10. Like-Kind Exchange
Like-Kind Exchange
Sara
Finn puts his hand into his pants and my eyes bug out.
“What are you doing?” I whisper as the door bangs against the nightstand.
He gives me a cocky grin and pulls out a little black case. He pulls his phone out of his pocket. When he lifts my sweater, I gasp in surprise, but he tucks both into my bra before pulling my sweater down.
The door shoves against the nightstand and we both surge to our feet. Finn pauses and puts his hand to his head. He sways slightly.
“Your Lurch hits hard, flower.” He backs us both up.
There’s nowhere he can hide. They’re going to take him, and then I won’t know what they’re doing to him or where they’re keeping him.
“Finn.” My voice is panicked. “What are we going to do?”
He turns and cups my cheeks as the nightstand shoves a little more into the room. His green eyes hold mine and he smiles.
“We’re going to remain calm. Lurch is going to make it in here, and he’ll probably have help. They’ll check to see if I have anything on me. They may take me with them. It’s possible they’ll return me to you or hold me separately.”
I grab his wrists like I don’t want to let him go. He presses his forehead against mine.
“I’ll be back.” He draws in a deep breath. “They won’t hurt me. My family is too powerful and Peter knows that. If they did anything to me, it would start a war they won’t be able to win. My family would decimate them.”
My eyes widen. I don’t know Finn’s family at all. I’ve never even met them at functions. There have been whispers, but when I mentioned it to Tom, he laughed about it.
“I’m bulletproof, flower.” Finn gives me a crooked smile. “If I can, I’ll convince him to let me stay with you, if only to keep you from tearing apart this room.”
He kisses me, and I can taste his desperation. When the door crashes open, we pull apart. I wrap my arms around him as he steps in front of me.
“Hey, guys. Did you know you have my girlfriend in here?”
Lurch and the uptight older gentleman from the dining room stand there breathing a little heavy. Lurch whips out a metal baton, and it extends to its full length. He is not using that on Finn.
I step in front of Finn. “No.”
“Sara,” Finn says softly.
Lurch pauses and doesn’t come closer. The older guy watches me like he’s trying to determine something.
“If you hurt him…” Fuck, I look around. What do I have that will actually make a difference? I can’t exactly hurt them with the broken light bulb. It pretty much crumbled into dust when I tried to cut the sheet. Tears fill my eyes. “Please.” The word bursts out of me. “Please don’t hurt him.”
Finn kisses my shoulder as his arms wrap around me to pull me back into him. I put my hands over his and wish I was strong enough to keep him from them. To make a difference.
The older gentleman steps in front of Lurch and holds his hand out to him to back up. I lift my teary gaze to his steady brown eyes. For a moment, I feel a connection like he can really see me, and there’s also a little bit of pity in those eyes.
He lifts his gaze to Finn. “Mr. Lawson, Mr. Sokolov would like to speak to you.”
Squeezing my eyes tight, I hold on to Finn’s hands. I can’t let him go. I won’t.
“Ms. Morris, I’ll bring him back to you,” the man says, touching my hand.
I open my eyes and search his. I release my breath.
“It’s okay, flower. It’ll be okay.” Finn’s fingers slide out from beneath mine and he kisses my temple before he steps away. Our eyes meet and hold for a second.
His cocky smile slides back in place. “So, boys, what do you need me to do?”
He holds his hands up. I stand strong behind him, ready to crumble but unwilling to show my weakness any more than I have.
“Hands on the wall, feet apart.” Lurch pockets his collapsible baton and steps forward.
A tear slips down my cheek as they pat him down. It doesn’t take long since he’s not wearing a shirt.
“Careful of the equipment there.” Finn chuckles. “I swear it’s not a weapon and I’m quite attached to it.”
Lurch grunts as he pulls Finn’s hands behind his back and zip-ties them together.
“This seems a lot for a first date.” Finn turns and winks at me. “Save me a spot, pipsqueak. I’ll be back soon.”
Lurch takes him out of the room and the older guy follows, closing and locking the door behind him. Why did Finn call me pipsqueak? The only one that calls me that is Dante. Fuck, Finn gave me his phone.
I wait for a moment to make sure no one is coming back, then I go into the bathroom and close the door. I turn on the fan and the shower. Locking the door, I take out the phone and turn it on.
I pull up Dante’s contact information and check his texts. There’s nothing from today. I can’t exactly send him something that says this is Sara in case someone checks later.
Me:
Boss?
I sit on the edge of the tub and watch for anything. Maybe Finn meant something different. Maybe he was telling me Dante would be here? I stand and pace the small room.
What if he meant to call Dante? I call and it goes right to voicemail.
Fuck it. I wait until the tone.
“Dante? Fuck. I’m here. I’m safe. Some house outside the city. Peter took me. Finn showed up. They took him away from me, but I hope they bring him back. I don’t know where you are, but I hope you’re close. Finn says they won’t do anything to him, but…”
My hands shake and I drop my head down as tears flood my vision. “Dante, I need you. I’m trying, but nothing is working. And if they hurt Finn, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
I bite my lip to keep from telling him I love him. Just because Finn said it in the heat of the moment doesn’t mean anything. This can’t continue after this. Not once Mom and Tom are home.
