Chapter 14
Bentley
I didn’t go in the office the next day. I decided not to return the rest of the week. I texted Aiden and Maddox, told them to take the time off, and instructed Sandy to get one of the interns to man the office and take the days, as well. We all needed to regroup.
When I told Emmy, she flashed me a grin and said she was taking advantage of my “un-rigidness” and staying home with me. She would get her classmates to take notes and would do her work online. I called down to Andrew, telling him to have the entire weekend off, too. I knew he’d love the time to spend with his daughter and grandkids, and it would give me the time alone with Emmy. At least, so I thought.
I answered some emails, shut the laptop and sat back, wondering if I should take Emmy away for the weekend. Maybe a break would do us some good. She walked in, holding a steaming mug of coffee and a plate piled high with pancakes. She had a bottle of syrup tucked under her arm. She set the plate and mug on the desk with a grin, then crawled onto my lap.
“I brought you breakfast.”
I slid my hand along her leg. “You or the pancakes?”
She chuckled, drowning the pancakes in syrup. “You already had me in the shower, so you’ll have to make do with the pancakes.”
I nipped at her ear. “I bet you’d taste damn good with some syrup.”
“Messy.”
“But so sweet,” I whispered, swirling my tongue on her skin, sliding my hand higher.
“Not happening,” she replied in a singsong voice.
I pulled back with a frown. “Why?”
“Because Aiden and Maddox are in the kitchen eating pancakes. I doubt you want them witnessing your, ah, syrup fantasies.”
“Why are they here?”
She cupped my cheek and lifted a mouthful of pancakes to my lips. “Open up.”
I chewed the sweet, thick offering, licking my lips in appreciation.
“They were worried about you, Rigid. They came to check on you and I offered them breakfast.”
“That’s like feeding a stray cat. They won’t leave.”
“I promised them brunch on Sunday if they ate, checked on you, and left.” She fed me another mouthful and took a smaller one for herself. “For the record, when they saw I was here, they offered to leave.”
A dribble of syrup leaked down her chin, and I grasped the back of her neck and licked it off her skin, fighting the groan when she whimpered. My already hard cock twitched at her breathy sound.
“Why didn’t you listen to them?”
She tilted her head. “Because I wanted you to see you have people who care about you. Not your business, but you. They’re here because they love you.”
“Is that why you’re here?”
She traced my jaw, her touch feather light and warm on my skin. “I love you very much.”
“Good. They have to go, though. I want you alone.” I traced over her lips with my tongue, tasting her and the syrup. “I want you to show me how much you love me. Then I’ll show you. It’s going to take all day, Freddy. All damn day.”
She grinned. “One track mind.”
“Two track actually. I want more pancakes, then I want you.”
She slid off my lap, taking the coffee cup with her. “Eat up then.”
I watched as she moved around my office. She rarely went came in, and I had to admit her lack of curiousness was a surprise. She never snooped, or pried. When we talked about work, it was more concern if I was working too hard, or was too stressed. She listened when I ranted on occasion, and always seemed interested in the projects or meetings, but more about me in the scope of it all, not what I did. It was as if I was more important than my money or work. A feeling I found strange, yet endeared her even more to me.
She paused by the concept model of the project that was now dead. She studied the display for several moments, not saying a word. Finally, she spoke. “This is quite the project. The scope is enormous.”
Wiping my mouth, I stood and crossed the room to stand beside her.
I ran a finger over the mock-up. “Was, you mean.”
“Are you going to sell the land?”
“If the offer is fair, I think so. There is no point in sinking more money into a project that hasn’t panned out.”
“Won’t you know who is behind the scenes once they start building?”
“No. I’m certain they’ll pass it all along to various companies they own, all numbered and anonymous, and finally, sell it to a holding company that will build. The layers will be too costly to peel away and figure out where it all started. Walking away makes the most sense now.”
“Is that your only option?”
“I could still build the condo towers once the land is cleared. It wouldn’t be what I envisioned, but could still be profitable.”
She made a funny noise, and scowled.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I grew impatient. “Emmy, you obviously have something to say. Just say it.”
“How rich are you, Bentley?”
That wasn’t what I expected from her. She never asked or seemed to care about my wealth.
“Rich enough.”
“Are we talking millions?”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “Hundreds of millions, actually.”
“Huh.”
I narrowed my eyes. She was going somewhere with that line of questioning, but I wasn’t sure what point she was trying to make. “Huh, what?”
“Can you spend it all?”
I shook my head. “Only if I were an idiot. I have enough if I never did another day’s work I could live very well, as could my children and even their children.”
“So when is enough—enough?”
“What are you getting at?” I demanded, not understanding.
She indicated the design. “You said this was about making your mark first. Money second.”
“It is.”
“Then change your design.”
“What are you talking about?”
Maddox spoke up from the doorway. “This I want to hear.” He sauntered in, sipping his coffee, looking relaxed. However, I knew him, and I saw the interest in his eyes.
Emmy hesitated, and I squeezed her hand. “It’s okay, we want to hear what you have to say.”
“This piece. . .” She pointed to the end of the property. “It’s not developed yet?”
“No. It’s all trees and wild growth.”
“What if you built a condo tower here?” She indicated the land close to the road. “Then instead of adding a second one here, made it into a private park?”
“What? What good would that do?”
Maddox edged closer. “Keep talking.”
She worried her lip. “I saw something once, on TV, about a building where all the units face frontward; the only things on the back of the building were the hallways. If you designed it like that, then every condo would have amazing views of the park and the water, right?”
She kept going. “And if the park was private to the condo tower, it makes it even more exclusive. You could have woods, a playground, barbeque areas. Make it a real family kind of place.”
“Family?” I questioned.
“Even rich people have children too, Bentley. Think about it. Has anyone ever done something like that?”
Maddox sat down his coffee cup. “No,” he replied, excitement filling his voice.
“No one has.” Aiden’s voice suddenly joined in the conversation as he appeared beside us.
I leaned forward, looking at the mini structures. “They could do the same thing.”
“They could, but we have the advantage,” Aiden mused. “They wouldn’t have the park. Or the views. They either look into the city, or the back of our building.”
They both began to speak.
“With the bylaws, they can’t build higher than ten stories, so they’re screwed.”
“Even if they got it changed, we could, too. We could build higher.”
“We need to get the building designed so it’s one of a kind. All front facing, individual towers with separate entrances, and elevators. Custom layouts for different sized families.”
“Single people would like it, too,” Emmy offered. “The park setting would be a huge draw in the city.”
“We’d lose revenue without standard sized units and plans. Expensive to build.”
“No,” Aiden said. “What we’d lose in number of units, we’d make up for with the price on the uniqueness of it.” He chuckled. “I bet our profits go up. We add all sorts of amenities.”
“Underground parking.”
“Two pools. Other family activities only residents have access to.”
“Like a resort on a daily basis.”
“Let’s not get carried away,” I protested, but I had to admit, it was an intriguing idea.
Aiden grinned at me. “Not billions, but we’d kill it.”
“And we keep it,” Maddox stated firmly. “BAM owns it. No investors. Just us.”
“Or I sell it and walk away.”
They looked at me.
“You could,” Aiden drawled. “This is an interesting concept, though. We can find other land to develop like the original concept. Try something totally distinctive.”
