Jillian’s stomach dropped. “When did you talk to Lex? What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. He was cut short before he could explain.” He took her arm and led her away from the others. “I’m supposed to take you somewhere safe until we hear from him.”
“What do you mean he was cut short? When? Do you have his number? Can I talk to him? I lost my phone and can’t call…” Her voice shook to a stop. “Where is he?”
“We’ll find out once we get to the island.”
But something in his eyes sent off an alarm in her head. “What are you not telling me?”
His narrowed eyes swept the set before coming back to her. “Lex is in trouble and needs our help. Before he got cut off, there was a crash. If we want to find him, we need to go.”
Jillian’s heart had stopped before he’d finished the first sentence, blood draining from her head. Now it rushed back. She had so many questions, yet couldn’t string words together. By the time she was ready to talk, they were in the helicopter. Dom spoke briefly with Douglas, then joined her. She was surprised when Douglas didn’t join them.
She stared out the window without seeing anything, conscious of the deadly silence. Dom was calm, his presence reassuring. She focused on that instead of Lex and what he might be going through. After half an hour, or maybe it was forty-five minutes, all she saw was water.
The island appeared ahead. Three boats were anchored at the docks, and several helicopters were parked like cars in their circles. Mathews landed, and the three of them headed up a set of stairs. If she weren’t worried about Lex, she would have appreciated the spectacular view and the house with private cabanas around the pool. Now she just gave them a sweeping glance.
She waited until she was alone with Dom before asking, “How are we going to find him?”
“This way,” he said, led her down a hallway, and pushed open a door. Several male voices poured out. When he stepped aside, she noticed chairs and a giant screen.
“About time you got here, Dom,” one of the occupants said, but Jillian’s eyes were on the screen, where two SUVs were ramming into a familiar car.
No. She entered the room, her heart pounding. “That’s Lex’s Phantom.”
The picture on the screen flickered and disappeared as the men in the room jumped to their feet. Two of them had laptops. Jillian couldn’t remember who-was-who based on Deedee’s descriptions and Lex’s anecdotes, but that didn’t matter. These powerful men were here to help find Lex.
“Jillian, the guys,” Dom said. “Guys, Lex’s Jillian. Rake, can you reconnect the feed? She needs to see what went down.”
“Are you sure?” a guy with shaggy brown hair said. He looked a lot like Deedee. Same hair color and eyes, but the rest of his face was pure male. Border-line pretty.
Jillian’s eyes met his. “Yes, Sloan. I want to see it.”
Surprise flickered in his eyes.
They all offered her a seat. She took the nearest one, her attention on the blank screen, but she was aware of their eyes on her. The timing sucked, but today was about Lex, not her or meeting his friends.
When the screen stayed blank, she glanced at them. Two of the guys were furiously typing on their laptops while the other four studied her. She gave them a tiny smile and turned to find Dom. He’d taken the seat behind her.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“What’s the hold up?” Dom asked, glancing at one of the guys with the laptop. “Rake?”
“Someone is fucking up my satellite connection,” he snapped.
“Rake!” the others protested.
Rake shot Jillian a hard glance. “I’m sure she wants Fitzgerald found and doesn’t care about my manners.” He shot the other guy with a laptop a quick glance. “Cade, if you’re messing with my satellites, get the fuck off.”
“Didn’t mess with your babies, Rake,” the second guy shot back, rubbed his hands, and went back to typing. He had some serious tattoos visible on the side of his neck. “I’ve repositioned an Echostar, Anik, and Ciel-two. Damn, I’m good.”
Was this one of the pissing contests Deedee had mentioned? No, that was between Lucien—whichever one that was—and Cade. Rake was the genius with personal satellites and a nicely trimmed goatee. His right arm was inked to his wrist. Jillian shot Dom another glance.
“He’s moving around satellites to bounce signals,” Dom explained.
“Then tuning to a transponder and decoding streaming contents,” Cade added.
Jillian didn’t understand a single word he’d just said. “Is that legal?”
