by Sofia Grey
“Come on. Jack’s your husband, and I’d trust him with my life. He’s one of the good guys, and always has been. While Yanni—cute though he may be—has got a very bad rep. I mean, he kidnapped you for Christ’s sake.”
“Yanni told me a girl’s life is in danger and he needs to be released in order to save her.”
“And if he really cared, he’d tell you how to save her, right?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Juli shrugged. “I believed him. Does that count for anything?”
Maria gazed at her friend. Her earlier upset had disappeared, and she was now back in control. “You’re going to let him go, aren’t you?”
“I’ll need your help.”
Whoa. She didn’t see this coming. Maria could imagine how furious Tanner would be. Sadly, he’d probably think she did it on purpose to piss him off after the way he behaved last night. “How do you propose to keep him under control? He might have a hole in his side, but he looks as though he can still handle himself.”
There was a hint of a smile. “Aiden carries a handgun. And didn’t you tell me you had a stun gun?”
“You’re serious,” she whispered.
Juli nodded. “I’ve bought him new clothes and drawn out a wedge of cash from my bank account. I want to get him out of there, rescue this girl if she exists—that might be another lie—and then let him escape. He saved Papa’s life. That’s the deal we made.”
This was borderline insane. Normally that’s how Maria operated, in the grey areas where sensible people never trod, but this was a whole new ball game.
“Have you thought about Jack in all this,” asked Maria. “As in, what he’ll think? The damage you’ll do to your relationship? Juli, he’s not gonna like it.” Another understatement.
Cool green eyes gazed back at her, determination clear on her face. “It’s a calculated risk. I love Jack more than I can say, more than I ever thought possible. But what if he’s wrong about Yanni? What if his anger and resentment are blinding him to the truth? What if this girl dies because he can’t get there? Wherever there is.”
“It’s not so much of a calculated risk as a freakin’ massive one. He’s gonna feel betrayed by you. That you’re believing Yanni over him. I hate to say it, but I think you need your head examined.” Maria realised she was clenching her fists as she leaned over the table. She relaxed and leaned back again.
Juli nodded, her gaze steady. “Yanni came to me looking for my help. And now, because of that, they’re going to interrogate him, and probably lock him up and throw away the key.” She paused. “I don’t believe he’s as bad as they say. Jack, Tanner, and Aiden are blinkered, and they’re seeing what they want to see. And it’s wrong what they want to do. I just can’t stand by and let it happen.”
Her words hung between them. Maria stirred her coffee and tried to put herself in Juli’s shoes. There was no right answer to this, and too many things could go wrong. Jack was like another brother to her, and she couldn’t bear for him to be hurt like that, if she could prevent it.
What if there was another way? Juli was stubborn as they came, but what she didn’t know couldn’t hurt her. “Okay. What do you want me to do?”
Chapter Ten
Juli did the shopping she planned, and then went back to Charlie’s apartment.
Jack greeted her with a lovely, big hug, and helped to carry her bags and unload the food into the kitchen. He had a fresh, bloody scrape across the back of his right hand.
“How did you do that?” she asked.
“Huh?” He glanced at it, and then fixed his dazzling, sexy smile on her. “It’s nothing. I didn’t notice it.” Stepping closer, he slipped his arms around her. “Tanner’s on watch right now, and Aiden’s catching up on his sleep. Let’s take a time-out.”
He was difficult to resist. “I’d love to, but Maria is coming over this afternoon. She’s taking a few days’ holiday, to spend some time with us. Help us look after Yanni.”
“We can be quick.” He dropped his head and nuzzled her neck. “I can make you come really quickly.”
She dropped a hand, to brush the zipper of his jeans. “Really quick? And quiet?”
“I’m not usually the noisy one.”
Juli looked over her shoulder, but there was no sign of Tanner. “I thought you said Tanner was on watch?”
“He’s in with Yanni. And you are coming in with me.”
She loved his confidence, and she was putty in his hands.
It was as good as she hoped, and she snuggled with Jack afterward, her mind racing.
Could she go through with her ridiculous plan to free Yanni? And could she bear the hurt it would cause Jack?
