by Krista Lakes
He was told to come alone to an address sent to his phone. There was no money ransom or business mention. This was about him and Laura. That told him this was personal, lending credence to the Janie theory.
He looked out the window at the darkening sky. The city lights started to flicker on as the sun turned the mountains orange. He wondered if Laura could see the sunset from where she was being held.
He picked up the phone to call Bruce and hesitated. He trusted Bruce, but something he had said bothered Ethan.
“Someone knew the system. It has to be an inside job or someone who knows our systems.”
If he called Bruce, there was a very good chance that Janie would find out. She either still had access to his security or had someone on the security team helping her. He couldn't call Bruce. Bruce and the rest of Ethan's team had to stay in the dark about this.
He thought about just going to the warehouse, but without knowing what was going on or having some basic plan, that was a terrible idea. Who knew what Janie wanted from him?
Ethan flipped his phone over in his hands, playing with the smooth features. He needed some sort of security. He needed help, but he couldn't use his own security team. He was afraid to use Carter's team as they often shared personnel.
He would have to use someone else's team. Someone who could contact the police without drawing attention and had experience with this kind of thing.
Luckily, he had just that kind of friend.
“Let's go over the plan one more time,” Dean Sherman, head of billionaire Jack Saunders' security team said. He leaned forward over the small coffee table in Ethan's hotel room to listen to the response.
“I go to the warehouse alone,” Ethan told Jack's head of security. “You and your team will be waiting in unmarked vans outside on the street.”
Dean nodded. “The Denver police are already there making it look like electrical work is being done. It won't be strange to have several large vans in the area. The police are aware of the situation, but we're saying that it's Jack, not you on the radio. As far as everyone but you and I know, this is about him.”
Ethan nodded. Jack was a good friend for letting him borrow his security team. Dean had flown out from New York immediately at Ethan's phone call to Jack. Ethan had met Dean at Mia's fundraiser and knew that the man was amazing at his job. He'd been part of the search for the missing boys.
“I'll have a syringe with a sedative up my jacket sleeve,” Ethan continued with the plan. “If Janie searches me, it'll feel like part of the coat. I just have to make sure I don't stab myself with it.”
“Yes, that would be bad,” Dean replied dryly.
“I make sure Laura is safe. Then, as soon as I get the opportunity, I inject the sedative. The best is the neck, but the arm or glute will work if necessary,” Ethan said. “Once I've done that, I say 'she's down' into the wire I'll be wearing.”
“And what happens if you can't do that?” Dean asked, his bright blue eyes sharp as he waited for an answer.
Ethan didn't like thinking about this part of the plan. He wanted it to go easily and smoothly, but he knew that a plan for if things went to hell in a hand-basket was necessary and probably more important than the best case scenario.
“I say, 'boats and hoes.'” It was easy enough to remember, and a little bit funny, but it was a dark humor. Janie wouldn’t know what it meant, but the team listening in on the wire would. A duress code. If he said that, then a full tactical team came in with guns blazing. If bullets started flying, they were just as likely to hit Laura as Janie. Boats and hoes full of holes. Ethan just hoped he could get Laura on the floor fast enough.
“It sounds like you've got it.” Dean leaned back into the couch. “Try to stay calm. The calmer you stay, the calmer Janie will stay. Play to her. Do what she asks. We're right outside if you need help.”
Ethan nodded and sat back in his own chair. He needed something to drink. Or ten shots of whiskey. “I'm not ashamed to admit this to you, but I'm scared about this.”
Dean smiled. “You should be. This isn't an easy thing. But, you'll do great. Just treat it like a hostile takeover, and you'll be fine.”
Ethan chuckled. “Yeah, except I'm the one being taken over. I have to give the takers what they want in order to survive. That's not my usual meeting.”
Dean checked his watch. “It's time. You ready?”
Ethan's stomach rolled with nerves, but his hands were steady. “As ready as I'm going to be,” he replied. He stood up and put on his game face.
