Finding Him: Second Chance Billionaire Romance (Finding Love Book 1), page 19
His reasons don’t justify what he did. If he’d only reached out to me, we could’ve handled this together. “I trusted you, Jake. I gave up everything to move to Melbourne with you.”
The grip he has on my leg tightens, and memories of our last time together flash through my mind. The force he used around my neck still makes me shudder. “We can put all that behind us. We could have a fresh start—”
“It’s too late for that,” I say cutting him off. “I’ve moved on with my life, you need to do the same.”
His nostrils flare at my response, and I can tell I’ve poked the bear. “With him?” Shit. I should’ve lied, or at the very least said nothing. “Answer me!” he screams, pounding his fist down on the mattress. His sudden movement makes me flinch.
“Does it really matter?”
“You’re my fucking wife, goddamn it. Of course it matters!” He rises from the bed, fisting his hair in his hands. “I never picked you for a cheating whore.”
“How dare you accuse me of cheating! I never cheated on you. We’ve been separated for months.”
Reaching out, he wraps his hand around my upper arm, dragging me from the bed. “Get up,” he sneers, pulling me to my feet. My ankles are still bound, so I stumble. Pain shoots up the side of my lower leg as I roll my ankle trying to regain my footing. My face is just inches from his, and the murderous look in his eyes terrifies me. “You were fucking him down in Melbourne.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Liar,” he shouts, making me cower.
“I’m not lying, I swear.” I can hear the fear in my voice when I speak. “I didn’t even know him then.” Just talking about Logan fills me with despair. I’d give anything to be back in his apartment right now, tucked safely in his arms.
His hand fists in my top. “Do you think I’m an idiot? You didn’t come home that night, remember? I found his card in your purse.”
“I didn’t come home because I was in the hospital.” I can see the puzzled look in his eyes as they scan my face. “It’s the truth, Jake. I was pregnant with our child.”
“You’re lying.” When he tugs on my shirt, my heartbeat accelerates.
“I’m not. I swear I’m not.” When he sees the tears that are now cascading down my face, he lets go of me, retreating back a step. “That night I had bad pains; I went outside to look for you …” I bow my head. “That’s when I saw you with your secretary.” Although that’s all behind me now, talking about it makes all those feelings resurface. “I collapsed. I was haemorrhaging.”
“And the baby?”
A loud sob rips from the back of my throat. “I lost it.” I’ve often thought about the what-ifs, but as my mother always said, ‘Things happen for a reason.’ But those words still don’t lessen the grief I feel for our child.
He steps forward and gathers me in his arms. “I’m sorry. You should’ve told me.”
“You never gave me the chance.”
“Bullshit.” He grabs hold of my shoulders, drawing back. “You’ve had plenty of opportunities to tell me. You should’ve said something.”
“You tried to strangle me remember?”
“And you took off. You should’ve stayed and talked to me.”
“Right, and give you the chance to finish me off?”
Letting me go, he starts to pace back and forth. I used to feel so safe with this man, but now he terrifies me. I have no clue what to expect from him from one minute to the next. My body stiffens when he stops and faces me again.
“We could try again.” He steps forward, grasping my elbow. I hate the look of hope I see in his eyes. A rational Jake would know this could never happen, but he’s no longer that person. “We can have another baby. Would you like that?”
“Jake, don’t do this.” He’s more delusional than I thought.
“Do what?”
“What we had is over. Please just let me go. You need help.”
“You’re my wife. You belong here with me.”
I don’t belong here—I belong wherever Logan is. Will I ever get the chance to see him again … to tell him how much I love him?
“Let me go,” I plead. My words sound more desperate as reality sinks in. He’s not going to let me just walk out of here.
“No!” he screams. “You’re my wife.”
“I’m not your wife anymore, Jake.”
His breathing becomes erratic as he stares me down. When I see that change in his eyes, the same one I saw the day he tried to strangle me, I brace myself for what’s about to come.
