23. The Clock Is Ticking
Two weeks later, Colin was in Jonathan’s rec room with Jonathan and Alexander, sharing a drink and a laugh with the two men when a text from an unknown number came through on his phone. His blood ran cold as he opened his phone to read the message.
McDermont, How much is she worth to you? Is she worth your sanity? You may be able to keep it if you know she is alive, rather than dead.Do you want to keep wondering every night when it’ll be her turn? I know there’s more redheads in the family, another newest little one has been born. Congratulations.What can I offer you, to ease your suffering? Because trust me, you’re going to suffer. -Quid Pro Quo
Slamming his phone on the side table and standing up, Colin threw his glass across the room. Jonathan looked at him with a thunderous expression as the sounds of glass shattering echoed around them loudly.
“Let me see,” Jonathan said angrily, snagging up Colin’s phone to read the message. Jonathan glanced up with a murderous expression on his face. Alexander looked over, his blue eyes assessing the two men coolly.
Colin and Olivia had been staying at Jonathan’s house so they could be close to the new family. And because they’d been rigid with their schedule, not making any unnecessary trips and having staff handle home deliveries and groceries just in case of any assassination attempts, Alexander met them there for some guy time. Colin tensed as Alexander stood up quickly to face him.
Colin felt his blood run cold as his demeanor became fiercely agitated. His eyes met Alexander’s and narrowed. “I have no problem killing you if you don’t let me the fuck out of this room.” Colin’s chest heaved as he squared off with the psychiatrist.
Alexander slid his abnormally cold eyes to Jonathan before speaking. “Jonathan, go get your security, I can hold him off for a few minutes.” He pushed the sleeves of his shirt up.“Colin, remember what we talked about? You need to calm do-“
Jonathan hurried out the room to alert the security, staff, and their family. Alexander narrowed his eyes at Colin, opening his stance as he faced him head on.
“DO NOT TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK TO DO!” Colin roared at him, his face flushing dark as he squared up with the man. He got into Alexander”s face, his lip curling and his features tight as he went toe to toe with the man who’d helped him get through Olivia’s disappearance.
He knew the psychiatrist was right, but he was done. He was going to get Carmichael.
“Colin, I’m not telling you what to do, but you need to get a hold of yourself!” Alexander hissed at him, reaching forward to place a cautious hand on his shoulder. “They need you to keep it together.”
“No, keeping it together is keeping these people dying” Colin’s chest heaved as he stared at the cold man. “If he was close before, then he’s right on our front step now. Tell me how the fuck he knows about baby Ian?None of us had announced his birth! How does he know!?”
Alexander’s face paled as he saw Colin’s true fear. They either had a spy in the home, or he had been following them, picking off the other redheads around town for fun. A true psychopath.
“We need to get the fuck out of here.They know where we are! He has to know!”
Just then, Olivia burst into the room.
“We need to go,” she said shortly, turning away from him and addressing Zero who was hot on her heels. “Z, tell our security team to get ready to evacuate the Sinclair household and we are going to head to Gypsy’s compound.We need to take an additional two SUVs, and we all need to leave at the same time and head in different directions. We’ve been followed, that’s the only explanation.” She turned her head to Alexander, assessing him sharply. “Did you fucking tell anyone? We haven’t been anywhere. No one knows Ian was born early!”
Alexander shook his head. “No, Olivia, I wouldn’t have done that. I know what’s been going on, I wouldn’t betray you all like that.”
Olivia stared at the man for another second and nodded her head.
Colin screwed his brows together. “Olivia-”
“I’m going upstairs to pack,” she turned to Byson. “Let the Sinclair team know that we will be heading out.I’ve already contacted Gypsy for use of her panic house and pulled my favor with her and her client I offered a service to.”
“Olivia, slow the fuck down for a second. I don’t know these people! You don’t get to just-”
Olivia rounded on him with a wild look on her face. “Do not talk to me any kind of way in front of these people.”
Colin narrowed his eyes and regarded her tightly.
“You do not understand this man, Colin. We need to move. Someone call Vincent. Now.”
