“I’d suggest a counselor, Dr. Rhodes,” Wes offered, watching them disappear. “I’ll give you the card of a really good one in Asheville. What he went through today…that stuff sticks with you.”
“I’ll look into it,” I assured him.
“Detective Wilde,” a woman said from behind us.
We turned to find a blonde girl with thick framed glasses standing behind us. She had to be no more than eighteen. She held up a piece of paper for Wes, batting her eyelashes. “I’ve finished it. I’ve already sent it to the other officers and police stations in the area.”
“Thanks, Indy,” Wes replied, taking it from her.
She beamed at him and shifted uncomfortably. “Can I do anythin’ else?”
He didn’t look at her and scanned the paper. “We’re good. Thanks, though.”
The girl deflated. “Oh, okay.” She offered me a look of sympathy. “I hope you find Sam.”
“Thanks,” I whispered gruffly.
As the girl spun around and headed back down the hall, I questioned, “That’s your sketch artist?”
Wes shot me an annoyed look. “She’s the chief’s daughter and a pain in my ass, but she’s one of the best I’ve seen.” He handed me the paper. “Do you recognize the man?”
I took it from him, my hungry eyes scanning it, and my stomach bottomed out. He was right – Indy was great. She’d captured his dark eyes, his square jaw, and nose perfectly.
This can’t be happening.
Not him!
An incisive and bitter fury flooded my veins. I spun towards Dad and gripped him by the throat, shoving him backward until his back collided with the wall. Several shouts went off around us, but I didn’t care.
“You sonofabitch!” I bellowed. “You selfish sonofabitch!”
“Whoa!” Wes yelled, tugging at my arms.
The rage was so strong that I squeezed tighter. “Did you send him after her?”
Dad’s eyes were wide and stricken, his color growing redder and redder. “What…? What are you talking about, Ben?”
I slammed him against the wall again. “Uri! You sent Uri after her!”
The blood drained from Dad’s face as he blanched. “No,” he wheezed, clawing at my hand. “Oh, my God, no.”
“Back down, Dr. Rhodes,” Wes interjected.
“No!” I slammed Dad against the wall again. “No! He’s not going anywhere until he tells me where Samantha is!”
“I don’t know,” Dad rasped, pleading at me with his eyes. “I don’t know, Ben. I thought Uri was back in Portland. He doesn’t even work for me any longer. I’ve cut ties with that life.”
“Right. I’m supposed to believe that?” My laugh was cutting. “You arrive, and in the same day everything turns to hell.”
“Back down, Ben,” Wes repeated.
“Ben, please,” Dad implored between gasps. “I had nothing to do with this.” There was nothing but truth shining in his eyes.
I didn’t care.
I was done.
I slammed him against the wall one last time and released him, treading backward. “That’s it. No more. This is the last straw, even if you didn’t have anything to do with it.”
Dad took a step towards me, a hand extended as he rubbed his throat. “Ben…”
I warded him off. “No. Stay away from me. I don’t want anything to do with you. Even from afar, you taint everything. Everything you touch turns to shit.”
“I can fix this,” Dad begged. “I didn’t-”
“No. Leave. Get away from me. Stay away from Bliss. I don’t want anything to do with you.”
“But Ben…”
“Not now,” Brad intervened, gripping Dad’s arm. “We’ll worry about that later.”
“He’s right,” Wes added, glancing between us with suspicion. “I need you two to tell me everything you know about this man.”
“His name is Uri Belinski. He’s been my father’s right-hand man for years,” I revealed, shooting nothing but hatred at my father. “Ask him all about the dirty things that man did for him. The only reason Uri was ever in this town was for his bidding. He was staying at the B&B.”
“I need you to come with me, Dr. Rhodes,” Wes stated, motioning at the hall. “I need you to tell me what transpired while Mr. Belinski was here.” He leveled Dad with a stare. “When we’re through, you and I are going to have a long chat about this man.”
