Retaliation

by Anise Storm

  “Sure as hell looked that way to me. The media has been all—”

  “You should know better than me how much the media likes to exaggerate things. Brenda is a lovely woman, but not the one I want.”

  “And who is that woman?” he asked, even though he knew the answer. If he was right, Thaddeus was here to try to reclaim Hannah for his own. Finley couldn’t allow him to do that.

  “The same one you’re here to see, Wetherall. You and I both know you’re only in Chicago for Hannah,” he replied.

  “You’ve hurt her twice, Remington. Two fucking times she has run back to me in tears. Are you going for the trifecta this time?” Finley asked. Before he could anticipate what Thaddeus would say or do, the other man jumped to his feet and lunged at him.

  Thankful for the chance to expel some of his pent-up frustrations, Finley relished the opportunity to fight with him once again. He brought his fist forward to smash into Thaddeus’ jaw. He was about to land another but pain exploded across his cheekbone.

  “You’re going to pay for that,” he warned, then landed another blow of his own. This time he heard the crunch after he connected his knuckles with Thaddeus’ jaw. He quirked his lip in a feral grin, and it didn’t go unnoticed, because Thaddeus damn near knocked the smirk right off, punching him in the mouth.

  Finley’s blood seeped from his bottom lip. He staggered backward, landing on the chair, then braced himself as the chair moved with him. Before his back could hit the ground, he snaked his leg out and managed to trip Thaddeus.

  With the tables turned, he lunged at Thaddeus, joining him on the ground, finally wrapping his hands around Remington’s throat. Finley had dreamed about ridding the world and himself of the bastard, and he tightened his hands.

  Ever the worthy adversary, Thaddeus caught him by surprise, kneeing him hard. Pain shot through Finley, and he inwardly cursed the asshole for using such a schoolyard tactic. It might have been juvenile, but it was certainly effective. He loosened his grip, allowing Thaddeus to push Finley off.

  “I ought to kill you right here, Wetherall, but you’re not worth it,” Thaddeus said, getting up and rubbing his swollen jaw.

  Finley scrambled to his feet and had to admit Thaddeus was right. “And neither are you. If I kill you, then I’d end up in jail and Hannah would be in even more danger.” The man didn’t even blink at the mention of their former submissive being in trouble. That only confirmed to him Thaddeus had the information, also. “So what are you going to do about it?”

  A stone-cold gaze turned toward him but Finley didn’t flinch. Nothing Thaddeus could ever say or do would ever faze him, unless… He erased the thought from his mind and waited for the other man to answer him.

  “What I fucking should have done weeks ago, which is to tie her to my bed and make her listen to me.”

  Finley growled again, not even wanting to entertain the thought of his girl in the other man’s bed. “She’s very stubborn, you know. I doubt it would be that easy for you. Hell, I doubt it would be for me, either.”

  “You’re right,” Thaddeus said while he took a seat again. “I hate to even speak those words. Maybe where Hannah is concerned, I have to at least consider what you say.”

  Finley took a seat beside him and he understood how hard that had been for Thaddeus to say. His rival had affected Hannah deeply. Their entire second chance had been haunted by ghosts of the man seated beside him. Thaddeus was the reason she could never give herself completely to him, and he was also the reason she’d been so torn after she’d come back from New York City.

  “She thought about you a lot,” he shared, even though he was unsure why.

  Thaddeus sighed deeply. “I hurt her and, for that, I’m very sorry. I’d hoped to be able to explain to her what happened, but it took me a while to realize what it was I felt for her. When I did, she was already on her way out of my life. Nothing I said could convince her to stay.” Thaddeus stopped as if he were remembering what had transpired between them before he continued. “I followed her but lost all trace of her once she got off the plane.”

  “I was waiting there for her and I took her home. We were building something, God damn it, then the fucking job at Tucker International blew it all to hell.”

