Alveus (ABC's Inc. Romance #1)

by Lara Earlman

  “Sure buddy, no problem.” Ingram sat up in his chair and clicked on the mouse. “I’m sorry, man; had I known she’d be this much trouble…” He let the sentence hang as he tapped in a code.

  Dane watched as a screen came up. “UNTOUCHED BEAUTY: ELITE SOCIALITE, starting price at…” A nude picture of Aly loaded onto the page, her hands forcefully stretched away from her body. With vacant eyes, she held her chin up, refusing to cower.

  “Starting price… you bought her?” he growled, “You son of a bitch!” He slammed his fist into the side of the attorney’s face, knocking him out of the chair.

  “Well, that’s one thing we have in common,” Keith said, holding his injured jaw. “She wasn’t cheap, either.” He chuckled at the pun in spite of his friend’s anger. It wasn’t the first time they’d come to blows.

  “You purchased a human being,” Dane shouted. “Have you no remorse?”

  “Well, technically, you purchased her. But, I got most of your money returned when they agreed to take her back.”

  “You put her back in the hands of human traffickers? Where is she?” Dane shouted, as he pulled Keith off the floor by his collar.

  “The lady mentioned something about a Saudi Arabian prince. Look, the girl was told what would happen if she didn’t cooperate. She had a good thing with you and Oma, and she blew it. Besides, she was messing with your head – not good, man. Who knows, she might have tried to kill you next.”

  That did it – Dane swung another punch, sending Keith clear across the room. He lunged after him, but found himself restrained.

  “We’ll take it from here, Herr Wellesley,” the officer said.

  Dane paced the floor of his Frankfurt apartment, waiting for the horde to converge on him. Carsten, Bravanger, Oma, and whichever of the Carsten twins who had arrived in Germany – to be exact. As soon as he had discovered what was in the Crown Royal bag, he’d taken it to the hospital to be analyzed. The vial and syringe both tested positive for cyanide. It had been Keith! After calling the authorities, Dane asked them to wait in his office while he tried to get more information out of his corporate attorney. He wanted to confront him about poisoning Oma, but first he needed answers about Aly… Lexi… Aly. After the Kripos (Criminal Police) left with Keith, Dane called Oma to inform her about finding the poison in the attorney’s office. He wanted to wait and tell her about Aly in person.

  After deleting Aly’s picture, Dane copied the web information onto a thumb drive. These particular criminals were American and he was sure the FBI would be interested in the information. Human trafficking – how in the hell did they get Lexi Alberton? It took some nerve to enslave such a public figure. Why didn’t they just ask for a ransom? It seemed the more pieces of the puzzle he found, the more holes he discovered. He had to concentrate on the logistics of finding Aly, because he couldn’t allow himself to think of what she might be going through at this moment.

  »ɞ»ɞ«ɞ«

  It was evening when the car escorting Lexi pulled into a small airport, parking near a compact private jet with a royal crest painted on its tail. With a determined step, Cass took the lead, followed by her usual cloned lackeys flanking Lexi. A woman in Arabian garb met them at the top of the boarding ramp, a man in white stood sentry beside her. Two more men, waiting inside the plane, immediately began scrutinizing Lexi’s escorts for threats. Cass, dressed in a black pantsuit, approached the woman with her hand out in greeting. The woman ignored the overture, more interested in inspecting Lexi.

  “As you can see, she was treated quite well by her last owner,” Cass quickly assured her. “She obviously just needs a strong personality to bring her into submission.”

  Apparently satisfied, the woman nodded to one of the males and turned her back on Cass, ushering Lexi through a curtained entrance into the belly of the plane. Lexi had been on private jets before, and although this one was smaller than most, it made up for its size by the lavish expense of its furnishings. Plush white carpeting and thick cushioned lounges were offset by genuine gold trim – opulence to the tune of garish, in her opinion.

  “My name is Hana,” the woman said, speaking for the first time. She opened a door leading into a bed suite. “You may rest in here until we land. Refreshments are on the table.” With those few words, she left the room and locked the door behind her.