Dad gulped and nodded. “Yes. Whatever you need, I’ll tell you.”
“But after you’re finished, I want you gone,” I growled.
Chapter 35
Joel
How has it come to this?
I only wanted to tell my son I was sorry, that I was a different man. I’ve messed up so much that none of that covered what I’d done adequately, but I needed to try.
Mistakes have a way of catching up with you, though, and because of mine, the woman my son loves was in danger.
I should have known Uri wouldn’t let go easily. He’s wanted wealth and power since I’d met him, fresh-faced and right out of college, but I didn’t think he’d go to such lengths. It wasn’t as if I’d left him destitute, either. On top of a healthy severance package, I’d given him the option of buying my company, but he refused.
I had to fix this.
I have to find Uri.
“We’ve checked his accounts, Mr. Rhodes, but there has been no activity since earlier this week when he was in Bliss,” Jamie Blackwood, the head of Armstrong Securities and an ex-Navy SEAL, informed me. “We believe he’s still in the area and has been since last weekend. He’s held up somewhere, but I’m positive he’s used cash to stay off grid. Surveillance and traffic cameras show him driving through Bliss a few minutes after he left your son’s house. We haven’t found a trace of him since.”
“There’s got to be something more,” I implored, closing the front door to the B&B. “A trail of some kind…”
“I’ve got all my men working on it,” he assured me. “My business partner, Fynn Thatcher, landed in Asheville a few minutes ago with our team. We’ll find her.”
“Thank you, Jamie,” I whispered.
“No problem, Mr. Rhodes. I’ll call you with an update as soon as I have one.”
“Thank you,” I repeated, my chest aching, and slipped my phone into my pocket.
Too much stress.
My doctor would kill me if he knew.
I found my nitroglycerine pills, cursing the tiny things. But it meant I was alive still, and I couldn’t regret that. I had a second chance to make amends with Ben.
Well, I did until today.
“Any news?”
I glanced over and saw the older woman I’d met yesterday. Mrs. Birdie had a calming, reassuring presence, even though her eyes were lined with worry and tears.
“Not yet. They’re still searching,” I replied, ambling closer.
She clutched a handkerchief to her bosom, sniffling. “What has this world come to? Sam is such a good girl.”
The protectiveness and loyalty I’d seen in Lincoln and Ben proved that. Even though I never told him, I admired Ben for his strength and morals. He wouldn’t fall for someone or allow them around Lincoln if they didn’t contain those qualities, too.
“There’s a lot of people looking for her. They’ll find her,” I vowed.
There wasn’t any other outcome – we had to find her. After everything my son had endured, he wouldn’t survive it if we didn’t.
The pain in my chest intensified.
I rubbed the ache, fishing for another pill.
“Are you all right, Mr. Rhodes?” Mrs. Birdie questioned.
“I’m fine, dear. Just need to lie down for a little while,” I fibbed, walking to the stairs, and popped another pill. “I’ll be up in our room.”
“Is Mrs. Rhodes still at the station?”
Glancing back at her, I answered, “She’s at the hospital waiting for updates on Gwen.”
I would have gone with her, but Ben didn
’t want me anywhere close to him or what was happening. I couldn’t fault him for it – this was my doing, even though I didn’t have a hand in it. Uri’s vengeance was caused by my shortsightedness.
Saddened, Mrs. Birdie nodded. “I’ll be in the sittin’ room. If he you hear anythin’, please let me know.”
“Of course,” I agreed and left it at that.
The trudge up the stairs left me breathless. A fine sheen of sweat dusted my forehead when I opened our bedroom door, and I had to sit on the bed to catch my breath.
Something crinkled under me.
I leaned to the side and felt the bed.
A piece of paper?
Perplexed, I grabbed it and stared at it.
18453 Ricker Lane
Meet me tonight, 8 o’clock.
No cops or she dies.
What in the…?
Uri.
Hope surged inside me.
I glanced at my phone.
7:05 pm.
