by Kells, India
Caitlin and Hubert continued to talk as Sydney played with the puppy. Too soon she had to return it to his mother.
Hubert showed them around his property, explaining his operation and his prized dogs. It was apparent he was passionate about them and their well-being.
Too soon, they parted ways, Caitlin promising to return in another week when the puppies were big enough to leave their mother for another look.
Back on the road, Sydney noticed the big smile on Caitlin’s face. “Something tells me next time you’ll be leaving with a puppy!”
The agent gave her a side look. “As if I was the only one taken! I saw you with that little one. You fell in love, Sydney, don’t deny it.”
Sydney sighed. “I did, but with my current situation, having a pet isn’t a good idea. I see the value of these dogs. They need to be trained like Killian, not spend their lives following me around with nothing to do.”
“You’re right, but maybe there’s another way. What do you think about helping me with my venture?”
Sydney blinked a couple of times before understanding what Caitlin was trying to say. “You want me to help you with your K-9 unit?” Just saying the words made her heart thump in excitement.
“The first few weeks, I’ll need a lot of help. That’ll give you time to see if you like it or not. I could teach you what I know. It will give you time to decide if you want it to be a more permanent thing while enjoying a couple of puppies. And it will give me a much-needed hand. What do you think?”
The possibility of having a purpose, not just surviving life, filled her with joy. Also, the chance of working closely with Kingsley was a fantastic bonus. “I would love that.” But too soon she remembered the mess she was in. “If I can get out of this manhunt and be free of my crazy uncle alive.”
Caitlin’s friendly features turned fierce. “You will. We’re all working to stop him. And I’ll be working extra hard because now I have someone to help me scoop puppy poo!”
Just like that, Caitlin turned a bleak situation into laughter. When she lifted her hand for a high five, Sydney couldn’t help but feel blessed.
“Phone your man to tell him we’re on our way back. It may take longer depending on traffic.”
Sydney took her phone out, but when she tried to dial, there was no service. “My phone doesn’t have a signal, can I borrow yours?”
Frowning, Caitlin took out her phone. “Mine doesn’t have service either. I know we’re in the country, but not that deep. We’ll try again when will we reach the main road.”
The way the mood inside the cab turned from joyous to glacial, confirmed how serious the situation could become. They had confirmation that something was going on when they hit the main road, as several police cars blocked the way with their lights flashing.
Caitlin reached for her hand and squeezed it. “I’m tempted to turn around and make a run for it, but I think they’re legit.”
Sydney hung onto her like a lifeline. “How did they find us?”
“Probably via our cell phones. Some devices can track cell phone signals, and some can scramble the signal. That’s probably why our phones aren’t working.”
One the verge of panicking, Sydney swallowed. “What should I do?”
“I’ll do the talking. But if it can’t be helped, I want you to go with them without resisting. As soon as I can, I’ll contact the team and Frida. Even if they have a warrant, I doubt it will hold against her.”
“I can’t go back to my uncle, Caitlin. I won’t survive it.”
“We won’t let that happen, Sydney. I swear we won’t.”
* * *
Kingsley knew they were close to finding answers. He could feel it in his bones. The more the team dug, the closer the eastern connections were getting to the western ones. It was as the old saying went, ‘always follow the money’. He doubted Rutherford would do anything without a ton of it.
James stretched in front of his computer. “Can’t we just beat the guy into a bloody pulp so he never bothers Sydney again instead? My eyes are bleeding from staring at this screen for so long.”
If it was an option, Kingsley would have been first in line. And the last to see the scumbag alive. However, he wanted a life with Sydney, and that entailed using legitimate methods to get the information they wanted and put Rutherford behind bars.
Malco pushed a coffee into Mercy’s hand and sighed. “Where is the money? We’ve tracked every account, every source.”
Cain scoffed. “As if he’s stupid enough to use legal means or accounts.”
Mercy nodded. “Too bad illegal accounts don’t have flashing lights. They would be easier to find. Don’t despair, it’s not as if the money is ever lying there in plain sight.”
The words made Kingsley blink. In plain sight. “Why would Rutherford kidnap Sydney and keep her hidden? Why did he try to break her, and why is he trying to get her declared incompetent so he can get guardianship of her? She’s a grown adult in her thirties, not a lost teenager. Again, it doesn’t make sense.”
One by one, each team member around the conference table looked up.
Alex cursed under his breath, and Kingsley knew that the counter-intelligence specialist was connecting the dots as he spoke. “Sydney is the key. Damn, I should have realized. It’s common practice in terrorist groups to hide money under relative’s names, especially wives and children. I didn’t think of it because I thought Rutherford would have relied on an off-shore account instead, or some sort of scheme to hide the money. We have to find anything related to Sydney—deeds, accounts, funds, life insurances… It’s hidden under her name somewhere.”
Kingsley’s hands were almost shaking as he felt he was getting closer to his primary goal of making sure Sydney was safe.
The sound of two people running came from the corridor. The room reacted as one, reaching for their weapons but relaxed when they saw it was only Emme and Cleo.
“King! The police just detained Sydney and took her to the station. Frida is already there.”
