by Dale Mayer
“Oh, now that’s interesting. So your brother goes from nine to fifteen, and then each of the sons end up with thirty.”
“Something like that, yes. Why is that interesting? They have to work together to make the company still work.”
“And, for that reason, I’m wondering if somebody in there hasn’t thrown in his shares with somebody else.”
Gerard stared at him in shock. “The only way any of that’ll happen is if I’m not here to keep control, so the question is moot.”
“Well, not if somebody decides to take you and your daughter out, either together, separately, as an accident or a brazen attempt at ownership of the company.”
Gerard sank back into his big chair and studied him. “I face death almost weekly,” he said. “There was no reason to take my daughter this time instead.”
“For the ransom. Except, now that they didn’t succeed, their plan A is a wash. Did you, by the way, take the money to the drop as planned?”
He shrugged and nodded. “But nobody picked it up.”
“I’m not surprised,” he said. “Did you actually take the twenty-five million?”
He shook his head. “I took some, like one hundred thousand, but the rest was fake.”
“And so the kidnapper could have known it was fake and didn’t show up for that reason?”
“I don’t like what you’re thinking,” he said, “but you can bet only a select few knew anything about this. I don’t know how many agents of the MI6 department would have known, but I highly doubt too many people did.”
“Did your sons know?”
He nodded.
“Your brother?”
He nodded.
“Your wife?”
“Of course my wife, for God’s sake. It’s her daughter.”
“So, all of the same intimate family members knew that you were lying to and cheating the kidnapper even at this point.”
“I don’t lie and cheat at any point,” he said. “We knew it was a bluff, but I didn’t want to take the chance.”
“So there was no sign of anybody at any point in time coming to pick up the money?”
“Not that we could tell, no. MI6 ran the cameras all around the area. Nobody came before, and nobody came twenty-four hours afterward.”
“Good to know,” Griffin said. He turned to look at Jax. “That proves our theory, doesn’t it?”
Jax nodded slowly. “It does. It’s clearly an inside job.”
Chapter 11
The girls could hear Gerard’s roar from the bottom of the stairwell where they were still lugging their luggage up to the first landing—something Lorelei encouraged so that Amelia Rose learned to be self-sufficient, not relying on staff to help her at all times. Lorelei stopped, looked at Amelia Rose, and whispered, “Oh, that didn’t go well.”
Amelia Rose shook her head. “He doesn’t like whatever they’re telling him.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” she said. She quickly grabbed Amelia Rose’s bags. “Come on. Let’s go upstairs. We don’t want to be caught out here if they leave the office.”
Amelia Rose raced ahead of Lorelei while she struggled with all the luggage. Now she knew how Jax and Griffin felt. She’d let them carry everything, but now it was up to her. Finally upstairs, she took the two pieces of luggage that were her bags to her room and then carried Amelia Rose’s luggage to hers. They quickly unpacked, tossing into the laundry cart what needed to be washed and putting away their luggage.
“Let’s go put on laundry too.” It was something that Lorelei often did, which was especially convenient with a laundry room on the same floor, even though the housekeepers came in and changed the bedding. Amelia Rose’s mother used to come in and criticize the quality of their clothing and whether it was time for them to be tossed rather than be washed. But, not giving anybody a chance to tell her otherwise, Lorelei quickly put Amelia Rose’s clothes into the washer and started it. She’d like to do the same for hers but that would have to be the mixed load.
She still heard loud voices downstairs. She wondered if she should find out what the heck was going on. Amelia Rose looked nervous, chewing on her bottom lip, as she stared down the hall toward the stairway.
“I wonder where your mother is?” Lorelei asked suddenly. “I’m sure she’s waiting to hear news of your arrival.”
Amelia Rose turned, looked up at her. “I’ll call her.” Lorelei held out her phone, and Amelia Rose called her mother. But it simply rang and rang and rang.
Seeing the despondent sag to the little girl’s shoulders, Lorelei reached out and hugged her. “You know what? She’s probably out riding.”
