CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
– KENZ –
There’s no escape. The limo is locked and we’ve checked everything inside that might help us to get out of here.
“Any idea who kidnapped us?” I ask Livi.
She’s fuming, I can tell from her expression, and the way her fingers are tapping on the leather seat beside her.
“Not Amadeo. He can’t afford a limo like this,” the annoyance and anger are also ringing loud and clear in her voice. “I can’t believe we didn’t fight.”
I can feel my eyes widen. “Are you for real? Did you not see her take out Jocko with a damn syringe? What if she jabbed you with one too, eh? Who knows what was in there, and you’re freaking pregnant.”
A muscle jumps in her jaw, but she remains silent, probably because she knows I’m right.
The door suddenly opens and a man in a suit slides in.
He pushes a button and rumbles, “Home, Miller.”
The limo instantly starts to move.
My mind is still processing the guy who is clearly in charge when he says, “Don’t attempt to attack me, Elowyn. Especially in your condition. I will not be the reason why you risked losing your unborn child. A child which would make a grandfather.” He winces. “Not something I want to be at my age, but I guess that’s what I get for not intervening with your life before now.”
Again. Mind. Processing. Mind freaking blown because…grandfather?
Clearly Livi doesn’t have issues with a limited reaction response when she snaps, “You’re not my father.”
There’s no emotion on the man’s face, only a cool as a cucumber mask. “I was sixteen when I met your mother. A couple hours of fun, and the only time I fucked hard and sloppy enough to rip a condom. It’s why I kept my eye on her, and knew when she was pregnant and that it was mine. To have it in black and white I made the arrangements.” He pulls an envelope from his pocket and hands it to Livi.
She rips the paper from his fingers and I shift in my seat to glance at the papers she’s pulling from the envelope. She unfolds a medical form along with a handwritten note. Livi’s hand is shaking when she reads the words. Without thinking I reach for her wrist and give her a gentle squeeze, letting her know I’m right here.
“You recognize your mother’s handwriting, yes? I gave her a choice when I laid it all out. She didn’t want my presence in your life or my support. I respected her wishes until now. Until that no-good son-of-a-bitch put you in danger.”
This shit is totally fucked up because the man in the suit is telling the truth; he’s Livi’s father. Livi swallows hard and takes her time to put the papers back in the envelope.
She throws the envelope in his direction. “This doesn’t mean shit to me. I want nothing to do with anything involving the sperm donor that left a blank spot on my birth certificate. You can stop the vehicle and let us out.”
The man slowly shakes his head. “I told the guys you’ll both be back tomorrow afternoon. They have your sister as a guarantee you’ll be brought back safe and sound.”
“Sister,” Livi croaks on a whisper.
The man’s face changes when he gives my best friend a warm smile. “Technically Luella is your half-sister.”
I turn to Livi and give her wrist another squeeze. “You have a half-sister.”
“Don’t worry, you don’t have a stepmother.” The guy doesn’t seem all that sorry. “Luella’s mother stopped living after she gave birth to your half-sister.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Weird way to say someone died at childbirth.”
The fucker smirks. “She didn’t.”
“Okay, Mr. Creepy,” I blurt, making Livi snort.
Silence falls awkwardly until Livi says, “Now what? You magically expect me to accept your presence?”
I should wince at the harshness in my cousin, and best friend’s, voice. On the other hand, she’s right for being overwhelmed and even more because the fucker kidnapped us and simply throws this shit on us.
“News flash, dude,” I grunt. “She found out about shit in her past a few months ago and she’s still processing it. What the hell do you expect in a timeframe between now and tomorrow afternoon, eh?”
An afterthought hits me, and it causes a cold shiver running up my spine. “We need to go back to the building. The guys were about to face Amadeo and you kidnapped us. Fuck. Jocko is out cold. Someone needs to go check.”
The guy in the suit sighs. “Like I said, the men know you’re with me. Amadeo isn’t a threat to my daughter anymore. My daughter made sure his death was slow and painful.”
I don’t need to remind him it was me and Falcon who had the huge bull’s-eye on our back. So, I stay silent instead.
