Chapter 34
“Where the fuck is he, and why the hell haven’t you been able to find him?” I ask in desperation. The worry of knowing Colin is in grave danger feels like having an elephant sitting on me, crushing my insides and shattering my heart.
Donovan doesn’t answer right away, seemingly gathering himself. “We know Vinny has him. I’m using every damn connection I have, but we haven’t pinpointed the stash house yet. We are doing everything we can, Jade. He’s my brother. I want him back just as much as you do.”
My heart pounds in my chest, reminding me that it’s still beating and not smashed into a thousand pieces on the floor at my feet. It aches for the regret I see swimming in Donovan’s eyes. I don’t know what he regrets, but I do know he loves Colin, and I see how torn up he is.
“I don’t think I can do this,” I whisper. I’m scared I can’t do my part of the mission to bring Colin home. I don’t know how I’m supposed to walk down that aisle like nothing is wrong.
Everything is fucking wrong. Everything.
Bridge comes over and squeezes the top of my left shoulder. I’m supposed to be getting ready for my wedding in a few hours, but really, I’ve been sitting here in front of a full-length mirror trying to come up with another way I can help.
There has to be something more I can do.
“You have to, Jade. We need time, and you are the best way to buy us that time. I promise I won’t let you walk down that aisle. Whether we have Colin or not,” Donovan says.
I shake my head. I’m no longer concerned about marrying Elliott. I’ll do whatever I need to do to save Colin’s life. I’m more worried about trying not to punch the dumb fucker at the end of the aisle when I make it all the way down it to stand next to him.
“You don’t understand. The wedding doesn’t fucking matter anymore. I don’t care if I have to marry Elliott. I’m worried about failing to lie convincingly. Elliott can’t suspect anything. If he does, Colin is dead. That is what I’m scared as hell about. Screwing up.”
Bridge comes around to kneel in front of me. “Jade, you are the strongest woman I know. You’ve stared men down who were twice your size and age, had more money than God, and looked at you like you were an amusing little girl they wanted to eat up and spit back out, and you told them to go fuck themselves. Elliott Moore and this fucking Vinny guy don’t stand a chance against you.”
She has so much confidence that I almost believe her. Then I remember what’s at stake. Colin. This isn’t some boardroom deal that’s been thoroughly researched. I don’t know my opponent’s biggest weakness, and I don’t have an ace up my sleeve to seal the deal.
I don’t hold the cards in this situation. They have the man I love, and I’m willing to do whatever I need to do to keep him alive.
Even if that means sacrificing myself.
“I know that look. Don’t even fucking think about it! They’ll find him,” Bridge says.
“We don’t know that.”
A tear escapes and tracks down my right cheek. It’s the first I’ve let fall, and it’s because I feel hopeless. I don’t know what I’ll do if they don’t find him or if it’s too late when they do. I won’t fucking care if I’m married to Elliott or not at that point because I’ll have lost my real chance at love.
“I need to go; I want to take another look around before the ceremony starts. We’ll get him back, Jade, I promise you we will.” Donovan says before heading for the exit of the beautiful and spacious but still suffocating room I’m supposed to get ready in.
We’re at a large estate just outside the city. Elliott insisted on this location because it’s where all the rich and famous people get married in California.
I look around the room, and instead of luxury tapestries or exquisitely done artwork, all I see is a noose closing in around my neck.
Donovan looks back at the last second, and I scowl. “Go. Find him and bring him back to me. We have it handled here,” I choke out. Donovan nods before closing the door behind him.
Bridge finally stands and walks over to the champagne cart. She pops a cork and makes two large pours into the empty glasses. She walks over and hands one to me. I put it to my lips, tip it back, and in three large gulps, my glass is empty.
The bubbly alcohol does little to settle the churning in my stomach.
“Well, well, well, here’s the blushing bride.”
I spin on my heels because I don’t recognize the voice. I’m met by an older, slightly pudgy, and not very attractive man. He has a sneer on his face and a glint in his eyes that immediately puts me on edge.
I’m in front of the large mirror situated in the corner of the bridal suite. I’m dressed in the wedding dress I finally picked out with the help of Bridge and my father. It’s pretty enough, even though I don’t feel anything for it.
