Hope (Things That Matter Book 2)

by Casey Diam

  “Now, what is the name of your son? And I won’t ask you twice.”

  “Caleb,” she whispered.

  “Last name.”

  “Sawyer.”

  “And where is he now?”

  “I don’t know.”

  He pressed down on a key on his phone so hard, the phone about snapped before he shoved the phone back into his pocket. “I don’t need to show you your sister. I’ll save that for the grand meeting where you either get to watch them die or meet them from behind bars. Your choice.”

  “That still doesn’t prove anything,” I managed.

  “Then, you get to live with watching them die for the rest of your life, however long I decide that is. I’ve had your mother suffering all these years. Don’t think I won’t do the same to you. Just remember this, son, anything happens to me—they each get a bullet in their head. Olivia is the one who caused all these fucking problems in the first place. So think about that for the next few days while you contemplate which road you will wander for the rest of your life. You should have kept your mouth shut. Running straight to the cops when you got back from New York. You think I wouldn’t have my guys watching you after all the suspicious shit Brad told me had been going on with you? You’re just like your goddamn mother.”

  The door slammed, and I swallowed.

  She’s alive. She’s alive.

  ❧

  A few hours later, I stood at the sink in the darkness, scooping and drinking water from the pipe to curb the pangs of hunger.

  Everything Connor had disclosed barely registered.

  My mother was alive, and I had a sister.

  Am I willing to call his bluff and watch them die in order to put him in jail?

  Of course not.

  He’d kept me prisoner in this house before, so what would have stopped him from holding my mother prisoner for all these years? Nothing, if he knew he could get away with it.

  I could take the easy way out and believe it was all a lie, but the way he’d talked to that woman, how scared she’d been of him, and how he’d wanted her to call him sweetheart, there was no lie in the way she’d reacted. So, whether that woman was my mother or not, someone else was his captive, someone else who needed saving.

  If it was my mother—my chest tightened—he was still raping her.

  But where has he been keeping her all these years? And a sister?

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Paige

  It had taken two hours of walking around and then getting a bite to eat inside a café before Brad sent me a message to meet him outside.

  Dusk had fallen, and I knew Calvin was pissed at me. Not only had I turned off my phone after the fifth time he’d tried to call me, but also the only message I’d sent him was to tell him to go home.

  Right after, I’d sent a similar message to Agent Langley.

  Me: Don’t interfere until you get what you need. I don’t know if any one of Connor’s men has been watching me since I talked with Brad.

  I disposed of my half-eaten sandwich inside a trashcan by the door before stepping outside. The air was less muggy than earlier, and I was glad. With the temperature dropping, my cardigan, though sleeveless, was less conspicuous.

  Brad hopped out of a dark-tinted SUV with his phone out. There was a video call on the screen with five men inside a living room; one held the phone and moved it around, so I could see everyone else there, waiting. All unmasked and chilling on the sofas like this was nothing to them. Just another day on the job.

  “Okay.” I nodded, the naked feeling of not having my weapon somewhere on my person sweeping over me.

  He held the phone to his mouth. “Keep this from Connor until I get there. I want it to be a surprise.” He grinned at me and opened the back door of the SUV. “Shall we?”

  I should have thought this through. It was clear I wasn’t carrying a weapon in my simple tights and cardigan, which was why Brad might have been so quick to do as I’d asked. But knowing that I had my knife tucked into one of my combat boots gave me peace of mind because, if Caleb’s brother or any of those other fuckers touched me, their balls would be coming off.

  Looking around the inside of the SUV to make sure it was only the driver inside, I stepped one foot in and turned my head to Brad, who seemed elated.

  “If you touch me before we get to the house or make any detours, this is off. And don’t test me either because I will show you what I did to you outside that gym when you attacked me wasn’t just luck.” Evilness dripped from the smile I gave him that would make anyone else tremble, but his grin only grew wider.

