I opened the brochure and put a hand over my chest. The pictures showed a straggly rag-tag group of animals, but they all looked content splayed out on their chewed and torn beds.
“We only have two stables, and both of them are in desperate need of repair. We’re also hoping to install a shallow pool to provide therapy for our older arthritic dogs,” he said as he pointed to the brochure. His finger slid over my hand, and he immediately reddened. “Sorry.”
I couldn’t help but smile. He was attractive. Certainly more my speed than Lucas, but I didn’t feel the same sizzle. “I think I’ve heard of you guys. Do you do field trips for the local elementary schools?”
“We do, but we just implemented the program a couple of years ago. You can’t possibly be old enough to have a kid in elementary school!”
“No, I’m a graduate student studying childhood development and education. I’m actually working on my thesis, and I came across a list of popular field trip destinations in the area. What do you do with the kids?”
“We try to teach them proper care and responsibility for animals, but I think, to them, we’re a petting zoo. The schedule allows them to leash, walk, train, and feed the animals. They get a pamphlet about pet responsibility when they leave.”
“Do any of the parents complain that their kids come home begging to adopt a pet?” I asked with a laugh.
“Actually, we get a good percentage of families that come back. They either want to adopt, or they want their kids to help out during the summer. We offer a camp program for kids to volunteer and help out once school lets out.”
The wheels in my head were turning. There were no activities for elementary kids in the summer that were connected to the school system, but an organized program where kids could try out and volunteer at a number of places around would both educate and entertain. They could volunteer at animal shelters, soup kitchens, nursing homes, and even hospitals. It would go a long way in teaching them compassion, responsibility, and diversity.
“Do you have any information on your summer program that I could take with me?” I asked suddenly.
“Sure. We’re still accepting applications for camp counselors. If you like animals and kids, it’d be a great place for you. It’s part time, so you can still work,” he said as he bent behind the booth and grabbed a folder. When he stood back up, he immediately paled and looked down.
An arm wrapped around my waist, and I stiffened. Lucas possessively pulled me towards him. “See something that you like?” he asked me softly.
“If you’re talking about the charity, yes,” I said with narrow eyes. Pulling out of his hold, I took the flyer. “Could you write your contact information on here in case I have any questions?”
His eyes widened, but he grabbed a pen and scribbled on the paper. “Thank you. I will definitely be in touch.”
Lucas had a firm grip on my elbow as he steered me away. “What is wrong with you?” I hissed as I jerked away. “You told me to pick a charity.”
“Talk to them. Not get their numbers,” he growled. “When you’re on my arm, you don’t flirt with other men.”
Trying to keep my voice down, I glared at him. “You are such an asshole. I wasn’t flirting. I think his organization’s program could be implemented in schools. Not that you’ve ever bothered to ask, but it’s what I’m busting my ass to study. And if you’re not going to actually treat me like a date, I’ll talk to whomever I want.”
“Not treat you like a date? I bought you flowers and a dress,” he said as he stared at me. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”
“Then you don’t know the first thing about me. I came along because I thought this was your way of apologizing to me, but it’s obvious that the women you drag around are supposed to be seen and not heard. You should see the surprise on these people’s faces when I try to introduce myself. You might as well have picked some whore off the street.”
I watched as his jaw clenched with rage, and I took a deep breath. “I’m going to the ladies’ room. Don’t follow me.”
Spinning on my heels, I kept my head up as I walked towards the bathrooms. Tucking the paperwork into my clutch, I turned at the last minute and skirted around the crowd. What I really needed was some fresh air, but I knew he would freak out if he thought I was trying to leave without him.
“Controlling bastard,” I muttered as I strode through the lobby and opened the double doors. The cool air rushed to my skin and instantly calmed me. I inhaled deeply and rolled my shoulders.
How mad could I be at him? I agreed to join him tonight knowing full well that all he wanted was a quick roll in the sheets. I had nobody to blame but myself.
I turned to explain to the valet that I was just here to walk around a bit when I realized that no one was at the stand. Dread filled me when I scanned the parking lot.
No security. No people milling around.
The headlights weren’t turned on when the van barreled out of the darkness. As it screeched to a stop, I whirled around and ran desperately for the door. I would have made it too if they weren’t waiting for me. They stepped from behind the columns and grabbed me. Before I could scream, they shoved something into my mouth.
This time, they were ready for me. Binding my arms with a zip tie, they quickly lifted me and shoved me in the van.
Ten seconds. It couldn’t have taken longer than that for me to realize that I wasn’t getting out of this one.
Chapter 12
Lucas
She was gone. As soon as I burst through the doors of the hotel, I saw the familiar van speeding off. Her clutch lay on the asphalt with the contents spilling out.
Fear gripped me as I pulled out my phone. Torrence grumbled as he answered, but I didn’t have time for that. “They have her,” I said urgently. “I need a trace on my phone. If they call, I want to know where they are immediately.
“You’re at the gala?” he asked, obviously awake now. “Which direction did they go?”