Colin was torn, having a moment of pride and fear that warred within him. He felt out of control, but at the same time, seeing Olivia so in control, so obviously in her element, let him know just what Zero meant when he said he didn’t understand how he was able to tame her. In that moment he felt calm, knowing that this woman would be the perfect mother. Seeing how effortlessly she took over when chaos ensued, solidified for him that this was the woman he was meant to be with.
He could tame her because she understood and submitted to the chaos that was within him. That’s why they worked.
He nodded his head.“I agree, let’s get the fuck out of here,” he turned to Alexander. “You coming with us?” Alexander threw him a wry look with an arched eyebrow. “Nah, I think I’ll be okay. Thanks though.” Alexander reached forward, clasping his forearm in a harsh grip. They shared a look before Alexander turned to give Olivia a brief hug before letting himself out the door.
Olivia turned on her heel, pulling out her phone. She dialed a number, snapping a finger at Zero. “Get to fucking moving!” she said harshly, flicking her hair behind her shoulder as she put the phone on speaker.
“Carmichael,” she spat out. All the air left the room as she addressed the man through the phone.
Colin felt his blood pressure skyrocket.
“Kat! It’s so good to hear-” the man stopped talking as Olivia hissed into the phone. A look unlike any other Colin had ever seen graced her face. She began to tap onto her phone during the call as she interrupted him easily.
“I have warned you. I have even graced you with my presence, and you have the fucking nerve to reach out to my husband. How fucking dare you. I told you to leave my family alone!”
“All you have to do is come to me. You know where I am.”
Colin hurriedly walked to Olivia, snatching the phone out of her hand to see the number she dialed, he waved over another security who came forward.
“Write this number down,” he snapped quietly, tilting the phone so the security could see. Colin felt an icy blanket over his heart as she continued to address the man.
“So this is how you want to play it? You just won’t let go, even though I am telling you no?” Olivia’s hands began to shake as she attempted to take a breath to ground herself. She began to walk towards the door swiftly, seeing the staff of the household rushing around, getting the families together.
“Well, you haven’t even given us a chance-”
“THERE IS NO US!” Olivia suddenly screamed into the phone, shocking them all.
Jonathan came around the corner and raced up the steps after Olivia and Colin. Olivia burst into their room and began to throw her clothes into a bag, mixing Colin’s clothes in.
“Baby,” Colin whispered, shaking her shoulder, trying to get her attention.
“You are fucking around with the wrong one, Carmichael! I will fucking-”
Jonathan snatched the phone from her and hung up on the man. “We’re almost ready to leave. Olivia, tell me. Can we trust this Gypsy woman?”
Olivia snapped her head up and narrowed her eyes at Colin and Jonathan. “I can trust this woman with my life,” her face was beat red, and her lips were tight against her face as she regarded them with her chest heaving. There was a crash from the bedroom door as the door banged into the wall.
Colin and Jonathan’s gazes were momentarily torn from Olivia as Zero burst into the room, commanding their attention.
“Sir, Gypsy just forwarded the safe house’s information,” Zero came up behind Colin, standing there stoically. “Apparently, a few members of royalty use the residence. It checks out, very obscure. We’re able to hunker down together in the same household. It is a massive compound.”
Colin felt his features harden as the chaos of everything seeped in. “Olivia!”
She whirled on him, her red hair flicking as she snapped her neck to address him.Colin’s eyes flickered across her face as they both stood there, off center, their world tearing apart right before their eyes.
“NO! Colin, I’m tired of sitting back waiting and waiting for justice or for someone to handle this man. Punish me later if you must, but you told me you wanted me to give you respect as your wife, well you will give me respect as my husband,” Olivia stood there next to the bed, her heaving chest betraying her emotion.
He gave her a nice, slow smile. “Oh no, babe, you’re mistaken. I’m not mad at you. I am so incredibly in awe of you. But,” he tilted his head as he assessed her. “You’re probably going to get a punishment, regardless. Let’s go.”
They finished packing up and several SUVs and routes later; they wound up at Gypsy’s compound.
Gypsy was standing at the front of the heavily gated and armed drive, with several bodyguards flanking her and the lights of the massive mansion glowing against her back in the background. She stood there stoically as a dozen SUVs pulled into the circular drive.
Olivia jumped out, walking swiftly to the woman. She threw her arms around her, hugging her tightly.
