Mercy's Angels Box Set (91 page)

The house in Cedarville was empty, just as the real estate agent had spluttered indignantly when our phone call awoke him at the break of dawn. If I wanted to be honest with myself, I didn’t expect to find Eli here; it just felt too easy. I wondered, not for the first time, if Alison and Stephan had been working with the loan shark who Phillip had borrowed money from. But the timeline didn’t work out. They had been watching Eli since Phillip’s incarceration, which meant they had been planning something long before Phillip made a deal with the devil. They spoil Eli because they can’t have children of their own. Annie’s words rang through my mind like a broken record player. The unexpected opportunity to take Eli arose when Annie left him with Alison at the hospital. There was no ransom demand, no taunting Eli by the man who had threatened and attacked Annie. Phillip was MIA. I shook my head in frustration, wanting the answers to present themselves.

Bomber leaned languidly against the SUV beside me, his customary tooth pick hanging from his lips. I knew that even though he hadn’t slept the night before and was still wearing yesterday’s clothes, he was anything but languid. His eyes were sharp, and by the grim set of his jaw, I knew he was frustrated, too.

“It was worth checking out,” I mumbled, unable to hide the irritation in my voice. I slipped my phone into my back pocket and clenched my fists. To say I was frustrated was the understatement of the year. Choked with fury, restless to the point I couldn’t remain still, not even for a second, I felt caught somewhere between rage and futility. If I was feeling this wrecked, I couldn’t begin to imagine how Annie was feeling.

“Was that Brai?” asked Bomber.

“Don’t let him hear you call him that,” I replied, my thoughts a thousand miles away, working over what I needed to do next.

Bomber snorted. “I call him that all the time; anyway, behind that dark, scary scowl I know he really loves it.”

That drew my attention back to the here and now, the corner of my mouth twitching with the need to smile. Only Bomber could get away with calling Braiden by the nickname that I knew he did not love. Bomber was probably the only person who knew Braiden better than me, having worked with him while Braiden was still the right hand man for his gun dealing Russian stepfather, Alex Toporov. Bomber was most likely the only man, apart from Charlie of course, who could create a smile in the direst of circumstances. I liked that about him, the fact his attitude wasn’t chaffed by the ugliness I knew he had seen in his life. Bomber wasn’t called Bomber for shits and giggles. He was, in fact, a bomb expert who Braiden assured me wanted to move away from blowing up cars, buildings, and assholes to something more constructive, like saving people. Bomber had proved himself loyal and trustworthy, and the fact he had earned Braiden’s respect and friendship, to the point where he could get away with calling him Brai, well, that spoke louder than any résumé.

“Yeah, that was Braiden. He just finished going over Phillip’s apartment. He thinks he’s found a lead on the loan shark. He found a name and phone number on a piece of paper shoved in the pocket of a pair of jeans in Phillip’s dirty laundry. Grayson Shivell. Braiden got Sam to dig, and they discovered he’s an ex-con with a rap sheet longer than my and your arms combined.”

“That’s good,” Bomber said, his voice full of excitement.

“Yeah, but it doesn’t bring us any closer to finding Eli.” I ran a frustrated hand through my short cropped hair and leaned beside Bomber.

“You don’t know that. It might. Even if it doesn’t, it’s still a problem that needs fixing; there is still the threat to Annie, and if Braiden can remove that, it’s one less thing for us to be worried about.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I just can’t fucking think straight right now. I’ve barely slept in forty-eight hours, and every time my mind leaps to an idea, I talk myself down from it a second later. I just can’t fucking believe this happened.” I spilled my frustrations much like women would talk idly about their feelings and shit. Bomber didn’t give me grief like I expected him to, though. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the keys.

“Let’s get back to Claymont. You can get a couple hours of sleep, and I’ll head into the office and keep Sam company. We can man the phones and keep in touch with Braiden. I’ll let you know the minute we have something.” I knew Bomber was exhausted, too, but of the two of us, he was most likely the better equipped to deal with the situation right now.

