McGyver

by Candace Blevins

  “And if I were to offer you a job in my organization? Contingent upon you leaving your brothers?”

  His emphasis on the last word told McGyver the man had been coached in what it meant to belong to a motorcycle club.

  “While I appreciate your offer, my brothers are my family.”

  He turned to Iris. “How will you explain him?”

  “I’m not, yet. We’re new, Daddy. We aren’t ready to go public, and even when it comes out, Danny’s going to prefer to stay in the background as much as possible.”

  “Very well. Let me look at you.” He now analyzed his daughter. “What have you taken?”

  “I couldn’t even turn my head when I first woke up. My entire body was stiff. I did two of the little mini bottles of Fireball, and it helped. I’ll take some Tylenol with breakfast.”

  He gently held her hand in one of his, and used his other hand to carefully push the sleeve of her sweater up. He stared at the marks on her wrist a good five seconds, and McGyver could smell his carefully controlled rage.

  “I will make sure they are beaten every day for the rest of their lives in prison.” Brock Wendel’s voice was dangerously calm, and McGyver made a note of his tone for future reference.

  “Daddy, I’m bruised and sore. Other people are dead.”

  “All the more reason they should suffer.”

  “Another thing you and I agree on, sir.” McGyver stood and headed to the door. “I believe our breakfast is here.”

  He opened the door a crack, saw Ranger’s nod, and opened it the rest of the way.

  “Kenny supervised in the kitchen while it was being prepared,” Ranger told him. “And he’s escorting them up with it.” Danny looked at another man, standing about ten feet away, and Ranger explained, “Brock Wendel’s personal bodyguard. Another is posted at the elevator, and I’m assuming they have at least one more we don’t know about.”

  The hotel staff set the table as if they were in a fancy restaurant, and McGyver was pleased to see Brock Wendel had done as his daughter asked and ordered three breakfasts for him. His wolf was starving.

  “Thank you for the extra food. I appreciate the thought. I inquired about paying for our room last night and was told it was taken care of.”

  “It is. This room is above your means. I’ll handle it.”

  “Daddy, don’t be so sure. Danny isn’t the little boy you remember.”

  “He can’t pay for a four thousand dollar a night suite.”

  “I can, sir, and the offer is still on the table. I have about eight hundred cash on me now, but can arrange to get the rest as soon as I’m back in Chattanooga, or I can go downstairs and handle it with the hotel on a card.” When he didn’t respond, McGyver added, “I don’t want or need your money. I’ve done quite well for myself. I own my own home without a mortgage, as well as four cars, a truck, and three motorcycles. I have everything I need and most everything I want. I fly by chartered plane more often than commercial airline, and I live a rich and fulfilling life. I enjoy my job, and I love my family of choice. Even so, something was missing, and I now realize it was Iris.”

  Wendel’s cool eyes turned away, dismissing him, and he asked Iris, “Tell me what you’ll tell the FBI.”

  She’d gone through it with the agents the night before, but they all knew she’d have to go through it again.

  “I got to class early and sat in the little study area with Jake, to look over what the professor would be teaching. Once class started, I was so into the lesson, so engrossed in the math, I didn’t realize what the sounds were — not until the smell hit me. I realized it’d been an explosion, and there were fire alarms. We went out of the room and were herded through the downstairs and out an exit on Vine Street.” She sighed. “The world went black, and I was lifted into what I think was a van or an SUV. I felt the cheap, rough carpet. A few minutes later, my clothes were cut off and I was moved to another vehicle, naked. Again, either a van or an SUV. I was hogtied, and everything hurt. When I talked, a mechanical voice threatened to cut my ear off if I spoke again. Something about one ear, then the other, and then they’d start on fingers, but as long as I followed instructions, and so did my father, I wouldn’t be hurt.”

  She told about being put on the plane, and then another vehicle she thought may have been an ambulance, and finally being dumped on the floor of her windowless basement prison.

