Chapter 4
HUNTER
“Thanks, Jonah.” I rub my aching neck as I stare out the window of my apartment. “Try to get Dad to tell you everything and anything that could help us find Dorothy.”
“I’ll do my best.” Jonah releases a deep sigh. “I’m sorry this happened, Hunter. I know how much you care about her.”
“Thanks, but finding her is all that matters at this point.”
He hesitates for a moment. “I’m not trying to be negative, but I know what the mob is capable of. You need to prepare yourself for the worst.”
My blood drains from my body at the blow. “Don’t even consider it.”
“It’s been over twelve hours. Every hour that passes means?—”
“Jonah, I don’t want to hear it. We’re going to find her. There’s no other way this turns out.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am. Now go to Dad’s and see what you can find out. He won’t minimize or try to get around your questions if you’re standing in front of him.”
“Okay. I’ll come by once I’m through with him. ”
“Thanks.” I stand and meander to the kitchen.
“Sure thing. Hold the faith, and I’ll see what I can do.”
We hang up. I try to waste time preoccupying myself with mindless activities, but I’m putting off the inevitable. Aiden and I will have the discussion he’s been avoiding since he got here.
I’ve given him enough time to work with his associates in private, so there’s no time like the present. I pull in all my strength and prepare myself for a showdown.
The muscles in my chest tighten as I enter my home office where Aiden’s been working to coordinate efforts to find Dorothy. We need to have a serious conversation that could end in a messy fight.
“You’ve been up all night. I thought you could use this.” I place a cup of coffee down next to him, knowing we’re responsible for this situation.
It’s enough to make me want to crawl into a hole and die.
He peeks at his drink. “Thanks. It smells like hazelnut. How did you know that’s how I take my coffee?”
“It’s how your sister takes it, so it was a guess.” I gesture to the computer screen. “Anything new?”
He shakes his head and lifts the cup, blowing on the liquid. There’s a moment of silence as the weight of this situation hangs heavy in the air. I’m already empty inside, but now I’m lost as to what I should do.
He rests back in his chair while cupping his mug between both hands. “We’ve got the FBI’s help now, but I’m ‘too close’ to the matter, so they aren’t keying me into all the details.”
“What does that mean for us?”
“They said they’ll keep me informed with pertinent information, but I’m not privy to the plans of the operation.”
I nod and slide my hands into my pockets. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Shoot.”
“Why weren’t they involved from the beginning? ”
“It wouldn’t have been a good idea.”
“Why?”
He shifts and glances at the computer screen. “Um… They would’ve kept information from me.”
“Yet here we are.”
He stands and peers over at me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“They're involved now, and you’re in the exact situation you were afraid of. Considering you’re calm and focused, I’m wondering if there’s more to the story.”
“What can I say, Hunter?” He shrugs and gestures to the doorway. “Let’s take this downstairs. I’m going crazy in here just staring at the screen.”
I lead the way. “Not to keep at this, but I’ve been around the block a few times. You have more at stake, and I’d like to understand what that is.”
He’s quiet for a moment as we take the stairs down to my main floor. I walk to the kitchen with him following behind. I stand on one side of my center island as he studies me from the other side.
He sets his coffee down. “Hunter, we all have more at stake. Dori’s life is on the line.”
“I have to believe we’ll get her back alive and well.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “We better. She’s got too much to live for.”
“About that. I’ve done some thinking.” My heart breaks in half, knowing what I’m about to say.
He stares at me. “About?”
“Your sister and me.”
“What about it?”
“When we got back together, it was because I had done a lot of work on myself to be a better man. I wanted to be worthy of her love.”
“Yeah, and you can have that again.”
“That’s what I’m trying to explain. When Jamison got shot and she ended it, I slid back into some old habits. I’m not proud of that. That’s why once we get her back, I’m not going to tell Dorothy that she’s been reinstated.”
His chest puffs out. “Why?”
I take a deep breath and focus on being the man I need to be for my son. “She belongs with Jamison.”
