The Billionaire's Secret: Billionaire Obsession (Tycoon Billionaires Book 5) (14 page)

“He hasn’t done anything wrong, you asshole. In fact, he was about to save the fucking day!”

“And
she
doesn’t need your protection,” Jake said. He pushed Daniel away from where he was standing on his gun, then he bent and grabbed it from the gravelly ground, so Astrid lowered hers. She breathed hard, feeling confident, strong, and excited.

Daniel stumbled, but remained upright, so Jake punched him, sending him tumbling to the ground.

Jake turned to face her. “You coming with me, Astrid? Looks like we’re fugitives now.”

She gazed at Daniel who was clambering to his feet. “I… Jake – just tell me – does trouble follow you everywhere?”

Jake grinned. “It seems to. You wanna come on the run with me? We’ll find Emma, I promise. Come on, when’s the last time you did anything fun, huh?”

She laughed. “Maybe things
have
become a little stale and boring in my life.”

“All right. Let’s get outta here.”

They held hands and ran to his car, feeling free and full of hope. Astrid trusted that he’d help her find her sister. He was showing her a new way of life – a fun and exciting way of life. And she couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next.

Astrid had never done anything like this before – and somehow she loved it. She sat in Jake’s Ferrari, trying to get her breath back, feeling utterly exhilarated.

“Did you see what I did?” she said, laughing. “His face was a picture.”

Jake turned on the ignition. “You did great, babe, I’m proud of you.”

They shared a smile. Astrid leaned over and kissed him. Then reality drifted back. “We need to find my sister. I wish I understood why Simon was doing this.”

“We’ll figure it out. What did Simon say?”

Astrid sighed. “He was saying if I wanted to see her again then there were a few things I needed to do. One was that he wanted
me
back... He was about to elaborate, but Daniel fucked everything up.”

“Did you get a look at his license plate? The car was too far away for me to see.”

Astrid shook her head. “No. I was too focused on –”

Astrid jumped as Daniel appeared at the window and tapped on it. “Get out the goddamn car now – you’re both under arrest for pulling a firearm on a police officer.”

Astrid stared at him, unsure what to do. But Jake replied by revving the engine loudly, wheel-spinning fast, then speeding off. Astrid grabbed the handrail above the door and yelped as the adrenaline pulsed through her. “You’re crazy, Jake!”

“If he wants to fucking chase us he can,” Jake said. “If we can get to Simon – to your sister – with a convoy of cops in tow, they might come in handy.”

Astrid laughed. “You’re so bad.”

He threw her a grin. “Maybe you need a little ‘bad’ in your life right now.”

She nodded. “Maybe I do.”

She opened her mouth to thank him for shaking her life up for the better, but her phone rang in her purse. “Probably Daniel,” she said.

She grabbed the phone, as Jake drove them back toward the freeway.

“Hello?”

“Astrid…” It was the voice of the kidnapper.

Astrid’s muscles tensed. “Simon? Is that you?”

Jake gripped the wheel. “Put him on speakerphone.”

She did. “Where’s my sister?”

The voice was distorted, gravelly. “I
told
you no cops. I need you to bring money. Your sister’s safe… for now.”

Astrid glanced at Jake, who was listening intently as he drove down the highway. He mouthed ‘Ask him
where
.’

“Where are you?” she said, trying to keep the fear from her voice.

“Philadelphia.”

“How did you get there? I only just saw you in New York.”

The voice breathed heavily. “This isn’t Simon. Bring fifty-grand in cash and you can have your sister back.”

“Let me speak to her!”

“I’ll call again with more instructions…”

The line went dead. Astrid dropped her phone into her purse. “Can we trace that call?”

Jake nodded. “When we stop in Philadelphia I’ll contact my guy at the telecoms company. He should be able to help us.”

“So we’re driving to Philly right now?”

“Sure. And hopefully we’ll shake off Daniel there too. Soon as we cross the state line, he’s obligated to get the Feds involved, which I know he won’t because he hates them almost as much as he hates me.”

“Daniel hates the FBI?”

“He likes to keep all the glory himself, you know? He thinks the Feds take the hard work of local cops and make it look like their own.”

“Who cares – as long as the crimes get solved? Surely
that’s
the point of being a cop?”

Jake chuckled. “I know. It’s his small-minded ego that causes all his problems. And ours. We’ll ditch this car as soon as we can and find something more subtle. Just in case he puts out an ‘all-points’ alert on us.”

