Bentley: Vested Interest #1

by Melanie Moreland

  “I need this done immediately.”

  He shook his head. “Yeah, that much I figured out on my own.” He strode from the office.

  I sat down heavily, rubbing my eyes.

  Aiden hunched beside me.

  “Bentley, it’s almost over. She’ll be home tomorrow.”

  “I want her home today.”

  “I’m trying. We’re combing through every traffic cam, tracing down every piece of email, looking through every computer associated with you. Reid is using every skill he has to try to run down those numbered companies. Whoever is behind this doesn’t want to be found.” His voice was strained. “We’re not going to stop, though.”

  I met his weary gaze. “I know, Aiden. And I know it wasn’t your fault. I was out of line yesterday; I didn’t mean what I said. I was angry and upset and I took it out on you. Please accept my apology for being an ass.”

  He blinked, stood, and held out his hand. “Forgiven and forgotten.”

  I ignored his hand, and embraced him. His massive arms felt like vices around my shoulders.

  “You and Maddox are my family. I need you.”

  He stepped back. “She’s part of our family. So is her family.” He jerked his thumb behind him to the room where I could hear Cami and Dee’s voices. “We’re in this together and we’ll get her back.”

  I nodded. “Right.”

  “Go have a shower. Change. Andrew is making breakfast and we’ll keep digging.”

  “Okay.”

  **

  I towel dried my hair, and slipped into fresh clothes after my shower. I felt more awake and anxious to get back downstairs. I had no idea how long it would be until Greg sent notice I agreed to the offer and they would allow Emmy to go free, but I wanted to know the instant it occurred. I prayed that was what would happen. That nothing would go wrong, and they wouldn’t hurt her. I couldn’t bear for that to happen.

  I hurried downstairs, finding Cami and Dee at the table. Reid was gone from the sofa.

  “Where are Aiden and Maddox?”

  “They said they had to do something downstairs.”

  “Is Reid with them?”

  “Yes.”

  Without another word, I turned and hurried downstairs. Something was up. I could feel it in every bone of my body. I burst through the door of the security room downstairs. Three heads looked up at once.

  “What is it?”

  “Shut the door.”

  I pushed it closed and moved closer. “What’s going on?”

  Maddox looked at me. “I lied.”

  “What?”

  “There is no Indian food place. Emmy was giving us a clue.”

  I sat down, exasperated. “What? Why didn’t you say something?”

  He leaned forward, his voice dripping in fury. “Because she was telling us Greg is involved.”

  Chapter 16

  Bentley

  It took me a minute to process his words.

  “Greg? What the fuck does her wanting a curry have to do with Greg?”

  “Has she ever said anything to you about him?” Maddox asked.

  “No. She only met him once, briefly, here in the house. She didn’t say much, except she found him cold and intimidating.”

  “She told me that., too. She also thought he was exceedingly intense. She said he reminded her of Tim Curry. We shared a good laugh over it because I had to agree with her.” He let his words sink in. “She said she wanted ‘a curry’ to tip us off. She knew I would remember.” A smirk played on his lips. “She’s clever.”

  “That’s why she directed her comment to you.”

  “Yes.”

  My fists tightened, and hate tore through my body. “If you’re right, I’m going to kill him. Right the fuck now.”

  Aiden’s hand clamped heavy on my shoulder. “No, you’re not. You’re going to go upstairs and pretend this conversation never happened. When Greg calls you with information about the sale, you’re going to do exactly what he tells you.”

  “Why would I do any of that?”

  Aiden bent at the knees and met my eyes. “Because while he’s busy celebrating he won, we’re going to figure out where she is and get her.”

  “How?” I asked. “You haven’t had any luck yet.”

  “We didn’t know where to look. We’ve been looking for a needle in a haystack. Now we’re focusing all our energy on him.” He gave me a pointed look.

  “Let’s get at it.”

