I leaned my elbows on the desk, my words low. “She doesn’t know that, Dee. She’s alone. Scared. She’s confused, and cold. It’s fucking killing me.”
“And we’ll take care of her when you bring her home. You’ll take care of her.”
“Yes,” I stated adamantly.
“You really love her.”
“I do.” I bent forward, wanting, needing, to talk to someone about Emmy. Someone who knew her well. “She has changed my life. I want to change hers. Make it easier. I asked her to come live with me.”
“How did that go over?”
I frowned. “Not the way I hoped, to be honest. She was so hesitant. I know her past, and I know she struggles, but I’m not trying to take away her independence. I just want her with me. I want to share my life with her.”
“If you know her past, then you know why she is hesitant.” Dee shook her head sadly. “We tried to convince her to live with us, but it never happened. Her fear of depending on someone was too strong. She could never allow herself to love and trust anyone fully. And with you, she has much more at stake.”
“I would never leave or abandon her.”
“Bentley, you need to understand something. Even though she shows a different façade to the world, Emmy, in many ways, is more controlled than you are. People think she is carefree, humorous, and even flighty. She rarely shows her true feelings. She hides them under a smile or a laugh.”
“I know. There is much more to her than one sees.”
She tilted her head in agreement. “That’s what she lets them see. She is intensely private, and she doesn’t allow people in easily. The only way she survived being abandoned not once, but twice, was to take charge of her life. Be the one to make decisions about it. Where she lived, what she did, how much money she had. She has refused to depend on anyone for anything. Even Cami and myself.” She shrugged ruefully. “She didn’t expect you and the huge dilemma you present to her.”
“I’m sorry—I’m a dilemma? I don’t understand.”
“You are her greatest desire—the one she would never admit to having—and her biggest fear. The one person she can be herself with, and depend on not to hurt her. The person she can entrust her heart to. You are the person she never believed could exist for her.”
Her words hit me. I wanted to be that person for her. I wanted her to know she was everything to me and mattered above all else.
“I won’t hurt her. I’ll prove it to her.”
She stood, indicating the destruction of the room. “I believe you have. Be patient with her. Bring her home, Bentley. I don’t care what you have to give up to accomplish that.”
“I will.”
She walked out, and I sipped the coffee she had brought. I shut the door to the den and tried to straighten it up. The model was damaged, and I shoved it as far into the corner of the room as I could. That ambition was gone, and a new one in its place. I would get her back, find whoever did this and make sure they were punished. I went in search of a broom. Reid was tapping at his keyboard, Aiden beside him, staring at his screen. Maddox was stretched out on the sofa, his head resting on Dee’s lap. She was stroking his hair absently, her eyes shut. He looked to be sleeping. It hit me I had never once seen him with a woman in a private moment. He never spoke of his personal life and had never had a long-term relationship. None of us had, until now.
I stopped and met Aiden’s gaze. “You need some sleep.”
“We have to keep going.”
“I’ll sit with Reid. You can get some rest, then come back.” He started to protest, and I interrupted him.
“Aiden, I need you. I can’t do this without you. Get some rest and come back fresh.”
“What about you?”
The thought of going upstairs to my room, to the bed I shared with her, the sheets smelling of Emmy’s soft fragrance, was too much to handle. “I’ll grab a nap later.”
He stood. “Okay.”
A look passed between us. I knew I should apologize, tell him I regretted my words earlier, but he turned and walked away before I could speak.
I sat beside Reid. “Tell me what to do.”
* * *
A hand shook my shoulder, and I looked up, disoriented and blinking in the early morning light. Aiden was beside me, frowning. I had fallen asleep at the table. Maddox was where Reid had been sitting, and he was frowning, as well.
How long had I been asleep?
A quick glance at my wrist told me it was only a couple of hours.
“What?” I asked, tension coursing through me.
“Greg is here.” Aiden frowned.
I stood, confused. “What time is it? Why is he here?”
“It’s seven. He says you texted him.”
I shook my head as I picked up my phone. “I didn’t.”
Maddox spoke up. “I think it was done for you. They have made the next move.”
“Where is he?”
“Downstairs in the vestibule. I haven’t buzzed him up yet. I told him there was a problem with the door.”
“You left him down there?”
“I wasn’t sure how to handle the situation regarding him.”
“Has there been any contact?”
Maddox turned his screen. “This.”
It was a picture of Emmy, still in the same place, but now a tattered blanket draped over her shoulders. There were no new marks I could see. My stomach twisted looking at the picture. Not enough by far, but it was something.
“When did that come?”
“About thirty minutes ago. We were about to wake you when Greg showed up at the door.”
I rolled my shoulders, feeling stiff and groggy. I had only been asleep for a short while, and I was exhausted.
