by Leigh James
I had the same concerns, but I kept them to myself. “We’ll just take it one step at a time. There’s some good news—we figured out the plate number for the car they took her in.”
Lauren sat up straight. “Oh my God! Can they trace the car to where Hannah is?”
“Not yet, but at least we have somewhere to start. Ash went out this morning to start a search. We’re going to find her, Lauren, I promise. My brothers are doing everything in their power, and so am I.”
Lauren threw her arms around my neck. “I’ve been alone my whole life, and I’ve dealt with some big things, but I know for a fact I would not be able to do this without you. Thank you.”
I kissed the top of her head. “I love you, babe. And we’re going to get through this.”
Chapter 7
Lauren
Bethany and I met in my office later that morning. It felt like we were living the same day over and over again, a mind-numbing collection of hours running together, filled with despair and financial documents. I told Bethany about my conversation with Hannah.
Her face drained of all color. “They beat her up?”
I nodded and turned away, looking at my computer screen instead. “She had a bruise on her face…her shirt was ripped.”
“Oh my God.”
“But she seemed okay, as crazy as that sounds. She still has her fight—but I’m worried it’s directed the wrong way. She was giving the guards holy hell, but she needs to be saving energy to keep herself safe.”
Bethany looked thoughtful. “I don’t know. I’d rather have her feisty than petrified.”
“But not if it gets her killed. Or…anything else.” I shut that train of thought down immediately, feeling sick. I couldn’t bear to think about what could be happening to her. If I let myself imagine the possibilities, I’d end up rocking in a corner, a prime candidate for the psychiatric ward.
My phone buzzed, and I lunged for it, like I did every time it made any sort of noise now.
It was a text from Li Na.
My attorney sent me another update. With a few changes, the P&S is in good shape. Meaningful progress has been made. My guards have updated me, and I’ve instructed them not to harm your sister—*if* you do what I ask. Once you’ve finished the materials list and have an update on the IP transfer docs, I am open to arranging her release in exchange for you.
Will work on those documents today, I wrote back immediately. I want to do this as soon as possible. TELL YOUR MEN NOT TO TOUCH HER. If anything else happens to Hannah, the deal is off!
You don’t need to make proclamations—just send my attorney an update, Li Na texted back. I’ll be in touch.
My hands were shaking as I put the phone down.
“Who was that?” Bethany asked.
I went to the window and looked outside, my mind racing. “Li Na. She wants us to wrap up the materials list and send it over today. Can we do that?”
I felt Bethany staring a hole into my back, but I didn’t turn around.
“Sure. But what happens after that?”
“I’m not sure yet,” I lied. “I just know that I want this done as soon as possible. So let’s get going, okay?”
I couldn’t dwell on what was going to happen to me. I had to get my sister back at any cost…even if the cost was my own life.
I refused to think about Gabe—about how he would feel. About how I would feel if I had to say good-bye to him. If I thought about it, I would break. And there was no room for error now.
Hannah’s life depended on it.
Bethany and I spent the rest of the day getting everything together, and we had several conference calls with my intellectual property team. They were preparing my licenses for transfer, along with contracts for the few patents I’d acquired over the years.
There was so much work to do, I wasn’t sure how we were managing it. But the nineteen-hour days Bethany and I were putting in helped make a dent in the process, and my determination to move forward as swiftly as possible kept me on track.
“Babe.” Gabe’s voice brought me back to the present and the quick glass of wine we were having before bed. “You spaced out on me for a second. What’s going on?”
I swirled the red wine around, watching the trail it left on the glass. “I’m just figuring out what’s left to do.” I shivered. If I did as Li Na asked—if I went to her—there would be nothing else to figure out.
Except how to say good-bye.
I could barely stand to look at Gabe’s handsome face, which was lined with worry. I hadn’t told him about the earlier texts from Li Na. I couldn’t bear to.
We were interrupted by a text from Bethany. Petra gave prelim approval on the materials list. She made a couple of changes. I’ll send you the updates for your review. If you approve, we’ll get started on the rest of it.
I bit my lip and put the phone down. “That was Bethany. She said she’s updating this round of docs based on the other lawyer’s comments. Then she’s sending them back over to me for review.”
Gabe scrubbed his hands over his face. “This is happening so fast.”
I nodded. “Li Na told me what she wanted, and I’m giving it to her. I’m not going to put up a fight. It’s not worth it.”
“What’s next?”
I took a gulp of wine and looked out the window, searching the stars for Orion, my favorite constellation. “I have to reach out to my investors, and I need to tell the staff that we’re winding up the business. Then there’s the rest of the documentation, which will be a lot of work. But after that, Paragon will be…gone. It will be part and parcel of Jiàn Innovations, where I’m sure Li Na will promptly run it into the ground.”
“What’re you going to do about your employees?”
I winced. This part gutted me. “I’m going to give them six weeks’ severance, which is as much as I can afford. And that’s it.”
“I’ve been thinking about something.” Gabe reached for my hand. “Your people can come work at Dynamica. I’m launching some new initiatives, and I need a great team.”
I raised my eyebrows. “You suddenly need enough staff for another entire company?”