“We could lose our shirts.”
Maddox shook his head. “No, Emmy is right. Lots of wealthy families love condo living. Give them the best of both worlds and it will explode. I’m sure of it.”
“We would have to make the back of the building into something unique. Eye catching.”
“Mosaics.”
I looked at Emmy.
“Use stone, hire artists. Make it beautiful. A focal point.” She grinned. “Your mark.”
I returned her grin. She was glowing, her dark eyes excited.
“I can see it. A haven inside the city.” Maddox eyes combed over the model, nodding. “An escape without leaving home.”
Aiden pointed to the layout. “We could build up this area here, like an embankment. It would cut off noise from the road, and offer even more privacy. Add trees and flowers to make it scenic.”
Emmy giggled and I glanced at her. “Like a ridge,” she explained. “You can call it Bentley Ridge Estates.”
I started to laugh, remembering her remarks the first day. “Where the living is easy.”
“That’s not bad. We could fine tune it.”
I shook my head. “It’s a joke.”
“No, Bent.” Aiden shook his head. “It could work.”
Emmy grabbed a piece of paper and sketched furiously. “If you made 3 separate towers with arches between them for the entrances and elevators, you could name them.”
“Name them?”
“Towers B, A, and M.”
Aiden grinned. “I like it.”
**
I looked around the room, only to realize Emmy was gone. She must have slipped out at some point.
Aiden followed my gaze. “I think she thought we needed some privacy.”
I shook my head. “This is her idea.”
“I don’t think she thought you’d take her seriously.”
“I think we should,” Maddox observed. “This is what we needed. Fresh eyes.” He met my glance. “She’s totally amazing.”
“She is.”
I glanced at my watch, shocked. It was past three. We had come into the office at ten. Where had the hours gone? I glanced around to notice the piles of paper, and notes we all scribbled, assembled together. It had been a productive planning session.
“You really think this could work?”
Aiden nodded. “It’s a great concept. We need the right architect, and planner.”
“It would be easier to sell and walk away.”
“When have we ever done the easy thing?”
I looked back at the mock-up. Aiden followed my glance. “We can do that elsewhere, Bent. Let whoever bought the other land develop it without this piece. They won’t get the impact they wanted, in fact they might end up selling and moving on. Whatever idiot develops around us can have the hassle of the business permits. We can do this and sit back and relax. The more I think about it, the more I like it.” He grinned. “Think about it—it will piss off whoever thought they could get the better of you.”
I smirked at the thought. “Greg expects me to tell him to sell the land this week.”
“Too bad. Change of plan.” He tapped the pile of papers beside him. “It’s a good plan. A brave one. Something we can all be proud of.”
I nodded in agreement. He was right.
“This nightmare would be over. No more extra security. Back to business as usual.”
“I think I’d be cautious a little while longer,” Aiden advised.
“If I do this, if we do this—we won. I lost the battle, but I won the war. They don’t get what they wanted, and there is nothing they can do about it.” I warmed to the idea. “We go with the new plan, we get the best design and soak some serious cash into it, and go for it. They’ll want to sell to us.”
Maddox laughed. “Fuck them, right?”
I shrugged. “Not interested. Unless the price is deeply discounted. Then I might take it off their hands.”
Maddox chuckled, but Aiden looked concerned. “Let’s not invite trouble.”
“What can they do? They can’t stop me from building, and they can’t touch the land.”
“They can touch you.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s over, Aiden. They pissed me off, caused some chaos, and they bought the land, but we came back stronger. We won.”
I stood and stretched. “I think you guys need to go start your weekend.”
Maddox chuckled and grabbed Aiden’s arm. “We’ve been told.”
Aiden frowned. “Emmy promised brunch Sunday.”
I waved him off. “Fine. But I want you gone until then.”
He made a kissy face, and I flipped him the bird. I walked them to the door, shutting it firmly behind them. I took the stairs two at a time.
I needed to go find the girl responsible for the idea and thank her. I knew exactly where to find her.
She was in her favorite spot. Sunlight was streaming in the windows, making the room warm. Still she had her shawl wrapped around her shoulders. Her head rested on the arm of the chair, a book open and resting on her lap, and her full lips were pursed as she slumbered peacefully.
Bending low, I brushed a kiss to her tempting mouth, grinning as she pouted and stretched, then curled back up like a contented kitten in the sun. She opened one eye, peering at me.
“I was asleep.”
I ran a hand over her curls. “I know. You looked adorable and I had to kiss you.”
She sat up, yawning and lifting her arms over her head. Her shirt lifted, exposing a sliver of stomach, the skin soft and inviting. I wanted to kiss it, as well.
“Finished reconquering the world?”
“Thanks to your brilliant idea, I think we’ve regrouped.”
She shook her head. “It was only a thought. You three jumped on it and created the whole concept.”
“It was more than a thought. You amazed me. You amazed all of us.”
She lowered her eyes, shyly.
“Hey.”
She met my gaze.
“Your idea was fresh, innovative, and helped us find a new path. I’ll be forever grateful. I was too pissed to look at it objectively. We all were.”
“So, you’re not selling?”
“Nope. Next week I’ll put my team on it, and when I meet with Greg, tell him to reject the offer.”
“Will he be pissed?”
I laughed. “No. He gets paid no matter what I do. He has no vested interest in the land either way, so he won’t care. He’ll send me a sizable bill for his time, and we’ll move onto the next project.”
Her fingers smoothed over the edge of the cushion. “Why isn’t he a part of your crowd?”
“My crowd?”
“Your business. You have Aiden and Maddox. I’m surprised he isn’t part of the company. You must need a lot of legal advice.”
“We have a legal consultant in the company. Greg had always been a lone wolf—never wanted to be a partner in any company, even right out of school. He went at it alone, and earned his reputation. He has never expressed any desire to be anything other than what he is, and the one time I made him an offer, he turned me down, and I’ve never asked him again. His company is his life. He’s put it above everything else—including his failed marriages and countless relationships.”
“Would you consider him a friend?”
I thought before I responded. “I think so. Not like Aiden and Maddox, but more a business friend. We have the occasional drink, sit together if we’re at the same function, but we don’t spend time together as personal friends.”
She nodded and hummed.
I crouched in front of her chair. “Now, do you want to keep talking about my lawyer, or can we move on to something else?”
Her eyes glittered in the sunlight. “Such as, Rigid?”
Pulling her knees apart, I slid between them, yanking her body close. “About your reward for being so fucking brilliant. And sexy.”
“Oh, a double reward?”
“I promise double.” I slipped my hand under her shirt, touching the skin that had tempted me earlier. “Since I owe you for breakfast too, if you play your cards right, I think you should get triple the reward.”
“Oh,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around my neck, her breath hot on my skin. “I fold.”
I had her out of her clothes fast, and mine disappeared thanks to her nimble fingers. I made sure to drape her shawl around her shoulders. It always shocked me how she reacted to temperature. She felt the cold so easily, so the shawl kept her back warm while my mouth and hands warmed the rest of her. Her nipples perked under my tongue, her head falling back as she moaned my name. I explored her curves, tracing them with my knuckles, making her squirm in my arms, her heat pressing on my cock trapped between us. I teased her clit, stroking and circling it, then slid two fingers inside, hitting that spot that drove her crazy with lust. She cried out, her muscles fluttering and tightening around my fingers as I wrung out her pleasure.
