Destry, who believed something became a classic for a reason, retrieved her Swiss Army knife from her room to prove her point. She hadn't meant to discuss her colorful past, but he was family, so she didn't mind.
"Only scary if you're foolish enough to wander where you shouldn't."
"Says the woman who never follows her own advice." Calder sighed. "Get Destry to tell you about the time she got lost in the Amazon. The images she paints of the snakes alone will turn your hair gray."
"I didn't get lost. Miller left me."
"Bastard," Bryce muttered.
"I survived." She always did.
"You were fourteen years old. When I think of the way your father—"
"Excuse me, Ms. Benedict?"
Destry suppressed a sigh.
"Which Ms. Benedict do you want, Blanche?"
"Sorry. Your father is here, Ms. Destry. I put him in the sitting room as you instructed."
"Speak of the devil," Destry sighed.
"Have Blanche tell him you aren't here."
"He'll keep coming back until I see him." She pushed away from the counter. She put the knife in her pocket so she wouldn't go looking in a few days and forget where she left it. "I won't be long."
Miller didn't care how she looked or what she wore. Destry did. She took a quick glance in the mirror. A long-sleeved, cotton blouse belted over caramel-colored jeans and leather ankle boots in a coordinating coffee brown. Casual chic. Andi would approve, she decided. Miller would sneer if he knew she bothered.
Before Destry could shut the sitting room door, Miller laid into her, both barrels blasting.
"Where the hell have you been?"
"Hello to you, too."
Unlike Destry, Miller hadn't taken the time to check his appearance. His thinning, dark hair stuck up in different directions, none of them deliberate. His clothes were clean but looked as though he slept in them, on more than one night.
"Fuck the pleasantries, kid. I'm in deep shit."
"What else is new? Would you like some coffee?"
"Scotch, straight up."
Destry could tell Miller had already downed a drink or two. He wasn't drunk. But if the fumes were any indication, he wasn't far off.
"Coffee or nothing." She noticed a slight tremor before Miller shoved his hand into his pocket. "Take the coffee, Dad."
"I need money, not caffeine."
"No."
"Damn it, kid. I told you I'm in deep shit."
"How deep? Knee level or higher?"
"Two million bucks."
"Holy shit, Miller." Destry sank onto the sofa. "How?"
"Doesn't matter." He dismissed her with an impatient wave of his hand.
Destry broke rule number one—never ask. But two million? What fellow crook in his right mind would let Miller near that kind of money?
"I was duped."
"Sounds familiar." Nothing was ever her father's fault.
"Easy money, he said. No risk, he promised. A big poker game, big cash on hand. I watched the door, he took off with the loot and left me holding the bag. Now, I'm in trouble, kid. You're the only one who can get me out."
"You expect me to hand you two million dollars?"
"Cash," he nodded. "Not like you don't have the funds."
Miller's concept of how Destry's inheritance worked never failed to amaze her. Technically, she was worth a bundle. Close to a hundred million last time she checked. However, without the consent of the Benedict Foundation trustee, the most she could access on her own was fifty thousand.
Didn't matter, Miller wouldn't see a dime.
"Time to rethink your options."
"I told you, kid. You're my only hope."
"The FBI would help."
"Are you out of your mind?" Miller's bloodshot eyes almost popped from their sockets. "The feds? I'd rather end up in a pair of cement overshoes and take my chances in the East River."
"Cement overshoes?" The image was so incredulous, Destry had to laugh. "Who are you, Jimmy Cagney?"
"You think my problem is funny?"
"More like pathetic." Destry sighed. "When will you learn? You're a lousy crook, Miller. Always were, always will be. You have one hope. Sing to the feds and pray you know enough to earn a place in witness protection."
"And spend the rest of my life in Podunk, Arkansas spraying disinfectant into bowling shoes?" Miller shuddered. "Never."
"Your decision."
Destry wasn't as unconcerned about her father's plight as she sounded. She didn't want him to die. But she knew how his mind worked. If she were crazy enough to give him what he wanted, he wouldn't pay off his debt. He'd take the money and run. And more than likely, end up dead anyway.
