“Something is wrong. I’ve tried her phone three times and it keeps going to voicemail.” Jack paced in Sawyer’s office.

They were splitting a bottle of bourbon. Both decided there was no point going home if Lily wasn’t there.

“You know how those conferences are. People grab dinner and drinks all the time. Knowing her she is collecting as many contacts as she possibly can so she can take over the world.” Sawyer tipped his bourbon back.

Jack couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it. It was after nine. They should have heard from Lily by now. She always checked in.

“I’m flying out there,” Jack stated. “I can’t sit around here like nothing is wrong.”

“What the hell?” Sawyer looked at him.

“We sent her to New York. There’s no telling what could have happened. I’ll bring her back on the jet. We shouldn’t have sent her without security. What were we thinking?”

“Jack, you are way overreacting. Lily is a strong independent woman. She’s proven that over again.”

He shook his head. “She might be strong and independent, but that doesn’t mean something didn’t happen to her. Why don’t we both go? We can surprise her.”

Sawyer reached for the crystal decanter to pour them both another round. “I’d like that. She’d fucking love it. But it wasn’t the point of the trip. We said we’d give her a body a chance to rest.”

Jack huffed in his chair. “Damn, she’s in my head. She’s all I can think about.”

Sawyer slapped him on the back. “Don’t I know it, man. She’s in mine too.”

Jack jumped when he heard a phone ring. Sawyer’s was vibrating on the desk.

“Is it Lily?” he asked. He looked anxious.

Sawyer nodded. He accepted the video message. “Hey, baby.” Sawyer chuckled. “Jack has been—” But his smile dropped the instant the screen came into focus.

Jack rushed to his side, something was fucked up. He could tell from Sawyer’s expression. What was wrong?

It wasn’t Lily. It was her uncle Gino.

“Where’s Lily?” Sawyer barked. “Why do you have her tablet? What’s going on, Gino?”

“Hey boys.” Gino smacked his gums. He looked smug.

Jack growled, “Where is Lily? Why are you calling us on her phone?”

“Turns out this sweet little niece of mine is worth a whole hell of a lot more than I realized. She has done really well for herself since you hired her.”

“Gino,” Sawyer warned, gritting his teeth. “Where is Lily? Put her on now.”

The screen pivoted and Jack’s lungs seized when he saw Lily sitting on the bed crying.

“Lily?”

“She’s fine. Calm down. You think I’d hurt my own flesh and blood? I’d never touch her. Never.”

“Damn it, Gino. What is this about?”

They waited for a response.

“This is about finally getting what I deserve. Finally getting what is mine.”

“What you deserve?” Sawyer’s tone grew increasingly more hostile. “You fucked us over, you bastard. You are lucky you have Lily in your life. Lucky I didn’t come after you with the full force of our global company. We let you bargain for your debt, and this is what you do?”

The man sat on the bed next to his weeping niece. “Honey, tell your boyfriends what they need to do.” He handed her the phone. “Go on.”

Lily wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’m sorry. So sorry.”

“No. No. Don’t say that. You didn’t do anything,” Jack tried to comfort her. “Are you ok? Has he hurt you? Just talk to us.”

She shook her head. “I’m fine. He hasn’t hurt me.” She sniffed. “But he wants five-million dollars.”

Sawyer pressed his lips together. “Done.”

Jack looked at him. “Are you crazy? We aren’t paying him.”

“What else?” Sawyer asked. “What else does he want?”

She looked next to her toward her uncle. “Residual annual fees for my dowry.” The tears fell from her cheeks.

“What the fuck is a dowry?” Jack roared. “This is not the damn 1700s. What the hell is wrong with this man? He is a snake. The worst kind of sewer rat.”

Gino snatched the phone away. “If you want in on my family. If you want my niece, that is the price. Five million upfront and I’d say half a million each year after that should take care of it.”

“No,” Lily sputtered. “Don’t do it, Sawyer. Don’t even think about paying him. I’m not worth that much. Just let me go.”

Sawyer looked over at Jack. There was no doubt what they were going to do. Lily was worth more money in this world. Some shitty gangster wasn’t going to hang a price tag over her head.

“Tell the pilot to chart us for New York.”

He nodded. “Got it.” He would fly them himself if he had to. Jack pulled out his phone for the hangar and listened as Sawyer continued the call.

“We will be there tonight. If you hurt her, or even consider touching her, you’re going to regret it, Gino.”

Gino shot him a glare. “Get me the money.”

He hung up and the screen went blank.