A wide grin split his face as he ran a nervous hand over his receding hairline. “And you’re sure this deal is going to go through? I need this, Frank. My business is fucked beyond repair. People will come after me. I owe people, you understand. I didn’t know the market was going to drop. I didn’t have enough time to pull out.”
“The money’s been confirmed. It’s awaiting transfer. First, the clients want to see proof of the mylunate’s potency as an explosive. Then they’ll wire twenty million to our offshore account.” Frank was sitting calmly in a comfortable wingback chair in front of the desk.
They obviously thought they were alone.
They weren’t.
Paul had come to surprise his father for lunch. He’d paused, just out of sight, hearing that his father was in a meeting. His plan had been to back out without interrupting until he heard what his father was saying. He could see the two men reflected in a gilt-framed mirror mounted on the wall.
“All you have to do is show them that video from your home planet, right? Will that be enough?” The mention of “home planet” gave Paul pause as he listened.
“We’ll have to see.”
“You’re sitting there without breaking a sweat, Frank. These guys are terrorists. How can you trust them?”
“I understand them.”
Paul’s father paused, and as though suddenly struck with a thought, he said, “You know they’re likely going to target cities in the United States. Doesn’t that bother you?”
“You’re too emotional, Rosser. This is business. When this is all done, you’ll have more money than you’ll know what to do with. That should take care of your conscience.”
“You can’t be as cold as you pretend.” Rosser scowled, showing a hint of discomfort, as though seeing him for the first time. “This country has provided for you in so many ways.”
“Who do you think set off the mylunate bomb in his own hometown?”
The intercom on Paul’s father’s desk buzzed. Impatiently, he pushed a button, snapping, “What is it?”
“Sir, I just wondered if you wanted me to make any reservations for you before I left for lunch.”
“Why? Did I ask you to?”
“You always ask me to when Paul comes by.”
“When did Paul come by?”
“Isn’t he in your office? I thought he went in nearly ten minutes ago.”
Rosser was silent a moment. “Thanks, Sue. I’ve got this.” He clicked off his intercom and stepped around his desk. As he moved around the corner of his office, he spotted Paul standing just inside the door in the foyer.
“Nothing’s going on.” Paul gave me a quick smile and took another bite of soup. “I just need a change of pace, that’s all. I have a need to feel anonymous for a while.”
He wasn’t done thinking about this, though. I saw that Paul had somehow found the stash of mylunate his father and Frank were planning to sell. Frank had hidden the ore in their basement. Paul took it and hid it in some outdoor location that only he was aware of. I could see it seemed to be in a desert. Where was there a desert in California that was close enough for Paul to have traveled to in a day?
I also saw that he feared they would catch him before he could leave the country. In his mind, there was no way he would allow anyone to commit atrocities. Not when there was something he could do about it. He remembered the horror of 9/11, and he didn’t want anyone to have to suffer that kind of soul destruction. But he couldn’t go to the cops because he didn’t want his father to go to jail. His feelings and thoughts were all confusing and contradictory, and it wasn’t all thought through.
Perspiration was dotting Paul’s upper lip and forehead. He was truly afraid. “I’m fine,” he said sharply, and I realized I was still staring at him.
“Sorry.” I shook my head slightly. “That was probably uncomfortable.”
“It’s fine. Look, I’m going to the men’s room. When the guy, the waiter, comes back, will you handle this for me?” He stood and dug through his pockets hurriedly but clumsily, pulling out his wallet, keys and change simultaneously. With fumbling fingers, he tried to juggle it all, but he only managed to drop several coins as he tried to dig out bills. He’d pulled out more than needed and tried stuffing a few bills back in before dropping his keys.
Stilling his bumbling motions, he closed his eyes and tilted his head back, as though asking for help from a divine presence. I could see that his hands were shaking, which alarmed me after having experienced him as a suave, cool and collected guy just a few days ago. I was sure this was a strange state for him to be in.
“I’ve got this.” I grasped his hand supportively, surprised to note that his fingers felt like ice even though it was at least a hundred outside. I tried to give him a reassuring smile. “Go take care of business.”
“Okay.” Exhaling with some exasperation, he tossed his wallet and loose bills across to me. “I’ll be right back.”
Gathering up the pieces, I pulled out the appropriate bills, putting everything else back neatly. He’d left his keys on the ground where they’d fallen, so I reached over with my toe and pulled them closer so I could grab for them without having to get up. I even managed to eat more of my udon, which had cooled enough that I wasn’t going to get severely burned. The vegetables were crisp and delicious, and the shrimp just popped in my mouth with pure goodness. No way did I want to miss out on this when someone else was footing the bill, and Paul was likely going to request to go as soon as he came back from the restroom.
“Everything okay?” The waiter, a middle-aged Asian dude with thinning hair, was small of stature and wore a friendly smile on his face.
“Great,” I replied absently, and I handed him Paul’s money with the bill. As he walked away, I realized that Paul had been gone awhile and frowned. Had he taken off? But no, his keys were here. Maybe his gut was really bothering him. He had been looking a little worse for wear.
