Rose In Bloom (28 page)

“What’s going on with you, Brandon?” Mikey asks as he closes the door to the back of the truck. We’d just gotten through delivering the last of the shipment, and the crew had already headed out.

“What do you mean? There’s nothing going on with me.”

“Don’t give me that shit. You’ve been preoccupied with that new girl since you got out of prison. When do you plan on bringing her around?”

“Soon. She’s in the middle of a messy divorce, so she’s not wanting to go public until her husband signs the papers and all.”

“Are you seriously staying out at that old place? I’m surprised she’s willing to live there. You need a tetanus shot just for opening the door. You know, there is room in the penthouse for her, too.”

“Yeah, but she’s not into the fancy life. Besides, we like it just fine where we are, for now. So, just mind your own fucking business, Mikey.”

“Whatever. Have you talked to Pops? I’m starting to get worried, cause he still hasn’t called me back.”

“Er… um, yeah, I talked to him yesterday. It was a bad connection, but he said he’d call back soon.”

“I still don’t get why he hasn’t called me though. He knows I need to talk to him. I’ve left him a thousand voice mails.”

“I don’t know. He talked like this is a pretty important deal he’s working on.”

“Yeah, I guess. Come on. Let’s get this truck outta here. I don’t want to draw any more attention than necessary.”

“I’ll see you later, Bro,” I yell as I drop Mikey off at his car.

Throwing up his hand, he doesn’t even say anything back. It’s obvious he’s upset. He hadn’t said much during the ride over here. I’m sure he’s pissed because I told him Pops had called me and not him, but I had to think of something to say, and fast. If I hadn’t told him that I’d talked to him, then Mikey would’ve gone nuts. Within minutes, he’d have the whole world searching. The last thing I need right now is a big media frenzy involving my missing father.

Pulling up to the warehouse, I park the truck inside and secure the roll down door behind me. I’d wanted to torture Thorne a bit longer, but it’s time I make my next move.

Pulling out my father’s phone, I text Thorne my demands. I know he’ll do whatever I ask to get her back, but the thing is that that isn’t happening. I get the money. I keep the girl.

Since I’m having him meet me here for the exchange, we can’t stay here any longer. We’ll stay in a motel somewhere and lay low for the night. After tomorrow, Sebastian Thorne will go down for the murder of my father and lose everything he ever loved.

Lucas

I’ve waited all evening for him. As he pulls his shiny black car into his designated spot, I know this is my only shot. Tucking my gun behind my back, I grab the box beside me and close the door.

I hear the familiar sounds of the FOB securing the lock on the car and realize that thankfully, he’s alone this time.

“Mikey!” I call, catching him completely off guard.

“What are you doing here?” he demands.

“We’ve got to talk.”

“I don’t have time for this now.” Mikey says, turning around to walk off.

“You’re going to make time! Someone’s kidnapped Sebastian Thorne’s wife and, is holding her hostage. I know it’s your family behind it.”

“What are you talking about?” Mikey says, turning back to face me. “Besides, why do you even care what happens to Thorne anyway? Doesn’t this get the revenge you wanted?”

“When I made the deal with your father to bring Sebastian down, he assured me that Thorne’s wife would not be involved in any of it. I made him promise to leave her out of it because I love her, Mikey. Now they have her and I’m scared to death someone’s going to hurt her. I’ve got to get her back, and in order to do that, I need your help.”

“Look, I know you want me to help, but I think you are way off with all of this. My Pops is not even back in town yet, so I know this isn’t him. Plus my brother’s too busy with his new girl to be involved in any of that. This has to be someone else.”

“New girl?”

“Yeah, his new girlfriend. He’s been living with her out in one of my Pops’ old warehouses across town.”

“Where?”

“I’m not telling you that so you can go jump him for something I know he didn’t do.”

“Mikey, I think this new girl he’s talking about is Sebastian’s wife, Skylar.”

“No, it’s not. He wouldn’t go near her after everything he went through. Trust me, he’s not that stupid. He doesn’t want to go back to prison.”

“Have you even seen this new girl he’s talking about?”

“No, he said she’s going through a divorce and isn’t ready to meet everyone just yet.”