“Thank you,” Olivia whispered, pressing her temple against Gypsy’s before she stepped back, rubbing her hands down her arms, sensing Colin come up behind her.
“It’s no problem Olivia, you know I said I’m only a phone call away,” Gypsy said softly, turning towards Colin and holding out her hand.
“It’s nice to finally meet you in person, Mr. McDermont,” she said, eyeing him coolly.
Jonathan appeared next to them holding Allison’s hand who was soon joined by Vanessa holding baby Ian.
“Hello Sinclair’s, I’ve heard so much about you,” Gypsy stepped forward and squatted down to get eye level with Allison and her demeanor changed, going from cold to softening at the sight of the young freckled, redheaded child. “Especially you, little one. Your auntie loves you so much,” Gypsy reached forward and bopped her on the nose gently, giving her a pretty, rosy smile. Allison smiled back and giggled.
“You’re preetttyyy,” Allison whispered to Gypsy as she reached over and sank her hand into Shadow’s fur.The little dog sat obediently next to her, his tail wagging.
“Thank you, you’re pretty as well,” Gypsy whispered back, giving her another smile before she straightened up and took a couple of steps back to get a better look at the group. She folded her arms behind her back and her posture commanded respect.Her entire demeanor was that of a military officer of the highest order.
Jesus fuck,Colin thought, his eyebrows raising in surprise.
“You may use my place as long as you need, I have multiple security checkpoints. No one is allowed in or out, staff will not be allowed to venture outside of the grounds. If this is a concern, then let them know now so they can leave while I am here,” she looked out the corner of her eye at Mary, Beth, and Jonathan’s staff who had come up behind them, “I will have my own security taking over on the outer grounds, and your security will take over inside the home. Whoever does not like my rules, feel free to leave now. If you choose to go, you have one hour to get your plans in order and to depart.” She turned towards Zero. “We have run surveillance on Carmichael’s job and his home. We are assessing points of weakness. Until this is figured out, no one leaves.”
“Uh, what about Allison? She needs school… normalcy,” Vanessa said quietly, stepping forward.
Gypsy narrowed her eyes. “Beth, take Allison inside and show her her room while I speak with her parents, please,” Olivia and Colin turned stunned eyes to Beth, who walked up to Allison and took her hand gently.
Beth looked at Gypsy and they shared a glance before Gypsy looked away coolly. “You are dismissed.”
Beth walked into the home with Allison and Shadow without another word.
“Uhh…lo siento, do you and Beth know each other?” Colin asked, with a shocked look on his face.
Gypsy turned an arched eyebrow to Olivia, ignoring Colin. “You can’t possibly have thought that I was going to let my top girl just fuck off with some man, disappear off the face of the earth, and I wouldn’t keep tabs on her to make sure she’s safe now, do you? This is not how Esmerelda’s Ring operates. You know this, and should have known better.” She turned a haughty eyebrow to Colin. “I had Beth, my sister, planted in your house weeks before to sus you out before you moved Olivia in. When I found out you were following and pursuing Olivia, I had you followed and vetted as well,” Olivia’s eyes almost bugged out of her head as she turned to look at Colin, who had settled his features into a calm, almost respectful expression.
Olivia’s eyes widened. That’s why she dyes her hair brunette! she thought, putting her arms around her torso and squeezing.
“Goddamn,” Jonathan breathed. “You had a spy in your house this whole time.”
Colin frowned and Gypsy continued, as if the big man hadn’t spoken.
“AND, I want to thank you for taking such good care of Olivia. You make one almost believe that love might be an actual, obtainable thing,” she gave the couple a tip of her mouth, not quite a smile. She turned her attention back to Vanessa and Jonathan.
“She will be allowed to go to school, and then come straight back here. However, this is against my better judgment, but I get that kids need stability. Also, this ban on freedom is only temporary. We need time to take Carmichael down. It should only take about a week seeing he’s got men behind him, but my men are better.” Gypsy reached forward and grasped all their hands before turning on her heel and leaving.
“Gypsy!” Colin called out, walking forward a few steps and addressing the petite, blonde woman, “Thank you, how can I repay you?” his eyes searched hers shrewdly.