  When she finished, her father told her, “Well done. I’ve taught you to give just the facts, but the FBI is going to expect more emotion. Try to remember to tell them how you felt. Our attorney will shush you if you get into dangerous territory, but I can’t imagine you will. Still, if they silence you, stop talking. Aaron Drake has asked to be present for the interview, and he’ll have an attorney present as well. I expect that giving your statement will be cut and dried.” He took a long drink of his coffee, and continued. “Now, we need to discuss the media.”

  “Danny woke an hour before me to look through what’s being said. I only glanced at the comments on my Twitter post. Can you get one of your assistants to look through them all, please? I doubt there’s anything we need to know, but it’s a lot, and someone should go through them, just in case. I’ll eventually hire a social media expert to look through my comments so they can highlight the ones I need to know about, but I didn’t think it was time yet.”

  He made a note on his phone with a stylus and inserted it back into the pen holder on his leather portfolio. “Certainly.” He looked to McGyver. “What can you tell me about your time online?”

  “It was a mixed bag, with some being relieved Iris was safe, and others blaming her inadequate security for the deaths. With few facts released, speculation is running rampant and isn’t helpful.”

  “Your advice?”

  “A statement along the lines of, With no active threats, and based on the methods used to abduct her mother, there was no reason to believe kidnappers would resort to an explosive device to capture Iris. Unfortunately, this criminal ring was willing to commit mass murder.”

  He changed the tone of his voice to show he was finished with the statement. “We release a few pictures of Iris looking brave but wounded, and make sure her wrists show in the pictures. We say she isn’t strong enough for an interview yet, she’s still recovering from her ordeal, but she’s… I don’t know… emotionally distraught over the death of her security guard and the other students. Your people will finesse it better, but I don’t think we put her in front of cameras today.”

  “Why not?” Iris asked.

  “They’re looking for a target right now, someone to blame, to vent their anger towards. Don’t put yourself out there until they’ve landed on the bad guys as their target.”

  “I concur,” her father said. “I’ll bring a photographer in to take pictures while the FBI interviews you. We’ll decide which photo, or photos, to release from those shots. A stylist will be here shortly.”

  No one said anything, and the silence grew uncomfortable. McGyver had been awake long after Iris was asleep the night before, and he’d considered possible conversation topics.

  “Iris tells me you taught her to play pool.”

  “I did.” He looked at his daughter and grinned. “Please tell me you beat him?”

  “Of course. His brothers, too. It was fun.”

  His scent went sour, but he kept his tone light. “Do you enjoy spending time with his motorcycle friends?”

  She nodded. “They’ve accepted me. Harmony’s become a really good friend. I think you’ll like her. Angelica is some kind of engineer for TVA. She graduated from MIT. Gen, the MC President’s wife, is a successful Realtor.” She gave a little chuckle. “Successful is an understatement, and sometimes she’s dressed better than me, believe it or not. Connie’s some kind of research scientist who develops new drugs for a pharmaceutical company. They aren’t like you probably think they are.”

  He looked to McGyver. “And do the men have advanced degrees?”

  �
�I’m sure you know I got my high school diploma and went to work at the Talladega track. My intention was community college until I could wrangle another scholarship, but then Brain found me, and…” He shrugged. “I’m working my dream job. Lots of challenging computer work, but I also get to be active.”

  “Yes. Not many computer geeks work out, and few would want to be included on the kind of takedown necessary to rescue Iris last night.”

  “I come with my own set of skills, and I’d go to the ends of the earth to keep her safe.”

  Someone knocked on the door, and McGyver walked to it, checked, and let the stylist in.

  They were just about finished eating, and she said she’d get set up in the living area. She asked to use the fourth dining kitchen chair, and unfolded a utility cart with holders for brush, blow dryer, curling iron, and goodness knew what else.

  “While they do their thing,” Wendel told Danny, “I’d like you to come with me to my suite a few moments.”