  “I’m surprised she didn’t go to work for you at Wetherall Communications. I would have—”

  “I tried, man. I tried to get her to accept a position there, but she is so independent and had to find her own way. Don’t think it didn’t piss me off. I couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t want to work with me, but now, knowing what the hell she’d just left, I can see why.”

  “What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Wetherall?” he asked.

  “Just that she’d already slept with one boss and didn’t want to do the same with another. I guess I can respect it, even if I don’t like it. For what it’s worth, I would have never made her question my feelings for her like you did.”

  Thaddeus chuckled sarcastically. “But you did. That night in the pub, we both did. We automatically assumed she was guilty and had convicted her without even hearing her side. I’m not saying she is completely innocent, but I no longer think she purposely tried to sabotage Remington Industries. I just wish I could figure out what the missing link is, because there has to be one.”

  Finley nodded. Every point Remington had just made was right. “Women,” he said, “are so fucking complicated at times. I have to admit you make a valid point. The million-dollar question now is what we’re going to do about it.”

  “I have some people looking into a few things for me. I’m sure by now you’re in Chicago because you’ve also heard about the danger she is in. My next question is what the fuck you’re planning.”

  “I’m going to save her, like I’ve had to do before, and this time I’m going to tell her how I really feel. I’m not leaving Chicago without her.”

  “And neither am I. I guess we’re at an impasse. You’ve had two chances with her,” he started to argue, “and it’s time for me to get that additional shot of my own.”

  “I won’t stand idly by, Remington. I say we let her choose.” He was about to continue but the sound of the door opening got his attention. “Thank fuck.”

  “You can say that again,” Thaddeus responded, already up on his feet. The two walked toward the door the bellhop held open. Remington then turned around, leveling Finley with a glance. “Let’s go get a fucking drink and decide how we’re going to first protect, then approach, Hannah.”

  He gave a curt nod and the two went downstairs, ignoring the bellman’s odd look, no doubt at their appearance. Who in a million years would’ve ever predicted the two rivals would be able to even share a drink without the other trying to slip poison into the glass? Maybe more than Chicago had frozen over. They walked down the hallway, and Finley was finally convinced he’d entered the twilight zone.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  It was almost ten o’ clock at night, and Hannah had finished proofreading the latest proposal. She hated working this late, but between the constant barrage of investigators and the arrival of her UK-based bosses, she had fallen behind on her work. Finally able to shut down her computer, she put her coat on then grabbed her cell phone and purse.

  She’d opted to just walk versus waiting for a cab. She regretted that decision as she stepped onto the sidewalk. The gusts of wind coming off Lake Michigan had increased from earlier in the day when she’d stepped away from the office to get everyone their lunch. Hannah pulled her coat tighter to her and wished she had remembered to grab a scarf.

  Thankfully, her apartment was just a few blocks away. Deciding not to dwell on the distance, she kept her head down and walked briskly toward home. Only a few people were on the sidewalks. Most had enough common sense not to be traipsing around the city at night, alone, in the middle of winter. Only you, Hannah.

  She finally cleared the first block and was just a few minutes away from home when she heard something. She stopped in her trac
ks, then spun around. Hannah could have sworn she’d heard footsteps crunching in the snow. Maybe she was just being paranoid. Sure that was all it was, she started walking once more.

  Then she heard it again. Stopping, she looked back and saw what looked to be a shadow escaping into an alley. “Damn it,” she cursed. “I’m not in the mood for this shit.”

  Resuming her walk, she picked up the pace and again heard the crunching sound. This time, Hannah didn’t turn. She could see her building ahead in the distance. She only had one more cross street to go. Just then, a gloved hand snaked around, covering her mouth.

  Panic welled up inside her. She tried to struggle while the perpetrator dragged her into a nearby alley. Flailing her arms and legs, she hoped to catch whoever this was off-guard so she could make an escape. Why didn’t I just call a cab?

  “Be still, bitch,” a voice said, and suddenly she felt something cold and sharp against her throat.