His body reacted even before his mind could process the words. “Which station?”
As Emme passed on the location, Mason came to his side. “I’m driving.”
Alex shouted something about the team continuing the search, but Kingsley’s mind was too far gone. He tried to grab the keys from Mason, but the man escaped his grasp and instead told him to get in the car.
It wasn’t a long drive, but it seemed like it took forever. Sydney, the love of his life, was captive. Alone and frightened and he wasn’t there for her. He hadn’t been there to protect her. Guilt gnawed at his guts like fire ants.
Wisely, Mason didn’t say anything, and instead, burned as many red lights as he could without getting them pulled over.
When they arrived at the police station, Kingsley immediately noticed Frida coming out of the building. Both men jumped out of the car, but before he could head for the door, she pulled him to the side. Mason stayed close, his eyes scanning the area.
“Where is she?” Kingsley felt as if he was ready to jump out of his skin.
Frida, on the other hand, was as cold as ice. “Calm down, Kingsley. Your woman is safe for the moment. But we don’t have a lot of time.”
Mason stepped in. “What happened?”
“From what I could gather, just as they were about to turn onto the main road, and ran into a police blockade. Seems Rutherford’s application for Sydney to be assessed was approved, but I wasn’t informed. That’s a major infraction. The girls tried to contact you, but couldn’t get a signal. If they used something to block it, we could nail them for that as well. As a matter of fact, Caitlin followed the cruiser, but she couldn’t get a signal at all and had to use one of their phones when she arrived.”
“That’s strange. I’ll let Shane and Emme know.” Mason pulled out his phone to send a message.
Frida continued, “And they weren’t the only ones. My phone stopped working as well. Caitlin tried to reach me, but could
n’t. It was one of my contacts in the force that let me know what was going on. It was a close call. We were almost too late to stop it. I’ve managed to get an injunction put in place to give us some time.”
Mason nodded. “It looks like an organized attack so Sydney could be snatched away. And that means our communication system is most probably compromised.”
Kingsley had trouble processing the information when he knew Sydney was still inside. “What papers?”
The lawyer’s irises burned like embers. “They are pushing to have her sent to the psychiatric ward for assessment. Rutherford managed to convince a judge to hear the case. They’re saying she’s delusional and Rutherford’s lawyers are saying she’s mentally unstable, and he’s a protective uncle, the only family she has left. I don’t know how he managed it, but he brought up medications she took after her father’s death as a proof, and that she was possibly an addict.”
The rage that overtook Kingsley hazed his sight red. It was only Mason’s steady hand holding him back by the elbow that stopped him from tearing the police station apart. It took the last, very fine thread of self-control he had to hear the rest of what Frida was saying.
“Listen, I have one trump card left. It’s something I prepared because I had a gut feeling things would go bad. Shane has already put it in action, but you have to do as I say and be convincing for it to work. Our other options will take a lot more time and won’t stop Sydney being taken from you.”
Those last words acted like a cold shower, allowing him to focus again and be the operative he knew so well. This was his mission, and it couldn’t fail.
Frida looked deep into his eyes before nodding. “Good. So, the only way any of us could have any power in the decisions made in regard to Sydney, if she were indeed in distress, which I know very well she is not, was if she were married. The rights of a husband prevail over those of her family. Do you understand?”
Kingsley shook his head. “We’re not married, Frida.”
“You are now.” Fishing papers out of her satchel, she produced what looked like a real marriage certificate containing their signatures. Reading his name next to Sydney’s gave him a jolt. “Shane pulled a few favors to create it and upload it into the system with the proper date. You married four days ago in Sweeting, Indiana. Mason and Caitlin were your witnesses. You were all there—we can produce proof of your plane tickets. I also found an officer who will vouch for its authenticity. This is legit, valid, and binding. It was a spur of the moment thing, so her ID hasn’t been changed yet. If the cops in there ask why she didn’t say anything it was because she wanted to take care of things by herself. You’re a decorated British officer, working legally here and in the middle of a mission. She didn’t want to distract you from your work. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Kingsley nodded and had to push aside the fact he was married—for real—to Sydney to the back of his mind. He would deal with that feeling later.
“Good.” She offered her hand, and he felt something in his. Careful not to look, he put his hand in his pockets and touched the rings with his fingers.
“There is one in there for Sydney. If they ask why she didn’t have it on, you took it for fitting and just picked it up. Stay calm at all times. Mason, go find Caitlin. She’s inside with Killian and about to be charged with harassment. Update her. Kingsley, I’m going in with you. You ready? Don’t mess it up. I’m putting my career on the line to save your woman.”
Kingsley subtly put his ring on and nodded. He was more in control than he’d felt in a long time, and he was ready to get his woman back, and vowed to keep her safe forever.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sydney sat quietly inside the interview room, her hands twisting as her anxiety levels rose with each passing minute. The windowless room was painted a pale gray with a glass mirror that she knew from watching endless crime dramas was a two-way mirror.
