Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
M aggie scanned the computer screen again, then watched everything turn into a blur.
She and Ace had been combing property records and picking Haye’s life apart.
The guy had so much debt. His properties were all in foreclosure.
She wouldn’t feel sorry for the asshole—he was a murderer—but seeing the bankruptcies, the failed marriage, the desperate attempts to regain his wealth, she could practically smell his desperation.
She rubbed her eyes and tried not to fall asleep in the chair.
Beside her, Ace was a machine. He worked much faster than her, and didn’t seem to get tired. She could totally picture him as part of some covert government team of badass hackers.
He’d called her parents and assured her that they were safe. She rubbed the back of her neck. He’d organized a man called Ben Ryan, a Norcross contractor, to watch over them.
“Maggie?”
She jerked. “I’m awake.”
“Barely.” Ace cupped her cheek, his fingers caressing her skin. “You need to rest.”
Instantly she thought of Gus. Her throat closed up. “How can I sleep? I’ll keep thinking about Gus, about what Haye might be doing to him.”
“Hey.” Ace pulled her chair close to his. “Gus is tougher than old leather. If anyone can get through this, it’ll be him. Vander will find him.”
One of the computers pinged.
She tensed. “What is it?”
Ace swiveled and tapped the keyboard. “A few possible properties came up on the search.”
Her pulse rabbited. Maybe one of them was where Gus was being held?
“Two look most promising. There’s an old warehouse in Bayview. It’s in foreclosure, but tied up in litigation. It’s empty.”
“And the other one?”
“It’s in his estranged wife’s name, but it doesn’t look like she has any ties to it. It’s an old apartment building scheduled for demolition soon.”
“He put it in her name to hide it.”
“Most likely.” Ace tapped his phone.
Vander’s voice filled the room. “What have you got, Ace?”
“Two properties for you to check. A warehouse in Bayview. An apartment blocked up for demolition in the Western Addition. Texting the addresses to you now.”
“Okay, we’ll check them out. We’ve been running down some leads. A biker contact came through.”
“All right. Let us know when you’ve checked the properties.”
“Got it,” Vander replied. “Tell Maggie not to worry.” Then he was gone.
She sank back in the chair. “Yeah, right. Like I can just turn it off.”
“You should get some sleep. It’s after midnight.”
She swallowed, her throat painfully tight. “After they’ve searched the properties.”
Eventually her nerves drove her to pace. She knew she was running on fumes. Tiredness and worry were dragging on her.
“ Gatinha .” Ace tugged her onto his lap. He tucked her head under his chin. “Just close your eyes for a minute. Let me hold you.”
“I feel safe right here,” she whispered.
His arms convulsed on her. She idly traced the tattoos on his forearm.
“I was afraid to trust you. To trust myself.”
She felt him kiss the top of her head.
“Don’t break my heart, Ace.” She couldn’t keep her eyes open.
“If I did, I’d break mine too,” he murmured.
Maggie figured she dreamed the words, as sleep took her under.
* * *
When she woke, she blinked. Sunlight poked at her eyes. She was on the couch in Ace’s office, a soft blanket resting on her.
The sneaky man had lulled her to sleep.
She sat up, and nausea hit instantly. She pressed a hand to her belly. There was no sign of Ace, but the screens were on, and there was a mug with steam coming off it resting beside his keyboard.
Then she heard the murmur of his voice from the living room. It sounded like he was on the phone.
She hurried out. Was there news on Gus? Surely Ace would’ve woken her up if there was.
His head jerked up. “Morning, gatinha .” He slid his cell phone away.
“Gus?”
Ace shook his head. “Vander and the guys checked the two properties. Both empty.”
Damn . Her arms fell by her sides.
“No news is good news,” Ace said.
She looked into his face. “You haven’t slept.”
“I wanted to keep searching, and I’m used to it. Plus, I’m not pregnant.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For searching.”
He kissed her.
“No!” She slammed her hands to his chest. “I need to brush my teeth.” And she knew her hair was sticking up everywhere.
“I don’t care,” he said.
He laid a heavy kiss on her until she pulled away, giggling.
“You might want to get dressed, because your parents are on their way over. That was your dad on the phone.”
She froze.
“Your father called. They want to talk to you.”
“And you’re letting them come?” she asked.
Ace arched a brow. “I expressed to your father that he’d better not say anything that upsets you.”
Her chest loosened. “I’ll get dressed. If there’s anything on Gus, let me know.”
After her shower, when Maggie came out, Ace was looking at his phone.
“Your parents are here,” he said.
She sucked in a breath. She just needed to be an adult. She was going to be a mother. Her parents, especially her dad, were who they were. They weren’t going to change. She had to accept that and not let it affect her.
Her parents crested the stairs and stepped into Ace’s living room.
“I love your home, Ace,” Maggie’s mom said.