  Lexi sat down on the edge of the bed – just lovely, she thought sardonically.

  The shock of being abducted once again by Cass and company splintered when the brash woman’s taunts had sunk in. She was returned merchandise! Dane had tossed her away… why? Because he’d gotten what he wanted from her; no matter what she had felt for him, she was no different than all of his other women. Sitting alone on the edge of a bed headed for an uncertain destiny, Lexi’s little insurmountable grain of hope finally gave out, and with it the tears flowed.

  She cried for the loving, nurturing mother she had lost, years before her body left this earth; and for her father’s suffering, and the broken heart that brought on his early demise. She cried for her pitiful need to cling to her only living relative, naively being betrayed by him as he stole her inheritance. Her tears fell for Oma, and the pain she will endure if she discovers her beloved grandson’s true colors. Daney – she cried tears for the young boy, lost forever. The warrior for justice, with a strong sense for all that was fair and honorable – that’s how she remembered him… her protector. Lexi cried that her heart had been shattered into a million pieces, and that Dane had crushed them under his feet without sparing a thought to the fate he’d sent her to. Yes, for the first time since hearing of her mother’s illness, Lexi cried. She cried until the tears burned their way down her cheeks, and with that burning came anger.

  “We shall be landing soon. It is time to put on your burqa.”

  Surprisingly, Lexi had fallen asleep and was woken by Hana’s announcement. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes, focusing on the heavy black cloth the woman was holding. Her curt command to stand up fully awakened Lexi. She complied, allowing the woman to dress her in the loose fitting, floor length cloak. As Hana draped the veil across her face, Lexi was slapped with the full reality of her situation. She was in the Middle East where women have no rights and are beaten, sometimes tortured and killed, for the smallest infraction. Lexi scrutinized the woman in front of her with new understanding and realized that her earlier anger remained intact. With no government aid, and no hope of rescue, Lexi discovered a renewed strength to fight for her freedom or die trying.

  “You will keep your eyes down cast,” Hana reprimanded tersely, appearing uncomfortable with Lexi’s stare. Lexi shrugged indifferently and acquainted herself with the unfamiliar garb. It felt heavy and hot, the veil suffocating. So, where are the men’s veils?

  “What?” Hana snapped.

  “Nothing,” Lexi replied, realizing that she must have mumbled that last contemptuous thought out loud. How could a woman who had lived her entire life under submission, understand?

  She took the proffered seat in the lounge and strapped herself in, noting that all of the windows had been shuttered. Guess they were worried she’d plot out an escape route if she got a good look at the surrounding countryside, she thought bitterly.

  The blast of heat that engulfed her as she stepped from the plane caused Lexi to hold her breath. She kept her head down, not in subservience, but in an attempt to keep her feet from getting caught up in the heavy unfamiliar robe. She doubted that tripping on it would garner a smile out of her stern entourage; instead, it would more likely encourage a kick in the shin. A quick glance at Hana showed that the woman was unaffected by the inconvenient cloak, although her swift tread suggested an eagerness to close the space to an awaiting vehicle. Good God, why should the male population feel a need for additional torture of their females when the burqa seemed effective enough?

  A short drive brought them to a beautiful courtyard surrounded by stone walls. In its midst, situated aside an oasis, stood a stately palace. It was a
two-story dwelling spread out to take advantage of the lush plant life flourishing from the underground springs that feed into a small lake. When the car stopped, a man clothed in a pristine white traditional dress with a white scarf-like head cover, stepped out of the front entrance. He spoke briskly to Hana and turned to lead them inside.

  Lexi was led to an office where a stocky middle-aged man wearing a similar garb to the first, sat behind a desk. Her new owner, she presumed. His attention was centered on the activities outside the window where several scantily clad women and small children frolicked in a shaded pool. He turned his chair in their direction, glanced quickly past Lexi to Hana, and raised his eyebrows as if to say, “well?” Hana nodded her head and began removing Lexi’s burqa until she stood before them in the clothing she had been abducted in – jeans and a turquoise blouse.

  “Ah, Miss Alberton,” he arrogantly proclaimed his recognition.