Miller thought she was heartless. The ache she felt when she saw a flash of raw hate in his eyes proved him wrong.
"Remember when everything goes to hell, you had your chance, kid."
"Call the feds, Miller."
"You had your chance."
Miller slammed into the foyer and out the front door.
Destry knew she should let him go, but she had to try one more time. She followed her father from the house and down the front steps. His old car, the same one he used to pick her up when she was a child, was parked at the end of the block under a burned-out street lamp. Miller fumbled with his keys, dropped them, and stooped to pick them up.
"Dad!" Destry ran down the sidewalk. "Wait a minute."
Something flickered in Miller's eyes, an emotion she couldn't read. With a shrug, he opened the trunk.
Someone grabbed Destry from behind. Unprepared, she hesitated for a split second. Instinct took over. Her elbow jabbed into her attacker's ribs with a satisfying crack. She let her body go slack, slid from his grasp, and came up swinging. Her fist connected with bone. He wore a mask, but she could see the blood gush from his nose.
"Grab her, you idiot."
"I'm sorry, kid."
Miller? Destry turned, her eyes going from the hand on her arm to her father's face. She felt a sting at the base of her neck and the next thing she knew, her legs gave out. The feeling of numbness spread through her body. She wanted to fight, tried to lift her arms, but they hung at her sides, useless.
The masked man pushed Destry into the trunk. The side of her face lay on a piece of ratty old carpet that smelled of motor oil and rotting meat. Her eyes grew heavy, too heavy to keep open, try as she might.
Her attacker, not kidnapper, her fuzzy mind corrected, leaned into the trunk.
"You're mine now said the spider to the fly."
He pulled off his mask and the last thing she saw before she lost consciousness was Ingo Hunter's leering, blood-covered face.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
~~~~
"I LOVE YOU, Destry. I love you, Destry. I love you, Destry."
With a groan, Liam pounded his head against the steering wheel. Didn't matter which word he emphasized. As his father reminded him, say you love her with feeling. Let her know she's the most important person in your world. The rest is up to her.
Liam thought by the time they left Ireland, he'd have a better read on how Destry felt about him. Instead, he was less certain. She didn't pull away from him as much as she became a different version of herself. Too many smiles. Too much laughing. Not fake, but definitely forced.
When Liam tried to pick an argument, Destry let him have his way. If he didn't know better, he'd say she lost the part of her that appealed to him most—her snarky edge. But he did know better. She was still there. Question was, why had she left him, and how could he get her back.
Give her time? Hell, no! According to their unholy relationship agreement, he had five days. She promised him, and he wasn't about to let her back out. Five days to woo her, win her, love her. If he had to negotiate an extension, fine. Another time-sensitive arrangement wasn't Liam's favorite solution, but right now, he would take what he could get.
"Pa
thetic." Liam hit his head one more time. "You're an adult. An experienced, intelligent man who never let anyone get the better of you, personally or in business. Yet, you've let a woman take you down. A spectacular woman to be sure. Beautiful. Smart. Strong, so damn strong. A woman you love. And one who's reduced you to talking to yourself."
A tap sounded. Glancing over, he found Andi looking at him through the closed passenger door window.
"Liam? Is everything okay?"
Great. Now he looked like an idiot in front of Destry's sister. One of three sisters she told everything. Liam had to believe Andi returned the favor. He slid from the car.
"Destry and I have a date." He glanced at his watch. "I'm a little early."
"No need to wait in your car. Come in."
For the first time, Liam noticed Andi wasn't alone. Noah fell in step with him as they followed his fiancée up the steps.
"Were you talking to yourself?"
Liam shot Noah a narrowed look.
"Hey, I understand completely," the other man assured him. "Once you have a Benedict sister in your life, conversations with yourself are a must if you want to stay sane."
"Destry is complicated."
"They're all complicated." Noah laughed. "You may think you want to go back to uncomplicated, but you don't."
"No?" Liam had already reached the same conclusion, he just wasn't sure why.
