In this moment, I realize how lucky I am to have Reid and Cat. They aren’t like my father. Reid, who came the closest to that demise, still didn’t become that monster. “We need to be done with him,” I say. “We tried and failed. We can’t fail again.”
“I have dirt on him,” Reid says. “The problem is he has dirt on me, too.”
“His dirt he linked to you to control you.”
“If you go at him,” Reid says, “he’ll come at me.”
“And you’ll take him down with you. He knows that.”
“But I’ll go down and that hurts my wife.” He scrubs his jaw. “And man, no one knows yet, but Carrie’s talking about babies more and more often as Cat gets closer to her due date.”
Babies.
This announcement thunders through me. Both of my siblings with babies, while I made sure I can’t be a father. Abbie’s affected by my decision. I shove that aside and focus on the here and now. “Then let’s talk about how we end this before any more Maxwells are running around. What if we get him to confess while we record him? Then turn him in.”
“He’ll lash out and come at us, even behind bars. You know that.”
“Aside from killing him, Reid, which would make mom roll over in her grave, what else?”
“I don’t disagree with sending him to jail. It just can’t seem like we’re involved.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Let’s go meet with Walker Security. Blake can make this happen. He has the connections and the hacking skills to set him up.”
“Blake’s going to agree to this?”
“If it’s a real crime, yes. I believe he will, but you know this will be bad press for the company. He’s the founder. He’s our father.”
“I don’t care about bad press. We have a solid foundation. We can handle it. Our family, our women, that’s what matters. We can’t keep swimming in the same shark-infested waters and expect to survive. We have to get rid of the shark. Let’s go meet with Blake.”
***
Abbie…
I’ve just hung up with the dog walker when my mother returns my call. “You heard they made an arrest for Kenneth’s murder?” I ask.
“I heard. Thank God. It sounds like this is over.”
Over.
Why do I feel like that’s not true?
“How do you feel about it, Abigail?” my mother asks. “Is it over?”
“I hope so. Reese says we’ll know more later today.”
“I’m eager for news. You know, I was thinking earlier. Gabe’s really taken care of us, honey.”
“I know. He has. He’s—well, I’m moving in with him.”
“Wow. Well, I’d say that’s fast, but, drumroll please, I’m moving in with Brandon, too.”
My eyes go wide. “What? You are?” I’m a bit stunned. My mother has always been all work, no love life. “When?”
“Soon. Now. I might as well already live with him here in the Hamptons. I’m always with him. And since Gabe has a place here we can still see each other often.”
“Wait. The Hamptons? He doesn’t have a place here?”
“No, Abigail. We’ll live here.”
“You can’t keep the shelter in the Hamptons, mom,” I say. “How is that going to work?”
“Brandon’s going to let me keep it here at the ranch and Reid already talked to me about the offer on the shelter there in the city. He’s scanning me the paperwork to sign. You’re a go on that, right?”
“Yes, I think that’s the right decision. We need to let Jean Claude forget who we are but that doesn’t mean we can’t find another location here. I mean how many people are there in the Hamptons to adopt the animals? Isn’t that limiting for the animals?”
“He has ideas on how to overcome that, and with all the money here, the donations and support will be overflowing.”
We talk through the details and she actually seems to be happy and has a really amazing plan. “I feel a little lost,” I say. “I’m used to helping you with the shelter.”
“You still can, but now you can do other things as well. When can you come up here?”
“We’re moving me this weekend so probably not until the weekend after next.”
“Do you want help moving?”
“Maybe. If you can?”
“Of course. Me and Brandon will come.” She hesitates. “Abigail, honey, the memorial or funeral, or whatever it is they’re holding for Kenneth, is set for Monday. I’m not sure why it’s so far out, but what’s your plan?”
I know that Reese says I don’t have to go, but there is a part of me that feels bad for Kenneth. He has no living family but I certainly wasn’t his family, either. “You were divorced, Abbie,” my mother says softly. “Let’s skip it.”
I don’t need a lot of persuading. “I do feel weird about going to the funeral of a man I despised. It feels wrong.”
“Agreed. Decision made. We aren’t going.”
I let her guide me on this. We aren’t going to the funeral.
We’ve just finished our chat and disconnected when a strange number appears on my phone. I frown, wondering if it’s Reese calling from the courthouse or even the police trying to reach me. Nervously, I hit the answer button. “This is Abbie.”
“Abbie. This is Gabe’s father.”
Shock radiates through me and then fear for Gabe. “I—how did you get this number?”
“The dog walker gave it to me when I tipped her and told her I’d finish walking Dexter. He’s here with me, at my apartment. Come pick him up and we can have a nice chat.”
“I’ll send Gabe to get him.”
“That won’t work for me or you. There are some things about my son you need to know that he won’t allow me to share if he comes along. And hurry. I really don’t like dogs. I’d hate to just let Dexter run loose in the city. There are a great deal of cars here, now aren’t there?”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Abbie…
Dexter has been kidnapped.
It’s like my child has been kidnapped.
