"
I raise my brow, "How do I do it?" I can't keep the contempt out of my voice. "Mia is my everything which means I will do everything in my power to make sure that she comes home. That's how I do it. That is my focus. That is my goal. I'm not standing around watching everybody else do it because at least she'll know that I fought for her."
I watch his eyes shut, he realizes he’s fucked up.
"It's the least I can do, it's what I have to do. I don't understand why we’re even having this discussion." I stare at him wondering what the hell he's thinking.
He sighs heavily. "But I have no idea what to do. I fucked up so badly with her. I never felt this way about anyone before until Lacey came along with her smart brain and smart mouth. Not to mention she's gorgeous, she makes my head spin. I had no idea how to play it. Boss, that's not me. I'm the ladies’ man. I fuck them and leave. I've never felt bad about it, it's what I've always done."
I can't help but smirk. "You're so fucked." I laugh, now I understand why he's being acting so weird. He's in love.
He rolls his eyes at me. "Tell me something I don't know."
I nod. "Barney can I trust you?" Even as I ask him, I still don't know if I can.
He flinches, looking insulted. "Are you being for real right now, Boss?"
"Yes I'm being for real, now answer the damn fucking question!" I bite out as I glare at him.
"Of course you can trust me, Boss. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't loyal to you," he replies instantly. He doesn't blink, he doesn't move, hell he doesn't even show any emotion.
"I believe you," I tell him and watch as his entire body deflates. "If I find out you're lying to me, Barney. There is nowhere on this earth's surface that you can hide from me. Do you understand?"
He nods once. “I understand. Now, do you want to tell me the real reason I'm here?"
I'm impressed, although I’d never tell him that. "Okay, the real reason you're here is because I want answers. I am your boss that's not why you fear me, is it? You fear me because you've seen what I'm capable of. You have witnessed first-hand the things that I have done."
Dangerous Secrets (The Kingpin Book 2) Page 3