He leaned back and put his feet up on the ottoman, looking pleased with himself. “That’s what I said. Put a good word in for me. Tell them I’m a great boss and that we have a very friendly office environment—a huge game room and the best cafeteria in Silicon Valley. I have an on-site sushi chef. Employees from Facebook come to eat at my place, for Christ’s sake.”
I shook my head, feeling overwhelmed by his generosity. “Gabe. You don’t have to do this for me.”
His dimple flashed. “It’s not just for you—it’s for me. I’m going to put your people to work, and I’m going to make you the president of a new biotech R&D division at Dynamica. And then you’re going to be happy and productive, and in the office right next to mine, and I’m going to get laid on a very regular basis.” He put his arms behind his head, making his biceps pop. “Win-win, babe.”
My throat constricted as I imagined a future like that. A future that was happy, safe, and secure. A future with Gabe.
A future that might never happen.
He must’ve seen the look of despair cross my face, because he stopped smiling and sat up. “What.” He didn’t bother to make it sound like a question.
“N-nothing. I’m just processing.”
His eyes flashed. “Did you hear anything from Li Na since last night?”
I nodded, trying to compose my features. “She said the P&S was in good shape, and that she’d instructed her men not to touch Hannah. Nothing else.” The lie hung in the air between us; desperation and regret bubbled up inside me. “I think she just wants to get everything finalized.”
My phone beeped again, and I opened my messages. The revised documents were in my inbox. “Bethany just sent me the revisions. I need to work on this. She’ll probably come over.”
I didn’t wait for a response as I rushed to the safety of my comp
uter. I needed to get away from him before he started asking me more questions and I cracked. I hid in his home office and scrolled through the documents on my laptop, knowing I couldn’t hide from him much longer. Gabe was the love of my life. I owed him the truth.
I just had to find the strength to tell him, and to ask him for what only he could give me: forgiveness.
And, hopefully, his blessing.
Chapter 8
Gabe
Lauren was busy preparing for the sale, but she was also busy hiding something from me.
And I had a very good idea what it was.
So later that night, while she was wrapped up reviewing documents with Bethany, I stole her phone. This constituted a breach of trust, and I knew it. It was also a douche move.
But whatever she was hiding could potentially harm her. I had to know what it was in order to protect her. That was my job, douche move or not.
I scrolled through her messages, finding the one from Li Na almost immediately. Lauren hadn’t bothered to delete it. She was a genius, but I swear that sometimes because of that, she didn’t pay attention to the normal details of everyday life. I’d lost count of how many times she’d forgotten to eat because she was so wrapped up in her work. She was the CEO of a multibillion-dollar company, yet she couldn’t remember to delete an incriminating text message.
I imagined her train of thought: I should really delete this, but—wait! Shiny new algorithm! This one might cure cancer! Let me see if I can work the convoluted algebraic equation through my perfect, genius brain!
I would’ve laughed at the image, but I was too pissed.
I read the text again. Once you’ve finished the materials list and have an update on the IP transfer docs, I am open to arranging her release in exchange for you.
She was preparing to sacrifice herself without even discussing it with me. My blood boiling, I stalked down the hall and found her in my office, hunched over documents with Bethany.
“Lauren.”
She looked up, her eyes bleary from staring at her screen. “Huh? What’s up?”
I held up her phone. “I need to talk to you. Now.”
She opened her mouth to argue but then closed it. “I’ll be back soon,” she told Bethany.
You hope.
I hustled her into the bedroom and tossed her phone to the bed, pointing at it. “What. The. Fuck.”
“I’m guessing you read the text from Li Na.” She started pacing. “I got it earlier today. I was going to tell you. I’d already made up my mind to—”
“But you didn’t!” I ran my hands through my hair. “You hid it from me! What were you going to do? Tell me when you were on your way to fucking China?”
She whirled on me. “Stop! This is Hannah we’re talking about! What are my options? Tell Li Na: ‘Sorry, I changed my mind—go ahead and execute my sister?’”
“No! But you can’t sacrifice yourself, and you can’t lie to me, goddamn it!”
Lauren suddenly sat down on the bed, as if all the fight had left her. “I was going to tell you tonight. I swear.” She raised her eyes to meet mine—she looked hollowed out.
“How can I trust you when you kept this from me?”
“How can I trust you when you snooped through my messages?”
The muscle in my jaw popped. “You should’ve told me.”
“I didn’t want to tell you because then it would be real. And I don’t want it to be real. I don’t want any of this to be real. You think I want to lose everything?” She looked near tears. “You think I want to leave you?”
I melted a little, but I stayed on the other side of the room. “Then you have to let me help. Between the two of us and my brothers, we’ll figure out how to make this work. You’re so much safer if you let us in. If you go off on your own, you’re dead.”
I waited until she looked at me. “It’s fucking crazy, Lauren. No one wants you dead. Especially not Hannah. If you want to save her, you have to give her a reason to live!”
Lauren jumped up and started pacing again, possessed by another round of anxious energy. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve gone over it and over it, and I don’t know how I can circumvent Li Na. How I can get out of this with Hannah alive, without me having to go in her place.”
