by Dale Mayer
“I don’t think it’s business-related in the sense of a takeover by another business or corporation,” she said, tiptoeing around the issue. “I think it’s all personal.”
“But what can anybody possibly gain from this?” he asked, crying out. “I already suffered through this with my son. I shouldn’t have to suffer through it with my daughter.”
“Which is why she made the perfect weapon,” Lorelei said gently. “You’re already primed to do anything to keep your daughter safe and to not relive what happened all those years ago.”
He stared at her and then pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re right,” he said. “You’re very right. The trouble is, a lot of people would know what had happened to me already. So it wouldn’t take much digging to figure out how to get to me.”
“But would they understand how much it devastated you?” Like Nurse would know. … And like Wendy would know …
He shook his head, waved one hand, but never responded to that question. “Even if I was asked to step down from the companies,” he said, “once I got my daughter back, obviously I’d turn around and retaliate.”
“Unless they permanently stopped you from retaliating.”
He raised his head and looked at her, and she nodded. “And that’s why you shouldn’t have sent Griffin and Jax away. They firmly believe that your life is in as much danger as Amelia Rose’s.”
He stared at her, and his face turned gray. “I don’t even care about my life, but I do care about hers.”
“Imagine if both of you were dead,” she said. “A house fire, a car accident, a drowning …”
“You mean, together?”
She nodded. “You already told the men how the company divides down and that your sons’ holdings and your brother’s increases, but what about Amelia Rose? If she’s living, does she get a portion of the business?”
“She gets a share, as do her brothers,” he said softly. “My brother’s share is not that much.”
“But that was the previous distribution upon your death. … Did you change your will recently?” she asked. “Did you make any announcement recently? Did you ever have a new conversation about how the estate would break down upon your death?”
“Yes,” he said bleakly. “We had a family meeting about it.”
She stayed quiet and waited. “And now, looking back on that family meeting, did you think that maybe some people didn’t like what you had to say?”
“Possibly,” he said. “But I don’t want to believe it’s any of them.”
“And what if just you died? Each one of them, instead of gaining in power actually loses power, don’t they?”
He shook his head. “How is that possible?”
“Because that fifty-one percent that you call yours must really be twenty-five percent Amelia Rose’s and twenty-six percent yours, right?”
“How do you know that?”
“It’s the only way she can end up with thirty-five percent of the business at your death.”
Gerard was speechless, which was a rare event.
“She listens to everything you say while she spends the day in your office with you. She’s quite a remarkable child and has a great business sense for an eleven-year-old. But you already know that, don’t you? You’ve been grooming her, haven’t you? Otherwise you wouldn’t have given her a controlling interest in the company upon your death.”
Gerard ran his fingers through his hair.
“While you’re alive, she can’t take part in the company, correct?”
“Of course not. She’s a child.”
At this point, Lorelei leaned forward and asked, “So, while you are alive, you vote her portion until she becomes of age. And, at your death, she gains ten percent, giving her thirty-five percent—the controlling interest in the company. Your sons bump up to twenty-five percent each, your brother to fifteen percent. So, if you should die, who would vote Amelia Rose’s controlling portion?”
His jaw dropped as he stared at her, and he said, “Her mother.” Then he shook his head. “Hell, no. There’s no way she would do anything to hurt Amelia Rose.”
“I have nothing to say about that, except to remind you that no one hurt Amelia Rose physically,” Lorelei said. “And I think you’re taking an ugly chance sending those two men away. You don’t know who all is involved. Since you ruined the kidnappers’ chance at twenty-five million, they may feel pressured to create your accidental death, so they have access to not only all your money but also all your businesses.”
He groaned, grabbed his phone, and called somebody. “Bring them back,” he said harshly. Then he tossed his phone down and said, “Those men could be part of the problem.”
“They could be,” she said drily. “But I highly doubt they want to torture themselves looking after a terrorized young woman and an emotionally fragile child any longer than they have to.”
“I gather you weren’t the most cooperative.”
“We were once we realized they were on our side,” she said, “but you have to understand how we both have a lot of trauma that we’re facing from the two different kidnappings. Crying, emotional females, having nightmares, not sleeping well, are difficult for these men to handle too.”
He nodded. “I’m sorry. I never even thought to ask, but did they hurt you physically?”
“I was hit across the face a couple times,” she said, “but the nightmares …” She stood, smiled at him, and said, “If you don’t mind, I need to keep an eye on Amelia Rose. She’s very emotional right now.”
“Well, tell her that I’ve got the men coming back,” he said. “Maybe that will make her feel better.”
“You mean, you’ve asked somebody to request that the men return,” she said. “They don’t take orders very well from other people. And I’m sure they make decisions on their own—not because you say so.”
“Men like that never take orders.”
“I agree with you there,” she said. And, with a smile, she turned and walked out, but her heart was lighter to realize that maybe, just maybe, she’d keep her job. And she might see Griffin again. She would sleep much better knowing that they were here, and she knew Amelia Rose would too. Lorelei didn’t know if the wife had planned this kidnapping event or if Gerard’s brother or sons were involved in this mess. But now she was suspicious of them all.
