Rising Up: Finding Me book 1

by J J Harper

  But within the next couple of minutes I realize how professional Lucas and his team are. I've been introduced to all of them, they will be around me in pairs at all times I'm not either in the office or at home, but even then they will be close by either in Lucas' office monitoring the surveillance or in another company owned apartment which has also been set up with video equipment and computers.

  My mind boggles at the effort and lengths he has gone to in just over 24 hours, Mason was right when he said he was a professional. And in that moment I am immensely grateful to this wonderful family that has welcomed me with such open arms. I feel humbled by their kindness and consideration and without my knowledge tears start to flow down my cheeks, there is no sobbing or any noise or action to show that I'm crying but I don't seem to be able to stop them running down my face like a gentle waterfall. It's almost a cry of relief that somebody believes me and takes my pain seriously nobody has ever done that for me before.

  I feel a small warm hand creep into mine and I see that Maddie has moved next to me and is also crying silently, I am very grateful for the professionalism of everyone around me that they can ignore my quiet grief.

  "Imogen, have you understood everything so far?" Luc looks at me and although I see his eyes soften it doesn't affect his work demeanor.

  "I have, but I'll recap to make sure, I have three teams of two available to watch and protect me at all times, and if we go into busier areas they will split in to two groups of three." I look at Luc and he nods. "All of my phone calls, texts and emails will pass through your computers first and no letters parcels or packages will be delivered again before they have passed through your hands. How'm I doing so far?"

  "You're doing perfectly Ginny, what else."

  "Um..." My brain freezes for a moment. "Oh yes, if I think I see somebody from back home even if they are not immediately or in any way connected to Jake or myself I am to turn away and bring the person to one of your teams' attention. I am not at any time to try to deviate from these rules because...” and I laugh at this point. "They are only in my best interest." I smile like I've just delivered a word perfect recital at school. Everyone laughs with me and they all seem to relax a little bit around me. Mason leans over and kisses the top of my head.

  "Well done babe, maybe I won't have to spank you after all. Well unless you want me too?" I look up at him and see his eyes are dilated at the thought of my arse under his firm hand and my breath hitches in my throat. "I can see that you do. Later babe."

  Lucas clears his throat and scowls at Mason. "Mason, your job along with Lake and Maddie is to also keep your eyes out for any of Mr. Williams' accomplices. Mason, Lake you two only have the profiles of his closest friends, and admittedly these are the most dangerous ones to Imogen, but in my experience of these sorts of groups they normally scatter like rats from a sinking ship.

  His lawyer, Mr. Damien Halloran has already tried to leave and is at present being held at a police station near the airport waiting for transportation back to here, is that so officer?" Detective Garcia nods in affirmation. "They will be giving you a full update in a moment. Maddie your job is slightly harder which is why you will also have protection.

  You know more of Imogen's associates and although we don't know for sure who he has asked to help, you have to assume anyone you see here from home could be a threat, so again, you will turn away and alert a member of your team. They will explain the best way to tell them without giving yourselves away. Are you okay with all of this Maddie?"

  She turns and looks at me struggling to find the words. "I know I should have done more to get you away from him before so I'm sorry Ginny, and I am fully on board and happy with all of this I just want him caught."

  "Oh sweetie, none of this was of your doing or fault, thank you so much for your support now. I love you girlie." I pull my hand from Mason's and hug her hard as if there is no one else around us.

  "I love you too, sister of mine." She squeezes me hard and I let her go.

  Looking up at everyone trying to ignore our emotional outburst. "Sorry about that." I murmur sheepishly. Lucas smiles kindly at me and mouths 'No worries' at me. Mason takes hold of my hand again as Luc hands us over to the policemen.

  "Ms. Banks, ladies and gentlemen thank you for being here today. As Mr. Davenport said Mr. Halloran has been detained in police custody and is probably already comfortably ensconced at our station, he has not yet been charged with anything as we have yet to speak to him and show him first the video footage." I visibly shudder at this point but Mason and Maddie still have hold of my hands.