“The fuck she does.” Aiden glares at me like he wants to tear me apart.
“Hear me out before you decide to hit me.”
He shifts but stays in place. “Fine.”
“Those old patterns that I was operating from are what got her abducted. If I had been upfront with her and told her what we were planning, she wouldn’t have left Jamison’s place. She’s missing because of me.”
Aiden’s lips part into a snarl as he gets ready to say something, but he stops himself. He shakes his head and spins away.
“Dori never does what anybody asks her to do.” His shoulders rise and fall with each tortured breath he takes. “Fuck! If she wouldn’t have been moving to Miami to be with Jami, she wouldn’t be in this position. It’s his fault she’s gone.”
“No, Aiden. That’s where you’re wrong. My mother wanted Dorothy out of my life. If I didn’t concoct some made-up story to bring my mom out into the open and use Dorothy as bait, she would be in Miami and far away from any harm.”
“So maybe it isn’t his fault, but…” His posture slumps with the truth. “That doesn’t mean she should be with him.”
I picture the look in her eyes when she spoke about Jamison at our lunch the other day. The love she has for him radiates from her soul. A flame of painful longing singes my heart.
“Aiden, she’s in love with him. No matter how hard you try to keep them apart, they’ll find their way back to each other. They always do. ”
He twists to me with his face red. “So you’re just giving up and letting him win?”
“This isn’t about winning. It’s about making things right. Clearly, I need to do more work on myself.”
“What does that have to do with it?”
“Having her come back to Efron Worldwide won’t set me up for success. If anything, it will deter me from any progress I’ve made because I’m treating her like she’s a prize.”
“She is a prize.”
“Not that kind of prize. She’s in love with Jamison. Their connection is something indescribable. And I’m not saying that because it feels good.” I rub my aching chest. “It breaks me in two admitting that, but I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
“What exactly have you seen?”
“They can’t be separated. When they are, everything gets fucked up. Just look at this very situation if you need proof for yourself.”
He clenches his teeth as he breathes deeply. “They can’t be together.”
“Why?” I tilt my head and stare hard into his eyes.
“Because they can’t be.” His cell phone rings.
He takes it out of his pocket and glances at the screen. His eyes squint in confusion. He shakes off a thought, taps the screen, and brings the phone to his ear.
“Hello.” He listens for a moment. “Who?”
His expression drops, and he goes white as a ghost. “You have my attention.”
He stalks to the window where Dorothy used to love to look out at the city. The energy around Aiden pulses thick with mounting pressure. His shoulders broaden, yet his head remains down.
Who is he talking to?
There’s a knock on my door.
Lousy timing, but then again, I should’ve told Aiden sooner this was going to happen. I take my time answering it for fear that not only will I be a referee, but I’ll also be an opponent of my guests.
I take a stabilizing breath and open the door. “Melanie, Jamison, I’ve been expecting you.”
“What’s the news?” His eyes speak of his devastation. Dark circles are forming under the sockets, and they’re bloodshot.
“Why don’t you and Melanie come in? We can go over the specifics inside.” I dip my chin at Melanie. “It’s nice to see you. Dorothy will want to have everyone she loves around her when she returns.”
Jamison cuts in. “Does that mean you have more information about her whereabouts?”
I swing the door all the way open. “Come in and we’ll talk.”
Melanie waits for Jamison. “You first. I don’t want to be in the middle of some hairy fight.”
He nods and stomps into my foyer. He spots Aiden by the window in seconds. His jaw twitches as he turns fire red.
A burst of heat erupts in my chest. “Aiden’s on a call. When he’s done, I’ll fill you in on all we know.”
Melanie takes Jamison by the arm and leads him into the sitting area near the bar. She says something to him I can’t make out.
With clenched fists, he turns his head toward Aiden. His back is to me, but I can only imagine the glare he’s shooting in Aiden’s direction.
