Total pages in book: 165
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 775(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
A huff came over the line. “Fine. I’ll have my men send proof of life. You get a picture tonight. Tomorrow I’ll let the girl talk to her parents over a secure line. You will not be talking to Kyle ever again. Do I make myself plain? You’ll get the girl back if you do what I ask, but Kyle is mine.”
She had to play this properly. Julia had to believe she’d won a victory. “Well, given how quickly he walked away again, I suspect that’s true. I’m sick of competing with you. You were right. He hasn’t gotten over you and I’m tired of being your stand-in. I want Kala back. I’m doing this for her.”
Julia was quiet for a moment. “That was easy.”
“He pretended to be dead. I tried but I can’t forgive him for that. And he walked right out those doors the minute you told him to.” Now that she was saying the words out loud, she understood how ridiculous they were. Kyle had done what he had to do, and she would never question that truth again. She would get her man back and move forward in life with a clean slate. The mistakes he’d made were wiped clean by that silly Star Wars referenced note.
“Remember that. Stick to nerds. They’re easier to control,” Julia advised. “You should leave men like Kyle to women like me. You’ll have your proof in an hour. Tell the Taggarts to stand by. And MaeBe, this is in your hands now. She lives or dies based on how fast you can get me what I need.”
The line went dead.
“MaeBe, you have to know that Kyle…” Ian began.
MaeBe held up a hand. “I know what Julia needs to hear. Everything I said was for her benefit. I’m going to get my man back. I’m glad he went because I do not want Kala to be alone. Did you already contact the police?”
“Derek Brighton knows, but he’s going to keep the investigation private for now,” Ian replied. “I’ve put in calls to a couple of others who might be able to help us. Hutch and Chelsea are already working on traffic cameras and the private airfields.”
“And I’ve got a message in to my cousin. He’s going to find the mercenaries who took her and make them pay,” Charlotte added.
She needed to make herself plain to these people she thought of as family. Julia had tried to get a dig in. She’d tried to make her feel like she wasn’t worthy because her father hadn’t loved her enough.
But what she’d come to realize was that was his problem. Not hers. She’d done what she could and then she’d moved on and found another family. She’d found good people to surround herself with. People she could fight beside, could live this life with.
In the end she knew the loss of her father would always make her ache, but she could be more than content with the family she’d found. She could be joyous.
“I need you to understand that we will get Kala back. Kyle will protect her, and I will find the intel we need.” She glanced toward the door and Taylor and Drake stood there.
Her team. She would work with everyone, but Taylor and Drake were the Team Kyle had left for her. Drake had so much knowledge when it came to intelligence and his father. Taylor was brilliant when it came to constructing an identity. Not that they would need that.
MaeBe stopped because that thing that had eluded her all day, that itch she’d been unable to scratch, was suddenly so clear to her.
She knew exactly how to get Kala back quickly.
And when Kala was safe and with her parents, MaeBe would end this, and her first gift to the man she loved would be his stalker’s heart on a silver platter.
Chapter Nineteen
Kyle came awake to the jarring bang of the small plane hitting the landing strip. At least he hoped that was what they were hitting. After the night he’d had, he wouldn’t be surprised if they were crashing. He tried to stretch but was reminded that his hands were in cuffs.
Actually, if they crashed, he might have a shot at getting himself and Kala out of here.
Kala. He had to think of Kala and how scared she was going to be. Whatever those fuckers had given her had kept her out the whole night. He’d been the one to carry her onto the plane, praying to anyone who would listen that she was okay. For all her ferocity, she looked exactly like what she was when she was sleeping—a fragile young woman.
He had to reassure her he was going to protect her.
“I blame you.”
He turned slightly and blue eyes stared back at him. Kala was a little worse for the wear this morning. Her hair was a mess, and the mascara she’d worn formed circles around her eyes.