“South down Waters Edge. White paneled van. No obvious markings. I couldn’t see the license plate.”
“I’ll see if I can direct some traffic cameras that way and track them. Call the police, and for God’s sake, Montgomery, do not leave that hotel. Don’t even think of trying to play hero.”
What the hell did he think I was going to do? It wasn’t like I could run after them on foot. I had more money than God at my disposal, but at that moment, I felt completely helpless.
Logic told me that they’d try to ransom her first, but all I could see was her mangled body lying on the side of the road. What if this had nothing to do with money? What if they were just sadistic bastards bent on hurting me?
I called Detective Allen before heading back inside to pull the hotel manager aside. “I don’t want you to raise an alarm, but there was just an abduction in your parking lot. I’ve alerted the police, but I want to see your security tapes.”
His eyes widened. “Mr. Montgomery, are you okay?”
“Do I look okay? The tapes. Now.”
Rubbing his hand nervously, he shook his head. “Should we wait for the police? I really think —”
“I will wire a thousand dollars into your personal account if you’ll just shut up and do as I ask.”
Money talks. He snapped his mouth shut and nodded his head. “Of course. Our security office is right back here.”
The Water’s Edge Hotel hosted many expensive private parties each year, so their security was impressive. Monitors covered the walls, and I could see the ball room, the lobby, the bar and elevators, each floor of the hotel.
And the parking lot.
“Rewind the outside feed,” I said darkly.
They took one look at my face and bent their heads to comply. Staring at the screen, I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach.
Sloan was practically fleeing the hotel. She’d barely made it down the front steps when two men stepped out from the shadows and shoved something in her mouth. She tried to f
ight, but they had no problems binding her and tossing her in the van.
“Where the hell is the valet? Your outside security men?” I barked. “Don’t you have people out there?”
“Yes, sir.” One of the guards picked up the radio and tried to contact the valet station and patrolling security. When there was no answer, I felt my whole body break out into a cold sweat.
“Find them,” I said hoarsely. Praying that they were just knocked out instead of dead, I pulled out my phone and gripped it in my hand.
There wasn’t a chance in hell that Sloan wasn’t going to fight. If they decided that she wasn’t worth the trouble, they’d kill her.
Torrence beat the police to the hotel. I wasn’t even surprised. Before he could cut the engine, I slid into the passenger seat. “Drive.”
He didn’t follow the command. Instead, he turned off the car and turned to face me. “She’s here.”
“Are you insane? I saw them drive off with her. I just watched the security tapes. I will fire you and make sure that you never find work in this city again if you don’t turn this car on and start driving.”
“Montgomery.”
I blinked and stared at him. There was something earnest in his voice. “How can she possibly be here,” I finally whispered.
“The traffic cams caught them turning left at every light. Either they’re the least organized criminals in the world and turned the wrong way out of the hotel, they’re circling back. If it were me, I’d hole up in the one place I knew the police wouldn’t be looking.”
I shook my head. “There are cameras crawling all over this hotel. They’d never get back out unseen.”
He unbuckled his seat belt and climbed out of the car. “I need to talk to security, but I bet the staff uses the tunnels that run under the hotel to get in and out without bothering guests. I doubt there are cameras monitoring them. Stay here and wait for the police. I’ll be right back.”
As soon as he disappeared into the hotel, I followed him and grabbed the nearest employee. “I’ll give you five hundred dollars if you tell me where the employee entrance and exits are.”
Her eyes widened, and she nodded. “There is only one that leads out of the ballroom. It feeds directly into the kitchen.”
“Show me.”
Shrugging, she put down her tray and led me to the hallway with the bathrooms. At the end was a door marked employees only. “How many tunnels lead outside?”
“Just one. It leads into the employee lounge before it breaks off. The maids’ offices are down there, and the laundry. It’s easy to get lost if you don’t know where you’re going. The trash receptacles and storage rooms are down there as well. It spans the whole length of the building.”
“Are there any employees down there?”
She shook her head. “I doubt it. Most of the staff have gone home, and those of us that are still here won’t leave until well after midnight. The cleaning staff is gone for the night.”
It was the perfect place for them to take her. No witnesses, a maze of rooms, and the one place the police wouldn’t look. “I need you to find a man named Torrence and tell him that I’m down there. He’s going to be with security and he’s probably going to be pissed. Can you do that?”
She nodded and scurried away. Loosening my bow tie, I took a deep breath and slowly eased the door open. I had no weapon, but if it was money they wanted, I would clear out my bank accounts to save her.
The hallway led directly into the kitchen. I could hear the clanging of pots and pans and the cook shouting orders. All noise ceased and everyone stared at me as I walked through the double doors.
“Don’t mind me,” I muttered as I crossed the kitchen. “Which door leads to the exit?”
“The one you came in,” one girl said timidly. She obviously thought I was drunk and turned around.
“The employee exit,” I asked impatiently. “Which door leads to the employee exit?”
