Bentley: Vested Interest #1

by Melanie Moreland

  “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.”