"Our women are like fine wine or a choice cut of filet mignon. They spoil us for anything but the best. Believe me, I know." Noah lowered his voice. "And if you tell Andi I compared her to a piece of meat, I will end your life where you stand."
Seemed Andi, like Destry, inspired a bit of the crazy in her man. Liam felt his spirits rise when he realized he wasn't the only one. Noah was just as far gone as he was and was happy, no… ecstatic.
Of course, Noah had won his lady. At the moment, Liam was still on the outside looking in.
"I'll let Destry know you're here. Noah, will you entertain Liam while he waits?"
"I don't need entertaining."
"No. But you look like you could use a drink. Come on."
Liam didn't want a drink, but what the hell. Couldn't hurt. The sitting room was brightly lit, cheery, and welcoming. He ran his hand over the piano as he remembered the afternoon he spent here with Destry. Her lady of the manor persona surprised him. And she continued to surprise him ever since.
The fact he fell in love, so hard and so fast, was the biggest surprise of all.
"Strange. The bar cart is missing." Frowning, Noah tugged a braided cord. A minute later, a maid appeared. "Hello, Blanche."
"Mr. Brennan." Blanche nodded. "Mr. Stanton."
"I can't seem to find the whiskey."
"Ms. Destry asked me to remove the bar cart."
"Any particular reason?"
Blanche looked at Noah, then Liam, then, the floor.
"Ms. Destry might not like me to talk about her father."
"Miller was here?" Noah didn't look pleased.
"He arrived about an hour ago. I…"
"Go on, Blanche," Liam urged. He hadn't met Destry's father, but the man's reputation preceded him and not in a good way. "What happened?"
"The door was closed, but I could hear his raised voice."
"Did Destry yell back?"
"No, sir," Blanche shook her head at Liam's question. "She… They… I think—"
"We can't find Destry anywhere." Andi entered the room with Bryce and Calder. Their fiancés weren't far behind.
"She wouldn't leave without telling one of us." Bryce looked worried. "Especially when she knew Liam was coming."
"Destry isn't lost." Zach put a comforting arm around Bryce's shoulder. "She probably wanted some air and will be right back."
"Calder looked in the garden."
"Not to worry. If Destry has her cell, I can tell you exactly where she is." Noah tapped the screen on his phone.
"She left her phone in the kitchen."
Adam took Calder's hand. "Destry's been out of your sight all of five minutes. Too soon to panic."
"More like an hour," Calder reminded him. "She isn't in the house. She doesn't have her phone. Her money, credit cards, and driver's license are in her room. Sounds like panic time to me."
"If we were talking about anyone else, maybe. Destry can take care of herself."
"We all act as though she's Wonder Woman. And she is." Andi looked at her sisters. "Destry is also human. She bleeds like everyone else."
Liam's stomach dropped a foot. He'd seen Destry bleed, and the memory didn't help.
"Where do we look?" he asked. "Tell me where to start."
"Excuse me? Ms. Andi?" Blanche, her hands tightly clasped, took a tentative step forward. "I think I may have an idea. I mean maybe. I don't want to get anyone in trouble, but—"
"Damn it, spit it out!" When the maid flinched, Liam took a deep breath and tried again. "Please, Blanche. Take a deep breath and tell us what you know."
"Ms. Destry's father left, yelling and angry. He slammed out of the house. A second later, she ran after him."
"Did she return?"
"I don't know." Visibly distressed, Blanche shook. "Ms. Billie rang, and I was with her until Ms. Andi arrived."
"Would Destry leave with her father, without her phone, and not tell you?" Liam's question was aimed at all three sisters. Each shook her head. The next thing he asked wasn't as easy to say. "Do you think he would hurt her?"
"Physically? Not deliberately." Andi clutched Noah's hand. "Hold her for ransom? Yes."
"Miller would have to catch Destry off guard. And, he'd need help."
Liam forced his brain to settle. He tamped down the panic to a level he could deal with and searched for the best course of action.
"The police won't help. Destry hasn't been gone long enough. Security cameras?"
