Her hands ball into fists as the frozen set of her face tries to morph into anger, but the injected nerves refuse to cooperate. Indignation fills her glacial blue eyes as she growls in frustration, turning and storming through the same door she entered.
Now that the stench of bitch is fading from the room we can focus back on what’s important.
“We have a lead on Madeline,” I state as I open the video footage I was able to find.
“Fuck, Liam, why didn’t you say something earlier?” August asks moving from the bar to the table, his usually playful demeanor far too serious.
“I would’ve, but clingy-in-heels stormed in. Remind me to check with security to see how she was even able to gain access,” I say, also making a mental note for myself.
Hitting play on the video, I see a very comfortable Madeline walking into a grocery store. Her hair is now golden brown and styled in a pixie cut. Her once green eyes are now coffee-brown. The makeup she’s wearing hides the prosthetic nose and jawbones she used to change the shape of her face. It wasn’t enough to keep her hidden from my facial rec programming- too bad for her.
Twenty minutes later we see her walk out with a few bags but instead of heading to her car, she walks down the street four blocks and turns into a parking garage.
Why do they always meet in garages like they don’t have cameras in there?
“Where’d she go?” Sebastian asks.
I point to the entrance of the garage, replying, “Just keep watching.”
As I state my last word, a black 2018 Nissan Rogue exits where my finger was pointing. Two people sit in the front seat, one of them being Madeline. But that’s not the shocking part. It’s who’s in the driver’s seat that has everyone gasping.
August kicks back his chair, causing it to topple over as he barks, “Senator fucking Baker!”
SEBASTIAN
I stare around my office, trying to take my mind off this clusterfuck of a situation. Emma being taken has shaken the core of our group.
While I haven’t spent as much time with her, I’ve seen the impact the spitfire’s had on the guys. The most significant change is Liam. Rowan is still apprehensive. You can see how much he wants to care, but his bullheadedness won’t allow him to admit he was wrong.
Liam- he’s going to be putty in Emma’s hands when we get her back. Oh, he’ll have to grovel, and I’m looking forward to watching it all.
“Where the fuck is my friend, Sebastian?!”
I turn to see a very irate Shay blow through my once-closed door.
“And don’t give me any shit. August and Karl already tried that, and it didn’t go well for them. I want updates, and I want them now, or I’m storming the Fraternitas and knocking on Daddy Calloway’s door, and none of you want that stress,” she continues to rattle on.
I attempt to speak, but she puts up her hand, essentially silencing me.
“I’m not finished. I’ve played by the fucked up rules of this town and kept quiet because I had to, but if you fuckheads did something to my girl, then not even the Council will keep you safe from me,” she finally huffs, crossing her arms and nodding.
Quirking a brow, I fix my gaze on her. “Are you quite finished, Miss Warren?”
Shay rolls her eyes. She’s never been one to take our bullshit- not even when I started working here. “I stopped speaking, didn’t I? So that means I’m done unless you give me a reason to keep going. Now spill it. I haven’t seen Emma since the party.”
I massage my temples, trying to alleviate the building headache.
“She’s been kidnapped,” I state, seeing no point in sugarcoating the situation- I go for the rip-the-band-aid-off approach.
“What the bumbo ras claat?” she shouts. Her fist clenches at her side, her face going three different shades of red, and her nostrils flare as Shay tries to reign in her temper. “What do you mean she’s been kidnapped? How the fuck does that happen on your fucking property?”
Sighing, I run my hands through my loosely styled hair before sitting on my desk and resting them at my sides. “She was drugged and taken with the help of someone posing as Lydia,” I inform her.
Shay doesn’t know all the details of the Fraternitas’ requirements for the town, but as her family has been here a few generations now, she knows enough.
I stand and begin packing my office again, walking over to the bookcase and grabbing a stack of books to place in the box on the table.
“So, what’s the plan, and how can I help?”
I pause at her question, then resume my trek toward the bookshelf.
She’s about to say something when we’re interrupted.
“Have you been ignoring me, Bastian?” Vivian’s voice sounds from my office door.
The throbbing in my head intensifies.
Fuck, she’s annoying.
I remember a time when that voice would harden my dick with its sultry tone. Now, it just grates my nerves.
Seeing that we won’t be able to discuss anything further with Vivian here, Shay announces, “Thank you, Mr. Grant. I’ll wait to hear from you.” Then she strides for the door, brushing past Vivian, curling her lip in disgust.
Sighing, I stop boxing up my things, “How can I help you,
Miss Taylor?
“
I don’t have time for her shit. I came to pack up my things while the guys look for leads on the Senator and Madeline.
After the video footage Liam showed yesterday, it’s been all hands on deck, but I needed to clear out my office before all this damn courting begins.
Her body stiffens as if I struck her with my formal address. Recovering quickly, the wince she donned transforms into a smile.
I wonder if she knows she has burgundy lipstick on her teeth?
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.