by Leigh James
“So that’s why you’ve been so hard on him—trying to shame him into being a hero?”
She rolled her eyes. “Enough about Mr. Musclebound and Brooding. Let’s get back to the point: if they rescue Hannah before the closing, are we still going through with it?”
“I don’t want to sell if we don’t have to, but I can’t let myself think that far ahead. I don’t want to get my hopes up, and worrying about what’s going to happen with Paragon seems wrong because I should only be thinking about my sister.” I didn’t want to put the cart before the horse, and I didn’t want to jinx Hannah—I had to keep my eye on the more important prize.
She nodded. “I get it. This waiting thing sure sucks.”
I took a bite of bitter-tasting broccoli. “Tell me about it.”
“But if we don’t get Hannah, what happens then?”
“Then we close the deal and get her back as soon as everything’s signed. Hopefully, Levi can manage to intercept me before they put me on a plane.”
“I don’t want to deal in ‘hopefullys.’ That’s not good enough.”
“Hopefully, we won’t have to.”
“Ha-ha.” Bethany didn’t sound amused. “So, then what happens? We have you and we have Hannah, but Li Na gets Paragon? That’s the end? She just…wins?”
I shook my head. “No. Then I invent something better with my new company, and I steal the market back from her.”
Bethany held up her hand for a high five. “I like it.”
“Let’s just hope I can pull it off once this is all over.”
“You will.” Bethany sounded confident. “That’s why every single one of your employees is following you to the new company—you’ve got the goods. We all believe in you.”
I pierced some crispy tofu with my fork. “I just hope you’re right.”
“I’m always right,” Bethany reminded me, “which is why my hourly fee’s so outrageous.”
GABE
“You can take a shift watching the surveillance feed,” Ash offered. He and the rest of the guys were spread out around the stale-smelling condo. Empty coffee cups littered every available space.
“Thanks.” I jumped up, stretched, and headed for the chairs in front of the monitors. “Better than sitting here, reading emails.”
I’d been reviewing documents that Kami had sent over. She’d finalized the paperwork for the sale to Lauren. I would be excited about it if I could focus on anything other than anxiety-fueled waiting. We had to get Hannah back. Today. I couldn’t risk Lauren trying to save her sister—and we’d officially run out of time.
I sat down and checked the various video feeds set up around the house: there was nothing to see except a normal, sunny, endless day in Northern California.
And then a crack appeared at the bottom of the garage door.
And it kept getting bigger.
“Ash.” I pointed at the screen. “There’s movement—I think they’re coming out.”
Ash cursed and got on the phone, barking orders at Brian or one of the other guys who were out near the house. I kept my eyes glued to the screen. The garage door opened fully, and a white SUV backed out.
“Get a picture—but stay the hell out of his sight line!” Ash yelled into the phone.
No one in the room took a breath as we watched the car back out and drive down the street. “Are they following them?” I asked. “Are we going to intercept them?”
“We have another car down the street—they’ll pull out and tail them. But we won’t go after them, not unless Hannah’s in the car.”
The room crackled with tension.
Ash got a call. “Are you sure? Okay. Just follow him.”
He turned to us. “Only the driver’s in the car—Brian got a clean picture.” He hustled to his laptop and opened a file in Dropbox, his knee bouncing up and down as the pictures populated the screen. He opened the facial-recognition software.
I watched as he used the arrows to target the new picture. The program beeped.
“Yeah, motherfucker!” Ash jumped up and did a fist pump. “It’s the same guy—I knew it, I knew it!”
I frowned at my brother. “But you already knew it. That’s why we’re here.”
“I know—I just really enjoy being right.”
I shook my head at him, exasperated.
“Don’t act like you’re above it,” Ash said, “and remember: you owe me. I’m thinking I’d like a Porsche Spyder like yours. One with those fancy doors…”
I scoffed. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“Now you sound like Levi.”
“Don’t ever say that again.”
