by Lisa Harris
“Who’s been kidnapped?” he asked.
“My father.” Kayla swallowed the lump in her throat, then proceeded to answer his string of questions, including the location of the estate.
“We can meet the authorities there,” she said to Levi as she hung up the phone, weighing their options. “We could try to flag down a taxi, but Evi’s not far from here, and she has a car we could borrow. I’d like to avoid getting any more civilians involved.”
“Sounds like the best option we have.”
She quickly dialed Evi’s number, then waited for her to pick up. “If you’re up to driving, I can navigate.”
* * *
Levi felt the tension gripping his neck and shoulders as he sped down the long stretch of road in Evi’s car toward the house where they’d been held hostage less than twelve hours ago. While he had no regrets getting the police involved at this point, the entire situation still left Levi with an uneasy feeling. Once again they had nothing concrete to assure them that Nicu had taken Max to the house. And even if he was there, they had no idea what they’d done to him, or even if he was still alive.
But while Levi’s gut told him that they were on the right track, he hadn’t missed the desperation in Kayla’s eyes. She’d already lost both her sister and her mom. To lose her father this way would be devastating. All he could do now was pray they got to the house in time to find her father and have Nicu and his brother arrested. Then all of this would finally be over.
“We should be there in another couple minutes,” she said, glancing at the GPS on her phone. “The driveway’s just up the road.”
He reached out and squeezed her hand, knowing how anxious she was. Her father’s life was at stake here, and every second they didn’t find him meant another second for Nicu to do the unthinkable.
A black sedan passed them, speeding in the opposite direction. Levi glanced in the rearview mirror.
It was Nicu.
“Hold on,” Levi said. “That’s them.”
Levi pressed on the brakes, then quickly did a U-turn.
“Call Peeters and tell him we found Nicu and his brother,” he said as they followed the sedan. “Tell them where we are and to get here as soon as possible.”
“And if we catch up with them,” she asked, turing on her phone. “What’s your plan then?”
“I’m still working on that.”
Because all he did know was if they lost them now, they could not only lose evidence of what Nicu was involved in, but there was a good chance that Kayla’s father was in the back of the car. Which meant the only real option was to stop them now.
Levi sped up to the sedan on the narrow road, thankful there was no other traffic or bikes on the stretch of road at the moment.
“The authorities must have just missed them. The commissioner’s on his way from the house right now,” she said, hanging up the call. “But he told me he doesn’t want us to get involved.”
“That’s funny.” Levi frowned. “I’m pretty sure we already are involved.”
Instead, the question should be how to stop the other vehicle without anyone—especially any passengers in the car—getting hurt. There was only one viable solution he knew of.
“Hang on, Kayla,” he said, accelerating until he was alongside Nicu’s vehicle. Gripping the steering wheel, he steered the front bumper of their car into the other vehicle, right behind the back tire. If the procedure worked, the move would send the car into a spin, which in turn should cause the engine to stall. A second later, Nicu’s car lost traction and began skidding down the road, while Levi worked to stay clear of the vehicle. The other vehicle spun as predicted, then stalled out on the side of the road. Levi pulled to a stop in front of the sedan, blocking the road.
“You okay?” Levi turned to Kayla as he yanked off his seat belt and unlocked his door.
“I think so.” Kayla pressed her hand against her chest. “Guess you learned more than just picking locks in the army.”
“Yes, but two wrecked cars in one day would have my instructor’s head spinning,” he said, jumping out of the car. “Stay here. I’ll be back.”
“Levi—”
But he was already headed toward the other vehicle. The dust had yet to settle as he ran to the driver’s side, where he was counting on Nicu to be disoriented from the maneuver. And while his plan was risky, he was out of options.
The driver’s door opened as Nicu attempted to get out, but Levi quickly slammed it shut, managing to knock Nicu’s gun out of his hand at the same time. The weapon skidded across the pavement. Levi quickly took a step back and grabbed the weapon.
“Get out, Nicu,” he said, pulling open the driver’s door. But this time he was armed.
He glanced into the car, still unable to see clearly into the back seat, but the passenger seat was empty.
“Where’s your brother?” Levi asked.
“I don’t know.” Nicu touched his forehead and groaned.
“Get away from the car,” someone shouted from behind him. “Both of you.”
Levi turned around. Nicu’s brother. Andrei held Kayla in front of him with his gun pressed to her temple, blocking any possible shot.
“I’m sorry, Levi,” she said. “He grabbed me out of the car.”
He frowned, but there was no time to spend regretting the fact that he’d missed this scenario.
“What are you doing, Andrei?” Nicu asked.
“Putting an end to all of this. You just couldn’t leave things alone and walk away, could you, big brother?”
“What are you talking about? We’re in this together. We’ve always been in this together.”
“No...this is your mess, and I’m not going to let you take me down. Not this time.”
“Andrei—”
“Enough! Get out of the car.”