“I’ll drive, then, that way you can get your own power nap in.” Bomber shook his head as he tossed the keys in the air and caught them back in his hand.

“Like hell you will. Your eyes are hanging from your skull and you’d probably run us off the road.” He turned to walk to the driver’s side of the vehicle, his hand running across the hood of the car in a loving caress. “And I don’t want you hurting my baby. She’s the prettiest one I’ve ever had.”

I chuckled as I climbed into the passenger seat. The brand new Cadillac Escalade was, without a doubt, a nice luxury SUV. “She’s pretty alright, but she’s not yours. She’s mine.”

Bomber waved a hand in the air with nonchalance as he started the Cadillac. “I’m her foster papa, though, and I love her just like I would my own child.” I smiled and shook my head at Bomber’s obvious fondness for the company vehicle. “Have you heard from Gabbie and Larz?” I had almost dozed off when Bomber’s quiet question filled the silence.

“Gabbie checked in yesterday. She’s upset they’re not here to help, but she understands their missing girl is just as important. They’ve got a lead, and it seems solid, so if all goes according to plan, they’ll be back in a week, two tops.”

Bomber nodded thoughtfully, and we fell back into a comfortable silence.

Unable to help myself, I asked, “So, when are you going to man-up and ask that girl out on a date?”

Bomber laughed loudly. “I can’t believe you are encouraging inter-workplace relations, Boss.”

“I was never one for rules.”

Bomber snorted, again. “Boss, you were military. You lived and breathed rules.”

“And consequently, I’m done with rules. If you wanna pursue something with Gabbie, I’m not going to stop you.”

“Yeah, well, I get the impression if I tried to pursue anything with Gabbie, she’d kick me in the kahunas.”

I didn’t tell Bomber that I agreed. Gabbie was a feisty woman who Bomber rattled with ease. But something else told me there was a sexual tension brewing between the two that needed to be dealt with sooner rather than later.

“I didn’t take you for a coward.” I smiled.

Bomber snickered. “Not a coward, just smart.”

“Uh-huh,” I said, unconvinced. I knew it would only be a matter of time before Bomber made his move. He wasn’t that smart.

I had Bomber drop me back at Annie’s. I needed to see her. I needed to hold her and make sure she was okay. I shook my head as I stepped out of the elevator. Of course she wasn’t fucking okay; her son was missing, someone had threatened to harm her, had harmed her, and she was barely holding it together. For the first time in my life, I actually understood what our clients went through. I was always sympathetic to a missing persons case, I was always ready to take down the bad guy and save the day, but never had I felt in my heart and bones the soul crushing desperation of losing a loved one. I got it now; I understood their misery on a whole new level. That understanding pushed me forward and made me more determined to make a difference in this world. Saving just one life, bringing just one more missing person home, reuniting families, protecting people, those were the everyday values of Montgomery Securities, and I had never been more proud and sure of my job than in this moment. Being a soldier came with its own form of reward. Protecting my country had been my first wish upon leaving school. Now, protecting those who didn’t have Uncle Sam’s backing, funding, and connections was something that had real meaning. First though, I needed to get Eli home.

Walking into Annie’s apartment, Sam was first to catch my eye, typing away at his laptop on the breakfast bar. Mercy was on her phone by the window, and she gave me a small wave. Annie appeared to be absent until I heard the clatter of pots and a soft curse. I peered over the breakfast bar and took her in. She was sitting on the kitchen floor, surrounded by plates, pots, and pans.

“What are you doing down there, Sunshine?” I gently asked. She peered up at me through those gorgeous amber eyes, and the tears that threatened to fall tugged at my heart. She didn’t cry, though; she pushed her shoulders back and stood.

