Ranger nodded. “Take care of her. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
By the time McGyver walked back through the suite and into the bathroom, Iris was standing under the water. He quickly stripped and joined her, but instead of holding her, he grabbed a washcloth, soaped it up, and started cleaning her back.
“You’re safe. I’m here. Ranger’s just outside the door. Aaron will be patrolling and sniffing. The assholes are in custody, and no one else will get near you.”
“Are Bob and Rob okay?” She looked down. “The security detail this morning. Jake’s last name is Robertson. They work together a lot, so I gave them a couple-name.”
McGyver closed his eyes. He hadn’t wanted to be the one to have to tell her, but this was the first downtime she’d had, and he was the only one here.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know which is which. The one outside is okay, but the one inside didn’t make it. He was killed in the explosion.”
She stumbled and leaned against the shower wall. “Was anyone else hurt?”
“I’m so sorry, Iris. Three students were killed, and the last I heard, five were in the hospital. The explosive device was placed in that little seating area ahead of time.”
“I sat there before class, to get a little studying in while I waited. That’s probably what those people were doing, too.”
McGyver pulled her into his arms. “The kidnappers killed them. You are not at fault.”
This also meant the assholes in lockup would spend the rest of their lives in prison, where they may have only spent a few years for kidnapping when their victim wasn’t harmed. McGyver didn’t think it was the right time to point that out, though.
“The media was on the bomb and abduction all day. The FBI didn’t announce you’d been abducted, but people figured it out on social media.”
“I should tweet that I’m okay, and that I don’t have time for details. Or… something.”
“Maybe. Why don’t you check in with your father? He may have plans, or maybe he doesn’t, but I think he’ll appreciate hearing from you again. It’ll be a good excuse to call him.”
She nodded. “I have to say how horrible I feel that people were hurt and killed. I need to figure out how to say it.”
She washed and conditioned her hair, and Danny sat on the built-in bench and watched. She seemed to want some space, but he wasn’t prepared to give her too much space.
When she’d dried off and had her hair wrapped in a towel, she called her father with her new phone.
“You’re on speaker,” she told him. “I’d like to do a little brainstorming. Danny told me about the people who were killed and injured this morning, and a quick look online told us my rescue hasn’t been reported yet. I’d like to send a tweet out. Something short, saying I’ve been rescued and I’m recovering from the ordeal, but I need to say how horrible I feel about the people who were killed and injured.”
“A properly worded tweet isn’t a terrible idea, but it could backfire. We’re going to have to be careful to arrange the narrative so you’re seen as a victim and not the reason people died. I have my PR people working to shape opinions in our favor, but it could go either way at present time.”
“She isn’t responsible,” McGyver interjected. “The criminals killed those people. Not Iris.” He’d keep reminding her until she believed it.
“Yes, but the rich have a responsibility to keep our drama from harming the little people. You wouldn’t understand.”
Because her father still saw him as one of the little people. No problem. He’d have to show her father who he’d grown into, and he hoped to do it without engaging in a pissing contest.
“I get what you’re saying, sir. If someone decides her security wasn’t adequate and that’s why people died, it won’t be good. Iris is still recovering from an ordeal, though, and she feels responsible, so for your daughter’s emotional stability, it might be good for her to hear from you that you don’t believe she’s responsible.”
Five full seconds of silence, and her father said, “If anyone’s responsible, it’s Aaron Drake and whoever decided your security for that class. You had two people on you, and I’ll assume their locations were carefully thought out, but a simple explosive device separated you from them and funneled you right to the kidnappers. Iris, my love, you are in no way responsible. I hired Drake Security, and they were supposed to know how to keep you safe. I’m grateful they found you, though I understand we owe Daniel Franklin the majority of our thanks, and I’m still dealing with that.”
McGyver had overheard the Drake people talking throughout the day, so he told them, “Iris’s mother was grabbed off the street. Their threat assessment didn’t account for the kidnappers to use these kinds of tactics. Today was about finding Iris, my guess is that tomorrow will be about figuring out where things went wrong, but there was still enough talk today for me to understand how pissed off they all were that someone under their protection was abducted.”
“They had more people on me, at first,” Iris said. “I’m the one who told them to limit it to two people just for me to go to class.”
“It wasn’t your call to make,” Danny told her. “It was Aaron, Ranger, and Kenny’s call.” He looked at the phone. “Monday morning quarterbacking won’t help. No one thought these men would use a bomb. Does Iris need to talk to one of your PR people to get the wording right on her tweet? To make sure she doesn’t mess with what they’re trying to do?”
“Let’s see what we can do without them. Iris — have you worked something up?”
“I have.” She’d typed it on the laptop Drake Security had issued him, and she read it off to her father. “Upon being rescued from my kidnappers tonight, I found out a member of my security team along with three students were killed, and another five students are fighting for their life in the hospital. Words can’t express how much my heart hurts.” She sighed. “I want to say something along the lines of not having the heart to celebrate my own rescue, but nothing sounded right, so I think just keeping it to that might be best.”
