Trouble

by Nicole, Angela

  What the hell does my father have to do with this? He’s in prison. Then it fucking hits me. My stomach drops to my feet.

  “I can see by the look on your face you do know a Sam Palmer,” Jackson states as a true fact. “Want to tell us why this ransom note is asking for a million dollars for Hennie’s safe return? It says here Sam Palmer owes Hennie’s kidnappers seven hundred thousand dollars, but with interest for the last fifteen years, well, they’re asking for one million.”

  I rip the note out of Jackson’s hand. My own hands shake as I read it. My goddamn father is responsible for this.

  Catherine follows me to the other side of the room. “Who is Sam Palmer?”

  I swallow the sudden lump in my throat as I run my eyes over the letter again. “Sam Palmer is my piece of shit father. He’s in prison for armed robbery back in New York State. He robbed a bank to pay his gambling debts.”

  Throwing the note on the table, I rub my hands over my face. “Your husband’s right. This is all my fault.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Hennie

  My hands won’t stop shaking. It seems to be getting worse the farther we get from the city. At least, I think we’re driving away from the city since these two assholes blindfolded me the minute they shoved me in the car.

  The one driving the car is named Rocco, or at least that’s what the other guy calls him. Rocco hasn’t called the other guy by name, but with him so close to me in the backseat, I think his name should be Garbage Breath.

  My thoughts go to Tate. What if I don't make it out of here alive? Even though I can't see anything, I feel his strength. Perhaps that's why I haven't broken down yet.

  “Rocco, we're almost there. Take the next left. The cabin’s around the corner.”

  I listen to every word they're saying. Maybe there will be a clue as to where they're taking me. I struggle a bit against the rope securing my wrists.

  “Be careful, bitch. Rocco and I don't have a lot of patience. You better hope your boyfriend cooperates and gets us the money.”

  Garbage Breath slides what I know is a blade down my cheek, making me gasp. All I can do is pray that somehow Catherine will alert Tate, and he will come find me.

  The car slows, and I hear the gravel stones underneath the car tires as they crunch. The car jerks to a sudden stop, and Garbage Breath opens the door.

  “Rocco, get her out of the car and into the cabin.”

  I hear the other car door open and slam shut. Rocco’s feet crunch the gravel just as the tires did.

  “Let’s go, bitch,” he says as he yanks me from the back seat.

  I stumble a bit but right myself for fear of being more at their mercy. I was taught in a self-defense class to never get on the ground if I can help it.

  Rocco’s hot breath is in my ear. “I guess we'll find out how much your boyfriend loves you. Do you think he loves you enough to give us the million dollars his old man owes us?”

  So, that's what this is all about. I knew Sam Palmer was a shady son of a bitch, but why now? Why all of a sudden, after years of being in prison, are these two assholes out for money? Are they blackmailing Tate? How will he know they have me? Perhaps a ransom note.

  Rocco drags me up the steps to what I assume is the cabin Garbage Breath was talking about. I can feel a light rain begin to mist my face, and even though I can't see, I can smell the woods all around us. It’s a musty smell.

  The door to what I assume is the cabin creaks open, and I trip over the threshold, careful not to fall. I'm not sure which man helps me, but he does it assertively by yanking my arm.

  “Do you want her in the bedroom, Paulie?”

  “Goddamnit, Rocco, you're not supposed to use my name.”

  “Sorry, boss.”

  So Garbage Breath’s name is Paulie. I file that in the back of my mind, noting he seems to be the boss of this. I'm pushed into what I assume is the bedroom.

  “Bring the chair and some rope, Rocco.”

  Oh no, they're going to tie me to a chair. My panic attack seems imminent. I try to slow my breathing just like Tate taught me, but it's not working. My hands and arms start to shake, and I know the minute they put the rope around my wrists, I'll be in a full-blown panic attack.

  “Why are you shaking, bitch? We haven't even started with you yet.”

