CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

An anxious hour later, a black sedan pulls up my driveway. I’ve only seen Joseph in photos before. When we first started searching for Emily, he was on the top of our list to follow, but he ended up being an ally instead of an enemy and he continues to prove he’s nothing like his monster of a father.

A tall, broad shouldered man with black hair and a five o’clock shadow climbs out of the car. His face is hard and his eyes determined. That’s what always caught my attention about Joseph in his pictures; his face always showed his harsh upbringing and corrupt life. He looked perpetually angry.

Except the pictures I took of him with Alexa Kingsley; they were the only times I saw him even remotely happy and he looked at her as if she was his whole life. He would do anything for that woman. I don’t know why she ran from him, but I do know he has dozens of men all over the world looking for her. He’s been helping Jake and me, but when he gets leads on Alexa, he drops our mission straight away to follow up and see if he’s finally found her. We understand. It’s frustrating that these men don’t die sooner, but we understand; he needs her, just like I need Emmy and Jake needs Lily. They are ours and we are theirs. There is no one else for us.

Joseph walks up the porch steps and moves toward Jake. They shake hands and pat each other on the shoulder.

Joseph turns to me and we shake hands. He looks me right in the face, his expression showing sincere remorse. Remorse for everything I’ve been through or maybe what he knows Emily went through. I tighten my jaw. I’m angry. I know none of this is his fault, but he stood by and let so many bad things happen. I understand how powerful his father was, but when it comes to Emmy, common sense leaves me and all I care about is that she needed to be saved right from the start.

I squeeze his hand hard, brutally hard. I see him flinch, but he never tries to pull back. He just keeps the same regretful expression.

“Kanye,” Jake says with a warning tone.

I release Joseph’s hand and try to shake off my dark thoughts.

“It’s cool. I get it, but we need to move on. Some bad shit is coming your way, and soon,” Joseph states.

We give each other a chin lift and walk inside the house, but before Jake and I move to the living room, Joseph starts talking and what he says stops us in our tracks. “Donovan Bradley is looking for Emily.”

Jake and I freeze on the spot. I don’t know about Jake, but at that moment, my blood runs cold and fear grips my heart.

I’m going to kill the bastard.

“Where is he?” I growl, my jaw ticking and my hands turning into fists. My anger is palpable.

“We found him again, this time in New York. I had another guy on him and now he is MIA as well,” Joseph growls. “When I get my hands on the fucking person messing with my guys, they are gonna wish they were never born,” Joseph grinds out.

“Get to the point,” I say, my tone taut.

“Before my guy went missing, he reported back that Donovan was meeting a man called Bruce Stephens. Stephens is an investigator, and after some digging, we discovered he is looking for an Emily Roberts. Now, my guy’s next instructions were to follow Donovan and send me the address he’s staying at. I received an email from him, but for some fucking reason, the email I have is encrypted and now I can’t get a hold of my guy.”

“Well, how the fuck do we find out where he is now then?” I shout angrily at Joseph. He doesn’t even blink at me.

“Kanye, fuck, calm the hell down. Yelling at each other isn’t going to find the bastard any sooner. We need a plan,” Jake states.

I know he’s right, but all I can see is red. I want to smash something. I need that bastard in front of me so I can rip his insides out with my bare hands.

We’re standing at the bottom of the stairs right next to the front door and it suddenly hits me, in a few hours, Emmy is going to come through the front door and I’m going to have to tell her the monster from her past, one of them, is looking for her. She’s come so far; I’m afraid this could set her back. I want to protect her and deal with it without her knowing, but I know I need to be honest with her.

“I understand your frustration. Trust me, I do,” Joseph growls out. “Someone is messing with me and my guys and I can’t fucking find a single clue on who it is,” Joseph shouts and his hands fly up into the air in frustration. “To know the email was coming to me and to encrypt it, that shit isn’t easy. They would have had to have access to my system to encrypt that one and only message. They didn’t touch anything else, didn’t steal any other information from me. This doesn’t make any sense, but someone definitely doesn’t want me to find Donovan.

Desperation courses through my body. I feel as if someone is choking me. I need control over this situation. There are too many what ifs, too many roadblocks and possibilities I may lose Emily again. I turn my back to the guys and clench my hands. I want to smash something. I need to expel some of this rage. Joseph gets my attention again with his next words.