Trying to be helpful, I grabbed up his wallet, keys and contract and made my way toward the front door of the restaurant. He was probably anxious to get going and would likely resent having to wait.
It was only as I turned toward my purse to answer my phone when it rang that I caught sight of the commotion outside the window. Paul was struggling with three men, one of whom I recognized as one of the guys who’d tried to grab me the other day. The other two had thick dark hair. Panic, fear and heart-thumping adrenaline overwhelmed my nervous system at once. For a second, I froze. Then I ran out the door in time to see Paul get shoved into a black luxury sedan that shot away while the door was still being closed. I managed to make eye contact with Paul for a moment as the car sped by and I saw his pale, terror-filled face against the side window.
What to do?
I looked around, but no one seemed to be paying attention. What was it with people? So self-absorbed they couldn’t be bothered to take a break from their goddamn cell phones long enough to help a guy out.
Before I thought about it, I ran to Paul’s SUV, which was parked a short distance away at the curb. Unlocking it through his key fob, I jumped in, threw his stuff on the passenger seat, revved the motor and took off, hoping to follow where they were going. Scanning ahead two and three blocks, I thought I saw a black luxury car driving erratically on Sunset and tried to dodge in and around cars to catch up. The moment of heartbreak was when I did finally catch up, only to find that it wasn’t the right Mercedes. A woman with fake blond hair, a fake tan, fake boobs and only one hand on the wheel as she chatted on the phone was simply driving negligently. Chances were, Paul’s kidnappers had turned down a side street before I could catch up.
Why hadn’t I thought of that? I should have been looking...harder. I don’t know.
Now I had no idea where Paul was being taken or what would happen to him. I decided to head for the condo. With Reggi
e gone from the office, potentially a missing person, no one was going to miss me. And if they did, I could always say that Reggie had asked me to handle some things for him. Besides, with all of these people turning up missing, it just seemed better to get back to Ryder. He’d know what to do.
I pulled my phone out of my purse to call Ryder and let him know the change of plans, but when I tried to connect, the phone suddenly lost all bars and the message No Service Available was displayed.
What. The. Hell. I shoved my phone into my bra and prayed that I wasn’t stepping into a trap.
Chapter Twenty
“Are you Taylor?”
I’d just pulled into the alley behind the condo when a beautiful brunette with long flowing hair and golden eyes stepped out of a low-slung sports car. She was wearing skinny jeans that clung to every curve, chunky sandals and a figure-hugging T-shirt with a smiling white cartoon kitty, which allowed me to feel somewhat superior for having on a chic pair of linen trousers paired with a well-tailored, fitted blouse. Her expression captured my attention. It was edgy and somewhat panicked, like she needed me to hurry.
“Who are you?” I asked cautiously, pulling the long strap of my purse over my head diagonally and closing the driver’s side door.
“My name’s Jory. I’m an old friend of Sy and Ryder’s.”
Recognizing the name, I quickly said, “Yes, I know.” Geesh. He hadn’t told me she was beautiful. “You were his girlfriend?”
“Years ago. He and Sy are just good friends of mine now. I hope you understand, though this might seem kind of weird. They’ve helped me out over the years, as you’ve probably heard.” She looked sincere, her eyes wide and her voice subdued. She seemed like a perfectly lovely girl. Damn.
“Were you looking for them?”
“No. I was looking for you.”
That got my attention. “Me?”
“Ryder can’t get through to you. He needs you. He just had an encounter with Ranik—”
Damn my phone! Nervously, I asked, “Is he okay?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure. I think he had to take Sy to the hospital.”
“Oh, my God! Sy was hurt?”
“I think so.”
“Which hospital?”
Jory’s eyes were distracted by movement over my shoulder. I heard a car pull up and the protesting creak of a heavy door sliding open. Glancing back, I felt my heart drop. No... It couldn’t be...
The same two guys who’d tried to grab me off the street jumped out with determined, angry looks on their bruised faces. My heart went from doing double time to doing quadruple time instantly.
No! Fucking A, could I catch a break here? On a rush of adrenaline, I spun and ran. I was ready to put the pedal to the metal and go hardcore out of the alley and back to the strand at the front of the building. I could get lost in the crowd. I could run into the little French bakery. I could damn well run straight out into the crashing surf!
I only made it a few steps. My arm was expertly hooked and twisted sharply up behind my back, and my body got shoved chest first over the hood of Paul’s car. Pain radiated from my shoulder. My ribs protested being slammed into the SUV. I took a gasping breath.
What happened?
I looked back at Jory and saw that the concern she’d displayed was now covered over with impatience as she restrained me effortlessly. What was happening here?
“Jory?” My voice felt small. I couldn’t get air.
“Took you long enough,” she snapped, directing her comment past me, and I realized she’d been stalling me this whole time. She’d been giving the two thugs time to arrive. Oh, my God. We were hidden back here in the alley. There was no one else around. It was restricted parking, not where tourists would be found, my phone wasn’t working and Ryder was likely at the sushi restaurant. I was so screwed.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” The bald guy stepped up and snagged my arm in his meaty grasp. “Nowhere to run?”
