Chapter 20
Kendrick
Fuck.
Catcher.
Of all goddamn people.
What the hell kind of game was being played? While every aspect of the event had been unnerving, what troubled me was that I’d caught a sense of surprise in Catcher’s eyes. Perhaps Lucifer had used an entirely different test.
What pissed me off was the familiarity with which Catcher had laid his hands on Reese. There was a hell of a lot more to this story.
Even before she’d had a chance to tell me what he’d said or done, I made a call.
“Get the team together,” I barked into the phone. “Make certain Maverick is there. I don’t care what he’s doing, including fucking a woman.” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been so enraged.
“What the hell is going on?” Chase snapped back.
“We caught a break. And I think things might be getting a little dicey.”
“Well, shit. My house?”
I glanced into the rearview mirror, almost certain we were being followed. “Yeah. It might take me a little while. I need to lose a tail.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, my friend, it is after midnight. A few of us have lives spent in the daytime. Not like you night crawlers.”
“Very funny. Make certain your computer systems are spinning hard. And have a fingerprint kit ready. And where are those fingerprints from that lighter?”
Chase snorted. “Hold on. They should be popping through any time. Now you’re speaking my language. By the way, the sketches are starting to come back with hits. One girl wasn’t a runaway.”
“Then who are we talking about?”
“Janey Devonshire. Her father is Marvin Devonshire of Devonshire Holdings.”
“The largest land developer on the East Coast.” What the fuck.
“She was reported kidnapped two months ago.”
Exhaling, I glanced at Reese, who was shivering in the seat beside me. “What do you want to bet a former club member?”
“That’s what I’m thinking. Get here as soon as you can.”
“Will do.”
I tossed the phone onto the dashboard, noticing that Reese was stretching her neck, studying the traffic behind us. “Are we really being followed?”
“Black sedan four car lengths back.” I’d known instantly she’d recognized Catcher. While it was a surprise, it was not nearly as much of one as learning Maverick’s informant was on this elite board within the Privileged. Conspiracy theories were running rampant in my mind.
She slowly slunk into her seat, her hands folded in her lap. “You shouldn’t have punched him.”
“Yeah, I should have. He fucking assaulted you.” The moment I glanced at her, she looked away. Her lips were pursed and I could tell how rapid her pulse was by the labored rise and fall of her chest. “Are you going to tell me how you know him and his name?”
Her sigh was heavy and she shook her head. I could easily tell she was debating how much she wanted to share with me. Only her dilemma wasn’t about trusting me, but about something from her past. I could smell the anger furrowing deep within.
And the raw fear.
What in the hell had the man done to her?
“His name is Franklin Duffries. The last time I heard, he was the vice president of Global Universal. If you’re not familiar with the company, they are a renowned international security firm specializing in providing turnkey systems with specialized software for various worldwide governments and major corporations. ”
Her father’s company.
Exhaling, I could easily tell what she was thinking. That her father was a member of the Privileged.
“I know of the company, Reese.”
The feel of her heated gaze tore at the decency inside of me. I glanced into the rearview once again before noticing a sign for the interstate. At this point, I needed to lose the tail without them realizing I was onto them. At least the Lamborghini had enough power.
Now it was time to test my skills.
Thankfully, the traffic was heavy given it was a Saturday night.
“You investigated my entire family. Didn’t you?” Her voice was riddled with accusations.
“Absolutely. I had to know what we were dealing with.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I wasn’t certain how or if the knowledge mattered.”
She snorted. “You’re lying to me, Kendrick. You already determined my father was involved. Why wouldn’t you tell me something like that?”
“Until I knew anything for certain, I wasn’t going to alarm you. Why would I do that?”
“Because this is my family we’re talking about. You know exactly why it matters to me.”
Her vehement anger with me was understandable. However, she couldn’t understand that since the beginning of this nightmare I’d wanted nothing more than to protect her.
I made a turn at the last minute, pressing on the accelerator. “The last thing I would want to learn is that your father was involved. We still aren’t certain if your father wasn’t more of a target because of who he is. It’s entirely possible.”