  Now my legs are starting to shake. My stomach rolls at the thought of what they're going to do to me. And as hard as I try to think about Tate right now to give me strength, my primary focus is trying to cut off the impending panic attack.

  Rocco or Paulie, I'm not sure which pushes me into the chair with a sudden thump. To ward off any panic attack, I start to think about being back in New York with Tate all those years ago before I thought he cheated on me. I imagine the times when we would lay in the field, talking, kissing, and touching.

  I try to feel the warm sun on my face as I laugh at Tate’s corny jokes. These memories help my breathing slow to where I don't notice my feet are being tied to the legs of the chair. Breathe in and out, I tell myself. Even though I have a blindfold on, I close my eyes anyway so I can see Tate's face in front of me. I focus on his mouth and how he's breathing in and out slowly.

  I hear the door shut behind me, hoping my two captors are leaving me alone. Voices from the room behind the door are low, but if I strain hard enough, I can hear them.

  “Do you think they got the ransom note yet?”

  I'll give them another thirty minutes, and then I'm making a call. I'm not waiting fucking forever for our money. Sam has gotten away with not paying the boss for far too long. And if we don't get the money soon, it will be our heads.”

  My mind races as I wonder who the ransom note was sent to. Did they send it to Tate? That would be the obvious answer since it’s his father who owes the money. So where is he, and why hasn't he called? I wonder what his thoughts were when he saw the note. He’ll call. Tate told me he still loved me. I just hope I get the chance to tell him I still love him too.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Tate

  I feel so fucking helpless as I pace Catherine's office. I know people are speaking around me, but all I can focus on is how I can get Hennie back safely. I make a quick call to Nolan, letting him know what’s going on. Of course, he offered to fly out first thing, and right now, I feel like I need someone I trust. But first, I asked him to go visit my father and see if he can get any information as to who would want to take Hennie. I want to know who the hell he still owes money to.

  Nolan said he’ll head upstate and then book a flight out to meet me as soon as he can. His concerned voice wasn’t shocking to me. He considers Hennie his sister.

  I stare at the ransom note as Jackson and Catherine debate whether or not to call the police. Catherine wants them involved, but Jackson believes he and his security forces can find Hennie and bring her back safely. But if he thinks he's going to do that without me, he's dead wrong. I’ll gladly trade my own life for hers.

  “I can get the million, but it’ll take me a day or so. I want to be the one to take it to them and make sure Hennie is safe.”

  Jackson eyes me with suspicion. I'm not sure if it's because he thinks I'm in this with my father or maybe he just doesn't trust me because he doesn't know me. Either way, I don't give a fuck. Once I get the information from my father, I’ll make sure I’m the one to bring my woman home. And once I do, I’m never letting her go again.

  I dial the bank manager, Seth. He assures me he can get the million into Jackson’s account by tomorrow after I offer him a sizeable amount for the expediting. When I tell him not to ask any questions, he doesn’t.

  Catherine excuses herself, taking her husband with her. The young woman from the lobby approaches me. I notice some discoloration around her cheek as if a bruise is fading. Of course, I make the connection as to why Hennie came back to California. This must be Steffy.

  “I’m Steffy. Hennie is my best friend.” Her voice is shaking. “Please, you have to find
her.”

  My already broken heart shatters a little more seeing the desperation in her face. It must match mine. Realizing Hennie is a lifeline for both of us, I suddenly feel a connection to Steffy. Swallowing the tension in my throat, I take her hand in mine. It trembles.

  “I will go into whatever hell I have to in order to find her Steffy. I can promise you that. But you and I need to do something for Hennie, okay?”

  She nods assertively. Good. She’s with me.

  “We need to stay calm, okay. If we do that, maybe we can think clearly. Hennie would want us to do that.”

  She seems a little skeptical, but in the end, Steffy agrees.

  “Good. Now can you remember if Hennie mentioned anything to you about someone following her or anything out of the ordinary?”

  “No, everything was normal when she left for work. She never mentioned anything strange to me. Why would someone take her Tate?”