I love that dog and so does Gabe. We love that boy. He trusts us. He won’t understand what’s happening. Maybe he’ll think he’s being taken back to a shelter. I tunnel my fingers through my hair and try to think about what to do. Don’t call Gabe, his father had said. Or he’ll send Dexter into moving traffic. What kind of person even says something like that?
I push to my feet and start to pace. I want to call Gabe, but he’s itching for an excuse to lash out at his father. Obviously, he has good reason, but I’m not going to lose that man to a jail cell. I’m not stupid enough to go to his father, either. Gabe isn’t an exaggerator about his father, clearly. I could call Reid, but he and Gabe together might be the worst possible thing to happen.
Dexter was named Dexter for a reason, I remind myself. Gabe has seen him show a mean side. He’ll be fine. He’ll take care of himself until I get to him. Only I’ve never seen any mean side of Dexter, and when a dog acts out, often the receiver of the dog’s anger acts out as well. Worry fills me. I have to make a decision here. Call Gabe? Call Reid? Call Cat, maybe? She knows her brothers as well as her father, but she’s pregnant. Gabe worries about her.
There’s a knock on the door and Lulu sticks her head in. “Can I—”
“Come in,” I say, motioning her forward, aware after this morning that she is well-trusted by Gabe. “Shut the door.”
Looking alarmed, she steps inside the office and shuts the door. “What’s wrong?”
“Gabe’s father. How bad is he?”
“A monster,” she says quickly. “I hate that man and I swear at times I’ve believed he wasn’t even Gabe’s true father. There’s no way his blood is of his blood. Why?” She doesn’t give me time to answer, but my face must tell a story. “Oh God. Gabe loves you so his father is attacking you.”
Gabe loves me.
We’ve teased about this idea but hearing someone else say it— “Did he tell you he loves me?
”
“He doesn’t have to tell me, silly girl. I know him. I see the way he looks at you. I feel it when he talks about you.”
Gabe loves me.
I love Gabe.
It’s too soon for such things and yet—this man is my life.
“What did he do to you?” she presses.
“How easily do you believe Gabe would go after his father at all costs?”
“Far easier than he’d admit. Why? What is happening?”
“His father kidnapped our dog to get me to come to him, to use me and Dexter against Gabe. I need to make a fast decision now. So here are the options I think I have before me—”
***
Gabe…
Reid and I end up at Walker Security looking for outside resources that protect our families, and the company’s reputation. We’re trying to deal with our father objectively and smartly. But deal we must, of this we both agree. We sit in a conference room side by side, across from Blake and his man, Savage, talking through options to leash our father once and for all.
“Sometimes,” I say, “I feel like we’re caught in a superhero movie, the same villain to fight over and over. I used to be Batman and now, I’m Superman thanks to my own Lois Lane. I can’t kill the bastard.”
“Amen to that,” Blake and Reid both say.
“Been there,” Blake says.
“Living that,” Reid adds.
“I’m not,” Savage interjects. “I’m fucking Batman on steroids. You want him dead?”
I’d laugh, but this is Savage, a former Green Beret, with a long scar down his cheek, and a crazy fucking attitude. He could well be serious. “It would be easier.”
“The world would be a better place,” Reid agrees, and we both share a look. We’re not serious about killing him, but we both believe he’s pure evil.
“Let’s talk about Superman options,” Blake says, the reason in the room.
“Jail time or shipping him off to another country,” I suggest.
“Another country is a better option,” Reid replies, “at least from our company perspective, but how do we do that and ensure he’s gone? Really gone? He can’t cause trouble.”
“The only thing he understands is threats,” I say.
“And our threats have proven less than effective,” Reid reminds me. “He keeps fucking showing up, like acid in a rainstorm.”
“Then you haven’t used the right ammunition,” Blake replies.
“And he feels no fear,” Savage adds. “Fear motivates men, even those who like to seem as if they feel no fear.”
“How do you motivate fear in those who have a high ceiling?” I ask. “That’s the real question.”
“Money,” Reid says. “He doesn’t want to be without it.”
“That’s not enough,” I say, throwing out another idea. “Prison. Real fear of prison.”
“We tried that once,” Reid counters. “We have the ammunition to put him in jail. I have proof of many of his crimes.”
“He linked you to his crimes to control us,” I remind him.
“Then it can’t come from us,” he says.
“Jean Claude,” I supply.
“We don’t want to owe Jean Claude,” Reid says. “That’s holding us prisoner as well. He’d go after our women.”
Blake’s phone rings and he glances down at the number and frowns before hitting the answer button. “Abbie?”
I stiffen, sharing a look with Reid before watching Blake’s face. “When?” he asks. “No. You did absolutely right by calling me. Don’t do anything. I’ve got this handled. More soon.” He disconnects.
“What the fuck?” I demand. “What’s handled?”
“You. She called me because she was afraid you’d go after your father.”
“I told her I was going after him. Damn it.” I scrub my jaw. “What is she thinking?”
“That your father went after you this morning.”
My eyes narrow and ice slides down my spine. “What does that mean?”
“Yes,” Reid states. “What does that mean?”
“Your father kidnapped Dexter from the dog walker and then called Abbie and told her to come get Dexter. He told her that if she told you, he’d let Dexter run free in traffic.”
