The gnawing fear that the guy would just take the money and kill her anyway, was unbearable. I towel-dried my hair and tried to hold back the sobbing.
It didn’t work. Sawyer appeared in the doorway; he must have heard me.
I turned to him, wet-haired, and wrapped in a towel. He didn’t say a word, but just threw his arms around me, sweeping me up off the floor. I buried my face in his neck and just cried.
* * *
When the tears had subsided, Sawyer sat me down on the edge of the bed. He knelt on the floor in front of me, holding my hands.
“I’m going to call the bank when it opens. I’m taking care of this, Cadence. I promise.”
I nodded, still too emotional about Deborah to say anything much. He kissed me softly on the lips and caressed my cheek.
A phone rang downstairs somewhere.
“Just a second.” He delved in his pocket, pressed a few buttons on his cell and picked up the call that way. “Hello?”
I watched his face change from serious to smiling in about two seconds flat.
“Dominic! No way, man. You’ve got to stop by. No, I’m serious. Come now.” He looked at me in my towel. “Okay, give me an hour. But yeah, please do. Bring the folks. I’d love to meet Isadora. Get your butts over here, dude. You sure? I can fix something. No, okay. Great. See you then, buddy.”
I raised my eyebrows and stood up. “I’d better get out of here. You have visitors on their way.”
“No, please.” He pushed me gently, so I sat back down on the bed. “Stay. I want you to meet them. It’s one of my oldest friends from college, Dominic Chase. He’s in Colorado on business. His brother Sebastian and his wife are traveling with him today. They just had a little daughter. I’m stoked to meet her.”
“I can’t intrude. You’ll want to chat with your old friends.”
“Nope, you won’t be intruding. Anyway, I’m sort of hoping you’ll stick around in my life, generally. Which means you need to meet the folks. That’s how this works. Am I right?” He grinned, his eyes glinting wickedly.
I must have looked worried, because he added, “Don’t worry about the ransom. That’s still on. I’ll call the bank the second they open, I promise. Dominic and the gang will only be here a couple hours, max. We’ll be on red alert for any call from the police. You okay with this?”
I nodded. “Okay. If you’re sure I won’t be in the way.”
He kissed me deeply, squeezing my ass with one hand. Hot desire raged inside me again. This guy was like a walking aphrodisiac.
He pressed my hand to the bulge in his pants and leaned in close. “This is what happens as soon as I kiss you. As soon as our guests are gone, I’m going to fuck you again. Long and slow, this time. I’m going to make you come until you can’t see straight.”
“It’s a deal.”
He kissed my neck and left the room.
My suitcases were right by the dresser, so I opened them up and picked out an outfit. It felt odd to be looking through clothes I packed for my work trip. Things had turned out so different from the schedule.
I put on a white shirt, jeans, and a pale blue sweater. Then, I agonized about whether it sent the ‘right message’. Whatever that was.
It took way too long to get my hair right. My makeup was light and natural-looking, but I still took it off and started again halfway through.
Cool it, I said to the mirror. Stop the angst. You’ll look like a madwoman to his good buddy Dominic.
I guessed I was just freaked out about meeting people who were important to Sawyer. I barely knew him. They’d be able to see that. Would they think I wasn’t good enough for him? Would they think the fated mates idea was stupid?
By the time I got downstairs, it was almost time for them to arrive. I chewed my lip nervously.
“You look stunning.” He kissed me again, this time more deeply. “If only we had time to warm ourselves up before they get here.”
There was a loud banging on the door. Then we heard a baby voice saying, “Daddy, can we make a snowman?”
Sawyer threw open the door. “Dominic! Guys! Come on in!”
Three adults and one toddler came in, shaking off the snow. Sawyer took their coats away someplace — well, who doesn’t have a dedicated coatroom hidden out of sight? — and I shook their hands to say hello.
