“We should take some self-defense courses.”
Emmy pursed her lips. “Good idea. Next time, I’ll be better prepared with my Ninja skills.”
“There won’t be a next time,” I snapped, but she ignored me.
“Aiden, maybe you can teach me some of your karate skills. I bet I could take them if I tried. I don’t know if there is, like, a kidnapper network, but if word got out I wasn’t to be messed with, that would help keep them away.”
I tamped down my anger. Remembering Dee’s words about the way Emmy tried to diffuse her feelings, I stood. “I think we need to call it a night.”
Everyone stood, and not giving her a choice, I picked up Emmy and carried her upstairs. I placed her on my bed.
She gazed at me warily. “Are you angry with me?”
“No. I’m not angry, but what happened is not a joke.”
“I know.”
“Then stop it.”
“What?”
“I know what you’re doing, Emmy. You don’t have to make light of what happened and pretend you’re okay. Not with your friends, and not with me. Never with me.” I cupped her cheek, my thumb stroking the skin. “Let it out. Talk to me.”
She was silent for a moment, then her shoulders slumped. She blew out a long, shaky breath and met my eyes. The tears she’d been holding in began to form. “I was so scared, Bentley. I didn’t know what was happening, and I was so cold. I’ve never been that cold.”
I lowered myself to the mattress beside her, wrapping my arm around her waist. “It killed me to see you chained up and shivering. Knowing you were hurt and cold because of me was overwhelming. I’ve never felt such helplessness and rage all rolled into one.”
“When I realized it was Greg, I was so mad, I wanted to scream at him, but I knew I had to fake it. I let them think I was drinking the water they gave me. It was drugged, and I pretended to sleep all the time.”
“Thank God you’re so clever.”
“I didn’t know what would happen if they figured out I knew it was him.” Her voice caught. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again.”
I pulled her into my arms, holding her tight. “You’re home now, Freddy. You’re safe, and you don’t have to be scared. Greg will never get to you again. No one will.”
“All I wanted was to come back to you. Home.”
Her words made my chest ache. “You’re here now.”
Her arms tightened. “You’re my home, Bentley. I want . . . I want to stay here.”
I tilted her chin up, meeting her watery gaze. “You mean live here—with me?”
She nodded, tears coursing down her cheeks. “Wherever you are, as long as you want me.”
“I want you always,” I admitted. “I was afraid this would make you even more skittish about being with me.”
“No. I won’t let what happened change my mind.” She hesitated, then cupped my cheek. “I love you. I trust you.”
I reached over and picked up the small bag from beside my bed, placing her rucksack in her lap. “I kept this for you.”
She ran her fingers over the worn handle, then pushed it back into my hands. “I want you to have it. You keep it for me.”
“What?”
“You promised me one day when I was ready, you’d have a safe place I could keep it, and we’d both know I wouldn’t leave again.” The tears began to drip down her face. “I never want to be without you. I never want to leave.” Her voice shook with the force of her emotion. “I’m not waiting for the past anymore, Bentley. I’m giving it to you for safekeeping. Just like my heart. I want my future to be with you.”
I took the rucksack from her shaking hands and pulled her into my arms, knowing she was about to break.
“I’ve got you. Always.”
She began to weep, deep sobs ripping through her chest as she shook in my arms. I kissed her head, keeping her tight to my chest.
“Let it out, baby.”
I slid us under the covers, letting her cry, knowing she needed to do so, and grateful I was the one she allowed to see her true feelings.
I wanted to be that man for her—today, and always.
Bentley
Emmy cried out, her hand flailing, pushing herself into me. I cupped the back of her head, whispering soothing words into her ear.
“It’s okay, Freddy. I got you. You’re safe.”
She calmed, and gradually her body relaxed back into the sleep she so desperately needed. Despite the exhaustion she felt, and the pill she had taken, her mind wasn’t letting her rest. I had hoped she would sleep, knowing she was safe, but nightmares had plagued her, no matter what I tried. I left the light on, I held her close, I murmured her name, but still, she only slept for short periods before the fear gripped her and she started crying.