At that, Amelia Rose nodded. “That’s where she’ll be. Or maybe in the barn.” She brightened. “We should go to the barn and surprise her.”
Knowing how that was definitely not a good idea—Wendy was carrying on an affair with one of the trainers—Lorelei shook her head and said, “You wouldn’t like to surprise her if she’s napping, would you?”
“She wouldn’t be napping in the barn,” Amelia Rose said. “I’m not a child anymore. Unfortunately I’ve seen way too much of the world already. What you’re saying is, she’s probably having sex with one of the stable hands, aren’t you?” There was such disdain in her voice that Lorelei had to laugh. It was also typical of Amelia Rose to be so blunt when she wanted to be.
“Well, she certainly might be,” she said. “Either way, we won’t disturb her.”
Amelia Rose nodded and then said, “But I still want to know what they’re yelling about downstairs.”
“I do too,” Lorelei said. “It has to do with our kidnapping.”
“Then we have every right to find out,” Amelia Rose protested. And, precocious as always, she raced ahead of Lorelei and slipped into one of the hallways that led to a second staircase. It would take them around behind Gerard’s office. Lorelei, not wanting her charge to go off on her own, followed her. She tried calling her, but her voice carried too loudly. Instead, she picked up her feet and ran behind her.
When she finally caught up to her charge, she crept down the stairs on the far side of the office, looking for the bolt-holes they both knew were here. As soon as Amelia Rose found one, she gasped, her face plastered against the wall, spying through the small hole. Immediately Lorelei stepped up to one of the higher ones and looked in. Amelia Rose’s father still ranted and raved, stomping about the office like a madman, yelling at the two men both sitting relaxed in the chairs, half looking at each other and half ignoring the tirade enacted out all around them.
Finally Gerard came to a stop, wiped his mouth, then ran his fingers through his hair. “You’re wrong,” he stated firmly. “I know you are wrong.” His voice kept rising on every word. “I refuse to listen to any more of this wild talk against my family,” he roared.
Lorelei wasn’t sure Jax and Griffin were ever wrong in their world. She was pretty darn sure that they knew exactly what they were doing at all times. It was a little disconcerting actually. Not to mention the fact that they seemed to know so much about everyone. Of course, she hadn’t helped when she had deliberately given out more names of staff and visitors in the household too.
But, if it came to keeping Amelia Rose safe, Lorelei would do anything she could. Not that the people on her list would appreciate it. It seemed like nobody ever did. Still, that wasn’t her problem. She was bound and determined to keep Amelia Rose as safe as she could. She watched Gerard walk around, sit down at his desk, and bury his face in his hands.
He finally lifted his face and said, “You’re wrong. You need to go over your so-called evidence again.”
Griffin shook his head, launched to his feet, and said, “No, we’re not wrong, but you don’t want anything to do with our intel? That’s fine. But it’s up to you then to keep your daughter and her tutor safe. And to watch your own back.”
“Of course I’ll keep them safe,” he said in exasperation.
“And how do you expect to do tha
t?” Jax asked, standing at a slower rate. “When it’s quite likely the threats are coming from within your own family.”
“Says you,” Gerard said, glaring at both of them. “I thank you for bringing my daughter and Lorelei back home again. But I want you to leave now.”
Griffin nodded. “No problem.” And he turned and marched from the office.
Amelia Rose gasped and said, “We have to stop them.”
Lorelei admitted she didn’t want them to leave either, but it was beyond her control. She did, however, want to say goodbye to them.
Amelia Rose raced away and slipped through one of the bookshelves on the library side and ran toward the front door. As she got there, the men walked through the front entrance. One of the manservants closed it behind them. Amelia Rose raced to the front door, but the manservant stepped in front. She screamed, “Get out of the way. I have to say goodbye.”
He lifted his head and looked down the hallway, watching Lorelei coming up behind her. Lorelei saw Gerard also coming down the hallway, giving a clipped nod. The manservant stepped aside and opened the front door.