“I’m telling you, he’s got Skylar. He had this delivered today. You can’t tell me he isn’t capable of hurting her,” I say, shoving the box in his hands. Opening the flap, he pulls out the stuffed animal and looks back at me in horror.

“She’s pregnant, Mikey. Please tell me where the warehouse is. If it’s not Brandon behind this, then I’ll apologize, but I need to find out who’s behind it before it’s too late. Please.”

Unlocking his car, he shoves the box back in my arms. “Get in! I’ll take you there myself. So help me, if you’re wrong, I’ll make you pay.”

“Looks like his car’s not here, but I’ve got a key to get in.” Shoving open the heavy rusty door, I follow behind him as he switches the light on inside.

“BRANDON?” he calls as he tosses his keys on the wooden desk. “BRANDON!” He opens a door in the far back. “He’s definitely been here, because that’s the delivery truck we used earlier.” He points at the big truck parked inside.

“Come on,” he says, motioning me on back to the stairwell. “The loft is upstairs. I don’t trust that elevator. I got stuck on it once when I was a kid.”

Climbing the stairs, we head down a long, narrow hallway that leads up to a large metal door.

“Fuck, it’s locked,” he says, digging through his keys. He tries a few of them with no luck, before finally finding one that turns the lever. Pushing back the door, he switches on the light, revealing a huge loft apartment.

“Hello?” he calls, but no one answers.

Walking inside, something shiny on the bed catches my eye. The moment I see the watch, I know it’s Skylar’s. I’d given it to her as a surprise when we were in Spain.

“He’s got her, Mikey. This is her watch.”

Walking towards me, he takes it out of my hands.

“You’re sure this belongs to her?”

“I’m positive. I had the rose inscribed inside beside her initials. See? SR, Skylar Rose.”

Pulling out his cell phone, Mikey dials a number. “Tex, have you seen Brandon? No, I haven’t seen him since he dropped me off earlier, and he’s not answering his phone. Call me the minute you see or hear anything from him,” he orders before ending the call.

“I don’t see anything up here. I’m gonna have a look downstairs,” I say as I make my way out the door.

When we return to the bottom floor, I look the place over for any possible clue. Large wooden crates and metal shelves scatter the room, along with a few pieces of old furniture and junk.

Mikey stops at the back of the room.

“That lying piece of shit!” he roars as he opens the lever to what looks to be a cooler.

“What is it?” I say, running over to where he is.

“He told me this cooler was broken. Obviously, the fucker didn’t want me coming here. I guess he was afraid I’d find the girl.” Opening the door up, he steps through the large rubber strips that hang at the opening of the freezer.

“NO!” he screams.

Startled, I bolt in after him. Mikey is on his knees, his body draped over a black tarp of some sort. His broad shoulders shake. Sensing my presence, he lifts up and looks back around to me. It’s then that I see what I’ve suspected all along. Lying wrapped in the black tarp is Maverick Larson, dead from a bullet to the head.

Looking back to Mikey, I watch the rage fill his face.

“My brother just signed his death warrant. If you find him before me, END HIM! He is a fucking dead man!”

Sebastian

“Sir, wake up.”

Jolting up off the bed, I grab hold of my pounding head. It feels like it weighs at least a hundred pounds, and throbs like hell. Squinting to open my eyes, I notice it’s now dark outside.

“What the fuck, Harrison? I told you not to let me fall asleep!” I roar at him.

“That’s not important, sir. Larson’s just made contact.”

“What? When?”

“Less than a minute ago. How do you want me to respond?”

“Do you even have to ask me that fucking question? Give him anything and everything he wants. I don’t care what it is! Make it happen!”

“He wants you to liquidate all of your assets and transfer the money to several offshore accounts. He’s also demanding you bring five million in unmarked bills tomorrow at your meet. Larson left an address, but I don’t feel good about it. I think we need to set up a team to be there.”

“No. I’ll not risk her getting hurt. I’ll give him what he wants. Do whatever it takes and make it happen.”

“Sir, you can’t seriously be considering going in there alone. It’s suicide!”

“He’s not going in alone. I’m going with him.” Lucas’ voice chimes in behind me. I didn’t even noticed him come in the room.

“You’re not coming, Drake. You’ll end up getting us all killed!”

”Maverick’s dead, Sebastian. Brandon killed him.”

“What? How the hell do you know that?”