Every time it did, my anger toward Greg grew a little more. When her hand reached out, and the bruise on her wrist caught my eye, the need for retribution became sharper. Still, I kept my voice soft and tried not to show my emotions when her eyes fluttered open, scared and anxious. I met her gaze; assuring her everything was okay and lulled her back into sleep.
At eight in the morning, my door opened, and Cami poked her head through the crack. I was sitting up against the headboard, Emmy’s head in my lap. I stroked through her hair, the constant motion seeming to soothe her, and she was finally asleep.
“Can I come in?”
I nodded, watching as she approached the bed.
“We heard her all night.”
“It was rough.”
“It will get better. She needs some time.”
“I know.” I scrubbed my free hand over my face. “I have to go. Aiden and I are going to Greg’s.”
She grimaced. “Why don’t you just get the police?”
“Aiden’s arranged it, but I want to know why. I want to see his face when he realizes he failed. This is personal. He can be arrested after I am done with him.”
“What will happen?”
I shrugged. “His career will be over. He’ll probably go to jail. He’ll be broke.”
“And you’ll be . . .?”
“Sad someone I trusted did this to me for a piece of real estate.” I looked down at Emmy. “Furious he did it to her of all people. Someone who did nothing wrong but get involved with me.” I ran my hand over her head. “Grateful he won’t be able to do it again.”
“Do you feel anything for him at all?”
I was feeling so many things, but if I expressed them, Cami would be horrified. I had never experienced such dark thoughts. “Nothing positive.”
She squared her shoulders. “Good.” She stepped forward. “I’ll stay with Emmy. You go and do what you have to do, then come home to her. I’ll make sure she’s okay until you come back.”
Carefully, I slipped out of bed, and Cami took my place, curling up beside Emmy. I smiled at the sight of her protectiveness.
“You’re a good friend. Thank you for being here for her. I wish you didn’t have to be. I hate the fact she was hurt because of me, and is still so traumatized, she can’t rest.”
She shook her head. “Emmy is the best friend I ever had. I hate what happened too, but I know how she feels about you Bentley, and how you feel in return. I know this isn’t your fault. This is on him, not you. Go and end it, so you can move on.”
I patted her arm and headed to the closet to get ready. I wasn’t looking forward to the confrontation, but it had to happen.
* * *
I sighed, looking up at the building we were about to enter. Aiden and I drove alone. Frank was still recovering and wouldn’t be able to drive for several weeks. The car ride over was tense, the air thick with anger. Maddox stayed at the house, all of us agreeing it would look odd to Greg if he accompanied us. He rarely did, since he had never been a big fan of Greg and kept their interactions to a minimum. They stuck to emails and phone calls when it involved finances.
Aiden exhaled; his shoulders slumped. “I’m ready for this
to be done.”
He’d been up all night. So had Reid and Maddox. Reid had proven himself to me; he’d gone above and beyond anything I could have ever hoped for, and now we had everything we needed to nail Greg. That kid had earned himself a place in my company for life, and he could write his own ticket. He knew it. I knew it. I was happy to give him whatever he wanted after all he had done for me. I had a feeling it involved a big office, lots of computers, and a hefty pay increase. All were his for the asking.
Aiden cast his eyes my way. “You ready?”
“Yes.”
“Can you pull this off?”
“I only have to act as though I am upset over something other than his betrayal for a short time, so yes, I can handle it.”
“Once he knows, it’s bound to get ugly.”
I snorted, the sound loud in the car. “Fucking right it is. It’s going to get ugly on him.”
“Okay, let’s do this.”
We were quiet as we went upstairs. I nodded at Mrs. Johnson, wondering what she would do once Greg no longer had a law practice. I hoped he’d been paying her well and she had a good retirement plan.
She was going to need it after today.
Aiden made his normal flirty remarks to her, making her chuckle.
“He’s waiting for you.”