  “Don’t you worry. I’m taking you right where you want to go.”

  A peace of mind also came from knowing the FBI could hear everything going on, and with that, I hoped they would get to me before anything too dreadful happened.

  I hoped this wasn’t all for nothing.

  And I really hoped whatever Caleb had done wasn’t bad enough that I would be sending him to jail with everyone else.

  ❧

  The SUV pulled into the garage on Alex Connor’s building, and Brad escorted me inside through a side door. He stayed behind me with the angry-looking driver. And as I stepped inside, a thick cloud of apprehension hovered overhead before draping itself around me. My eyes traveled down the old, almost antique foyer. Burgundy rugs covered parts of the hardwood flooring in the hallway, and two large golden-framed paintings hung on the walls.

  There was a wide archway across from me that led into a wide-open space, and a half-cracked door to my right. I peeked through the small opening into that room.

  I recognized the brunette from my curious search online after Caleb had told me about the nurse he had bribed.

  What the hell?

  Stacy Lenard was sitting on some giant dude’s lap and rubbing her hands over his chest so affectionately that my mouth fell open and almost hit the floor.

  Stacy’s voice came out low and raspy as she said, “God, I wish I didn’t have to go back to work. That place is a drag and—”

  Brad blocked my view and yelled into the room, “Dee, get out here and send your woman on her way. And don’t forget to take the back way, hot stuff, or the FBI will be on your tail.” He pulled the door shut.

  Your woman?

  Hot stuff?

  What the fuck?

  As I edged toward the open arch for the other room, a hand grabbed my ass. I reached back, caught it, and twisted it to the point a subtle move would snap it.

  “Fuck,” Brad cursed. “You’re in my territory now, darling. Do anything stupid, and I’ll have every motherfucker in here fuck you at the same time I shove my dick in your throat.”

  I inhaled.

  This is it.

  There is no running now.

  He hadn’t given much of anything during the drive over, but that, what he’d just said, was something. Although, if getting information out of him on the way here while he was intoxicated hadn’t worked, I had no idea how I would manage with these other men who were skilled beyond my years.

  Both physically and mentally.

  Shit, maybe jumping the gun like this was a stupid idea.

  I made a note to keep a lookout for where these men carried their weapons on their person as well as for any that might be carelessly lying around.

  I released his hand. “Put your hand on me again, and I’ll break it. That’s a promise.”

  “Yo, I’m going to go talk to Connor,” Brad said, walking into the room. “She doesn’t go anywhere.” He turned so I could see the dark threat in his eyes. “You know what to do if she tries anything.” He nodded to one of the men settled in a chair. “Get Caleb.” A malicious grin skirted across his face. “I can’t wait for this fucking show to start.”

  One of the men jogged up the stairs, and I swallowed. Caleb was fine, but I couldn’t see him yet. He was going to be pissed that I was here, and I needed to focus. I stepped into the large living room, and before I could get a good look at all
the men inside, a door swung open on the far wall. A tall man about the same height as Caleb with a buzz-cut and no beard came through the door, and everything stilled around me. As if the air had been sucked out of the room.

  Brad, seemingly unaware of the tension, gushed, “I have to get a bonus for this. Look who got the job done—again.”

  “Where did you find her?” the man hissed through clenched teeth.

  I had no doubt this was Alex Connor. I could tell by how everyone’s attention remained on him, unmoving, waiting for a command.

  “I ran into her downtown, and now, here she is.”

  “So, she was just walking, and you took her?”

  I sensed his suspicion, and that was the last thing I needed. If he knew Caleb was working with the cops, he might be quick to suggest it was why I was here. And, even though that was one of my reasons for being here, he couldn’t know that. It would ruin everything.