Dominic was tall and blonde, with an intense gaze, and cheerful crinkles at the edges of his eyes. He was icily handsome and well built. Sebastian was exactly the same type, just maybe a few years older. He looked more relaxed and tan. They both had British accents and perfect manners. I liked them both instantly.
But, it was Sebastian’s wife Finola that I bonded with most. She was so nice to me the second she got in the door. She spoke with a British accent too, but less strong than the men. There were definite American touches in there. Her red-brown hair fell in thick, glossy waves around her face, and she looked serene and happy. And, she hugged me warmly, even though she just met me.
How I wished I had her poise and air of contentment. And, if I was honest, her looks. She was the same kind of curvy shape as me, too. Sebastian could hardly take his eyes off her, and Sawyer said they’d already been married over a year. They were one happy couple.
“Isadora, are you going to say hello?” Finola steered the little girl to me by both shoulders. She had platinum blonde ringlets and deep blue eyes. She wore a white lab coat over her jeans, complete with stethoscope.
“Hello!” the little girl said, waving joyously. “Are you sick?”
“Izzy’s being a doctor today,” said her father, smiling at her. He put a hand on her head. “That’s right, isn’t it, sweetheart? Ask Sawyer if he needs a bandage on his leg.”
“I absolutely do,” said Sawyer, bounding back into the room. “Right after I make a fresh pot of coffee. Excuse me, Doctor. I’ll be back momentarily.”
Isadora nodded and skipped over to do somersaults on the rug.
“She’s amazing,” I said.
“She is,” Finola agreed. “Every single day, she does something new to astonish us. Right, honey?”
“Every day.” Sebastian nodded, looking lovingly between the two ladies in his life.
What a gorgeous family. How they cherished each other. I yearned to have that myself.
“Uncle Dominic has takeout,” added Finola. “Pastries, and pancakes, and patties and, I don’t know, pineapples?”
“PEACHES!” yelled Isadora.
“Peaches could work, yes.” Finola smiled at me and patted the seat next to her. “Cadence, come tell me all about yourself.”
Sawyer came back in with plates, and Dominic laid out all the food he’d brought on the low wood table. We helped ourselves, and Sebastian broke off little pieces for Isadora’s plate. She ate happily, cross-legged on the rug. I wanted to scoop her up and hug her; she was so perky and adorable.
We talked casually while we ate. After a while, Isadora leaped up to ask her mom to take her to the bathroom.
When she had left the room, Sawyer leaned forward.
“Dominic, can I ask you about a — well, a situation?”
Dominic didn’t seem confused by the question. “The sort of situation I might deal with?”
“Exactly.”
“Go for it.”
Sawyer told Dominic and Sebastian about Deborah’s kidnapping. They nodded and frowned, absorbing it all. When he’d finished, the brothers looked at each other.
“This is something we could assist with,” Dominic said.
“What would you need from me?”
“All the information you have. Is it being dealt with by the police?”
“Yeah, the local cops are dealing with it. But honestly, it’ll be referred up to state police any time, right?”
“Probably. Maybe even FBI.”
My blood ran cold to think Deborah was in the hands of a sophisticated criminal, the kind the FBI might be interested in.
“I’m going to pay the ransom.” Sa
wyer drained his coffee cup and set it back on the table. “We can’t wait around for this guy to get desperate.”
Dominic shook his head. “I strongly advise against that.”
“It’s been almost 24 hours, already. The guy gave 48 hours as a deadline. It’s not worth the risk.”
Sebastian touched Sawyer gently on the shoulder. “You’re doing this with a good heart, I know. But, you need to listen to Dominic. He knows what he’s talking about.”
Sawyer looked like he was weighing this. “Are you going into the family business too now, Seb?”
“No, still running Pallida Fortis. I’m thirty-five. That’s too old to run around pretending I’m James Bond.”
The brothers laughed and Dominic shoved Sebastian playfully. He hadn’t taken offense though, because his eyes smiled genuinely. They must have a great relationship, I thought.
