Chapter 2
JAMISON
“So, how did I do, Mel?” I stand in the middle of the entertainment room in Dori’s and my luxurious penthouse.
Mel gazes out the window. “It looks like the pool is surrounded by a jungle.”
“But right past the pool is direct access to the beach. She’s going to love being right on the ocean.”
Mel crosses her arms, facing me. “She’s going to know you spent a fortune on this place, Jami. How do you think she’s going to respond to that?”
“I was just trying to provide a life Dori could easily transition into.” I swallow the uptick of my nerves firing off. “I had to get something she’ll love. She deserves this and more.”
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. She must be amazing in bed.”
I raise my brows and nod, brushing away from Melanie. Talking about Dori in bed is enough to make my dick jump at the mere suggestion. My heart can barely stand the two weeks it’s been since I’ve seen her.
“I did this because I love her.” I stroll into the entertainment room and glance around. “You haven’t said if you think she’ll like it or not. ”
“You bought a penthouse on Ocean Drive, right on Miami Beach. I think she’ll drop to her knees and get you off the second she steps into this place.”
“Can we stop talking about sex?”
Mel passes me and meanders to the pool table behind the white sectional sofa. She inspects it as she slides her finger along the sand-colored felt top and skips over my question.
“Five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. Holy shit on a stick. That girl is going to give you anything you want.” Mel raises her head. “Once she gets used to the amount of money you spent on this place, Dori will love it, but don’t expect her not to stew about it for a few days.”
“I’m already two steps ahead of you. I’ve gone over every scenario I can conjure up about showing our place to her. Let’s just say I’m prepared for the tongue-lashing.” My stomach squeezes.
I really hope she can get past the money part of this place and enjoy it. I want her to feel like a queen, spoiled and enamored. She’s moving her entire life to be here with me and deserves this and more. This is the least I can do.
Mel wanders up to the bar, pulls out a backless light-gray stool, and scoots up onto the seat. “You know, I could rent a room from you, and you probably wouldn’t run into me.”
“Are you saying you think it’s too big?” Bees take flight in my chest. “Fuck, she’s going to feel like she could get lost in here. She loved her tiny box of a loft.”
“Yes, she did. I’m serious. You should let me move in. I still haven’t found a place to live, and it would soften the blow.”
I run my hand down the scruff on my face. “Now you have me doubting myself.”
Mel gestures to my gunshot wound. “It will make any residual pain you have with that feel like nothing.”
“My pain has been tolerable. I’m two months into my recovery, and my doctor says I should be back to normal in no time.” I join Melanie at the bar and take a seat next to her. “Tell me I didn’t fuck this up.”
Her eyes twitch mischievously. “I should tell you that you did, but I’ve tormented you enough. Dori’s going to love this place. Yes, she’ll be in shock, but she’ll understand your motives.”
“Do you belive that?”
“Yes. If it were about showing off, she’d take issue with it. But since it’s about you making her dreams come true, she’ll be more than fine.”
My shoulders instantly relax. “Jesus, Mel. You had me about ready to go out and buy another place.”
Her eyes light up. “You should buy an investment property and let me move in. I’ll take great care of the place.”
“That’s a better option than having you move in with us.”
She slaps me with the back of her hand. “Hey, I’m a great roommate.”
“I’m sure you are, but starting my life with Dori is something I want to selfishly keep to myself.”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it. You want to christen this entire place.” Mel glances at me and shrugs. “And that is going to take some time to get through all the rooms in this house.”
A smile curls my lips just thinking about how much fun I’m going to have when Dori gets here. I plan on taking my time with her, giving her more pleasure than she can stand.
Mel cuts through my thoughts. “I’m never gonna get to live in a condo like this. Thanks, Jami, for ruining my idea.”
“Are you having a hard time finding a place?”
“Yeah. Everything near the office is out of my price range, and I don’t want a roommate again. I thought I’d have enough money that I wouldn’t have to resort to that, but now I know better.”
A red piece of artwork that covers most of the wall behind a poker table off to my right side catches my attention while I consider our discussion. Melanie doesn’t deserve to have to struggle like she does, so I do what I normally do and make an impulsive decision.
“Melanie, when Dori gets here, why don’t you take her around to a few places you’re interested in? If I can swing it, I’ll buy it, and you can rent it from us.”
Mel’s eyes round, and her jaw drops open. “Are you trying to get me back for messing with you? If you are, take it back because that’s just plain mean.”
“I’m not fucking around with you. I wouldn’t do that.” My heart balloons. “Dori would want this for you.”
Mel stares hard into my eyes, then jumps off her stool. “Holy shit! No way! Oh my god, my life just keeps on getting better. Who would've thought?”
I laugh. Dori would be smiling from ear to ear if she were here. The thought makes me pull my phone out of my pocket.
I glance at the screen. Still no message from Dori, and I’ve been waiting well over an hour for her to call me back.
My chest aches for some reason. I try to ignore it, thinking I’m just missing her, but I know Hunter’s mom is out there, which has me in a tailspin.
“Melanie, have you heard from Dori today?”
Mel twists back to face me. “No. Why?”
My shoulders tense. “I’ve been waiting for a call from her. She was supposed to tell me when her plane took off.”
“I don’t like that worried tone in your voice. What aren’t you telling me?”
“It's nothing, really.” I clamp my lips shut, trying to tame my emotions for Mel’s sake.
If she knew how on edge I’m really feeling about this plan of Aiden and Hunter’s, I’m sure she’d rake me over the coals.
“What’s nothing?” Mel advances on me and stands an inch before me.
I back up against the bar countertop and swallow hard. “Aiden and Hunter are planning some kind of takedown of his mom. Since Aiden isn’t talking to me and Hunter won’t share the details, I’m a tad bit nervous.”