“That’s one, baby.”
She leaned forward, fusing our mouths together, her tongue sliding sensuously along mine. She lifted her hips, and guided me to her, then slowly sank down, inch by inch until our bodies were flush, the tightness and heat of her enveloping me. I grunted my approval into her mouth as she began to move. She used the arms of the chair as leverage, making her movements fluid. Dropping her face to my neck, she began to nibble at my skin, small bites that she eased with a touch of her tongue, driving me insane with need.
Need for her.
I gripped her hips, pulling her down harder as I rose to meet her, our skin slapping against each other, the sound of our joining filling the room, and raging in my head. She arched back, and I bent to worship her full breasts. Her fingers slid into my hair and yanked on the strands as she whimpered and shuddered.
“Coming!” She gasped. “Oh, God . . . Bentley. . .”
She cried out, stilling as I kept working her. As my orgasm hit me, my balls tightening, the pleasure surged through my body as I emptied deep inside her. With a low groan, I yanked her to my chest, both of us shaking, quiet, and sated.
“Two,” I murmured.
“Not sure I can handle three.”
“Maybe a dip in the warm pool will change your mind.”
She snuggled closer, her head tucked under my chin. “Or maybe we can stay here like this for a while. I like being in your arms.”
Her words bled into my chest.
“You’re far too easy to make happy.”
“You make me happy—that’s all I need.”
Tenderness only she could make me feel, filled my heart, causing it to beat faster. I tightened my arms, making sure her shawl was in place.
“Whatever you want, Freddy. Today, tomorrow, the rest of the weekend. Ask me and it’s yours.”
“Hmmm.”
“Did you want to go away? Get out of the city?”
“No, I just want the time with you. Us, alone all weekend.”
“Then that’s what you get.”
“At least until Sunday.”
I chuckled. “At least until then.”
**
I glanced through the papers Greg handed me, noting only two things, the numbered company and the offer. Surprisingly, it was near market value, but considering how long I had held onto it, and my new plans, I wasn’t interested.
I shook my head. “No.”
“You want to counter?”
“No, I’ve decided not to sell, no matter the offer.”
He paused, tapping pen on the desk, his words measured. “To this company or in general?”
“It’s not for sale to anyone.”
Greg stared at me, the office filled with stony silence. “What are you playing at, Bentley?” he finally asked.
“Playing at? Nothing. I’ve decided not to sell the land. I’m going to develop it with a new plan in mind.”
“And what plan is that?” He threw his pen on top of the papers.
“A new concept.”
His fingers drummed on the desk. “That’s not what you said when you left here last week. You were done with this project. You were damned vocal about it. I could hear you cursing in the elevator.”
I shrugged. “Things changed. I calmed down. We regrouped, and we’ve decided to keep the land, and we’re going to build on it ourselves. I already have my team working on it.”
“Why?”
I leaned forward. “I don’t know who these people are, but I am not bowing down to them. They fucked with the wrong guy. They’ve been scooping every deal I have tried to make the past while somehow and I am done with it. They could offer me double what the land is worth and I wouldn’t sell it to them, even if my life depended on it. They can develop, sell, or do whatever the hell they want to the rest of the property around it, but I’m keeping it.”
He stared at me pointedly. “Are you certain this is what you want?”
I lost my temper. “Stop questioning what I want. It’s my fucking business. I pay you to handle the legal aspects, not for your opinion on what I should or should not develop.”
He held up his hands. “I’m simply asking. You haven’t shared your plans, so I have no idea what you’re thinking.”
I pushed the folder toward him. “Once it’s finalized, I’ll tell you. Until then, tell them no deal. Ever.”
He slid the folder closer to him, running his finger along the seam. “You know two pieces of the land are still zoned for industrial. I know you planned to have them rezoned, but what if they don’t? What if they build industrial sites there? Will that impact your plans?”
I stood. “If that is the game they decide to play, I will fight it. I’m not going to be blackmailed into changing my mind. The zoned areas are small, and with everything I have going for me, I guarantee you, I will win that battle. They can fucking bring it on.” I studied him. “Whose side are you on, Greg?”
“You’re my client,” he replied promptly. “It’s my job to point these things out.” He leaned forward, his eyes narrowed. “This is what you pay me for, Bentley. My expert advice. My advice that has gotten your company out of a bind a time or two, I would like to remind you.”
I wasn’t in the mood for his lectures.
“Yes, you did your job,” I snapped. “And got paid—well paid, in case you forgot that fact.”
We glared at each other, then he shrugged. “This entire project has been tempestuous at best. I thought you’d be glad to see it done, cut your losses, and move on. But it’s your choice.”
“Yes. It is. It’s my company. They’ll be no losses once I’m done, trust me. Reject the offer and tell them to move on—whoever the fuck they are. The land isn’t for sale.”
“I’ll do that.”
I picked up my coat. “Good. Let’s go, Aiden.”
Aiden said something to Greg, then met me at the elevator.
“That was quite the show,” he stated as the doors shut. “I’ve never heard you snap at him like that before now.”
I rubbed my face roughly. “He annoyed me. I hate being questioned when I make a decision.”
“That was obvious.” He sighed heavily. “He is right though, Bent. They could try to throw up some roadblocks and delay what we want to do, just to be assholes. The delays and problems could cost us a lot, especially if you’re doing this on principle or for revenge. We could walk away and cut our losses now.”
We walked outside into the dreary day. I slipped on my coat, my mind wandering to Emmy. I hoped she was warm enough today—the past couple days had been cooler and the nights downright cold. The jacket I saw her wear this morning didn’t look thick enough for her, given the level of warmth she always needed. Maybe I should take her shopping for a new one, or surprise her with a gift. Maybe another visit to Cami was in order. She could help me pick out something suitable.
I brought my mind back to the problem at hand. “Maybe at first it was the principle or revenge, but Aiden, the more I think about this project, the more excited I am. I haven’t felt this way about a new development in a long time.”
He flashed me a grin. “I was hoping you’d say that. Maddox and I feel the same. It’s gonna be cool, I think. Worth the risk.”
I laughed and clapped him on the back. “At this point, there isn’t any risk. So, it’s full steam ahead.”
Frank pulled up, and we climbed in to the car. Aiden stared out the window.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m still concerned.”
“About?”
“I think we still need to be vigilant with security. Until we make sure they’ve faded into the background.”
“Emmy was hoping it would be done. She hates it.”
“She said as much to Simon this morning. She was surprised to still see him when she got to school.” He paused, thinking. “It’s a precaution I feel strongly about. Something in my gut is telling me to keep things as they are. I know she hates it, and you want to make her happy, but it’s only for a while longer.”
Aiden was often right with his gut instincts. If he felt that way, I needed to trust him.
“If that’s what you think. Just pull back as much as you can. I’ll talk to Emmy.”
He nodded, staring out the window. “I’ll think it over. I don’t want someone to approach and bother her.”
“Nor do I.”
“It’s easier when she’s at your place. I know she’s safe in the house.”
“Trust me; I’m trying to make it full-time. She’s—”
“Independent? Stubborn?” He finished for me.
