9. The Cards We’re Dealt
The Cards We’re Dealt
Drew
As we enter a living room on the yacht, Tom and Natasha sit on the couch. She already has a pack of ice against his jaw. The similarities between Tom and Sara make my heart ache. I’ve been putting one foot in front of the other and trying not to think of what she might be going through.
From all accounts, Peter Sokolov is a fair and patient man. He should also know it’s in his best interests to keep Sara safe from harm while she’s staying with him.
I sit in a chair and lean back. Wyatt sits on the edge of the chair next to me and his foot taps on the ground impatiently. His nostrils flare. He clenches his hands like he’s trying to hold himself back from hitting Tom again.
“So, congratulations are in order?” I glance at Natasha’s hand. Might as well get the good news over with.
Natasha looks down at her ring with a blush.
“Do I know you?” Tom narrows his eyes on me like he’s trying to figure out where I fit in this equation.
I smirk. “I’m the guy dating your sister.”
Tom’s brow furrows as he glances at Wyatt.
I stand and hold out my hand. “Drew Young.”
Tom makes a dismissive noise and shakes his head. “Sara isn’t dating you.”
I sit back down and give him a knowing grin, because she’s doing more than dating me, but it’s too early to tell him our good news.
“She is.” Wyatt doesn’t take his eyes off Tom.
He swallows and looks at me more curiously. From what I know, Sara really didn’t date anyone until me. Yes, she went out with people, but they never kissed her or shared her with her brother’s friends.
I clear my throat. “You two got hitched to what? Thwart Daddy’s evil plans?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Tom threads his fingers with Natasha’s.
“Don’t I?” I lean back like I’m completely relaxed, but it’s time Tom figured out who his sister is dating.
“I own the Veiled Vixen. I know your relationships within my club. Besides, I’ve had a front row seat to Peter Sokolov’s and your interactions.
You seemed friendly, but you also wanted his daughter. ”
Tom’s eyes narrow again on me like he’s trying to figure me out. Fuck him.
“You didn’t think he’d just let his only child run away, did you? With his accountant?” I laugh but it’s bitter.
“You left us fucking blind.” Wyatt’s words are low. I can tell he wants to throttle his friend.
“I told you she might be in danger.” Tom runs a hand through his hair.
“You told us next to nothing.” Wyatt’s eyes are fierce as he holds Tom’s. “She stayed in that townhouse for a week before we knew your parents were out of town.”
“I told her—”
Wyatt jerks forward but stops himself. Instead, he stands and paces. “You told her to what? Move in with us? Assuming she’d follow your orders like a good little girl? Do you not know Sara?”
Tom swallows. “They should have left her alone. She has nothing to do with this.”
“Yes, this.” Wyatt turns and his smile is almost feral as he gestures to the newlyweds. “What the fuck is this? How could you put your sister in danger for her?”
Tom stands and gets in Wyatt’s face. “She’s my wife.”
“And Sara’s your fucking sister!” Wyatt pushes him away.
“Natasha is my wife,” Tom says between gritted teeth.
“For now.” Wyatt’s smile is anything but pleasant as he steps back and shrugs. “Sorry, Natasha, if you thought he was the kind to actually give a damn about his commitments.”
Tom lifts his hands to shove Wyatt back but I step between them.
“Get out of the way,” Tom says with a snarl.
“No.” I straighten and feel Wyatt move from behind me. My fists clench wanting to lay out this fucker, but now isn’t the time. “You don’t get to be all self-righteous now. Not when her father took Sara.”
“You’re positive it was Sokolov?” Tom looks stricken before he masks it. Natasha stands and wraps her arms around him. She leads him back to the couch and they sit.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Wyatt bites out.
I lower into my seat and put my elbows on my knees, clasping my hands between them. I meet Tom’s green eyes, so similar to Sara’s, and feel a punch to my gut, knowing I could have stopped all this.
If I’d taken what she so sweetly offered me instead of waiting, she would have been tucked away in my apartment. Maybe. I can never tell with Sara. Regardless, I should have been able to figure this out sooner.
“He met her when she was out with her friends and bought her an expensive diamond necklace to go with her dress for the fundraiser.” I can still picture her from that night.