“I just want my sister back.”

“We’re going to get her back, Astrid. I promise you that.”

“What about the money? The guy just said he wants fifty grand.”

“You got fifty grand?”

“Of course not.”

“Then we can’t give it to him, can we?”

Astrid let this notion sink in – Jake planned to confront the kidnapper without the ransom. But there was something she was wondering about… “Do you really have the treasure map on you?”

“Sure. I carry it everywhere. Never let it out of my sight.”

“And you think the treasure’s still there?”

“I think so.”

“Well then let’s rescue my sister, find the loot, and head to Mexico!”

He laughed and squeezed her knee. “That’s what I like to hear. A great plan.”

They drove through the night. Astrid called her parents to let them know she was okay and warned them not to tell Daniel anything. Her dad said he wasn’t surprised Daniel was
that
corrupt – he’d never trusted him.

“I’m going to bring Emma home, I promise,” she said.

“Be careful, Astrid, okay,” Martin said.

She knew he was worried, but she was possessed now by an intense inner-strength that soared through her like the Ferrari zooming down the freeway. “I’ve been careful my whole life. It’s time to be a little risky for once. Step out of my comfort zone.”

“Just don’t do anything stupid. I love you.”

“I love you too, Daddy.”

Astrid closed her eyes in the comfortable leather seat of Jake’s car and started to drift into a snoozy sleep to the purr of the engine. She drifted in and out of consciousness, but she opened her eyes again as she felt the car stop.

“It’s okay,” Jake whispered, covering her with his coat, “I’ve pulled into a parking lot. We’re in Pennsylvania so we can grab some sleep, then we’ll head off to Philadelphia at dawn. Best to sleep under the cover of darkness, and be ready for action when daylight comes…”

She nodded. He kissed her, then she settled down to sleep in the passenger seat, holding his hand across the center console, feeling safe, and knowing now that he’d do anything to protect her.

When she woke up again it was daylight and Jake was pulling the car into a university campus. The University of Philadelphia was clean and bright, and set in lush grounds, with glass modern buildings, as well as some older Victorian edifices, which presumably were part of the original college. Jake was cruising the Ferrari along a wide winding road that snaked through the center of the campus.

“Why are we here?” Astrid asked, pulling herself out of her sleep.

“There’s someone here who can help us,” he said, craning to look out the passenger window.

“Who?” Astrid asked.

Jake grinned. Affection washed over his face. “There she is.”

Astrid glanced outside and saw a stern-looking young woman – who was dressed in a sharp suit with blond hair – surrounded by a small group of handsome young men. They were all sitting on wooden chairs under a canopy of rusty-leafed trees, and the woman seemed to be giving them an outdoor lecture. Astrid glanced at the clock on the dashboard. It was eight in the morning. This was all very surreal.

“Who is she?” Astrid asked, feeling her jealousy well-up.

Jake smiled to himself. “Can you believe she’s here as a visiting tutor, teaching biodiversity to a bunch of post-grads? She’d much rather be out there in the field… But the pay’s good she says.”

Astrid had no idea who she was, but she didn’t get the chance to ask, because Jake pulled the car over, making the woman glance up – it was hard to miss Jake’s red Ferrari. She grinned as she saw him, then she made her excuses to the group of men, and hurried over.

Jake climbed out the car, and the two hugged. Astrid got out too and stretched, watching the scene unfold. He was now lifting the woman off the ground and spinning her with joy – sending Astrid’s envy sky-high. Apparently these two knew each other very well.

“Jake, why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” the woman asked.

He placed her down and threw her a playful grin. “I’m on the run…”

She squealed with excitement – something Astrid wouldn’t have thought she was incapable of at first glance. Jake started to fill her in, so Astrid stood there like a spare part, trying to push away her feelings of inadequacy. How stupid she’d been to give up everything for Jake like this. Of
course
she meant nothing to him. Of
course
he had women dotted all over the country. She hardened her heart against him. But actually…
this
was exactly what she needed – a little adventure, a little fun. She decided to continue on this new and exciting path, regardless of whether Jake was in this with her for the long haul. Astrid was going to stand on her own two feet – to become the strong and independent woman she’d always wanted to be. And she realized she could do that with or without Jake Quinlan. He’d revved her up but now she was going to take the wheel and drive
herself
into the sunset.