“Both,” I agreed. “She needs to understand I don’t want to change her. I don’t want to take her independence away. She has to figure out that part.”
“Cami mentioned a couple things about her upbringing. I get that.”
I arched my eyebrow. “Oh, did she? When did that happen?”
His gaze went back to the passing scenery. I was surprised to see the flush of color around his neck. “We were, ah, just talking.”
I laughed as Frank pulled up to the office.
“Talking. Right.”
He brushed past me, shaking his head. “Leave it alone.”
In the elevator, I met his vulnerable eyes. “It’s fruitless to resist, Aiden. Those girls are headstrong. She’s been interested since the day in the boutique. Before even.”
“I’m not in the market for what she is looking for.”
“You mean a relationship?”
“Yes.”
“Neither was I. Emmy proved me wrong.” I stopped him before he exited the elevator, my voice low and serious. “She’s a great girl. You like her; she likes you. I think she’d be good for you. Don’t cut yourself off again. What do you have to lose?”
“You know the answer to that.”
“Give it a chance. You deserve to be happy.”
“No, I don’t deserve anything of the sort.” With those words, he hurried past me.
I watched his retreating figure with sadness. He did deserve it. I wasn’t sure how I could make him see it, yet I knew I had to try.
**
I arrived home late, and Andrew met me at the elevator.
“Sir.”
“Andrew—how was your day?”
“Excellent. Miss Harris is upstairs.”
“Buried in her books, I imagine?”
“Since she arrived home. She refused dinner, but I have made a tray of sandwiches, and there is a thermos of coffee on the counter.”
“You are amazing.”
He tilted his head in acknowledgment of my words. “Have a good evening, sir.”
“You, as well.”
I hurried upstairs, changed, then jogged to the kitchen and grabbed the sandwiches, coffee, and I even remembered a mug.
I paused at the entrance of the sunroom. Emmy sat quietly, a pile of books scattered around her. She was concentrating so hard, she didn’t even hear me approach.
“Can you take a break?”
Startled, she glanced up from her notes, her eyes bleary with fatigue. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.”
“My test is tomorrow.”
I held up the plate I was carrying. “Just something to eat, Freddy. I made the sandwiches myself. Twenty minutes and you’ll feel better.”
With a sigh, she stood, and I took her hand, tugging her to the sofa.
“You’ve been working too hard.”
She lifted one shoulder, dismissing my concern. She took one of the sandwiches from the plate, studying it. I chuckled at her skeptical expression. “Okay, Andrew made them. I took the plastic wrap off, though.”
“They looked far too delicious to be yours.”
I kicked up my feet on the coffee table and smirked. She was right.
“As for working too hard, you’re one to talk, Rigid. You’ve hardly been home.”
I held back my grin hearing her refer to the house as “home.” I hadn’t had to convince her to stay for another few days, since a hole in the roof caused some flooding in her apartment, and Al was slow to get it fixed. The rain had stopped, and I knew she’d probably leave after the weekend, but I enjoyed having her home. It had been something she couldn’t accuse me of orchestrating since even she admitted my control didn’t reach “that far.”
“How are the plans coming?” She looked at me over her sandwich.
I poured some coffee into the mug and handed it to her. “Great. Everyone’s on board and the architect has already impressed me. Maddox had met him a few months ago and liked his work. His ideas are almost as brilliant as yours.”
“Right,” she scoffed. “Brilliant.”
“It’s your idea. In fact, Maddox and Aiden want to make you part of the planning team—like an intern. Keep you in the loop. What do you think?”
“What would it entail? I’m so busy at school.”
“Not much—especially right now. A few meetings. A couple dinners. It’ll be a while until it’s all completed. I’d like you there with us when it opens with us.” I hesitated. “It’s a paid position.”
“Oh, nice try.”
“Honest, Emmy. Talk to Maddox. It was his idea. He wants to make sure you get some credit.”
“I didn’t do it to get credit. I did it to help you.”
Leaning over, I stroked her soft cheek. “I know. And you did. Just talk to him, okay? I promise I’ll stay out of it.”
She rolled her eyes, mumbling about miracles having to happen, then tried to cover up a yawn.
“You’re exhausted. Why is this test stressing you out so much? You know your stuff.”
“It’s worth a big part of my final grade. It’s an entire business plan and proposal, and I have to present it. Plus there’s a written test. I always tense up before tests. I freeze and have trouble remembering the answers. I do so much better when I’m given a project to do.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Nothing. I’m meeting Cami early tomorrow and she is gonna quiz me, then I’ll study a bit more, and the test is at eleven.”
“After, you can come home and have a nap.”
“No. I can go to Al’s and get more scones done.”
I pursed my lips in vexation. “If you took on this project, you wouldn’t have to work at Al’s.”
“It’s part of my rent.”
“The rent here is very reasonable. Free, in fact.”
“Bentley—”
I held up my hands with a grin. “Think about it. I want you here, Emmy. I want to know you’ll be here when I get home. That I get to sleep beside you every night.” I indicated the room around us. “It feels like home when you’re here. When you’re not, it’s just . . . space.”
Her cheeks pinked. “Really?”
“Yes. Think how much easier life would be for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Frank would drive you to school and pick you up. You wouldn’t have to bake so early in the mornings. You could work with Maddox on the project, which would be an excellent learning experience, concentrate on school, not have to worry about bills . . .” My voice trailed off at the frown on her face.
“If I decide to live with you, it won’t be because of money.”
“I know that. I was simply pointing out some good facts.”
“I would have to pay my way.” She lifted her chin. “Otherwise the discussion is closed.”
I knew arguing with her was a waste of time. She was stubborn and proud, and scared to depend on anyone. I wanted her to depend on me though. I wanted to prove to her she could depend on me and I wouldn’t let her down.
“The house is paid for and all the bills are done through my company.” I fibbed a little. “Perhaps we could do an exchange. Like you have with Al.”
“You want four dozen scones a day?”
I chuckled. “No, but I love your cooking, and baking. It would give Andrew a break, as well. I have been thinking I needed to get him some help.”
She pursed her lips. I lifted her hand to my mouth.
“Emmy, I don’t want to take away your independence. I’m not going to stop you living your life. I only want to share it with you. Have you be part of mine. I admit, having you live with me would ease my mind some. I want to take care of you. I’ve never felt that with another person. We can work out all the details so we’re both happy, but what I really want is to know you want it too.”
She sighed, looking distraught.
“What are you thinking?”
“What if–what if my brother comes looking for me?”
Suddenly, I understood why she stayed in that tiny apartment. She was hoping one day he would come back and find her in the same place he had left her. That she would be important enough to him for him to return. Even after he walked away, she still held hope.
“Al will know where you went.” I brushed my finger down her cheek. “If you want, Emmy, I can have Aiden get someone to look for your brother.”
Her eyes enlarged. “You could?”
“If you want. You know, he could find you other ways aside from your address. You’re on Facebook, Instagram—”
“I know. I don’t think he’s looking,” she admitted. “That’s what hurts the most.”
“Then stop living your life waiting for someone who walked away from you to come back. I’m right here, and I want you. I want you with me every day. I hate it when you leave.”