He retreats a few steps, and for a moment I think he’s going to leave, but then he opens the top drawer of a rundown old dresser that sits by the wall. I gasp when he pulls out a gun.
“I should just kill you now,” he says. “If I can’t have you, I’m not going to let anyone else take what’s mine. Especially, that cunt. He’s been sniffing around you ever since he met you. You’re my wife, Brooke, not his. My fucking wife.”
He’s wrong … I’m no longer his. He ruined everything we once had, tossing it away like it meant nothing. We may be legally married, but that’s all we have left … a worthless piece of paper.
When Jake closes the distance between us, I intake a sharp breath. Tears fill my eyes, but I don’t plead for my life. I refuse to give him the satisfaction. If this is my destiny, then so be it. These last few weeks have been my happiest, and I’m so grateful for that. My only regret is not telling Logan how I truly feel. It hurts my heart that I’ll never get to see him again, but I’ll cherish the short time we had together.
My gaze moves down to my bare feet. “I love you, Hot Stuff,” I whisper under my breath. This may be the only time I get to utter those words.
Jake raises his hand, and I instinctively close my eyes as I await what I know is coming. But instead of the bullet I’m expecting, his fist connects with the side of my face with such force, the blow knocks me off my feet. My hands are still tied behind my back, so I can’t even break my own fall. The side of my head connects hard with the metal frame of the bed. My world instantly turns black.
Chapter 32
Logan
It seems like an eternity passes before we get anything helpful on Brooke’s whereabouts. I look down at my watch as Mike makes a call to get whatever information he can on the plates. It’s been over two and a half hours since Brooke left the apartment.
At this stage, we aren’t even sure the white van is connected with her disappearance, but it’s the closest thing we have to a lead. In the CCTV footage, it definitely appears to be following her.
I read over what Mike jots down, and it instantly has my blood boiling. The van’s registration is under the name of a Mr. Jake Ryan. I’m livid that he’s using Brooke’s last name. It also confirms my worst fear—he has her—and that terrifies me. Now I just have to pray that we can get to her before it’s too late.
The address Mike writes down is in Redfern, which is about a fifteen-minute drive from here. He’s been right under our noses the whole time. “Should we call the police now?” I ask.
“No,” Mike answers. “Let’s check it out first.”
“I’m calling them.” I pull out my phone. “I’m not waiting another second.”
“Wait,” he says, placing his hand on my arm. “What are they going to do? Come in with sirens blazing, storm the place? Maybe get a hostage negotiator? We all know how that usually ends.”
“What’s your plan? We need to act fast. So much time has been wasted already.”
“I’m going to go and check the place out myself. The element of surprise always works best in situations like this one.”
“And what if they’re not there. They could be anywhere by now.”
“Then we’ll notify the police.”
He turns to leave. “I’m coming with you,” I state.
“Me too,” my uncle adds. I’m still pissed with him, but I don’t protest. We may need him.
“Suit yourself. My car is parked across the street,” Mike says.
“I’ll follow you in mine. I’m parked out front too.”
“I’ll come with you, kiddo.”
I give my uncle a look but say nothing when he climbs into the passenger seat. I’ll hash this out with him later. Right now, my sole focus is getting my girl back.
We’re only a few minutes into our drive when my uncle speaks. “I’ll never forgive myself if she’s been harmed.”
I raise an eyebrow as my temper rises. “That makes two of us,” I say.
I hear him sigh beside me. “Please know, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I honestly thought I’d never get the chance to meet her. I wasn’t even sure if her mother went ahead with the pregnancy.”
“What even makes you think you’re her father?”
“Her mother, Maree, used to work for your company as an intern.”
“Cavanagh and Associates?”
“Yes.”
“That still doesn’t prove anything.”