That wasn’t enough time for Jamie’s team to arrive.
I didn’t care.
I had to try.
For Ben, I’d do anything.
Resolve steeled my spine.
I’m coming, Samantha.
Just hold on a little longer.
∞
Samantha
I strained to hear something, anything, but all I heard was the rattling of an old window unit.
I’d been left alone in this closet for hours, hogtied and gagged, the stench of fear and dust clogging my nostrils. I’d lost consciousness shortly after Uri threw me in the trunk. He’d hit me again, so I’d woken in this small, dark space with no clue as to my whereabouts or how long I’d been out.
That was forever ago, it seemed.
I kept picturing Ben in my mind. I thought of Grey and my parents…Bella, Linc, and Clara. Even Adam, Chelsea, Teresa, and Mrs. Birdie came to mind. I envisioned all the good things in my life to will the fight into myself.
For them, I wouldn’t give up or give in to hysterics.
That didn’t mean I wasn’t scared. I’d never been more terrified in my life.
And everything hurt.
My face was a throbbing mess. My left eye was almost swollen shut, and my mouth was chaffed and riddled with sores from having a cloth stuffed in it for too long. The bruising along my side was what hurt the most. I believed a rib or two were either very bruised or broken. Each breath caused the ache to flare, so I kept them shallow. Still, I quivered from head to toe, which kept the pain at the forefront of my mind – it was so hard to ignore completely.
A door slammed and footsteps echoed against the floor, taking me by surprise. The door creaked open, and the light seared my retinas. Blinking repeatedly, I stared up at Uri’s menacing frame, my pulse jackhammering.
“Hello, Samantha,” he purred.
A knife gleamed as Uri pulled it from his belt. My screams were muffled as I scurried backward, my movements hindered by the cords. A sinister chuckle escaped Uri’s lips, ramping up my terror, but he merely bent at the waist and cut the restraints around my ankles.
I breathed a sigh of relief, thanking all things holy.
Uri straightened, saying, “We should have a guest soon.”
What does that mean?
I would have asked if I didn’t have tape covering my mouth.
Gripping underneath my arms, Uri hauled me to my feet, wrenching a cry of agony out of me. I’d been in the same position for so long that standing brought an ungodly amount of pain, and my ribs flared hotter.
Uri ogled me. “Too bad you’re worth so much money. I could’ve had some fun with you.”
Bile threatened behind the gag, but I managed to keep it down.
There was no clarification needed on what that meant, but it made me question the money part.
Was he holding me for ransom?
Me?!
Yeah, I had a fat nest egg sitting in my savings account, but only Grey, Clara, and my parents knew about it. Grey had given my parents and me a large chunk of the inheritance he received after Clara’s brother’s death. How did Uri know about that?
Then it dawned on me.
Joel.
He thought Joel would pay the ransom.
Did this guy know Ben’s father at all?
Joel paying anything for a woman he didn’t know was laughable, even if it was for Ben’s sake. There’d been countless times Joel could have helped Ben, but he never extended it. The man was a selfish asshole.
I’m going to die, I concluded. There was no way of getting out of this.
Tears threatened, burning my eyes, but I refused to let him see me cry.
Not again.
Unaware of my inner turmoil, Uri led me to the bed by the arm. “Sit. And don’t try anything.”
I gulped, my throat like sandpaper, and gingerly did as ordered, the position uncomfortable with my hands behind my back.
Uri walked to the large window next to the front door and pulled back the curtain, revealing a darkening sky and a heavily wooded area. Even though it felt like a hundred lights shining on me when the door opened, there was only a small lamp lit. The room was small, a one room cabin maybe. There was a wood burning stove in one corner, a chair in the other, a little table, and the bed. A door was open, exposing a small bathroom. There was another door at the back, an exit I presumed.