  He shook his head. “I think somehow he’s watching—or listening. Maddox is going upstairs with you. I need Reid’s hacking skills and this room is totally secure. Greg’s never had access to it. In fact, he doesn’t even know it exists. So, if he’s watching your computer or listening in, all he is gonna see is the same gerbil wheel we’ve been on since we started, and all he is going to hear is failure.”

  “You really think you can find her?”

  Reid and Aiden answered in unison, Reid never looking up from the computer. “Yes.”

  “Why would he do this to me?”

  Maddox shrugged. “Who knows? Jealousy? Greed? I have no idea, but it’s definitely him. He may not be alone, but he’s part of it.”

  “He is going to pay.”

  Aiden laughed; a low rumbling sound in his chest that sounded like a snarl. “Big time. We are going to fucking nail him to the wall. I’m going to enjoy it too, but first we all need to act normal, and not make him suspicious.”

  “The girls?”

  “They need to be kept in the dark. What we’ve discussed stays in this room. I’ll keep you up to date.”

  “How do I explain where you are? Why you’ve suddenly disappeared? Won’t that look suspicious?”

  He grinned devilishly. “I think we’re about to have another fight.”

  **

  “Bentley! Calm down!”

  I shook off Maddox’s “grip” and glared at him. Cami and Dee sat up, staring at us.

  “He’s been up all night. Give him a break. Let him work out and have a nap. He’ll be better able to concentrate. I’ll work with you on trying to figure this out.”

  I threw up my hands and stormed into my den. “Whatever.”

  Maddox followed me. I sat at my desk, staring at the screen, wondering if I was being watched. He ambled around the room, seemingly not doing anything, but I knew he was looking for bugs. He stopped by the shelves in front of my desk and lifted a stone carving, arching his brow.

  “When did you get this?”

  “A few years ago. You like it?”

  “Yes, I like it very much.” He tapped the shelf. “I’ll just put it back down, yeah?”

  “Good idea. It’s not yours, and it was expensive.”

  “Okay, then.”

  He set it down and took a seat.

  “Comfy?”

  “I am now.”

  “More?” I asked quietly, pressing the keys on my computer.

  “No idea.”

  “All right.”

  Maddox leaned back. “I was thinking about that piece of property on the East Side.”

  I looked at him, confused. We had dismissed it ages ago. A good price, but the costs associated with it made it unviable. There was too much work developing the area around needed to make it a good decision.

  His left eyebrow rose, and a smirk played on his lips. I caught on to his idea.

  “You think we should go for it?”

  “All the studies say it could be worth millions when done.”

  I sat back, hiding my grin. If the fucker was listening, we could help him lose some of the money he was stealing from us.

  “Let’s discuss. It will take my mind off things.”

  With a subtle wink, he started.

  For over two hours, we bullshitted. He stood, yawned, and stretched. We had dropped over a half dozen red herrings. It had been a good idea on his part. It stopped me from going downstairs, and I enjoyed the crap stories we made up on pieces of land we had no interest in what
soever.

  “I should check on Aiden.” He shot me a meaningful glance. “You should come with me and apologize. And mean it. It’s not his fault he can’t find anything.”

  “Yes.”

  We passed through the living area. The girls were gone, no doubt upstairs.

  “You were pretty chummy with Dee last night.”

  “Shut it.”

  “Just an observation.”

  “She was being kind. I was tense and had a headache.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “You want to razz someone?” Maddox huffed. “Ask Aiden where he and Cami disappeared to for over four hours. He looked rather rumpled when he reappeared.”

  I didn’t have a chance to reply before we entered the security room to see Aiden and Reid bent over the same computer. Aiden was cursing.

  “What?” I asked immediately.

  “We hacked into Greg’s personal and business computers.”

  “Find anything?”

  “Lots, but the most important thing is that he, or one of his numbered companies, owns a warehouse not far from where the car was found. It’s deserted. In fact, all of the buildings on the block are. No cameras, no people. What better place to keep someone you don’t want found?”

  Maddox whistled low. “We thought it looked like an empty warehouse.”

  “Let’s go.”