Cade grinned. “No, baby girl, but I like to play with other people’s toys. However, some of us just don’t know how to share theirs.” He threw Rake a glance.
“Screw you, Padwick. Found it,” Rake said, and Jillian’s eyes flew to the screen.
The footage showed two SUVs boxing Lex’s Phantom in, smashing into it, and pushing it off the road. Two familiar men hopped out of the second SUV and dragged Lex into the first car. He seemed unconscious, and the Phantom was completely totaled.
“I know who has Lex,” Jillian said slowly, trying to figure out why the section of the highway looked familiar. Lex had insisted he wasn’t going anywhere.
The guys studied her curiously.
“An Armenian loan shark my father owes money,” she explained, warmth crawling up her neck. She didn’t give a rat’s ass that all her family’s secrets were out now. Finding Lex was more important. “Two of his men came to my house yesterday, but Lex and Douglas took care of them. They must have found out who he is.” She didn’t care about her uncle’s warnings anymore either. They had to rescue Lex. “We have to call the police.”
“No-ooo,” the men said in unison.
Jillian frowned, surprised by their reaction. “Why not?”
“Lex’s name cannot be associated with a loan shark,” Dom said. “It’s bad for business.”
“His competitors could use it against him,” a second chimed in.
“And the media would have a field day,” a third added.
“Scandal sells papers, aye Rod?” This one had a British accent.
“Holy shit,” Cade cut in. “Someone tried to kill him before the kidnapping.” Different footage appeared on the screen. “I retraced his movements from the crash site.”
Jillian’s eyes widened at the familiar house. No wonder the road where the men had attacked Lex had seemed familiar. He had gone to see her father. Why? Oh God. She wanted to throw up as she watched the confrontation between them. What the hell was wrong with her father?
This was her fault. Jillian pressed her hand to her stomach to stop the ache. She should not have involved Lex in her problems. He had hired her to avoid a scandal. Instead, his association with her was doing the opposite.
Her stomach heaved and tears burned the back of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. I will not fall apart. Not when Lex needs me.
First, she needed to get off this island. Then she’d find Lex and give Petrosian what he wanted—her. When this was over, she was walking away and leaving Lex’s world. She’d brought him nothing but trouble. As for his friends, she didn’t dare tell them that the man who’d shot at Lex was her father. It was too humiliating.
The buzzing noise in the background became clear, and she realized the men were discussing how to rescue Lex. Billionaire vigilantes? Were they nuts?
“I know where Petrosian’s club in San Juan is located. I’ll take you there.”
“No,” Dom said. “Lex said you shouldn’t go there. We are to keep you safe. There’s no place safer than this island.”
Jillian shook her head. “I can’t stay here and do nothing, Dom. I have to go to my father’s, get the money, and take it to Petrosian. He will only deal with me.”
“Screw him. Lex said you shouldn’t go to your father’s house either.”
Yeah, because her idiot of a father shot at him. This was like an endless nightmare.
�
��Give us the address of this Armenian shithead, and we’ll take it from there.” Dom looked at the others. They nodded.
“How come he gets away with talking like that around her?” Rake snapped.
“Because he’s less colorful today,” Sloan said.
“I don’t care. Curse all you want. Just don’t leave me here, please,” Jillian begged, her voice rising. She’d ditch them once they got off the island, but first she had to convince them to take her.
“How much does your father owe?” Sloan asked.
Heat flooded her cheeks. More humiliating details.
“Jillian?” Dom asked, his voice hard.
“Three hundred and fifty thousand,” she said. She didn’t want them accompanying her to her father’s place. They’d know he’d shot at Lex. “But it’s with my dad.”
“And that’s where it stays. Sloan, can you cover this?” Dom asked.
Sloan squinted as though calculating. “I have two-fifty around the house.”
“I have about thirty in my yacht,” the boyish-looking one said. He hadn’t spoken since she’d arrived.
“Me too,” Rake said.
“No, I have this covered, boys,” the one who’d mentioned something about the media having a field day cut in. He got up and came to where Jillian stood. “I’m sorry for printing your pictures in my magazine.”
