Chapter Seven
Tag and Piper showed up twenty minutes later.
Sawyer filled them both in, and Piper was beside herself with worry.
He hated that he didn’t keep better tabs on Joe’s whereabouts.
Last he heard, Joe went back to New York.
When his friend lost Joe’s trail, he should have been more diligent in looking for him, but he was so caught up with Lorna, he didn’t do his job.
“I’m so sorry, guys. This is all my fault; I should have tracked Joe,” Sawyer whispered. Tag wrapped Piper in his arms, trying to calm her.
“No, Sawyer, there was nothing else you could have done. Joe wanted to get to me, and when he couldn’t, he went after Lorna. I just don’t understand why he thinks I owe him. If anything, he and his brothers owe me.” Piper barked out a laugh. “Ironic, right?” she asked.
“Did he let you talk to Lorna?” Tag asked. He looked as worried as Sawyer felt. He didn’t want to show Piper the picture of her aunt tied to a chair with duct tape over her mouth.
“Yeah, he sent me a picture,” Sawyer admitted.
“I need to see it,” Piper sobbed.
“Piper, it’s not a picture that you should see.
Her face is bruised, and she is tied up and gagged.
” Sawyer was hoping that his description would change her mind, but she was as stubborn as Lorna.
“Please, Sawyer. I can handle seeing the picture. I’m stronger than you both give me credit for.
Maybe I will see something in it that will tell us where she is being held.
” Sawyer hesitated, looking to Tag for a little guidance on what he should do.
Tag gave a curt nod, and Sawyer handed Piper his phone with Lorna’s picture on the screen.
He didn’t miss the way her hand shook as she took his cell.
She gasped, covering her mouth to hide her sob.
“Oh God,” she whispered. “This is Maddie’s kitchen.
I see Dusty in the pet carrier—here in the corner.
” She pointed out the cat, and Sawyer’s heart raced with excitement.
He wanted to run down the block and storm into Maddie’s house, but he knew that they needed a better plan than that.
Hopefully, one that wouldn’t involve getting Lorna killed. He couldn’t let that happen.
“I’m going to call this in. I can have men on the scene in less than ten minutes.” Sawyer didn’t know what else to do.
“No! You can’t just let the whole Sheriff’s Department storm in there and possibly get Lorna killed. What if Joe has a gun and he kills Lorna before your guys can get to him? I won’t risk her life.” Piper stopped crying, her despair giving way to anger.
“What do you propose I do then?” Sawyer knew that he was too involved to rationally decide what the plan should be.
“I’m going to go to Maddie’s and meet with Joe,” Piper said.
“We can use the element of surprise since we know where he is. I’ll simply show up at the door and listen to his demands.
You and Tag will go in through the back door and get Lorna out of there.
” Sawyer could see Piper’s plan going sideways fast.
“Hell no! There is no fucking way that I’m going to let you go anywhere near that fucker.” Tag pulled Piper back into his hold.
“It’s the only way, Tag. I won’t let Lorna die. She’s too important to me.”
“She’s important to us all, Piper,” Sawyer barked.
“She is everything to me. She’s going to be my wife and the mother of my child.
Do you honestly think I would let anything happen to her?
But sending you in and putting you in harm’s way isn’t the answer.
Lorna would never forgive me if I used you to save her. ”
“What do you mean by the mother of your child?” Piper eyed Sawyer suspiciously.
“We were waiting to tell you until after the New Year. She’s pregnant. We found out the day before Thanksgiving, but wanted to keep it to ourselves for a bit. She insisted that you and Tag should enjoy your first holiday season together.” Piper shook her head.
“That’s silly! Lorna being a mom would be the best Christmas gift she could give me.
I’ve always wanted a little brother or sister.
” She smiled up at Sawyer. “Welcome to the family!” She rushed over to hug him.
“Now, let’s go get the mama-to-be back so we can celebrate.
” Sawyer gave a curt nod, not feeling much like celebrating.
When he had Lorna safely back in his arms, he would celebrate plenty.
“I have a plan,” Tag said with a smile. “I think it just might work.”
“Go on,” Piper coaxed.
“Well, how about you call Joe back. He gave you an hour, right?” Tag asked, and Sawyer eagerly nodded.
“Okay, well, we give old Joe what he wants. We set up a meeting with Piper. But she won’t be there.
I’m betting that Joe thinks that we don’t know where he’s holding Lorna.
I’m also betting that he won’t bring Lorna to his meeting with Pipe.
She would just slow him down. We’ll set up the meeting at our cabin—it’s out of the way and secluded.
Joe will go up there and walk into our trap.
You can have your guys ready to close in when he goes into the cabin.
That’s where I’ll be waiting. Piper can stay here, and you can get into Maddie’s house while we are busy with Joe.
You get Lorna, and Joe goes back to prison.
” Sawyer took a few minutes to think through the plan.