  Aiden shook his head. “No. I have a plan, Bent. I need you to follow my instructions to the letter, though. No matter how much you hate it. Do you understand?”

  “Will you bring her home?”

  “Yes. When it’s dark and we’re clear to move safely. We just need a few more hours.”

  “Then I’ll do it.”

  **Emmy**

  I pulled my knees tighter to my chest, desperately trying to get warm, even though I knew it was fruitless. I rubbed my hands on my legs trying to stimulate some heat. I grimaced at the dirt on my palms mixed in with some blood from the scratches on my skin. I was dirty, tired, hungry, scared, and angry. I wasn’t sure which one was the most prevalent.

  Darkness had descended again in the horrid little room where they were holding me captive. It was gross. The one tiny window was set so high, I had no hope of reaching it, and so much grime covered it, I hadn’t realized it was a window until I saw a small sliver of sun through it in the early morning. The small room with the broken door across from me housed the disgusting toilet and filthy sink I refused to use. I didn’t eat the granola bar they tossed in, and I poured out the water out a bit at a time. The seal had been broken, and I was certain someone had been tampered with it.

  The larger door on the far side of the room was shut, only blackness showing under the bottom edge. Something was going on. They had removed the camera they’d set up, and it had been silent for the past while. I had tried to remove the thick band around my wrist, but had only succeeded in chafing the skin even more than it already had been. I strained to listen, but couldn’t hear anything. Earlier in the day, I had heard voices somewhere down the hall, so I was sure I was alone, but for how long I didn’t know.

  I wasn’t sure what was worse. Alone with the four-legged rats I could hear scurrying in the walls, or worried about what the masked, two-legged variety might do when the door opened. I tried to pretend to be asleep when they came in so they didn’t bother me. Usually unless it was to make me say something on camera or take one of their stupid photos, they left me alone. The only time I had been hurt was when I tried to get away from them and fell in the struggle, landing on my face, and again on my knees when I tripped. Bentley had lost it when he saw the marks. His tirade about a blanket was frightening, and one of the men had knocked over the camera, which stopped the recording.

  Still, it had worked, and shortly after, one of them had tossed an old, dirty blanket at me. I unfolded it and sat on it as protection from the cold, stone floor, and draped it over my knees to try to ward off the never-ending chill. I had buried my head in my hands and tried not to cry. It was a little later was when I heard it: the sound of a new voice. The door had opened, and I didn’t move, keeping my head down.

  “She’s constantly asleep,” someone spoke. “The drugs are keeping her quiet.”

  “Good. Less trouble. Take a picture. It will satisfy him until we get what we want.” Then he chuckled, the sound low and familiar. “Until I get what I want.”

  I had forced myself to stay still. I’d recognized that chuckle, and the voice, even if he did speak low and didn’t think I could hear. It gave me chills, the same way it had the one time I met him.

  It had been Bentley’s lawyer, Greg. He was behind it all, and betrayed Bentley’s trust.

  I fidgeted with the edge of the blanket. Did Maddox understand what I had been trying to tell them? Did they know?

  A sound made me tense as footsteps and voices approached the door. They were back. I swallowed, not wanting to show my fear. I wanted Bentley. I wanted his arms around me, and his voice in my ear telling me I was safe. I wanted to curl up beside him and listen to him talk. I wanted to hear his laughter. He laughed more now than when I met him—he smiled more as well. Tears formed in my eyes thinking about him. He would be blaming himself, and going crazy. I was trying to stay strong, but I was feeling weak from lack of food or water. My head ached, and I was so cold, but I was holding on to what he said. He would get me home. I had to trust him.

  The footsteps seemed to be taking a long time. There were other noises—the sounds of doors opening and shutting and lots of quiet talking. A quake of anticipation went through me. Was it possible it wasn’t Greg’s men? Was it someone looking for me? Had Maddox figured it out?

  I wanted to cry out, but I was worried. What if it were worse? Not the men who had taken me, and not Bentley’s men, but what it were someone else altogether? I drew in a shaky breath and stood, bracing myself against the wall. I had to try. I had to get out of there.