  “Let’s sit down, and I can fill you in.”

  We make our way over to the table in Catherine’s office, and I fill Steffy in on my father and what he’s done in the past. She asks questions, and I do my best to answer them. Steffy shares just what Hennie means to her. It doesn’t surprise me one bit that Hennie would put Steffy and her daughter above herself, and that includes me. It’s who she is as a person, making me love her with everything I am.

  The moment of connection between me and Steffy is temporarily interrupted when Catherine and Jackson reenter the office. While Catherine offers me a small smile, Jackson makes his way over to us. Running his hand through his hair, he offers an apology . . . sort of.

  “So, I guess I need to apologize for my reaction when you walked in. My wife explained to me your connection to Hennie. I just know how much she means to Catherine, so when I found out your dad is partly responsible for her kidnapping, I lost it and blamed you.”

  “I just want to find her, man. If you can help me do that, I’d fucking appreciate it.”

  With a quick nod and a handshake, Jackson fills me in on what he’d like to do. We make plans to meet up with some of his guys. He already has them working on possible locations of where Hennie could be.

  Four hours of pacing and looking at maps with Jackson and some of his guys via video, Nolan calls me back.

  “Your dad is in a pretty bad state.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “Well, someone beat the shit out of him a few weeks ago. He’s scared shitless some guy named Frank Roberto is going to have him offed. But once I told him Hennie was in trouble, he offered a little bit of information.”

  I can’t even feel sorry for the bastard right now. I need to focus on getting my woman back.

  “He gave me a lead on a location where this Roberto guy took him once. Your dad was with him when he roughed some gambler who didn’t have the money to repay him.”

  Nolan goes quiet for a few seconds before I demand him to finish telling me what he knows.

  Blowing out a breath, he continues. “There’s a cabin near Big Bear Lake. He remembers part of a name on the door. It was Isabella something. Tate, you need to find this place now.”

  Furiously, I write down everything Nolan is telling me.

  “Thanks, man. I owe you my life.”

  “Just get our girl back, yeah?”

  “Fuck yeah!”

  Before I can make it out the door to my car, Jackson stops me. “Is there news?”

  For a second, I debate not telling him what Nolan said. It’s my own stubbornness, but since it’s Hennie’s life and not mine, I need all the help I can get.

  “Yeah. Nolan thinks she may be in Big Bear Lake at some cabin by the name of Isabella something.”

  “I’m on it,” Jackson replies as he sits down at his laptop.

  Hovering over his shoulder, I watch as he types expeditiously. I glance up at Catherine and Steffy, knowing they depend on us to bring Hennie back. Their worried looks only strengthen my resolve.

  “Got it!” Jackson yells. “Isabella Rosa. It’s got to be it. Here’s a map showing the location just on this side of Big Bear Lake. We should be there in ninety minutes.”

  “Fuck that— sixty. I’m out!” I yell, running out the door.

  “Wait.” Catherine and Jackson catch up to me. “Please let Jackson help you. He’s very good at finding people who don’t want to be found.”

  I know she’s right. After all, it’s what he does for a living, but this is Hennie.

  “I know the area better than you, Tate. I’ll be your back-up if that’s what you want.”

  Not wanting to waste any more time, I nod and head out to my car.

  Jackson says his goodbyes to Catherine with a promise to return all of us safely.

  Fuck, I hope he’s telling the truth.

  “We’re taking my car, Tate. I’ll drive while we make a plan on how to get Hennie out of the cabin.”

  I want to argue that I should be the one in charge of getting Hennie back, but I don’t.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Hennie

  Lying here in the dark, I rub my wrists where the rope bit into my flesh. Thankfully, after they gave me something to eat, they didn’t tie me back to the chair. Instead, the locked me in this room with a threat. Although I don’t know the exact hour, it’s sometime after midnight. That was the last time I was allowed to use the bathroom.