Aiden scoffed, the sound low in his throat. “I bet the asshole is,” he muttered, following me into Greg’s office.
Greg was at his desk, his usual self. Not a hair out of place, suit pressed, white shirt starched, and tie perfectly knotted. His face was clear, with no worry lines or frown. For the first time, I noticed his eyes. Emmy’s brown eyes were warm and lit from within, whereas his were flat, dark, cold—void of expression. How had I not noticed that until now?
He wasn’t even remotely concerned about the woman he thought was still chained up in a deserted warehouse. He’d lost no sleep over her welfare. All he cared about was the piece of land he was so desperate to get his hands on. I wanted to grab the tie and tighten it around his neck until he couldn’t breathe, but Aiden’s presence kept me calm.
“Ah, Bentley. You’re later than I expected.”
I sat across from him, and Aiden stood close.
I had to force the words out of my throat. “Rough night. Late start. I apologize.”
He studied me. “I can see that. You look terrible.”
I shrugged. I knew I had dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep the past two nights.
“I wish you would tell me what’s going on. Perhaps I can help.”
My hands curled into fists beside me. He played his role well. The confused but helpful lawyer. Maybe that was part of his plan. He would get me to tell him, and he would by some stroke of brilliance, help me find her, sucking me further into his deception. I would never suspect the man who helped bring her back to me, would I?
My rage grew at his colossal gall.
“I said leave it. Do you have the offer?”
He ducked his head, sorting through some papers on his desk. I saw the glimmer of a smirk, though. The bastard thought he had won. “Here.”
I pretended to glance over the documents. “I need a pen.”
Greg handed me his expensive Mont Blanc. “Use mine.”
I signed the papers, then handed them to Aiden. “You should make sure it’s okay. I don’t want to risk this deal, and I’m a bit distracted.”
Aiden took the papers, turning his back as he looked at them as if needing privacy to concentrate. I knew he was covering up his grin at my ‘signature’.
He turned back, flipping the top page down. “I’d say it’s done.”
I stood, taking the document, handing it to Greg. “I think so.”
Greg set it down on his desk. “I’ll take care of it from here, Bentley.”
“I have no doubt you will.”
“Whatever happened, whatever caused you to change your mind—”
I held up my hand to interrupt him, playing the part he wanted to see. “I said leave it. Do your job and leave it alone.”
“As you wish.”
I buttoned my jacket. “I have an important call I’m waiting for.”
The smirk threatened again, and I couldn’t take it another second. I wanted to watch that smug expression disappear from his face.
“You should make sure everything’s in order before I go. I won’t be returning.”
He flipped up the page to give the document a cursory glance, his entire body freezing when his gaze saw my signature.
It read, “Fuck You.”
He was on his feet in an instant. “What the hell is going on?”
I leaned on the glass desk, my hatred and rage so great I could barely spit out the words. “What’s going on, you mother fucking piece of shit, is you lost.”
“What?” He snarled through tight lips.
“I have her!” I roared. “Emmy is safe!”
He reared back, shock on his face, but he rapidly recovered, instantly falling into defensive mode. “Bentley, that is great news. I had a feeling something was going on with her. However, why you think I lost anything, I have no idea.”
I flung my arms, pushing everything from his desk, scattering it to the floor. My voice became deadly calm. Anyone who knew me well knew that was a warning.
“I know, Greg. I know all of it. The numbered companies. The bug. The fact you were the one behind me losing on the bids. That you’ve been sneaking behind my back for months. Do you think you’re the only one with connections? We were able to see my bids last night. The way you redid them—underbidding and making sure it was your own bid that came out on top!”
“Bentley, I would never—”
“Don’t even fucking try to deny it. I know what you did!”
“This is all conjecture. Someone is filling your head with lies!”
Aiden and I laughed at his desperate attempt to convince me.