“No offense, Colin, but you can’t afford me. Olivia, however, has paid this debt several times over. Don’t worry your pretty little heart. We’re even.” Gypsy dismissively turned her eyes to Olivia once more.
“Red, you know how to get a hold of me if you need me,” she said, sidling up to one of their SUV’s and sliding in the back smoothly as an officer shut the door behind her. They drove off without another word, leaving them all standing in shock in the driveway.
They went into the house and were shown around by other staff and Beth to their rooms. Allison and Ian slept in the room with Vanessa and Jonathan, they were taking no chances with their safety.
***
By the third day, they were all going stir crazy. Colin and Jonathan were holed up in an office of the mansion and were trying to run their businesses remotely. Neither one of them was happy about it.
Gypsy dropped by briefly to give them an update, letting them know her people were watching Carmichael’s house and so far there’s been no activity out of the ordinary.He went to work with his guards, then came back home. There was nothing that they could sus out.
Until the fourth day.
Olivia was reading a book in the library, trying to take her mind off things when the first text came through her phone. However, her phone was on silent on the table and she didn’t get it.
Kat, I just want you to know, I have tried to reach out to you. I have given you chance after chance to be amicable and to make the right decision. We can be so good together, and I hate that it has to come to this. A bloodbath shouldn’t be necessary for you to do what you should have done in the first place. I hope that we can come to some sort of understanding that will be mutual for the both of us. Maybe this way, we can both get what we want.But when you push my buttons, I will definitely push yours back.This game ends today.-Qui facit per alium facit per se
***
Olivia was turning the page in the afternoon, thoroughly lost in her book, when Vanessa barrelled around the corner.
“Olivia!” she screamed. She was clutching baby Ian to her and the nanny was on her heels, flapping around her trying to take him, but Vanessa was shaking too hard to give him up.
Olivia jumped up and with wide eyes she reached for baby Ian. “Oh my God is he okay?” Olivia said. Her fingers trembled as she moved his blanket aside.
“No-” Vanessa choked, “NO! It’s Allison, she was kidnapped from the school!” Vanessa yelled, finally giving up Ian who was being tugged out of her hands by the nanny.
Time stood still as the news processed and Olivia paled. She shook her head, “No, she has too much security, this doesn’t make sense-”
“A bomb! She was in the bathroom and they bombed the fucking-” Vanessa bent over choking on her tears.
Olivia’s heart ramped into overdrive and she dove for her phone, checking it just as Zero barreled around the corner. Suddenly their phones went off with the unmistakable blare of the amber alert sound. The high pitched noise triggering panic in her chest. Olivia paled further, her fingers trembling as she struggled with her phone.
“No, this can’t be right-” she paled, stumbling back a step as the text from that morning hit her phone. Her eyes widened, just as Colin and Jonathan tore into the room.
Colin stepped up to her and snatched her phone out of her hand, reading it quickly.
“FUCKING HEEEELLLLLLL!” Colin roared, grabbing at his neck he spun on his heel and faced Zero. “What do we know? Do we know anything yet?”
Zero narrowed his eyes. “From my intel right now all we’ve got is a “parent” of an enrolled child was in the bathroom during break with Allison at the time of the explosion, there are no child fatalities but there are several injuries, and three teachers are dead, including the “parent”. Whoever was on the other side of the bomb got her through the debris and chaos and she was able to get out before the security could get to her. Sir, we are sorry,” Zero faced Jonathan and gave him a discrete nod.
“For the love of GOD.” Jonathan breathed, his face was stricken with fear for his baby girl. “Do we know where she could have been taken?”
“No sir, she had a tracker in her backpack, but since she was in the bathroom she didn’t have the backpack with her.” Zero’s eyes slid to Olivia who looked to be vibrating she was so angry. She snatched her phone back from Colin with a rough sound and beat her hand into the phone. She held it up to her ear.
“Where the fuck are you?” she spoke into the phone, panting hard.
“Are you alone? Am I on speaker?”
“Yes, No,” Olivia replied. She held up her hand and jerked away as Colin went to grab the phone, flashing him a warning glance.
“So I’ve got your attention now?”
“Yes.” Keep cool. He’s got Allison. Keep calm.
“I want just you, that’s all. They can have her back, but you need to come to me. Alone.”
