glanced back over his shoulder. “If he pays, tomorrow you go home. And if he doesn’t…” He waggled his pinky in the air. “I think we’ll start with this one.”
The second the door closed, I screamed out of pure frustration. I spent the next five minutes hauling on those chains with every ounce of strength I possessed, all to no avail. Exhausted, I sank to the floor. Despite my determination to stay strong, a few tears leaked from the corners of my eyes.
Please get me out of here.
26
Ryker
“How the fuck are we going to pull fifty mil together in twenty-four hours?” Elliot said, raking a hand through his hair. “Doesn’t this asshole understand, that’s not how it works.”
“There must be a way though, darling. Please,” Judy begged. “I want my baby back.”
“I don’t advise paying the ransom,” Detective Peterson cut in. “It rarely ends well.”
Elliot’s head swiveled so fast it almost came off his neck. “Well, I don’t see you coming up with any bright ideas, Sherlock,” he spat at the detective. “What the fuck are you doing here, huh? You should be out there looking for my sister.”
“Elliot.” I placed a hand on his arm. He shook me off. “There are officers out there, but they don’t have a lot to go on.”
“Exactly,” Elliot bit out. “Which is why we pay. I don’t care about the money. It’s a pittance. I want my sister back.” He shot me a savage gaze. “I thought you’d feel the same. Maybe you don’t love her as much as you say you do.”
Despite the anger swelling from within my gut, I remained calm. “I’m going to forget you said that. We’re all under enormous stress. Lashing out at me isn’t going to help Athena.”
Elliot’s face crumpled, and he nodded.
“I will fix this,” I assured him. “Give me a few hours.”
I didn’t wait for Elliot to ask me how I planned to solve an unsolvable problem in such a short period of time. I left his parents’ house and jumped in my car. Finally alone, I crammed down a sense of despair that crawled up into my throat.
I couldn’t lose her.
Not now.
Not after all those years of denying our feelings.
My breathing escalated, my heart painfully pummeling against my ribcage. I gripped the steering wheel and took a calming breath. Athena was smart, resourceful, strong. She’d survive this.
Hang on, baby. I’m coming.
I started the engine and set off for my penthouse. On the way I called Agility, a security firm we often used Stateside. I wanted eyes on Elliot’s parents, as well as the rest of the guys and their families until we knew what we were dealing with.
Speeding the entire way home, I arrived at my penthouse in less than twenty minutes. I bypassed the living area and headed straight for my study. I sat behind my desk, opened my laptop, and pulled up the relevant files. Then I began to make some calls.
Two hours later, I’d lost seventy-five percent on the market value of the assets I’d liquidated, but the money was sitting in my account ready to be transferred to Athena’s kidnapper. Gaining quick access to cash always resulted in the financial equivalent of being fucked in the ass. One day, I’d find a way to return the favor to any business associates who’d taken advantage, but for now, I had to be happy with achieving the impossible. All that mattered was getting Athena back.
My biggest worry? We’d pay the ransom and whoever had her would kill her anyway. That would be the reason why the police didn’t think submitting to the kidnapper’s demands was a good idea.
But we were out of options. And desperate men did desperate things.
By the time I arrived back at Elliot’s place, it had turned midnight. I walked into the kitchen, unsurprised they’d been joined by more detectives. Five of them were in a huddle speaking in hushed whispers. No doubt Peterson had called the ransom demand in to his superiors.
“Any news?”
Elliot glanced over at me wearily and shook his head. Judy had fallen asleep, her head resting on crossed arms. Karl sat beside her with a faraway look in his eyes.
I indicated for Elliot to follow me, then left the kitchen and strode down the hallway toward the formal living room. He closed the door behind me.
“I’ve got the money,” I said.
“You have?” An incredulous expression crossed his face, and once more I saw a spark of hope light his irises.
“Yeah.” I scrubbed a hand over