“I think we’re freezing Cadence out without meaning to. She won’t know what we’re talking about. I know she must be trustworthy, or she wouldn’t be here right now. Cadence, my brother Sebastian is the head of Pallida Fortis investment bank in London. The bank’s been in our family for generations. I run Pallida Fortis in the USA, but I’m transitioning that responsibility to my deputy. My younger brothers and I — have a new enterprise.”
“Wow.” I hardly knew how to process that. These guys ran banks. I was a lowly PA. How could we relate?
Finola came back, holding Isadora’s hand. Isadora ran to her mom’s bag and took out a handful of soft animal toys.
“Are they talking business, already?” Finola reached for a grape.
“Yeah,” I said. “Are you a banker, too?”
Finola laughed. “Nope. God, no. I run a kids charity now, but I was an admin assistant at the bank when I met Sebastian. Fate put me there, so he says.”
“You’re kidding? You were a PA, too? That’s my job!”
“Well, there we go. I knew we were friendship material.” We laughed. She held up a hand for me to high-five. “So, had you always wanted to be an assistant, or do you have big dreams that haven’t come true yet?”
I felt so comfortable with Finola, I told her everything. All about JoJo, the police academy, the disappointment of giving it up. It was a weight off my mind. She was so sympathetic and perceptive about all of it; she made me feel a lot better.
“So, what is this new unit?” Sawyer offered around a bowl of fruit to everyone. I took a handful of grapes. “Is it affiliated with federal intelligence services?”
“Loosely. We’re connected with the paranormal secret service, but we’re an independent squad.”
“Cool.” Sawyer nodded, like all this wasn’t blowing his mind. I guess it wasn’t.
“It must be nice to work with your brothers,” I offered. I had nothing else.
“It is,” Dominic nodded. “Benedict is a hothead, and Maximilian needs a good kick in the pants every now and again, but they’re good guys really. We work well together. There’s kind of a mental shorthand you have when you grew up together.”
“And you’re all—” I couldn’t bring myself to say the word.
“Shifters?” Finola finished the sentence for me. “They are. I’m not. They’re white tigers. You do know about shifters, right?” She looked worried in case she’d said the wrong thing.
“Yeah, I do.” I looked at Sawyer. “White tigers, and snow leopards. No wonder you guys are all friends.”
“We’re very similar animals,” Sebastian smiled, handing Isadora a banana. “Neither animal works well as part of a group, usually. Which is why the Chase brothers working together runs totally against nature.” He winked at me.
“You’ll eat your words when we solve all the crimes, bro,” Dominic teased back. “But yeah, Sawyer, you really shouldn’t pay that ransom. It could all go horribly wrong.”
Sebastian nodded. “Truly. It’s a really bad idea. You’re not even the husband, and the kidnapper could have reasons why he wants the husband to suffer, in particular. A third party paying could make a bad situation much worse.”
Sawyer’s mouth set into a line. He obviously wasn’t going to change his mind.
We all had another great hour or so together, talking about both serious and lighthearted subjects. Finola insisted we swap phone numbers, and Isadora drew a picture for me.
“I’ll put it up on my refrigerator the second I get home,” I promised. I meant it.
As soon as they left, Sawyer pushed me up against the front door.
“God, it’s been torture sitting right by you all this time, and not undressing you,” he growled.
He slid his leg between mine and kissed me. Heat surged between us. I yelped as he ground his thigh between my legs, sending shockwaves of pleasure up my body.
“You can’t pay the ransom,” I panted, as his fingers slid inside my shirt. He pulled the buttons open, not caring if he ripped the stitching. I tipped my head back, savoring the feeling of his hands on me. “Dominic’s right. It’s not going to help.”
His breath was hot against my ear.
“I already paid.”
Taken
I pushed him away, horrified.
“You already paid the ransom? When?”
“When I went to refill the cream jug. The bank had just opened, so I seized the moment. What’s the big deal? You knew I was going to do it.”
“But, that was before you had expert advice telling you not to!” I wailed.
