by Leanne Tyler
“I didn’t think you’d feel up to going out tonight after your panic attack. We can do it later in the week if we have time. If not, it isn’t the end of the world,” he said.
“But you sounded like you really wanted to go there when you first told me about it.”
“I did, but your health is more important than my stomach getting Italian food. We can order in a pizza and I’ll be just as happy.”
She smiled. “Pizza sounds divine and thanks for understanding. I don’t think my legs would allow me to stand right now. They feel immobile.”
“It’s the aftermath of the panic attack. It’ll wear off.”
“Can you hand me my phone. I need to call my mom. I need to see if she received the same ransom demand as I did.”
“Why do you think the kidnappers would contact her if your parents are divorced and she’s remarried?” Liam asked.
“Because my step-father, Leland Stanwell, is a very wealthy real-estate developer. He’s accrued more money than my father over the years. And even though he has semi-retired since they moved to Miami, he is still very active in the real-estate game.”
“I guess the big question here is whether or not you have access to your father’s money in order to pay the ransom demand?” Liam asked.
“I do and I don’t. If something should happen to my father it becomes mine as stipulated in his will. However, before then I have to go through his attorney, to give me immediate power of attorney which means I’d have to get another person involved.”
Liam handed her phone to her. “Then call your mom. Though I think if the kidnappers had reached out to her, she’d have already contacted you, don’t you think?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
He watched as Simone dialed the number, then he heard a woman sobbing on the other end of the line when the call connected.
“Mom, what’s wrong? What’s happened?” Simone demanded, putting the call on speaker.
“I thought you’d been shot! I got a video of your father last night demanding money immediately and when we didn’t pay, I got another video of you with a guy pointing a gun at you and pulling the trigger and you dropping to the floor. I thought we’d killed you because we refused to meet their demands. They wanted five million dollars in two hours, but we couldn’t get that amount to them that fast. I mean, who keeps that amount of money accessible?”
“That video must have been of me at the bar last Friday night. Those SOBs.”
“Mrs. Stanwell, I’m Liam Donovan. I’ve been assigned to protect your daughter by the Chicago PD. Can you forward your video to her phone so we can compare what was sent to you to the video she received from the kidnappers? They wanted her to pay one million for her father in twenty-four hours.”
“Protection? Simone, you didn’t tell me you had been given protection after that bar shooting.”
“I’m okay mom. Everything is fine. Other than dad missing now.”
“How do I know this Liam Donovan is really not one of the kidnappers who is holding you hostage?”
“Fair enough, Mrs. Stanwell. You can call her friend Jules and check with her. My buddy Will has been assigned to protect her. They can vouch for me. We’re all part of the same protection task force,” Liam explained.
“Mom, really? Don’t go getting all paranoid on me, just because I didn’t tell you everything after the bar shooting. I didn’t want to worry you by telling you about the protection detail to keep me safe.”
“And don’t you think I had a right to know that, Simone? I thought we had a better relationship than you keeping that a secret from me.”
“Sorry, Mom…”
“Sorry isn’t going to cut it. It was little things like that …”
“I know. I know. That’s how things went sour with you and dad.” Simone turned away from Liam, twisting strands of her hair around her finger. “You’ve told me several times how I have to be careful because I’m not just part you, I’m also part of him too. But, mom, I am a grown woman and I am capable of taking care of myself and deciding what to tell you, and what not to tell you about my life.”
“Not when it comes down to you being held at gunpoint, Simone. I don’t care if you’re sixty-two and I’m over 100 years old and senile. I want to know even if I can’t comprehend what you’re telling me. I’m your mother.”
Simone broke into a smile. “I understand that mom.”
“Now, Mr. Donovan, you take care of my daughter. Don’t let anything happen to her or I’ll hunt you down.”
“I believe you would, Mrs. Stanwell.”
“I’m sending the video when I hang up. Don’t pay the ransom. Your father has done something to get into this mess. Let him get himself out of it.”
“Mom, I can’t do that. What if they kill him?”
There was a long pause.
“You do what you have to do, Simone, just be careful doing it.”
The line went dead.
“Jiminy.”
Chapter 10
Night two in the junior suite
Simone tossed and turned, unable to sleep. It wasn’t because of Liam being in bed with her on the other side of the blanket barrier. It was because she’d not been able to reach her dad’s attorney to get access to the ransom money. He had already left the office by the time she called, and his secretary would not forward her call. It had not mattered that Simone explained it was a life and death situation. Apparently, all his clients claimed that on a regular basis. Instead, the woman had taken Simone’s information and assured her he’d return her call tomorrow. Maybe her mom had been right—paying the ransom was a big mistake.
But what kind of trouble could her father have gotten himself into? And why would the gang members who shot up the Pied Piper bar be involved in it?
She was surprised that Liam hadn’t realized that after her mother sent the video of her fake shooting. He transferred it to his laptop and they’d watched it several times, comparing it with the one Simone had received.
Maybe he had realized the gang was involved in the kidnapping, but didn’t say anything so not to panic me?