Amelia Rose launched herself outside, Lorelei following her very quickly. Jax picked up Amelia Rose and hugged her carefully. Then Amelia Rose threw herself at Griffin. She shook her head and said, “Poppy shouldn’t be so mean to you.”
Both men chuckled, and Jax said, “Don’t you worry about it, pumpkin. We’re fine.”
“But we might not be,” Amelia Rose cried out. “I don’t trust anyone here.”
Griffin crouched in front of her. Even though she was eleven, he understood full well that she needed some reassurance. He grabbed both her hands and said, “You can always call us if you run into trouble.”
“And how will we do that? You didn’t give us your numbers.”
Lorelei joined them, coming up behind her charge. She reached out a hand and shook Jax’s and said formally, “Thank you so much.” And then she reached out to Griffin, but he glared at her and said, “Don’t you dare.” And the look in his eyes glinted with determination. She let her hand drop, gave him a smile, and said, “It’s awkward now.”
“Not awkward at all,” he said, and he snagged her chin, tilted it up, and kissed her hard. Shaken more by the emotions rolling inside her and the sense of loss already forming, she just stared at him when he pulled away.
“We don’t have your numbers,” Amelia Rose called out again.
Griffin reached inside his wallet, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to Lorelei. “Put that number into your phone, and have Amelia Rose memorize my number as well,” he said. “Call that number and ask for me anytime you need to. Or rather, just say you’re in trouble, and I’ll come.”
“But what if they move us somewhere else?” Amelia Rose asked, determined to not be reassured that he wouldn’t break contact.
“I’ll find you,” he said, gently stroking her arm where her chip was. The arm band had already been removed. “Just like I did last time.” Then he raised his gaze to look at Lorelei and whispered, “I promise.”
She clutched the paper in her hand and turned to look up at Jax. She wanted to say something but didn’t know what, and her shoulders fell helplessly as she struggled to control her emotions while her tears threatened. He gently stroked her cheek. “Look after her.”
She nodded. “Look after yourselves.” And she watched, already groaning, as they both walked away.
Amelia Rose had no intention of staying calm or quiet about it. She turned and raced back inside, yelling at her father, “You can’t let them leave.”
“Hush now, Amelia Rose,” he said, his voice stern, but his arms going around her in a hug. “You don’t know what’s going on.”
She pulled out of his arms and glared up at him. “I know more than you think. Yes, I’m still a child, but I’m not that much of a child any longer,” she said bitterly. “They rescued us, and they kept us safe all this time. They know what’s going on.”
“But you don’t,” he reiterated. “Now, isn’t it time for you to have a nap?”
Lorelei sighed quietly. It was such a typical thing for Gerard to say. He had absolutely no idea how to deal with his daughter.
“I doubt I’ll ever sleep again, particularly in this house,” Amelia Rose yelled as she stormed up the stairs. However, she stopped at the first landing and yelled again. “Poppy, it’s you who doesn’t understand. I think people might be mad about me getting thirty-five percent of the company.”
Lorelei gasped and stopped abruptly. Oh, my God. This changes everything. Once again Lorelei followed her charge, as was her job. I need to tell Griffin … Yet she would be abruptly ending her assignment as Amelia Rose’s tutor if she did that. She couldn’t abandon Amelia Rose now. Her emotions were all stirred up from being kidnapped. And she hadn’t even reached puberty yet, when an avalanche of emotions would truly hit her. Lorelei couldn’t imagine how things would be when Amelia Rose hit that age. She was already a bundle of nerves now and would need lots of support to get her through this event.
Even if I tell Gerard first, … he will send me away, just like he did Griffin and Jax.
As Lorelei reached the first landing, Gerard called to her, “Lorelei, I’d like a few moments in the office with you, please.”
She hesitated. She had to do what she must to save Amelia Rose. Even if it meant giving up her own relationship with the precious girl. Lorelei swallowed her tears, turned, and then nodded. “Right now?”