Ash shrugged. “If the Italian loafer fits…”
“I might break your nose next,” I said under my breath.
I called Lauren a little later. “We’ve positively identified one of the guards—he went out to get gas and go to the store. We’re one hundred percent certain this is the right place.”
She sucked in a deep breath. “Okay…so what’s next?”
“Right now, we’re watching them. Levi said that it might be easier to wait until the day of the closing to get Hannah.”
“Wait? Why would we wait—”
“Because it might be safer to get her from the car than the building. We don’t know who’s in there, or what the setup is,” I interrupted her gently. “We can intercept them on the way to San Francisco.”
She was quiet for a moment. “Okay…I guess I need to rely on your brothers’ judgment.”
“They know what they’re doing. They have a plan.”
“I want to be there. I won’t be able to stand it.”
“Let me talk to Levi about that. For now, you need to go through the motions. You need to be seen at work, getting everything ready.”
“Time’s moving too slowly.” Lauren groaned in frustration. “What about you? Are you coming home?”
“I’m going to stay here. They have a lot going on, and at least I feel like I’m doing something.”
“Must be nice,” she said.
“You’re playing the most important part—keeping Li Na on track. Have you heard anything else from her?”
“No. She’s probably getting ready to bask in the patch’s glory.”
“Just remember: this too shall pass.”
She groaned again. “Not fast enough.”
LAUREN
The next two days were excruciatingly slow. Most of the documents were finalized; we were just going back and forth on minor details. I instructed Bethany to work from home because Stephanie had convinced me to finally start packing my office. I did so listlessly, stopping every so often to examine old notes, trial results, and early sketches of the patch.
The only thing I left on my desk was Hannah’s graduation picture. It was the motivation I needed to keep going.
I didn’t accomplish enough, but I still went home early, anxious and eager for the next day. Even with a security team guarding the premises, the house seemed silent, lifeless, without Gabe and his brothers. I picked at Chinese takeout, then went to bed impossibly early. I just wanted it to be tomorrow. I just wanted Hannah.
I tossed and turned all night, then woke up at dawn, showered, and dressed in a black pantsuit. I got a text from Li Na as I finished my coffee. Looking forward to seeing you in person.
Wish I could say the same, I mentally typed back, but I kept myself from replying. I truly hoped I got the opportunity to tell Li Na to fuck off—if not today, then someday. She seriously needed to hear it.
I called Gabe. “I’m packed and ready for the closing. I’d like to come to the site now.”
“I don’t want you here.”
Tell me how you really feel. “You can protect me better if I’m in arm’s reach.”
“Nice try, but absolutely not. Timmy’s got you—I already talked to him this morning.”
“Gabe—”
He sighed, cutting me off. “Levi said we can Skype you in, but that’s al
l. No arguing, Lauren. I’m sure Li Na has you under surveillance, and the last thing we need is for you to accidentally show our hand. You need to sit tight until the closing—for Hannah’s sake.”
I simmered with absolute fury, but Gabe had played the Hannah card, and I couldn’t deny the truth of his words. “I’m not happy about this.”
“I didn’t expect you to be. But you’re safe, and that’s good enough for me. Love you.” Before I could object further, Gabe said good-bye.
I stalked around the kitchen, feeling sour. But still, a bright bubble of hope rose in my chest. We might get her back today. Maybe there was a chance.
The closing was scheduled for later that afternoon. I called Bethany as I set up my computer. “I’m working from home this morning—they won’t let me come to the site.”
“I’m sure you’re pissed, but that’s the right call.”
I rolled my eyes—of course my overprotective attorney would agree with my overprotective boyfriend. “I’ll see you this afternoon. I’ll text you on my way to the law firm—let’s go in together.”
“Is everything…on track?”
“As much as it was yesterday. Cross your fingers.”
I kept my own fingers crossed, and said several silent prayers, as Timmy joined me in the kitchen. I handed him a cup of coffee. “Gabe won’t let me go to the site.”