Glancing up she saw the camera in the corner of the room, the blinking red light indicating it was recording. Her gut twisted in fear as bile climbed up her throat. She couldn’t go back to her uncle. She just hoped like hell that whatever Frida seemed to have up her sleeve worked. She had spoken with her briefly, but she had been cryptic and asked her some strange questions about Kingsley that made no sense to her.
Noise from outside was followed by barking and then more shouting before it seemed to move away. She suspected it was Caitlin and Killian. Her new friend hadn’t left her side after the police deputies had taken her into custody.
They had been perfectly nice to her, gentle even as they helped her into the back of the cruiser. Their eyes caught hers in the rearview mirror as they drove, holding sympathy for what they perceived as her situation.
The door opened, and the officer who had spoken with her when she was brought in entered followed by Frida and lastly, to her utter relief, Kingsley. She was moving before her mind even registered it.
“Kingsley.” She threw herself into his open arms and felt them close around her, holding her tight, the instant feeling of safety was a balm to her tortured soul. His scent was all around her as he buried his nose in her neck, almost lifting her off the ground.
He pulled away from her, and she felt the reluctance in him. His eyes ran up and down her body, assessing her, looking for signs she had been hurt. “Are you okay, baby?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
He pulled her into the crook of his arm and held her against his body. Her eyes followed his face as he glared at the officer. “I demand you release my wife immediately.”
She stiffened at his words. The tightening of his arm on her back told her to play along.
“Miss Rutherford never mention she was married.” The cop was suspicious and Sydney stayed silent letting Kingsley run point on this one.
“We only got married four days ago. Sydney’s ring has been in getting properly sized. I was picking it up from the jeweler when I got the phone call. Here you go, babe. It should fit perfectly now.” He fished in his pocket and held up a plain but perfect gold band. He took it and slipped it on her finger, his hand holding hers before he brought the side to his lips and kissed it. The feeling of joy she got from an act that was all show was silly, but it made her heart skip a beat.
“Do you have proof?” The cop wasn’t ready to let it go.
“Yes, I have all the papers right here, and I also have a signed affidavit from the judge that married them in Indiana.” Frida stepped in, producing papers and handing them to the man. Sydney looked at Kingsley, and knew he could see the question in her eyes.
He looked down at her with censure when he spoke, but she knew it was all for show. “Why didn’t you call me when this happened?”
“Because I knew you were chasing down that lead for Alliance and I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Babe.” That one word spoke more than a complete sentence ever would. “Are all American women this stubborn or is just the one I married?” Kingsley asked the room at large as he winked at her and she saw the cop smirk in sympathy for Kingsley.
“I need to verify it, but if it checks out, then you’re free to go with your husband, Mrs. Knight.” He moved from the room leaving them alone.
She turned to Kingsley with a smile playing on her lips, but he glanced up at the camera in warning before she spoke. “Thank you for getting me out of this jamb.”
“In sickness, health, and all the crazy shit in between, baby. That’s what I signed up for.”
Sydney felt her breath catch at the truth in his words and the emotion in his voice and fought not to fall into the game they were playing. But it was hard. She realized with a shock that she wanted nothing more in this world than to be Mrs. Knight one day. That was a dangerous dream, because if her uncle kept up his games, chances were she wouldn’t live to see her next birthday, let alone get a happily ever after with her British knight.
“Good because you ain’t getting rid of me.”
“I don’t ever want
to rid of you, Syd, not ever.” He dipped his head and caught her mouth in a deep kiss that made her legs go weak.
“I’ll just go see what they’re up to.” Frida grinned at them, her face beautiful as her harsh features softened.
“Thank you.” He nodded at her as she exited the room.
Kingsley sat on the chair before pulling her onto his lap and wrapping his arms around her. He rested his head against her heart and held tight. Neither said anything as they waited for the detective to return. Sydney ran her fingers through the soft, thick hair at the back of his head, the feeling relaxing her as she waited.
The door burst open suddenly and every muscle in her body tensed in fear as she saw the look of pure fury on her uncle’s face. Kingsley was on his feet in a second, pushing her behind him as he faced her uncle down. Raymond was dressed in his usual designer suit and polished shoes, not a hair out of place as he visibly composed himself, but not before she saw the evil and hatred behind his eyes.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Kingsley growled, the room practically vibrating with testosterone.
Sydney saw the way her uncle’s face twisted at the confrontation and his lack of control over the events in the room. His expression changed, as if he’d suddenly remembered he was being watched, and he smiled. “I merely wanted to check on my niece and offer my congratulations for the very recent and sudden nuptials.”
“Yeah? Well, now you have, so you can leave.”
“Sydney?” Her uncle said as he tried to look past Kingsley to her.
“Don’t fucking look at her.”
Sydney knew Kingsley was holding on to his temper by a thread. Only his training stopped him from dragging her uncle outside and beating him to a bloody pulp. Sydney had never considered herself violent, but at that moment she realized that she wouldn’t bat an eyelid if Kingsley killed him.
Raymond stiffened as if sensing he was getting nowhere and was losing the battle. “Fine, I’ll leave but please don’t keep my niece from me, she is all the family I have left. And I love her dearly.” His lies made bile rush into her mouth at the sickness of his words and her hand flew to her mouth to keep herself from vomiting.