  Hannah understood in that moment it was a knife and she was in serious trouble. Was this how it was going to end for her? Was she going to die before ever getting the chance to clear her name?

  Tears welled up, and, like the girl she was, she started to sob. “P-Please, take my purse or whatever you want. Just don’t hurt me.”

  The knife dug a little farther into her neck, and if it went any deeper, she might not survive. Already she could smell the coppery scent of her blood and feel it dripping down her neck.

  “Maybe I should get a piece before I kill you,” snarled the stranger behind her. It was obvious now this wasn’t some random assault.

  Hannah was confused. She kept to herself and never bothered anyone. Who would want to hurt her? Events from the last few weeks played over and over in her head. Was the one responsible for her legal troubles inside Tucker International responsible? If they were, it was unnecessary, because she was merely biding time before the feds arrested her since she hadn’t uncovered anything to prove her innocence. Surely the culprit would know that.

  Another thought crossed her mind, and she was certain it was correct. Someone must have known she’d recently started snooping around in an attempt to clear her name. If she was successful, it would ruin the whole set-up. Hannah realized she had to be getting closer to the truth, and she vowed to continue digging until she found the evidence pointing to someone else, assuming she made it out of this alive.

  More resolute than ever, Hannah tried to think. One large male hand was groping her while the other one held the knife firmly against her throat. Her mind was racing with thoughts, many of no help to her in this scenario.

  It was after she remembered the self-defense class all the girls at Prince of Peace were required to take, that she had a plan. Squirming just enough to catch him off-guard, she quickly brought her heel up, hoping the end of it hit its mark.

  “You fucking bitch,” he roared between grunts, and she kicked him a second time, even though the knife nicked her again. She landed the third strike, he howled in pain and she was finally able to break free.

  Her shirt was rapidly becoming soaked with blood and, despite her increasing dizziness, she managed to stumble out of the alley before crumpling to the ground. Voices…sirens….and even what sounded like a gunshot were the last things she heard clearly.

  Hannah tried to remain conscious but seemed to be fighting a losing battle. Her body was turned over and she willed herself to fight, until a friendly face came into view. Surely she was close to the end.

  She was growing much weaker and more confused by the second. The flashing lights as they pulled up to the curb had her blinking rapidly. A slew of male voices, some raised, assaulted her hearing and, hoping help was here at last, she gave in to the darkness and slipped into unconsciousness.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  The waiting was the hardest and Thaddeus couldn’t help but pace back and forth. Finley seemed to have the same idea, occupying the other end of the room. It had been a stroke of luck they’d gotten a call on her whereabouts. Thankfully, one of the investigators had been following her and had been able to alert the police, then them.

  “What the fuck was she doing walking home alone at that time of night?” he asked no one in particular.

  He was still in disbelief Hannah would ever do anything so irresponsible. She needed her ass spanked over it, for sure. That was, if she actually made it through this. He let out a low growl. Of course, she would survive. There was no other option.

  Finally, tired of wearing a hole in the floor, he took a seat and scrubbed his hands down his face. What a night this had ended up being. First, he’d gotten stuck outside with Finley Wetherall, of all people, then he had been told his girl had been viciously attacked. Now he’d been here at the University of Chicago Medical Center for what seemed like hours, waiting for news of Hannah’s condition and explaining to both law enforcement and medical personnel that his injuries and disheveled appearance weren’t related to the incident and didn’t need anyone’s attention. The police seemed to think the attack on Hannah was a random ‘wrong place, wrong time’ incident, but Thaddeus knew better. This had to do with the current investigation and someone who wanted to silence her for good. If only he could figure out what the missing piece was.

  “I don’t understand why no one will tell us what the fuck is going on or even let us see her,” Finley complained as he took a seat beside Thaddeus.