“I want to do something. I need to do something. I’m going to go out of my mind if I don’t do something to help find him,” she growled, her voice rising with anger. A hand at my arm caught my attention, and Mercy gave me a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Ella knows something is going on. She’s been asking for Annie, and she’s getting a tad frustrated that we are keeping secrets from her. Jaxon wants to tell her, so I’m going over to the hospital to give him some support. Rebecca has Charlie watching over the coffee shop, so there is nothing to worry about. Just take care of Annie and find Eli.” Mercy pushed up onto her toes and kissed my cheek before stepping cautiously over the kitchenware to hug Annie, then she left. Sam stood with his laptop under his arm.

“Local PD dropped the Walters’s computer off at the office. I’m going to go back in and keep working on it.”

“Okay. Bomber is at the office, said he’ll hang around and keep you company.” By the twitchy look in Sam’s eyes as he glanced my way and nodded, I guessed he was running on nothing more than coffee fumes. “Maybe the both of you can work in shifts and catch some shut-eye.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Sam admitted as he leaned over the breakfast bar and tugged on a loose strand of Annie’s messy ponytail. “I’ll call the second I have something,” he promised her. Then we were alone.

“I need to do something,” Annie sighed, though it was more a grouchy admission than a tired sigh of defeat. I reached for her hand and pulled her from the small kitchen.

“Everyone is looking—Braiden, Bomber, Sam, local PD—they are all out there actively searching. Give me two hours, baby. I’m dead on my feet and I just need to power down for two hours, then you and me, we’ll take a drive to the office and check in with Sam and Bomber.” She was chewing on a fingernail, and on closer inspection, I noticed it was raw, as were her others. She had chewed them down to the quick and then some. I took her hand from her mouth and rubbed the sore looking appendages. “Come lay with me. I’m not going to be able to sleep without you close.” She nodded; it was a despondent acknowledgement, but I led her to the bedroom anyway and lay down on the bed. I didn’t bother kicking off my boots, too exhausted to care. Annie lay at my side, facing me. Dark smudges hung under her bloodshot eyes; she looked as wiped as I felt, yet she was still beautiful.

“I prayed,” she whispered. “I feel like such a hypocrite. I’ve never been to church, I’ve never prayed, and yet now, when I need something, I seek a God I’m not sure exists.”

I brushed the hair back from her cheek. “He listens, Sunshine. He listens to everyone and He doesn’t expect you to sit in church every Sunday to be eligible to have His ear.” A single tear slipped down her smooth skin. So many tears lost, so much heartache. I swore right then and there when I found the fuckers who had taken Eli, they would pay dearly for bringing such hurt to the people I loved. And I did love them, Eli and Annie, I loved them with a force I never knew existed. “He hears you, He sees your tears, and He feels your pain, just like I do. And between Him and me, we’ll fix this and we’ll bring your boy home.” She nodded before pressing her forehead to mine.

“Do you have your phone close by?” I laid it in the sliver of space between us. “Two hours?” she asked cautiously.

“I’ve set my alarm. Two hours, then we’ll head over to the office.” With a final nod, her eyes fluttered closed. She seemed to drop off within minutes, her breathing deep and slow. It didn’t take me much longer, and I grumbled in frustration when my alarm woke us up. I could have sworn I had been asleep for no more than a few minutes.

Annie dug out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt I had left at her place the week before, and I took a quick shower. It’s amazing what a power nap and a hot shower can do for the soul. I felt as though my strength had been restored, and with it, my spirit. Annie seemed a little brighter, too. Perhaps something as simple as leaving the apartment and doing something rather than waiting had given her the extra strength she needed to keep going. Before we got a chance to walk out of the door though, a buzzing on the downstairs intercom stopped us in our tracks. Annie leaned forward and pressed a button before speaking.

“Yes?”

“I have a flower delivery for Annie Lonergan,” came an unfamiliar voice.

“We are on our way down. We will meet you at the door,” I said, immediately taking charge of the situation. It seemed unusual that someone was sending her flowers. Sure, she was currently going through a stressful and difficult situation, but flowers didn’t seem entirely appropriate. Taking her hand in mine, we left the apartment.