Turning over toward him, she couldn’t believe he was lying there sleeping when she was having such difficulty. She kicked the sheet off of her. But all that did was allow the few rays of moonlight that drifted through the window to illuminate Liam’s bare chest, making his tanned skin radiate against the white sheets.
A groan escaped her and she quickly covered her mouth with her right hand afraid he might have heard her and wake up.
“What did I tell you about looking at me like I’m man candy, Simone?” He didn’t even open his eyes to look at her.
“How do you know I’m staring at you?”
“I can feel it. Roll over and go to sleep. There is nothing we can do about your father tonight.”
“I can’t, Liam. I can’t stop thinking about him and what the kidnappers might be doing to him.”
He turned onto his side, finally opening his eyes. “Did your father look hurt in the video?”
“No.”
“Exactly. They had him blindfolded, gagged and his hands tied behind his back. That is all. He was sitting in a chair. The room he was in was dark so we couldn’t tell where he was located, but it looked decent. He was well groomed, so they were taking good care of him. After all, he’s been missing for several weeks. For all we know they bound him for the video and let him lose afterwards.”
“But—”
“No, we aren’t going to go there, thinking the worst and worrying over what we can’t control. We are going to take care of ourselves, sleep and eat and be well-rested so we can do our best come tomorrow. So come here.” He reached his arm out and motioned for her to come toward him.
“What?”
“Just come here.”
She wasn’t sure what he had in mind, but she slowly moved toward him. She watched as he removed the blanket barrier they’d used the night before out of the bed. He patted the spot for her where the blanket
had been.
“Don’t be afraid. Just lay here and we’ll go back to sleep together.”
She swallowed, not sure that was going to help her any, but she did what he asked, turning on her side so her back was to him. He pulled the sheet up to her waist before he curled up behind her and let his arm fall over her hip.
“Good night, Simone.”
“Good night, Liam.”
She closed her eyes, amazed that feeling his warm breath on the back of her neck wasn’t driving her crazy. Instead it made her feel protected and she soon fell asleep.
The alarm sounded way to early the next morning. She turned it off and went back to sleep, but then her phone was ringing. She reached for it afraid it was her dad’s lawyer calling.
“Hello?”
“Simone, it’s your mom. Hope I didn’t wake you. I know it’s early, but I wanted to catch you before you left for work.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I hated the way we left things yesterday. I had the hardest time sleeping last night.”
“Me too.”
“You should pay the ransom. After all, it’s your father’s money. If he has done something that he owes these kidnappers for, then you should pay them.”
“Really? I’m glad you said that because I can’t just not pay it. I have to get my father back.”
“I know you do, honey. I also think you need to ignore what the kidnappers want and go to the authorities. This is not something you should be doing on your own.”
Simone threw the sheet back and sat up. “I’m not on my own mom, I have an ex-Marine with me. He might not be the former Navy Seal like Carly got, but Liam’s still top notch or he wouldn’t have been chosen to be a Brotherhood Protector. He’ll not let anything happen to me. You can count on that.”
Simone felt the mattress shift behind her. Liam was awake. Had he heard what she’d said about him? Of course he had. How could he not have?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” her mother said. “Brotherhood what? Last night your said protection task force? Which is it?”
“Both. The guys were Brotherhood Protectors out of Montana until they came to Chicago and started working with the local PD, and now they are a special protection task force. They report to Commander Burns with the Chicago PD. He was a former Seal with Brand Chambers.”
“And you say Brand is assigned to your friend Carly?”
“Yes. Carly and I were in the bar when the shooting took place. We were eye witnesses.” Simone got off the bed and went toward the bathroom to start getting ready for her day.
“And where was Colleen during all of this? I know Jules was there because you already said she has a protector, too.”
“Yes, Jules was outside going to catch the “L” when she heard the gunshots and came running back toward the bar, but she never made it inside. Which, now that I think about it doesn’t make sense. She couldn’t have been that far away. And if she came running back to the bar, what took her so long to get there? Liam and Brand said that a detective was preventing her from entering the bar when they arrived.”
“I don’t know, honey, maybe that is something you need to ask Jules about yourself.”
“Yeah. I think I will if I ever get to see her. I haven’t. In fact she is the only one I haven’t seen. Carly and I got away from Brand and Liam on Saturday and went to the hospital to see Colleen. They were not happy about that.”
“Simone, why was Colleen in the hospital? What haven’t you told me about that night?”
She inhaled. “Colleen was attacked when she went to the ladies room. We didn’t know it. Carly and I were dealing with the shooting in the bar and Colleen was being beaten by some creep in the ladies. Her face took the worst of it, but thankfully when he heard the gunshot, it scared him away and he didn’t do more to her.”
“Oh my God. That poor sweet girl. I’ll have to call Joan. She does know doesn’t she?”
“Yes, mom. Bob and Joan were called to the hospital right away. They were there for Colleen and she’s been assigned someone to protect her, too.”