It was time to save Laura.
Chapter 41
Laura
“Luckily it went the way it was supposed to,” Ethan told Laura.
She was still having a hard time believing this was all happening. She looked over in time to see the EMTs wheel Craig off strapped to a gurney. He was still out cold as they took him away with a police escort.
“What's going to happen to him?” Laura asked, following him with her eyes. She gripped Ethan's hand, drawing strength from him.
“He's going somewhere they can help him,” Ethan answered, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don't worry about him.”
Laura nodded and looked away. She understood that Craig didn't mean to hurt her, but she wasn't ready to forgive him for tying her up and threatening her life just yet.
The EMT checking Laura out cleared her throat. She smiled as the two of them looked over.
“You look okay,” the EMT told Laura. “You're a little dehydrated, but your vitals are good, and you don't have any physical injuries.”
“Can I take her home?” Ethan asked his hand on her shoulder.
“If you want to,” the EMT replied. “She needs rest and fluids. If anything changes, you'll need to see a doctor.”
“Thank you,” Laura told the EMT and Ethan repeated the sentiment.
The EMT nodded. She quickly finished packing up her things, and she and her partner headed back to their ambulance. Laura stood from the chair. She didn't want to be on that thing anymore. Standing felt good.
A tall man with dark hair and piercing blue eyes headed their direction. He walked confidently and greeted them with a nod. Laura recognized him as Dean from Mia's fundraiser.
“How are you, Laura?” Dean asked. He didn't smile. She wasn't sure he knew how.
“Better now,” Laura said with a smile. “Thank you.”
“I'm just glad you're safe,” Dean replied. He turned to Ethan. “It appears as though Craig was quite obsessed with you, Ethan. His car is outside, and it's full of items that belong you. Pens, neckties, napkins, t-shirts, and even a personalized phone charger.”
Ethan's eyebrows went up. “So that's where that went,” he said.
“We're just about finished here,” Dean informed them. “You two are free to head home. I'll have one of my men drive you to the hotel.”
“Thank you, Dean,” Ethan replied. He reached into his pocket and pulled out what Laura assumed with the microphone. “I can't thank you enough.”
Dean took the microphone. “It's my job.”
Laura hugged him. “Thank you, Dean.”
A flicker of a smile crossed his face as he patted her back. “I'm just glad it all worked out. If you'll excuse me, I need to go check in with my team.”
“I guess that's it,” Laura said as the warehouse cleared of people. She turned to face Ethan. He stared at her like he was seeing her for the first time.
The controlled, assured mask of the billionaire cracked, and Laura could clearly see then man beneath the billionaire. Lines of worry stood out on his brow, and his eyes shone with tears.
“I was so worried,” he whispered, pulling her into his arms. He held her close to him, his breathing rough with emotion.
“I'm okay.” She raised her face to him and touched his cheek. “Will you take me home?”
He nodded. His green eyes were soft and only for her.
“Will you stay with me?” she asked.
He
nodded again.
“Will you stay with me forever?” Her heart paused, waiting for his response.
“Forever,” he promised. He smiled, and the worry vanished from his face. All that was left was love. Love for her. It made her warm with joy. It made her feel complete.
“Sounds good,” she said, cupping her fingers under his chin and tugging gently. He leaned forward and kissed her, surrounding her in a wonderful kind of love.
Chapter 42
Laura
Laura tried to keep the fear from bubbling up into a scream. She thought she was ready for this, but the closer she stepped, the more her body rebelled. If it weren't for the fact that Ivy and Dallas were holding both her hands, she would have turned and sprinted away.
Everything smelled of hot asphalt and jet fuel. It didn't help to settle her very nervous stomach.
“Is that the plane, Laura?” Ivy asked in a small voice as they stood on the tarmac. Both kids had a death grip on Laura's hands.