  Before Brad could make him question the coincidence, I said, “He didn’t take me. I came here. I wasn’t too excited about running into this asshole either, but I thought, you know what? I’m done running. I’m taking it you’ve received my letters, so now, I’m here for answers.” I gestured to the men around me, who had begun to stand from their chairs. Ignoring them, I pushed on. “I’m guessing these men killed my family, but I don’t need to hear it from them. I just need to hear why you ordered them to kill my family and why you’re trying to kill me. Is that too much to ask? Because I’m fucking tired of running.”

  His face remained impassive before he fixed his gaze on Brad. “How long ago did you run into her?”

  “Almost three hours, but I wanted to gather everyone, so you could see that I’m still capable of doing this. Caleb was the one getting in the way.”

  Connor’s hand came up and smacked Brad across the face. “Why am I just hearing about this?”

  I found myself feeling sorry for Brad even though he was an asshole because no child should be treated that way. Just like Caleb, Brad was merely a player in whatever fucked-up shit their father had set out to do. He had a motive, but it needed to end tonight. The sooner I got him to talk, the sooner the FBI would get here.

  “Are you making the calls now?” Connor yelled. “You have any idea the trouble you’ve caused by withholding this information from me?”

  When I glanced at the other men in the room, one of their shirts had hitched on a gun at the side of his waistband. And, as I looked back to Connor, the clear sign of another weapon was tucked in the back of Brad’s jeans. He was standing only a few feet from his father.

  I was here, and my main goal was getting information, but to get out of here, knowing I could snatch a weapon from one of these guys eased my disquiet.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Caleb

  As I walked down the stairs, light-headed, Connor’s yelling distracted me from my gut trying to eat itself.

  “You’ve just fucked up everything I worked all these years to cover up. I used the last straw I had to save you, all of you, and you kept this from me?”

  What the fuck is going on?

  As I rounded the corner, I stopped and blinked. Then I closed my eyes and opened them again. Maybe it was the lack of sleep and food. I was hallucinating. That had to be the answer because there was no way in hell that could be who I thought it was. But that hair, that body...my heart swelled and collapsed in my chest.

  Fucking hell. How did she get here? What the fuck is she doing here?

  As I stood by the door dumbfounded, the man who had come to get me found his spot in the room.

  Paige’s back was still facing me, but not even a second later, her head turned, and our eyes locked. The pain was evident on her face as her gaze lingered on the bruises on mine. My pain was no longer physical, though. I was hurt but because she was fucking here, in the last damn place I wanted her to be.

  She must have seen the anger burning behind my eyes because she turned her head and spoke just as fast, getting Alex Connor’s attention, “Can you yell at him later about this last straw crap and answer my fucking questions? Why did you kill my family? David, Leanne, Alaina, and Reese. And don’t think I don’t know you killed my real parents, too. Why?”

  Connor’s eyes lifted and landed on me. “What the fuck is he doing down here? Who let him out?”

  “Damn it!” Paige marched up to Connor, fists clenched at her sides while my heart just about dove through my chest.

  Fuck. This is not going to end well.

  “Why did you kill them? What had they ever done to you?”

  What is she doing? Paige, you need to stop.

  Connor’s eyes narrowed on her.

  Weapon. I need a weapon.

  I moved across the room at an easy pace so as not to draw attention, and then I stopped by two of Connor’s guys standing close together. They’d been waiting for the next move. Almost anxious for it.

  “I don’t care what you do to me. Just tell me why,” Paige begged.

  “They knew too much, and they wouldn’t leave it alone,” Connor said, a bite in his tone.

  His words made a connection in my head. If my mother was alive, the Sawyers must have known. Either that, or they had known who had taken her. They had known it was him.

  “Well, that’s stupid because I don’t know anything, yet you’ve been hunting me.”

  “There’s a lot a kid can overhear and shed light on, unless you’re too stupid to remember. But you’re here now, so that does explain a lot. Dee, can I trust you to finally finish what should have been done that night, or do I need to take care of her myself?”

  “She fell off the side of the building. How was I supposed to know she wasn’t dead?” Dee defended.