“I think I’m getting on the next flight to Chicago. Leland and I both will.”
“Have fun because I’m not there, remember. I’m in DC for the week. And if you come, you’ll have to stay at a hotel because Liam has the guest room.”
“Oh, that’s right. Well maybe we should come to DC instead. I just really want to be with you wherever you are right now. I want to hold my daughter and know she is safe.”
“I am, and you can as soon as we find dad and get back to Chicago.”
“We’re still coming to DC. We’ll be at the Willard if we can get a room. That is where Leland and I always stay.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you later then.” Simone ended the call.
Liam came around the corner with one eyebrow raised. “I take it she’s coming here?”
“The city, not the hotel. I couldn’t talk her out of it.”
“Not a good idea. We don’t know if the kidnappers are still in DC or if they have your father elsewhere. If your mother and Leland come here, that could make them sitting ducks as well.”
Panic for her mom and Leland’s safety set in and the next thing Simone knew the room began to spin as her vision narrowed, before she lost sight altogether. Then she was coming around, laying on the bed while Liam waved something putrid underneath her nose.
“What’s that smell?” She pushed his hand away.
“Smelling salts.”
She tried to sit up, but weakly fell back against the pillows. She covered her hand over her mouth because she felt sick for a moment, but that soon passed.
“You’re white as a sheet, Simone. You’re not going anywhere this morning. You need to lie still and rest. I’ll call Webster-Reynolds and tell them you won’t be in until this afternoon.”
“I can’t. I have meetings with them.”
“You can and you will. If they can’t understand you getting ill, then I’ll call your boss and let him make the call to them.”
“Perhaps that is best. I don’t understand what is wrong with me. I never pass out. Now I’ve done that and had a panic attack in less than eighteen hours. I have a splitting headache and I feel nauseated.”
“Exactly. That is what is wrong with you. Your body has been through trauma whether you realize it or not. Your nervous system cannot handle this much stress and bounce back so easily. Think about everything that has happened to you since Friday night, and its only Tuesday.”
She closed her eyes and groaned. “Don’t remind me.”
“I’m going to use your phone to call Cranston. Don’t get up.”
Simone lay there waiting for the stomach to stop rolling, then she noticed she was extremely thirsty. She called to Liam, but he didn’t hear her since he was in the outer room. She tried to raise up, but that made her feel ill again, so she scooted to the edge of the bed and slipped off into the floor.
Technically she wasn’t up, she was down, and she really wanted a cold bottle of water out of the little refrigerator that was just outside the French doors separating the bedroom from the sitting area. So she crawled across the floor to get the water and sat there drinking it, leaned up against the wall.
Liam walked out of the bathroom, saw her sitting there, and shook his head. “You don’t listen, do you?”
“I needed water. I called for you, but you didn’t hear me.”
“And you couldn’t have waited a few minutes for me to finish my phone call?”
“No. I was afraid I’d get nauseated again.”
“I bet you were a handful as a child.”
“Why do you think I’m an only child?”
He grunted. “My point exactly.”
“You love me and you know it.”
“Ha.”
“Protest all you want, but I felt it last night.”
“Simone, we don’t have time to banter. Cranston is calling Webster-Reynolds for you about moving your meeting
to this afternoon. I think you need to be seen by a walk-in clinic, if the hotel doesn’t have a concierge doctor on staff. Some of the larger city hotels have those. I’m going to call down to the front desk and check. Can you stay put while I do that?”
“Yes. I’ll sit right here and drink my water.”
“You better, or I’ll get my handcuffs out and chain you to the bed.”
“Promises. Promises. But if you haven’t noticed, there isn’t a bedpost to use or a slot in the headboard to fasten them. You can’t do it. Try again, Mr. Macho.”
“You’re sounding cheeky. You must be feeling a little better.”
“Wrong again. My head is splitting. This is annoyance.”
“Sexy annoyance.”
“Now who is straying with the banter?” She cocked a brow at him.
He winked at her before going through the French doors into the bedroom. She heard him pick up the guest phone. A moment later he was speaking softly to whomever was on the other line.
She sipped the water and closed her eyes, really wishing she was back in the soft bed so she could go back to sleep. Curling up under warm covers right now sounded blissful. Snuggling up with Liam like she had last night wouldn’t be bad either. Though that could be dangerous too. She might forget he was only comforting her and nothing more.
“We’re in luck,” Liam said.
She jumped, dropping the almost empty bottle of water.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” He bent down and retrieved the bottle. “There is a doctor on staff who will be up to check on you shortly. I’m going to get you back in bed now.”
“Do you think I should change?”
“No. Your pajamas are fine.” He scooped her up and carried her back into the bedroom, laying her on the bed. He even tucked her in, which she thought was nice.
“You gonna join me?”
He grinned. “No, I need to do some investigative work. I’m on the clock even if you aren’t.”
She pouted until he turned his back, and then she smirked. She watched him gather his clothes and head to the bathroom to change. Then she sighed, breathing in the smell of him on the pillow where she lay.