He lay back, a satisfied look on his face, and yawned when she pulled her clothes back on. “What’s the rush, babe? We could stay here a bit longer.”
She dropped a kiss on his nose. “I need coffee. You can stay here if you like.”
Having brewed a large pot of coffee, and still with no sign of Tanner, Juli took the opportunity to check a few things in the kitchen. She found where Tanner kept Yanni’s painkillers, sleeping pills, and antibiotics. Tanner hung the handcuffs key on the wall outside the kitchen, in case someone else needed to release Yanni. As for Aiden’s gun—whoever was on watch would carry that.
She had all the things she needed, if she was going to do it. She still wasn’t sure.
*
Nathan had just finished a strenuous workout on Samson, when he saw Daisy arrive with her fiancé. What was his name again? Charlie.
Samson, being the dick he was, snorted at Charlie and stamped his feet, making the guy stand back. Daisy, meanwhile, walked right up to the horse and stroked his nose. He quieted immediately.
Nathan dropped to the floor and gathered up the reins. He gave Charlie a friendly smile. “It’s like magic. She has such a way with him. Even my groom can’t fuss him like that.” He stuck out his hand. “Congratulations on your engagement. I’m Nathan Miller.”
“Charlie Jones,” Charlie replied, his grip firm. “Daisy told me about your mystery girl. I wanted to lend my support.”
“Oh. My. God.” Shaz emerged from the stable block and stared at Charlie. Did she know him?
Several things happened at once. Nathan sighed. Daisy rolled her eyes, and Shaz grabbed Charlie’s hand with an intensity that was rather scary.
“You’re Charlie Jones—the Charlie Jones,” gushed Shaz. “How fantastic to meet you.” Next thing, she flung her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips.
What the holy fuck?
Nathan didn’t know where to look, so he looked at Daisy. She wore a look of resignation on her face. Was this normal? In the years Nathan had known Shaz, he’d never seen her so animated. Clearly, she knew Charlie, and Daisy wasn’t very happy about it.
Daisy scuffed her sneakers in the dust and chewed on her lip. “We need to move,” she said. “Paul should be ringing soon.”
Charlie wriggled free, but Shaz clung to his arm, shrieking about what a huge fan she was, and would he please autograph her shirt, and maybe her knickers?
Her knickers? Did Nathan hear that right?
Daisy looked more pissed off by the second, and Nathan didn’t like that. He snapped his fingers in front of Shaz’s face. “Hey,” he said. “I need you to take Samson.”
She gazed at Nathan as though she didn’t recognise him, then looked back at Charlie, currently wiping his mouth on the back of his hand.
“Give in,” said Nathan. “How do you know Daisy’s fiancé?”
“Fiancé?” It was Shaz’s turn to stare open-mouthed. Her gaze fixed on Daisy. “He’s engaged? To you?” Her disdain was clear, and Daisy blanched.
Oh no. That was out of order. “Shaz,” said Nathan, holding his anger by a fine thread. “Don’t be so rude.”
“Come on,” Shaz said. “Charlie Jones could have his pick of women, and he chose you?”
Charlie moved to Daisy and slipped his arm around her shoulders. �
�There is no other woman for me. Daisy is my girl, and if I were you, I’d apologize to her right this fucking minute.”
Shaz held up both hands. “I’m sorry, but it was a shock, you know? I follow you on social media, and nobody’s said anything about you being engaged.” She was blushing, but Nathan didn’t feel sorry for her in the slightest. “I didn’t know you lived around here.” She was trying to be friendly now, but it was too late for that.
“We live in London,” Daisy snapped. “We’re just visiting friends.”
That wasn’t what she said earlier, but Nathan kept his mouth shut on that score. He handed the reins to Shaz. “I need you to take Samson. We’ve got business to attend to.”
Finally, she went, and Nathan led the others into the house. “I’m so sorry,” he said. “I’ve no idea what’s got into her. Let’s go find Irina. It’s nearly three.”