My hair is done in an eloquent up twist, and a long veil attached to a diamond incrusted tiara sits on my head. I think that’s the thing I hate the most about this whole get up. It feels stuffy and tight. I don’t like it. In fact, I think I may hate it, but Dad loved it, so here I am.
I really need to stop saying yes to a million things I don’t like or downright hate just to make my father happy. He wouldn’t care if I said I didn’t like it, but with how damn guilty I feel, I just can’t bring myself to disappoint him.
I’m going to need a shit ton of therapy after this.
“Who are you?”
The stranger walks further into my room without an invitation, and suddenly, two men who clearly look like his goons step in behind him. I immediately tense because I now have a strong feeling I know exactly who this is.
Bridge stepped out a few moments ago to see if she could stall the photographer any longer. We’ve held pictures off for over two hours now, but it seems our stall tactics are growing weaker by the second.
It looks like Vinny has been watching for a moment to catch me alone.
A large, unsettling smile forms on his ugly face as his eyes scan me from head to toe. I repress the shiver that threatens to show. I won’t let this man see me cower.
“I’m Vincent Maggio, your new business partner. I’m sure Elliott has mentioned me.” His knowing look makes my stomach turn.
He extends his hand for me to shake, but I leave it hanging in the air. I wouldn’t touch this man if my life depended on it.
“Last I checked, we haven’t come to an agreement, and my company is very, very strict about who we decide to do business with.” I won’t let this man try to intimidate me.
What I need from him is information on Colin.
He finally drops his hand and places it behind his back, clasping it with his other hand. He wanders around the room, pretending to look at all the art on the wall, but we both know he isn’t paying it any attention. My eyes follow his every move, but I try to remain relaxed in my stance.
“Okay, I see you’re going to need a little more convincing despite Elliott assuring me that you wouldn’t.” He uses the word convincing as a threat.
I almost scoff, but I manage to stop it in time. “Oh, did he?” I ask to keep him talking.
“Oh, yes. He said he has this deal tied up and secured with a bow. I should’ve known better with that one.” His back is to me, so I can’t read his face, but something about his words and his tone sends tingles down my spine.
“Why are you here?” I ask.
“Don’t play stupid, Jade. You know exactly why I’m here.” He finally turns to face me. He remains on the other side of the room, but it feels like he’s right in front of me and just slapped me across the face.
“What do you want from me?” Another question to keep him talking. We need more fucking time. Time to get to Colin and a way to stall this damn wedding.
“I need you to sign the contract, and maybe I’ll let your little boy toy live.”
The threat makes me speak before I think better of it. “Where is he? What have you done with Colin?” I immediately know I’ve fucked up when Vinny’s eyebrows raise clear to his hairline.
He looks at the two goons still guarding the door, silently signaling for one of them to come to him.
I try to recover, but it’s no use. “He doesn’t mean anything. I’ll marry Elliott, and all this can go away. You’ll have your deal. Just let him go; he doesn’t have anything to do with this.”
Vinny’s head snaps up, and his eyes bore into mine. “I’m not a stupid man, and it’s insulting that you think I would fall for that bullshit.
He looks at his goon. “Call the house and tell them to inform Colin I’ll be seeing him real soon!” The look in his eyes is murderous.
Oh, what have I done?My stomach drops, and my knees nearly buckle. Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Bridgette comes back and forces her way into the room. “Who the hell are you? Jade, are you okay?” she asks as she rushes to my side. Whatever she sees in my expression must concern her.
“I was just leaving. It’s in your and Colin’s best interest for you to walk down that aisle. I’d hate for something to happen to him because you didn’t.” His tone is menacing and leaves no room to mistake the clear threat.
I swallow as he makes his way to the exit. Just before he leaves, he turns back, and the evil smirk on his face has me rushing forward.
“Don’t you fucking hurt him, or I’ll make you regret the day you learned my name,” I growl.
“You stupid, stupid girl. You’ve already made him suffer.” Although, I don’t know exactly what he means, his words cut me like a knife.
I drop to my knees after he exits. It feels like my heart has been torn in half, pulled out of my chest, and stomped on. Then, just for good fucking measure, someone sets it on fire.
I feel like I’m losing touch with reality as Bridgette calls my name.
“Jade! What the hell is happening? Where’s Colin?”
I stare brokenly at the now empty doorway as I finally let go the tears that have been begging to fall for days. They track down my cheeks in heavy drops as sorrow fills my chest.
“I don’t know…”