Tears spilled from her eyes and I pulled her into my arms. I lay back on the sofa, letting her rest against my chest, her head tucked under my chin. “You’ve changed me, Emmy. I want your light and to see your beautiful face all the time. Please let me have it. Promise me you’ll think about it.”
She drew in a deep shuddering breath, but I felt her nod. I couldn’t help the broad smile that stretched across my face.
“We’ll talk and make some plans once this test is over, deal?”
“Deal.”
Chapter 15
Bentley
I glanced around the boardroom. I needed to pay attention to what was happening, except my mind was elsewhere. Greg’s surly, judgmental mood, Emmy’s stress over her project and test, and Aiden’s insistence about security still being in place, all distracting.
There wasn’t much I could do about Greg. I had no idea why he was questioning my decision so intensely. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t taken risks before, and it shouldn’t matter to him. I paid him regardless if I made or lost money. Aiden’s gut feeling was simply that—a feeling. I was certain he had been worried about the project for so long, he was jumping at shadows. They won the land battle, but thanks to Emmy’s brilliant idea, I won the war. It was done. Over. I planned to talk to Aiden once it all calmed down.
He and Cami were great together and he deserved a shot at happiness. If fact, I thought Maddox did as well, and he and Dee seemed well suited for each other, but I would pick my fights one at a time. Emmy would be okay after she handed her project in today. I knew Cami would have given her a pep talk this morning, and I would make sure to pamper her tonight. In the meantime, though, I could send her a funny text. She taught me how to use the emoji things so I would add them in. She loved those.
I reached toward my phone just as Aiden lifted his to his ear. He listened for a moment, his face impassive, but the look he shot me, made me instantly tense up. He stood, heading to the door, talking low, indicating Maddox should follow him. When he pulled open the door, Sandy stood there, holding a brown grocery bag. She looked upset, and my anxiety increased. My laptop pinged, and I glanced over, freezing as I looked at the small window that had popped up. The image was grainy and dark, but there was a girl in the frame, sitting on the floor of a dingy room.
A girl who looked exactly like Emmy.
Everything happened in slow motion.
I blinked and the image on my screen disappeared.
Aiden clapped his hands. “Give us the room.” His tone left no room for argument.
Sandy dropped the bag on the table. Aiden gripped my shoulder.
The boardroom door shut.
I looked up. “What the fuck did I just see?”
Aiden placed his phone on the table and pressed a button. A disjointed voice came on the line. “We have the girl. You want her back, wait for instructions at home. Involve the police, she’s dead.”
I was on my feet without thought. “Is this a joke? Some sort of sick prank?”
Maddox opened the bag, and dumped it out. Emmy’s rucksack, the bane of my existence, fell onto the table.
“She never goes anywhere without it.” I heard my voice say.
Aiden’s hand felt heavy on my shoulder. “I know.”
“She’s at the library,” I insisted, as if by saying so it would make it true. “Frank drove her there this morning.”
“She never made it.”
Fear swamped me. “What?”
Maddox leaned forward. “Frank was found at the garage where the car is stored, knocked unconscious. Simon got a text saying they would be late, but they never showed. The car was abandoned in an alley about three miles from the house. There were signs of a struggle.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Some blood was on the seat. Whoever took Emmy must have picked her up.”
“How much blood?” I heard myself ask.
“Not a lot, but there was some sort of altercation. Her messenger bag was in the back seat, and the contents dumped out.”
I felt sick. I had watched her slip out the door. My phone had rung, distracting me from following her out. I heard her voice telling Frank to stay in the car. She hated it when he opened the door for her. Except it hadn’t been Frank. I had let her walk right to them, and they took her. I shook my head, trying to clear it.
“Frank—is he okay?”
“He has a bad concussion. They found him in the stairwell—he was knocked out before he ever reached the car. He didn’t see who hit him.”
The air in the room became too hot, too close. I tugged on my tie, struggling to drag in oxygen.
“Why?” I choked out.
“You know why.”
“They got the land. They got what they wanted!” I swung around facing Aiden. “We did all of this as a precaution. Only a precaution! She has nothing to do with any of this!”
Maddox spoke up. “They thought they had won until you refused to give up the last piece. She has everything to do with you, Bentley. She’s the one weak link in your armor. They want it all, and this is how they’re going to make sure they get it.”
I sat down, my legs no longer able to hold me up. “Are we sure? Was what I saw real?”
Aiden sat beside me, and held out his phone. There was a screen capture of the same image I saw.
Emmy.
“Should we call the police?”
Aiden huffed out a big breath. “My gut is telling me no.”
I glanced at the screen again. The huddled mass of her cowering, pushed into the corner of the room angered me. She would be terrified and confused. Not understanding what was happening. I peered closer, trying to see, but the image was unclear. It looked like her shirt was torn. Was she okay? Had they hurt her?
Images of my past, my dead parents, swam in front of me. The air in my lungs became constricted. I could hear my breathing coming faster, to the point I was panting. I clawed at my collar, desperate for air.
Maddox gripped my shoulders, meeting my eyes. “Calm down, Bent. We need you calm. She needs you calm. We’ll get her back.”
I dragged air into my lungs. “If they hurt her, I will kill them.”
Aiden leaned in beside Maddox. “Not going to happen.”
His gaze was tormented but steady.
I nodded. “Okay. What do we do?”
“We’re going to the house. We wait.”
“Cami!” I blurted as a thought occurred to me.
Aiden frowned. “What?”
“She was meeting Cami. Do we know if she’s okay?”
He grabbed his phone. “I’ll handle it.” He strode from the room, already talking.
Maddox sat beside me. “They’re going to demand you sell them the last piece of land.”
“I know.”
He waited, his eyebrow lifted in a silent question.
I pulled a hand through my hair. “It’s a fucking piece of real estate. She’s my entire world There is no question. It goes.”
“Not until we make sure she is safe, Bent.”
“I know. We have to find her.”
“We will.” He stood. “I’ll get my things and we’ll head to the house. We’ll take it one step at a time. Aiden and I are beside you, okay?”
“Okay.”
**
I paced around my den, anxiety rolling off me. I stood in front of the concept model of what I had planned to be my legacy. It was nothing except buildings—brick and mortar. Businesses that would make money. Houses other people would live in and create lives. Roads and sidewalks I would never use. There was nothing of me in it. It wasn’t a legacy. It was a cash cow. Now someone else saw it for what it was and decided to take it. No matter what it cost.
The cost was too dear. They could have the land. I would give it to them, as long as they gave me back what really mattered.
Emmy.
Aiden came in, talking on his phone. “Good. See you soon.”
I met his stare.
“Maddox has Cami and Dee. He’s bringing them here. Just as a precaution.”
I snorted, gripping the back of my neck. “More precautions. I hope this one works better.”
He held out his hands. “Bent. We all agreed they were focused on you. When they got the land, we thought it was done. She was being watched.”
“Not everywhere.”
He set down his phone, and crossed his arms. “If you have something to say, spit it out.”
“How did they get her, Aiden? Why wasn’t there someone in the car with Frank? Why didn’t we think of that? With everything else you insisted on, why didn’t you think of that?”
He said nothing.
“You should have done more!”
“I know.”
His simple words stopped me.
“What?”