He left the couple in the kitchen while he went upstairs, but there was no sign of Irina. Bugger. Did she leave? He hastened downstairs. “She’s bloody gone. I’ll have to see if Motormouth has seen her.”
Shaz was untacking Samson in the yard. She glared at Nathan when he approached, but he ignored that. He was used to that.
“Have you seen Irina?” He was curt, but he was still furious at her.
“Maybe.”
“Where is she? And don’t give me any bullshit, Shaz. This is important.” He held onto his temper, just.
“Why didn’t you tell me Daisy was engaged to Charlie Jones?”
“What the fuck has that got to do with anything? I want to know where Irina is.”
“Irina’s flavour of the day, huh? Go to hell, Nathan Miller, and take your newest girlfriend with you.”
For fuck’s sake. This was neither the time nor the place for this conversation. Especially not when Daisy and Charlie—whoever the fuck he was—were probably hanging onto every word through the open kitchen door.
Was anything going to go right today?
*
Despite Jack and Aiden’s trying to negotiate with Yanni for more on the supposed girl in danger, he refused to cooperate. There was a chance he might open up to Juli again, but the prospect made Jack’s gut churn. The sooner Yanni was in custody, the better. Jack had debated long and hard with Aiden and Tanner, who both agreed that one more day wouldn’t hurt. With a timeline counting down, they had some leverage to get Yanni to talk.
Juli was in a bad mood again, right until Maria arrived mid-afternoon. They disappeared into a bedroom, to talk in private. The strain of holding Yanni was beginning to show on all of them.
When Juli announced that she wanted to talk to Yanni with Maria, while Jack longed to say hell no, the correct answer was yes. As long as Jack sat in with them.
Tanner was on guard in Yanni’s room, but he left, after scowling at Maria. Jack sat on the windowsill, out of Yanni’s eyeline, while Juli and Maria sat on either side of the bed.
“I’d like to introduce my friend, Maria.” Juli spoke politely, as though she were in a business meeting.
Yanni gazed at Maria, his focus intense. “You were in here the other night. Did you speak to me?”
Maria nodded in reply.
“If what you told me is true, about this girl,” continued Juli, “I need you to tell us more. Otherwise you’ll be handed over to the authorities. Do you understand?”
“And what makes you think I’ll tell you?” Amusement lined his voice, and Jack rolled his eyes. This was a waste of time. Yanni was probably stalling, trying to think up a new story.
“Because I’m asking you nicely,” said Juli. “And we want to help.”
Yanni gazed at her for a long moment.
Jack’s skin crawled. Yanni wouldn’t give them anything.
Yanni cleared his throat. “A few months ago, a young girl left home to work in a Southend hotel, as a cleaner. She never arrived. Her new employer, who paid for the travel costs, told her he had a different job—one that would pay better money. And since she now owed him an impossible amount for the cost of entering Britain legally, she’d have to work hard to repay it. There were probably threats about non-payment. Anyway, I managed to track her down and make contact, but then she was moved before I could get her out. We’d agreed on a meeting place and time, if she managed to escape, and that’s where I need to be on Saturday.”
He paused and took a sip of water from the plastic bottle at his side. “I’m confident that she got away, because she didn’t arrive where she was supposed to. Where they were moving her to.” He stared at Juli. “I’m the only person she trusts. She’s most likely terrified and alone right now. She may be dead. Her employer is ruthless and will be searching for her, hence my need to be there.”
Despite Juli’s warning glare, Jack stepped forward and joined the conversation. “This is all very heart wrenching, but do you have any proof? Anything to back up this miserable story?”
“I won’t tell you her employer, because I don’t trust you. For all I know, you work for him too.”
Jack snorted with laughter. “Not a shred of evidence, then. It’s pure fiction, Yanni. Try again.”
“What happens if you don’t make the meet?” Juli sounded curious.
The bastard smiled at her. Surely, she wasn’t buying this fairy tale?
“I always have a backup plan,” replied Yanni. “I gave her the name of someone I consider to be safe, and told her to make contact with him as a last resort. Having said that, I don’t know if she’d be brave enough to. She’s had a rough few months.”