“We had an affair; it lasted for months. They were some of the happiest times of my life,” he says. “Brooke looks just like her.” I’ve seen a photo of her mother, so I know that part is true, but again, that proves nothing. “The last time I saw Maree, she told me she was pregnant, and I panicked. You know what Kathleen’s like. She would’ve crucified us both.” He turns his face away, gazing out the passenger side window. “I told her to get rid of the baby, and I’ll never forgive myself for saying those words to her.”
We come to a red light, and my eyes move back to him. Could he really be her father? What are the chances? But I can’t deny his story matches up perfectly with Brooke’s.
He covers his face with his hands, but instead of offering any comfort, I focus back on the road. “I loved that woman more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life.” I have so many questions, but I can’t deal with them right now.
My adrenaline is pumping as we slowly drive past the property. I’m not surprised it’s a rundown house, a fucking dump. The white van is parked out front, and that fills me with hope. My first instinct is to smash the front door down, but as Mike said, the element of surprise is the best way to go. I don’t want to do anything that may put Brooke’s life in jeopardy. She’s still alive—I have to believe that. My mind cannot comprehend any other scenario.
I follow Mike further down the street, where we park. “What’s the plan?” I ask, as we exit the vehicle and approach him.
“I’m going to case the joint first, then decide,” he answers, popping the boot of his car and pulling out a small torch and black leather pouch. He shoves the pouch into the pocket of his jeans, and I’m amazed at how calm he is.
I stand there with a mixture of shock and relief when he flips open a black case, revealing a small handgun. My uncle and I are both silent as he slides a magazine into the base, which is preloaded with bullets. He slips the gun into a leather holster strapped to his torso, which is concealed under his jacket. He comes prepared, I’ll give him that, but I’d be lying if I said the thought of a possible shootout didn’t make me feel uneasy. In a perfect world, we’d go inside, take Brooke, and leave without anyone getting hurt, but I’d be a fool to believe that’s what’s going to happen here.
Closing the boot, he faces us. “It’s against my better judgment having you both here, but time is of the essence, so you’ll need to listen to everything I say.” His eyes move to me. “Do you understand?”
“Yes.” I don’t want to do anything that will put her at risk.
“If we have any chance of getting her out of there alive, we need to be smart.”
“Okay,” I reply.
“I mean it, Logan; this is no place for vigilantes. I know how much she means to you, but letting your heart get in the way of your head is going to get people killed—remember that.”
“It’s the last thing I want.”
“Good. Let’s do this then.”
Mike turns and makes his way up the street; my uncle and I follow close behind. When we reach the property, Mike signals us to stop by holding up his hand. We both stand at the foot of the driveway, shielded by some bushes.
Mike moves behind the vehicle, using his flashlight to briefly shine it inside. My heart thumps in my chest. Is she still in there?
Looking over his shoulder, he shakes his head at us, confirming she’s not in the van. Again, I’m filled with a mixture of relief and dread. She must be in the house. My eyes focus on it. From here I can’t see any lights on. What does that mean? It’s been hours since she left, and anything could’ve happened in that time. I start to panic as the gravity of this situation hits me full force.
“You okay?” my uncle asks in a soft voice, placing his hand on my shoulder.
“No,” I snap. If it wasn’t for his actions, we wouldn’t even be here.
“You need to pull yourself together, kiddo.”
Despite wanting to tell him to shut the fuck up, I don’t because I know he’s right. I need to have my wits about me. I don’t want to do anything that’s going to hinder our chances of getting her back.
Mike places his finger against his mouth, quieting us before gesturing for us to follow. My uncle taps my back a few times for encouragement as I move forward. I feel bad for the way I’ve been treating him. I love this man, but I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to forgive him if this situation doesn’t have the desired outcome.
We spot a light on in the back of the house, which lifts my spirits slightly. Please be in there, and please be unharmed.