Rod, the media mogul. “The pictures don’t matter. Not anymore. Getting Lex does.” She glanced around at the faces of the seven men. Lex’s friends. All willing to put their lives in danger and possibly their reputations on the line for their friend, and it was her fault. She had to go with them whether they liked it or not. Time to get to work.
“I’m so sorry you’ve all been dragged into this.” Her eyes locked with Rod’s. “I promise to pay you back when this is over. Just…” Her voice trembled to a stop. She imagined Lex being held by the Armenians like a common criminal. The tears that filled her eyes and flowed down her face were real. “Don’t leave me here, please. I’ll go crazy worrying about Lex and what’s going on. He’s probably hurt and needs me. I’ll stay in the car and wait. I promise not to get in your way.”
~*~
Lex regained consciousness in a dingy room. He was gagged, his hands and feet bound together, and lying on his side on a rug that smelled like a rabid dog’s pillow. One side of his face throbbed, probably from a cut, and his head pounded. He was sure he had a bump the size of an egg.
His abductors hadn’t bothered to remove his jacket. Instead, they’d yanked it down and twisted it to further trap his arms. He rolled his eyes, taking inventory of his surroundings. There were no windows and from the crates and boxes, he’d say he was in a storage area. A faint light came through the edge of a door directly ahead.
A movement came from behind him, and survival instinct took over. He rolled and aimed a kick in the vicinity of where the sound came from, but someone grabbed his feet.
“It’s me, sir,” Douglas said. In seconds, he’d pulled the duct tape from Lex’s mouth and was cutting the bindings on his hands and legs.
“Thank you,” Lex whispered, taking inventory of his bruises. The bump on the back of his head was huge, but the cut above his eyes was superficial. He peered at Douglas. “How did you find me? Is Jillian okay?”
“Mr. Manos took her to the island. She’s safe. As for finding you, I suspected Petrosian was involved after I overheard Ms. Jillian discuss him with her uncle over the phone. Since we already had information on him, it was easy to find you. I’ll get you out of here at once, sir.”
Lex slapped Douglas on the shoulder. He owed the man more than he could ever repay, but he’d think of something. “After I talk to Petrosian, my friend.”
They both froze. Footsteps and voices were approaching.
“We take them down as soon as they open the door,” Lex instructed.
“No, sir. We take them out inside the room so as not to attract attention. If you assume the same position on the floor as if you’re still tied up, they’ll come inside with their guard down.”
Lex didn’t question Douglas. The element of surprise would shift the odds in their favor, something he knew as a businessman. The voices were closer now.
He slapped the duct tape across his mouth, grabbed his jacket, and lay on the floor, placing his hands behind him. Douglas hid behind a crate just as the door opened. Light streamed in and fell on Lex.
Once his eyes adjusted to the sudden glare, he recognized the two men. The scrawny one had called Jillian a porn star, probably imagined her doing things with him. Lex wanted to bash his face in. No one was allowed to call his woman names or fantasize about her.
Lex hummed and faked distress.
“Ah, you’re finally awake,” his target said. “Boss wants to talk to you.” He stepped into the room and moved toward Lex. His bald-headed partner stayed by the door. They were so confident they had him they didn’t even remove their guns.
“I’m going to fuck you up first, Mr. Bodyguard,” the guy said. “Make you squeal like your porn-star girlfriend faking an orgasm.”
The man bent down to remove the duct tape covering his mouth. Lex whipped his hand out from the back and attacked, breaking his nose with the heel of his hand. That’s for calling her a porn star. The man staggered backward, a hand on his bleeding nose. He cursed as Lex followed through, bringing his fist down on the side of his knee, a move that could break a knee if the right force was used. He aimed to stun him.
The man’s leg collapsed, and he lost his footing. He came down hard, and Lex noticed the gun tucked in his waistband. He grabbed his hand and twisted it behind him, then snatched the gun and tossed it out of reach. The man tried to butt him with the back of his head, but Lex was ready. He dodged and looped his arm around his neck in a chokehold. Seconds later, his body went limp.