  “Your highness,” Lexi replied in same. She remembered meeting him and his young son at a business function with her father. Alex Alberton had not been impressed with the overly supercilious Sheikh Saleh of Hejd.

  “I am delighted that I may present you to my eldest son, Ahmad, on the day he is officially announced as heir to the throne of Hejd.”

  “A simple invitation would have sufficed,” she offered in a bland voice.

  “I’m afraid not; you see, you are not an invited guest. You are a gift – something my son has coveted since the first time he laid eyes on you.”

  “Surely I’m too old,” Lexi returned, blatantly. “It’s my understanding that your males prefer their women be fresh out of the cradle.” The Sheikh’s face turned red with anger. He abruptly stood and stepped out from behind his desk.

  “You have much of your father in you,” he growled, his face close to hers. “He refused my generous offer for his daughter when he was alive. Your uncle was much more receptive, but he got greedy, decided to dangle you in front of the highest bidder.”

  “I am not anyone’s to sell! If you return me to America I will see that you are fully reimbursed.”

  “Why would I want to do that?” His face was upon hers, nose to nose. His hot moist breath fanned her cheeks. “I have what I want.”

  “It is against the law. Criminal charges will be filed…” Lexi’s accusations were drowned out by his smooth retort.

  “I shall take great pleasure in watching my son tame you into submission.” He took a step away from her. “Strip her, I wish to make sure there are no blemishes on my son’s gift.” Turning, he went back to watching the activities outside.

  Lexi fought, but was overpowered, and when her clothes lay shredded on the floor the sheikh turned his attention back to her. She covered her body the best she could with her hands, as he slowly paced around her. Hana grabbed one of her fingers and pulled it back causing Lexi to give in before the bone broke. Her assets now fully exposed, he gently ran his hand across her skin, as if examining a fragile work of art.

  “Yes, Ahmad has an exquisite eye for color,” he bragged. “He once described you as a pure opalescent gem.” He nodded his head and the same gentleman who greeted them at the door held a robe out for Lexi. “This is the last conversation we will have,” the sheikh said in dismissal.

  »ɞ»ɞ«ɞ«

  Chapter Nine

  Dane slammed the phone down on its cradle. Damn bureaucrats! Every agency he’d called on behalf of finding Aly told him the same spiel – “the European Union and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have their best people working on it.” She’s been missing for almost a week now! The FBI claimed to only have jurisdiction in the United States. He hoped Greig Carsten was as good at cracking through online encryptions as he was at developing antiviral software.

  The Carsten twins had arrived in Germany early yesterday morning. Greig, the eldest, was somewhat of a computer genius. When Keith was questioned about how he had contacted the sellers, he told them that he was given a pass code to be used for online communications. Dane tried sending a message to them, faking an interest in purchasing a replacement for Aly, but had so far received no reply. Greig was trying to trace the outgoing message to its recipient. Dane had to hand it to the guy; he appeared to have the patience of a saint.

  The reunion should have been a joyous one, the years apart seemed to melt away as their teasing banter soon picked up where it had left off. Just as quickly, it came to an abrupt halt as everyone remembered the reason for the reunion. Lexi’s absence left a deep hole in their camaraderie. Still, Dane felt oddly relieved, the burden seemed to lighten with their presence. It was evident that they all shared an equal concern for her safety.

  Although it had been seventeen years since he’d seen the twins, Dane had no trouble recognizing them. They’d been like siblings to him and he began to question how he’d ever allowed the years and distance to interfere with that relationship. Inwardly Dane kicked himself – instead he’d given Keith Ingram his fraternal trust. Yeah, and look where that got him… Bravanger was still uncovering the attorney’s unlawful activities! Dane wondered if the Carsten sibling’s identities would have come to him as readily without the obvious “tells.”

  First up and easiest was Greig. Dane wanted to punt his behind again, recalling when he’d first heard about the incident that had killed the twins’ mother and permanently injured Greig. Opa had just put him in charge of the London office, and he’d been too overwhelmed with the responsibility to find it feasible to attend a funeral in the States. He’d sent his condolences along with flowers… hadn’t he? He couldn’t remember. Greig’s spinal cord had been injured in the accident, resulting in his legs being paralyzed.