Mike again holds up his hand, halting us when we near the back door. He quietly creeps up the three cement stairs and grasps the door handle. It’s locked. Great, how the hell are we going to get inside now? Busting the door down is only going to alert Jake.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out the black leather pouch before passing me the torch. I press the small button on the side as I move closer, shining it in his direction. Pushing my hand down slightly, Mike points the light towards the ground. He holds the unzipped pouch below it, and I find myself smiling when I see what’s inside. This man is a genius, and I’m so glad he’s on our side. He pulls out two of the metal tools and gets to work picking the lock on the door. It only takes seconds before we hear the click.
“I’m going inside to have a look,” he whispers. “I need you both to stay out here for now.”
“But—”
He holds up his hand again, ending my protest. “Just let me see what we’re dealing with first.”
I know exactly what we’re dealing with: a deranged fucking lunatic.
Despite my desperation, I’m not familiar with situations like this, so I need to trust him. My hands are fidgety as John and I stand there and wait. I can hear his heavy breathing beside me, while I’m holding my breath. So much is running through my mind at this moment as I try my best to remain positive. Surely the universe couldn’t be so cruel as to take her away from me when we’ve barely scratched the surface of our relationship.
A few minutes pass before Mike reappears. He points to me, gesturing with his finger for me to come forward. He then turns his attention to my uncle and holds his palm up. He wants John to wait outside. I’m relieved by this, he’s already made a mess of things. Mike points to his eyes, then his ears, and that’s when I realise, he wants John to keep watch.
“Is she alive?” I whisper.
Mike puts his finger up to his mouth before turning and re-entering the house. I’m right on his heels. When we round the corner, I can see light pouring out of the room down the hallway. My heart thunders in my chest as we get closer, and I mentally try to prepare myself for what I’m about to see.
As we sneak down the hallway, I can hear soft moans in the distance. “Brooke,” I whisper, pushing past Mike. Reaching out, he grabs my arm. “She sounds like she’s in pain.” My voice is soft, despite the panic I’m feeling on the inside. “He’s hurting her.”
“Remember, think with your head, not with your heart.”
He’s right. I can’t go off half-cocked. The last thing I want is to jeopardise Brooke further.
He pushes me back behind him as we continue down the hall. The noises cease when we reach the doorway. Mike stops before carefully peering into the room.
“Stay here,” he mouths, and I nod, but the grim look I see on his face makes me feel sick to the stomach.
My adrenaline is pumping as Mike swings around, filling the doorway with his large frame. “Freeze,” he screams, his gun raised. “Move away from the girl.”
The few seconds of silence that follow are deafening.
“Drop the gun, or I’ll kill her,” Jake yells, and I feel my legs buckle beneath me. Mike pauses, weighing up his options, but when I see his body deflate, my heart sinks. “Now!” The anguish on his face as he lowers his arms before dropping the gun by his feet, is profound. Fuck! “Kick it towards me.” Again, Mike does as he’s asked. His plan has now backfired, and I have no clue what to do next. “Get up against the wall.” I release the breath I’ve been holding when he disappears into the room. I have to do something.
Turning, I head back down the hallway. Maybe my uncle can call for help. Both Brooke’s and Mike’s lives are now in danger. I could charge into the room all heroic, but that’s liable to get us all killed. I may be able to handle myself, but even I know I’m no match for a bullet.
I only make it a few steps when I hear Jake’s voice behind me. “Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.”
I swing around to face him. He’s only a few feet away from me and pointing a gun at my face, but it’s his blood-soaked hands that send chills through my body. Is that Brooke’s blood? What has he done to her?
I’m in no way prepared for what I see when I’m forced to join Mike in the small bedroom. Brooke is on the floor, lying on her side, with a small pool of blood by her head. My first thought is she’s dead, and my legs buckle from beneath me. I can’t even put into words how that makes me feel, but when I notice the slight rise and fall of her chest as she breathes, some hope returns. Her arms and legs are bound, and there’s a needle and a small vial of liquid lying on the ground beside her. Did he inject her with something?
