Chapter 5
JAMISON
It takes all my willpower not to take Aiden down and pummel his ass. “Go ahead, Aiden. Don’t hold back on us now.”
Hunter squares his shoulders toward Aiden. “Jamison’s right. It’s time you tell us everything, or we’re just working against each other.”
“This is Dori’s life, Aiden. Please tell us whatever it is you know.” Melanie squeezes between Hunter and Aiden and stares into his eyes. “You told me once Dori’s the only person in your family you care about. If that’s true, you need to give us all the information. For Dori. No one else matters.”
Aiden’s gaze softens with Melanie’s words. She runs her hands up and down his biceps as he seems to consider her request. His shoulders slump forward. There’s a break in his iron mask, showing the strain on his face.
“Mel, I can’t. It’s too big for any of us to fix.” Aiden’s arms reach around to hold her as his eyes close.
Oh, fuck this bullshit. I’m done.
“For once, quit making everything about you. You need some serious help, and so does Dori.” I break Mel and Aiden apart. “There isn’t time for some romantic gesture between you two. Let’s sit down and get to the bottom of this mess.”
Hunter raises his brows. “I couldn’t agree more with Jamison. We need to come clean with each other or else Dorothy’s life is at stake.”
I want to roll my eyes at him because he’s just as responsible as Aiden. But the truth is, all three of us are at fault.
Aiden flexes his arms and chest as he pins me with a death stare.
I don’t give two fucks. He can kill me once Dori’s found.
“Let’s take this to my dining room. There are enough chairs and space in there for us to get to the issue at hand without tearing each other apart.” Hunter motions to a room off the kitchen. “Follow me.”
Aiden waits for me to move. Giving him the satisfaction so I can find Dori faster, I follow in Hunter’s footsteps. Melanie’s on my heels. If I weren’t so terrified for Dori, I’d be pounding on both Aiden and Hunter for using her as bait.
How did I not see that one coming? Oh, I know. I thought Aiden would keep Dori out of that kind of danger. Whatever he’s hiding has to be earth-shattering because he’s acting like he’s lost his mind.
Hunter takes a seat at the head of the table. I can’t be close to him, so I sit two chairs down. Melanie gets the hint and slides into the chair between Hunter and me. Aiden hesitantly sits beside Hunter.
Hunter dips his chin at us. “I’ll start this matter, but we all have to agree to get everything out in the open. No more deceit, lies, secrets, or cover-ups. This ends here today at this table. For Dorothy, we agree to work together from here on out.”
Melanie nods. “Count me in.”
“I have nothing to hide, so I’m in.” I raise a brow at Aiden .
Everyone here knows he’s the one holding out. How he responds to this will tell me everything I need to know. If he holds back, I’m out of here and only working with the FBI.
That thought reminds me of something. I pull out my phone and check for messages from my security team. Still no word.
Come on, Dori.
Remember what I told you about your bracelet.
Aiden interrupts my thought. “Fine. We need to find Dori.”
“Do you want to go first?” Hunter asks Aiden.
He shakes his head. “I need a minute.”
The tone in his voice screams vulnerability. I decide to take the lead because he’s had my back, and no matter what kind of dick he’s been, I love him like a brother.
I purposely relax my stance. “Let me go first.”
Three sets of eyes land on me.
“By all means, Jamison.” Hunter leans forward, resting his forearms on the table. “I’m curious now because seconds ago, you said you have nothing to hide.”
“I’m not hiding anything. What I want to share is just valuable information that will help us once it’s in place.” I glance at Mel.
She smiles, telling me I’m doing the right thing.
“Before I left for Miami, I bought Dori a bracelet.”
Aiden rolls his eyes. I shake my head at his stubbornness and childish behavior. He’d do himself a favor if he got into therapy like Dori. She used to act this same way. If she can change, maybe Aiden can as well.
“Like I was saying, I gave Dori a bracelet. It’s not just any piece of jewelry.
It’s one of those emergency devices that has hidden software in it.
Dori’s has a rose medallion as the focal point.
When she presses the center of the flower, it will send a signal to the monitoring company, giving them her location. ”
Aiden jerks his chin at me. “And you’re just now telling?— ”
Hunter places his hand on Aiden’s shoulder. “Let Jamison continue.”
“It’s one of those emergency GPS tools. I gave it to Dori and showed her how to use it.
If she has it on and she’s able to activate it, we’ll know where she is in a matter of minutes.
My security team has been waiting for the signal to come across the monitors, but so far, nothing. ” My throat closes.