She tuned back into Jake’s reunion with the woman. They were holding hands and gazing affectionately into each other’s eyes. “It’s always so great to see you, Jake,” the woman said. “Of course you can hideout here – how very exciting!” She hugged him again, making him laugh with affection.

He broke away and turned to face Astrid, who smiled thinly. “Astrid, this is Clara.”

She tightened up. “Hello, Clara.”

“Hello, Astrid. My brother’s been telling me all about you.”

Astrid glanced at Jake – wondering how he’d had time. “Has he?”

“Oh, not this one… Joseph…”

Astrid frowned. “Joseph?”

Jake draped his arm around Clara’s shoulders. “Astrid, Clara’s my sister. My twin sister.”

Astrid’s body washed with relief and she let out a laugh. “Oh, I see!”

Clara folded her arms across her chest. “So, Jake, what trouble are you dragging poor Astrid into?”

“Nothing too bad. Astrid’s sister’s been kidnapped, but I’m on the run from some corrupt cop who’s got a vendetta against me because he blames me for the death of his brother.
And
he wants dad’s treasure map. But I don’t care about any of that.” Jake threw Astrid a grin. “All I care about it saving the day and getting the girl.”

Clara laughed. “Sounds delightful!”

Astrid rolled her eyes, but she was secretly impressed. He was so cool.

“You two want some breakfast?” Clara asked. “And a shower? You can tell me all about it.”

Jake glanced over at the group of young men under the trees. They were all gazing over – captivated by their tutor, watching her every move. “What about your students?” Jake asked.

Clara winked. “They can wait. I’ve got individual meetings with them all later, so they’ll get my undivided attention then. Come on, I’ll make you both some coffee.”

Clara’s apartment at the university was basic but modern, with an open-plan kitchen and living room – and a separate bathroom and bedroom through a door. Jake went off to shower, so Clara made Astrid some coffee and waffles, and they got to know each other. Astrid could see that Jake’s sister’s stern outer-shell was really just an act to keep men out, and inside was an intelligent, friendly woman.

Astrid wondered whether
she
was similar to Clara in that regard – except that under her shell was someone scared and timid. Clara wasn’t scared or timid – at least she didn’t seem it. She seemed larger-than-life, just like her brothers. Astrid wanted to emulate her.

“So what did the kidnapper say last time?” Clara asked, as they sat together at the small kitchen table. “Just that he’d call again?”

Astrid checked her phone for the hundredth time. “Yeah. I hope he calls soon – I’m so worried about my sister. Hopefully Jake can get his telecoms guy to trace the call.”

Clara gazed kindly at her. “Jake’ll get her back.”

They shared a smile. “Thanks.” Astrid decided to change the subject, feeling emotionally exhausted over Emma. She glanced around the apartment. “Do you like living here?”

“The views are spectacular,” Clara said. “I love the trees and there’s a lake where I can take samples.”

Astrid frowned. “You’re a marine biologist?”

“I am. I’m enjoying educating my students about environmental sustainability, but I do feel like I’m preaching to the converted, you know?”

“The rest of the world isn’t very interested, I guess.”

“Right. But we need to engage people in this issue. I wish my little brother would jump on this bandwagon – he could influence an entire generation of fans to care about our planet a bit more.”

Astrid smiled. “I think it’s amazing that you’re doing this for a living. You’re doing what excites you. Living your dream.”

Clara shrugged. “It’ll never make me a gazillionaire like my brothers, but I’m not as motivated by money as them. I want to make a difference in the world.”

Astrid opened her mouth to reply, but Jake strode over to join them, wrapped in a towel. “Until a rich hunk comes along and sweeps you off your feet.”

“I don’t think so, Jacob!”

He chuckled affectionately. “We’ll see.”

Astrid gazed at Jake. He’d showered, but hadn’t shaved – and he looked gorgeous, wearing nothing but a towel. Astrid was dying to invite him back to the bathroom to shower with her, but she knew she needed to behave in front of Clara.

Jake sat at the table and helped himself to coffee.

“Actually,” Clara said. “I’ve been thinking recently about how much I’d like to have a child.”

Jake almost spat out his coffee. “The single
worst
thing for the environment, sister dear.”

She brushed him off with a laugh. “I’m so taken by little Quin.” She turned to Astrid. “That’s our nephew – Ivan’s son. He’s so adorable. He’s making me broody.”

“Well, you’d really better find that rich guy, huh?” Jake said.

Clara shrugged. “I don’t need a man.”

