Julian (Members From Money Book 31)

by Katie Dowe

  “Do whatever the hell you want.” he told her coldly as he walked out of the room. Sydney sat down heavily on the padded bench in the closet and closed her eyes. She'd hoped that he would come around after the birth of their son but that hadn't happened and she was starting to wonder if it ever would! She took a deep breath and slid the shoes on over her stockings. She grabbed a jacket and went to look in on her son. Dominick was up and already bathed and fed. He'd stopped taking her milk as soon as he'd turned two months and was now being fed with the formula he seemed to like so much.

  “Hi there sweetie,” she picked him up out of his crib and held him to her shoulder, rubbing his back automatically. She inhaled the scent of him deeply as she hugged him to her.

  “Miss Sydney, would you like a blanket to put over your shoulder?” Sara asked as she came into the nursery.

  “No, Sara. I just came into tell him goodbye for now.” She moved him off her shoulder and kissed his soft cheek. He was such a good baby. “I'll try and come back early.”

  “He'll be okay Miss,” Sara said sympathetically, as if she realized how torn she was for leaving him.

  “I know he will.” She passed her son to the woman.“Call me if you need anything.”

  *****

  Julian stood by the window of his study and watched as she got into her car. He'd deliberately stayed in the room until she left. He had meetings to go to for the rest of the day so he would be busy until evening. He'd started a fight with her, that was what he was getting good at. He ignored her most of the time because if he didn't he would be all over her. He'd tried sorting through his feelings but was getting nowhere. The papers speculated about their relationship and had called him to ask him when they were getting married, but he had told them he had no comment. He knew she was hurting but he somehow couldn't seem to help himself. He kept thinking about his parents’ marriage and wondering what had possessed his father to have an affair with another woman. A woman who couldn't hold a candle to his mother. He couldn't help but think that he might do the same thing to her and where would that leave them? He moved away from the window as she looked up, as if realizing that he was watching her. He saw when she hesitated and then went into the car and drove away. He wished his father was alive so that he could ask him what had gone wrong in the otherwise perfect marriage to his mother. How could he have loved her so much and cheated on her with another woman who was far less significant looking than his mother? How could he bear to touch another woman and claim that he loved her? He ran trembling fingers through his hair and leaned his head against the cool glass. He spent nights looking at his son while he was fast asleep and could feel the love pouring through him each time. He was so grateful to her for Dom that he had no idea what he could give her to make up for the pain she went through in carrying him through the nine months.

  *****

  “Look at you!” Lorna exclaimed as she hugged Sydney. “You look as if you never carried a child in your life.”

  “Why thank you,” Sydney told her with a smile. She'd been greeted by the security guards downstairs and the tellers as if she was a long lost relative and the administrative staff had greeted her warmly. She was at home and it felt good to be back.

  “How could you stand to leave that adorable baby?” Lorna asked as she followed her into her office.

  “Please don’t remind me,” Sydney said with a sigh as she went around to her desk and dug out a framed photo of her son, placing it at the front of the desk.

  Lorna grabbed the photo and stared at the child. “There should be a rule against beautiful people having children together,” she murmured. Dominick had a wide toothless smile and was propped up against his pillows, wearing a dark blue jump suit. His dark brown curls fell over his face and gave him a cherubic look. His hazel eyes sparkled. “He is so beautiful.” She replaced the photo. “How are you?”

  “Ready for work,” Sydney said casually.

  “I know you're ready because you always are. I was asking about your personal life. When are you going to marry that man of yours?”

  Sydney booted up her computer and found her appointment listing. “I don’t want to discuss it Lorna.”

  “Okay fine.” She got to her feet. “How about we grab a sandwich for lunch later?”

  “I'll see.”

  “See you later.” She paused at the door. “It’s good to have you back, honey.”

  Sydney leaned against her chair and closed her eyes wearily. She was going to have to make a decision about her living situation and soon.

  *****

  Marco Purcell had been thinking about revenge ever since he'd been booted out of the bank. His wife had left him and so had his mistress. He'd lost his home, which had been mortgaged to the hilt, and was living with his brother. Which was far from being an ideal situation. He'd gone from being the manager of a bank to working at a club that catered to the privileged and he'd seen the looks the people there gave him. He'd thought about revenge and expressed it to his newfound friend; a guy who had spent time in prison for assault with a deadly weapon and was out on parole. Gino Bernard was bitter and hard and was tired of working for a little more than nothing and catering to the rich who looked down on him.

  “Why don’t you do something about your problem?” Gino asked him as they were on their break and having a soda.

  “What do you mean?” Marco asked him.

  “You know the set up at the bank, so we could go in and take some money and leave. No one being the wiser.”

  “I would be the first person they looked at.”

  “We'll be wearing masks.”

  “We?” Marco had looked at the man in surprise.

  “We,” Gino had said with a grin. “I need to ditch this place. All these rich pricks are giving me the creeps. We could get some money from the bank and go somewhere else and start over. I know a guy who can hook us up with new IDs. What do you say?”