“That’s perfect, Iris. The focus is on the deaths and injuries, and not on your rescue, but it lets people know you’re safe.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
“Did they hurt you? I know you said you’re okay, but I need to see you in person before I can be sure.”
“They had me in a hogtie for the first, I don’t know, hour? Until they got me on the plane. The position made everything hurt. Then, they tied both hands to the right armrest on the plane, and my shoulders were already hurting, so my left one is more sore than the right. But I’m just sore, Daddy. I took some Tylenol when I ate, and I’ll take some ibuprofen before I turn in, and hopefully I won’t be too stiff in the morning. I’m alive. It feels selfish to complain about being sore when others are dead.”
“The FBI wants to meet with you at noon. I’ll order breakfast to be delivered to your suite at ten, and I’ll plan to arrive a few minutes before. My plane should land in the next two hours, and I’ve reserved a room down the hall from you. Is there anything else you need?”
“Not that I know of. Danny eats enough for three men, and he likes bacon and sausage and steak. If they have blueberry pancakes, I’d love them. If not, maybe a Belgian waffle and scrambled eggs? I’ll see you in the morning, Daddy.”
Iris typed the tweet into her phone, read through it, sent it, and put her phone down. “The zip ties they used hurt my wrists worse than I wanted to admit at the house. It’s possible I need to have someone look at them, but I think they’re just bruised and strained.”
McGyver gently turned her hands and looked closely. He could smell pain and small amounts of damage, but not enough to be worried. The zip-tie marks were clearly visible after her shower, and he grabbed his phone and took a few pictures. “We may or may not need them, but we’ll have them if we do. How are your ankles?”
“Not as sore, but the plastic dug into them, too.”
A few more pictures, an
d he motioned towards the bed. “In you go. I’ll let Ranger know we’re turning in, and that we’ll just wait until we wake in the morning to get whatever the buyer brings.”
Chapter 24
Iris woke to an unfamiliar, jarring musical tone. She sat up and didn’t recognize her surroundings, but didn’t panic. She’d awakened in strange rooms more times than she could count.
Her neck hurt. Her shoulders hurt. Her stomach. Hips. Everything hurt.
The events of the previous day came slamming back, along with the fact her new phone’s alarm tone was different than the one on her old phone. She picked it up without turning her body, dismissed the alarm, and sank back into the mattress. Fuck. She was a mess and wasn’t sure she could move. She tried to turn her head, but her neck muscles screamed in protest.
“Your dad will be here in thirty minutes,” Danny said from beside her. “Why don’t you head to the shower, and I’ll see about getting our things from your security team.”
“I took a shower last night.”
“The hot water will help.”
She started to shake her head, but stopped a half-inch into it. “Is there a minibar? At this point, nothing short of Jägermeister is going to help.” How many times had she awakened nonfunctioning, did a line or two, and made it through her day with no problem?
“You almost sound serious.”
She really hoped he wasn’t going to argue with her. “I’m dead serious. One of the little bottles will be enough to loosen me up without making me drunk. I’ll take some Tylenol when we eat, and I’ll be totally sober by the time the FBI arrives, but even if I’m not, no one will realize I had a shot before breakfast to help loosen me up. One shot isn’t enough to make me act drunk.”
Danny shook his head and made a phone call.
“We’re up. Did the buyer arrive with our purchases?”
He hung up and looked at her. “You know your body, so do whatever you need to do. Kenny’s bringing our things. I’ll go into the other room to get them.”
“Can you check the minibar and bring me a bottle?”
A few moments later, she heard him reading, “Patrón, Grey Goose, Jack, Chivas, Hennessy, Maker’s, Jose Cuervo, Glenfiddich, Fireball—”
“The Fireball. If there are two, bring them both. Thanks.”
He stood by the bed and watched her drink both down, and then he wrapped the bottles in tissue and tossed them in the bathroom garbage bin. No judgement, and he was helping her keep it hidden. Her heart melted all over again.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” He’d put four large bags on the foot of the bed when he brought the Fireball in, and he motioned towards them. “There’s about sixty pounds worth of purchases. I need a shower to get woke up.” He looked through the bags, found his clothes, and took them to the bathroom.
The heat of the Fireball went from her stomach to her body, and she rotated her head. Better. She took a few deep breaths, and felt her abdomen loosen. Her turn to look through the bags, and she found some wide legged pants with a matching blouse and short jacket, and the most adorable stacked heels to go with it.
The bruises on her wrists looked uglier this morning than they had the night before, but it might be better to show them. With a sigh, she retrieved her phone again, opened Twitter, and checked out the comments. Twelve thousand. A quick glance through showed her a combination of people happy she was safe, and people angry that her inept security got people killed.
Danny had mentioned it was important to remind everyone she was a victim and not the bad guy, so she looked again, found a clingy skirt and sweater, and chose them instead. She’d be able to push the sweater up her arms.
Bonus, the heels for this outfit looked a little more comfortable. The Fireball had helped, but she still hurt.