“I thought we were covered. She left here in the safety of your car and driver. Joe or Simon picked her up at school and watched over her until she came back here later. It never occurred to me they were so desperate they would knock off your driver and take her! Jesus, we thought someone might approach her and try to talk to her about you, not kidnap her!” His voice rose to the point he was yelling. “And if you think I’m not already blaming myself, you’re wrong!”
“You should be!” I yelled back. “I was depending on you to look after her!”
His voice became low. Angry. “It wouldn’t have happened if you had walked her out to the car this morning, the way you usually do. That was always part of the daily routine. You could have stopped it.”
His words brought me up short.
“Too busy working on another deal, Bentley? Or too exhausted from fucking her all night again? You let her walk out of here—right to them. Let me remind you, you told me to back off. So, I’m not the only one to blame here.”
Rage set in. My eyes narrowed, hands curled into fists as I struggled for control. Maddox rushed in, glancing between us.
“What the hell is going on? I can hear the two of you from the front door.”
Aiden stood, stiff and angry. “Nothing. Bentley is casting blame, the way he always does.”
“Fuck you,” I snarled.
He glared. “You usually do.”
Maddox flung out his arms. “Knock it off! There is no blame here! Someone did this to get at Bentley—to get at us! Fighting is only going to make it worse.” He turned to me. “You know this isn’t Aiden’s fault. We all agreed on how to handle watching her. None of us could have predicted they’d be so desperate they’d actually take her or how they would take her!”
Aiden and I stared at each other, neither of us giving an inch.
“The girls are here,” Maddox informed us. “Can we try to be civil and concentrate on what is important? They’re already upset enough.”
My anger left me as fast as it had hit. Maddox was right. This wasn’t the time to be fighting. We had to work together.
“You’re right.”
Aiden pushed off the desk with a huff. “Well, at least you agree with one of us.”
“Aiden—”
He held up his hand. “You said enough, Bentley. I get it.” He walked out of the room, his shoulders stiff.
Maddox swung around. “What the fuck? You know this isn’t his fault.”
“I was angry.” I yanked my hands through my hair. “I said shit I didn’t mean.”
“So, take it out on your punching bag. Swim a hundred lengths. Don’t assign blame to someone you know is already heaping the blame on his own head.” His voice softened. “You know he is, Bent. It’s Aiden.”
I dropped my head in my hands and rubbed my face hard. “I know. I’ll apologize.”
“Sooner rather than later,” he advised as he walked out of the den. “We’ve had enough shit today.”
**
The day dragged, the house was filled with tension. Cami and Dee sat together on the sofa talking quietly, looking anxious. Often, one of them was in tears. Maddox and Aiden sat at the dining table with one of my other staff members, Reid, who was a whiz on the computer. I had objected when they’d hired him. His honest disclosure of hacking skills and some run-ins with the law made me nervous, but Aiden had insisted he was the right one, and he had been correct. Loyal, hardworking, and currently, very handy. I should have been frightened by how good a hacker he was, but I was only grateful at this point. We needed anything that might get Emmy back was needed.
The sound of the constant clicks of their keyboards drove me insane. At one point sandwiches appeared, Andrew firmly informing us all to eat. Maddox handed me a plate and I ate without tasting, my mind constantly asking if Emmy was getting anything to eat.
All day they had been playing with us. Different images of Emmy would appear on one of our phones. In all of them, she was a huddled mass pressed into the corner. Some were close-ups where she looked at the camera and her facial expression said it all. Pale and frightened, and alone in a darkened room. She was wearing the shirt she’d had on the second day I met her, but the tie was absent and so was her constant extra layer. Had they taken them from her? Her shirt was torn in two places, and the knee on her pants ripped. Her hair was disheveled, and there were marks on her hands. She would be cold. It ate at me constantly, and slowly my hot anger turned icy.
None of Reid’s traces turned up anything. The traffic cams he hacked into showed the car racing down my street and eventually disappearing. He couldn’t get a good angle to see the driver, but we were able to catch a glimpse of a second person in the back with Emmy.
How were they doing this? Why couldn’t we find out? How fucking dare they take her and subject her to such cruelty? I vowed they would pay for this—whoever was behind it. If they wanted the land, they could have it. I would play their game, but it wasn’t over—not by a long shot.
“Bentley.”
I looked up, meeting Maddox’s eyes. “Can you go do that somewhere else? You’re freaking everyone out.” He indicated my hands with the tilt of his chin. I glanced down, shocked to see the top rail of the chair I was gripping had splintered into pieces.
I loosened my grip, letting the chunks of wood fall to the floor. “Should I call Greg?”
“Are you going to sell?”
“Without question.”
Cami spoke up, her voice saturated with emotion. She hadn’t spoken directly to me all day. “Emmy told me you never let personal feelings influence your business decisions.”
I sat beside her, laying my hand on her arm. “She isn’t a feeling, Cami. She’s my world. There is no question here. She matters more than any business decision.”
“You promise me?”
“Yes.”
A tear slid down her cheek. “Okay.”
I glanced toward Maddox. “Should I call him? Tell him I changed my mind?”
“Wait until we hear from them.”
“When the fuck will that be?”
Aiden met my gaze. “When they decide to stop torturing you.”
“Payback is going to be a bitch for them.”
He nodded and went back to his keyboard.
I spun on my heels and hurried to the den. At least on that matter we were in complete agreement.
**
Darkness had fallen when my phone rang. I waited until Aiden gave me the sign, and I hit the speaker button.
“Ridge.”
“We have a gift for you.”
The screen on my laptop lit up and there was a live feed of Emmy. The room was dark except for the camera light shining on her. They were close enough to her I could see the shivers racing through her body. There was blood caked on her knee.
“Look at the camera,” someone instructed in a harsh tone.
Emmy raised her head, her expression fearful, but her eyes were furious. There was a bruise on her cheek, and scrapes on her skin. They had tethered her to a pole, with a chain attached to a metal band around her wrist. Her hand also bore remnants of dried blood.
They had her chained up like a fucking animal. Fury built in my chest, and my fingers gripped the edge of my armchair so hard, the material began to tear.
“Don’t you want to say hello?” The disjointed voice sneered.
I had to swallow before I could speak so I didn’t rage. I moved closer to the screen, even though I knew she couldn’t see me, and I made my voice as steady as I could.
“I’m here, Emmy. Don’t be frightened. It’s going to be fine. I’ll get you out of there as soon as I can.”
“I’m counting on it.” Her voice quavered, and she shivered, wrapping her arms tighter around her knees, making the chain rattle. She tossed her hair in defiance. “I prefer your place. The atmosphere here is rank.”
I loved the flash of bravery. “I prefer you here, as well. You’ll be home soon. I promise.”
The camera zoomed out, and she dropped her head, her posture defeated.
Aiden rolled his hand indicating I should talk. “Why is she bruised?” I spat.
“She’s a feisty thing. We had to convince her to cooperate.”
“Touch her again, and you’ll be sorry.”
The snicker I heard made shivers run down my neck.
“What do you want?”
“You know what we want.”
“A fucking piece of land? You’re going to jail over a fucking piece of real estate?”
The voice scoffed. “No one is going to jail. You’re going to give up the land, and you’re going to drop the new development plan of yours. Move on and forget any of this ever happened.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You will. And you won’t try to do anything once the transaction is complete. We got to her once, and we can do it again. We can get to everyone you care about.”