  Sounds from the living room outside my door have quieted from earlier. An hour or so ago, Rocco and Paulie were getting agitated, waiting for a call. Their agitation worried me. I’ve seen enough movies where the kidnappers go berserk, and things go to shit.

  Closing my eyes tightly, I pray Tate finds me before something happens. I know it hasn’t been that long, but with each passing moment, I worry Tate doesn’t know I’m here. That concern is magnified by what I imagine may happen if he does come. Do I want him to put himself in jeopardy?

  I need to see him again. I need to talk about what happened all those years ago. My mind races at the possibilities of what could’ve been had he not lied. And now? Is there any way I can get past it? Images of Tate and I scroll past my mind like a movie. From the time we met as kids until the last moment I saw him.

  Just as I can relax enough to let sleep take over me, I’m startled by a loud crash and then the sound of gunfire.

  Throwing off my coverlet, I huddle in the corner far away from my door. I can’t open it anyway, and I’m not sure I want to. It takes a few seconds for voices to register when it hits me— it’s Jackson and Tate. There’s more screaming, but it’s not coming from the good guys. It’s coming from Rocco and Paulie.

  I race to the door, pounding on the heaving steel casing hoping Tate or Jackson can hear me.

  “Tate!” My voice is scratchy from not speaking. I muster more strength and yell as loudly as I can over the noise of the scuffle outside my door. “Tate, I’m in here!”

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Tate

  Between the flashbang and the bullet that grazed my arm, my adrenaline is flowing quickly.

  “Clear!” Jackson yells as we neutralize the two men who were dumb enough to let their guard down.

  One is dead, and the other is on his way out quickly, but we need information from him.

  “Go find her. I’ll take care of getting what we need.”

  “Do whatever you need to do to this asshole,” I say before I hear Hennie yelling for me.

  “Tate, I’m in here!”

  Immediately, a sense of relief comes over me as I glance at the door down the left of the hallway. Fuck! It’s solid steel, but thankfully it’s locked from the outside so I can get to her.

  “Hennie! It’s Tate. Are you okay?”

  “Yes, just get me out of here!”

  The four locks are easy enough to undo, but the door itself is heavy. Pulling with both hands, I’m able to open it enough to see what’s on the other side of the door. And when it registers that Hennie is okay, I tamp down the fear that’s be
en threatening to bubble up.

  When Hennie’s eyes meet mine, I see the relief in her too.

  “Hey, Trouble. Wanna get out of here?”

  She launches herself into my arms, wrapping her legs around my waist. I feel her body shake as she sobs into my neck. Rubbing her back, I try to soothe her. “Hey, everything is going to be okay now. Jackson and I took care of those assholes. You’re safe.”

  Hennie rubs her face against me before lowering herself down. “I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again. I didn’t know if you’d want to find me after the way I left.”

  Before I can respond with how much I love her, Jackson interrupts. “I called the sheriff. He’s on his way. Hey, Hennie. Glad you’re okay, sweetheart.”

  Hennie begins to cry again as Jackson pulls her in for an embrace. I’d be pissed if it were any other man, but I owe Jackson my life for helping to save Hennie’s.

  “What did you do to Rocco and Paulie? Are they dead?” she asks me as she pulls from Jackson.

  “Well, we don’t know who is who, but one is dead, yes. The other is out cold and restrained. Come on, let’s sit down in the kitchen, away from everything. Why don’t you close your eyes, so you don’t have to see them?”

  She shakes her head. “I need to make sure they can’t hurt me or anyone else again, Tate.”

  I glance at Jackson, who nods slightly. I’d like to ask him if he’d let Catherine see the mess out in the living room.

  Grabbing Hennie’s hand, I lead her out slowly with Jackson behind us. One of the men is on the floor on his side. There isn’t much blood, and for that, I’m grateful for Hennie’s sake.

  “That’s Paulie,” she whispers. “The one tied up in the chair is Rocco.”

  “Okay. That’s all you need to say for now, but the police will be here to ask questions.”