It sounded good—anything was better than sending in the cavalry and possibly putting Lorna in even more danger.
But if Joe took Lorna along for the ride, it wouldn’t work.
“Fine, I’ll call the office and get everyone in place. Then I’ll call Joe and set up the meeting. The only change I’d make is that Piper stays with one of us. I think she should stick by me, that way you can handle things up at the cabin,” Sawyer said.
“Please just keep Lorna and the baby safe. I can’t lose her, too.” Piper seemed just as lost as Sawyer felt. This plan had to work because he couldn’t imagine his life without Lorna and their baby.
Lorna felt like an eternity had passed since she left the house earlier.
Her face felt like it was on fire from where Joe had smacked her, and her shoulder hurt like hell.
She was in so much pain, she passed out, only to wake up to find her mouth covered in duct tape.
She panicked every time she thought about the baby, wondering if he or she was okay.
She knew that Joe spoke to Sawyer, even sent him a picture of her bound and gagged.
She was worried that Sawyer would figure out where she was and storm in playing the hero and get them both killed.
There was no way that she wanted to give Joe the chance to meet with Piper.
It was her job to protect Piper, and now she would be the cause of Piper’s pain.
“Well, your boyfriend has five minutes until time's up. I have to be honest, Lorna, I’m hoping that he doesn’t make his deadline.
I’d like to spend a little quality time with you to get to know you better.
” Joe’s smile was mean, and Lorna shivered.
The thought of him touching her made her sick, but he would have to untie her if he wanted to play, and that might give her a chance to escape.
Lorna’s cell phone rang, and she could see Sawyer’s picture on the screen.
Joe picked up her cell and put it on speaker.
“Just in time. I was telling Lorna that I almost wished you would defy me. She’s beautiful, and I wouldn’t mind spending a little time with your woman.
So, tell me—will I be getting to know Lorna a little better, or will Piper meet with me?
” Lorna felt warm tears sliding down her cheeks.
She hoped that Sawyer wouldn’t put Piper in harm’s way; she would do anything to keep her niece safe.
Sawyer’s shouts filled the room. Hearing his voice was like a balm to her aching body.
She knew that he was going to fight like hell to keep both her and Piper safe, and that made her love him even more.
“You keep your fucking hands off Lorna, you sick bastard! Piper has agreed to meet you at her cabin.” Lorna tried to scream, but only a muffled groan came out. Joe laughed at her efforts.
“Your little Lorna doesn’t seem too happy with your plan.
I think she wanted to spend some time with me.
” Joe chuckled to himself. “I’ll meet with Piper at her cabin in one hour.
She'd better be alone up there—no husband, no cops, and you better not be with her. If I feel like I’m being set up in any way—I’ll kill Lorna,” Joe taunted.
“I got it. Only Piper will be at that cabin. She will have the five million with her.” Sawyer sounded defeated, and that just about gutted Lorna.
She needed him to keep fighting. Using Piper as bait wasn’t a good plan.
In fact, it was a fucking awful one. There had to be another way, one that would keep Piper safe.
“Good, I’m glad to see that Piper is a reasonable girl. She knows that her family owes mine, and she’s willing to pay up. As soon as I have the money, I will text your cell to let you know where to find your girlfriend,” Joe offered.
“Fine,” Sawyer barked into the phone, and Joe ended the call. Lorna closed her eyes, praying that Piper wouldn’t be anywhere near that cabin. She knew that Sawyer was a damn good bodyguard and cop, and he wouldn’t let Piper just walk into a dangerous situation alone.
“Now then, let’s get you settled, and then I’m going to finally meet that pretty niece of yours.
” Joe untied Lorna’s legs and forced her to stand.
She felt woozy and was afraid that she was going to pass out again.
“If you agree to be a good girl, I’ll take off the cuffs.
Can you make me that promise, honey?” Lorna nodded her head.
She would agree to just about anything to get those cuffs off.
Joe released her hands, and sharp pains shot up her arm and into her shoulder.
It was definitely dislocated—she had to use her good arm to support it.
He tore off the masking tape, causing her to scream in agony.
“See, now we can be friends again. I’m going to need you to get into the pantry. I’ll lock you in there for safekeeping and then, if all goes as planned, your boyfriend will be here before you know it,” Joe said.
“Please don’t hurt Piper,” she sobbed. She wasn’t above begging Joe, and he certainly seemed to like making her cry.
“That’s up to her.” He shrugged, “If she plays nice and gives me what I want, she will be fine.” Lorna gasped as he shoved her into the kitchen pantry.
She wanted to fight, but every movement had her reeling in pain.
Joe shut the door and locked it, and she heard him dragging what she assumed was a chair across the floor to wedge it under the doorknob.
There would be no getting out of the closet until either Joe came back to finish the job or Sawyer found her.
She slumped back against the wall and said a little prayer. She rubbed her tummy.
“We’ll be okay, your daddy will find us soon.” She just hoped like hell that was true.