  McGyver nodded. He’d expected her father would want to talk to him without an audience.

  “Of course, sir.” He glanced at Iris, who looked alarmed and worried, and looked back to her father. “I was angry, at first. Beyond angry, but over the years, things have worked out okay. I like being me. It’s fun to be me. I have close friends who are my family, and if I’d gone to college and gotten a normal job, maybe I wouldn’t like being me so much.”

  He looked back to Iris again and hoped his smile told her everything would be okay. She didn’t look convinced. He looked back to her father. “I hold no ill will towards you. Iris and I have grown and matured, and I think we’re ready for each other now. Maybe it would’ve worked if we’d dated before, but maybe it wouldn’t have. I’d have gone away to college, and she’d have still been in high school, and if we’d broken up, we may never have gotten back together. This way, we’ve had time to become who we’re going to be. We’ve both, well, sown our wild oats, I suppose, and now we’re ready for each other.” He shrugged. “It felt important to let you know I’m not still angry.”

  “I appreciate that, but do you really think my daughter is going to be happy for long with a biker?” He seemed to remember Iris was listening, and he sat up straighter. “You helped find her, and for that I’m grateful, but you have to know she’s just slumming it for a little while.”

  “Daddy! You can’t—”

  McGyver put his hand on her arm and shook his head. “It’s okay, Blueberry. I know who and what I am.” He looked at her father. “Maybe. Maybe not. Only time will tell.”

  They finished eating, and left Iris with the stylist to walk down the hallway to the other suite. Ranger stepped inside when they left, so he’d have eyes on her. McGyver approved.

  As soon as the door to the other suite closed behind them, Wendel said, “I have eighteen million dollars in cash in a safe on the plane. A ransom demand hadn’t been made when I left Birmingham, and that’s what I keep liquid, primarily for this very reason.” He took a breath. “I was willing to give it to the kidnappers, and I’ll hand it to you, now, if you’ll walk away from my daughter and refuse contact in the future.”

  “No thank you, sir.”

  “My PI’s forensic accountant tells me you’re worth in the vicinity of a million dollars on paper — that’s your property, home, garage, vehicles, bank, and investment accounts. He points out your club is worth many, many millions, and you own a percentage of it, but that this money will never be yours, so it doesn’t count towards your personal net worth. He assumes you’re probably worth twice this amount, though, when one considers your illicit funds, and since your club owns the laundromats, it’s assumed you’re laundering a good deal of cash.”

  “Your point, sir?” There hadn’t been a question, and he didn’t intend to share the details of his finances under any circumstances.

  “What’s your number? Fifty million? More? Our accountants can work out how to get it to you legitimately and not in cash, with the appropriate tax shelters, if that’s your concern.”

  “I don’t have a number, sir. Also, should Iris and I ever marry, I’ll happily sign a prenup stating I have no rights to her trust fund, under any circumstances. I’m not in this for her money. I love your daughter more than I can possibly explain.”

  “Well then. I should get to know you a little better. I’ve offered to reimburse Iris’s professors to give her private lessons via Skype this week, so she won’t need to go back to class until next week. I want her home until this blows over. You’re more than welcome to stay in our home, though you’ll be given your own bedroom.”

  “I appreciate the hospitality. I’d planned to stay with the Birmingham MC, but I’ll be happier under the same roof as Iris. I’ve also arranged to rent a car, so I’ll have my own transportation.”

  “Nonsense. My security keeps several BMW 5 Series vehicles at the ready, and you’re welcome to drive one of them.”

  Right, so he could claim it’d been stolen. McGyver didn’t intend to make it quite so easy to frame him. “Thank you for the offer, sir, but I’d prefer to make my own arrangements for transportation.”

  His brows drew together and McGyver scented irritation.

  “You don’t trust me?”

  “I believe it’s going to take a while to build trust going both directions.”

  He sighed. “Perhaps you’re right.”