The flowers that greeted us in the foyer of my building were stunning, yet at the same time, felt like an ominous warning. Dillon thankfully stepped forward, and after a quick exchange with the delivery man, he took the bouquet—yellow calla lilies, the long stems tied off with a yellow ribbon. Dillon took the card that was attached to the stems and quickly read it, his brow creasing with worry and confusion as he cautiously passed it to me. I recognized the writing immediately, and it sent a jolt of fear through my body. The familiar writing was neater than I had seen in the past, though, a carefully written letter that almost gave the appearance of someone healthy and in control. Phillip’s writing became an illegible scrawl when he was going through manic episodes.

Dearest Annie,

‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t feel adequate, and I know it won’t take away the pain you have suffered at my hands. I need you to believe that I love you. I always have, and I always will. Your optimistic and brilliant nature suffered with me and that is something I have had to live with for too long now. I simply can’t continue on with this guilt. You were in danger with me and because of my poor decisions, you still are. I get the impression you have moved forward and found someone who I hope will treat you much better than I did. I hope they nurture your generous spirit and see that you flourish under a kind and loving hand. I hope they can protect you and Eli like I failed to do.

Take care, my love.

Forever yours,

Phillip

“Wh . . . what does this mean?” Dillon shook his head and took the card from me, reading it again. “What does he mean ‘he can’t live with the guilt’? Do you think . . .” I couldn’t even finish the sentence.

“That’s what it sounds like,” Dillon whispered, reaching for his cell phone. “Braiden, a card and flowers were delivered at Annie’s just now. They are from Phillip, the card’s hand written, but it could have been mailed to a local florist . . . might not have been.” Dillon glanced my way before his attention returned to the card. “It sounds like a goodbye card, like he’s trying to make amends before he . . . does something harmful to himself.” My eyes widened. It was exactly what I had been thinking but hearing it spoken aloud made it all the more real. Dillon was quiet for a moment before his gaze rose to mine. “Annie, can you think of anywhere Phillip might go that is off the grid? Somewhere only he knows about? Braiden has checked all obvious places and tracked him to his last seen whereabouts, which was a motel on the outskirts of Holten Springs, but the track goes cold there.”

I thought about it for a moment. The only time Phillip left the house was for work and the rare occasion he needed a time out. With his fluctuating moods, he occasionally needed to get away from people, seeking out the solitude of somewhere secluded. My gaze flew back to Dillon as I recalled a place that he used for such occasions. It was a place he retreated to often. Phillip had only spoken about it a few times, but he spoke of it with fondness and considered it somewhere he could allow himself to take stock and recharge.

“He liked to hunt, and he would take off from time to time for what he called a ‘therapeutic timeout’. I never joined him. I hated the weapons and I hated hunting live game even more. He had a friend who let him use his cabin whenever he needed to. I don’t know where it is exactly, but it’s somewhere in Tombstone Creek, Missouri.”

“Friend’s name?” Dillon quickly asked.

“Jake. I don’t know his last name, though.”

“You hear all that, Braiden?” Dillon nodded and turned for the door. He was still on the phone to Braiden when he stepped onto the street and signaled for me to follow him.

In one hand, I held the flowers that should have been beautiful, bringing a smile to my face, except now they felt heavy and sinister. In my other hand, I held the card in fingers that felt numb. What the hell had happened to my life? How had my happily ever after been so badly derailed? Dillon slid his phone into his back pocket as he held the door open to his car. His gentle but firm grip on my elbow stopped me from sliding into the passenger seat.

“We’ll figure this out, baby. I promise.” He kissed my forehead, and the tender gesture coupled with the sure words made me want to cry. Instead, I forced the tears down and tried to smile. “And you don’t have to pretend with me, no smiling necessary. Your tears might break me, but I know what you’re going through. You’re entitled to them.”