  "Mr. Jenkins has proved to be quite the canary and has as you say 'sung from the rooftops' about Mr. Williams and his team of men. He has accepted his role in your attack and doesn't seem to have any previous convictions or complaints made against him."

  I start to whisper to Maddie when the detective speaks up. "You can speak freely here Ms. Banks we are not here to judge."

  Swallowing hard I try to find my voice. "He... He... Shit this is difficult to admit." Another deep breath I try to ignore Mason's eyes boring into me. "He was always the gentlest and never really hurt me, if you notice on the video he doesn't join in that much. Although he was there and didn't stop things he could be presumed as guilty as the rest of them, but I believe he was being blackmailed by Jake, I don't know what hold he had over him but there was definitely something going on there."

  "Thank you Ms. Banks, you have just confirmed something we already knew. Mr. Jenkins was being blackmailed but that doesn't have a bearing on this case at the moment. We will be interviewing Mr. Halloran when we have finished here. But I have a question for you Ms. Banks."

  I gulp but look him straight in the eye, there are obviously no secrets about me in this room anymore, I know they have all seen the profiles of the men but I don't think the security team have seen the photos' or video but they know how dangerous these men are. "Okay. What would you like to know?"

  "I understand the involvement of your mother in this plot but how much do you really know or trust your father?" His face is completely devoid of any expression as he waits for my answer.

  "I don't understand. Why wouldn't I trust my father? He seems to have been as blind to my awful mother's behavior, I mean he was quite abrupt with me the last time we spoke, but I had just accused his wife of having an affair." I look up at Mason and he nods his head.

  "I don't understand where you are going with this Detective? We have had no reason to think that Ginny's father is anything but innocent of all this." Mason's back bristles as he speak, and I can see his acute legal mind in action and suddenly he does think there is a reason to doubt him.

  "Mason, what's going on? What don't I know, what am I not getting here?" I can hear the panic rising in my voice and my breathing starts to escalate and before I know it I'm sat on a chair with my head down breathing into a paper bag.

  Maddie is on her knees in front of me rubbing her hands over my knees talking quietly to me. I can hear voices all around me but I can't recognize any of them and then suddenly my eyes start to see black spots as a sheen of sweat breaks out over my body and I know I'm going down.

  "Shit, she's fainting. MASON! Get here now. Hold her, talk to her and for god's sake cover her up, she doesn't need everyone to see her like this."

  After that everything goes black.

  I can hear voices, I think I can hear Mason. "Come on sweetheart, open those beautiful eyes for me. It's all okay, please let me see those gorgeous emerald eyes of yours." I can feel his lips on mine in the briefest touch, and I can feel my eyes start to flutter open but then the panic sets in and I'm struggling to get up. "Stay here for a while longer Ginny, I've got you." The other voices fade away.

  "What happened, why am I on the floor?" I flash my eyes around the room trying to get my bearings and then it all comes flooding back to me the police and Lucas talking about Jake and questions about my father. Oh God! My father, please don't let him have been part of th
is mess. "What do the police mean about my dad?"

  "Sweetheart, we don't need to talk about this anymore today if you're not up to it. They can come back tomorrow." Mason is still holding me on his lap and is stroking my arm.

  "No, I want this all out in the open today. I want be able to concentrate on anything else until I know everything. Help me up please Mase and let's get them back in here."

  "Only if you're certain Imogen." The look of concern on his face almost makes me give in and just go home and back to bed.

  "Yes, I'm sure, I want this over with." I stand up and pull my skirt back down and tidy myself up and Mason leads the team back in the room. But it's Lucas that speaks first.

  "I'm going to let my team get back to work okay Imogen, I will fill them in on the relevant details later but I think you are overwhelmed with all of this right now, so let's reduce the amount of people in this room."

  "Thank you Luc." My smile is weak but heartfelt. Maddie walks back up to me and hands me a chocolate bar.