After acquainting myself with my surroundings, I finally looked down. Horrified, I gawked. There were scrapes and bruises all along my legs. My dress was ripped in several places, revealing way too much skin. One rip began at my left hip and extending upward to my breast, exposing the bottom of my bra. However, I could already see the angry purple bruising along my ribs. I wondered what my face looked like. It had to be awful, too.
Shuffling interrupted my inspection. I glanced at Uri as he walked across the room and took a seat in the chair, his eyes on me. From behind his back, he slipped out a gun, then placed it on the table, keeping his hand on it. He appeared ready for anything.
I swallowed hard again.
“I was going to kill you, you know?” he murmured, his words quiet.
I narrowed my eyes.
Uri cocked his head. “You’re little stunt earlier caused me a lot of headaches. Lincoln will be able to give them my description. The cops probably already know it was me.”
Good.
Maybe they’d find me in time.
“This works better – two birds, one stone. I bet Ben’s going out of his mind.” A sadistic smile spread across Uri’s face, and he nodded at a laptop case on the floor next to him. “Plus, once Joel gets here and I have him empty out his accounts and wire me the money, I’ll be set.”
How did he plan on getting out of town without the cops finding him? How did he know that Joel hadn’t contacted them regarding their meeting?
My face must have shown my confusion.
“Joel knows better than to call the cops. I’ve got enough on him to send him to jail for life.”
Why is he telling me this?
I shrugged.
“Then I’ll kill you…and him.”
Ice settled in my gut.
I was right – I was going to die.
∞
Joel
“Mr. Rhodes,” Jamie insisted, “you need to stand down until my team arrives.”
“They won’t get here in time,” I argued, steadfast in my decision.
“You are giving Mr. Balinski one more hostage if you go in there. My team will be there in twenty minutes. Let them handle the situation.”
Jittery, I tapped my thumb on the steering wheel, staring at the road leading to the address. I was a mile away from Uri’s location, and there were only fifteen minutes left until the deadline.
I couldn’t wait.
“He won’t touch me. I might be able to talk him down.” I paused, then whispered, “I have to try. I can’t risk Samantha’s life.”
Annoyed and pensive, Jamie replied, “Wait for the cops,
at least. They can provide backup. You cannot go in there alone.”
“I do not trust these Barney Fife wannabes to take care of this properly! That’s why I called you!” I seethed, growing more and more agitated.
“I’ve checked into the Bliss PD. They’re small, but they are capable.”
“They’re a bunch of backwoods rednecks!”
“Detective Wilde worked as a detective in Miami and has a stellar record. He will handle this proficiently.”
“Get your team here and get us out of there if this goes to hell. Tell them to speed up. Do something – I don’ care – but I’m going in there to get Samantha.”
“Mr. Rhodes-”
“I have to go. Thank you for your assistance, Jamie.”
“Mr. Rhodes-”
“Goodbye.”
I hung up and pocketed my phone. I watched the clock as it ticked down.
Thirteen more minutes.
I’m so sorry, Ben.
I’ll bring her back to you.
∞
Ben
My cell dinged.
Lincoln: Any news?
Even though Lincoln protested, I sent him to the Raiden’s with Emma, Pops, Teresa, and Chelsea. He didn’t need to hang around here any longer – not after everything he went through today – but he was growing impatient.
He wasn’t the only one.
We’d been here for hours, only getting small scraps of information. However, so far, the police had nothing on Samantha or Uri’s whereabouts. The despair kept chipping away at me. As each minute ticked by, my sanity kept slipping farther and farther from me.
My heart cracked a little more as I typed a message back.
Me: Sorry, bud. I’ll let you know once I hear something.
I was close to unraveling.
Suddenly, the police station came alive with activity and the tension in the air went haywire. Everyone started talking fast and readying themselves.
I jumped from my chair and jogged to Wes’s office. Wes had his hand over the receiver, calling out orders. He pulled his hand away, saying, “Thank you, Mr. Blackwood. My officers are mobilizing now. We should be at the location in ten minutes.”
Something’s happening.
Fated Bliss (The Bliss Series Book 2) Page 41