“No, counselor. We have it all. The paper trails. The forged documents. Your fingerprints on the bug. The trace back to your own computer at your house.” I leaned closer, narrowing my eyes. “Something you should know about hackers, Greg. They know one another. They recognize each other’s signature. Once we knew it was you, it was easy to find your hacker’s signature on your computer. Easy to pay him more to tell us everything. He is already in custody and singing like a bird. The men you hired to take Emmy are, as well.”
His face paled.
I drew in some much-needed oxygen. “What I want to know is why? Why the fuck would you do that to me? I’ve done nothing to you but help make you a very wealthy man!”
All pretense fell away. Greg stood in front of me with a sneer on his face. Hatred blazed from his eyes as he glared. “Nothing is the right word, Bentley. It’s all been so easy for you, hasn’t it?” he spat.
What the fuck was he talking about?
Greg continued, “Bentley Ridge, the successful ‘touch of Midas boy’ with all the real estate. Every project you work on turns to gold. Every woman wants you. Never any bad press. You and your fucking friends in your little clique. All so fucking high and mighty. All untouchable. You make me sick.”
I shook my head. “What the hell?”
“I was never good enough to be part of your inner circle, was I Bentley? Good enough to do your grunt work, but never good enough to belong.”
“I asked if you wanted a job in the company, Greg. You said no. You refused me, not the other way around.”
“A job,” he jeered. “I didn’t want a fucking job. You gave that loser”—he indicated Aiden—“a piece of your precious company. An idiot who can’t even read properly and memorizes everything. The same with that tight-assed control freak you call an accountant.”
Aiden snarled from behind me. “I’m dyslexic, you arrogant asshole, not illiterate. I can read, just in a different way than you do. And shut your mouth about Maddox. He’s a hundred times the man you are.”
Greg stared at him, not even acknowled
ging his words.
“I would have given you everything, and made you even greater! But no, you give them part of the company and offer me a fucking job. As if I would ever answer to you—or to them,” he shouted, his voice rising with every passing word.
“So, what . . . you decided to screw me over and teach me a lesson?”
“Yes.”
“Because I insulted you—years ago—with an offer for a job.”
“Because you needed to be knocked down a peg or two.”
“So, “I began, my voice beginning to rise, “you kidnapped and frightened an innocent woman to teach me a lesson. You chained and locked her in a cold room, tried to drug her, and left her alone, helpless, and terrified, and risked her life because I needed to be knocked down a peg or two? Am I hearing you right?”
He waved his hand. “You’re exaggerating.” He scoffed. “She was never in any danger. She deserved it, too.”
Aiden stepped closer. “What did she do to deserve it? You don’t even fucking know her!”
Greg sneered, focusing his attention on me. “You never listened to me. You always put their opinions first. What Aiden thought, how Maddox felt. No matter how many times I showed you how valuable I was to you—I was just the fucking lawyer—the joke. I was so damn sick of it. It was fun to watch you squirm when you lost those pieces of land. I simply planned to sell them on to you and make a tidy profit. Seeing how indignant you were . . .” He laughed, the sound cruel. “I enjoyed it and decided to screw you over completely. I was going to buy the land and make you pay through the fucking nose for it. At least I’d get a piece of your company monetarily.”
I stared at him, feeling ill. How had I not seen what he was doing? The kind of man he really was under his expensive attire?
He waved his hand in anger. “Then your stupid, precious Emmy, a woman you barely know, suggests an inane notion about some ridiculous building project, and instead of telling her to mind her own business, you actually listened to her. All of you!” He slammed his fist on his desk, bending so close we were almost nose-to-nose. “Her! Some dumb bitch you’re fucking, over me! I give you advice, and you ignore it. My suggestions are discarded. You pick everyone over me; you listen to everyone but me. You did this, Bentley. This is all on you!” He was shouting by the time he finished his tirade, the last of his smooth veneer gone. His skin was mottled; spit flying from his mouth as he cursed me. “So, I decided to make you really pay and suffer. She was just the pawn, and I enjoyed making her pay since she was the cause—the interfering little bitch!”
Vested Interest Box Set Books 1-3 Page 21