  "Eat it Ginny, you need the sugar in you now. Just pretend you’re in a Harry Potter book, chocolate always helps." She gives me a wink and stands back next to me.

  "Okay Ms. Banks, I'm sorry to have caused such a dreadful reaction for you, and I can see that you are obviously very distressed at the idea of your father being involved. Tell me, what does your father do for a living?"

  "Oh, um. He's a lecturer at the university near us. Why what has that got to do with anything?"

  "Bear with me please, what does he teach?" He is patiently waiting for my answer.

  "He teaches advanced computer programming specializing in software design. But he also teaches at a local college for night students but that is a more basic computer study course for beginners and intermediates."

  "Thank you." His manner changes then and he lean towards me. "Did you know that Mr. Jenkins knows your father? He has made many calls to his cell and has received them as well and has voice mail messages from him too. The most recent call to him was yesterday before he approached you. He also has been in contact with your mother and it seems she has disappeared and no-one seems to know where she is?"

  "I don't believe this, how do they know each other? This is ridiculous! Peter Jenkins is a very successful businessman with a multi-million pound turnover, what bloody use can my dad be to him? Mason, what aren't they telling me?" I turn to face him pleading for the truth.

  "Ms. Banks, we believe Mr. Williams put him in touch with Mr. and Mrs. Reid so that he would be able to find out all about you. It seems that you were targeted by Mr. Williams and your parents were paid to hand you over to him. A large amount of money was deposited in your parents’ bank account soon after you started your relationship with him.

  Your first job was with one of Mr. Jenkins businesses and he then encouraged you to apply for your position within Mr. Williams’ production company. You were handed to them all on a plate by your parents. We think you father is now part of the team orchestrating men to enter the States to try and get hold of you. Mr. Williams has promised them both an awfully large amount of money for your return to him."

  "Why did he want me so much? What purpose could I have for him?" Throwing my hands up in the air I'm pacing the room trying to digest all the information being thrown at me. "This is why he was so rude to me wasn’t it? Did he think I was starting to work something out?”

  The detective nods. ""We haven't worked that question out ourselves yet, which is why we would really like to find your mother. Does she or has she ever use a different name?"

  "Oh my God yes she does, she was a dancer for London stage shows and she went under her mother’s maiden name. She called herself Liza Westwood, you could try that one." I could see Lucas furiously tapping on his laptop for her details.

  "Imogen you are brilliant! She is here, she entered the country three days ago and has booked in at the Radisson Hotel on Upper Main Street." Lucas looks up at me smiling broadly.

  "Okay, I think we should wrap it up here for now. Ms. Banks you have been exceptional today, as I said yesterday you are a very brave woman. I've got a team going to the hotel now and we will keep you informed of any progress. Mr. Davenport has all of my details and as your lawyer we will be keeping him informed. Lucas is in constant touch with us so I would really like to hope that we are keeping you safe from harm. Good afternoon everyone." Smiling he walks out with his partner who also gives me a smile.

  Collapsing back on a chair I let out a huge sigh of relief. What an exhausting morning. I look around the room and everyone else seems as drained as I am, looking at the clock I see it's almost 2.30. How can we have been here for three hours? Dragging myself out of the chair I look at Maddie. "Shall we get some lunch Mads? I'm starving."

  "Yeah, me too. I think Mason sent out to the deli for us, come on let's get out of here and let these three work things out."

  Mason gives me a long quizzical look. "Are you okay babe?" His hand reaches out to me and I walk into his open arms.

  "No, not really but I need some time out for a while. Come and see me later." Kissing him I turn and walk away with Maddie.

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  Jake

  "Hang on a minute precious, let me get my phone." The girl, I don't what her name is, releases my cock from her mouth while I reach over to answer. "Okay, carry on. You’re doing a great job." I've got my hands on her head pushing myself deeper and deeper into her throat and loving the sound when she starts to gag. My phone is tucked under my chin and I can hear Martin shrieking down it.

