Page 84 of No More Lies

I’m sorry. Use your tech stuff to access the text messages on my phone and you’ll understand why. You promised she would be safe. I have no choice but to do as he asks.

“Steve? What is it?” Dex asked.

“She left a note.” He read it aloud to the team.

“Mackie,” Dex said.

“Retrieving them now.”

“What does she mean? You promised she would be safe?” Steve asked through clenched teeth as fear bubbled in his gut.

“I got them.” Mackie turned the laptop around and brought up the pictures of Natasha, Anya, Melanie Costas, and a dead Arnold Janssen. He then brought up the first text message.

Mrs. Williams. I have my daughter, she is safe and well, as is her mother. The second picture is Melanie Costas, Natasha’s lawyer. If you do not do as I ask, I will kill her. If you don’t believe me, the man in the third picture is your predecessor, Arnold Janssen. I do not tolerate people disobeying me.

“Now we know for sure he took them all,” Donnie said.

“Oh, shit,” Mackie said. Steve tensed.

When Mackie looked directly at him, Steve asked, “What is it?”

Mackie brought up the next picture. The blood drained from Steve’s face.

“Oh, God. Megan? He has Megan?”

Steve’s knees buckled and he gripped the counter, steadying himself. The bastard had his daughter? This couldn’t be happening. Donnie was at his side, hand on his shoulder. He heard voices around him, but he couldn’t speak. Dale’s voice came through the speaker phone on Sam’s cell.

“Sam?”

“Dale, where’s Megan?” Sam demanded.

“Eating breakfast with Agent Adams.” Dale sounded confused.

“Are you sure? Mackie is sending you a picture. We need to see her, Dale. Steve needs to see her.” The urgency in Sam’s voice wasn’t lost on anyone.

Steve couldn’t breathe. The monster had his daughter. He promised to always protect her and his wife, and now they were both gone. He brought his gaze to the picture of Megan, duct tape across her mouth, her eyes wide. He’d failed. Onyx were the best, but they hadn’t been able to protect his own family. What kind of husband and father was he to let this happen to the people he loved the most? Megan was supposed to be safe with the FBI. How the hell had they found her? Every muscle in his body tensed, his frustration and temper ready to explode.

“I swear to God I’m going to kill him. How the fuck can this happen?” He turned, punching the refrigerator, leaving a sizable dent.

“Jesus, guys. Hang on,” Dale said. “I just spoke to Agent Adams. She’s there, safe. I promise. Steve, give me two minutes.” The call ended.

Dex came up beside him. “Megan is with Jessica, Steve. The picture’s a fake,” Dex added, “made to freak out Diane, and make her do exactly what she did. Go to Volkov on her own.”

Steve couldn’t speak, couldn’t move, could barely breathe. He held his phone, willing it to ring. It was the longest two minutes of his fucking life.

“There’s one more text,” Mackie said as he put it onscreen.

I saved the best till last. You even think about telling your husband or any of his friends, I’ll send your daughter home in pieces. I know you are at home. Find a way out. Alone. Do not make a call, do not send a text. Be at the corner of West and Taywood in thirty minutes or Ms. Costas dies.

“Jesus Christ,” Ryan said. I can’t wait to make this asshole’s acquaintance.”

Steve stared at his phone. Finally it rang. He almost collapsed as his daughter’s beautiful face filled the screen.

“Hey, Daddy!”

“Megan. Hey, Pumpkin.” He forced a smile, though his voice was strained. “It’s so good to see you.”

“You saw me just last night silly.” Megan grinned.

---