“What are you talking about?” When I floored the accelerator, passing by several vehicles, she twisted in her seat once again.
“Were you aware your father wrote an application used by both national and international law agencies, exposing a very lucrative, highly dangerous sex slave ring several years ago?”
When she said nothing, I tossed a look in her direction.
“I knew he worked with several international firms. That’s why he was always traveling.
I know there was something like that during when Briana had her bone marrow transplant.
However, I wasn’t in much of a position at that point to keep up with current events. ”
“I don’t understand what you’re suggesting.”
“A lot of companies were implicated throughout the world.”
“That was years ago.”
“Yes, but memories are very long.”
She leaned forward just as I jumped off the interstate, immediately making another turn and pulling into the parking lot of a building. “Are you thinking my sister was kidnapped for ransom?”
“Or revenge. One of the girls from the sketch has been identified, her father a very wealthy man.”
“Possibly a club member. Right?”
“Maybe.”
I pulled to a stop, immediately turning off the headlights. From where I’d positioned the car, I had a clear shot of seeing anyone who drove down the street. Hopefully, it would appear I’d gotten lost in the heavy traffic.
She unfastened her seatbelt, immediately throwing open the door.
“What are you doing?”
“I need some air.”
“Don’t—” But it was too late. She was already out onto the pavement. “Fuck.” I threw open the car door, furious that she continued to fight me. As I headed toward her, I reached inside both pockets, able to feel the piece of broken glass she’d given me in one, my weapon in the other.
She stood staring at a group of trees, her arms folded and her breathing shallower than before. The way she stiffened when I approached meant much of the trust we’d built had just been shattered.
We both remained silent with nothing but the sound of traffic from the nearby interstate in the distance.
Her heavy sigh was almost resolute. “Franklin was one of my father’s best friends.”
“Was?”
“Well, since he was the lead effort in forcing my father to take a buyout from his own company, I’d say Daddy had a damn good reason to end their friendship.”
The disdain in her voice was another indication she had some sort of a personal relationship with Franklin.
I released a subtle sigh of relief. “Do you know any details?”
“Daddy is a very private man with aspects of his company. He always was. While he was rarely home, he was insistent on keeping his family time separate. I did overhear one conversation he had with my mother. The reason was a loss of two contracts because my father took time off to spend with Briana when she was recovering. Can you believe that?” She turned just enough I could see the side of her face.
She was tense with anger.
“I’m so sorry.” I dared take a step closer. “You didn’t like Franklin long before he forced your father to retire. Yes?”
With another heavy sigh, she finally nodded.
“Franklin and my father were especially close during a project they were working on together. He was at the house at least once a week. He was almost like an uncle to Bri and me. I was a stupid teenager and he was so debonair. He had no trouble paying attention to me.”
“You fell in love with him.”
Lifting her head, she groaned as she stared at the star-filled sky.
“Can you believe that? I honestly believed a man of Franklin’s stature and wealth would want anything to do with an almost eighteen-year-old kid.
He was recently divorced and acted lonely.
What a crock of shit. He has two kids close to my age.
God, I was so stupid. But he called me beautiful, something I hadn’t heard from a boy since I was an intellectual nerd always with my nose stuck in a book.
Boys weren’t very kind. He said the same thing to Briana.
He’s responsible for her being in this godforsaken city. ” Her laugh continued to be bitter.
“You are beautiful.”
At least that garnered me a smile. “Yeah, well, he certainly knew how to use the line on me. I started wearing sexier clothes, allowing the man to take photographs of me and I’d never felt so beautiful in my life.”
Now I was the one bristling, seeing her fisted hand, the way her body trembled. “What the fuck did he do?”
“Oh, don’t worry. He was smart enough to wait until my eighteenth birthday. Even then I thought I was in love. It took me all of a week to realize he’d used me. He’d taken my virginity and had pictures to prove it. I even threatened him with telling my father.”
Blackmail pictures. The asshole had no scruples whatsoever.
“Motherfucker.” When she let out a single sob, I pulled her into my arms, pressing her face against my chest. “I’m going to crush that bastard.” No, I was going to kill him with my bare hands.