“Yes. It's very different than the one Mom and Dad was on,” Laura said, doing her best to keep her voice steady. She felt like she pulled it off okay.
“I'm scared,” Ivy admitted.
“Me too,” Dallas agreed. “But, Ethan's on this plane, right?”
“Yes, Ethan's on this plane,” Laura said. She gave their hands a squeeze. “I'm scared too, but this will be fun, okay?”
“Okay,” both kids murmured, but neither one of them sounded convinced.
Ethan's head popped out of the plane door, and he waved to them.
Laura wouldn't have stepped toward the plane if Dallas hadn't pulled her. He wanted to see his friend. The small motion of his gentle tug on her hand was enough to get Laura's feet moving. It was slow at first.
Ethan took the stairs two at a time before jumping off the last one and jogging across the tarmac to meet them.
She remembered her parents walking along the tarmac. She remembered them smiling, just like this before they disappeared forever. Laura's courage failed, and she stumbled.
But Ethan was there. He smiled as she caught herself. Dallas and Ivy both let go of her hands to give him hugs. He happily pulled the two children to him.
That was when she realized that getting on this plane wasn't going to recreate the past. She wasn't her mother. Ethan wasn't her father. Getting on this plane was taking a step into the future, not reliving the past. They were moving forward with their lives, and it needed to happen. They needed to move on.
“You okay?” Ethan asked as she took her first confident step toward the plane.
“I am now,” she said with a smile. He grinned at her and then raced the two kids up the stairs and into the private jet.
Laura took her time on the stairway up to the jet door. She was mostly prepared for this flight, but part of her was still afraid. This was how her parents died. It was only natural for her to be fearful, and she was doing her best. She took a deep breath before entering the plane.
The interior of the plane was not at all as she expected. She'd been expecting the tacky blue cloth chairs in rows with uncomfortable armrests and no room to move around. The jet was the exact opposite. It was open and spacious with a large couch and a big screen TV. There were comfortable chairs and space to move around. It looked more like a tiny living room than an aircraft.
“This doesn't look anything like the planes on TV,” Dallas remarked. He ran to the back and immediately started exploring. “It even has a real potty!”
“Airplanes all have real toilets,” Ivy told him, rolling her eyes. But, then she went to look at it too.
“This is your airplane?” Laura asked, looking around. It was certainly not what she thought of when he said she was flying.
“Yes. Well, sometimes,” Ethan replied. He handed her a glass of champagne. “I have another one that's smaller, but it has a more comfortable desk.”
Laura nodded. “Right. Because that's my usual criteria for judging an airplane.”
Ethan chuckled and put his hand on the small of her back. “Let's get seated so we can take off.”
Laura took a big sip of champagne. She could do this.
“Okay, guys,” Ethan announced once Ivy and Dallas were on the couch. He stood in front of them. “I have a surprise for you. It'll make the trip more fun.”
Dallas and Ivy's eyes lit up, and the bounced up and down. The fear of the plane was gone for them, replaced by excitement. Laura was trying. Another couple of glasses of champagne and she was pretty sure she'd be fine, too.
“Do you guys remember the preview we watched for the new Lego movie?” Ethan asked. He picked up the remote for the TV and spun it around in his hands. He pressed a button, and the Lego logo filled the TV screen. “We get to watch it.”
The kids whooped and jumped up and down.
“But it's not even in theaters yet,” Laura said. “It doesn't come out for another month.”
Ethan shrugged. “I know a guy.”
“You know a guy?” she repeated. She took another sip of champagne.
“Okay, sit back down so I can start it,” Ethan told Ivy and Dallas. They both sat down, but excitement bounced in their little limbs as he hit the play button. He turned the volume up loud and sat next to Laura.
“I can't believe you got them this movie,” she said, finishing her champagne.
“I thought it would be a good distraction,” he told her. He motioned to the stewardess and almost instantly Laura had another glass of champagne in her hands.