He nodded, but it was a crisp and clean nod. A determined nod.
And her heart sank. But her spine became steel as she stood up taller. She slowly walked back down the stairs, feeling a sudden sense of doom as she followed him into his office. Instinctively she took Griffin’s spot in his chair and asked, “What can I help you with?”
“Was my daughter touched in any way?” he asked bleakly.
She shook her head. “No, she wasn’t.” She could see the relief wash over his features.
He nodded again. “I’m really glad to hear that. Is there any chance she might have been, and you didn’t know?”
She shook her head. “I’ve been with her all the time. We were never separated. She was always in my sight. However, she has changed and is very emotional after having Nurse killed in front of her. That event alone will be a trauma she’ll struggle with,” she said bluntly. “You cannot mitigate all the damage done to her psyche from that event alone.”
“Poor Mary. She was the most loving woman.” Gerard sank back into his chair. “I wish Amelia Rose hadn’t seen that. Who would traumatize a child like that?”
“I wish she had never seen that too,” she said. “Hell, I wish I hadn’t seen it.”
“Nurse suffered at the end, didn’t she?”
“Yes,” Lorelei said, wincing and shoving her own memories back down again, “she did. There’s no easy way to say it. She was terrified. She’d been held until we were returned to the room, and, at that point in time, she was used as a lesson to make us comply with their wishes.” She didn’t explain how Nurse had urged them to leave, going separate ways, when the chance had presented itself. Even though Lorelei had argued, Nurse had been adamant. She wouldn’t be able to keep up, and the two girls could return and rescue her. Instead, none of the women had gotten away, and Nurse had paid the ultimate price.
“Did they beat her up?”
She didn’t know why he wanted to torment himself with the details, but a lot of people needed to know everything before they had enough closure to walk away. “They certainly hit her a couple times, but I don’t think they did much more than tie her up and maybe threaten her beforehand. However, when we walked in, they proceeded to hit her several times,” she said bleakly. “I tried to stop them, and they hit me too. And then I tried to stop Amelia Rose from going to Nurse. That I did manage, but not before they threatened to hurt your daughter as well. And then they said, as a punishment for us escaping, and to make sure we didn’t do it again, they had
to kill Nurse.”
Gerard sat there, his jaw working for a long moment; then he said, “Thank you.”
“I wish I could have saved her,” she said. “They knew exactly who she was and her relationship to Amelia Rose. She was targeted. We all were but Nurse particularly.”
At that, he looked at her in surprise. “Do you really think so?”
She nodded. “I do.”
“Do you think this whole thing was about Nurse and not about Amelia Rose?”
“I hadn’t considered it from that viewpoint.” She tilted her head to one side. “I think that the end result was always supposed to be that Nurse died,” she said, slowly formulating her thoughts. “I think that Amelia Rose was also supposed to remain as a captive. For blackmail first, then as leverage for you to do something that the kidnappers wanted.”
“And yet, the ransom note was for just money.”
“But they didn’t pick it up, did they?”
He sat back and studied her. “Did you talk to the two men about this?”
“There wasn’t anything else to talk about,” she said wearily. “They asked question upon question. And yet, almost everything they said made sense to me too.”
“You surely can’t think that Amelia Rose’s brothers or uncle or mother are involved in this, do you?”
“Nurse’s death was personal,” she said. “I can’t imagine that anybody would have just killed her to teach us a lesson. Obviously I don’t understand people like this at all, so maybe that’s normal behavior among evil men, but they did not at any time hurt Amelia Rose.”
“Was this marriage stuff just all bullshit then?” he asked, worried.
She could see that still the sexual abuse aspect bothered him.
“Likely,” she said, “just more emotional torture to overpower you. To traumatize you more.”
“Maybe,” he said, “but nobody’s tried to shift anything within the company. The stocks are down slightly but not crashing. There hasn’t been an aggressive buyout or any takeover maneuver. Nothing on a business level.”