Sawyer walked away from me and threw himself down in an armchair.
“You’ll be thanking me when Deborah calls you up in an hour, yelling about her schedule like none of this ever happened.”
I sank to the floor, my head in my hands.
“But according to Dominic—”
“Dominic doesn’t know everything,” Sawyer barked. “Can you just trust me on this? I am not going to stand by and let this guy hurt an innocent woman, if there’s something I can do about it.”
“But, what if he takes the money and doesn’t release her?” I shouted.
“I don’t care,” he shouted back. “At least someone tried, instead of sitting around bitching about it.”
I fell silent, stung by his rage.
Then, he checked himself.
“God, I’m sorry,” he said.
He ran back over to me and took my hand. I whipped it away.
“Cadence. Please. That wasn’t aimed at you. Look, I realize I may have done the wrong thing here. But, it’s too late now. I’d already set up the transfer by the time Dom and Seb went into detail about why it was stupid. I couldn’t undo it, then.”
“Oh shit.” I felt sick. “And, you had no trouble at all transferring that sort of money? They didn’t ask questions?”
“I transfer a lot of large sums,” he said, softly. “Usually, it’s for business. But, the phone teller didn’t know any different.”
I stood up. “Well, that’s that then. Now we just wait.”
“Yeah. We wait, and we hope that piece of shit has the good sense to let Deborah go.”
He started clearing away the leftovers and sweeping up Isadora’s crumbs. I joined in, stacking the plates and taking them to the dishwasher.
“I’m still amazed you don’t have a housekeeper,” I said, rinsing the plates under the faucet.
“I do. But she doesn’t do the day-to-day stuff.” He dropped cutlery into the dishwasher rack. “I’m an able-bodied adult. It’d be immoral to ask someone else to clean up my shit every minute of the day.”
“Okay.” I secretly thought that sounded great.
We hung out until the afternoon, lazing around and reading online news. Neither of us had any appetite for lunch after our morning feast. I was too wired thinking about Deborah to eat anyway.
Please let her go, I pleaded quietly to the kidnapper. You’ve got the money. Take it, and let her go.
At about three o’clock, there was a knock at the door. For a split second, I convinced myself it would be the cops with Debor
ah.
It wasn’t. It was a FedEx guy with a padded envelope for Sawyer.
He slit it open with his thumb and pulled out the contents.
It was a thick chunk of hair. Long, glossy, blonde hair, tied up with a hair elastic. Like someone had cut off a woman’s ponytail and express mailed it to Sawyer.
It was Deborah’s hair. And apparently somebody had done just that.
Sawyer read out the note with it.
Thanks for the money. I gave it away because I’m not done yet. Tell Edgar Rollinson I’m still waiting for his call.
I felt bile rise in my throat and clapped my hand over my mouth.
“I’m going to throw up.”
Sawyer stood in the middle of the room, holding the hair in his fist. His face had darkened. He looked horrified, and enraged and terrified, all at the same time.
“I’ve made it worse now, haven’t I?” he whispered.
I didn’t answer. He didn’t speak, either.
The next sound in the room was yet another knock on the front door, right behind me. It made me jump. I sprang up and opened it.
It was Jim the cop, and his partner.
Thank goodness, I thought. Now Sawyer can give them this new piece of evidence and that might be the one thing that helps them find the kidnapper.
“Miss Bradley,” they said, with cold expressions. The second one kept his sunglasses on. “Can we come in, please?”
* * *
I let them in, but I was half-dazed. The police officers entered Sawyer’s house with faces so solemn it brought tears to my eyes.
God, no. Not bad news about Deborah. Please, let her be fine.
“Is she okay? Please, say she’s okay?” I pleaded.
The second cop took off his sunglasses.
“Miss Bradley, we need to ask you a couple of questions. Would you come down to the sheriff’s office with us, please?”
“Huh?” I blinked several times. “You want me to give my full statement now?”
Shifters in the Snow Page 63