Maria joined in now. “Jack’s right. You can’t just tell us snippets and hints. If you want our help, you have to trust us, and tell us the whole story.”
Yanni’s cold gaze met Jack’s. “The only person I trust in this room is Juli, and look where that’s got me.” He rattled his handcuff as a reminder. “I don’t want to put her in danger too.”
The anger inside Jack ramped up a notch. They were going in circles.
Juli sighed. “You need to give us something, Yanni. A way for us to confirm that you’re telling the truth. Please.” She fiddled with her watch strap, twisting it around her wrist, one way and then the other.
“Of course. Go to Gloria’s. Get one of the latest batch of girls. She’ll tell you that one of them went missing.” He stared at Jack through hooded eyes. “Her name is Irina.”
*
Nathan found Irina in the loft over the barn again. It was easiest to take Daisy and Charlie up there for the imminent phone call.
They sat on the bales together in a circle, and Irina stared at Charlie, a frown on her face.
Daisy pointed to him and said, “Charlie,” and Irina’s face lit up.
“Charlie Jones?” Irina mimed playing a guitar, and he laughed and reached out to shake her hand. “Event Horizon,” said Irina. She nodded, as though underscoring the words. “You are good.” She blushed, looking even younger.
Nathan was confused. Sitting back, he looked at Charlie. “Okay, I give in. Are you a TV star or something?”
“Nah.” Charlie flashed a cocky grin that set Nathan’s nerves on edge. “Guitarist. D’you listen to rock music?”
“No, sorry. Are you famous?”
Daisy smiled at her fiancé and laced her fingers with his. “Yeah, he’s pretty famous. That’s why Shaz… You know. Outside.”
“Why she went a bit weird. I did wonder.” A famous musician. That would explain Shaz’s fawning over him, but not her abuse of Daisy.
Right on cue, Daisy’s phone trilled. Irina immediately huddled back into her corner. With a dusty blanket wrapped around her shoulders, she looked like a survivor of a terrible accident.
“It’s Paul,” said Daisy. “He’s got Maja with him, so I’ll put it on speaker.” She placed her phone on the wooden floorboards. “Hi. This is Daisy. We’ve met a young woman who seems to be in trouble, but we can’t figure out how best to help her. Can you please talk to her? You’re on speaker with myself and my friends.”
Irina lifted her head and scooted closer to the phone. Her eyes bright, she rattled off a torrent of words in an unfamiliar language. She ended abruptly and sat back again.
“Okay.” Maja sounded reassuring. “Her name is Irina Bozcek, and she’s sixteen years old. She came to Britain a few months ago but was tricked into taking a job she didn’t want. By the sound of it, they made it hard for her to leave. She was in Dublin until a few days ago and brought across on the ferry.” She addressed Irina in her native tongue again, then listened to the babbled reply.
“She says a man made contact with her—someone her family knows—and he claimed he could take her home, that he would make them drop her debt. He made arrangements to come for her, but her handler—that’s the closest word for it—had already moved the girls and taken them to the ferry. When the ferry docked and they unloaded, there was trouble and she ran away.”
Irina was huddled beneath her blanket again, only her eyes visible.
“What kind of trouble, Maja?” Nathan asked.
More Polish flew back and forth, although this time, Irina seemed reluctant to explain. Maja sighed. “She won’t tell me. Only that she’s frightened her handler will come looking for her. And she’s worried that you’ve been so kind. She doesn’t want him to find her with you and bring danger to your home.”
She was just a kid, and she needed help. Nathan couldn’t turn his back on her. “Will you tell Irina that we’ll look after her? She’s safe with us.”
Maja spoke, and Irina responded with a shy smile, tears gleaming in her eyes.
It’d be good to know what kind of trouble she was in. “Do we need to call the police?”
Irina reacted instantly, scrambling to her feet. “No, no, no. No police. Please.”
Maja intervened. “She’s scared of the police and thinks they will lock her up.”
“Why would they do that?” Charlie looked as perplexed as Nathan felt. “She’s just a kid, covered in bruises. She’s a victim.”