I don’t know how I would explain any of this to them. But what if I don’t get the chance to tell Dante how I feel? What if this is the last he ever hears from me?
The phone buzzes in my hand and my heart skips a beat.
Unknown:
Got you
* * *
Finn
They lead me down the hallway, down the stairs, and through the house until we come to another office. Lurch, who Sara did a great job of naming, puts me in the chair across from the empty desk and steps back to stand beside the door.
The other guy stands on the other side. The dutiful soldiers. I almost laugh. My dad has a dozen of these guys. Loyal and determined to make their boss proud. They loved to drag me in and sit me before my old man when I did something he didn’t like.
I shake my head. This Peter guy has nothing on my dad. Just his name can make people shiver in their boots and piss their pants.
If Peter is going to try intimidation, that won’t work on me. I’ve stood up to the scariest man on this planet.
“Mr. Lawson.” Peter’s voice is jovial as he enters the room. Almost like he invited me here, or I’m an unexpected but welcome guest. “May I call you Finn?”
He lowers himself into the chair and leans back in it.
“Sure, Peter. You kidnapped my girl, we can be on a first-name basis.” I smirk. I’m no longer playing at being her brother’s friend, or even her friend. Nope, she’s mine and I don’t care who knows.
“Your girl?” Peter smiles and taps his pen on his desk. “I was curious, given your close proximity to Ms. Morris, if there was something more going on. Though Drew seems quite taken with the girl as well.”
I give him a cocky grin because fuck him. “Sara’s free to enjoy whoever she likes.”
Peter straightens in his chair. The easygoing attitude is gone. “You came to my home—”
“My car broke down.” I shrug. “You have one hell of a place here. Surprised to find something this nice out in the country.”
“I appreciate the fresh air.” Peter’s eyes narrow on me. “You happened to be a few miles from here?”
“They don’t build cars like they used to.” I smile and adjust my arms behind me. “Is this really necessary, Peter?”
Peter looks over my shoulder.
“He didn’t have any weapons on him, sir.”
I think that’s the most Lurch has ever said.
“Release him.” Sitting back, Peter steeples his fingers on his lips as he studies me. “You haven’t brought me what I asked for.”
Lurch cuts the zip ties and I flash him a grin before rubbing my wrists.
“You asked for something?” I raise my eyebrow.
“Did Dante not show you Peabody’s new collar?” Peter shakes his head, even as he tries to suppress a smile.
I don’t think he’s buying my bullshit, but at least I’m entertaining him.
“Yeah, Dante and I…” I suck air between my teeth. “We’re not that close.”
“You’re on your own? No phone. No keys. No wallet. No shirt.” Peter leans on his desk. “What were you hoping to accomplish?”
“It’s such a lovely day. I thought a drive in the country would do me some good.
Clear my head after some asshole stole my girl in the middle of the night.
” I smile to cut the edge off that statement.
“I was actually thinking about my family and what they might do if I told them someone had taken my girl from me.”
I lean back and watch Peter’s reaction carefully. There’s a twitch in his jaw. He’s familiar with my father. And the way he does business.
I hold my hands up like I have nothing to hide.
“I mean, I could tell them, but then there would be all this fuss and mess to clean up after. Especially if I told him my girl is carrying the next Lawson heir. He might not be happy that my girl is being held by someone he considers a partner. For now.”
I smile and shrug as Peter swallows that bitter pill. Is Sara pregnant? Fuck no. Can anyone tell? Also fuck no.
“But if I tell them, I have to deal with the messy bits.” I glance over my shoulder at Lurch and grimace.
“Yeah, lots of messy bits. So, instead, I took a drive in the country. Lurch here was nice enough to let me use the phone to call the towing company. I thought about calling my dad. He could be out here pretty fast.”
I rub the side of my mouth as if considering it.
Peter leans his forearms on the desk and takes me in.
I’m a pretty guy, but that’s not what he’s checking out.
I came here unarmed. With nothing on me.
That could be stupidity, but with my name?
That’s either arrogance or power. I don’t believe for a second that he’ll let us go, but he’s going to need to make arrangements and arrangements take time.
I turn to look at Lurch. “Do you guys have some crackers? She’s starting to get morning sickness and I want to make sure nothing happens to her or our baby. That would make Dad real fucking cranky and no one likes Dad…” I smirk and wink at Peter. “You know the rest.”
Peter nods to Lurch, who grunts at the other guy. The older gentleman leaves the room, probably in search of crackers.
“I’d love to take advantage of your hospitality, Peter.”
Peter smiles. “Of course, Finn. I’ll make sure you’re comfortable with your girl. But you know how it is in these situations.”
When he nods, Lurch grabs my elbow and makes me stand. Yes, kidnapping is tricky business when done right.
I pause in the doorway and turn back. “You know I didn’t call a tow, right?”
Peter cocks his head at me. “Of course. We just have to find your car.”
I give him a cocky grin. “You do that.”
I glance at the clock. It’s almost noon. We just need to make it eight to ten hours before the others get here. Before Lurch can take me from Peter’s sight, I clear my throat.
“Yes, Finn?” Peter looks up from his phone impatiently.
I grin like I don’t have a care in the world. “Remember, my girl is eating for two, so make sure we have plenty for lunch.”