“I can still find out where Donovan is. My guys know to send another message with the information to another email address off the grid. It’s in case of emergencies like this, but I can’t use my internet provider or devices just in case. I’m gonna need to use someone else’s computer to do it. This is half the reason why I’m here.”

Half the reason, there’s more? Fucking great.

“What else is it, Joseph?” Jake asks, not wanting to wait any longer for the information.

“My uncle, Michael O’Connor, I contacted him when I found out Donovan paid him a visit. I asked him what he wanted. He was vague and only said he was looking for someone and didn’t say who. I didn’t push the subject. Trust me, you don’t push my uncle; he’s one-step up from my father in the crazy department. He brought up finding out who killed my dad. He’s trying to find out what happened, but can’t seem to find anyone still alive to tell him. He also invited me to come and stay with him, and trust me, it’s an invitation I can’t ignore. He’s suspicious I’m alive and everyone else is dead. He asked about the collection pieces and finding them again, to continue where Marco left off.”

The air goes from calm to nuclear in about two seconds flat. Joseph steps back from Jake and me, and I can only imagine what he’s seeing. Two murderous glares from men who are about to explode.

“Fuck, I know. I know!” Joseph shouts, his voice strong, but the sliver of fear is there.

“The two of you need to calm down. I told him everyone died, everyone, including the collection pieces and the slaves. I fucking had no idea what else to say. I told him the government came through with no warrants and no authority and took everyone out, including the girls so there were no witnesses. I told him it was over the money and the politicians my father was blackmailing. I also told him I received a heads up about it and disappeared before it happened, but my father was at the secret location so I couldn’t warn him. My uncle knows my father never told anyone where the house was. For now, I think he believes me, but if Donovan finds Emily and is able to tell my uncle she’s alive, then my uncle is going to know I lied, then my mother’s life is on the line, as is mine. Not to mention Lexie. He knows how much she means to me.” Joseph blows out a big breath.

“Do you think your uncle could find Alexa if you haven’t been able to?” Jake asks Joseph.

Joseph grunts out a laugh. “I don’t think so, but fuck, I’d love to have him try; then I might actually fucking find her. Lexi has always been good at this shit. Growing up around her fucked-up family and around mine, she’s learned a lot.”

There’s so much pressure in my head. I grab my head and shake it, unable to comprehend Joseph’s words. Marco’s brother, a man apparently worse than the sick fuck Marco, is alive and wanting to startup the collection. The bastard needs to die and soon.

“We need to deal with your uncle. I won’t leave any loose ends when it comes to Lily and Emily’s safety.” Jake states.

“Yeah, well, it’s not going to be easy to kill him. If it was, I would have done it already. He’s important to the drug and gun trade in Mexico. I’m going to visit him like he wants and work out where he’s going with all this and what information he has. If we have to take him out, I need to make it look like an outside job from an enemy.” Joseph stops talking and there’s no flicker of emotion at killing his uncle, just sheer determination and knowledge that it will be the right thing to do.

“We’ll deal with your uncle after Donovan. I can’t focus on anything until motherfucking Donovan is dead,” I grind out.

“Okay then, boys, we need a plan, and I need to bring Dom and Nick in on this. I have a laptop at my house. Let’s head over now,” Jake states while pulling his phone to his ear. “I’ll call Mom and tell her to drop the girls at my place.”

Jake starts for the door but I stop him. “Wait. I don’t want Emmy to worry while she’s out shopping. They’ll know something is up. Emily has a laptop upstairs and we have Wi-Fi here. We’ll figure out a plan here first so we have something to tell the girls before they can worry about anything.”

Jake nods in understanding and we all move into the living area, Jake with his phone to his ear.

“Dom, head to Kanye’s place. We need to meet.” Then he dials again and says the same thing, but this time to Nick.

I bend down to pull the laptop out from under the coffee table, but it’s not there. I race up the stairs two at a time and enter our bedroom. I’ve seen Emmy with the laptop up here looking over pictures plenty of times. Maybe she never took it back downstairs. My eyes search the room and I find the laptop on our bed, among the scatter covers. Emmy must have used it this morning.

I take the laptop downstairs to the dining table, carefully moving her pictures over. They are still on our table and around our dining room. Emmy has put some away, mostly the ones of strangers but she’s kept out the ones of our friends and family and some she’s snapped of the two of us together. I have a surprise planned for Emmy in the next few weeks. Tomorrow, I have a meeting with a construction company to talk about building onto our house. I’m going to build Emmy a photography studio. Emmy only sees the smiles and laugh lines on these people’s faces, but what I see is art; she takes beautiful pictures. She changes the settings on the camera and a dark, stormy day becomes a vibrant, picture that comes alive with her changes. She thinks she’s just highlighting their smiles, laughter and happy moments, but I don’t think she realizes it’s her who makes the pictures shine. I lift the laptop lid and see it’s open to an email account.