Sirens blared in the distance.
“Let her go,” Levi said. “You’re only going to make things worse for yourself.”
“Like things could actually get any worse?” Andrei said. “Because here’s what’s going to happen. She’s going with me. I’m going to get back into the car and no one is going to follow me, including you, Nicu. You’re so obsessed with finding that girl that you don’t know what you’re doing anymore.”
“You know I have to find her.”
“You’re a fool, Nicu. Mercy’s gone. It’s over. But I’m not going to throw my life away because of you.”
“It’s not over. She’ll come back to me.”
Levi took a step forward and aimed the confiscated gun at Andrei. “Put your gun down. It’s over.”
He wasn’t going to lose Kayla again no matter what it took this time. Because he knew if she ended up getting into the car with Andrei, the odds were he’d never see her alive again.
Levi glanced to his right, where two police vehicles had just stopped.
“I want both of you to put your weapons down now,” one of the officers shouted, pulling out his own gun.
Levi glanced at Kayla, then slowly set his weapon on the ground.
The cop turned to Andrei. “And you...step away from her now.”
Andrei hesitated, then dropped his gun onto the ground beside him before holding his hands up. The commissioner signaled to his officers to handcuff the men.
“Commissioner,” Kayla said, stepping forward, “this is Levi Cummings, former US Army counterintelligence.”
“Nice to meet you,” he said, shaking Levi’s hand.
“It’s nice to meet you as well, sir.”
“That was quite a stunt you just pulled now, but it worked, even though I think I remember saying don’t get involved.”
“They would have gotten away, sir.”
“Which is why we owe you a bit of gratitude. Turns out we have a thick file on Nicu and Andrei Dragan.” He turned
back to Kayla. “Are you okay?”
“I am now. He would have killed me if I’d left with him,” she said. “But we need to check the back of the car, sir. We believe he might have some of the girls with him, or even my father.”
One of the officers moved to search the car. “You’re right. There are two girls here.”
Kayla hurried over to them, pulled off her coat and wrapped it around one of the girls. “Je nu veilig bent. You’re safe now.”
She signaled for one of the officers to find a blanket for the other girl. “What about the trunk? We have to find my father.”
“I just looked. I’m sorry, ma’am, but there’s no one else in the car.”
Seventeen
Kayla watched the police lead Nicu and his brother toward the squad car. Hopefully now Mercy would never have to worry about them again. She was finally free from the man who had tormented her not just physically, but emotionally as well. And while IFO’s program would ensure she continued to receive both the counseling and job training that she needed, Kayla also hoped that one day soon Mercy would be able to go back to Nigeria to see her family.
But where was her father?
Nicu’s cold gaze pierced right through her as he walked past.
“Tell me where my father is,” she said, catching up to him. “What did you do with him?”
Nicu shot her a smile, then spit at her.
A chill swept through her as she took a step backward.
“Ignore him,” the commissioner said. “We’re still searching the property, but all we’ve found so far is the guard’s dead body.”
A sick feeling washed through her. If Nicu had no qualms killing a man who’d worked for him, he’d certainly have no problem killing her father.
“I need to go to the house and help look for him,” she said, heading back toward Evi’s car, thankful the damage was minimal.
“Kayla, wait,” the commissioner said. “You need to leave the search to us. We will find him.”
Kayla spun around to face him. “It’s my father, Commissioner. I need to help.”
“I’m guessing you could use a couple extra people to help search the property,” Levi added, pulling the car keys out of his pocket.
“Fine.” The commissioner nodded, then started for his own car. “We’ll meet you there.”
The dogs were barking ferociously when they pulled through the open gate and up the long driveway of the house. Someone—presumably one of the officers—had tied the animals up outside the three-car garage, and they clearly weren’t happy.
“Do you think they just planned to leave the dogs here?”
“I think all Nicu was worried about was getting those girls out of here before the police showed up. He was probably planning to leave the country.”
And her father...what had they done with him?
One of the officers ran up to the commissioner’s car.
“Something’s going on,” Kayla said.
She opened her door as soon as Levi shifted the car into Park.
“What’s going on?” Kayla asked, hurrying toward the officers.
“They found your father,” the commissioner said, meeting them halfway across the drive. “They were keeping him in a small closet at the back of the house.”
“Please...please tell me he’s okay.” If Nicu had hurt him...
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know yet. Medics are here and are with him right now—”
“I need to see him.” Kayla pushed past the man and started sprinting across the lawn.
As she approached the house, two medics were wheeling her father out the front door on a stretcher
If anything had happened to him...
He was on an IV, and wrapped up with a heavy blanket around his shoulders and another one across his legs. She still didn’t know what he’d had to endure since yesterday, but at least he was alive.
“Daddy?”
The medic waved her back. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but—”
“It’s my father. Please. I need to see him. Is he okay?”
“We need to take him in for observation, but it looks as if he’s just dehydrated.” The medic glanced at his patient. “I can give you a minute with him.”