Either way, it didn’t matter what Lorelei felt because it was all a massive betrayal for Gerard. He’d spent his life building this business and doing his best for his family. It had to suck to think that the betrayal was from within. But that’s how life was sometimes. If it was worth doing, it was usually worth doing in a big way. And these people had obviously gone all in. The worst-case scenario would be if it were more than one of them.
As soon as she found Amelia Rose in her bed, Lorelei wrapped her arms around the girl and said, “Your dad asked Jax and Griffin to come back.”
Immediately Amelia Rose hopped to her feet, turned, and looked at her. “Really?”
Lorelei nodded. “Yes. I haven’t heard if they’ve agreed to return or not though. But if we’re lucky, they will.”
“Call them,” Amelia Rose demanded. “Tell them just in case they don’t want to listen to Poppy. They’ll come if you ask them.”
Lorelei laughed. “No, they probably won’t.”
“Try, please,” Amelia Rose said.
Hating to say no, Lorelei pulled out her phone and the piece of paper with Griffin’s number on it and quickly dialed. When she heard Griffin’s voice on the other side, she said, “Gerard asked some of his men to bring you back.”
Griffin snorted. “That’s nice. We’re already miles down the road.”
“Come back,” Amelia Rose yelled into the phone. “Please, please, come back.”
“Why?” Griffin asked. “Is there a problem?”
“Probably,” Lorelei said. “I just spent the time since you left in the office with Gerard, helping him to see that maybe this is personal. If it
isn’t us in danger, I think he is.”
“Then he has his own security staff,” Griffin said in exasperation. But she could hear the two men talking. “We’re on our way back,” he said, “but if we get kicked out again …”
“I’ll take the blame,” she said. “I was there when he called his men and said to go get you.”
She could hear the laughter in his voice when he said, “May not make a difference.”
“No, but you’re made of sterner stuff. I doubt he’ll scare you away.”
“Maybe not,” he said. “And maybe I’m just coming so I can see you again.”
“Well then, you should come when I have days off,” she said.
“Do you get those?” he asked.
“Well, I used to. I have no idea what I’m supposed to do now.”
“You can’t leave me,” Amelia Rose called out nervously. She knew that Griffin could hear the child’s voice too; she was certainly loud enough.
“As you can tell,” Lorelei said drily, “things are still in an upheaval here.” She grabbed Amelia Rose’s hand and walked over to the far side of the room where they could sit on the window bench. She motioned outside and said, “It’s beautiful outside. After we’re done talking to Griffin, we’ll go for a walk, okay?”
“Over to the barn? To see if Mom’s done her thing with the stable hand?”
Catching Griffin’s snort on the phone, Lorelei winced and said, “We don’t talk about her like that. Remember?”
“Fine,” she said, “but that’s only if Griffin comes back. And he has to bring Jax with him too.”
“He doesn’t have to do anything,” Lorelei scolded. “Where are your manners?”
But Amelia Rose just sat in the corner and said, “Please get them to come home.”
Into the phone, Lorelei said, “Did you hear that?”
“Yes,” he said, “but you know we can’t stay on as babysitters, right?”
“I know,” she said, “but it would be nice if you had a day or two off that would line up with mine.”
“That is an entirely different story.” His voice deepened as he spoke, then became more businesslike as he added, “When we near the master gate again is where we find out if we’re allowed back in or not.”
“If it doesn’t open, I’m sorry. It would mean that he had called one of his men as a ploy to keep me appeased.”
“And I’m sure a lot of men in this world would do a lot to make you happy.”
“No, that’s not the relationship I have with Gerard. But he would take my advice, especially if I said it was necessary for his daughter’s peace of mind.”
“And it is,” Amelia Rose snapped from beside her. “If they won’t let them into the gate, I’ll override it and let them in myself.” And, with that, Amelia Rose darted off.
“And I’m on the run behind her again.” She ran behind her charge all the way down the staircase. “She has more energy than a filly, and I’m feeling very much like an old gray mare,” she said sadly. “But, Griffin, she just told me that, under Gerard’s new will, she would get thirty-five percent, the controlling interest.”
“That changes everything.”
“I know.”
The wait was excruciating but finally through the windows of the front door, she would be able to see the gate opening, letting Griffin back in. “What vehicle are you driving?”
“One of our own,” he said. “Why?”
“So your team already knew that you were here?”
“Of course,” he said. “Why wouldn’t they?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “It just seemed odd that you would already have new wheels.”
He laughed. “We get what we need at any time. Remember?”
She smiled and said, “I remember.” Then, on impulse, she said, “Too bad you don’t need me.”
And she hung up.
Griffin filled in Jax with the piece of the puzzle that Amelia Rose had supplied and studied his partner. “What do you think?” Just then his phone buzzed. He looked down, groaned, and said, “It’s Gerard.” He answered the call with a “Yes” in a noncommittal tone of voice.
“I need you boys to come back here.”
Silence. Griffin glanced at Jax, who raised his eyebrows, stared back at him, and shrugged.