  Expecting to see a wheelchair, Dane was caught off guard when Greig swung into the room on crutches. He reached out his hand in greeting and was instead pulled into a sturdy man-hug, including the requisite slap on the back. The guy was strong! As he pulled out of the clinch, Greig expertly placed one of the metal crutches a step back to catch his balance. His dark blue eyes held a glint of humor, pleased with himself for putting the surprised look on Dane’s face.

  Dane gifted him with a chuckle, as he drank in the sight of his childhood best friend. Greig equaled his height, although his shoulder span was wider, a testament to the workout his arms and deltoids received taking on the brunt of his body weight. He wore a long-sleeved polo, accommodating the arm clamps of his custom-made crutches. His khaki slacks disguised the framework of the leg braces worn beneath.

  Stefan stepped up next, clasping his hand in a traditional handshake with an added slap to the arm. The last time Dane had seen him he was only eleven years old. He’d been a chunky kid and had grown into a stocky, muscular man. A couple of inches shorter than his brother, he was broad without an inch of fat as far as Dane could distinguish.

  Next he turned his attention to the two beautiful sisters. One held a no-nonsense look, eager to take care of business; the other looked as if she was trying hard not to cry. Yep, that would be Stefani. He kissed each woman on the cheek and wiggled one eyebrow with a lecherous come-hither tease in his eyes. Turning his head to the brothers, Dane patted his heart and feigned weak knees. He received a couple of chuckles from the guys, and a rolling of eyes from Gretchen.

  Both women were gorgeous. Stefani ran into his arms with a need to comfort, and be comforted. Although average in height, she felt small in his arms. Like her twin, she had been rounder than Gretchen and Lexi, and had often bore the brunt of unfair nicknames from her siblings. Dane smiled remembering how Lexi would attack the culprits in defense of her friend. Concern rose in him at Fani’s tiny frame; had she turned anorexic from the taunts?

  With an arm still around Stefani, Dane made eye contact with Gretchen. He received a genuine smile from her, although her blue eyes, a shade lighter than Greig’s, didn’t quite make it to the party. It was as if she held herself back from becoming too emotional. Even her attire kept her at arm’s length. Standing straight and stiff with an air of authority,
she wore tailored slacks and a modest sweater over her shapely figure. Her shoulder length hair, lightened with streaks of blonde, was pulled back into a braid.

  All of the Carsten siblings had dark brown hair, Stefan and Stefani’s with red highlights. Where the older twins shared blue eyes, their younger siblings had green; perhaps a testament to Irish ancestors. Also surprising to Dane, they were all still single.

  Dane had set the family up in suites at his company-owned high-rise. Oma was staying in his apartment for the time being. She wanted to be on hand when they brought Lexi home; and she was determined that they would succeed. After they settled in, everyone gathered in his apartment to share information and hatch out a plan of attack.

  “So, English,” Greig said, reviving the Carsten’s old nickname for him, “what are you doing in Deutschland? Last we heard your home base was London.” Dane made a point to look at his grandmother.

  “I moved into my grandfather’s offices to keep close tabs on Oma,” he answered. “Somebody has to keep her out of trouble.” She gave him a playful slap on the arm while the others chuckled.

  “Maybe you could begin by clarifying a few things,” Gretchen suggested, turning a quizzical gaze first to Bravanger, slid it to Oma, and then finally landed it on Dane. “Why was Lexi living with Frau Brighten? Are you two dating..?” She let an insinuation of more hang at the end of her last sentence.

  Dane had the grace to look ashamed. That was Gretchen, all right – to the point, and right to the heart. He opened his mouth to confess his stupidity, but Oma beat him to the punch.

  “She and Dane are engaged,” his grandmother announced, her eyes meeting his with a challenge for him to dispute the statement. “Keith Ingram saw her as a threat, and arranged to have her kidnapped by human traffickers. We need to find out where she’s been taken and bring her home.”