Fuck, she was gorgeous and elegant and everything a man like me could desire in a partner.
I shake it off and focus. “That night he danced with her and told her about his daughter and how she liked to run away like Tom.”
I meet Natasha’s eyes. There’s a wrinkle between her brows and her knuckles are almost white where she holds Tom’s hand.
“She left the apartment to take out Peabody. Peabody was left in the lobby with a new diamond collar. The message said, Return what’s mine and I’ll give you back yours.” I pointedly look at Natasha.
“She’s not going back to him.” Tom wraps his arm around her, drawing her in tight against his side. A muscle ticks in his jaw.
“Tom,” she says softly and touches his face to turn him to face her. His eyes soften and he rests his forehead against hers.
“He can’t have you, Tasha.” Tom straightens and looks at both of us. “There has to be another way.”
“What were you planning to do? Run forever?” I ask like they’re insane. Because that’s what their choice is. Leave behind everyone they love to hide and worry forever about being found. No one can live like that. Not forever.
And Peter isn’t a guy without resources. It may have taken a while, but he would have found them.
“We were going to the Feds.” Natasha blows out a breath. “We were going to turn over everything we have on my father.”
I sit back. Fuck. I don’t know about Tom, but Natasha might actually be in love if she’s willing to turn her father over to the law. Tom’s going back with us if I have to knock him out and hog-tie him.
“If he gets his hands on Tasha, he’ll take her and disappear.” Tom wraps both his hands around hers. There’s a little look of panic in his eyes.
“But Sara doesn’t matter,” Wyatt bites out.
“Of course Sara matters.” Tom runs his hand through his hair. “I’ve spent my whole life protecting her. I hoped that the three people who’ve always had my back would keep her safe.”
“We didn’t even know what kind of danger she was in,” Wyatt growls. “Your room and hers were tossed in the townhouse. That’s what made her move in with us finally.”
Tom glances my way with a questioning look.
“I just wanted her safe. They have a doorman. I don’t. They could be there when I couldn’t.” I lean back in the chair. He doesn’t need to know yet about the four of us with his sister. Our primary objective is getting Tom and Natasha back to where we have control over the situation.
“Dante and Finn went to rescue her.” Wyatt stares at Tom. “If either of them ends up hurt—”
Natasha covers her mouth. “Tom, we have to go back. I have to face him.”
“He’ll take you from me.” Tom glances at her and then at Wyatt. “Fuck. I can’t just give Tasha back to him. You don’t know this man.”
“That he wants her to marry someone to take over for him when he dies?” I quirk an eyebrow. “We know more than you think.”
“You don’t care that he has your sister?” Wyatt gets up to pace again. His fists clench and unclench. On this Wyatt and I can agree. Even I want to deck this asshole. “Fuck, Tom, for years she’s been your only concern and now she means nothing?”
“She doesn’t mean nothing.” Tom shakes his head. “She’s safe even with Peter. He’s not a violent man… usually.”
“Here’s where we are.” I keep my voice calm to defuse the tension.
“Dante and Finn are rescuing Sara from Peter’s estate.
We’ve come to bring you back to make sure we hold all the cards when he comes at us again.
If you want to meet with the Feds first, by all means, do so. But we aren’t leaving without you two.”
Tom releases his breath. “Fine, but we need to talk to the Feds first. They’re meeting us at a café and expect us in a few minutes.”
“They want Peter. They’ll wait.” I take in a breath. “Is everyone on board with the plan? We go meet the Feds, then get in our plane and head to whatever place the guys have set up.”
I meet Wyatt’s eyes and he nods. Natasha and Tom nod as well.
“What place?” Tom asks Wyatt.
“The clubhouse.”
* * *
Sara
I catch Finn before he hits the floor but his weight takes us both down. I glare at Lurch as I hold Finn against me, wrapping around him so it would be impossible to take him away from me.
Lurch glares back before he steps forward and reaches down.
“I will bite you if you try anything.” I smile to show him my teeth. “Mr. Sokolov wouldn’t want me hurt.”
Banking on that might be a misstep, but I’m not letting him take Finn away.
Lurch straightens and backs out of the room, closing and locking the door. I release the breath I was holding and run my hand over Finn’s brow. Fuck.