I lift the laptop lid and see it’s open to an email account.

“What the fuck?” I whisper, unable to believe what I’m reading—not wanting to believe it.

Both Jake and Joseph come up behind me and read over my shoulder.

From: A. Kingsley

Subject: I found him.

To: Emily Roberts

I’m in Mexico City. The man he’s with is Marco’s brother Michael O’Connor. He’s been asking questions about what happened to his brother and there are rumors he’s set to start off where Marco’s empire died.

From my Intel, I’ve found out Donovan has arranged this meeting with Michael in hopes of finding you.

From: Emily Roberts

Subject: I found him.

To: A. Kingsley

I need you to keep him in your sights. I need to know where he is at all times. When I figure out what my plans are I will contact you through this email.

From: A. Kingsley

Subject: I found him.

To: Emily Roberts

Consider it done. Will I be seeing you soon?

From: Emily Roberts

Subject: I found him.

To: A. Kingsley

As soon as I can get out of Hastings, I will be there.

From: A. Kingsley

Subject: He’s on the move.

To: Emily Roberts

Donovan is on his way to the USA. He boarded a flight to New York. I’m on the same flight. He hired an investigator to find you. The investigator is in New York City. He has nothing on you yet, but he’s good. It will only be a matter of time before he finds you.

From: A. Kingsley

Subject: He’s close.

To: Emily Roberts

I’ve been able to get my hands on your file at the investigators. Donovan has found your school records. He’s close to finding you. Soon he will know where you are.

Are you coming to him like we planned? We need to move soon before he finds out where you live.

From: Emily Roberts

Subject: He’s close.

To: A. Kingsley

I will get back to you soon with my plans.

My whole body seizes with panic and vibrates, with what I don’t know, anger, betrayal, astonishment that Emily is this stupid and would actually try going up against a man like this.

Bile rises up my throat and threatens to empty as I think of the possibilities which could have happened if she left to find Donovan, and do what? My guess is she wants revenge and I can understand that, even cheer her on, but fuck, not to do it on her own. Honestly, not to do at all. If I have my way, she’s not getting anywhere near the motherfucker.

I can’t believe she would take this risk with her life and leave me, possibly leave me forever this time. I’m furious, and hurt. How little do I mean to her if she would risk putting me through this again?

Joseph practically rips the laptop from my hands, but I’m too stunned to care.

“Lexi,” I hear him whisper. “Alexa has been helping Emily find Donovan. She’s been trailing him.” Joseph’s voice is low and angry.

“Fuck, Em, what are you doing!” Jake shouts. “And Alexa, she’s been the one messing with your guys?” Jake asks just as surprised as Joseph and me.

“Well, fuck, at least I know they are still alive. I just need to find where she’s fucking hog tied and left them,” Joseph says, exasperated.

“She’s been fucking trailing a serial rapist, by herself!” he roars into the room.

Jake and I both step back from him the growing anger pouring out of him in waves. I glance around the room thinking of what to try and save if he goes to smash something. I know if I found out Emily was actually following around a man like Donovan, I would lose my shit.

Instead, Joseph places the laptop down on the table, takes a seat in the chair and starts typing.

Jake and I both stand behind him and watch as he writes.

From: Emily Roberts

Subject: I found YOU.

To: A. Kingsley

Wait till I get my hands on you Lexi, your ass is gonna be red raw. Get the fuck off that sicko’s trail and tell me where you are, NOW!

Joey

While Joseph death stares the laptop waiting for Alexa to reply, Jake and I walk into the entry.

“My hands are fucking shaking, Jake. That’s how angry I am with Emmy right now.”

“I know my little sister is in deep shit right now. She has no idea the storm waiting for her when she gets home.”

“I can’t even think. I’m so pissed at her. We just got her back and she was going to run off and come face to face with that fucker. Possibly never come home this time. FUCK!” I shout to the roof.

I hear Joseph on the phone talking to someone about tracing an email address when I hear a car pull in.

I peer out the window and find Nick and Dom getting out of the car. Time to plan, time to decide how and when Donovan Bradley will die, painfully.