Wordlessly, they all pointed to the door on the left. I nodded curtly, and eased it open. Just as I walked into the barely lit tunnel, my phone vibrated.
It was an unknown number.
Answering it, I held it up to my ear and waited.
“We have your woman. If you want to see her again, you’ll get two million dollars to us within two hours. Call the police, and she dies,” a distorted deep voice ordered.
“You kidnapped her from a public parking lot full of prominent people. Security already called the police,” I snapped. “Not to mention that banks are closed. I won’t be able to get my hands on that much money until the morning.”
There was a pause and some chatter in the background. They’d had at least two weeks to get their shit together, and they were still fucking up. They had to be the dumbest criminals ever.
“Well?”
“We’ll call you back.” The call ended, and I grimaced. They clearly hadn’t thought things through when they decided to hole up in the hotel. What would that mean for Sloan?
Pressing myself into a darkened corner, I dialed Torrence and waited.
“Where the hell are you?” he snapped.
“I just got the ransom call. I don’t think they counted on the banks not being open. Get some police to the exit of the hotel. They’re going to try to leave with her.”
“How do you know?”
“They don’t have a choice. If they’re still here in the morning, the staff will catch them.”
I hung up the phone and waited. The faint sounds from the kitchen echoed into the hallway, but there were no footsteps. I had to get closer to the exit if I wanted to catch them.
The phone vibrated again, and I answered it. “Get the money by ten in the morning. We’ll call you then with further instructions.”
“I want proof of life,” I said immediately, but the call had already ended. “Damn it.”
Shucking off my jacket, I rolled up my sleeves and moved cautiously down the wall. Each time I came to a corner, I peered around it, but I was still alone. Worried that Torrence was wrong and they weren’t here, I kept following the exit signs.
Just as the girl had said, the last room before the door was the employee break room. I eased the door open and hid just inside the opening. If they were here, and the police were out back, there was nowhere for them to go.
Time blurred. I had no idea whether I’d waited minutes or hours, but a single voice finally echoed off the walls.
“Let go of me you, you fucking assholes!”
There was my proof of life.
Chapter 13
Sloan
As they dragged me down the tunnel halls, I spat out the rag and started to scream. “Let go of me you fucking assholes!”
“Shut the hell up!” one of them hissed. “Duncan, shut her up.”
The fist came out of nowhere and connected to my jaw. Pain radiated throughout my face, but I didn’t stop. “If you want me to be quiet, you’re going to have to fucking kill me. Who will pay your damn ransom then?” I snarled.
We neared the exit doors, and my heart dropped. If I didn’t get free before we left the hotel, God knew what they would do to me. Dropping my body, I let my full weight slow them down. They grunted and reached for me, but before I knew it, they’d dropped me to the floor.
Stunned, I watched as Lucas leapt from an entryway. He’d struck two of the men before the doors opened up and police swarmed the area.
“Sloan,” Lucas shouted as he grabbed me. “Damn it, baby. Are you okay? Say something.”
He pulled me to my feet, and I just blinked and stared at him. “I didn’t know you even knew how to fight,” I said softly. “I figured you were the type who paid other people to do that.”
“Is that your way of saying thank you?” he said softly. He pulled a small knife from his pocket and sliced through the ties on my wrists. I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck and sagged against him. Now that I was safe, there was no more fight left in me.
That just left fear, horror, a
nd shock.
“You scared the hell out of me.” As the police surrounded us and people barked orders, he finally lowered his head and kissed me.
Hot. Desperate. Urgent. This wasn’t the hesitant first kiss. I could taste fear, anger, and desire wrapped all in one. For a moment, he chased the demons away, and I returned the kiss with fervor. He may not be the forever kind of guy, but he was here now.
When I grew too dizzy and breathless, I had to break the kiss. Burying my head in his chest, I ignored the buzz around me. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. I just wanted to be alone.
“Can she talk to you tomorrow? I don’t think she’s ready to give a statement,” he said in a low voice.
“We’ve got paramedics here to check her out.”
The voice sounded familiar. I pulled back and looked into the kind eyes of Detective Allen.
“I’m fine,” I muttered quietly. “I just don’t want to be here anymore.”
He nodded. “Take her home. I’ll give you both a call in the morning.”
Lucas wrapped his arms around me and slowly walked me through the doors. I turned my head and watched the flashing blue lights. I’d seen them far too much lately. Just past them, the limousine was waiting.
I slid inside and huddled in the corner. Lucas sat across from me, and I wondered why he wasn’t touching me. Why he wasn’t holding me.
“My bag,” I said hoarsely. “My bag is still inside.”
“My head of security has it. It’ll be returned to you,” he said in a low voice. There was something dangerous and restrained in his tone. “Do you want me to take you to your apartment?”
Randi would be there. She’d want to comfort me. She’d want to talk to me. I wasn’t ready for that. Numbly, I shook my head.
“Where do you want to go?”
Turning away from him, I rested my head on the window. I had no idea where I wanted to go.
Montgomery Billionaire Series Page 7