  Leave it to something like this to happen in order for us to learn to coexist. “I don’t fucking know, either, but if we don’t get some sort of update soon, heads are going to roll,” Thaddeus replied. He stole a look at Finley, who felt the same, if not worse than he did, judging by facial expressions.

  Knowing she had been involved in a dangerous attack lit something within him, and this time neither he nor Finley had been there to save her from getting hurt.

  When Thaddeus really thought about it, deep down he was certain the charges Remington Industries and Wetherall Communications had brought forth against Tucker International were contributing factors to this whole ordeal.

  He had been so consumed with rage over knowing where Hannah had been—then later with whom, while he’d been chasing her across an ocean—he’d allowed the pain to drive him to accuse her without giving her a chance to explain. Perhaps he thought that by hurting her, it would ease some of his own misery. It hadn’t, and now, because of those actions, he might have lost the only thing outside of his company that really mattered to him. “I hope we’re not too late,” he muttered.

  “Don’t even think it,” Finley warned.

  Thaddeus turned his head toward the man and nodded.

  It was hard not to focus on the doomsday scenario. It had been a long time since she’d been brought in by ambulance, and he didn’t even know if she had yet regained consciousness. All of his money and power did very little here. There was no amount of money he could throw at the doctors to alter the outcome. Here Hannah was simply another patient, but for him, and maybe even Finley, she was their world.

  Unable to be still any longer, he stood abruptly then began to pace once again. A few times he looked down to check his watch, swearing at the fact time seemed to be standing still.

  If only he’d have let his suspicions go—the ones fueled by wounded male pride—then none of them would be here right now. Thaddeus wished he could turn back the pages and just erase the last few months. Since it wasn’t possible, he’d have to figure out who would do this to Hannah. The ‘why’ was obvious to him, but the ‘who’ was not. The perpetrator wasn’t any help at the moment, choosing to remain tight-lipped about who’d hired him. He’d been hauled off to jail so he was no longer a threat, but his girl wasn’t safe from the mastermind.

  “I’ve made a few inquiries, Remington. I’m hoping to find a money trail that will lead us to whoever arranged this,” Finley told him.

  “Yeah, I’ve made a few myself. Hopefully we’ll both hear something back soon, and we can compare the information,” he responded.

/>   Just then, the doctor came into the waiting room and both men straightened immediately. Having to force himself to remain calm, regardless of what he was told, he and Finley walked toward him.

  “Mr. Wetherall. Mr. Remington,” the man, whose name tag identified him as J. Morris MD, began. “I have news on Miss Brinkley. Her family gave permission for me to share it with you.”

  “And?” Finley demanded.

  Thaddeus echoed his sentiment but stayed quiet.

  “She’s resting right now, but we expect her to make a full recovery. She—”

  “Thank fuck,” Thaddeus said. Realizing he’d cut the doctor off, he got quiet again so he could finish.

  “Surprisingly, the knife didn’t puncture her vocal cords or esophagus, and it didn’t damage any veins, either. After the bleeding was stopped, we realized the wounds were superficial only,” he explained, and all Thaddeus could do was silently thank the heavens above. “We’ve managed to stitch her up. She’s come out of sedation and is being moved into a room.”

  “So she can leave later today?” Finley asked.

  “Yes, if there are no complications she should be able to be discharged later this afternoon. Do you have any further questions?” he asked.

  “Can we see her?” Thaddeus asked. A huge weight had been lifted off him at hearing her prognosis, and now he had to lay eyes on her before his brain could fully wrap itself around the fact she was going to survive.

  “You can both see her now. Follow me. The nurse should have her settled in.”

  Thaddeus and Finley exchanged a look then followed the doctor down the hallway to the floor where Hannah was. Odds were she would be upset after she awoke to find them in her room, and he couldn’t blame her. After all, they had accused her of egregious things that had sent her fleeing for her freedom and now she was fighting for her life.

  It was as if Finley guessed his train of thought because he leaned in. “Everything we’ve been through before is in the past. We all just need to work together now to finish this.”