I sat down and laid the bouquet of flowers in my lap. I couldn’t really distinguish what I felt over the thought of Phillip taking his own life. I didn’t love him anymore; if anything, I had come to fear him. But the thought of his death, a lonely death at his own hand, assaulted me with a confusing fear and heavy guilt. Phillip didn’t deserve that kind of ending; he was a sick man who had made many mistakes, none of which were punishable in such a way. I had already reached out to God, who up until Eli’s disappearance, I had ignored, but now I sent yet another silent prayer His way. Please, don’t let him do it. He made mistakes, but that doesn’t mean he should die because of them.

“He doesn’t have Eli, does he?” It was as much an acknowledgement as it was a question.

“I don’t think so. The letter sounds like he wanted you and Eli to be safe. I think at this point it’s leaning more towards Alison and Stephan acting alone. Grayson would have made contact by now if he had Eli, and from what we saw in their home, they’ve been watching Eli for a while now.”

“Who’s Grayson?” I wondered out loud. Dillon gave me a quick sideways glance before returning his concentration to the road in front of us.

“That’s the name of the loan shark.”

“Oh,” was all I could manage.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner; it just completely slipped my mind.”

It was only then that it occurred to me that Dillon had kept nothing from me, ever. He was always forthcoming, always telling me things that were going on in his life. He was an open book, completely trusting in me. I reached across the small distance between us and took his hand from the steering wheel, threading my fingers with his. He gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“What for?”

“For trusting me, something I didn’t do with you. I feel lost and broken, but your honesty is helping; it keeps me focused on finding him rather than breaking into a million pieces like I want to.”

“You’ve never done anything to break my trust, Annie. You are one of few who deserve it. And if you shatter, Sunshine, once I have fixed this, I’ll put every single damn piece of you back together again.”

With Phillip, I had managed to find a man intent on destroying me, even if his heart truly didn’t want to. In Dillon, I had found a man dedicated to protecting me and holding me together. In this moment, I felt cherished, even if my fragmented soul ached.

The rest of the short drive to Dillon’s office was quiet, neither of us much in the mood for conversation. What was there really to talk about? The weather, which was unseasonably cool today? I briefly wondered if Eli had a jacket to keep him warm. The simple, motherly thought stabbed through my heart and would have brought me to sobbing tears if I hadn’t forced the thoughts and sadness deep down inside myself. It was the same place I pushed away my fears and sadness during my marriage to Phillip. It was a place I hadn’t really needed to use for some time. I was able to acknowledge just how happy I had been since arriving in Claymont. It was a happiness I had made for myself, for me and Eli. I had taken the steps I needed to survive and those steps had fortunately led to greener pastures. I had become stronger, more determined, and right now I needed to tap into that strength. I needed to find Eli, and I couldn’t do that if I kept breaking down every time he entered my thoughts.

Arriving at Montgomery Securities helped distract me from my heartache, and I followed Dillon from the underground parking garage that I had never been in before. He swiped a card through a panel in the elevator and typed in a code before pressing the button for the third floor.

“Staff entrance,” he explained. “You can gain access from the street easily enough, but this elevator leads to the back of the office. There is a safe back there with weapons stored in it, so we keep things locked down pretty tight on this end.” When the doors slid open, we were met with an angry, feminine screech. I paused before joining Dillon in the hallway before us, and he cast me a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Lover’s quarrel. Sam’s girlfriend, Jessica, lives in the apartment upstairs with him. To be honest, she’s not supposed to come down here anymore, too much of this going on.” He waved his hand in the direction of the arguing.

“Damn you, Sam, you promised we would go away this weekend!” the woman, Jessica, growled.

“And things have changed. Don’t you think a missing boy takes priority over a goddamn weekend away?” I recognized Sam’s voice immediately; however, the anger in it was completely unfamiliar.

“There is always going to be a missing boy or girl. You need to prioritize. What is more important, them or me?” Jessica yelled.

“It’s not a hard choice for me, sweetheart.” Sam was now deceptively calm. “The missing person, always.”