His threat made my hands grip tighter, rending the material completely, and my anger to burn brighter. I wanted to reach through the computer and rip the head off the person with the disjointed voice. Another tremor raced through Emmy’s body, and I snapped.
“Get her a blanket.”
“You’re not in a position to make demands. We’re in control here—not you.”
I leaned forward, my anger boiling over. “Listen, you fucker. You want the land? Then you’re going to get a blanket and make sure she’s warm. You fucking hurt her again and I will hunt you down.”
“I don’t take kindly to threats. Do what you’re told, or she’ll feel real pain.”
“It’s not a threat, it’s a promise.” Suddenly I was yelling. “Leave her alone and get her a goddamn blanket!”
“Bent!” Aiden hissed, moving closer.
“You mother fucking bastard!” I screamed. “Get. Her. A. Blanket!”
There was a commotion, the sound of Emmy gasping, then the screen went blank. I picked up the laptop, hurling it against the wall. The contents of my desk disappeared as I raged in fury, sweeping it all on the floor. I pushed past Aiden, all my anger directed at the thing that started all off this. Mustering all my strength, I flipped the concept model over, watching as it crashed and broke into pieces.
Cami gasped and Maddox grabbed my arm. “Bentley! Calm down!”
“I did this!” I roared. “My own fucking arrogance! I should have known they wouldn’t just walk away. They were never just going to walk away. I thought I beat them—that Winston Bentley Ridge the third could do whatever the fuck he wanted and get away with it!”
I stopped as my throat thickened. “Now the woman I love is hurt, scared, cold, and alone. I can’t help her, and it’s all my fault.” I looked at the destruction I caused. “I think I might have made it worse.” I met Maddox’s eyes. “She’s cold, and hurt, Mad. Because of me—all of this is because of me. I can’t stand it when she’s cold.” I shook my head, my shoulders bowing inward in despair. “She should have walked away when I told her. I should have left her alone.”
He shook my arm. “No. Stop thinking like that. She loves you, and we will get her back. They’ll get her a blanket. I’m sure she fought them, which is how she got the bruises. I’m certain they don’t want to hurt her more, only scare you.”
“It fucking worked.”
“I know. I understand. They’ll call back.” He pressed on my shoulder. “Bent, you need to stay calm. We’ll get her back faster if you stay calm.”
“I destroyed my machine.”
“We’ll fix it.”
“I want to be alone.”
“Okay. We’ll be in the next room.”
I nodded and turned away.
**
Dee came in, carrying a mug of coffee. She sat it down, taking a seat in front of my desk. She looked around the office.
“You made a mess.”
“I’ll clean it up.”
“Blaming yourself, or Aiden isn’t going to help.”
I sighed and let my head drop back. “I know.”
She tapped her fingers on the desk. “Do you? Emmy was aware you were worried. She also thought you were overreacting. No one expected this to happen. She thought about your warnings. She talked to Cami and me about the differences in your lives, and the worries you had. The worries she had about not being enough.”
“She is more than enough. I’m the one not worthy of her.” I scrubbed my face. “She should have walked away. She’d be at home right now or with you. Safe.”
“She couldn’t walk away, Bentley. She loved you. My goodness, she told you her history, and for Emmy, that says a lot.” Dee pushed my coffee toward me. “Aside from this, I think you’re the best thing that ever happened to her. I’ve never seen her so happy. I’ve never seen her trust anyone the way she trusts you.”
“Her trust in me has put her in danger.”
“I agree with Maddox. They are using her to get to you. I don’t think they’ll hurt her again,” Her voice trembled. “I’m praying they don’t.”
I leaned my elbows on the desk, my words low. “She doesn’t know that, Dee. She’s alone. Scared. She confused, and cold. It’s fucking killing me.”
“And we’ll take care of her when you bring her home. You’ll take care of her.”
“Yes,” I stated adamantly.
“You really love her.”
“I do.” I bent forward, wanting, needing, to talk to someone about Emmy. Someone who knew her well. “She has changed my life. I want to change hers. Make it easier. I asked her to come live with me.”
“How did that go over?”
I frowned. “Not the way I hoped, to be honest. She was so hesitant. I know her past, and I know she struggles, but I’m not trying to take away her independence. I just want her with me. I want to share my life with her.”
“If you know her past, then you know why she is hesitant.” Dee shook her head sadly. “We tried to convince her to live with us, but it never happened. Her fear of depending on someone was too strong. She could never allow herself to fully love and trust anyone. And with you, she has much more at stake.”
“I would never leave or abandon her.”
“Bentley, you need to understand something. Even though she shows a different façade to the world, Emmy in many ways, is more controlled than you are. People think she is carefree, humorous, and even flighty. She rarely shows her true feelings. She hides them under a smile or a laugh.”
“I know. There is much more to her than one sees.”
She tilted her head in agreement. “That’s what she lets them see. She is intensely private, and she doesn’t allow people in easily. The only way she survived being abandoned not once, but twice, was to take charge of her life. Be the only one to make decisions about it. Where she lived, what she did, how much money she had. She has refused to depend on anyone for anything. Even Cami and myself.” She shrugged ruefully. “She didn’t expect you and the huge dilemma you present to her.”
“I’m sorry—I’m a dilemma? I don’t understand.”
“You are her greatest desire—the one she would never admit to having—and her biggest fear. The one person she can be herself with, and depend on not to hurt her. The person she can entrust her heart to. You are the person she never believed could exist for her.”
Her words hit me. I wanted to be that person for her. I wanted her to know she was everything to me and mattered above all else.
“I won’t hurt her. I’ll prove it to her.”
She stood, indicating the destruction of the room. “I believe you have. Be patient with her. Bring her home, Bentley. I don’t care what you have to give up, to do so.”
“I will.”
She walked out, and I sipped the coffee she had brought. I shut the door to the den, and tried to straighten it up. The model was damaged, and I shoved it as far into the corner of the room as I could. That ambition was gone, and a new one in its place. I would get her back, find whoever did this, and make sure they were punished. I went in search of a broom. Reid was tapping at his computer, Aiden beside him, staring at his screen. Maddox was stretched out on the sofa, his head on Dee’s lap. She was stroking his hair absently, her eyes shut. He looked to be sleeping. It hit me I had never once seen him with a woman in a private moment. He never spoke of his personal life, and had never had a long-term relationship. None of us had, until now.
I stopped and met Aiden’s gaze. “You need some sleep.”
“We have to keep going.”
“I’ll sit with Reid. You can get some rest, then come back.” He started to protest, and I interrupted him.
“Aiden, I need you. I can’t do this without you. Get some rest and come back fresh.”
“What about you?”
The thought of going upstairs to my room, to the bed I shared with her, the sheets smelling of Emmy’s soft fragrance was too much to handle. “I’ll grab a nap later.”
He stood. “Okay.”
A look passed between us. I knew I should apologize, tell him I regretted my words earlier, but he turned and walked away before I could speak.
I sat beside Reid. “Tell me what to do.”
**
A hand shook my shoulder, and I looked up, disoriented and blinking in the early morning light. Aiden was beside me, frowning. I had fallen asleep at the table. Maddox was where Reid had been and he was frowning, as well.