Dori’s lack of a response isn’t a good sign. Now everyone knows she’s not in a coherent state to activate the device or doesn’t have it anymore.
“That’s great news, Jamison. Why didn’t I think of that?” Hunter rests back in his chair, but then his face pales. “Are you sure it was in working condition?”
I nod. “I had her test it at least four times before I went to Miami. It’s working. At least it was when I left.”
“Well, then. I’m going to hope it is, and we’ll get her location in a matter of time.” Hunter swallows hard. “Is that all you have to add to the conversation?”
“Yes. You know everything else.” I shoot my gaze to Aiden.
He’s the one I want to hear from the most, but he avoids me and faces Hunter.
Hunter takes the cue. “I’ve been keeping information about Isabella from all of you.
Aiden, I didn’t tell you she was pregnant because I didn’t want you to cut me out of the plan.
I thought if you knew, you would keep me out of the loop like Dorothy does when she’s upset. I couldn’t take that chance.”
“You’re not far off base.” Aiden folds his arms.
Hunter squares his shoulders. “Then I don’t regret my decision. No matter what, I love her and want to help find her. It’s my fault she’s been abducted.”
Aiden tips his chin. “Fair enough, but your mom is the one at fault.”
“The three of us are responsible for this,” I cut in. “If we would’ve trusted her in the first place and told her everything, nothing would’ve gone wrong. Not that I would’ve let you use her as bait, but that’s beside the point.”
Aiden lowers his head.
“I didn’t tell you because I knew you would get in the way,” Hunter says to me. “There was no way around it. Nothing would’ve pulled my mother out of hiding.”
My skin erupts with cold prickles. I rein in wanting to scream and speak as calmly as I can. “How did you know she would be the one to grab Dori? It could’ve been any one of her mob personnel.”
“Call it intuition.” Hunter's expression grows pained. “I met with my mother recently. She said she would take Dorothy out herself if she had to. My mother’s blood runs through me. She said I’m just like her, so I knew if it were me with as much at stake as my mother has in this war, I’d handle it myself to ensure it was done right. ”
“What’s at stake for her?” Melanie studies Hunter. “What does she want?”
He squirms in his seat and takes a long, deep breath. “My mother wants to take my son once he’s born. Her husband wants to name him the successor of the French mob. When Jonah and I retire, my son is to take over Efron Worldwide and infiltrate the mob into the casinos.”
Aiden flinches and almost flies over the table, but he stops himself. “You never told me that part. You only said she wanted Dori out of the picture to keep me away from you and your business.”
“Which brings us to you.” Hunter glowers at Aiden, ready to fight. “It’s your turn now. Jamison and I have nothing left to share, so fire away.”
There’s the power I know Hunter has. It’s about time he used it in the right way.
Fear swirls in Aiden’s eyes, causing my breath to still. I have a feeling he’s about to take me out with whatever secret he’s been keeping .
He pushes out of his chair and paces the length of the formal dining room table. “That call I just took…”
At least thirty seconds pass. I know not to interrupt Aiden or else he’ll sidestep the conversation. It appears Hunter has come to the same conclusion as he remains quiet too.
That’s one good thing about him dating Dori. He knows her, and habits usually run in the family.
Aiden stops and faces us. “I’m in over my head, and I don’t know how to get out.”
Hunter stands. “We have resources and can help, but we can’t do that until you tell us everything.”
I stay seated for fear he’ll see it as a threatening move, not a supportive move like Hunter just made.
Aiden’s wild gaze comes to me. “Jami, you know my dad is fucked up in the head.”
My stomach hardens. “What’s this got to do with your dad?”
“I… He’s behind this. Everything goes back to him.” Aiden’s expression drops. “If I don’t help them, we don’t get Dori back.”
I can’t help myself. Adrenaline surges me to my feet. My chair slams to the floor.
“Help who with what?” I demand.
He squeezes his eyes shut. “Hunter’s mom.”
“How the fuck are Hunter’s mom and your dad involved in this?” I start to stomp around the table, but Hunter stops me by forcing his palm against my chest.
“I’m just as confused as Jamison.” Hunter steps in front of me, blocking me from Aiden. “Who just called you?”
For once, I’m glad Hunter’s around because I’m obviously too close to the subject to remember any significant detail other than Dori’s life is at risk. I silently talk myself down.
We need Aiden to spill his secrets, and going to war with him isn't in our best interest.
Aiden’s gaze darts between Hunter and me .
He swallows hard. “It was Joan, your mother. She has my back against the wall.”
Hunter lunges.
I grab his arm and spin him back. “It’s your turn to chill the fuck out. We can’t be fighting each other.”