I curse and stand up. “That’s fucking priceless. Fuck Superman. I’m going to kill him.” I turn to the door and Savage steps in front of me.
“Think first,” Savage says while Reid joins me.
“Move, Savage,” Reid orders.
“Both of you deep breathe and talk to me,” Blake interjects.
Reid and I whirl on him. “We need to deal with this,” I say. “Now, before my damn dog gets hurt.”
“Abbie called me for a reason, Gabe,” Blake replies, on his feet now. “She doesn’t want you to end up in jail. What’s your father’s endgame?”
Reid looks at me. “He doesn’t know we made the agreement with Jean Claude. He’s trying to get it signed.”
“And he wants his money from the real estate development deal.” My lips thin. “The same reason he had Abbie’s ex-husband killed. Damn it, I need to get to Dexter.”
“We’ll go together,” Blake says. “You and me. Just you and me.” He pats the gun at his hip. “And my weapon. If anyone takes action, it’s me and if you press that, I’ll hit you with the damn thing.”
“I’m coming,” Reid replies. “You need me. He’ll use me against Gabe and he can’t do that when I’m there.”
“Well, fuck,” Blake murmurs. “I guess we’re all going.”
I eye Savage. “Get Abbie. Take her home so when I get there with Dexter she’ll be able to see him.”
“What do you want me to tell her?”
“That she’s right. I’m not my father.”
With that, Reid and I exchange a look of understanding. We might want to hurt that bastard, but all the women in our lives, including our mother, want him saved. So we’ll save him. Unless he hurts my damn dog. Then he dies.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Gabe…
Abbie and Dexter are my world now. My father is pushing my buttons, buttons that he’s foolish to push, but I also know that he’s a master of manipulation. He wants me flustered. He wants to find those hotspots I control and he now wants to control.
Exactly why I don’t call Abbie on the way to my father’s apartment. It’s a short drive and I can’t afford to hear her fear-laden voice, not if I don’t want to do something I’ll regret.
“Do I need to point out that we have no plan?” Reid asks, sitting next to me while Blake rides up front with one of his men behind the wheel.
“Get my fucking dog back,” I say. “And tell him he’s too fucking late on the property deal for the shelter. You already made it with Jean Claude.”
“The bigger picture,” Reid reminds me. “We aren’t dealing with the bigger picture.”
“We’ll deal with it when my dog isn’t in danger.”
The SUV stops in front of my father’s building and I’m out before Blake or Reid can object. I’m at the building door by the time they appear on either side of me.
“We need to stop and talk,” Blake says. “We need a plan.”
“I’ve stated the plan already,” I reply, opening the door and entering the lobby. “Taking Dexter home.” I walk to the security desk.
“Mr. Maxwell,” the guard, a tall, lanky man in his fifties, greets. “Go on up. He said to expect you.”
“Of course he did,” I murmur while the guard nods to Reid. “Welcome, sir.”
I start walking and Reid and Blake are quick to join me. Neither of them speak. They get the point. I’m here for one reason: my dog. Anger radiates through me, but I’m calm because calm is the best way to get Dexter back and to protect my woman and my dog. It’s a practiced calm, the kind Kendall taught me. Rage and fury get you nowhere. Calculation does. I punch the elevator button and the doors open. The three of us step inside and ride in silence to my father’s floor, where
we exit, also in silence, an air of readiness between us. I wouldn’t want to be my father right now, and yet, this is what he wanted.
He wanted me.
He wanted Reid.
He also gets Blake.
This was never about Abbie. This was about the two sons who pushed him out of the business he started before he destroyed us and it, and everyone involved. He’s a criminal. It’s time to stop walking around that. It’s time to stop walking a ledge with him. One way or the other, this ends and if it’s not today, it’s tomorrow. I’m done with him. Abbie is done with him and will never even meet him. We’re almost at the door of our destination when it opens.
To my shock, a familiar man with regal features, in an expensive suit exits the room with Dexter by his side. Dexter starts to bark and launches himself forward, toward me, happy as can be. I squat to greet him, and Jean Claude releases the leash, allowing Dexter to return to me. What mind fuckery is this?
“Jean Claude,” Reid greets him while Dexter licks my face. I give him a quick ear scratch and stand up.
“Jean Claude,” I greet as well, and while I don’t know the man well, I do know he still has a throat. In other words, Dexter is a failed serial killer. We need to work on that and soon. “You’re not the person I expected to find kidnapping my dog.”
“I’m not the person you expected to save your dog,” Jean Claude counters.
“Why would you save my dog?” I ask.
“Because I’m exhausted by your father’s games that end up on my playground.” He gets right to the point. “Neal was hired by him to kill Kenneth. A stupid mistake that brought me unwanted attention. Neal is graciously taking the blow for all of us. He will not name names. I’m sparing your father for the time being because killing him would only bring me more attention, but I don’t promise to spare him forever. For now, I’ve told your father he needs to leave and leave now. If he’s smart, he’ll make sure he’s not easy to find.”
“We don’t give a fuck what happens to him,” Reid replies, pushing back and with a reason he makes clear. “This isn’t a favor for me or us. We don’t owe you a debt.”
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