  "Hold on just a minute Martin." I stand up causing what’s-her-name to fall back on the floor so stepping over her I listen again. "What do you mean he's been arrested? Shit Martin, what the fuck is going on?" I'm this close to blowing my top, how the hell can my life be collapsing around me because of one stupid bitch! Why the fuck didn't I just stick to picking up strangers for a night with me and the boys. I'm throwing things around the room paying no attention to the scared naked girl in the floor.

  "She's given all the names out? Fuck man we are seriously screwed. You'd better shut things down over there and get your arse stateside pronto! What? The police have already visited and are getting a warrant for all the computers. Are you fucking kidding me? Don't you think you should have started this conversation with that, you prick! Well you better get on to wiping them all clean, that is what you do right? What's going on with Damien? Just fucking find out, last time we spoke he was getting out of here sharpish. What's Elizabeth doing?" After ending the shitty call my body is pumping with adrenalin and knowing what sort of release I need I drag the girl back up to the bed by her hair and push her flat on her back and straddle her chest.

  "Suck my dick bitch! Take it all!" Kneeling over her terrified face I force her mouth open with my thumbs and ram my cock hard down her throat. "Go on suck it, I'm gonna fuck you so hard." Spit is flying from my mouth as I talk I am so angry. After forcing myself down her throat I start on the rest of her.

  "For God's sake stop crying. You came on to me remember?" Punching her hard in her face. I shove her underwear in her mouth giving me some peace to continue, my cock is hard again and pounding in and out of her tight cunt, I can't stop myself from biting hard on her tits not caring about the bite marks and the blood. Pinning her arms above her head I can feel my climax building. God I love the power I have over her, my orgasm reaches its peak and I'm coming hard. After collapsing down I'm still not satisfied, pulling the gag out of her mouth I make her suck me till I'm hard again and then flip her over and slap her backside hard, hell yeah this is it.

  I'm still slapping her when I pull her hips up and fuck her tight butthole. I can tell she's never done this but really don't care and pound inside her in one hard stroke. Oh crap she's screaming now, why won't they ever just shut up! Pushing my hand down her back so her face is buried in the pillow I fuck her hard, I can see the blood flowing out of her hole but it just spurs me on. "Fuck! Yes, that's it bitch squeeze
me tight!" My other hand is up her cunt it's a tight fit but oh so good! Thank fuck she’s stopped crying and has gone still.

  Rolling off her body and pushing her to one side, she has blood dripping down her thighs but so what she wanted it. After a quick shower I get dressed, "I've got to go. Thanks for a fun time." Throwing $50 on top of her the lazy bitch hasn’t even moved. Oh, who cares? I’m out of here not waiting to hear any reply from her.

  As I’m walking out of the motel I see a pretty girl studying me, taking her time to look me up and down. Shame I haven't got time to pick her up. When I reach my hire car I look back and see that she's still looking at me but is on her phone and I suddenly get a shiver down my spine and think there might be more to her than just a pretty face, when she smiles at me and waves. Blanking her from my mind I race down to the Radisson to Elizabeth.

  Driving through the entrance I see there's two police cars parked out front so I'm not going to stop here, and drive straight out again. It really feels like my perfect world is about to come crashing down, I need to get hold off that bitch and put an end to her once and for all.

  My phone is ringing and when I look its Martin again. "This better be good news Martin because my day has gone to shit!" My hands are gripping the steering wheel so hard as I hear what he says. Crap, Damien has been arrested and the police have the warrant for everything in his office. I call Marcus and Leo but neither answers so after leaving messages I head off to find a new place to stay.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  Mason

  Imogen has been quiet all night and I've decided to not push her, in my experience the longer you leave someone the quicker they are to breach the barrier. It takes until we are both in bed and the lights are off before I hear her sigh and take a deep breath.

  "Am I such a bad person Mason, did I really deserve all this?" She pauses and I know this is rhetorical, so I keep my mouth shut and pull her into the crook of my arm so her head is resting on my chest. "I was never in trouble, I always worked hard at school, I was second in my class at University and I never did anything to make my parents ashamed.