Jake gazed at her for a moment. “Maybe not for everything, but for making babies – Clara, didn’t mom and dad explain this?”

“Very funny. But I was thinking I could do it alone. Find some gorgeous hunk and spend the night with him…”

Jake shook his head and tucked into some waffles. “I hope you know what you’re doing…”

“Let’s argue about this another time. You’ve got a rescue mission to plan...”

After Astrid had showered, Clara took them on a tour of the campus. It was so peaceful here – Astrid could understand why Clara loved it so much. And there seemed to be significantly more male students in the Life Sciences Dept than female. Clara would be in her element – she’d have her pick of potential handsome, intelligent sperm donors.

They sat under a tree in the autumn sunshine, and Astrid allowed herself to relax and enjoy the moment. The birds were singing, the sun was shining, and the only traffic around was the occasional car, crawling down the wide campus road at ten miles-an-hour.

They chatted for a while about how different it was here, compared to the city, listing the pros and cons. Astrid felt connected to both the Quinlan twins, and she almost forgot what they were here for.

But the sound of her ringing phone pulled her back to reality with a thud. She answered with a frantic, “Yes?”

A meek female voice spoke. “Astrid, it’s Emma...”

“Emma!” She stood up and braced herself. “Are you okay?”

Jake stood too. “Put her on speakerphone.”

“Where are you?” Astrid asked. “Just tell me and we’ll come get you.”

Emma sounded terrified. “I can’t speak long. The guy who’s holding me says you need to come to North Christopher Columbus Boulevard tomorrow evening at seven, or he’ll kill me! There’s a disused warehouse, with a massive Stars and Stripes painted on the side. It’s near the harbor. The man who’s holding me says he can jump in his boat and get away after you’ve dropped off the money. He doesn’t want any fuss, just you and the money. Please bring fifty thousand dollars. He says no cops this time… He really means it, Astrid.”

Astrid tried to focus her racing mind. “Emma, are you hurt? Tell Simon from me he’d better not harm you, because I’ll –”

The line went dead.

Fear pounded in Astrid’s heart, making her head swim with nauseating terror. “What now?” she asked Jake, voice trembling.

He remained calm. “We’ll go there.”

“Where are we going to get fifty grand?”

“I told you, we’re not giving him any money. We’ll get her back safely, I promise.”

He wrapped Astrid in his arms and she extracted warmth from him, biting back the tears that were scratching her throat.

“I’ll call my contact at the telecoms company and see if he can track the location of the kidnapper,” Jake said.

Clara frowned with confusion. “But Emma just gave you the address.”

“That’s where he’s luring us to,” Jake said. “But it might not be where they currently are. If we can get to Emma – and the kidnapper – at a different time and place to the one
he’s
setting, we’ll have the element of surprise.”

Astrid opened her mouth to suggest they contact the telecoms guy straight away, but the sound of a twig breaking behind them made them all look around. It was Daniel, with his gun drawn, pointing directly at Jake.

Astrid’s chest squeezed with shock and irritation. Why did he have to keep arriving and ruining everything?

“I thought I’d find you here,” Daniel said, holding his gun in Jake’s direction. The guys at surveillance told me they’d seen your Ferrari headed this way. I did some phoning around and discovered your sister’s a visiting fellow at this college. Unlucky for you I’m a good detective too, huh?”

Astrid appealed to him. “Daniel, are you going to help us find Emma?”

“Yes I am. And I’m going to find her faster than
you
. I’m gonna beat you, Jake.”

“It’s not a goddamn competition,” Jake said. “There’s a young woman in a hostage situation here – why are turning this into a game?”

“Work with us, Daniel,” Astrid said. “We can pool our resources. You both surely have people in the NYPD who can help.”

“We’re in Pennsylvania,” Daniel reminded her.

“Then you’ve got no fucking hold over us,” Jake said. “Now get that fucking gun out of my face before I add you to the number of men I’ve killed.”

Daniel smirked sinisterly. “Actually, Jake, you’ve killed one
less
man than you think.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Well, I guess it’s probably time to tell you the truth about the drug dealer you shot. It’s so funny – I can’t keep it to myself anymore.”

Jake’s muscles coiled under his suit. “What?”

Daniel grinned as if he was telling a joke. “You didn’t really kill him. I amended the report. He recovered from his injuries and he’s at large back in Mexico.”

Ripples of fury emanated from Jake. “What!”

“Don’t worry, I made sure he was deported. I wouldn’t let him carry on dealing drugs in America, would I?”