“That’s not possible. I can’t get out of here Carmichael. There’s too many people guarding me and you know it. Give me the coordinates, and I will exchange myself for her.”
“I have men stationed everywhere. I will pick them all off if you bring a swarm of security.”
“Only me and my security guy,” she whispered. Seeing Colin’s eyes flashing, she spoke quickly. “And Colin, and my sister, she will need to go back with my sister. That’s all.”
“Hmmm….I like the thought of seeing your husband again. I promised him something delicious when he paid me a visit. Maybe I can make good on it. Okay, meet me here, and don’t fuck around. If you bring extra people, I will kill her. I’m sending you a photo from another number to show you just how serious I am. That’s why so many little ones had to perish, so you can see just what I’m capable of if you don’t cooperate. If you all are armed, you will die. Don’t take all night now. I’m giving you exactly two hours and five minutes to get here,” Carmicheal hung up.
Just then, multiple phones rang and they pulled them out, opening up the message.
“O-o-ohhh-ohhh my G-God,” Vanessa said, falling to her knees and staring hard at her phone in shock.
Olivia kept her eyes on Colin. “I am not looking, and neither are you. Whatever he sent, I believe him. Nessie, put the fucking phone away. Put it away, goddamn it, looking at it isn’t going to help and we need to move,” she opened up the coordinates and set the GPS. “We’re exactly two hours away. Get the fastest fucking car you can find and lets roll out. Two vehicles.”
“He fucking did that so we wouldn’t have time to set up a perimeter or scope out the place, god fucking damn it.” Jonathan said bitterly, taking a deep breath and trading a hot glance with Colin.
“The five minute grace was to get security out of the way.” Olivia dialed another number.
“Gypsy.” They all listened as she rattled off what Carmicheal said, after some back and forth, Zero put his hand to his ear listening to his earpiece.
“Gypsy’s men will open the gates and not pursue. But they will be on standby.”
Colin shook his head and looked to the heavens. He said a quick prayer.
“Let’s go,” he growled, they flew out of the house into the vehicles and their tires squealed as they took off, racing against the clock.
***
Olivia and Colin went in one car, and Vanessa, Jonathan, and Zero followed the location that Carmichael sent. However, about twenty minutes from their destination Carmichael called.
Olivia answered over the speaker phone.
“What,” she growled, steering the car efficiently through traffic, they’d been so lucky as to avoid cops so far.
“I am sending you another coordinate. Good girl, I see you’re finally following instructions. However, I wonder why you didn’t drive in one car?”
“Because, you dumbass-”
“Now be nice,” Carmichael drawled, “Allison, does your auntie always use bad language?”
Olivia’s eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat hearing Allison whimper in the background.
Colin clenched his fists and reached a hand over, grasping her thigh hard. Olivia’s chest heaved as she tried to calm down. “Don’t fucking touch her, Carmichael!”
“Nooo, I wouldn’t dream of it. She’s so sweet. We’re taking such good care of her. I heard she got a new liver?” Carmichael’s voice was sickeningly sweet.
Olivia’s lips trembled as a tear spilled over onto her cheek. “Why are you giving me a new coordinate?”
“Because I needed to make sure you weren’t going to sic anyone onto my location. It’s being sent to your phone. Bye now,” Carmichael hung up the phone and Colin snatched it up, hurriedly sending it to Zero and Jonathan.
“Baby-” Colin spoke, but Olivia was looking lost, far away, almost as if she was retreating into herself, going on autopilot. “Amor, listen to me, I love you. No matter what happens tonight, I fucking love you, baby. We’re getting out of this, okay? Come on, let”s focus, take a deep breath. We need to be clear headed.” He squeezed her thigh, moving his hand up to the nape of her neck and squeezing hard.
“Colin, what if he kills her anyway? What do we do?” Olivia’s eyes flickered all over the road as she took a sharp turn, narrowly missing a truck.
Colin grabbed the grab bar hard and turned to face her. Looking at the dash, he saw they only had five more minutes to go.
“When we get there, let me go first with Zero, we will scope out the area and verify any weaknesses,” he spoke rapidly, trying to get as much out as he can. “Do not let him touch you Olivia, he might not let her go and could keep her to control you.”