“Stop pacing.” I reached for her, dragging her to a halt. “You’re exhausted. Go wrap things up with Bethany and then tell her you’re going to bed.”
She shook her head. “I can’t stop working—”
I lowered my face to hers. “You are going to bed. With me. You need to sleep and get your head on straight. No wonder you can’t figure out what to do with Li Na—she’s got you exhausted and running in circles. Bethany can finish the paperwork.”
I ushered her out. “If you’re not back in five minutes, I’m coming for you.”
I would pick her up and throw her over my shoulder if I had to. Lauren and I needed to work a few things out. Between her and my brothers and everything spiraling out of control, I was about to lose it.
But amid all the craziness, it was still her and me. If we didn’t make sense, nothing made sense.
I’d calmed down and was ready for her when she came back, ten minutes later.
“You’re late.” I handed her another glass of wine. “And you look like you need that.”
She took a sip, sighing. “You’re right about that last part, at least.”
“I’m going to show you exactly how right I am.” I could feel myself getting hard. “I’m going to take a shower. Once you’ve relaxed a little with your wine, take off your clothes. When I get back, I want you ready for me. Naked. On the bed, with your legs open and your mouth closed.”
“Seriously? Right now?”
I glared at her. “I don’t think there’s a better time for us to work this shit out. Time is of the essence. You’re going to start listening to me—once and for all. Now, do what I say. Clothes off. On the bed. Legs open and most importantly—mouth closed.”
“You can’t always boss me around.” She sounded defiant, but her eyes glittered.
“The hell I can’t!”
She crossed her arms. “If I do it, it’s only because I’m trying to forget what’s happening for a little while—not because you’re my boss or because I approve of you going through my messages. You’re not, and I don’t. Are we clear?”
“Duly noted, Your Highness.” I stalked off to take a shower. Now I was rock hard, my body yearning to get inside Lauren and leave a deep mark. She made me crazy. I knew how upset she was, but she had to understand—she couldn’t hide things from me, and she sure as hell couldn’t run off to Shenzhen to sacrifice herself.
Did she really think I’d let her hop on a plane so Li Na could keep her prisoner—or worse?
“You can’t always boss me around.”
My cock throbbed. It couldn’t wait to show her who the boss was.
In a rare act of obedience, she was waiting for me when I got out of the shower. Lying on the bed, naked and spread-eagle. All I could see was smooth, ivory skin, long blonde hair spread out on the pillow, luscious breasts, erect dusky pink nipples, and her sex open, pure and perfect pink, glistening with moisture.
“At least you finally listened to me.”
She gave me a dirty look, but then her gaze drifted down to my dick, as if she couldn’t help herself. I started fisting myself, watching her watch me. She arched her back a little, a sure sign that she wanted me.
Well. She was going to have to wait.
Her fingers trailed down her skin, caressing her breasts, pinching her nipples, until they drifted down to her sex. She started stroking herself, moaning.
“Lauren. Stop.”
She shot me a filthy look. “You’re touching yourself. I figured it’s fair game.”
“Take your hand away,” I ordered. “You’re being punished. You’re going to do exactly what I say if you want to even get close to having an orgasm tonight.”
Lauren looked fired up—sh
e opened her mouth to say something, but then she snapped it shut, taking her hand off her clit. She looked like she was muttering and cursing silently, but she didn’t make a sound. She must have felt guilty, and she must’ve wanted that orgasm. I intended to press my advantage as hard as I could, until I was satisfied that she’d learned her lesson. Which, admittedly, was going to take more than one night.
Good thing I was in this for the long haul. Knowing her, this could take a lifetime.
I went to the bed and spread her legs apart a little farther. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
She gave me a haughty look, but as soon as I put my face between her legs, kissing and nipping her inner thighs before licking her slit from bottom to top, she shuddered beneath me. I put two fingers inside her, and she clenched around them as I stroked her inside. Then I flicked her clit with my tongue, slowly, languidly, lapping at her delicious body as I fucked her with my fingers.
She didn’t say a word. But I could hear her breathing turn ragged. She was getting close, her body coiled and tense. I clamped my mouth over her clit and sucked hard until she grabbed the top of my head and unselfconsciously ground herself against my face.
But I pulled back before she could come.
“What? No!” she wailed, grabbing my face and trying to lure me back. “So close…baby…please…”
“You like that?”
“I think you can tell I liked it.” She was still breathing in shuddery gasps. “I want more.”
“So let me be in charge. Do as I say. For once.” I leaned back and started fisting myself again. I was so turned on, my erection huge and throbbing.
Lauren licked her lips. “Can I do that for you?”
I watched her get onto all fours and come toward me. She tentatively took the head of my cock into her mouth and sighed with pleasure, as if she couldn’t wait to suck me.
My body vibrated with desire. “You like the way I taste?”
She answered by opening her throat and taking me all the way in. Fuck. She wrapped her fingers around my shaft and stroked me, her mouth chasing her fingers. The combination of sensations, and the way she kept running her tongue over my sensitive tip, almost made me lose it right there. But I opened my eyes long enough to see that she was grinding herself against the sheets, probably close to having a forbidden orgasm as she went down on me.