“Fuck you, Sam. You are a worthless, pathetic excuse for a man. No wonder you get along better with your computers than you do with people.”

The calmness that settled over Dillon’s face was a little frightening. When he turned to face me, he couldn’t even manage a reassuring smile.

“Annie, would you mind grabbing me a cup of coffee.” He pointed to a room down the hall, closer to the front of the office. “I just need a word with Sam and Jessica.”

I assumed by needing ‘a word’ with Sam and Jessica, he meant someone was going to get their ass chewed out. Even I knew it wasn’t professional to bring a lover’s quarrel into a work place, even if that said office was closed for the weekend. I could feel Dillon’s eyes on my back as I walked down the hall and disappeared into the break room. I came to an abrupt halt when I came face to face with Dillon’s secretary, Alice. She was an older woman, well into her sixties with slivers of silver breaking her dark brown, short hair. Alice’s kind eyes rose from the coffee machine to me, and she moved straight towards me, wrapping me in her motherly embrace.

“They’ll find him, sweetheart. There is no one those boys can’t find.”

“Howdy ya’ll,” I heard Dillon’s deceptively calm voice coming from the other end of the hall.

“Thank goodness he arrived. Those two have been driving me batty all morning. That Jessica is a skanky dog.” I smiled at Alice’s description of Sam’s girlfriend. “You want a cup of coffee?”

“Yes, please,” I quietly confessed. “What are you doing here on your day off?”

“I just wanted to sort out a few things at the front desk. This place is getting too busy for a Monday to Friday, nine to five job. All Dillon’s boys, and Gabbie, of course,” she quickly added, “put in plenty of overtime. It won’t kill me to do my part.”

We went quiet, and I listened for Dillon’s voice. I didn’t want to snoop on what was happening back down the hall, this was definitely none of my business, yet I couldn’t help but listen intently as I helped Alice make coffee.

“Sam, I thought we talked about Jessica staying out of the office.” Alice snorted at Dillon’s muffled voice.

“She’s always in the damn office,” she quietly muttered. Alice shook her head as she smiled at our obvious attempts to snoop on the Jessica situation. I felt like a complete voyeur, yet I was unable to stop myself.

“I haven’t seen him in days, Dillon. If I didn’t come down here, I would never see him.” Jessica’s voice had turned from outright spite to a childish whine.

“We have a bit of a situation here at the moment. Annie’s boy, my boy, Eli, is missing. Like everyone else who works here, Sam is committed to helping find him. I’m sorry if that inconveniences you. I’m sure once he is found and returned home though, you will get to spend some quality time with Sam. Hell, I’ll give him a week’s paid vacation to take you somewhere nice.”

“Bitch,” spat Alice quietly, surprising me with the wicked curse from her mouth. Personally, I wanted to do a whole lot more than swear at the woman. My fists clenched as I forced my feet to remain in place. I wanted to storm down the hallway and slap the skanky dog across the face.

“Not necessary, Boss,” I heard Sam say in a low voice.

“Here you go, honey.”Alice handed me two, hot cups of coffee. You take that to Dillon and make sure that blonde Barbie bimbo sees you.” Alice disappeared in the opposite direction, heading towards the reception area of the office. I walked slowly down the hallway, carrying the full, steaming mugs carefully in my hands. I paused in the doorway, not wanting an awkward interruption. Fuck it. Eli was missing. It took priority over a lover’s spat. With that, I stormed into the room.

“Jess, go back upstairs. We’ll talk about this at a more appropriate time.”

I was almost mowed over by a tall, blonde woman with a button up white blouse so tight I was surprised it didn’t spring open when she moved. Not to mention the sprayed on skirt that sat so precariously high her girly bits were in jeopardy of flashing. Her dark brown eyes met mine and the venom and spite I saw in them made my instant dislike for the girl rise to all out hatred. I plastered on my best fake smile and took a sip from one of the coffee mugs.