“Of course not, ma’am.”
I crossed my arms. “Don’t bother telling me it’s for the best.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
Timmy really deserved another raise.
I Skyped into the site in Oakland. Gabe nodded at me as he set up on his end. “I’ll try to show you what it looks like here.” He lifted his laptop and gave me a “tour” of the room, which consisted of nondescript beige walls, empty takeout containers everywhere, and security team members sprawled out on folding chairs. They were watching several different video surveillance feeds.
I peered past Gabe to Ash.
“Have you seen her?” I asked him immediately.
He shook his head. “Not yet. We’re waiting for the drivers to bring her out to drive her to San Francisco.”
I looked at the clock: we had six hours until the closing.
My head was pounding. “So what are we going to do? Will there still be shooting? How can we keep Hannah safe?”
Ash’s face softened. “There will definitely still be shooting. I’m sure Li Na’s men aren’t just going to hand your sister over. But we can get her out. I let her get away once before, and I’m so sorry.”
I shook my head, unable to speak, overcome with emotion.
“I won’t let that happen again, Lauren.”
I nodded, fighting back tears. “I believe you.”
“Let me show you what we’re doing.” Ash brought the screen over so I could clearly see the surveillance feed. “We have several drones in the area, and some other cameras positioned close to the house where she’s being held. We’re watching with everything we’ve got. We also have another team waiting in San Francisco, just in case, along with more men out in the neighborhood. We’ve got them covered.”
I watched the screens. They showed the same images of a nondescript condominium, a driveway, a roof, and a side door over and over. “Are you sure she’s in there?”
Ash nodded. “This is Li Na’s team. The FBI confirmed it from our pictures—these men are mercenaries. They often take international clients and sometimes do contract work for organized crime.”
“Okay.” If his words were meant to calm me, they didn’t. I could only think about my sister and watch for her on the screens.
“Whatever happens this morning, the other team will be waiting for you in San Francisco. Levi will be there too, to personally attend the closing with you. No matter what, you need to be in that office in San Francisco at two o’clock. We want Li Na to think everything’s on track. If we can intercept Hannah on the way to the closing, it’s incredibly important to get her back to Gabe’s right away. She needs to be someplace secure in case they decide to come after us and attack. Do you understand?”
I licked lips suddenly gone dry with fear. “Yes.”
“I’ll meet you at the law firm—if we get all the guards when they come out, Li Na might not be clued in on what’s happening. At least, not right away.”
I knew Ash probably meant “shoot” when he said “get” the guards—it made me feel dizzy.
I could hear Gabe even though I couldn’t see him. “I’m coming to San Francisco too.”
“No,” Ash and I said in unison. Ash jutted his chin at his brother. “You’re on point with the team we’ve assigned to Hannah. You’ll need to get her back to the house quickly. Let Levi and me handle the closing—let’s circle the wagons and finish this the right way. We’ll leave the rest of the crew behind to coordinate with the FBI, deal with the fallout at the scene and also with the local authorities.”
Ash turned back to me. “Do you have someone you can call to arrange medical care for Hannah at the house?”
Having allowed myself a small spark of hope, I’d already thought of that. “I just texted Gabe the name and number of the general practitioner Hannah and I both see. She promised to make a house call this afternoon, if we’re…lucky enough to need her.”
Dr. Lourdes Fisher had been our doctor since relocating to California. She was thorough, kind, and compassionate. After I filled her in on Hannah’s situation, she said she’d come prepared with an IV and antibiotics.
“Gabe.” His face appeared on the screen. “You need to get in touch with Dr. Fisher as soon as you’re on your way home—she’ll be expecting the call. I just texted you her number.”
“Got it. I’ll take care of Hannah, I promise.”