Lex looked toward the door where the bald-headed man had last stood. He was out cold on the floor, too.
“Not bad, sir,” Douglas said.
Lex chuckled. He hadn’t taken martial arts seriously, until Douglas helped him perfect his moves. “I had the best teacher.”
Lex picked up his jacket from the floor. There was a blood stain on the sleeve of his shirt from the man’s nose and dried patches of his own on the collar. He shrugged the jacket on, adjusted the lapels, and swept a hand through his hair.
“Let’s finish this,” he said.
He followed Douglas out of the dingy room, up a set of stairs, and into a mirrored hallway. Lex glanced briefly at his reflection. The cut above his left eyebrow had caked dry blood around it, but he’d survive. They followed the pulsing music and entered a room with red draperies, velvet chairs, and dance areas. Hookah lounges were famous for their belly dancers.
A group of men sat to their right, watching an elderly woman sing on stage. The place was empty, which meant she could be auditioning. The skirt-suit she wore was classy, though the gray color was too dull for the stage. She wasn’t bad. A bit raspy, but the Armenian tune showcased her powerful voice.
Lex approached the men. They were dressed in cheap suits like the two they’d knocked out in the basement, which meant none of them was Petrosian. They were busy staring and discussing the singer on stage and didn’t notice their arrival, until Lex said, “I’m looking for Petrosian.”
They jumped up and reached for their guns.
“Where are Yegor and Pazar?” one of them asked.
“Downstairs. Take us to your boss now,” Lex ordered them.
He was surprised when they lowered their weapons. But then Lex realized they weren’t looking at him. The singing had also stopped. He turned, expecting to see Douglas carrying a bazooka or some lethal weapon. Instead, his eyes met familiar eyes and they belonged to the woman who’d been singing.
He shook his head. Either the bump on his head had been so hard it was now screwing with his sight or this woman’s turquoise eyes were exactly like Jillian’s.
Up close, she looked much older. Still
, the combination of thick black hair, those unforgettable eyes, and perfectly symmetrical face made her striking. But the way she carried herself said she was used to commanding attention.
“My name is Alin Petrosian,” she said with an accent. “Khosrov Petrosian’s widow. We’ll talk in the office.” She didn’t offer him her hand, just pinned the men with a hard glare. “Make sure Yegor and Pazar are okay.”
Lex and Douglas exchanged a glance, then followed her and the man who’d been standing a few feet from her. She led them into an office. It was large with leather chairs and portraits of horses. The scent of cigars and leather hung in the air.
Instead of offering them a seat, she turned and studied Douglas. “Wait outside,” she ordered.
Douglas didn’t move. Lex glanced at him and nodded. Douglas was reluctant to leave, but couldn’t disobey Lex. By the time the door closed behind him, the woman was seated behind the desk. She still didn’t offer him a seat.
“How much?” she asked.
Lex cocked his eyebrows. “Excuse me?”
“How much will it take for you to step aside so I can see my granddaughter?”
Granddaughter? “Jillian?”
A purse sat to her right. She dug inside and removed what looked like travelers checks. “What’s your name?”
“Lex Fitzgerald, but I don’t want your money.”
“Of course you do. It’s obvious you’re attached to my granddaughter. Such devotion is something my people value in a servant. I was told you are her bodyguard.” She gave him a onceover, her eyes cold and calculating. Jillian’s were warm and sexy. “Going by what you are wearing, you have expensive taste. I’m willing to pay you whatever you ask, so I can take my granddaughter home. So I’ll ask again. How much? A million? Two? Ten?”
Lex stared at the woman in shock. How ironic. He’d offered Jillian money so she could be in his life. Now her grandmother was offering him the same to let her go. He chuckled, but stopped when the woman’s eyes flashed with rage. The way she lifted her chin and straightened her spine reminded him too much of Jillian, so they might really be related. But there was no chance in hell he was giving up Jillian.
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