“It was you who cleared out his underground brothel,” Livi states.
The guy shrugs. “I might have given the order, but it was your sister who handled it.”
My eyes widen, knowing some of the details. “She did it alone?”
The guy gives a nod. I’m actually a bit annoyed and also relieved…totally mixed emotions. Knowing there’s not much to do until tomorrow, I might as well introduce myself and get to know his name. Though, I’m pretty sure he already knows mine.
I hold out my hand. “I’m Makenzie–”
The guy totally interrupts me when he states, “Kenz, my daughter’s best friend and recently you became aware she’s your cousin. Which makes us family as well. Thank you for being there for my daughter throughout the years of friendship. Holland Hart, you don’t have to call me uncle, Holland will do just fine.”
An involuntary snort leaves me. “I wasn’t planning on calling you uncle anyway. I am, however, very thankful for your help with taking out Amadeo. He was coming for me and my old man, Falcon.”
“The mute is your man, yes.” The corner of his mouth twitches. “They needed to remind him a few times not to kill me. He’s very protective of you.” He releases a deep sigh. “I guess Thorsten is the same way with you. Though, I would have liked to see you end up with someone else. There’s a reason your mother didn’t want me in her life and picked me for a few hours of fun. A little dirty rebel.”
“Oh, eww, come on. That last part was unnecessary,” Livi grumbles. “And if you think I’ll simply call you daddy after this whole kidnap-and-dump-the-information-daddy-revelation then you’re not right in the head. Which you probably are.” She sucks in a breath after her ramblings and winces. “Really? You were sixteen? My mother was way older when she had me.”
Holland chuckles. “Sweetheart, you, and I’m sure your friend with her reading habit knows how an older woman with experience can be very attractive for a–”
“Oooookay, zip it, Holland,” Livi snaps. “We’re never going to discuss this topic ever again.”
He waves his hand. “You’re not a prude, Elowyn. You being pregnant shows you know how kids come into the world.”
I blink a few times at the flow of information and then it hits me.
Leaning forward, I pin Holland with my best glare. “How the fuck do you know about my reading habit?”
His face turns colder than a naked tit in the frosty rain. “No one enters my daughter’s life without thorough screening.” His attention shifts to Livi. “I was out of the country for the last couple of months, and did hear about the Broken Deeds revelation. I was planning to come back sooner, but with you going undercover, knowing it was your dream job working in law enforcement, I kept my distance. Bad decisions on both our parts.”
“Fuck you,” Livi snaps. “Thorsten is the best–”
Holland leans forward as he cuts her off. “Be careful what you say next. Especially since the man kidnapped you and–”
“Pot calling the kettle black as coal,” Livi growls.
I shrug and mutter, “She has a point. Okay, can we call a time-out? I’d like a phone to message my old man and let him know I’ll see him tomorrow. I’ll be sure to ask about your daughter. Then you need to feed this angry chick next to me.” I lean in to fake whisper, “She’s much nicer these days when she’s chewing on something.”
Holland chuckles and he digs into the pocket of his suit jacket to hand me his phone. “This is why I had Lu take you two together. You’re a good friend, Kenz.”
I keep quiet now that I have the fucker’s phone and quickly dial Falcon’s number. Fuck messaging him, I want him to hear my voice, so he knows it’s me. Anyone could send a freaking text. My heart skips a beat when the line connects. I’m almost positive the call is on speaker by the sound in the background.
“Hey, babe, it’s me. We’re okay. I’m kinda pissed I won’t be sleeping in our bed with you tonight, but I guess you’ll have to make it up to me when Holland returns us tomorrow.”
There’s only one distorted word coming in reply. “Mine.”
My heart heats inside my chest and overflows with love. “Yeah. I’m yours the way I claimed you first. See you soon.”
I disconnect the call and hand the phone back.
“You didn’t ask about Lu,” Holland says as he tucks the phone away.
I shrug. “Fuck if I care.”
Livi chuckles and is wearing a huge damn grin, even if we’re still held captive by what seems to be her biological father.