  “No,” Marco had said at first.

  “You want revenge man, and that chick that got your job? You're always talking about setting her straight.”

  Marco had considered it and thought about it long and hard and then had agreed. “We'll be careful?”

  “I always am.”

  *****

  It happened at eleven a.m. Sydney knew the time because she'd just glanced at her clock and was about to meet with the accounts department when she heard the commotion and saw it on the monitor in her office. At first she sat rooted in her chair and was about to make a call and dial 911 when she realized that cell service was down. She also realized that the landline was down as well.

  Lorna and Greta dashed into her office at the same time, looks of fright on their faces. They'd all had drills on what to do in situations like this but had never had to use them.

  “We have to stay calm,” Sydney told the women as they stood there in front of her. “I'm sure one of the tellers already pushed the panic button so the police should be here soon.”

  “What should we do?” Lorna asked her.

  “They probably just need money so we stay up here and hope that the police come right away.”

  But it wasn't to be. They were all summoned downstairs or the robbers were going to start shooting the customers.

  They all trooped downstairs and into the main area where people were lying on their bellies. A tall, thick man with a mask over his face was the one calling the shots. “Listen up ladies and gentlemen, as you have noticed this here is a stick up. We're going to require your cell phones and all your cash. This very accommodating teller over here is already stuffing the bag I gave her with money and then we're going to go into the safe.” He turned and zeroed in on Sydney. “Well lookee here, it’s the manager herself. And from what I understand she is also the billionaire’s baby mama! Welcome girl! I want you to come over and stand right next to me.”

  Sydney hesitated for a fraction of a second and then straightening her shoulders she went over to him. She gave the tellers a quick gl
ance and noticed their frightened expressions. “I'm asking you to at least let the customers go,” she said quietly.

  “Hey man!” he shouted out at the other man who had his gun trained on the customers. “Big shot here is giving me orders. The arrogance of the rich.”

  The man looked at her but didn't say anything.

  “You just need me,” Sydney insisted.

  He gripped her arm, holding it painfully, and hauled her up to him. “I can see why the billionaire is so into you. You're one hot piece of flesh aren’t you?”

  “Hey, let’s get the cash and leave,” the other man called out to him.

  Sydney frowned a little. The voice sounded familiar, and come to think of it he also looked familiar.

  “I thought you wanted to have a little fun?”

  “We're running out of time.”

  “We have enough time,” he said stubbornly. He shoved her away from him and walked up to the teller. “What’s taking so long?” the girl trembled as he trained the gun on her.

  “I—I am almost finished.”

  “Hurry up bitch, before I blow your brains out.”

  *****

  Julian was just finishing up a meeting when he got the call.

  “Mr. Gessner?” the unfamiliar voice sounded in his ear.

  “Yes?”

  “Have you been listening to the news?”

  “Any reason why I should?”

  “I'm afraid there's a hostage situation at the bank.”

  “Midwest?” Julian’s heart hammered inside his chest.

  “Yes, sir. We received a panic signal a few minutes ago.”

  “Who is this?”

  “Detective Martell. I'm on my way down there—

  Julian cut off the man and raced towards the entrance of the restaurant. “My car,” he told the valet curtly.

  He got to the bank’s parking lot in exactly five minutes to see the place surrounded by cops. A man detached himself from the others and came over as he left his vehicle. “Mr. Gessner, I'm Detective Martell. I spoke to you over the—”

  “What’s the situation?” Julian interrupted the man impatiently.

  The detective pulled back his hand and nodded, not in the least bit offended. “Two gunmen holding customers and staff hostage. A negotiator is on his way.”

  “Anyone hurt?” he asked tersely, wishing he could see inside.

  “Not so far.”

  “What are their demands?”

  “We're not in communication with them yet. As I said, a negotiator is on his way.”

  “Why the hell is isn't he here yet?”

  “These things takes time—”

  “My wi—my woman is in there,” he told the man coldly. “If a hair on her head is hurt I will personally kill them myself.”

  “We have to remain calm—” the detective almost wept in relief as the car carrying the tactical team pulled up and the negotiator hopped out.

  “What’s the situation?” the man asked briskly as he came over.

  “They're being held at gunpoint in my bank and you need to do something about it.” Julian interrupted rudely. “Stop wasting time.”

  Mr. Gessner, I'm aware that this is your bank—”

  “Do you think I care about the bank? My woman is in there and I need to get her out.”

  “Of course sir,” the man nodded. “Get me a line into the bank.”

  *****

  Sydney saw the child squirming and knew the signs. “The child wants to go to the bathroom,” she pointed out.

  “Do you think I give a crap?” the burly man asked her coldly.

  “How do you think this is going to play out?” she asked him coolly. “The place is surrounded by cops. How are you going to get out?”

  “I have my own personal insurance,” he told her with a leer. “I'm sure Mr. Gessner would do anything to see his baby mama alive.”

  Sydney felt her heart jump in fright at that. “I'm just his baby mama, not his wife.”