How long had I been asleep?
A quick glance at my wrist told me it was only a couple of hours.
“What?” I asked, tension coursing through me.
“Greg is here.”
I stood, confused. “What time is it? Why is he here?”
“It’s seven. He says you texted him.”
I shook my head as I picked up my phone. “I didn’t.”
Maddox spoke up. “I think it was done for you. They have made the next move.”
“Where is he?”
“Downstairs in the vestibule. I haven’t buzzed him up yet. I told him there was a problem with the door.”
“You left him down there?”
“I wasn’t sure how to handle the situation in regard to him.”
“Has there been any contact?”
Maddox turned his screen. “This.”
It was a picture of Emmy, still in the same place, but now a tattered blanket draped around her body. There were no new marks I could see. My stomach twisted looking at the picture. Not enough by far, but it was something.
“When did that come?”
“About thirty minutes ago. We were about to wake you when Greg showed up.”
I rolled my shoulders, feeling stiff and groggy. I had only been asleep for a short while, and I was exhausted.
“Andrew has coffee. Lots of coffee.”
“Okay. Bring him in.”
**
Greg sat across from me, his expression blank. He took a sip of his coffee while studying me. He had appeared confused and snippy when Aiden brought him upstairs and into the den. His eyebrows rose looking at the destruction of the room, and he had sat down, accepting coffee and waiting for me to speak.
Maddox and Aiden stood behind me. I swallowed a mouthful of coffee to banish the dryness in my throat.
Greg set down his mug. “What the fuck is going on, Bentley? You look like hell.”
I shook my head, dismissing his words. “I’ve changed my mind, Greg. I want to sell the land.”
He gaped at me. “You changed your mind? After the lecture you gave me last time we met, you changed your mind?”
“Yes.”
He glanced toward the broken model. “Why?”
“It’s not important. I need you to get in touch and accept their offer.”
“All I have is an untraceable email address.”
“That will work. They are waiting to hear from you.”
He scowled. “I don’t know what’s going on. You text me at five a.m. I get an email with a new offer for less than you paid for the land—half of what their original offer was—and you want me to accept it?”
I heard Aiden’s sharp intake of breath. They had made their move. We had wondered why they didn’t demand I give them the land, instead of selling to them. Maddox surmised they wanted it legal and binding. Now, they dropped their offer. They would get the land, and financially I would take a huge hit. I sucked in much-needed air. I would also get Emmy back safe. The money was a renewable resource. She was not.
Before I could speak, my computer screen lit up. There was a live feed of Emmy. The room was dark and she was paler than ever, with dark circles under her eyes. She glared at the camera.
“Say it,” a disjointed voice demanded off camera.
She raised her chin, defiant.
“You have the final offer. Accept it.” She spat out the words, obviously angry, and not wanting to be their puppet.
Greg uttered a muffled curse, beginning to stand. Aiden held up his hand, stopping him from moving. I leaned forward.
“I’ll accept it, Emmy. You’ll be home soon.”
Her eyes flashed, and she clutched the blanket closer. “I’m hungry, Bentley. Tell Maddox when I get home, I would kill for a curry.”
The screen went blank. I swiveled in my chair looking at Maddox. “What the fuck did she mean?”
He shrugged, looking puzzled. “Damned if I know, Bent.” He glanced away in thought, then snapped his fingers. “We were talking the other day about a new Indian place that opened up by my condo. I told her how good it was.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Sorry, man. She’s hungry and must have thought about our conversation. You know what it’s like when you get a craving. You can’t shake it.”
I hated knowing she was hungry. It added to my anger. They were going to pay.
“We’ll get her a whole whack of it when she comes home. Anything she wants.” He stepped away, moving to the door. “I need some coffee.”
I turned back to Greg.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“I can’t tell you. I need you to accept the offer, and leave it alone.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re being pressured.”
“Leave it alone.”
He started to say something and I stopped him. “Do this, Greg. No questions, just do it. I need it done today. Do you understand?”
He stood, buttoning up his jacket. Even at the early hour he was groomed and unflappable. “I’m your lawyer, Bentley. Whatever you tell me would be held in the strictest of confidence. It’s obvious they have some leverage over you.” He indicated the computer. “They’ve taken something of great value.”
I remained silent. I wasn’t risking her, and I didn’t want Greg digging.
“If you won’t confide in me, I’ll do as you ask and we can handle it afterward.” He huffed.
I stood, pounding my fist on the desk. I couldn’t let anyone know I planned on pursuing the fuckers and get justice for what they had done. Not until I had Emmy back and safe. “No. I’m selling the land, and that is final. There will be nothing to handle or discuss afterward. It is done. We move onto the next project.”
Aiden grabbed my shoulder. “Relax, Bent.”
I shook off his hold, glaring at Greg. “Nothing else. Am I clear? Leave it alone.”
With a snarl, he grabbed his briefcase. “Fine. I’ll send word when the offer is accepted.”
“I need this done immediately.”
He shook his head. “Yeah, that much I figured out on my own.” He strode from the office.
I sat down heavily, rubbing my eyes.
Aiden hunched beside me.
“Bentley, it’s almost over. She’ll be home tomorrow.”
“I want her home today.”
“I’m trying. We’re combing through every traffic cam, tracing down every piece of email, looking through every computer associated with you. Reid is using every skill he has to try to run down those numbered companies. Whoever is behind this doesn’t want to be found.” His voice was strained. “We’re not going to stop, though.”
I met his weary gaze. “I know, Aiden. And I know it wasn’t your fault. I was out of line yesterday; I didn’t mean what I said. I was angry and upset and I took it out on you. Please accept my apology for being an ass.”
He blinked, stood, and held out his hand. “Forgiven and forgotten.”
I ignored his hand, and embraced him. His massive arms felt like vices around my shoulders.
“You and Maddox are my family. I need you.”
He stepped back. “She’s part of our family. So is her family.” He jerked his thumb behind him to the room where I could hear Cami and Dee’s voices. “We’re in this together and we’ll get her back.”
I nodded. “Right.”
“Go have a shower. Change. Andrew is making breakfast and we’ll keep digging.”
“Okay.”
**
I towel dried my hair, and slipped into fresh clothes after my shower. I felt more awake and anxious to get back downstairs. I had no idea how long it would be until Greg sent notice I agreed to the offer and they would allow Emmy to go free, but I wanted to know the instant it occurred. I prayed that was what would happen. That nothing would go wrong, and they wouldn’t hurt her. I couldn’t bear for that to happen.
I hurried downstairs, finding Cami and Dee at the table. Reid was gone from the sofa.
“Where are Aiden and Maddox?”
“They said they had to do something downstairs.”
“Is Reid with them?”
“Yes.”
Without another word, I turned and hurried downstairs. Something was up. I could feel it in every bone of my body. I burst through the door of the security room downstairs. Three heads looked up at once.
“What is it?”
“Shut the door.”
I pushed it closed and moved closer. “What’s going on?”
Maddox looked at me. “I lied.”
“What?”
“There is no Indian food place. Emmy was giving us a clue.”
I sat down, exasperated. “What? Why didn’t you say something?”
He leaned forward, his voice dripping in fury. “Because she was telling us Greg is involved.”