“Thank you.”
The medic moved back as Kayla ran her fingers across her father’s bruised face. “I’m so, so sorry.”
“Don’t be. They knocked me around a bit, but I’m going to be okay.” He squeezed her hand. “Besides, I have a feeling I look far worse than I feel.”
“I hope so, because I’m not sure I like the rainbow look you’ve got going for you across your cheek. It clashes with your plaid shirt.” Kayla laughed then gathered her father up in a hug. “But all that matters now is that you’re alive.”
“And what about you?” Her father pulled back and caught her gaze. “What did they do to you, Kayla? You look like you’ve been through your own nightmare.”
“It’s a long story, but I’m okay now that I know you’re okay. Besides, I had someone with me the whole time.”
“Who’s that?”
She looked up to where Levi stood at the edge of the grass, giving them their space. “You know Levi.”
“Levi Cummings?” Her father glanced up, noticing him for the first time. “What’s he doing here?”
“Like I said, it’s a long story.”
“One I’d like to hear. Though between you and me, he’s the only person in his family besides his mother who seems to have his head on straight. Of course, I’ve also always heard that he’s quite a ladies’ man, or at least that’s what the magazines claim.”
“More than likely a bunch of rumors, but even if it is true, I’m also not one of those swooning girls who falls for every handsome man who comes to my rescue.”
She glanced back at Levi. Except this time, she had.
“I’ll admit, you could do worse,” her father said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I remember telling your mother once that you were marrying the wrong brother.”
“The wrong brother?” She furrowed her brow and lowered her voice so Levi couldn’t overhear their conversation. “You never told me that.”
“Well, I am now.”
“Forget about that.” She tried to squeeze back the tears. “All this made me realize I don’t tell you I love you enough. I thought I was going to lose you, Daddy—”
“But you didn’t. What about you, though? What happened to your leg?” he asked. “I noticed it as you were walking over here. You’ve got quite a large cut.”
She looked down at her ripped pant leg where the blood had seeped through her pants before drying into a crusty patch of brownish red.
“It’s nothing.”
“Nothing?” Her father nodded toward the paramedics. “You need to get it checked out.”
“I will, as soon as they’ve taken care of you.”
“Promise?” he asked.
“I promise.”
“Everything’s going to be okay,” Max said, squeezing her hand. “Everything’s finally going to be okay.”
She moved aside as one of the medics checked his IV, then headed for the ambulance.
“Looks like he’s going to be okay,” the commissioner said, stepping up beside her.
Kayla wiped away a stray tear and nodded. “Thanks to you.”
“I certainly can’t take all the credit. While I’m anxious to get your official statements, I want you to know that the two of you saved a lot of lives today. Those girls, Mercy and now your father... And I plan to do everything in my power to ensure those men get locked up for the rest of their lives.”
* * *
Levi knocked on Kayla’s door at nine thirty the next morning with a bag of pastries from a bakery he’d fo
und a block away from her apartment. He still found it hard to believe all that had happened since the first time he’d knocked on her door two days ago.
Once he’d given his statement to the police the night before it had been dark by the time he made it back to his hotel. But as exhausted as he’d been, he’d still found himself unable to sleep. He’d finally gone to sleep, then slept until eight. Something he never did.
And today he still had no idea what he was going to do about Kayla. He wasn’t sure his heart could handle simply walking away.
Kayla’s father opened the door.
“Mr. Brooks,” Levi said. “It’s good to see you again. How are you feeling?”
“Much better than I was yesterday, thanks, but please, why don’t you call me Max. Mr. Brooks seems too formal.”
“All right.” Levi shut the front door behind him, then followed Max into the small room that was neat and organized this time. Which didn’t surprise him.
“Looks as if you come bearing gifts,” Max said.
“Bagels, chocolate croissants and a couple fruit tarts.” Levi set the bag on the kitchen table. “I figured everyone should find something they like.”
“I think the biggest problem will be how to choose. Can I get you some coffee? Kayla’s getting dressed and will be out soon.”
“I’m still trying to wake up, so, yes, I’d love some.” Levi pulled back one of the chairs and sat down. “How did you sleep?”
“I’m not sure exactly what the doctor gave me to take, but I slept like a rock.”
“I’d say that after all that happened, you needed a good night’s sleep.”
Max set a cup of coffee on the table in front of Levi, then started putting the pastries he’d brought on a plate.
“I owe you my life, Levi. Both you and my daughter.”
Levi smiled. “I’m just thankful I could be here to help Kayla. This could have ended a whole lot worse.”
“For all of us.” Max’s gaze shifted to the door to the bathroom before turning back to Levi. “I am still curious as to why you came to Amsterdam.”
Levi grabbed one of the chocolate croissants and took a bite before answering. “Adam was released from prison last week. He’d made some threats toward Kayla, and I was worried about her.”