She brushed her hair and opted to put it into a French Twist instead of going at it with the flat iron, and she sent a quick text to her father. If you want me on camera, you’ll need to bring in a hair stylist. My shoulders aren’t going to let me do much with my hair. I can manage okay for the FBI by putting it up, but I look more approachable with it down.
Danny stepped out of the bathroom wearing the jeans and shirt, and Iris stopped working on her contouring to admire him. The shirt showed off all his muscles, and the new jeans gave him a different look than his broken-in jeans.
“We don’t have time for me to jump you, but damn, you look good.” She blew out a breath. “You’ll never look as good to me as you did when you opened that fucking steel door, though. I’ve never been so happy to see a friendly face, and the fact it was you…”
Fear and relief battled in her gut and rose to her throat. She took a breath and tried to settle her emotions. It wouldn’t do to get all teary-eyed midway through applying her makeup.
He breathed in. “The Fireball helped, but I don’t think you’re up to a good fucking yet. You need anything else?”
“You got that from smelling my scent?”
“Yeah, Blueberry. Does that bother you?”
She shook her head and told him about the Twitter feed, and he said, “I woke an hour before you. Had my alarm set to just vibrate, so it wouldn’t wake you. I’ve been through the news and various social media. You’ll need to release an official statement through your father’s people this morning. The biggest problem right now is a lack of answers. Speculation isn’t helping.”
Iris’s phone went off, and she saw a text from her father. I can be there in five minutes if you’re ready for company.
“You good with my dad coming now?”
“Yeah. Ya’ll need to see each other. Do you need me to stay in here to give you some time together?”
“No. I vote we pretend everything’s normal. If he gets out of line, let me try to handle him, please?”
He didn’t answer, so she texted back, We’re dressed. I’m working on my makeup. Come when you’re ready.
“Let’s play it by ear,” he finally answered. “I promise my intent will be to make things better and not worse, but there are some things I won’t be able to just let slide without responding to.”
These two clashing head-to-head would be a nightmare, but she wasn’t going to be able to rein either of them in. They were both uber-alpha males, and she’d just have to manage things as much as possible.
“As long as your intent is to make things better, we’ll figure it out. Now, give me three minutes to finish my eye makeup before Daddy gets here.”
He leaned down. “Blow.”
She blew, he breathed in, and he gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “I mainly smell the toothpaste, so you’re good.” He stood. “You were right. Two little bottles of Fireball loosened you up, and judging by your eyeliner, they don’t seem to have messed with your ability to function.”
“Thanks for not fighting me on it.”
“You’re a grown woman. I assumed you’d know what was best. It seemed wrong, but you know your body, and you were right.”
A knock sounded on the door, and Danny motioned for her to stay put. “Finish up. I’ll let him in.”
McGyver breathed near the edge of the door and smelled Brock Wendel and Ranger. Still, he only opened the door a crack, at first. When he was certain it was safe, he opened it all the way and motioned the older man in. “Please, come in. Iris is finishing her makeup and she’ll join us. I hope you had a nice rest once you finally made it in.”
Brock Wendel stepped in, and stopped to openly scrutinize the man who’d slept with his daughter.
“I can see it now. The boy you once were. I had my people research you overnight.”
“I expected you would. Please, have a seat. Get comfortable.”
“You should hate me.”
The wolf wanted to stand toe-to-toe with the man, but in the interests of defusing the situation before things could get even more awkward, McGyver walked to the dining area, pulled a chair out, and sat. “You were trying to protect Iris. You made the wrong decisi
on, but you did it out of love. My ingress at the house took me straight to Iris without encountering a kidnapper, because Aaron Drake knew I wouldn’t be content with merely securing the kidnappers until the authorities could arrive to arrest them.” He shrugged. “I encountered one. I understand his nose and cheekbone are broken, and he may need surgery to repair the retina of one eye. I only hit him once.”
Wendel’s cool blue eyes turned even frostier. “It’s a shame you didn’t have a go at more of them.”
“On that, we’re in agreement. However, I’m glad I’m the one who made it to Iris first. She fell apart for me in private, and pulled herself together before she was around the others.”
“How long have you been seeing my daughter?”
“We’ve taken it slow.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
“I found him by accident about a month into the school year,” Iris told him as she stepped into the room. “We took it slow. I’m serious about classes, so we’ve seen each other on average once or twice a month.” She looked to McGyver and back to her father. “I love him, Daddy. He’s my soul mate. All these years, I was looking for someone I cared about the same way I care about him. You know I went off the deep end, and it was because I was looking for…” She shrugged. “It’s him, Daddy. It’s always been him.”
Wendel looked at McGyver, his eyes still cold and calculating. “Are you a criminal?”
“I’ve never been convicted of a crime.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
“I believe I answered your question, sir. I don’t have a criminal record.” McGyver reminded himself the goal was to keep from alienating the man even farther, so he added. “The RTMC owns various legal enterprises. I’m in charge of tech security for a portion of our properties, and I help manage security for the other businesses. I also help make sure our communications are secure, and help make sure our people and their families aren’t using technology in a way that could be detrimental to security.”
McGyver Page 17