He’s not bleeding but there’s a decent sized bump on his head. I don’t trust Lurch to not come back in and try to take Finn from me, so I rearrange a little but stay on the floor.
I’ve never been so glad to see someone in my life, but now that he’s here, I’m not sure what we can do. When he wakes, Lurch will take him away and then it’s not just me locked up here. It’s both of us.
More leverage or one too many captives?
“Finn?” I nudge at his shoulder, trying to wake him. “Come on, Finn. I need your help.”
He’s shirtless. His pants and shoes are black, but he must have come in through the front door. Lurch didn’t seem surprised to find him here in my room.
I glance around for something to help me. What I’m worried about is Lurch coming in and grabbing Finn. I can’t lock this door but I can block it.
Lowering Finn’s head down to the floor, I stand and brush my clothes off. The nightstand is probably the easiest thing to move. It might not keep Lurch out, but it will give me time to get back to Finn before he comes in.
It takes me several minutes to move it across the room. The fucker isn’t even full, but it’s definitely solid wood. After wedging it against the door, I rest against the wall and draw in a breath.
Finn’s eyes flutter open and I kneel beside him.
“Finn, are you okay?” I brush his hair away from his face.
He smiles and blinks his green eyes up at me. “Better now that I have you, flower.”
I smile and sift my fingers through his black hair.
“Thanks for trying to save me, but pretty sure we’re both prisoners now.”
When he tries to sit up, I help him.
“What happened?” he asks.
“Lurch.”
“What?” He shakes his head like he’s hearing things.
“Sorry, Lurch is what I call the big guy all in black.” I can’t stop touching him to convince myself he’s really here. I sit beside him on the floor and glance at the door.
He turns my face back to his. “Are you okay?”
I nod. “Honestly, best kidnapping ever, except for the lack of entertainment. He could have at least given me some books to read.”
Finn presses his forehead to mine and draws in a deep breath. “I was so scared.”
“It’s not like he sent you bits of me.” I cup his jaw, rubbing the scruff that looks like he hasn’t shaved since the day before I was taken. “It’s been a day. A long day, but only a day.”
He draws me onto his lap and wraps his arms around me, resting his head on my shoulder. His cologne floods me with pleasant feelings. It may have only been a day, but it felt like forever.
“We need to get out of here,” he whispers.
“Door’s locked. Windows are double paned. But the sheets are really fucking strong.” I don’t look down at my hands, but the little cuts I got trying to get through the hem still sting.
“I can get us out of the room.” His voice is low and he speaks directly into my ear. “But after that, we’re in the middle of nowhere, flower.”
I lean back and meet his green eyes. He’s afraid we’re being listened to. So I can’t ask him if he’s alone. Where are the others? Are they out there waiting for us? Or are we on our own?
My heart aches a little, thinking they didn’t come.
He draws me back in. “If we can wait until tonight…”
“What if Lurch takes you away?” I lean my head against his. “They bring me food twice and then dinner is with Peter in the dining room. I don’t think they’ll just let you stay with me.”
He sighs. “We’ll do what we can.”
I nod and sit back. He tips my chin up and searches my eyes.
“I’m not good with emotional stuff.” His thumb trails over my jaw. “I hated not knowing where you were and what was happening to you. I don’t want you to ever doubt that I’m all in on this, flower.”
I don’t know what’s going to happen once we’re out. “Finn—”
He presses his finger against my lips. “I need to tell you and I don’t need you to reply. This is something I need to do.”
I search his eyes, trying to figure out what he’s saying. My heart beats a little harder.
“I love you, flower. And I know I’m not the one you wanted, but—”
I kiss him because, fuck, Finn Lawson loves me. My enthusiasm tips us over and he grunts as he lands on his back.
“Is your head okay?” I barely take my lips from his.
He smiles. “It’s awesome.”
He lifts to recapture my lips but I draw away. “I love you, Finn. Not because we grew up together. Because I love you and you aren’t a consolation prize. I wanted you. Fuck, I needed you to make that first move. I love you so much.”
I capture his lips again and he holds me to him. My insides are glowing, but we have other things to worry about too.
The doorknob turns and I cling to Finn.
“I’m not letting you go, flower.” He holds me just as tight.
“Same.” No matter what. He’s mine.