No one spoke after that. Even via Skype, I could feel the tense silence that descended upon the group. I couldn’t focus on anything but the clock and the screens. Gabe positioned his computer perfectly so I could keep monitoring the security videos. Nothing changed on the screens. No one left the building where Hannah was being kept, and no one entered. I started to pace. An hour passed.
I kept pacing. I kept watching the screens.
Every minute passed like an hour. My heart thudded as though I was struggling to finish a marathon. I wondered where Hannah was exactly, what she was doing right now, and if she was okay. I wondered if the guards had done anything to her since the botched exchange…worse than drugging her, and the bruise I’d seen on her face.
As the morning stretched on, Ash and the rest of the team continued to calmly monitor the situation, intermittently tapping out texts. Timmy stood in my kitchen, his weapon at the ready, and frequently checked the perimeter of the house. Everyone was tense, but everyone was keeping busy.
I kept busy pacing.
I took a few calls from Bethany, who’d pulled together all the final details for our meeting that afternoon. I went through a backlog of emails and cleaned out my inbox. But the phone calls and busy work weren’t enough to occupy me, so I reorganized the items in the refrigerator, and then re-arranged all of Gabe’s glassware by height.
Then I paced some more. Finally, we were getting closer to the afternoon, my anxiety ratcheting up to a fever pitch.
“We need to get out there. They’ll be leaving soon if they’re going to make it in time,” Ash suddenly announced. He looked at the screen. “Lauren, watch the clock. You need to leave for the closing shortly. Remember, the timing’s crucial.”
I nodded, my heart pounding. “Got it. Good luck.” I double-checked to make sure my bag and paperwork were ready to go.
I turned back to the screen, watching as several of the men checked their weapons. “Gabe, you’re with me,” I heard Ash say. “William, you take the team that’s out there. Tell them to get ready.”
“Got it.” I heard Gabe, but I couldn’t see him.
That stopped my pacing dead in its tracks. “Gabe? Gabe!” I shouted, until he put his face near the screen. “You’
re not going with them—”
“Babe.” Gabe’s voice was firm. “This is not your call. They need the help because they’re running more than one team, and I’m happy to do it. I’m here to help protect my family.”
The floor spun beneath my feet. “I think your family’s good. They have years of experience and automatic weapons, for Christ’s sake.”
His eyes flashed. “I meant Hannah.”
Before I could fully comprehend what he was doing—and yell at him, beg him to stay, anything—he hustled from view. That left me with only Timmy, the Skype feed of the remaining surveillance crew…and what felt like an ice pick in my heart. Gabe had just blindsided me.
Now the two people I loved most in the world were in danger. I swallowed hard, gripping the marble island. I looked over at Timmy, who was watching me warily. “We should go there. I need to make sure they’re okay.”
Timmy shook his head. “We can’t, and you know it.” He motioned for me to sit. He came to the screen and cleared his throat. “Excuse me?”
The two men in front of the surveillance feed turned around.
“Can you make sure we can see the screens? Ms. Taylor’s very worried about her sister, and Mr. Betts too.”
Nodding, they arranged the laptop so I had a perfect view of the feed. I hoped I wouldn’t see anything terrible. My head was pounding, I felt sick, and my hands were coated in a sheen of sweat. Gabe, what are you doing? Gabe wanted to save Hannah, and he wanted to prove something. I wasn’t sure if it was to me, his brothers, his father, or himself. I clenched my hands into fists.
I was going to kill him…if he ever came back to me.
I held my breath and watched the feed. Nothing appeared except for the driveway, the door, and the roof, on an endless, mind-numbing loop.
After what seemed like forever, something happened in the video feed. The garage door opened. A white SUV began backing out.
“We’ve got movement,” one of the guards said into his mouthpiece. He appeared to listen intently. “Copy that, Team A. Proceed.”
But nothing happened. The car kept backing out. Is Hannah inside? I waited, biting the inside of my cheek in order to keep from screaming. Is Gabe out there, somewhere? I watched as the car started to ease out onto the road.