  “And I bet that just stuck in your craw. If he got you pregnant then I'm sure you mean something to him.”

  “At least let the child go to the bathroom.”

  He looked at the child. “You his mother?” he asked pointing to the woman.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Go with him and any funny moves I shoot him in the head. Got that?”

  The frightened woman nodded and scrambled up, pulling the little boy with her.

  “Could you stop with the threats?” Sydney asked him calmly. “They're sufficiently frightened as it is.”

  “I want them to be scared spitless!”

  “Will that somehow make you feel like a man?” Sydney asked him sarcastically.

  She never braced for it and when the slap came she stumbled and fell onto the floor, her face stinging.

  “Bitch!” he hissed.

  “What the hell man!” the other man called out.

  “She's too mouthy!” he said. Just then the phone rang and he ignored it.

  “If you don’t answer it, they're not going to know what your demands are,” Sydney said as she struggled to her feet, one hand on her cheek.

  He looked at her and then grabbed the phone. “Yes?” he barked.

  “My name is Simon Weatherly and I'm the negotiator. Would you like to tell me what you need?”

  “I need a couple of girls to frolic on the beach and one to stand over me while I enjoy the sunshine. Can you help me with that?”

  “No but I can help you get out of there alive. What are your demands?”

  “Let’s see: I want safe passage out of here and not to be followed.”

  “We can make that happen. How about you send out the hostages?”

  “You think I'm crazy?”

  “I think you are a very smart guy—Mr. Gessner!”

  “Listen to me you son of a bitch, if you hurt her I will personally hunt you down and kill you.”

  “Mr. Gessner, how nice to hear your voice. You're the man I want to talk to, actually. That asshole negotiator was just blowing air. I have the lovely Sydney right here next to me and I'm sure you want her back in one piece.”

  “What do you want?”

  “Safe passage out of here with the money I'm taking from your bank. I'll be holding onto this lovely lady until I'm assured that my partner and I are left alone.”

  “How about a trade?”

  “What trade?”

  “Me for Sydney.”

  “As tempting as that sounds I'm afraid I'm going to pass. Could you put the asshole back on? I think I'm going to let some of the people go after all. I only need Sydney and a few others.”

  *****

  “Mr. Gessner, you have to let me do my job,” Martell said in exasperation. “I happen to know what I'm doing.”

  “Do you?” Julian stared at the man until he looked away. “I want her out of there in one piece or there will be hell to pay.”

  He stopped as the door opened and people started pouring out.

  “I'm afraid I don’t have a clear shot!” the sharp shooter called out. “He's standing behind a woman.”

  “Sydney,” Julian said grimly as he watched people scramble out and then the doors close. “How many are still in there?”

  “The staff members.”

  “Give them what they want.”

  “We're going to try and negotiate with him. The other man isn't saying anything so I suspect that the big one is the leader.”

  “Get her out!” he said between his teeth.

  *****

  Sydney saw the movements of the security guard from the corner of her eyes and shook her head at him. He had no gun but he had a baton that he was required to carry. She'd known Chester since she'd started at the bank and knew that he had a wife and a couple of children. This wasn't worth him getting killed over. The man ignored her and started crawling forward on his belly towards them.

  Sydney frantically tried to divert his attention. “What are you going to do
now?” she asked him.

  “Why, I didn't know you cared,” he said in a snide voice.

  “I don’t,” she said coldly. “Why don’t you let the staff go and leave me? You don’t need all of them do you?”

  “As a matter of fact I do. The more hostages I have is the more leverage I have to work with. As long as they do as I say then they have nothing to worry about. And that man of yours happens to care about you. Who knows, after all this is over you might just get a marriage proposal and then you'll be able to thank me.”

  “You're a piece of trash,” she told him coldly, not caring if she got slapped around. “What happened to working hard to get what you have?”

  “The way you do?” he asked her caustically. “You got a man’s job all because you were sleeping with the owner of the bank so don’t get me started lady.”

  “I got the job because I worked hard for it.”

  “Not the way Marco told it.”

  Suddenly, Sydney looked over at the other man and her eyes widened. Before she could say anything, Chester lunged at the man and a shot fired off!

  Chapter 12

  For a moment Julian froze as he heard the shot and every terrible scenario flashed through his head. She was dead and he would never get to tell her that he loved her and wanted nothing more than for her to be his wife.

  He stumbled back from the horror of it all and only half heard when someone said that they got a clear shot. He shook his head as he noticed that the cops were charging towards the bank in full force and only raced after them when they got through the doors. His eyes were only for her and he saw her down on the ground, with her hands pressed against a wounded man. She looked up and their eyes met and held. He had no idea how he got to her on his trembling legs. But he got there and crumpled onto his knees next to her. “He needs an ambulance,” she said softly as she looked up at him. “It’s okay, I'm not hurt. Chester was trying to be a hero.”

  He pulled her to him as the EMT rushed in to take over. All around them people scrambled but, neither of them noticed. The men had been taken into custody. The burly one crying in pain where he'd been shot in the shoulder.