“I’m pretty sure our job’s done,” Griffin said.
“Maybe,” Gerard said. “But it appears that Lorelei thinks you’re a very necessary part of solving this, keeping the girls safe.”
“Maybe, but she’s not the boss in this situation, is she?” He couldn’t help the cool tone in his voice. It’s not as if Gerard had been terribly friendly at the end.
“No,” Gerard said a heavy sigh. “But she seems to believe as you do.”
That shot his eyebrows up. “Interesting,” he said. “I can’t say we’ve discussed it very much.”
“No, but she’s very intelligent. That’s one of the reasons I hired her to tutor Amelia Rose. I do respect her brainpower.”
Griffin found that interesting too. “And what is it you’re asking us to do?”
“I’m asking you to come back and to help me get to the bottom of this.”
“I’ll have to talk to my boss about that,” Griffin said.
“Don’t bother,” Gerard said. “It’s already cleared. All you have to do is turn your vehicle around and get your asses back here.” And, with that, he hung up.
Griffin looked at Jax and said, “Well, apparently Lorelei does have some influence.”
“Probably Lorelei and more so Amelia Rose.”
He nodded. “I guess we’re going back.”
“Odd how Gerard knew who to call up the ranks of the Mavericks, and yet, I don’t think we have a boss to even ask, do we?”
Griffin shrugged. “Just a stalling tactic on my part,” he said. “I didn’t want him to think that we were jumping at the idea.”
“Except that we are jumping at the idea,” Jax said.
“Well, I am. You don’t have to,” he said.
“No, no. I’m in this to the end, whatever end that may be.”
“Meaning, the little girl got to you?”
Instantly Jax turned it around and said, “Meaning, Lorelei got to you?”
“Well, that’s true,” he said. “She certainly did.”
Jax laughed. “At least you admit it. That’s a whole lot easier than ignoring it.”
“She’s not somebody you can ignore,” he said.
“No, she isn’t. Particularly when you’re on hyperalert when she’s around.”
“And, like you said, it’s not necessarily a good thing.”
“No, but, with Gerard’s request, and Amelia Rose’s big announcement, I think it’s well past the point of having a choice now, isn’t it?”
“It so is.” Griffin groaned and said, “Still feels like, you know, somebody calling an untamed puppy to come.”
“That’s just Gerard. We don’t have to go,” Jax said, “but it would be nice to get that chance to tell him, I told you so.”
Griffin laughed. “There is that.”
“Plus you and I both know those girls are in danger. And the jerk Gerard.”
“Oh, no,” Griffin said. “There’s no way we’re not going. And I’m glad that he was forced to call us back. Let’s hope we’re not too late even now.”
“And that’s the thing, isn’t it?” Jax said. “We don’t even know where all the threats are coming from, but we do know that there are threats. Multiple threats to deal with.”
“Yes,” he said, “that sucks. However, we do know where one of those threats is coming from now.”
It took them another twenty minutes to return to the mansion. And as soon as they arrived, Amelia Rose raced toward them and threw herself into their arms. Jax chuckled, picked her up, and said, “You know we can’t keep doing this, right?”
She nodded. “Just until we keep Poppy safe.”
Jax squeezed her tight and passed he
r off to Griffin.
Griffin loved the fact that she was half woman, yet half child. Still wanted to be hugged and picked up and tossed around, and yet, also wanted to be treated like an adult. She was a mature eleven-year-old in many ways, and yet, just a young child in so many others. No sooner had Griffin put Amelia Rose down than Gerard stepped out the front door too.
He walked to meet them, shook the men’s hands, and said, “I apologize.” His voice was stiff, but at least he was doing what he should do. “And, yes, please, let’s go in and have another talk.”
“No problem,” Griffin said. “Maybe Lorelei should take part in it this time.”
Gerard winced. “I’ve already heard her point of view. Everybody appears to think that it’s a family matter and that I’m in danger as well.”
“Where is your wife?” Griffin asked.
“She’s taken a short holiday to Venice.”
Griffin and Jax exchanged a knowing glance.
“And I presume you’ve buffed up your security?” Jax said.
“I have,” he said. “But, if what you say is true, how do I know who is loyal to me?”
“While we’re in place,” Griffin said, “we’ll sort that out so you have a trustworthy team going forward.”
“That’s a good idea,” he said with relief. “Let’s start with my head of security. If he’s clear, we can assign a lot of the other clearances to him.”
“Good idea.”
Back in the office, he ordered coffee for everyone, and they sat down, taking a good look at who they had on his security staff. Sixteen men were assigned across all the family members.
“Any idea if anybody’s in financial distress or has a weakness that can be exploited?” Jax asked immediately.
“I wouldn’t have thought so,” Gerard said, “and that is my head of security’s job.”
“Which is why we’ll check him out first,” Griffin said. “He’s in a position to put people in place as he wants and not necessarily people who are good for you.”
“And that’s a disturbing thought,” Gerard said. “In my business, I hire the best that I can for the rest of this stuff. Nobody can look after everything.”