Olivia’s blood raced in her veins as she took another sharp turn. Looking into the rearview mirror, she saw Zero was almost on her bumper.
“I have to get her out of there. That’s why I brought two cars. One for us, one for her. I’m getting her out of there, Colin,” she shot him a look full of pain and Colin winced. “Colin, we might not make it out of there, but she has to.” Her voice cracked.“Do you understand what I’m trying to say?” she sniffed, her fingers tightened on the steering wheel hard as she struggled to not let fear overwhelm her.
Colin stared hard at her before nodding once. “I’m not leaving you baby, you have to know that. I will never leave you. It’s you and me baby,” Olivia nodded, and a fresh tear fell down her check. Colin leaned over the middle and kissed the side of her mouth, breathing her in.
“B-but if I have a chance to get you out of there, Colin, I need you to take it-”
“No, you’ve lost your fucking mind asking me that.”
“COLIN,” Olivia bit out, her lips were tight as she spoke to him. “Colin he wont kill me, but I’ll never survive if something happens to you. I can take care of myself out there baby. I won’t like it but I will get away eventually. But if you die, I won’t survive that. If tonight doesn’t go well I need you to please, please listen to me.”
Colin watched as her tears dried up. They turned into a forestry area, the diminishing sun disappeared behind them and they were in sudden darkness.
“If you fucking love me, you’ll listen to me. Get the fuck out of here if things go bad. Don’t be a fucking hero.” Her eyes flew to the dash just as they were swallowed by trees. “Two minutes to go.”
She held her hand out and gave him a hard, lingering look as the car bumped over potholes in the darkness.
Colin scowled, his spider senses tingling, letting him know that they were being lured into a trap. Part of him wanted to call Jonathan and tell them to turn around, worried about him and Vanessa, but he knew he had a better chance of getting the man to eat pork before that would happen.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up as they slowly approached a clearing, seeing several cars with headlights casting everyone into a silhouette. His heart stopped, seeing five henchmen with rifles, and Allison in front of Carmichael. He was standing there patiently, his hand wrapped around Allison’s hair so hard she was on her tiptoes.
Holding onto her bunny for dear life.
Olivia felt her heart crack in such a way she wasn’t sure it would ever be repaired, seeing the little girl with blood and tear stained cheeks, snot running down her face. Her lips were trembling and her little eyes flickered back and forth, looking for someone to save her.
Her eyes narrowed and she let out a snarl, seeing a red dot trained on the little girl’s chest.
Colin glanced at her for a heartbeat and narrowed his eyes as she started talking.
“You will let me get out of the car first. If you get out first he will kill you with no hesitation. I need to get in front and start talking. Do not lean into me or kiss me, do not provoke this man. You let me get my baby out of here first and then I am okay with however tonight turns out. Are you hearing me baby?”
Colin narrowed his eyes and licked his lips, knowing all bets were off. Seeing Allison the way she was turned some switch on in Olivia that he wasn’t sure he’d be able to turn back off if they made it out alive.
Which he planned to.
“When we get the fuck out of here, I’m going to skin you alive for the way you’ve been ordering me around for the last two hours. Like I said, it’s you and me baby.” he repeated his words from earlier.
Olivia closed her eyes and tilted her head back, and for a second, time stood still as she breathed deeply, listening to her heartbeat and welcoming the hot loud rush of blood in her ears. Opening her eyes back up on a slow exhale, she turned her head to Colin.
“Comfortable chaos,” she breathed, turning her eyes back to her daughter. “I know you know what I’m talking about. You feel it every time we’re together. I’m getting my daughter out of here and then I’m going for the sweet spot. As soon as you feel it, you’re free to do whatever the fuck you need to.” She turned her eyes to him and they shared a mutual understanding that didn’t need to be verbalized.
With a nod, she opened the door and then walked around the car, holding her hand up to stall Zero, Vanessa, and Jonathan, who had opened the door. She turned her face to the side and pinned them with a stare.
Stay, let me go first,she implored with her eyes, making sure they got the memo before she began to walk forward, her gait confident.
Colin narrowed his eyes, feeling his entire soul wanting to reach out for his wife.
But all he could do right now was watch as her alter ego, Lilith, walked into the lion”s den.