“It's a good one,” she admitted. The engines started up. Laura looked over to make sure the kids were okay, but they were so engrossed in the movie they hadn't even noticed. They were too excited about the movie to be afraid of the plane. Laura wished she could be that way too.
“You doing okay?” Ethan asked, taking her hand as the plane taxied out onto the runway. Her heart was pounding, and she was seriously considering just opening up the door and making a bolt for it before the plane got off the ground. She wasn't sure she could do this.
“I don't know,” she whispered.
“Focus on me instead,” he told her.
Ethan put her chin between his thumb and forefinger. He looked deep into her eyes and then kissed her. She closed her eyes and focused on the kiss. She focused on the soft sweep of his tongue against her lips, the taste of the champagne and the warmth of his mouth. She focused on the feel of his skin against hers and the knowledge that he would always keep her safe.
That's when it hit her. She was safe with him. He had stabbed a man in the neck to keep her safe. He had come for her.
She set down her champagne and kissed him for real this time. The engines didn't matter. She wasn't sure if the feeling of flight was from the plane or from kissing him and knowing she was loved. She suspected it was the latter.
The flight was faster than she expected. Maybe it was the two glasses of champagne, or maybe it was that the movie was really good, but the flight was quick and easy. She held her breath when they landed, but other than that, she barely had even noticed they were in the air.
The door opened, and Ethan took the three of them outside. The humidity and heat hit her first. Then the soft smell of flowers and clean ocean air. It was so different than the fishy smell of her first beach.
She stepped out onto a single runway and looked around. Cerulean skies and luscious palm trees filled her sight. She turned and gasped as she saw the ocean. Behind her, Ivy and Dallas stood in shock and awe.
A white sandy beach led to perfect turquoise waters that slowly darkened to deep blue. The water stretched out to the horizon, sparkling in the sun. Laura had never seen anything so beautiful. She realized now why Ethan wanted to show her this side of the ocean. This was nothing like what she'd seen in the city.
“Wow,” Ivy whispered. “I want to be a mermaid.”
“Me too,” Laura agreed.
“Not me,” Dallas said as they walked down the stairs. “I'm going to be Aquaman.”
“Do you guys want to go swimming first?” Ethan asked. “Or have some food?”
“Swimming!” Laura, Ivy, and Dallas all exclaimed at the same time.
Ethan laughed. “Okay. Our bungalow is just over there. Our swimsuits should be all laid out in our rooms.”
Together they walked off the private runway and down a sandy path to a little house sitting over the water. They walked along a bridge to the cutest little home Laura had ever seen. It was a three bedroom house sitting on top of the water with stunning ocean views from every window.
“Dallas, your room's over here, and Ivy's room is right next door,” Ethan explained pointing to the first set of doors. “Laura, you and I are over here.”
They crossed the kitchen and a beautiful living area to a big room with a huge king sized bed in the middle.
“I like that it's far enough away from the kids we can have some privacy,” Laura said as they stepped inside.
“Yes,” Ethan agreed. “I also rented the bungalow next door if we want more privacy. There's a private walk through that door.”
Laura laughed, finally feeling relaxed. Ethan had thought of everything.
She hugged him. “Thank you for this. It's perfect.”
He grinned. “Well, don't say that until you've gone swimming.” He frowned and looked at the bed. Only his swim trunks were laid out. Laura's suit was nowhere to be seen.
“I guess I'm going skinny-dipping,” she teased, looking around.
Ethan sighed. “It must be next door. I'll change and meet the kids. You take your time.”
She kissed his cheek. “Okay. But if it isn't there, I am going skinny dipping.”
His eyes dilated as he looked her over. “Don't tease me. I'd like you skinny dipping.”
She grinned and hurried out the back door. The sun was warm on her face as she went to the next bungalow. It was much smaller than the first one with just one room with a large bed. Laying out was a brand new polka-dot bikini with a beautiful sundress to wear over it. She shook her head and smiled. Ethan really had thought of everything.