“No boyfriend to save her this time.” The crew-cut guy sneered. “I hope he shows. Bastard kicked teeth out of my mouth. I want payback.”
“Cut the chitchat.” Jory’s tone was suddenly hard-edged, and I swung back to her with surprise. Her sweet-faced, grateful-ex facade had been replaced with a cold expression. “Get her in the van. We have people waiting for us. Frank doesn’t want them to be kept waiting. We need her with the other one.”
“You!” I gasped. “You’re the traitor!”
“I’m sure I’m not the only one,” she said dispassionately.
“Did you break into my apartment?”
“Looking for the mylunate you took from Ranik,” she said, and gave me a quick scan as though looking for it. “Broke into your car, too, though I couldn’t find it. I recommend you give it up to Ranik. He can get mean.” She started to turn away but paused and looked back. “You might want to just give it up to me. Trust me, you don’t want them looking for it.” She gave a nod toward the men holding me from behind.
I knew the mylunate could maybe get me out of this. I needed to think. I couldn’t just give it up. “I don’t have it.” She’d also said something like I was joining the other one. Did she mean Paul?
Jory sighed and shook her head. “If that’s how you want to play it.” She nodded to the men.
That’s when the rag was shoved in my face. Horrified, I got a lungful of something pungent and chemical. I struggled against the darkness but had no chance of escape. My shattering scream of terror was trapped, echoing through my mind...
...I came to when my head smacked the side of the van during a sharp turn, aggravating the pain that was already pounding there. I hissed. It took several seconds for me to remember what had happened, but when I did, my eyes snapped open blearily.
The bitch had betrayed me!
My hands were tied behind me, stretching my shoulder muscles painfully. I saw that I was on the inside of a van and it was all metal, having been gutted. Jory had lured me out for easier abduction, and I had played right into her hands. She’d obviously been following me with all of this planned out. I could see part of the leg of one of the men from my vantage point, the camouflaged material looking old and worn. Wasn’t he the one who’d killed the Vietnamese girl? Taken her from her family back during the war?
I was nearly incapacitated with the onslaught of panic. My breathing became quick and shallow, my pulse pounding in my throat painfully.
I was being driven to Frank. There was no way I could escape this time, and Ryder would be frantic, not knowing where I was. He wouldn’t be able to ride up on his motorcycle and save me this time. There would be no near miss. This was it.
An acute, painfully poignant longing made my heart ache. I knew that I wouldn’t see him again. It was like my soul cried out, shaking me clear through my bones.
The image of Ryder’s rough-hewn features, his pale green eyes smiling down at me, came to mind. Remembering his tender words of love squeezed my heart, making it difficult to breathe. I struggled to pull air in to my lungs and squeezed my eyes shut, needing to hold his face in my mind and heart. Regrets clawed at me painfully from inside my own mind. The last time Ryder and I were together, he’d told me he loved me, and I’d been too afraid to say it back. Fear. Why had I allowed it to rule my life? I could see the yawning chasm of what my life had been, the careful distance I’d kept from everyone around me, how I’d never sought out deep or meaningful relationships before. I’d always looked on others with suspicion, keeping them at a distance, and it had been to my own detriment. I’d lost out. I could see that.
Why had I questioned and doubted until my opportunity to grab hold of something good and whole was gone? I loved him. It was so clear. Why was it so clear now, when I would never have the chance to tell him? Coming to this deeply meaningful realization at a point when I could d
o nothing about it struck me as horribly unfair. Fate had handed me shit cards for too long!
Silent sobs beat against my chest from beneath my breasts, wanting to come out. No noise. None. I don’t want them to hear me. Oh, God. Please!
I wanted the chance to tell him. I wanted the chance to begin a life with him, so I could start a new chapter, a new adventure. I wanted to know happiness. I wanted to understand the intimacy of trusting another with my innermost self. I wanted it.
Life had sucked for so long! Abandonment, grief, unrelenting hard work, no love, no friends, not a soft place to speak of, and just when I was ready to explore this new and beautiful relationship, I was going to be killed. I’d had to work twice as hard to get half as far, and I’d been willing to do it, but where was the payoff? Where was the goddamn payoff! Didn’t I deserve a payoff? Wasn’t it my turn to win? Just once?
Dammit! It was my turn, and I was going to take it.
I wasn’t dead yet. I didn’t know how long I’d been out or how long I had before we arrived at our destination, but I needed to think.
Anger replaced my grief, and I felt rage at the injustice sweep through me. I stopped feeling sorry for myself and began taking stock of what I might be able to do to get out of this mess. I remembered my badassness. I’d never relied on anyone else to get me out of trouble, and this time was not going to be different. Though I’d never sparred before, I had enough confidence in my kickboxing abilities that I was sure I could knock somebody’s block off, at least long enough to run away efficiently. I hadn’t taken those classes with Rico for nothing.
Don’t forget. You come from a proud Brausiian warrior, Taylor. The words were a faint whisper in my mind. It sounded like Dreya, but could she communicate from so far away? I listened intently once again and heard nothing but the tires on the road, rhythmically spinning.
Quicksilver Dreams (Dreamwalkers) Page 38