“Andrew has coffee. Lots of coffee.”
“Okay. Bring Greg in.”
* * *
Greg sat across from me, his expression blank. He took a sip of his coffee while studying me. He had appeared confused and snippy when Aiden brought him upstairs and into the den. His eyebrows rose looking at the destruction of the room, and he had sat down, accepting coffee and waiting for me to speak.
Maddox and Aiden stood behind me. I swallowed a mouthful of coffee to banish the dryness in my throat.
Greg set down his mug. “What the fuck is going on, Bentley? You look like hell.”
I shook my head, dismissing his words. “I’ve changed my mind, Greg. I want to sell the land.”
He gaped at me. “You changed your mind? After the lecture you gave me last time we met, you changed your mind?”
“Yes.”
He glanced at the broken model. “Why?”
“It’s not important. I need you to get in touch and accept their offer.”
“All I have is an untraceable email address.”
“That will work. They are waiting to hear from you.”
He scowled. “I don’t know what’s going on. You text me at five a.m. I get an email with a new offer for less than you paid for the land—half of what their original offer was—and you want me to accept it?”
I heard Aiden’s sharp intake of breath. They had made their move. We had wondered why they didn’t demand I give them the land, instead of selling to them. Maddox surmised they wanted it legal and binding. Now, they dropped their offer. They would get the land, and financially, I would take a huge hit. I sucked in some much-needed air. I would also get Emmy back safe. The money was a renewable resource. She was not.
Before I could speak, my laptop screen lit up. There was a live feed of Emmy. The room was dim, and she was paler than ever, with dark circles under her eyes. She glared at the camera.
“Say it,” a disjointed voice demanded off camera.
She raised her chin, defiant.
“You have the final offer. Accept it.” She spat out the words, obviously angry, and not wanting to be their puppet.
Greg uttered a muffled curse, beginning to stand. Aiden held up his hand, stopping him from moving. I leane
d forward.
“I’ll accept it, Emmy. You’ll be home soon.”
Her eyes flashed, and she clutched the blanket closer. “I’m hungry, Bentley. Tell Maddox when I get home, I would kill for a curry.”
The screen went blank. I swiveled in my chair looking at Maddox. “What the fuck did she mean?”
He shrugged, looking puzzled. “Damned if I know, Bent.” He glanced away in thought, then snapped his fingers. “We were talking the other day about a new Indian place that opened up by my condo. I told her how good it was.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Sorry, man. She’s hungry and must have thought about our conversation. You know what it’s like when you get a craving. You can’t shake it.”
I hated knowing she was hungry. It added to my anger. They were going to pay.
“We’ll get her a whole whack of it when she comes home. Anything she wants.” He stepped away, moving to the door. “I need some coffee.”
I turned back to Greg.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“I can’t tell you. I need you to accept the offer, and leave it alone.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re being pressured.”
“Leave it alone.”
He started to say something, and I stopped him. “Do this, Greg. No questions, just do it. I need it done today. Do you understand?”
He stood, buttoning up his jacket. Even at this early hour he was groomed and unflappable. “I’m your lawyer, Bentley. Whatever you tell me would be held in the strictest of confidence. It’s obvious they have some leverage over you.” He indicated the laptop. “They’ve taken something of great value.”
I remained silent. I wasn’t risking her, and I didn’t want Greg digging.
“If you won’t confide in me, I’ll do as you ask and we can handle it afterward.” He huffed.
I stood, pounding my fist on the desk. I couldn’t let anyone know I planned on pursuing the fuckers and get justice for what they had done. Not until I had Emmy back and safe. “No. I’m selling the land, and that is final. There will be nothing to handle or discuss afterward. It is done. We move onto the next project.”
Aiden grabbed my shoulder. “Relax, Bent.”
I shook off his hold, glaring at Greg. “Nothing else. Am I clear? Leave it alone.”
With a snarl, he grabbed his briefcase. “Fine. I’ll send word when the offer is accepted.”
“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’s 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 had 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. Three heads looked up at once.
“What is it?”
“Shut the door.”
I pushed it shut 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 with fury. “Because she was telling us Greg is involved.”
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 his win, we’re going to figure out where she is and get her.”
“How?” I asked. “You haven’t had any luck yet.”
Reid answered. “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. His online presence, accounts, emails. He’s been hiding using fake profiles, remote access terminals, and burner emails. I can hack into his life, and hope he’s slipped up somewhere.” He chuckled. “They always do. I’ll find something. He can’t hide from me anymore.”
“Let’s get at it.”
Aiden 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, but f
irst, 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 straighter, 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 laptop.
“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 it 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.”
Vested Interest Box Set Books 1-3 Page 19