Damn, this is going to be rough. I just hope we all make it out without tearing each other apart. That thought raises my blood pressure, but it’s the least of my worries.
Dorothy’s life is hanging in the balance, and I can only pray she makes it out alive. I haven’t let myself go to her dying, but anything is possible with my sinister mother in charge.
“Can I get either of you some coffee?” I point to the pot .
Jamison turns to me and stiffly shakes his head.
Melanie seems to consider it for a second. “No. Not until you all come together. If no one is punching the other, then yes, that would be great.”
She’s obviously going to be the rational one here today. Aiden turns toward us the moment the thought leaves my brain.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” He marches toward Jamison.
I step in front of Jamison. “Calm down, Aiden. I asked him to come here. You got that call before I could tell you.”
Aiden’s furious gaze hits me square between the eyes. “Why the fuck would you do that? He’s not a part of this.”
“Like hell I’m not.” Jamison starts toward Aiden. “If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“Stop. It won’t help anything.” Melanie grabs Jamison’s arms and holds him back. “Dori wouldn’t want this.”
He gives her a sidelong glance and nods. Aiden halts in the center of the room, ready to pounce.
Jamison faces me. “Tell me how this happened.”
My insides knot. “I was supposed to pick Dorothy up from Jamison's; she was waiting there for me to take her to the airport. Unexpectedly, she went to her loft for the final walkthrough and was taken from there.”
Melanie folds her arms over her chest. “But Jami said you had a plan to get your mom. What happened to that?”
Aiden stomps into the kitchen, avoiding the topic. It’s probably for the best. He and Jamison need the distance or else they’re sure to go to blows.
I suck it up and get ready to be a man. “The plan was to get my mother at the airport. I told Isabella Dorothy was working for me again and going on a business trip to meet with the board about the clause in her contract. They didn’t think I would be there.
Our thought was that my mother would try to take Dorothy and the authorities would arrest her there. ”
“You used her as bait?” Jamison roars. “You told me everything was going to be taken care of before she left for the airport. Not once did you tell me she was being put in the direct path of your psychotic mother.”
“Not only that, but why Isabella? What does she have to do with this?” Melanie’s eyes burn fire my way.
Jamison does a double take with Melanie’s words. “That’s another great question.”
I clear the lump from my throat. “Isabella has been working with my mother. She’s the one who gave the board the compromising pictures of Dorothy.”
Jamison and Mel both step forward. Melanie takes the lead before Jamison has a chance.
“You mean to tell me the bitch who’s carrying your baby is also responsible for this nightmare? I knew she was trouble.”
Aiden cuts in. “Isabella is pregnant with your child?”
Damn, this is bad. I’m treading between landmines, and with every step I take, I’m that much closer to getting blown to shreds.
Aiden takes large strides to get in front of me. “Why didn’t you tell me she was pregnant?”
“The same reason you haven’t told me why you didn’t get the FBI involved from the beginning,” I snarl.
“They're not involved?” Jamison brushes past Melanie. “Why wouldn’t you get the FBI from day one? What are you hiding, Aiden?”
The three of us stand in a heated circle. Aiden’s staring at me. Jamison’s glaring at Aiden. And I don’t know how we’re not going to end up in a ball of fists by the end of this conversation.
Aiden spins to Jamison. “You have no room to speak about hiding shit.”
“I never kept anything from you that would put Dori in danger.” Jamison inches closer to Aiden. “You know I would never do that.”
“Being with her puts her in danger, you stupid fuck,” Aiden hisses.
Jamison flinches back, and his brows come together. “How so? And don’t even think of lying. I know you, and you’re keeping something from us.”
The room falls into an eerie silence. Every one of us takes in the accusations and implications of the secrets that are on the edge of being exposed.
Aiden’s chest rises and falls at a quick pace. His gaze bounces around Jamison’s face. Jamison doesn’t bat an eye.
I’m with him on this one. Aiden’s keeping something from us, and I have a sick feeling it’s something that will change everything.