Mel holds my gaze. “They’re planning something and haven’t told you what that is?”
“No, it’s their idea. I don’t know anything about it. Hunter just keeps texting me back, telling me to relax and that he has it under control.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“Not really, but my security team hasn’t reported anything strange, so I’ve been trying to give Dori her independence while trusting the two men who don’t like me very much. It’s a difficult thing to balance.”
“I can’t believe you’re trusting them to take care of Hunter’s mom without your input.”
“I didn’t have much of a choice. The problem is I should’ve told Dori there was a plan, but I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t want to scare her.”
“I can see why you’re struggling.” Melanie turns and stares at the dozen red roses for Dori at the corner of the bar. “You should’ve made Dori move with you.”
“I know, but she insisted she wanted to stay and take care of everything for us. Something about her need to feel like she’s contributing. How was I supposed to force her to come?”
Melanie huffs. “You would’ve lost that argument in mere seconds.”
“I tried to convince her, but she shut it down.”
“Well, let me call her.” She hurries to her purse and retrieves her phone. She presses something on the screen and waits with her cell up to her ear. “Hey, Dori. It’s me. Call me when you get this. I’m helping Jami with your penthouse and have a question for you.”
My unease deepens. Dori obviously didn’t answer, so I bring out my phone and type a text.
Me: Hey, temptress. You said you’d call, and it’s been a while. Is everything okay?
I give my attention back to Mel. “I’m giving her five minutes to respond. If she doesn’t…”
“Dori hasn’t mentioned anything to me about this plan of Hunter’s and Aiden’s. I wonder why.” Mel’s eyes narrow.
My stomach aches. “Dori doesn’t know Aiden’s involved.”
“What? Why?” Mel’s head drops back, and she glares at the ceiling. After a second, she brings her fiery gaze my way. “Jamison, you know better than to keep things from Dori.”
“I already know what you’re going to say.”
“She’s going to kill you when she finds out. You won’t have to worry about her being mad about buying this place because she’ll have you by your man parts for not telling her something as important as that.”
“Hunter begged me not to tell her. He said he didn’t want Dori to get involved and make the situation worse. And before you lecture me, Mel, you know she would’ve.”
She growls as she shakes her head. “Fine. You have me there, but still.”
“Dori knows Hunter’s mom is after her, so it’s a minor detail. If holding some information from Dori keeps her safe, I’m willing to have her ticked off at me for a few hours.”
“Stop lying to yourself, big guy. She’s going to be more than that. No matter how angry Aiden is with her, she would want to know.”
My shoulders round. “There’s more.”
Mel flicks me on the temple. “Dumbass, when are you going to learn?”
“I have, but Hunter said it was part of the plan.” I push off the stool and stalk to the sofa, trying to ignore the sharp bite of dread zinging through me every other second. “Dori was reinstated, but Hunter told me I couldn’t tell her because it would hinder their plan. ”
Mel stomps over to me and pushes her finger into the center of my chest. “Jamison Stone, you are in so much trouble. You moved Dori here without telling her she has her job back. You’re going to have a lot of explaining to do.”
I grip the back of the couch. “Hunter said if she knew, it would ruin everything. I figured he would tell her once his mom was caught.”
“But what if he really has no intention of telling her?”
“I have no doubt he’ll tell her before she leaves in an effort to get her to stay. With me out here, he’ll have ample opportunity to convince her. I’ve been waiting for days for her to bring it up, but she still doesn’t know. That or she isn’t telling me about it.”
Mel seems to consider that for a moment. “That is possible, but I’m leaning more toward the fact she doesn’t have that information.”
I lower my head, knowing Melanie’s right. Dori would’ve talked with me about her job if she knew. The shame of that acknowledgment mixes with my concern over not hearing back from her today.
“Fuck this. I’m done waiting. I can just call her bodyguard, Tom. He’s with her today.” I dial his cell, but it goes straight to voicemail. “What the fuck?”
“What?”
“The call went to voicemail.” My heart pounds harder. “I don’t want to panic, but this doesn’t feel right.”
“It certainly doesn’t.” Mel peeks at her phone, scrolls, then hits the screen. “I’m calling Aiden.”
“Thank you.” I try to calm my escalating breaths.
She brings the phone to her ear. “Hey, Aiden, it’s Melanie. Call me when you get this.”
The pit in my stomach turns into a rock. I close my eyes and try to center myself. Something is wrong. I can feel it in my soul .
I open my eyes and call Hunter. The phone rings twice, then goes to voicemail.
Oh, fuck this. Now I know there’s something wrong. I hit Aiden’s number next. He may not answer me, but I’ve got to try.
The call is denied.
I hang up. “Jesus Christ! None of them are answering. Now what the fuck am I supposed to do?”
Melanie scans my face. “Jami, I’m scared.”
Not what I needed to hear, but I’m right there with her. “I’ll call my security team.”
I press the contact button and wait for them to pick up. I pace around the room with my world tipping upside down. This is more than me being paranoid.
“George here, Jamison.”
“What do you know about Tom not answering his phone?”
“Um, sir, he’s unable to speak at the moment.” George’s voice falters. He clears his throat. “We’ve been trying to get the details so we could give you a full rundown, but it seems Dori’s been abducted.”
My chest collapses, and my head grows light. “What do you mean, she’s been abducted? When and why didn’t you call me the second it happened?”
“We just got word not two minutes ago. Tom’s at the hospital. I’m on my way, and that’s all the information I was given.”
“Fuck! Fucking find her now!”
“We’ll do everything we can. I just don’t know anything else at this time.”
“Then find the fuck out and call me back.” I disconnect and scream out in searing pain. “That lunatic took her!”
I drop to my knees as my insides turn black. I fucked up so much by leaving her there, and now Dori is gone.