"Right. Damn it, where is my head?"
Noah did his magic on the phone. The minutes felt like hours, but finally, he pulled up the footage."
"Miller." Andi pointed as a man ran from the house. "As Blanche said, Destry was right behind him."
"Looks like the streetlight is out. May be deliberate," Noah said, tapping the screen again.
The picture wasn't as clear, but the images were closer and easier to make out. When a third person entered the screen, grabbing Destry, Bryce cried out.
"No, no, no." Calder gasped.
Liam's mouth went dry. He almost cheered when Destry landed a blow with her elbow and wiggled from her captor's grasp. The punch she landed to the bastard's face sent a burst of hope through his body.
"She got him." Adam's fingers bit into Liam's shoulder. "What the hell is Miller doing?"
"The son of a bitch grabbed her," Zach growled.
"Miller isn't strong enough to stop Destry. But…" Andi leaned closer, squinting. "What did the first man do?"
A second later, Destry collapsed. Miller helped the masked man put her into the trunk. They jumped in the car and drove away.
In tears, Bryce hugged Calder with all her might. Andi joined them. United as always, they drew strength from each other. But a vital part of their circle was missing.
"Must have drugged her. Otherwise, Destry would have kept fighting. And won."
Adam's words were of little comfort to Liam. He knew Destry was tough. He saw her in action, up close and personal. But even she couldn't fight against a syringe of drugs.
"She has to be okay," Andi told her sisters. "If they want money, Miller and his accomplice need to keep her alive. Right?"
"Yes." Noah drew her into his arms.
"She'll wake up," Adam assured Calder. "And when she does, at least she has a weapon with her."
"She does?" Calder frowned.
"Remember? Before she left the kitchen, Destry put the Swiss Army knife into her pocket."
"You're right."
"Why didn't you say so sooner?" Noah went to w
ork again on his cell. "Yes. We got her."
"I don't understand." Andi looked at the screen. "Destry doesn't have her phone."
"Destry agreed to let me put a tracking device in her Swiss Army knife."
"She agreed?" Eyes glued to the little beeping light, Andi blinked back more tears. "How did you get her to say yes?"
"Guilt."
"Good enough for me. Let's go." Liam headed for the door. When everyone followed, he shook his head. "Someone should stay here."
He didn't mention any names, but Andi understood.
"Out of harm's way like good little girls?"
"I didn't mean—" Yes, he did. And he was wrong. "We'll need more than one car."
"My SUV will hold us all," Adam said as he helped Calder on with her jacket.
Liam didn't want another argument. He grabbed the keys from Adam's hand.
"I'll drive." His gaze pinned Noah. "Can you program the tracking app into the SUV's computer?"
"No problem."
"Good. You ride shotgun."
No one said anything else until they all buckled in and were on their way.
Noah wasted little time. He linked his phone to the SUV guidance system. While he worked, he gave Liam verbal navigation commands.
"Any idea where they're headed?" Liam cursed as the taxi cab cut him off.
"We could guess and be wrong."
"What if we were in a helicopter?"
Liam met Bryce's eager gaze in the rearview mirror.
"Do you know a pilot?"
"Yes. I do."
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
~~~~
DESTRY STRUGGLED TOWARD consciousness. Several times, she thought she was there, but the drugs in her system pulled her back under. Finally, her eyelids flickered then opened.
Settle, she told herself as instinct warred with common sense. She wanted to burst into action, but her body hadn't caught up with her head. First, she wiggled her fingers, then her toes, and she made herself remember.
Ingo Hunter, with Miller. The betrayal hurt, but Destry wasn't surprised. She always knew when push came to shove, her father would throw her under a bus without a twinge of remorse. Apparently, a bus wasn't available so he used his car.
Taking a breath, she almost gagged. Motor oil and rotting meat. How could she forget? The smell was foul but useful. She used the offensive odors to clear the last of the cobwebs from her brain.
Four Simple Words: A Badass and the Billionaires Contemporary Romance (The Sisters Quartet Book 4) Page 23