  “Inviting me into your home means you trust me enough to let me in. For my part, going means I trust you won’t stage a break-in and then point the finger at me, since I was around long enough to study your security. The truth is, I can break in pretty much anywhere I want, but I don’t want to. It’s my hope you’ll come to see this if you get to know me.”

  The other man’s scent was still off, so McGyver told him, “Look, Iris loves you, and I don’t want to make her have to choose between us.”

  Wendel’s brows lifted, but he otherwise showed no emotion. “Because you’ll lose.”

  “No, because there can’t be any winners. In that scenario, no matter what happens, Iris loses. I love her too much to do that to her.”

  McGyver sighed. He needed to get them onto the same side, and nothing unites people like a common enemy.

  “The prince? Can I assume you retaliated in some way?”

  An analyzing look. “And if I didn’t?”

  “He needs to pay. If he already has, and if I think it’s enough, then making him pay twice might be overkill.”

  “His regular dealer sold him bad drugs. Nasty stuff. He was in a coma for a while, and he didn’t come out of it quite right. Brain damage. He looks fine in photos, but you’ll note he hasn’t spoken in public since mid-summer. The younger brother is now legally the Crown Prince — the King’s had all the relevant papers created and signed, but they’re waiting for the optimum time to announce it to the public.”

  “Good to know. Still feels like someone should beat the holy living fuck out of him.”

  “No one will get close enough. He’s under heavy security, and no longer has the faculties to outsmart them and go out for some fun.”

  Though McGyver was glad to know the asshole had been taken care of, he also understood the warning he’d just been given. Brock Wendel hadn’t admitted culpability, though it was clear he’d orchestrated the sale of bad drugs. Still, saying anything was a risk, but he’d done so not to relieve McGyver from the need to take action, but to warn him of the extremes he’d take to protect his daughter.

  “Does Iris know?”

  “I haven’t told her. The royal family has successfully kept it quiet, but his closest friends are aware, so I’m assuming she’s been told.” He shrugged. “She’s smart. She’s likely figured it out.”

  Chapter 25

  Iris thought she might lose her breakfast while her father was in the other suite with Danny. If he offered Danny money to leave her, would he?

  No. He wouldn’t.

  She hoped.

  But if he did, then she d
idn’t need him in her life. She stood to get fifty million on her twenty-fifth birthday, and if Danny was in it for the money, he needed to be gone.

  But she hoped he wasn’t.

  She nearly burst into tears when they both walked back into the room. Part of her had been terrified her father would come back to tell her Danny had needed to get back home.

  “Hey-hey. What’s wrong?” Danny came straight to her, squatted in front of her, and rested his hands on her knees. “I’m here now. Ranger was with you while I was gone, and there are two more security guards right outside the door. I didn’t go far.”

  “I know, it’s just…” She rolled her eyes. “It was silly. I was afraid Daddy would offer you the ransom money if you’d leave.”

  His chuckle was deep and almost growly. His wolf wasn’t far below the surface. “You know him well. That’s exactly what he did.”

  Rage ignited in her gut and spread though her veins. She glared at her father. “Daddy! How could you?!”

  “I had to try.” He wasn’t even a tiny bit contrite. “However, as you said, he’s grown up and has his own means now. My number wasn’t high enough.”

  “No number will be high enough, sir. You can’t buy love.”

  “If you have enough money and are smart about it, you can buy anything.”

  Danny was being polite, and her father was being an asshole.

  “Daddy, please leave. Danny and I can find our own way home.”

  Danny squeezed one of her knees. “No, Iris. We’re fine. Let’s give your father a chance to get to know me. He’s arranged it so your professors will give you private lessons via Skype this week, so you don’t have to return to classes until next week, and I approve. He’s invited me to stay at your home in Birmingham. We can either do that, or I can take you to my house, but I think you should return home. I can handle your father, and I don’t want to come between the two of you.”