“But why? You ruined my career, you motherfucker.”

“For revenge on my brother.”

Astrid couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “But Jake didn’t kill your brother.”

“What would
you
know about it?”

“Because it was an accident. He told me all about it, and I believe him. You need to let this go.”

“You fucking asshole.” Jake lunged forward to pounce on Daniel – probably hoping to pummel his face into the ground.

But Astrid stepped between them, causing Jake to halt abruptly like a bucking stallion. “It’s okay, Jake. Listen to what he just said. You didn’t kill anyone. We all know you didn’t kill his brother, and now you didn’t even kill that drug dealer. You’re free.”

Jake stared at her with anger plastered over his face. The anger slowly subsided. He grinned, then laughed. “You’re a smart woman, Astrid. Brave too to stand between me and the man I
do
want to kill.”

She smiled into his eyes. “I know you wouldn’t hurt me. Not even in the crossfire.”

“I’d never hurt you. But
he’s
still holding a gun – and I doubt he’d care too much if he accidentally shot you.”

Astrid glanced back to Daniel, who was still pointing his gun at her and Jake. Daniel started assuring Astrid he’d never hurt her either, but Astrid wasn’t listening… There was someone else around, wasn’t there? Where had she gone? Astrid darted her eyes to find Clara, and she quickly suppressed her grin as she saw Jake’s sister standing behind Daniel holding a hefty baseball-bat-sized stick, ready to thwack him.

Astrid realized she needed to keep Daniel talking. “So… why did
you
leave the NYPD, Daniel? Couldn’t handle the strain of being a small fish in a huge pond?”

He opened his mouth to reply, but Clara swung the stick and hit Daniel on the side of the head, making him stumble and cry out with shock. He dropped his gun – and Jake quickly kicked it away as he grabbed the dazed Daniel by the shirt and pulled him close to shout in his face.

“You fucking asshole! You ruined my career, and now you want to risk Emma’s life, just so you can fuel that sad little ego of yours. Well you’re not fucking doing it!”

Daniel started to protest and struggle in Jake’s grip, but Jake punched him into silence, then he reached down and unhooked Daniel’s handcuffs from his belt.

“What the hell are you doing!” Daniel shouted, writhing to escape. But Jake’s grip was powerful – and so was his punch, which he delivered again directly into Daniel’s smarmy face with his strong fist.

Daniel’s head flew backwards, as Jake growled at him. “That’s for making my life hell, you fucking asshole!”

Daniel’s nose was bleeding now. “What are you doing to me?”

Jake pushed Daniel against a tree, holding him tight and pressing himself against his struggling body. “I’d love to kill you and leave you for the dogs,” Jake said. “But I guess killing you would be too easy. Besides, I’m a changed man.”

He reached down and clicked one half of the handcuffs around Daniel’s wrist, then – leaning heavily on him – he wrapped Daniel’s arms backwards around the tree trunk, and fastened his wrists together with the handcuffs.

“Untie me!” Daniel said, kicking his legs out and trying to get Jake in the balls.

Jake stepped back and raised his fist, as if he planned to punch Daniel into oblivion. But something inside him clicked, so he lowered his fist and glared at Daniel, who was now yelling – almost screaming – for someone to help.

A mischievous wave of energy swept through Astrid, and she realized they needed Daniel off their backs if they wanted to rescue Emma without any more hassle from him. She reached into her purse and pulled out a spare pair of pantyhose, then – dodging Daniel’s kicking legs – she hooked the pantyhose in his mouth – fastening the fabric tight as he struggled – gagging him. “That should keep him quiet for a while.”

Jake smiled proudly at her. “You know he won’t forget this. He’s the type to hold a grudge.”

“I don’t care. He’s an asshole. And he’s hindering our rescue mission.”

Jake nodded. “Good girl. Come on, let’s get outta here.”

“We can’t just leave him here like this,” Clara said. “I don’t care what kind of lowlife he is.”

“Yeah, I guess that would be cruel,” Jake said. “I’ll call his deputy to come out and untie him.”

“But his deputy’s miles away in New York,” Clara said.

“I know. Pity he’ll be here hours, huh? But it’ll give
us
plenty of time to get away. And time for
him
to think about how come he ended up like this.”

Clara shook her head. “If the Dean finds out I had anything to do with this…”

“I’m sure you can convince one or two of your students to give you a good alibi,” Astrid said, winking playfully.