  Connor’s jaw tensed. “By doing what I fucking instructed. You shouldn’t have left the property until everyone had a fucking bullet. How much clearer could I have been? Months of planning, and you still fucked it up.”

  Dee hung his head, and I saw the moment Paige fixed her eyes on Brad’s weapon tucked into the back of his jeans.

  Shit, if she kills Connor, I will never find my mother or my sister, if I have one.

  “How could you live with yourself going around kidnapping innocent babies and fucking up their lives? What did you do with Leanne’s child? You had to have taken her, too. That’s the only thing that makes sense. So where is she?” Paige pressed.

  “Watch your fucking mouth. That was my child, and I could have done whatever I goddamn pleased with it.” Connor looked at his five men scattered around the room. “Take her to one of the rooms and do whatever you want with her for the next few hours. I’m tired of hearing her fucking mouth. This ends tonight.” His eyes stopped on me. “And, since my son claims he doesn’t know her, I want to test out Brad’s theory. Do your worst to her until Caleb agrees to do what needs to be done. Three lives are in your hands now, Caleb, your call.”

  “I’ll do it,” I said.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I said, I’ll do it.”

  “In that case, we’ll keep this one for leverage until then.”

  Paige grabbed Brad’s gun from the back of his jeans just as he was turning to face her. I snatched the weapon from one of the guys next to me before he could grab it. And, as he turned, I pressed the weapon to his heart at the same time I heard Brad let out a loud grunt across the room.

  “Don’t move.” Energy rose from somewhere deep even though I still felt weak and shaky from the lack of food in my system. “Get down on your knees.”

  When I glanced at Paige, she had the weapon pointed at Alex Connor, and Brad was curled on the floor, cupping his balls a few feet away from her.

  “Paige, no,” I said the same time about four different guns cocked in the room. She was surrounded, and if she fired, she would die, too. “Paige.”

  She didn’t even look at me. It was like I wasn’t even there. She was on a mission, and nothing would stop her. I should have known the moment I had seen her here.
She wouldn’t have come on a suicide mission unless she was planning to do this. He was the one thing keeping her from moving forward, and she wanted him dead.

  Connor moved forward and grabbed the top of the weapon in her hands, whirling around and out of the weapon’s danger zone. I had known he would do that even before she pointed the weapon at him. He had been trained, just like the rest of us.

  Stepping back, I shot the man in front of me first. As I shifted back some more, I turned to everyone else in the room, squinting and lining up the weapon’s front and back sight on the rest of the men in the room, taking out the one closest to Paige first. They wouldn’t shoot me unless Connor gave them an order, and in my peripheral vision, Connor was still trying to wrestle the weapon from Paige.

  Each bullet that left the weapon in my hand penetrated someone until all five of the men who’d been inside the room were on the floor, groaning.

  Brad made a move to get up, and I aimed the weapon at him.

  “Don’t even think about it,” I warned, looking to see the headlock Connor had Paige in, her back to his front. “Let her go.”

  “Not until she drops her weapon, or maybe I’ll just kill her right now.”

  “You kill her, and you’ll be right fucking behind her,” I threatened. My voice calmed as I spoke to Paige. “Paige, just drop it.”

  “Okay.”

  Connor must have loosened his hold on her when she pretended she was giving in because she used it to her advantage to dip and rotate out of his hold. Only the second she brought her weapon up to point at Connor again, a shot fired. She jerked and glanced at me. It wasn’t mine, and it wasn’t hers.

  Was it hers?

  Connor was still standing. With my weapon still raised, my eyes darted around the room and stopped on Dee’s weapon pointed at her.

  Shit.

  I fired two rounds, and his arm dropped to the floor as he went limp. When I looked back at Paige, her weapon was still pointed at Connor. Dee’s shot must have missed her. I didn’t see any blood on her, and she was still standing her ground.

  “Paige, don’t. My mom is still alive. I need him to—”