  I opened my mouth and yelled. I was shocked how weak my voice sounded, but it was enough. Running feet headed in my direction, there was the sound of the door being broken down, and it flew open, smashing against the wall. Two men stood, their features hidden in the shadows with the flashlights trained on me. I raised my hand, squinting.

  “Help me, please.”

  A figure stepped forward. “Bentley sent us, Emmy.”

  Tears filled my eyes, and relief made me weak. “B-Bentley?”

  He moved closer, a thick blanket in his hands. “He said he needed you home now, Freddy.”

  With a sob, I collapsed.

  **Bentley**

  Aiden pulled his phone from his ear. “They have her.”

  Relief coursed through me, making my legs shake. I sat down, inhaling deep lungfuls of air.

  “They’ll have her here shortly.”

  “Are we covered?” I asked.

  “This place is tighter than Fort Knox. I’ve verified the only bug was the one in your office. Greg is at home and hasn’t gone anywhere since ten. I moved your car, so they’ll pull in downstairs. No one will know.”

  I glanced at Maddox. “Did you get hold of Colin?” He was Sandy’s grandson, and an ER doctor.

  “He’ll be here.”

  I looked at Aiden. “Was it difficult to get to her?”

  Aiden shook his head. “Like I suspected earlier, he had pulled out. The only person in the building was Emmy. His men and the camera were long gone.”

  “He fucking left her chained and alone?”

  “I think his plan was to send us the address and we would get her tomorrow.”

  “And risk us discovering it was his building?”

  “Why would we, Bent? It’s Greg. Your friend. Your lawyer. Someone we never suspected. He would offer to help trace the ownership, all we’d find was another fucking numbered company. Another mystery. That bastard fooled us all. He even had the audacity to be here while they sent that last transmission. He arranged all of this shit—thought of everything. How could we suspect a man who was with us w
hile it was happening?”

  He was right.

  “Are you sure everything is in place?”

  “It’s all taken care of, Bentley. She’ll be back soon, the land is still yours, and tomorrow we’ll nail him.”

  “It’s not the land I’m worried about.”

  “I know. I’m just pointing out all the positives.”

  I paced the room, feeling as if I wanted to jump out of my skin. “How long?”

  “Not long. The ETA is ten minutes.”

  I hurried to the stairs. I wasn’t going to wait until they brought her to me. I was going to her. I was going to be the first one she saw when she arrived home.

  **

  I had her in my arms as soon as the garage door slid closed. The lingering terror and the exhaustion on her face destroyed me. Her arms wrapped around my neck hard, and she buried her face to my chest, constant tremors running through her body. I headed to the waiting elevator, not saying a word to anyone. Maddox and Aiden could handle the crew.

  In my room, I grabbed the heated blanket Andrew had thoughtfully provided. I wrapped it tightly around Emmy, knowing she needed the added warmth. Not a word passed between us as I held her, finally feeling her body begin to relax, as she grew warmer. There was so much I had to say, but the relief I felt was so profound, I couldn’t speak. My throat was thick and my eyes burned with the intensity of the emotion I felt. All I could do was hold her, providing the one thing I could give her fully—the protection of my body.

  She let out a long, shuddering breath, and leaned back, meeting my anxious gaze.

  “I’m okay,” she murmured, her voice raspy.

  Clearing my throat, I reached for a bottle of water, lifting it to her chapped lips. “Slow, Emmy. Sip it slow.”

  She sipped at the liquid, her eyes fluttering shut as she drank. She drained the bottle with a small huff.

  “More?” My eyes never left her face, hating the sight of the scrapes and dark bruise marring her skin.

  She shook her head.

  “What do you need?” I asked. “Tell me what to do.”

  She lifted her hand, cupping my cheek. “You. I need you.”

  I covered her hand with mine, pressing it into my skin. Turning my face, I kissed the bruise forming on her wrist. “You have me.” I inhaled. “Emmy, I’m so—”