“Thank you, Mrs. Lopez.”
Her mom’s smile was a little overbright. “Please, it’s Kiki. We’re family now.”
Ace inclined his head. “Kiki.”
Maggie’s father’s face was expressionless, but she could tell he looked a little uncomfortable. His gaze fell on her and he paused.
Then her mom raced forward. “Maggie.”
Maggie hugged her mom. She was wearing her favorite Chanel Number Five and the comforting scent surrounded Maggie, and thankfully didn’t set off her stomach.
“You look good,” her mom said “No morning sickness today?”
“I’m feeling a little queasy.”
“Ginger worked for me when I was expecting you.” Her mom’s eyes filled with tears.
“Mom, don’t cry.”
“My baby is having a baby.” She laughed her pretty laugh and squeezed Maggie’s fingers. “I’m so excited for you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Your father is, too.” Kiki got a steely look in her blue eyes.
Maggie blinked. Her mother rarely stood up to, or argued with, Maggie’s dad.
Her father cleared his throat. “I know I’m not…the easiest man.”
Behind her father, a look crossed Ace’s face before he hid it.
“Magdalena, I…I love you.” His tone was gruff. “Since the moment your mother handed you to me, squalling. Already making yourself known, and doing things your way.” Her father smiled. “I was so damn proud. I couldn’t believe something so incredible had come from me.”
Maggie’s heart warmed. “Dad—”
He held a hand up. “Let me finish. I just never think anything, or anyone, is good enough for you, Maggie. I worry about you, and I always will. I know I blunder and show it in a bad way. But I am proud of you, and I do love you.” Ruddy color filled his cheeks.
He wasn’t a man to discuss his feelings.
Maggie went to him and hugged him.
“You’ll be a great mama,” he said. “And I’ll try hard to be a good grandfather.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Her voice was thick with tears. She lifted her head and met Ace’s gaze.
He smiled.
“Sweetie, Ace mentioned your mechanic is missing,” her mother said.
Maggie sniffed, worry curdling in her belly. She nodded. “The man who’s after me took him.”
“Jesus,” her father said. “What are the police doing?”
“They have officers searching,” Ace said. “And Vander and his team are on the case as well.”
“Why don’t I make some tea?” Maggie’s mom smiled at Ace. “Can I invade your lovely kitchen?”
Ace waved a hand. “It’s all yours.” A second later, his cell phone rang. “It’s Vander.” Ace stiffened and pressed the phone to his ear. “Vander? What? Hang on.” Ace sprinted for his office.
Heart pounding, Maggie followed, her parents behind her.
“It’s on the police scanner—” Ace touched the keyboard.
A bunch of voices came from the speakers, all talking fast.
Ace frowned. “There were shots fired at the airport. At a private hangar.” He cursed. “I saw something about a hangar in the name of Bentley Haye. I dismissed it.” He cursed and tapped the screen. “Bentley Haye is Davis Haye’s son. He’s four.”
There was more rapid-fire talking from the police audio feed.
“What’s happening?” Maggie gripped Ace’s arm.
“Police are on the way. Wait!” Ace blinked. “Holy hell.” He started laughing.
“What?”
“It sounds like someone set a private aircraft hangar on fire, then escaped…in an old helicopter. He’s flying toward the city.”
Maggie sucked in a breath. “Gus.”
Ace nodded. “Gus.”
* * *
Ace pulled his Porsche to a screeching halt at Maggie’s landing pad.
An ancient Huey was just setting down to land. A police helicopter was escorting it, hovering in the air above it.
“Oh, my God. An old Huey.” Maggie stared at the helo. “What a piece of junk.”
The Huey—real name a Bell UH-1 Iroquois—was Vietnam War era. It had patches of rust, and a front panel missing.
Two police cars arrived just after them.
As they started across the landing pad, Gus leaped out of the helicopter.
Maggie made a sound and ran toward him.
Keeping his gaze on her, Ace joined Hunt.
“When Norcross is involved, there’s always drama,” the detective said. “I’ve got air traffic control up in arms over an unauthorized flight from the airport.”
“I’ll buy you a drink,” Ace said.
“I’ll need more than one,” Hunt grumbled.
They watched Maggie hug Gus. The man patted her back awkwardly. Ace and Hunt walked over to join them.
“If you cry, girlie, I’m leaving,” Gus growled.
Maggie sucked in a noisy breath. “I’m pregnant. It’s the hormones.”
“I don’t care. I don’t do tears.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“No thanks to that asshole, Haye.”
Ace noted bruising coming up around Gus’s left eye. His wrists were also bruised and raw. He must’ve slipped some restraints.
There was a roar of a motorcycle engine, and Vander rode in. He parked his BMW bike by Maggie’s office, his gaze taking everything in with a glance.
“Let’s talk inside,” Hunt said.